The Megyn Kelly Show - August 12, 2026


Tafoya and Graham Advance, El-Sayed’s Hidden History, Trump’s Air Force One Fake-Out: AM Update 8⧸12


Episode Stats


Length

18 minutes

Words per minute

166.93

Word count

3,125

Sentence count

144

Harmful content

Misogyny

5

sentences flagged

Hate speech

4

sentences flagged


Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
Misogyny classifications generated with MilaNLProc/bert-base-uncased-ear-misogyny .
Hate speech classifications generated with facebook/roberta-hate-speech-dynabench-r4-target .
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00:00:26.420 hey good morning everyone i'm mark calprin host of next up with mark calprin filling in today
00:00:34.040 for megan kelly it's wednesday august 12th 2026 and this is your am update primary voters across
00:00:40.860 several states making their choices and closely watch senate and governor's races with major
00:00:45.520 contests in minnesota south carolina and wisconsin if i could tweak one thing about the constitution
00:00:50.660 it would be two words in the second amendment democratic nominee for u.s senate in michigan
00:00:55.920 Abdul El Saad scrubbed online history, revealing a trail of radical takes from guns on the border
00:01:02.080 to fireworks and football. This, quite frankly, was very creative. It worked. But the main thing
00:01:08.880 here is that the president got home safe. And President Trump's team pulling off an elaborate
00:01:14.600 airport fake out to dodge a possible Iranian assassination plot involving a decoy plane and
00:01:20.980 an airport catering truck. All that and more coming up on your AM Update.
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00:02:29.740 Voters in several key states heading to the polls yesterday, including Minnesota,
00:02:33.780 Connecticut, Vermont, and Wisconsin, along with a special election in South Carolina and Alabama.
00:02:39.680 In Minnesota, Democrats and Republicans choosing nominees in a pair of closely-watched races for
00:02:44.600 U.S. Senate and governor. On the Republican side, former sports broadcaster Michelle Tafoya
00:02:49.840 entering Election Day as the overwhelming polling favorite,
00:02:53.700 facing a nine-candidate field that includes former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarzscher
00:02:58.040 and former NBA player Royce White,
00:03:00.760 the eventual nominee trying to end a two-decade drought for Minnesota Republicans
00:03:05.220 who have not elected a candidate to statewide office since 2006.
00:03:10.120 At the end of the night, Minnesota Republicans choosing Michelle Tafoya
00:03:13.300 as their nominee for U.S. Senate.
00:03:15.640 Tafoya speaking after her victory.
00:03:17.480 Our message took our message resonated with people. We know here in Minnesota that this state is going in the wrong direction at the speed of sound.
00:03:27.140 And that breaks a lot of Minnesotans hearts, mine especially. But so many Minnesotans are sad about it.
00:03:33.340 They're either leaving their businesses are leaving. But I hope this gives them hope that we can change things,
00:03:39.800 Because this single party rule that we have had in this state for years, Katie, has brought us to this point of embarrassment, of fraud, of low school scores, test scores, reading scores of elevated crime.
00:03:53.940 And the only way we're going to get out of that is by not continuing to reelect the same people who got us here.
00:04:01.560 So we think that message was sent loud and clear and we're thrilled.
00:04:06.300 The Democratic contest, meanwhile, coming down to moderate Congresswoman Angie Craig
00:04:10.300 and progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in one of the latest tests of the ideological divide inside the Democratic Party.
00:04:18.640 Minnesota Democrats going to the left, choosing Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan.
00:04:23.180 Minnesota Republicans also choosing their nominee for governor, with Trump-backed MyPillow founder Mike Lindell
00:04:28.980 entering primary day ahead of his two leading rivals, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Damuth
00:04:34.560 and businessman Kendall Qualls.
00:04:37.120 Voters ultimately choosing Dameth as their nominee.
00:04:40.540 The night's winner to face Democrat Senator Amy Klobuchar in November,
00:04:44.000 who enters the general election as the clear favorite in current polling.
00:04:48.240 South Carolina Republicans, meanwhile, voting last night in a special primary
00:04:51.620 to choose a new Senate nominee following the sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham last month.
00:04:56.820 His sister, Darlene Graham, now temporarily filling the vacancy
00:04:59.980 and entering Election Day as the Trump-backed frontrunner in a crowded field.
00:05:04.560 At the end of the night, Darlene Graham and Congressman Ralph Norman finishing in the top two spots, advancing to an August 25th runoff.
00:05:12.840 Here, Graham addressing supporters.
00:05:15.160 First, I want to say that this is a very emotional night because I'm usually standing here celebrating with Lindsey.
00:05:24.920 So I know he's looking down right now, smiling, though.
00:05:28.720 So that gives me peace, but it's difficult.
00:05:31.460 Secondly, I want to say thank you. Thank you to God for carrying my family and me through some of the most challenging times we've ever had the past few weeks. It's been extremely difficult.
00:05:44.440 I want to thank President Trump. His steadfast support and his complete and total endorsement
00:05:54.200 means so much to me. He knows that I will stand with him and fight for his agenda just like
00:06:00.900 Lindsey did. The Republican Senate nominee set to face Democratic Party pediatrician
00:06:06.360 Annie Andrews in the November 3rd general election in a state expected to heavily favor
00:06:11.620 the Republican candidate. And in Wisconsin, Democratic Socialist State Representative
00:06:16.300 Francesca Hong entering Election Day with a commanding polling lead over the more moderate 0.78
00:06:21.000 Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Hong drawing renewed scrutiny over past calls to
00:06:26.100 defund and ultimately abolish the police, along with a 2020 push to cancel Thanksgiving,
00:06:31.920 which she described as a celebration of colonialism and an original, quote,
00:06:36.200 super spreader event. As of 11 p.m. last night, Wisconsin's Democratic race for governor still
00:06:41.700 too close to call. The winner set to face Trump-backed Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany
00:06:46.880 in November. Coming up, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed under
00:06:53.760 new scrutiny after CNN uncovers years of deleted and hidden commentary, including some eye-opening
00:06:59.900 takes on guns and football. And new reporting reveals the extraordinary length President
00:07:04.740 Trump's team went to it in order to dodge a possible Iranian threat, including an unlikely
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00:08:18.360 MK at takelean.com. Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed,
00:08:26.060 facing new scrutiny over a digital past he apparently did not want following him into the
00:08:30.760 general election. CNN's K-File reporting El Syed made at least 100 videos on his YouTube channel
00:08:37.060 Private before narrowly winning last week's Democratic primary. Archived transcripts
00:08:42.300 revealing years of commentary on everything from the Second Amendment and the southern border
00:08:46.700 to Fourth of July fireworks and even football. El Syed defeating moderate Democratic Congresswoman
00:08:52.400 Haley Stevens by roughly one percentage point last Tuesday, setting up a November showdown
00:08:57.600 with Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers in a race poised to help determine control 0.99
00:09:03.080 of the U.S. Senate.
00:09:04.620 The newly uncovered videos adding to a pattern of El-Sayed removing portions of his online
00:09:09.160 history as he seeks elective office.
00:09:11.980 K-File previously revealing El-Sayed deleted social media posts supporting the defund the
00:09:16.560 police movement, saying in 2020, quote, we do need to defund the police.
00:09:21.460 Elsad since insisting he never called for defunding law enforcement, arguing those previous comments were taken out of context.
00:09:28.640 Apparently, policing was not the only constitutional issue on his mind.
00:09:32.780 In a since-removed April 2023 YouTube video, Elsad floating the idea of replacing the Second Amendment's right to bear arms with a constitutional right to health care.
00:09:43.340 El Saad, making a very similar argument in a separate episode of his America Dissected podcast,
00:09:49.040 released that same month, which remains publicly available on Apple Podcasts.
00:09:53.780 Imagine what America might be if we took access to health care as seriously as some people take access to guns.
00:09:58.700 If I could tweak one thing about the Constitution, it would be two words in the Second Amendment,
00:10:03.900 from the right to bear arms to the right to have health care. 0.92
00:10:06.660 Guns take a lot of lives in America.
00:10:08.720 Health care? Health care saves them. 1.00
00:10:10.120 His campaign responding to CNN saying, quote, El-Sahed respects the Second Amendment while
00:10:15.240 supporting policies aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.
00:10:19.840 Another now private video from September 2022 showing El-Sahed taking aim at Republican
00:10:24.720 concern over the southern border, calling in an issue the party, quote, loves to flog
00:10:29.720 while arguing it did not even rank among the five biggest issues affecting Americans lives.
00:10:34.320 The campaign responding to CNN that El-Sahed, quote, has long argued for immigration reform
00:10:39.000 keeps the southern border safe and secure and has criticized isis recent actions under the trump
00:10:44.760 administration elsad also taking aim at some distinctly american traditions a july 2024 video
00:10:52.040 asking americans whether they could quote please find another way to celebrate the 4th of july
00:10:57.000 giving viewers four reasons quote why fireworks suck the since removed video featuring a section
00:11:03.000 titled quote fireworks just aren't worth it hear us out with outside citing air pollution chemicals
00:11:09.320 risk to children and pets and the possibility that fireworks could trigger ptsd among veterans and
00:11:15.800 then there's football unlike many of the other clips uncovered by k-file this one is still
00:11:21.400 publicly available else had in a february 2023 episode of his podcast questioning whether the
00:11:27.080 the sport could ever be quote ethical or quote safe before connecting football's culture to that
00:11:33.500 of the slave trade i'm out there um hitting somebody trying to hit them harder than than
00:11:38.940 they hit me um recognizing that both of us are at risk of injury all because we got to tell
00:11:44.740 ourselves that we're stronger faster more powerful and you know let alone and like in our own lives
00:11:50.180 it has destructive consequences let alone what that tells us about where our country does right
00:11:53.200 You think about all the wars that we fight abroad, all of the sordid history of oppressing other people in the name of this American idea, right? 0.65
00:12:01.660 Whether it was, quote, manifest destiny and destroying Native Americans or it was the transatlantic slave trade where, you know, folks who, quote, founded this country on the backs of Native folks that they destroyed then captured people, enslaved them and had them work their fields because they thought it was their right. 0.79
00:12:23.740 Right. And all of this, like a lot of these narratives you kind of see echoed in the ethos of football.
00:12:27.700 His campaign pushing back on the significance of the resurfaced material, telling CNN,
00:12:32.800 quote, Abdul is the former captain of his high school football team, loves Michigan football
00:12:37.520 on Saturdays and celebrates the 4th of July with fireworks like the next Michigander.
00:12:43.000 Cherry-picked comments from old podcasts don't reflect his beliefs today.
00:12:48.560 A newly revealed security operation showing just how far President Trump's team
00:12:53.420 reportedly went to keep him safe from a possible Iranian assassination attempt
00:12:57.880 involving three airplanes, a decoy flight, and one very unusual ride across a Turkish airport.
00:13:05.120 The Washington Post reporting the elaborate decoy operation took place
00:13:08.180 as the president left a NATO summit in Ankara last month,
00:13:11.980 a credible threat involving Iran reportedly prompting security officials
00:13:15.680 to conceal which plane was actually carrying the president.
00:13:19.540 Mr. Trump arriving in Turkey for the summit aboard the new Air Force One
00:13:22.820 gifted by cutter then as he prepared to leave on july 8th the president announcing he would
00:13:28.000 instead fly out aboard the familiar blue and white legacy air force one publicly boarding that plane
00:13:33.300 climbing the stairs and waving goodbye in full view of television cameras at least that's what
00:13:38.640 everyone watching was led to believe the post reporting within minutes of boarding the president
00:13:43.460 and several ladies slipped out through a door on the opposite side of the plane directly into an
00:13:47.920 airport catering truck that had been raised hydraulically to meet them. The truck then 0.96
00:13:52.540 lowering back down to the tarmac and driving away, reportedly carrying the president across
00:13:56.820 the airport to a third aircraft, a smaller Air Force military jet. The plane looking similar
00:14:02.360 to a smaller version of Air Force One, but this time reportedly flying Trump to Britain under the
00:14:07.040 far less conspicuous call sign Reach 18. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reportedly boarding the
00:14:13.440 smaller jets separately using ordinary exterior stairs part of the effort to make its departure
00:14:18.720 appear routine meanwhile the legacy air force one taking off with reporters and white house staff
00:14:24.800 still aboard apparently serving as the decoy the post reporting journalists aboard that plane were
00:14:30.220 instructed to close their window shades as they prepared to depart preventing them from seeing
00:14:34.880 outside activity according to the post while president trump was secretly flying aboard reach
00:14:39.500 18 the legacy plane carrying the press reportedly continued using the air force one call sign even
00:14:45.880 though the president was not aboard exactly how the president was then transferred back onto the
00:14:51.200 legacy air force one after reaching britain remains unclear however by the time cameras were
00:14:56.360 raiding at raf milton hall a u.s used military air base in england mr trump once again appearing
00:15:02.520 exactly where everyone expected him to be walking down the stairs of the presidential jet shortly
00:15:07.500 before 11 p.m. He then transferred to the newer Qatari gifted plane for the flight back to
00:15:13.260 Washington. After Mr. Trump was back aboard the new presidential jet, journalists pressing him
00:15:18.220 about the unusual order they had received to close their window shades on the previous flight.
00:15:22.800 Do you think there wasn't a security concern? No, no. Why would you? Do you know why they had us
00:15:28.440 those are our window blinds that was well yeah because uh you're probably on a dangerous slate
00:15:36.540 because if the sleaze bags that we have to deal with anything that ron was possibly thinking
00:15:41.760 well i mean if they asked you to close your windows probably they didn't ask me to close
00:15:45.900 mine but if they did i would have done it were you aware of any credible threat by iran against
00:15:50.780 her well i haven't read all the time i'm number one on their list before you but if i go you go
00:15:57.100 right so perhaps perhaps someday you want to change professions the post reporting the threat
00:16:04.100 was considered credible enough to trigger what one u.s official described as a quote
00:16:07.920 deception operation similar presidential decoy operations have reportedly been used before
00:16:13.260 when facing serious threats with the highly recognizable air force one sometimes becoming
00:16:17.540 a liability precisely because everyone knows what it looks like the white house not disputing the
00:16:23.340 Post reporting when presented with its findings, instead telling the paper that officials use
00:16:27.500 every tool available to protect the president from threats. While the operation apparently
00:16:32.620 accomplished its most important objective, getting the president safely out of Turkey
00:16:36.100 without revealing his location, the revelation that reporters themselves were kept out of the
00:16:40.640 loop apparently ruffling more than a few feathers in the media. Here, CNN and MSNOW.
00:16:47.660 It was kind of stunning to think that all those on the plane were sort of a decoy there and were
00:16:52.740 not told that the president wasn't on board and that the deception was continued even after he
00:16:59.860 was safely returned to Washington. And that's hard for me to understand. Now, the Secret Service in
00:17:05.080 the past has used decoy armored cars, but the decoy is manned by Secret Service agents. They
00:17:12.760 don't put individuals, journalists and White House staff sort of at risk. So this is just
00:17:18.100 unprecedented is certainly in my experience. The idea that you would leave reporters,
00:17:22.980 civilians, staff, administrative staff, the pilots vulnerable as sort of an acceptable loss
00:17:31.220 is unprecedented. It's not only just bad transparency and bad public governance,
00:17:38.820 it's dangerous to our national security, and I hope they never do this again.
00:17:42.920 Retired Secret Service agent Robert McDonald offering a much more favorable assessment on
00:17:47.640 CNN. Look, the Secret Service has to be creative. We've had almost two and a half years now since
00:17:53.400 Butler. We've had a lot of attempts. Secret Service is doing a good job every day, but they've
00:17:58.140 had some issues that they've had to deal with. The optics of some of the things that they've
00:18:01.660 been doing, the complacency that they've been accused of. So look, this, quite frankly, was
00:18:06.740 very creative. It worked. But the main thing here is that the president got home safe. It may not
00:18:13.260 have looked pretty it may have been a little bit ugly and a little bit non-transparent but the
00:18:18.260 president got home safe especially in this very high threat environment which we're seeing right
00:18:23.420 now that'll do it for your am update i'm mark halpern host of next up find out more at next
00:18:30.520 up halpern.com and catch the megan kelly show today live on sirius xm's the megan kelly channel
00:18:36.860 at noon east on youtube.com slash making kelly and all podcast platforms