00:00:00.000Good morning, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Tuesday, July 21st, 2026, and this is your AM
00:00:08.440Update. I'm a Mainer, a dad, a fifth-generation logger from Alligax. I'm a progressive. Far-left
00:00:15.760candidate Troy Jackson effectively securing the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican
00:00:21.140Senator Susan Collins in Maine. So who is he? Mr. Arbaca was looking to injure people and harm
00:00:28.880people. He had two axes, a hammer, a machete, and three knives. An alleged anti-ice extremist
00:00:39.000setting a fire outside a Manhattan federal building, then shooting a pellet gun before
00:00:43.640agents taking him down. Britain getting its seventh prime minister in a decade as the Labor
00:00:49.280Party replaces Keir Starmer with the so-called King of the North. And President Trump revealing
00:00:54.820his new Air Force One plane will soon receive additional security upgrades.
00:01:00.600All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.
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00:02:06.640help build your foundation with gold. Text MK to the number 989898. Former Maine State Senate
00:02:15.480President Troy Jackson effectively securing the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican
00:02:20.860Senator Susan Collins after dominating the party's delegate selection process over the weekend.
00:02:27.380More than two-thirds of the delegates expected to attend the party's statewide convention this
00:02:31.580Saturday now committed to supporting Jackson, though they are not legally bound to support him.
00:02:37.800Jackson's commanding lead prompting all four of his major opponents to withdraw from the primary
00:02:42.640by Sunday evening, including Maine Secretary of State Shanna Bellows and former state public
00:02:48.620health official Nirav Shah. Trans candidate Ashley Webb, also vying for the nomination
00:02:55.520and formerly known as James, has not dropped out, however. He's busy telling constituents that he
00:03:01.360would never lie to them as he deletes earlier Reddit posts claiming he menstruates out of his0.98
00:03:06.880backside. So there's that. The hastily organized convention set to formally replace progressive0.73
00:03:12.620Graham Plattner, who won the June primary but dropped out earlier this month after a former
00:03:17.380girlfriend accused him of raping her. Plattner denies the allegations. Jackson entering the
00:03:23.320race with strong support from the party's progressive wing and many former Plattner
00:03:27.680supporters. The fifth-generation logger and former state Senate president, backed by California
00:03:33.260Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, and Our Revolution, the political group founded by
00:03:38.820independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders and the main chapter of the
00:03:44.220Democratic Socialists of America also endorsing Jackson during his unsuccessful campaign for
00:03:49.620governor earlier this year. Jackson presenting himself as a candidate who can form a broad
00:03:54.820enough coalition to unseat Senator Collins. Together, we can fix what's broken in Washington.
00:04:01.260We can pass Medicare for all. We can take on corporate power and the politicians in their
00:04:06.000pocket. We can take our country back. We can create the future Mainers and Americans deserve.
00:04:13.020I've been fighting this fight for 30 years, and I'm sure as hell not backing down now.
00:04:17.980I'm a Mainer, a dad, a fifth-generation logger from Allagash. I'm a progressive. I've been tested.
00:04:25.500I've won time and time again in deep red Trump country by double digits. I've won in progressive
00:04:30.880cities like Portland and Bangor. I know what a tough fight looks like, and I know how to win.
00:04:36.000With the nomination effectively secured, Jackson now facing the far more difficult task of taking
00:04:41.020on Senator Collins, who has repeatedly defeated well-funded Democrat challengers since first
00:04:46.400winning her Senate seat in 1996. We spoke with Maine Wire editor-in-chief Stephen Robinson
00:04:53.180about Jackson's record and the political vulnerabilities that could follow him into
00:04:57.800the general election. The Maine Wire reporting earlier this month on an allegation circulated
00:05:02.800by the progressive organization Progressive Victory, claiming Jackson once threw a water
00:05:07.980bottle that struck a female colleague during a heated disagreement. People associated with
00:05:13.580Jackson denying the accusation. Since Jackson began to look more viable, Progressive Victory
00:05:18.580saying it repeated the allegation, quote, in a panic without first verifying it and that it
00:05:24.760would be more responsible in the future. It did not, however, say it's untrue. Robinson says the
00:05:30.880story has circulated among Maine political insiders for years, but predicts the alleged
00:05:35.620incident is unlikely to derail Jackson's campaign, given how many accusations it took
00:05:41.200to force Plattner from the race. I mean, think about how much it took in order for actual
00:05:47.180assault allegations to become credible. You know, it had to be like a third woman coming forward
00:05:53.220doing an on-the-record televised interview with Jake Tapper. They were never going to stop
00:05:59.620supporting him and he was never going to drop out until the claims reached that level uh of you
00:06:05.440know overwhelming credibility i frankly don't even think that this will be the most um devastating or
00:06:11.320the biggest story for troy for me uh the water bottle story is um you know it's kind of a funny
00:06:16.580anecdote of his his time in augusta but it's uh he says she said thing where he claims that he
00:06:24.620threw the water bottle at the floor in frustration, while the anonymous sources repeating the
00:06:31.360perspective of an anonymous lawmaker say that it was thrown at a female lawmaker.
00:06:36.540I don't think it'll be a big deal by the end of this week.
00:06:40.160Robinson arguing Jackson's 2019 purchase of a home in Augusta, hundreds of miles outside
00:06:46.360the northern Maine district he represented, could prove far more damaging.
00:06:51.100I've spent a long time reporting on him.
00:06:52.860He abused the FHA mortgage program to buy a house in Augusta, which is 230 miles away from his district in Allagash, Maine.
00:07:03.220The FHA loan program has an occupancy clause in the mortgage.
00:07:07.160So he swore that he was going to live in Augusta as his primary residence.
00:07:11.000At the same time, he was swearing in campaign documents and filings with the Maine Ethics Commission that his primary residence was in Allagash.
00:07:19.980So both of those things can't be true.
00:07:23.660The Maine Wire first reporting on the documents in 2023 after Jackson became embroiled in a legal dispute involving the Augusta property.
00:07:32.080Jackson later acknowledging that he did not satisfy the mortgage's primary residence provision while saying he had not fully read the agreement, according to the outlet.
00:07:41.140The Maine Ethics Commission ultimately declining to investigate the allegations, with its staff concluding the commission lacked jurisdiction over some of the claims and had insufficient grounds to pursue the others, according to local outlet Maine Public.
00:07:56.140Robinson arguing the discrepancies in Jackson's federal mortgage paperwork could still expose him to charges, depending on whether Maine's current U.S. attorney decides to pursue the case.
00:08:06.460When he got the mortgage in the first place, there was a Biden appointee who has since gotten a judgeship from the Mills administration.
00:08:16.440So kind of a loyal Democrat would be reluctant to file charges against the Senate president.
00:08:21.280But now you have an appointee from President Trump.
00:08:26.200So the U.S. attorney right now could bring fraud charges against Troy Jackson for mortgage fraud.
00:08:31.520We asked Robinson whether Jackson can generate the same enthusiasm among
00:08:35.960Maine Democrats that Graham Plattner brought to the race.
00:08:39.340Not at all. They're two very different animals. I mean, they're both holding hands with Bernie0.72
00:08:43.660Sanders, but Jackson is not the natural performer that Graham Plattner is. I don't think he has the
00:08:49.880same vigor and energy. He has his own way of being a talented politician, and he can connect with
00:08:56.540people. He can play friendly enough. But there's no grassroots movement for Jackson.
00:09:03.320Robinson says Jackson's delegate advantage reflects the party's insider-driven replacement
00:09:08.040process more than broad voter enthusiasm. Robinson nevertheless arguing Jackson still
00:09:13.960has a plausible path against Senator Collins. The demographics of the state have changed.
00:09:19.860beginning with COVID. Something like 30,000 people have moved here, mostly wealthy boomers
00:09:27.340trying to get out of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, and they've brought
00:09:31.000their politics with them. Based on the way the demographics have shifted, it's still just about
00:09:36.260even in terms of party enrollment with a slight advantage to the Democrats. For that reason,
00:09:40.560I would still put it at about a coin flip odds for Troy Jackson. But I think that Susan Collins,
00:09:46.380She's the best at winning the elections in history.
00:09:52.700A former Army soldier accused of setting a fire and opening fire with a pellet gun
00:09:58.340outside a federal building in Lower Manhattan in what the FBI is calling an anti-government attack.
00:10:04.960Authorities say 43-year-old Andrew Arabaca arriving at the employee entrance of 26 Federal Plaza
00:10:11.880shortly before nine o'clock yesterday morning, pouring gasoline onto the ground and igniting it
00:10:18.040using a lighter and a large firework inside a canister. The flames climbing several feet into
00:10:23.840the air before Ara Baca allegedly pulled out an airsoft rifle and fired between five and seven
00:10:30.400pellets toward the building. Video from the scene showing the suspect retreating toward a cart
00:10:35.280as a federal officer moved to confront him. The building housing federal immigration courts,
00:10:41.000the local ICE field office, FBI offices, and several other government agencies.
00:10:46.180FBI assistant director in charge, James Barnacle, at a press conference yesterday
00:10:50.500describing what investigators have learned about the suspect.
00:10:54.300He was enlisted for approximately four years, serving from 2001 to 2005. He was a repairman
00:11:00.880or mechanic on Patriot missile systems. Mr. Arabaka was looking to injure people and harm0.96
00:11:07.840people. He had two axes, a hammer, a machete, and three knives, fixed blade knives. He had,
00:11:19.600as I said earlier, six incendiary devices or fireworks, and he had some other destructive
00:11:25.040items. On his cart, he had a cart. He had anti-ICE literature on it. When he was being arrested,
00:11:33.720he yelled derogatory terms to ICE, used bad words, obviously. He is an anti-American,
00:11:41.540anti-government extremist. We know that from what he said. We know that from what he has
00:11:47.640said post-arrest. And we know that from what his actions that he tried to take today.
00:11:53.880NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch saying the cart carried a sign reading, quote,
00:11:58.380ice off our streets. Barnacle saying the suspect admitted after his arrest that he deliberately
00:12:04.700targeted the building and did not care whether federal employees or civilians were injured or
00:12:09.800killed. The FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force now leading the investigation,
00:12:15.260with assistance from the NYPD, the fire department, and city fire marshals.
00:12:20.180Two government employees and one civilian suffering minor injuries in the incident yesterday.
00:12:25.840New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani releasing a statement calling the incident, quote,
00:12:30.300deeply disturbing and expressing relief that no one was seriously injured and the suspect was taken into custody.
00:12:36.740Federal Plaza becoming the focus of anti-ICE demonstrations in New York since President Trump returned to office last year.
00:12:44.280Protesters and Democrat elected officials arrested there in September while attempting to enter an area where ICE was holding migrants, according to The New York Times.
00:14:58.300who officially submitted his resignation to King Charles yesterday morning,
00:15:02.640just two years after leading the Labour Party to a landslide election victory.
00:15:06.940Starmer announcing last month that he would step down
00:15:09.640following a string of controversies and heavy labor losses in Britain's local elections.
00:15:15.080Burnham previously serving nearly a decade as mayor of Greater Manchester, earning the nickname
00:15:20.500the King of the North due to his push to move political power and public investment beyond
00:15:25.040London to the rest of the country. The 56-year-old previously serving 16 years in parliament
00:15:30.980and holding cabinet positions under former Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
00:15:37.500The UK's parliamentary system allows Burnham to take office without a nationwide vote
00:15:42.500because voters elect members of parliament,
00:15:45.580and the leader of the party controlling the House of Commons ordinarily becomes the prime minister.
00:15:51.040That means the governing Labour Party was permitted to replace Starmer with its new leader
00:15:55.600without holding another general election.
00:15:57.980The UK's next election does not have to take place until 2029,
00:16:02.280though Burnham could call one earlier.
00:16:04.160In his first remarks outside 10 Downing Street, Burnham calling for a new period of stability and national unity.
00:16:10.940I am acutely conscious that I am the sixth person in the last 10 years to walk up this street, the seventh prime minister since 2016, making this a moment for reflection and new resolution.
00:16:30.580It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game and rise to the new challenge.
00:16:41.780Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again.
00:16:50.240And that is our challenge, to make politics work, to make it work better.
00:16:56.360let's build a new national sense of unity of common purpose and positivity let us make this
00:17:07.280the moment when britain starts to believe again the moment we bring back hope burnham's relationship
00:17:15.760with president trump already appearing to get off to an uneven start asked last month by a
00:17:21.880reporter about Burnham, President Trump responding. You mentioned that our prime minister has got one
00:17:27.580foot out the door. The new guy's coming in, Andy Burnham. What do you know about him,
00:17:31.520Mr. President? And what does he need to do to improve the relationship between our two countries?
00:17:35.560The new incoming prime minister, Andy Burnham. I don't know anything. I see that he was, I guess,
00:17:39.520the mayor of a town. I hear he's extremely liberal, extremely. So that means he probably
00:17:47.760won't open up the North Sea. The oil-rich region currently closed to new exploration licenses under
00:17:54.420the Labour government's climate policies, despite pressure from President Trump to dramatically
00:17:58.920expand drilling. However, the president striking a far more enthusiastic tone over the weekend
00:18:05.080after the BBC reported Burnham was preparing to announce new North Sea oil and gas drilling.
00:18:11.440Mr. Trump writing on Truth Social that expanded drilling would, quote,
00:18:14.420make the United Kingdom from a poverty-stricken disaster to one of the richest countries anywhere
00:18:19.980in the world. Burnham speaking with President Trump shortly after taking office yesterday
00:18:24.320afternoon and inviting him to visit Manchester in the future. President Trump announcing his
00:18:30.920new Air Force One will undergo additional security upgrades following questions about
00:18:35.900whether the Qatari-donated jet is equipped for higher-risk international travel. The president
00:18:41.780making the switch to the new Air Force One at the start of this month. A reporter asking the
00:18:46.480president about the plane's missile defense capabilities Sunday night after he returned
00:18:51.260to Washington from the World Cup final in New Jersey. It has a lot and, you know, it has a lot
00:18:57.480of capability, but as I understand it, in about a month or so, they're going to send it to have it
00:19:02.940be maxed out. So they're going to be sending it and they'll have it be maxed out and think about
00:19:08.420a month. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt telling CBS News, quote, the new Air Force
00:19:13.880One is perfectly safe for the president's travels, but will receive additional upgrades and
00:19:18.960enhancements in the fall, which will take approximately one month to complete. Levitt
00:19:24.240adding that during that time, the president will travel on the old Air Force One. The plane's
00:19:29.580security capabilities drawing attention earlier this month, after President Trump unexpectedly
00:19:34.080switched to the older Air Force One while leaving the NATO summit in Turkey, just days after making
00:19:39.960the switch to the new plane. The president posting to Truth Social at the time that the change was
00:19:44.940made so American service members at Mildenhall Air Force Base in the UK could tour what he called
00:19:51.720the quote, brand new and truly spectacular aircraft. The New York Times reporting, however, that the
00:19:57.380Secret Service urged the switch as a precaution after hostilities with Iran resumed. The Air
00:20:03.840describing the Qatari-donated jet as a temporary bridge aircraft, intended for use until Boeing
00:20:10.140delivers two long-overdue permanent replacements for the aging presidential fleet. President Trump
00:20:16.880saying the plane will eventually be placed in his presidential library after he leaves office,
00:20:22.120presumably after it is fully, quote, maxed out. And that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megan
00:20:29.640kelly join me back here for the mk show live on sirius xm's the megan kelly channel 111 at noon
00:20:34.860east on youtube.com slash megan kelly and on all podcast platforms