The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show — "Weekly Review With Clay and Buck H3: National Guard to Memphis?"

Date: September 20, 2025
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode Theme:
A conversation with Senator Marsha Blackburn on President Trump’s proposal to deploy the National Guard to Memphis to tackle violent crime, reflections on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the cultural response, and broader commentary on the influence of social media, youth, and American values in turbulent times.

Episode Overview

This episode features a substantive interview with Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), focusing on two major topics:

• The Biden administration’s ongoing struggle with violent crime, specifically in Memphis, Tennessee, and the potential deployment of the National Guard as per former President Trump’s announcement.
• The aftermath of activist Charlie Kirk's assassination, reactions in conservative and college communities, and discussion of how to combat the perceived "rot" in American culture.

The hosts also weave in listener calls and reactions, touch on media coverage (specifically the TMZ controversy), and profile public statements by notable figures, all while maintaining their signature mix of seriousness and humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sen. Marsha Blackburn on Charlie Kirk’s Impact and Youth Response

[04:40–08:01]

• College & Community Mourning:
  Senator Blackburn and Clay Travis recount the overwhelming emotional response at the University of Tennessee following Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Many students, fans of Kirk’s outspoken style, openly grieved and expressed support for family and value-driven discourse.
  • "We could hardly get through the crowd... without people saying, ‘We stand with Charlie Kirk, family values and Tennessee values, and morals, and we stand with the president.’" — Sen. Blackburn [06:25]
• Personal Family Story:
  Blackburn shares how her grandson helped organize a memorial and personally lowered the flag in accordance with Presidential orders.
  • "Honoring someone who was assassinated, honoring those that lost their lives... and doing what the president said was the order." — Sen. Blackburn [05:35]
• Moral & Cultural Turning Point:
  Blackburn views this tragic moment as a possible "turning point" for a culture that she sees as needing to "push back and fight against evil."

2. National Guard and Federal Involvement in Memphis Crime Crisis

[08:01–12:38]

• State of Memphis Crime:
  Memphis is considered the "most dangerous city in the country" with a "per capita murder rate of 2,500 per 100,000" and over 100 active gangs.
  • "We know Memphis has 100 gangs. They have a per capita murder rate of 2,500 per 100,000." — Sen. Blackburn [09:20]
• Federal Initiatives (Operation Legend & Operation Viper):
  • Operation Legend under Trump had a positive impact, later discontinued by Biden’s administration.
  • Operation Viper (2025) led to over 500 arrests and significant drops in crime for August, credited as the “best in years.”
• Proposed Role for National Guard:
  The National Guard would handle logistical and support tasks so Memphis PD could focus on targeting gangs and violent criminals.
  • "They can do paperwork, logistics... traffic... This will allow Memphis police... to apprehend these gang leaders and gang members." — Sen. Blackburn [10:25]
• Broader Vision:
  She hopes these steps restore safety and economic potential to Memphis.

3. Cultural Decay, Social Media’s Dangers & How to Fight 'Rot'

[12:38–16:32]

• Question of Cultural Decline:
  Travis and Blackburn discuss celebrations of Kirk’s assassination online, viewing it as evidence of a "dark soul of the left."
• Social Media’s Role:
  • Blackburn discusses the isolating and radicalizing influence of digital platforms on youth, referencing her work on the Kids Online Safety Act.
  • "Teenagers are spending as much as eight hours a day on the phone... they're being exposed to things that young minds are not equipped to see." — Sen. Blackburn [14:01]
• Importance of Families & Communities:
  • Stresses responsibility of families, churches, and governance of social media to push back against corrosive influences.
  • Advocates for strong families, less device time, and collective action by adults.

4. Listener Calls & Media Responsibility

[21:47–23:13]

• TMZ Cheering Controversy:
  The hosts address audience claims that TMZ staff celebrated Kirk’s death on-air, noting conflicting accounts and emphasizing media accountability.
  • "If that had happened when I ran a media company, I would be deeply concerned about the culture... I would fire everyone." — Clay Travis [22:17]
• Listener Perspective:
  Caller Gretchen from Georgia urges a focus on Kirk’s positive Christian impact as a way to combat evil.

5. Standing Up for Truth—Leadership Lessons from Sports

[24:38–30:52]

• University of Tennessee Faculty Incident:
  Clay Travis reads and condemns a fired professor’s social media comments celebrating Kirk’s death, arguing such views are unacceptable for public employees.
• University of Oregon Coach’s Statement:
  Coach Dan Lanning’s public acknowledgment of Kirk after a game is played in full.
  • Notable quote:
    "If you disagree with me, if you hate me, if you don’t like me… just know this: I love you. And life matters. That’s no way that Charlie should experience that, his family should experience that." — Dan Lanning [27:18–27:46]
• Courage in Public Discourse:
  Hosts praise Lanning for taking a risk by making a public moral statement, especially in a “blue state,” and urge listeners to support such courage.

6. Youth Activism & the Next Generation

[31:30–36:13]

• Turning Point USA Chapters:
  Callers and the hosts discuss the surge of students founding conservative clubs in Kirk’s honor, framing it as a “best positive result” from tragedy.
• Media & Messaging Adaptation:
  Travis reflects on the need to reach young audiences where they are (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram), echoing Kirk’s strategy and relevance.
• Sports as Meritocracy:
  Travis defends sports as a remaining “meritocratic” space in American culture.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "And the minister said something I think is so important... while we turn the other cheek... we cannot turn a blind eye... we have to push back and fight against evil."
  — Sen. Marsha Blackburn, on the moral imperative after Kirk's assassination [07:13]
• "It is pure evil that caused someone to try to silence Charlie Kirk. And as we have seen, his message now will be more powerful than ever."
  — Sen. Blackburn [07:45]
• "A culture that celebrates death, legitimately celebrates death, is not a culture that I want to be affiliated with."
  — Clay Travis, on media culture [22:17]
• "Teenagers are spending as much as eight hours a day on the phone... they become desensitized."
  — Sen. Blackburn [14:01]
• "Use your social media for good... Say thank you. Sometimes people ask, ‘Hey, how do we win in a world of culture?’ You just heard Dan Lanning there. He’s getting ripped by a lot of people who are saying, how dare he say something positive about Charlie Kirk and his family. Use your social media for good."
  — Clay Travis [28:16]
• "When you go where the audience is, a lot of people, Buck, are very, very responsive to these arguments and they're not seeing them elsewhere."
  — Clay Travis, on adapting the message for younger generations [35:12]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:40] – Sen. Marsha Blackburn on public mourning for Charlie Kirk
• [08:01] – Senator discusses National Guard and crime in Memphis
• [12:38] – Clay asks about culture’s "rot" and fixing it
• [13:24] – Sen. Blackburn on social media & culture
• [21:47] – TMZ and media criticism, listener call
• [24:38] – Clay critiques fired UT professor, then plays Coach Dan Lanning’s statement
• [27:08] – Dan Lanning: “I love you… and life matters.”
• [31:30] – Caller Ginny, youth activism, Turning Point surge
• [35:12] – Clay, on using new media for culture war
• [36:13+] – End segment; light banter and show close

Tone & Language

• Serious, urgent, and at times somber—in reaction to the assassination and crime crisis.
• Supportive and encouraging—in celebrating Kirk’s influence and youth activism.
• Wry humor and personal familiarity—hosts’ banter about dress codes, sports picks, and video efforts.

Summary Takeaways

This episode underscores the conservative call for community resilience, robust policing (or even Military support) in crime-plagued American cities, and culture-wide resistance to what the hosts cast as moral decline—exacerbated by social media and academic radicalism. With passionate endorsements of youth involvement and visible public courage (from coaches to students), along with a sharp critique of left-leaning media and public academia, the episode offers a vivid reflection of the right’s response to a moment of national upheaval.

For more information, visit the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show’s pages on iHeart or your podcast platform of choice.