The Tennessee Conservative · Brandon Lewis

Child Exploitation 140% Increase in TN / Former TN House Speaker Sentenced to Federal Prison...

September 26, 2025·24 min·2 clips

TBI reports a 140% surge in child exploitation cases, with predators using nude photo exchanges to target children online.

This episode of the Tennessee Conservative's Big 7 News Podcast, hosted by writer Adelia Kirchner, provides a rapid summary of major state and national stories from a conservative viewpoint. Kirchner covers seven distinct news items, blending serious reporting with personal commentary. The episode focuses on a dramatic rise in child exploitation cases, a political corruption sentencing, and contentious debates over National Guard deployment in Memphis. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reported a 140% increase in child exploitation cases since 2020, with over 22,000 open investigations. TBI Special Agent Robert Burghardt detailed common offender tactics, like soliciting nude photos and encouraging children to switch to platforms like Snapchat. Former Tennessee House Speaker Glenn Casada was sentenced to 36 months in prison for a kickback scheme involving a shell company called Phoenix Solutions. His former chief of staff, Kate Cothran, received a 30-month sentence, while former Representative Robin Smith pleaded guilty and testified. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is reviewing its departments to comply with new state laws outlawing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies. Resolutions opposing a National Guard deployment in Memphis failed in both the City Council and Shelby County Commission, with Democrat State Representative Justin J. Pearson arguing poverty was the root issue. A deal to avoid a TikTok ban involves Nashville-based Oracle overseeing the app's algorithm security, alongside partners like Silver Lake Partners and Michael Dell. A Missouri woman, Lisa Janine Finley, was sentenced to nearly five years for attempting to fraudulently sell Graceland by forging loan documents. Republican State Senator Brent Taylor argued that defunding police contributed to Memphis's crime crisis, justifying the Guard deployment, while Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris called the deployment "anti-American." Kirchner, 23, personally argues that the cons of social media far outweigh the pros, stating she and her peers plan to restrict their own children's access. She finds the Graceland fraud scheme baffling, humorously wondering how someone concocts such an audacious plan. The host expresses skepticism about the universal benefits of social media, linking its prevalence directly to the child exploitation crisis. She notes the irony that Oracle, which recently moved its headquarters to Nashville, may now play a key role in national security oversight of TikTok. Kirchner describes State Senator Brent Taylor as one of Tennessee's "most entertaining" lawmakers to watch in interviews. The tone is conversational and opinionated, blending news recaps with the host's informal reactions and political asides. The style is fast-paced and designed for listeners who prefer a conservative perspective on current events. This episode would appeal to Tennessee conservatives seeking a digest of state news filtered through a right-leaning lens. Listeners interested in bipartisan analysis or detailed, neutral reporting might choose to skip it.

As heard by us

A brisk Tennessee roundup that keeps its conservative angle front and center.

The piece moves quickly through a Tennessee news rundown: the 140% jump in child exploitation cases, Glenn Casada's federal prison sentence, and Memphis resolutions tied to the planned National Guard deployment.

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Why you'd press play

You want a quick Tennessee news skim that moves from criminal sentencing to state politics.

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