The Megyn Kelly Show - April 20, 2026


America Seizes Iranian Ship, Pope-Trump Détente, Trump Backs Psychedelic Research： AM Update 4⧸20


Episode Stats


Length

20 minutes

Words per minute

154.15999

Word count

3,111

Sentence count

199


Summary

Summaries generated with gmurro/bart-large-finetuned-filtered-spotify-podcast-summ .

Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
00:00:00.000 frozen lasagna medium power 15 minutes sounds like ojo time let's play feel the fun with play
00:00:10.920 ojo the online casino with all the latest slots live casino games what you win is yours to keep
00:00:15.000 no wagering requirements instant payouts and no minimum withdrawals hey i just won
00:00:19.200 honey forget about lasagna let's celebrate 19 plus ontario only please play responsibly
00:00:25.800 Concerned about your gambling or that of someone close to you? Call 1-866-531-2600 or visit
00:00:29.180 connexontario.ca. Good morning, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Monday, April 20th,
00:00:36.220 2026, and this is your AM Update. A weekend of whiplash in America's war with Iran,
00:00:42.300 the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut down again as ships are fired on and seized with diplomacy
00:00:48.380 on the rocks. It was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not my
00:00:55.200 interest at all. Hope Leo, the 14th, seeking to cool tensions with President Trump. Congresswoman
00:01:01.220 Ilhan Omar revising her financial disclosures downward, saying an accountant's mistake inflated
00:01:07.640 her net worth by tens of millions. I sent him that information. The text message that came back
00:01:14.840 sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let's do it. A new push on psychedelics with help from Joe
00:01:21.200 Rogan, President Trump fast-tracking FDA review for drugs aimed at addiction and PTSD. All that
00:01:27.920 and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update. If you're looking to make smarter choices
00:01:36.320 for your health this year, consider Riverbend Ranch. Their steaks are so good, but they also
00:01:41.860 contain real high-quality protein that helps fuel your body. Beef is a complete protein,
00:01:46.900 and it contains all nine essential amino acids
00:01:49.800 your body needs to function.
00:01:51.760 It also keeps you fuller for longer,
00:01:53.680 reducing cravings and snacking.
00:01:55.500 But here's the key, not all beef is created equal.
00:01:58.700 The quality of the beef depends entirely
00:02:00.620 on how it is raised and where it comes from.
00:02:03.740 And that's where Riverbend Ranch stands apart.
00:02:06.120 For more than 35 years,
00:02:07.840 Riverbend Ranch has been building
00:02:08.960 an elite Black Angus herd,
00:02:11.280 carefully selecting cattle for exceptional flavor
00:02:13.760 and tenderness.
00:02:15.460 All Riverbend Ranch cattle are born and raised right here in the USA.
00:02:18.880 They never use growth hormones or antibiotics.
00:02:21.780 And the beef is processed at the ranch in their award-winning USDA-inspected facility.
00:02:26.540 No shortcuts, no middlemen.
00:02:28.740 Just incredible, healthy, and flavorful beef shipped directly to your home.
00:02:33.160 Order today at riverbendranch.com and use the promo code MEGAN for $20 off your first order.
00:02:39.860 A whirlwind weekend of mixed signals, escalating threats and conflicting claims between the U.S.
00:02:47.920 and Iran, with no clear deal in sight. Friday, beginning with what appeared to be a short-lived
00:02:54.020 positive development, President Trump announcing on Truth Social that the Iranians had, quote,
00:02:59.060 agreed to everything, writing that the Strait of Hormuz had been completely reopened,
00:03:03.960 while also claiming the parties had agreed that the U.S. would retrieve what he described as the
00:03:08.620 nuclear dust, referring to Iran's enriched uranium, a key sticking point throughout the
00:03:14.060 negotiations so far. The president adding that the U.S. naval blockade would remain in effect
00:03:19.920 until a final agreement is reached. By later that same day, Friday, the situation shifting
00:03:25.900 dramatically. Iran's foreign ministry denying President Trump's claim, insisting the country's
00:03:31.340 stockpile of enriched uranium, quote, is not going to be transferred anywhere. Shortly after,
00:03:37.740 Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammed Bagheer Ghaliboff, posting to X, quote,
00:03:42.480 with the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open,
00:03:47.000 adding that passage would be restricted to a designated route and would require Iranian
00:03:52.300 authorization. By Saturday morning, Iran firing on at least two vessels, according to maritime
00:03:57.820 tracking groups. The Wall Street Journal reporting approximately 20 ships then turning around
00:04:02.900 rather than attempting to cross. President Trump posting to Truth Social again,
00:04:08.380 this time accusing Iran of violating the ceasefire, writing, quote,
00:04:11.500 Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz, a total violation of our
00:04:16.680 ceasefire agreement. We are offering a very fair and reasonable deal, and I hope they take it,
00:04:22.180 because if they don't, the U.S. is going to knock out every single power plant and every single
00:04:27.100 bridge in Iran. No more Mr. Nice Guy. By Sunday morning, the rhetoric escalating further. President
00:04:34.580 Trump telling Fox News this was Iran's last chance, warning, quote, the whole country is
00:04:39.740 getting blown up unless they agree to a deal. The White House announcing plans to dispatch
00:04:44.900 Vice President J.D. Vance, as well as Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff today
00:04:49.600 to Islamabad for a second round of peace talks. The delegation set to arrive tonight ahead of
00:04:55.160 Wednesday's ceasefire expiration. However, Reuters reporting hours later, the Iranians
00:05:00.460 are refusing a second round of talks, citing, quote, excessive demands. Last night, Al Jazeera
00:05:06.100 citing a well-informed source, adding that Iranian participation in talks is contingent
00:05:11.680 upon the U.S. lifting the naval blockade. As of last night, it remained unclear whether
00:05:17.000 either side still planned to attend. Sunday afternoon, President Trump announcing
00:05:21.940 in a True Social post that an Iranian-flagged cargo ship had attempted to get past the U.S.
00:05:28.320 naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, which connects to the Strait of Hormuz. The president writing
00:05:34.380 that, quote, the U.S. Navy-guided missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Tuska
00:05:40.700 and gave them fair warning to stop. The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped
00:05:46.420 them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room. The president indicating that
00:05:51.380 U.S. Marines had taken custody of the vessel. A telegram messaging channel operated by the
00:05:56.860 Iranian military vowing to, quote, respond and retaliate against the U.S. armed piracy.
00:06:03.460 Amid the back and forth, former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent
00:06:07.220 floating a different approach as a possibility for President Trump, suggesting in a lengthy
00:06:12.460 ex-post that the U.S. should consider disengagement altogether, pointing to the 1983 Beirut barracks
00:06:19.060 bombing and President Ronald Reagan's subsequent withdrawal from Lebanon. When it became clear,
00:06:24.240 Kent writes, that the mission's objectives could not be achieved. Kent further arguing,
00:06:29.200 a negotiated settlement is unlikely to work or be taken seriously by the Iranians
00:06:33.900 unless we make concessions on the enrichment issue. Then continuing,
00:06:38.240 if POTUS chooses brute force and targets civilian infrastructure, we will create another generation
00:06:43.980 of radicalized Iranians who will rally around the regime and escalate the war by any means possible.
00:06:52.160 Pope Leo XIV on Saturday clarifying recent remarks widely perceived to be thinly veiled
00:06:57.620 criticism of the Trump administration, telling reporters he has no interest in debating President
00:07:02.720 Trump. In recent weeks, the Pope and President Trump publicly trading barbs. The conflict
00:07:07.920 apparently spurred by a 60 Minutes piece airing last Sunday, featuring a group of Catholic cardinals
00:07:13.360 highlighting criticism from the Pope of the administration's mass deportations and its war
00:07:18.600 against Iran. President Trump in a lengthy true social post that night slamming Pope Leo as,
00:07:24.080 quote, weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy, adding, quote, Leo should get his act
00:07:29.260 together as Pope, use common sense, stop catering to the radical left, and focus on being a great
00:07:35.340 Pope, not a politician. The post drawing widespread condemnation from many Catholics,
00:07:41.020 Bishop Robert Barron, who is a member of the White House Religious Liberty Commission,
00:07:45.140 calling on President Trump to apologize.
00:07:47.560 Mr. Trump instead doubling down on the remarks the following day.
00:07:51.080 Pope Leo kicking off an 11-day trip across multiple African nations,
00:07:55.300 responding to Mr. Trump's criticism.
00:07:57.480 I have no fear.
00:07:59.020 Neither the Trump administration nor speaking out loudly about the message of the gospel.
00:08:04.360 And that's what I believe.
00:08:06.400 I am called to know what the church is called to do.
00:08:09.300 We're not politicians.
00:08:10.540 We're not looking to make foreign policy as he falls with the same perspective that he might understand it.
00:08:18.120 But I do believe that the message of the gospel, the lesson of the peacemakers, is the message of the world needs to hear.
00:08:24.340 On Thursday, the Pope delivering remarks in war-torn Cameroon, a portion here.
00:08:29.920 The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.
00:08:33.620 Woe to those who manipulate religion in the very name of God for their own military, economic, or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.
00:08:47.580 Many interpreting the remark to be a condemnation of the Trump administration, Pope Leo then clarifying on Saturday.
00:08:54.240 There's been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects,
00:08:59.840 but because of the political situation created when on the first day of the trip,
00:09:06.120 the President of the United States made some comments about myself.
00:09:09.980 Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary,
00:09:14.600 trying to interpret what has been said.
00:09:17.460 Just one little example, the talk that I gave at the prayer meeting for peace
00:09:22.800 A couple days ago, it was prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting.
00:09:33.800 And yet, as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all.
00:09:42.560 Vice President Vance, a convert to Catholicism, replying on X, thanking the Pope for his comments, writing, quote,
00:09:48.360 While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict, and yes, real disagreements have
00:09:53.160 happened and will happen, the reality is often much more complicated. Pope Leo preaches the
00:09:58.320 gospel as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the
00:10:03.160 day. The president and the entire administration work to apply those moral principles in a messy
00:10:09.120 world. Coming up, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar refiling her financial disclosures to claim
00:10:16.540 she is not actually a multi-millionaire. After all, blaming her accountant for the error.
00:10:22.720 And a major shift on psychedelics, President Trump orders expedited FDA review for drugs
00:10:28.240 targeting mental health and addiction. Traditional home security companies can make the whole process
00:10:40.540 a headache. They can make it expensive, monthly fees, long contracts that lock you in for years.
00:10:45.780 It's like, oh my, what am I, like getting a mortgage or just a security system?
00:10:49.680 And a lot of these systems require a technician to come, install everything.
00:10:52.760 It just, it can get overly complicated and daunting and you don't want it.
00:10:56.180 But let me tell you about a different kind of company.
00:10:58.280 It's called SimpliSafe.
00:10:59.940 They make protecting your home straightforward and the system is designed to cover everything
00:11:03.820 that matters.
00:11:04.680 What stands out about SimpliSafe is that it's not just one device, it's a complete security
00:11:09.540 system.
00:11:10.200 And it's all backed by SimpliSafe's 24-7 professional monitoring agents who are ready
00:11:15.280 to respond and dispatch emergency help if something happens. Over 5 million people trust
00:11:20.160 SimpliSafe every day. U.S. News & World Report ranks them the best home security system of
00:11:26.440 2026. How about that? Numero uno. Consider experiencing peace of mind with SimpliSafe
00:11:32.140 and this exclusive discount. Right now, you can get 50% off your new system, 50% off the new
00:11:40.020 system just by visiting simplisafe.com slash Megan. That's half off at S-I-M-P-L-I safe.com
00:11:48.980 slash Megan. There is no safe like SimpliSafe. Check it out.
00:11:54.560 Democrat Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota filing an amended financial disclosure form
00:11:59.700 indicating she actually is not a multimillionaire after all. The Washington Free Beacon reporting
00:12:06.040 in September that Congresswoman Omar's 2024 forms show she and her husband, former political
00:12:12.040 consultant Tim Minette, accumulated a net worth ranging from at least $6 million up to $30 million,
00:12:19.940 a combined 3,500% over the previous year. Most of that wealth reportedly coming from two companies
00:12:27.520 in which Minette shares a stake, venture capital firm Rose Lake Capital, valued somewhere between
00:12:32.980 5 million and 25 million, and a California-based winery, ranging from 1 million to 5 million.
00:12:40.240 These disclosures clashing with Ms. Omar's carefully curated political image as a far-left
00:12:45.560 progressive, not a member of the 1% elite, and raising questions over the speed of that financial
00:12:51.560 growth. The scrutiny unfolding amid a growing fraud scandal in Omar's Minnesota-Somali community,
00:12:57.640 with President Trump and some Republicans suggesting Omar's millionaire status may be
00:13:02.580 related to that controversy. In February, Republican Congressman James Comer, chairman
00:13:08.160 of the Oversight Committee, requesting in a letter to Minet all documents and communications
00:13:13.000 relating to the finances of the two companies. Minet did not comply with the request,
00:13:19.140 leading the Oversight Committee to refer the matter to the House Ethics Committee.
00:13:23.260 The Wall Street Journal, which reviewed the Congresswoman's updated disclosures,
00:13:27.640 reporting the new filings were made in response to a letter from the Office of Congressional
00:13:31.960 Conduct, or OCC, the House office tasked with performing the initial review of allegations
00:13:38.360 of congressional misconduct. So, Omar got a letter from the OCC investigating her,
00:13:44.580 she and her husband refused to hand over their documents, and suddenly they revised her financial
00:13:50.220 disclosures downward. Got it. Congresswoman Omar's lawyer writing to the OCC, quote,
00:13:55.980 As the busiest of people, it is very common for members and their spouses to rely on
00:14:00.860 learned professionals like accountants to make calculations and determinations that appear on
00:14:05.780 public filings. While the error is, of course, unfortunate, there is nothing untoward and
00:14:11.340 nothing illegal has occurred. According to the journal, the amended filing factors in
00:14:16.200 Minet's business liabilities, effectively reducing the company's value to zero.
00:14:22.480 The couple's assets now listed between $18,000 and $95,000,
00:14:27.940 income from the assets reportedly between about $100,000 and a million.
00:14:32.760 The Wall Street Journal reporting the couple taking $213,000
00:14:36.220 in distributions from the venture capital firm and $3,000 from the winery.
00:14:41.560 Omar's aides say the congresswoman did look at the form before filing it in 2025,
00:14:46.580 but the $6 to $30 million error, quote,
00:14:50.440 didn't jump off the page for her because she isn't involved with her husband's businesses
00:14:55.100 and she trusted the accuracy of the accountant who provided her husband's figures.
00:15:00.660 Fellow congressman from Minnesota, Republican Tom Emmer, Saturday on Fox News.
00:15:06.040 Ilhan Omar is a complete fraud. It's amazing what kind of a con artist this woman is. She went from
00:15:11.980 65,000 net worth that she was reporting on her congressional disclosures to reporting over 30
00:15:17.680 million in net worth in just a few years. And guess what? Now she comes out and says, oh,
00:15:23.200 that was a mistake on our disclosures. I just took a quick look at it and missed it. You know,
00:15:28.960 not only should her accountant be fired, but that girl should be fired and she does not deserve to
00:15:33.800 be in Congress. Quite frankly, if she is discovered to be involved in any of this fraud personally,
00:15:39.960 that she benefited from it, even by her actions of promoting it and trying to resist investigations,
00:15:46.100 she should be held accountable to the fullest extent.
00:15:50.460 President Trump on Saturday signing an executive order that fast-tracks research and FDA review
00:15:56.420 of certain psychedelic drugs as treatments for mental health issues like PTSD and addiction.
00:16:03.080 The president, surrounded by a number of public officials and research advocates, including
00:16:07.240 top podcast host Joe Rogan, HHS Secretary RFKJ, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty McCary,
00:16:13.620 and retired Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell. Mr. Trump elaborating on the scope of the order
00:16:19.080 from the Oval. It directs the FDA to expedite their review of certain psychedelics already
00:16:27.240 designated as breakthrough therapy drugs. They're very much being discussed. If these turn out to
00:16:33.600 be as good as people are saying, it's going to have a tremendous impact on this country and
00:16:38.740 other countries too. These treatments are currently in the advanced stages of clinical
00:16:43.580 trials to ensure that they're both safe and effective for the American patients. Research
00:16:48.840 has been going on for quite some time, but you know, usually with things like this, nothing
00:16:54.260 ever happens, no matter how the research ends up, but we're changing that. This order will
00:16:59.220 clear away unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, improve data sharing among the FDA and the
00:17:05.480 Department of Veterans Affairs and facilitate fast rescheduling of any psychedelic drugs that
00:17:11.660 become FDA-approved. Hallucinogens are currently classified by the DEA as Schedule 1 substances,
00:17:18.860 meaning they have, quote, no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
00:17:24.040 This executive order potentially paving the way for reclassification of psychedelic drugs that
00:17:28.820 succeed in clinical trials. Mr. Trump also announcing a $50 million investment into
00:17:34.940 researching the psychedelic drug ibogaine. In other countries where it is legal, ibogaine
00:17:40.560 center is becoming a draw for veterans with PTSD and others with long-term conditions.
00:17:46.400 More from President Trump on the early success of the drug.
00:17:49.440 In 2024, a study from Stanford University, 30 special operation veterans with traumatic
00:17:56.680 brain injuries underwent. It's called ibogaine treatment. Ibogaine. Remember the name.
00:18:04.940 and experienced an 80 to 90 percent reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety within
00:18:11.320 one month. Can I have some, please? I'll take whatever it takes.
00:18:20.220 FDA Commissioner Marty McCary in the Oval Office stressing these are not
00:18:24.600 take-home medications, but treatments administered in controlled clinical settings.
00:18:29.540 To be clear, the FDA will also have criteria and circumstances that have to be used to administer
00:18:36.680 these drugs. These drugs can have side effects. And so it's not like you go to the pharmacy and
00:18:42.600 pick it up. It's like medications that are administered in an ICU or an operating room.
00:18:48.740 There are criteria for doing it in a controlled setting. Rogan, a vocal advocate for psychedelic
00:18:54.900 treatments, especially for veterans, sharing the incredible way this order came together.
00:19:00.020 I want to tell everybody how this happened. I sent President Trump some information.
00:19:04.660 We have a gigantic opiate problem in this country, obviously. In 2024, more than 80,000 people died
00:19:11.260 of overdoses. It's a horrible number. And there's more than 5 million people that are addicted to
00:19:18.160 opiates right now in this country. With one dose of Ibogaine, more than 80% of people are free of
00:19:24.040 that addiction with two doses it's more than 90 percent I sent him that
00:19:28.240 information the text message but came back sounds great do you want FDA
00:19:33.640 approval let's do it literally that quick these drugs are illegal not because
00:19:40.480 they're harmful they're illegal because of the 1970 controlled substances act
00:19:45.460 that was passed by the Richard Nixon administration we're free of that now
00:19:49.440 We're free of that now. Thanks to all these people that we see next to me. And thanks to President Trump.
00:19:56.280 Remarkable.
00:19:58.900 And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show live on Sirius XM's The Megan Kelly Channel 111 at noon east on youtube.com slash Megan Kelly and on all podcast platforms.