The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Weekly Review With Clay and Buck H3 - How About Justice?
Date: September 13, 2025
Host: Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
Guest: Congressman Tim Moore (NC)

Overview

In this episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton confront issues of violent crime, failures in America’s justice system, and the political and social responses to high-profile tragedies. Focusing on the murder of a young Ukrainian woman on the Charlotte light rail, they discuss broader themes of criminal accountability, judicial responsibility, media coverage, and political responses—featuring an extended conversation with Congressman Tim Moore and airing a statement from President Trump. The tone is urgent, outraged, and determined, with frequent calls for transparency and systemic change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Charlotte Light Rail Murder: Public Outrage and Calls for Transparency

[02:56–17:02]

• Incident Details:

  • Clay and Buck examine the murder of a 23-year-old Ukrainian woman on Charlotte’s light rail.
  • The perpetrator: a repeat, violent offender with 14 prior arrests, released on bail.
  • Discussion of bystander inaction and societal implications.

• Demand for Full Video Release:

  • Clay Travis argues for releasing the unedited footage, comparing its importance to the George Floyd video in shaping public narrative and accountability.

    "Sometimes you have to see a video in its totality to really shock the conscience." — Clay Travis [13:37]

• Justice System Failures:

  • Both hosts and their guest highlight a perceived breakdown in the system, particularly in "blue" urban counties.
  • Criticism centers on liberal judges and “woke” bail and release policies.

2. Interview with Congressman Tim Moore

[04:52–17:02]

Judicial Failings and Policy Reforms

• Accountability for Judges:

  • Moore describes a letter from all NC House Republicans demanding removal of Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes for freeing the suspect.
  • Highlights the unusually low qualification of the magistrate:

    "She graduated law school but never even passed the bar exam... She has no business being a judge." — Tim Moore [07:03]

• Comparison to Bartenders’ Liability:

  • Travis notes bartenders can face criminal or civil consequences for overserving, asking why judges aren’t held to similar standards.
  • Moore hints at drafting legislation to hold judges personally liable if their decisions directly enable further crime:

    "Maybe that's the way to get people's attention." — Tim Moore [08:36]

Federal Involvement and Partisanship

• Role of Federal Government:
  • Discussion of federal (Trump-era) offers to support cities in fighting crime.
  • Moore suggests some Democrat leaders refuse help due to political animus toward Trump, prioritizing party over public safety.

Societal Impact and the Need for Unity

• Travis and Moore agree that fighting violent crime should unite people across racial, urban/rural, and political lines:

  "Doesn't it unite everyone to say... we just want to be safe in the state of North Carolina in our big cities. White, black, Asian, Hispanic." — Clay Travis [11:35]

3. Media Coverage, Public Perception & Racial Dynamics

[23:00–38:14]

Selective Attention and “Toxic Empathy”

• Narrative Manipulation:
  • Listeners and hosts note that crimes fitting certain narratives receive more media scrutiny, citing Daniel Penny and Kyle Rittenhouse as examples.
  • Clay accuses national outlets of “toxic empathy”—making excuses for criminals based on identity rather than individual action:

    "An inability to hold individuals responsible... strips away the entire purpose of the justice system." — Clay Travis [23:24]

Bystander Inaction & Erosion of Social Trust

• The hosts and callers express horror at the lack of aid rendered to the victim, framing it as a broader societal failure.
• Buck Sexton highlights the chilling absence of humanitarian response:

  "No one did even the bare humanitarian minimum here... Nothing. No one did a darn thing in this video." — Buck Sexton [36:46]

4. Presidential Response: Donald Trump’s Statement

[26:47–28:50]

• Condemnation of Democrat-Led Urban Crime:

  • Trump blames “Democrat-run cities,” lax judges, and soft-on-crime policies for rising violence.
  • Calls for a harsher, “vicious” response to violent offenders:

    "We have to respond with force and strength. We have to be vicious just like they are. It's the only thing they understand." — Donald Trump [27:39]

• Restoring Law & Order:

  • Positions public safety as a nonpartisan, universal necessity:

    "There are too many murders, and we're going to do whatever we can to drive down the rates of violent crime in major cities across America." — Clay Travis [28:50]

5. Debate Over Judicial Accountability

[45:09–46:07]

• **Callers and hosts debate whether judges should face civil/criminal liability for repeat-offender releases that end in tragedy.
• General agreement that removal for incompetence is possible and necessary, although criminal liability for judges is likely a step too far.

  "Can [judges] be removed for being bad at their jobs? Yes... But criminal liability for bad decisions as a judge... that's not happening." — Buck Sexton [45:54]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"This guy was a convicted felon with violent, a violent rap sheet and had skipped court in the past... he should have never been on the street."
— Tim Moore [04:52]

"How do we have higher standards for bartenders than we do for judges?"
— Clay Travis [07:47]

"Maybe that's the way to get people's attention. That's actually a bill we’re... in the drafting phases of right now."
— Tim Moore on holding judges civilly liable [08:36]

"We need the full, unedited video of what happened to understand the scope of evil... We need to stare into evil and see it."
— Clay Travis [13:37]

"No one did even the bare humanitarian minimum here. Call the police, see if you can render aid... No one did a darn thing in this video."
— Buck Sexton [36:46]

"All of life is trying to balance equities in some way... Who is the good person, who's the bad person?... We have become far too concerned with how criminals are treated and not concerned enough with how innocent people who are victims of criminals are treated."
— Clay Travis [31:54]

"You have to stop the next one and you can take this person out of society so he can't threaten or harm another person."
— Buck Sexton [31:18]

Important Timestamps

• [02:56] Clay introduces the topic and Congressman Tim Moore
• [04:52–07:47] Moore details his reaction, the judge’s background, calls for her removal
• [08:36] Discussion of holding judges liable (personal/civil)
• [10:00] Federal involvement and partisanship in crime response
• [13:37] Argument for full video release
• [23:24] Clay on “toxic empathy” and selective justice
• [26:47–28:50] Statement from Donald Trump on the Charlotte murder and urban crime
• [36:46] Buck on the lack of bystander intervention
• [45:09–46:07] Callers and hosts debate judge accountability

Tone and Language

The hosts use urgent, emotional language, mixing legal, political and activist rhetoric. There’s heavy condemnation of “woke” criminal justice reforms and the liberal judiciary, strong emphasis on individual accountability, and palpable frustration with media selectivity and the perceived erosion of public trust and social responsibility.

Summary

This episode forcefully critiques America’s justice system and the societal values underpinning responses to violent crime. By examining the Charlotte murder as a focal point, Clay, Buck, and Congressman Moore make the case for legal and policy reforms to hold judges more accountable, restore law and order, and recalibrate media and public attention to victims. President Trump’s statement underlines the episode’s overarching argument: that assertive enforcement—not restorative justice—is necessary, and that public safety transcends partisan considerations. The hosts and participants unite around a shared call to action: greater transparency, stricter policies, and a recommitment to basic justice.