Inside Talarico's Progressive Church, Google’s Mosquito Plan, Scientist Remains Found： AM Update 6⧸2
Episode Stats
Harmful content
Misogyny
2
sentences flagged
Toxicity
3
sentences flagged
Hate speech
5
sentences flagged
Summary
On today s AM Update, we hear about a woman who was murdered in her own home, a scientist who disappeared in New Mexico, and a man who was kidnapped in plainclothes by plainclothed police officers. All that and more coming up on this morning's AM Update.
Transcript
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Good morning, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026, and this is your AM
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Update. Christ is the immigrant deported without due process. Christ is the senior deprived of
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their social security benefits. Texas Democrat James Tallarico finding himself under more
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scrutiny as new details emerge about his very progressive church in Austin. Tech giant Google
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seeking federal approval to release millions of lab-raised mosquitoes in Florida and California.
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Talks between the U.S. and Iran appear completely stalled
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as President Trump tries to downplay the need for further negotiations at all.
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My cousin got home from work and found all of Melissa's belongings at home.
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and the remains of one of the scientists tied to a prominent nuclear facility,
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whom mysteriously went missing last year, are found in New Mexico.
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All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.
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like SimpliSafe. As Texas's U.S. Senate race continues to gain national attention,
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Democratic candidate James Tallarico coming under fresh scrutiny. New reporting putting
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a spotlight on Tallarico's church and the various progressive, and in many cases,
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controversial causes it supports. The Daily Wire uncovering St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
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in Austin, directs a portion of its budget annually to, quote, support community organizations that
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share our vision and goals for the world, including abortion provider Planned Parenthood,
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and also a project called Field of Hope, which directs funds to groups like the Lilith Fund
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and Jane's Due Process, both of which pay to help facilitate out-of-state travel for women,
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many of whom are minors, to get abortions. Tallarico previously speaking about how his
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support for the issue is grounded in the biblical account of an angel visiting the Virgin Mary
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and telling her that she would miraculously conceive and give birth to Jesus Christ,
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which Tallarico suggests means Mary became pregnant by consent, intimating that therefore
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the pro-choice position is biblical. Tallarico often blending politics with religion both on
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the campaign trail and in St. Andrew's Church, where he is a seminarian. In a 2025 Easter sermon,
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Tallarico comparing Jesus Christ to a deported immigrant and a, quote, kidnapped protester.
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Christ said what we do for the least of these, we do for him. So where is Christ today? Christ
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is the immigrant deported without due process. Christ is the senior deprived of their social
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security benefits. Christ is the protester kidnapped in an unmarked vehicle by plainclothes
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officers. Christ is the student sitting in an overcrowded classroom in a defunded school.
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Tallarico's congregation also backing a group called Out Youth Austin, which offers a summer
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camp for kids between the ages of 11 and 17 who identify as gay or transgender. The organization
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saying that recent unspecified, quote, political actions in Texas have, quote, caused distress for,
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quote, trans and non-binary youth, and points to a number of radical groups that support
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transgender medical procedures on children. Tallarico advocating for so-called trans kids
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over the course of his career. In 2021, the Democrat making his now infamous comments about
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God being non-binary while speaking on the Texas statehouse floor. In one video posted to the
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church's YouTube channel in September 2024, Tallarico is seen in front of a rainbow curtain
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speaking about the church's embrace of same-sex marriage and more.
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This church showed me what democracy looks like.
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This church showed me what that commitment looks like.
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In the 1990s, this church risked everything to bless same-sex marriages.
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In the 2000s, this church sparked controversy by allowing an atheist to join our congregation.
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As we speak, this church is providing sanctuary to a mother and son seeking asylum from violence in Guatemala.
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In addition to delivering sermons at St. Andrews, Tallarico was also baptized there as a toddler.
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Today, children have access to a library stocked with, quote, banned books,
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including titles that address sexuality, gender identity, and LGBTQ experiences.
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Also making headlines is Tallarico's mysterious girlfriend,
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revealed by Texas outlet Current Revolt as 30-year-old Brianna Menard.
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Menard, who now works as a lobbyist for the Texas Medical Association,
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formerly working as chief of staff in Tallarico's Texas house office.
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The New York Post discovering she is a self-described, quote,
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committed vegan who enjoys dancing at an Austin gay bar known as Cheer Up Charlie's
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and also snuggling with her, quote, perfect cat Zia.
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Tallarico recently describing Menard as his, quote, rock,
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crediting her with helping him navigate the demands of a high-profile Senate campaign
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With November inching closer, new polling showing Tallarico with a slight edge in Texas.
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The latest survey from Texas Public Opinion Research
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showing him leading Republican State Attorney General Ken Paxton by three points,
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47 to 44 percent among likely voters. The margin of error for the poll is plus or minus 2.8 points.
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That poll being conducted days after Paxton defeated longtime Senator John Cornyn in the
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GOP primary last week, also finding some Cornyn supporters remain undecided or are considering
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backing Tallarico in November. In the Real Clear Politics polling average, Tallarico holding a
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slight 1.5-point lead, although those polls contain data going back to January. The general
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election in this hotly contested race is November 3rd. When you hear the word debugging from a tech
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company, you probably think of software, not physical bugs. But Google's parent company,
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Alphabet, has something completely different in mind. The tech giant seeking federal approval to
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release up to 32 million mosquitoes in Florida and California over a two-year period as part of its
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DEBUG program, the effort hoping to curb the spread of diseases like dengue fever,
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Zika, and chikungunya, the plan relying on male mosquitoes infected with a naturally occurring
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bacteria called Wolbachia. Scientists saying these males cannot produce viable offspring with
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wild females, causing mosquito populations to decline over time. Google saying the approach
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offers an alternative to pesticides, which can lose effectiveness and may pose environmental
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concerns. Because only female mosquitoes bite, who knew? Researchers say the released mosquitoes
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would not spread disease among humans. Residents in Florida with mixed reaction on 10 Tampa Bay
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News. Mosquitoes are the number one cause of death of humans. I mean, why not? We'll help
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think he's been raised. I think it's interesting. I'm not sure about whether I want it in my backyard
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because there could be a lot of things that go wrong. You know, when you make a commitment like
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that, you really can't step back from it. If it's proven to work and it's going to keep them from
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breeding more, I guess it could work. Meanwhile, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin last week taking to
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social media to refute claims that his agency had authorized the release of mosquitoes. Zeldin
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writing on X, quote, entirely fake news. At no point since President Trump was sworn back into
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office has the Trump EPA authorized the release of any genetically modified mosquitoes into Florida
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or anywhere else for that matter. The EPA currently reviewing Google's proposal and
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accepting public comment before making a final decision. Google's debug project was originally
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part of Google's moonshot factory programs aimed at solving some of the world's most pressing
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problems. Among the technologies to come from this program, Google's self-driving cars. Given
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the distrust many Americans have for big tech and its growing intrusions into American life,
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many expressing concerns with letting Google send insects into our backyards. Filmmaker and
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heritage fellow Robbie Starbuck writing on X, quote, I want everyone to stop and ask what
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interest Google has in releasing mosquitoes. They're a tech company, not an environmental
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group, not a nonprofit, not a government, a tech company. Just like Bill Gates, I don't want them
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anywhere near our wildlife or nature. Coming up, negotiations with Iran coming to a complete
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standstill as President Trump says he, quote, couldn't care less if they end. And New Mexico
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state police say the remains of a missing Los Alamos National Laboratory employee
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have been found nearly one year after she went missing.
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President Donald Trump delivering mixed messages yesterday about the future of U.S.-Iran nuclear
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negotiations, saying he would not be concerned if the talks collapsed, while later insisting
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they remain on track. Mr. Trump telling CNBC in a phone interview that he, quote,
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couldn't care less if negotiations with Iran end, saying, quote, if they're over, they're over.
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The president going on, saying he thought, quote, they started to get very boring.
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The president's comments coming after reports that Iran is suspending indirect communications
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with Washington following renewed tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
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President Trump holding a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday,
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which went, well, we report, you decide. President Trump writing on True Social, quote,
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I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel, and there will be no
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troops going to Beirut, and any troops that are on their way have already been turned back.
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Likewise, through highly placed representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they
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agreed that all shooting will stop, that Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack
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Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu countering with his own statement, writing on X, quote,
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I spoke with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities
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and citizens, Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut. This stance of ours remains unchanged.
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In parallel, the IDF will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon.
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Axios reporting the phone call between President Trump and the Israeli prime minister got
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quite heated. A U.S. official familiar with the conversation telling the outlet,
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Mr. Trump lashing out at Mr. Netanyahu, telling the Israeli leader, quote,
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you're effing crazy, and later reportedly telling him, quote, you'd be in prison if it weren't for
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me. I'm saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.
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Meanwhile, President Trump insisting that talks with Iran are still moving forward,
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despite reports of a diplomatic freeze and his, quote, boredom with them. Writing on True Social,
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talks are continuing at a rapid pace with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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Iranian-linked media suggesting Tehran could seek to completely close
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the already severely restricted Strait of Hormuz.
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with oil prices climbing on fears of a wider regional conflict
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and further potential disruptions to global supplies.
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New Mexico State Police say the remains of Melissa Casillas have been found.
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Casillas, a longtime employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory, or LANL, among a growing
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number of employees connected to nuclear research, national laboratories, or advanced space and
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propulsion work, who have died or disappeared since 2022. LANL has long been tied to nuclear
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weapons research. Police say 54-year-old Casillas, who disappeared in June of 2025,
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was found by a hiker in a remote area of Carson National Forest, roughly six miles from where
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Casillas was last seen, walking alone along a state highway. Investigators say a handgun also
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discovered nearby, though the cause of death remains unknown as we await a determination
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from the state medical investigator. Her family issuing the following statement,
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quote, we confirm that the remains found in Rio Chiquito are Melissa. There will be more
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information to come, but what we can tell you now is she was located in an area previously searched.
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This is a lot to process. Our hearts are heavy and we fully intend to continue to pursue answers
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for justice. Casillas' disappearance baffling both investigators and her family, her niece
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detailing her behavior to local outlet KOAT last year. At some point, she took a break
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and picked up Subway and dropped it off for her daughter, my cousin, Sierra,
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at the coffee shop where she works in the Taos Plaza area.
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My cousin got home from work and found all of Melissa's belongings at home.
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Her purse, her phones, her car, her keys, everything was at home.
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Casillas' sister explaining how uncharacteristic her disappearance was.
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All of her friends keep telling us this is not like her. First of all, she wouldn't leave her
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daughter. Absolutely. She loves, adores her daughter. She would not leave her.
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Of the at least 11 government employees or scientists found dead or missing since 2022,
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certain cases drawing extra scrutiny due to overlapping details. Many of them, like Casillas,
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based in New Mexico, and, like Casillas, seen leaving their homes on foot with little more
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than a handgun. Anthony Chavez, who along with Casillas was connected to the LANL,
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disappearing in May of last year after also walking away from his home. In August of last year,
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48-year-old Stephen Garcia, a contractor working at an Albuquerque facility producing components
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for nuclear weapons, vanishing after leaving his home on foot. And earlier this year, retired Air
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Force Major General William Neal McCasland, a former head of the Air Force Research Laboratory,
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disappearing from his Albuquerque home, reportedly also leaving on foot with only a handgun.
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These cases and more garnering lots of attention from the public and even drawing the attention of
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government officials, including President Trump, who recently weighed in to reporters outside the
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White House. The FBI, the Department of Energy, and the Department of War announcing in April
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they are now jointly investigating the cases and any connections they may have.
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and that'll do it for your am update i'm megan kelly join me back here for the mk show live on
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sirius xm's the megan kelly channel 111 at noon east on youtube.com slash megan kelly and on all
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