Trump Nears Major Ukraine Deal, NYC Migrant Center Closes, Joy Reid Signs Off： AM Update for 2⧸25
Episode Stats
Words per Minute
155.28975
Summary
The agreement s being worked on now. They re very close to a final deal. Despite some tension between Presidents Trump and Zelensky, the US and Ukraine are close to signing an agreement. As the U.S. prepares to make a significant financial investment into Ukraine, European leaders step up to provide security assurances. New York City Mayor Eric Adams announces the closure of a four-star hotel that was used as a command center to receive thousands of migrants under the Biden administration. And a major shakeup at MSNBC leaves viewers without any joy. All that and more coming up on Your AM Update.
Transcript
00:00:00.000
Good morning, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, and this is your
00:00:08.180
AM update. The agreement's being worked on now. They're very close to a final deal.
00:00:14.280
Despite some tension between Presidents Trump and Zelensky, the U.S. and Ukraine are close
00:00:18.980
to signing an agreement. As the U.S. prepares to make a significant financial investment
00:00:23.700
into Ukraine, European leaders step up to provide security assurances.
00:00:28.120
We're able to announce the closure of this site. We're closing 53 sites within the span
00:00:35.080
of a year. New York City Mayor Eric Adams announces the closure of the four-star hotel that was used
00:00:41.740
as a command center to receive thousands of migrants under the Biden administration.
00:00:46.820
And a major shakeup at MSNBC leaves viewers without any joy. All that and more coming up on your AM
00:00:54.240
update. So many people these days are super focused on their health, right? On eating healthier and
00:01:02.320
living healthier. And in that vein, let me tell you about Jacob and Kristen, the founders of We Heart
00:01:08.020
Nutrition. They are raising five kids while running a company that is helping hardworking Americans
00:01:13.080
to live that American dream. We Heart Nutrition makes high-quality, research-backed supplements
00:01:19.360
for women and men at every stage of life, helping you stay strong, energized, and hitting your wellness
00:01:24.700
goals. But this is not just another supplement company. They are proudly pro-life, donating 10%
00:01:30.680
of every sale to pregnancy care centers, supporting moms and babies in need. They have over 1,000
00:01:37.000
five-star reviews from real people who are seeing real results. Go to weheartnutrition.com
00:01:43.160
and take their quick 20-second quiz to get your personalized supplement subscription recommendation
00:01:48.660
delivered right to your door each month. And right now they are giving you 20% off your first order
00:01:54.280
with my code, MEGAN. Invest in your health. Go to weheartnutrition.com and use the code MEGAN
00:02:01.180
for 20% off. That's weheartnutrition.com, code M-E-G-Y-N.
00:02:06.880
Despite many public barbs and expressions of discontent, the U.S. and Ukraine are reportedly
00:02:14.900
within inches of signing a deal that would forge an extended economic partnership. The latest details
00:02:21.240
confirmed to Axios by Ukrainian officials call for a reconstruction investment fund. The U.S. and
00:02:28.540
Ukraine will be co-managers. The Ukrainians will contribute $500 billion to the fund, double what the U.S.
00:02:34.660
will put in, expected to take the form of minerals. This appears to be a compromise from President
00:02:39.720
Trump's initial position that Ukraine would have to pay the U.S. back for its support over the last
00:02:44.880
three years. The draft of the agreement reads, quote, the government of the United States of
00:02:49.520
America intends to provide a long-term financial commitment to the development of a stable and
00:02:54.840
economically prosperous Ukraine. The fund will invest in projects in Ukraine, which they hope will lure
00:03:00.020
other investors into Ukraine, along with new development prospects. Further details from
00:03:05.420
the agreement stipulate some direct repayment to the U.S. for its aid, though the exact terms remain
00:03:10.580
unclear. President Trump commented on the agreement from the Oval Office yesterday while hosting French
00:03:17.080
I will be meeting with President Zelensky. In fact, he may come in this week or next week to sign the
00:03:23.560
agreement, which would be nice. I'd love to meet him. We'd meet at the Oval Office. So the agreement's
00:03:30.200
being worked on now. They're very close to a final deal. It'll be a deal with rare earths and various other
00:03:37.360
things. And he would like to come, as I understand it, here to sign it. And that would be great with me.
00:03:43.140
I think they'd then have to get it approved by their counsel or whoever might approve it. But
00:03:49.860
President Trump stating the war could end within weeks, quote, if they are smart.
00:03:54.660
Terms of the deal do not include any type of U.S. military commitment in Ukraine. It is purely an
00:03:59.860
economic proposition backed by the idea that an area of strong financial interest for America will not
00:04:05.760
be an easy target for the wandering eye of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since taking office,
00:04:11.500
President Trump repeatedly stated his expectation is for European leaders to take more of a lead
00:04:17.200
in protecting Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron has been a leader in rallying European
00:04:22.620
leaders to contribute more, holding two emergency sessions to coordinate Europe's response.
00:04:28.180
Mr. Macron spoke about those efforts yesterday at the White House via a translator.
00:04:33.220
And we've also been able to speak about some of this work with our British partners to talk about
00:04:39.920
deployments of peace forces on Ukrainian soil, which are part of these security guarantees. Other
00:04:47.900
countries are ready to join in this effort. We have the same wish, the renewal of an international
00:04:54.720
situation where we are all able to shoulder our responsibilities, Europeans shouldering their
00:05:00.380
responsibilities alongside their American allies who will shoulder their own responsibilities.
00:05:05.040
Europeans need to do more for security in Europe, for defense in Europe, and to more fairly share the
00:05:12.420
security burden that your country's been carrying for so many years. Earlier in the day, President Trump
00:05:18.720
was asked if President Putin will accept European troops in Ukraine as peacekeepers. The president
00:05:24.340
responded from the Oval. Yeah, he will accept that. I've asked him that question. You talk to me?
00:05:29.600
I've asked him that question. Look, if we do this deal, he's not looking for more worry, doesn't mind,
00:05:35.460
but I've specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it. President Trump says at some
00:05:40.600
point he will meet with Mr. Putin. Over the weekend, Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov,
00:05:47.320
telling Russian state media the groundwork for the summit is underway and topics will include wider talks on
00:05:52.920
global issues, not just the war in Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to visit the
00:05:58.860
White House on Thursday for further discussions on European participation in Ukraine's security.
00:06:08.740
Meanwhile, in Germany, the potential next chancellor is telling his European counterparts the U.S. cannot be
00:06:14.740
relied on. Friedrich Mertz hot off his Sunday election win, criticizing the Trump administration's approach to
00:06:20.780
negotiations with Russia, saying the attempt to make a deal with Russia on Ukraine, in his view,
00:06:26.860
without the Europeans or Ukraine, is unacceptable. Mr. Mertz saying if they, quote, do not just make
00:06:34.000
America first, but America alone their motto, then it will be difficult. He followed up on that comment
00:06:40.280
with optimism that he will succeed in maintaining the transatlantic partnership. But before Mr. Mertz can
00:06:46.360
shape Germany's foreign policy, he has to secure his own path to power at home. Germany's parliamentary
00:06:51.980
system means parties have to form coalitions. Mertz's center-right coalition secured just 29 percent of
00:06:58.500
the seats. In second place, the AFD, the Alternative for Germany party, they won about 21 percent of the
00:07:05.180
seats. The conservative government voted for by about half of the German population will likely not come to
00:07:11.600
fruition, however. Historian Victor Davis Hanson explained further on The Megyn Kelly Show yesterday.
00:07:17.220
Constructive criticism, it says we want you to live up to your Western obligations to ensure free speech,
00:07:23.160
and it's going to make it much worse because if you took the AFD's vote and Mertz's vote, it's about
00:07:30.800
50, 51 percent of the people, and they should have a conservative government. Yes. But he's going to reach out
00:07:36.740
to the Green Party and the Social Democrats, and there's not going to be a conservative
00:07:41.860
voice in Germany, and that's going to make people even angrier after they feel they voted for a conservative
00:07:48.000
majority. Coming up, New York City Mayor Eric Adams says the Roosevelt Hotel converted migrant processing
00:07:55.380
facility is closing. And a big shakeup at MSNBC leaves viewers joyless.
00:08:01.980
These days, personal safety is not something that can be left to chance. Whether at home,
00:08:08.660
on the road, or just living everyday life, having a reliable way to protect yourself and your family
00:08:13.260
is crucial. That's why Berna is the choice for many. Berna is a game-changing, less lethal self-defense
00:08:19.520
tool. Compact, powerful, and easy to use, it provides the confidence to act in any situation.
00:08:25.120
Berna uses non-lethal rounds, tear gas, pepper, and kinetic projectiles to effectively stop a threat
00:08:30.500
from a safe distance. And the best part, Berna can be shipped direct to your door, and it's legal in
00:08:35.980
all 50 states. Berna is proudly American with products hand-assembled in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
00:08:42.440
Sometimes a firearm is not the right option for you, and Berna provides a powerful alternative.
00:08:47.820
Protect what matters most with Berna. Visit berna.com, that's B-Y-R-N-A dot com slash Megan,
00:08:53.660
to receive a 10% discount and learn why thousands of people and law enforcement agencies are making the
00:08:59.860
switch to Berna's less lethal protection. Berna, non-lethal self-defense, always ready.
00:09:09.640
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announcing the closure of the Roosevelt Hotel,
00:09:14.400
used as a processing center and migrant shelter since 2023.
00:09:18.500
Our administration has skillfully managed this crisis, which has seen over 232,000 migrants
00:09:26.460
into our city asking for shelter, and the Roosevelt Hotel has been key in allowing us to effectively
00:09:33.800
manage our operation, processing almost 75% of individuals that have come into our care
00:09:41.060
through these doors. Now, thanks to the sound policy decisions of our team, we're able to announce
00:09:48.460
the closure of this site and help even more asylum seekers take the next steps in their journeys
00:09:55.400
while simultaneously saving taxpayers millions of dollars. With this closure, we're closing 53 sites
00:10:05.840
A flashpoint of the immigration debate, the four-star accommodation rented out by taxpayers under a
00:10:11.660
$220 million contract providing lodging for thousands of migrants brought in under the Biden
00:10:17.900
administration. The city quickly began to collapse amid the influx of migrants bust to the city by Texas
00:10:23.960
Governor Greg Abbott. The 4,000 migrants arriving per week in New York at that time, just a tiny fraction
00:10:31.400
of the onslaught Texas was dealing with along the southern border. In December, Mayor Adams' office
00:10:37.680
reported that the arrivals had fallen to just 800. New York City is a sanctuary city with a right to
00:10:44.380
housing, meaning the city was barred from cooperating with ICE officials, and they were required to provide
00:10:49.740
shelter for all new arrivals. The Roosevelt Hotel and other shelters will officially close by June of this
00:10:56.580
year. With the arrival of the Trump administration, Mayor Adams promised to increase cooperation,
00:11:01.280
between city and federal officials. Critics of the mayor say this closure is the product of
00:11:06.180
a quid pro quo deal. Mayor Adams was facing corruption charges brought under the Biden
00:11:11.120
administration. They were dropped by the Trump DOJ. Mayor Adams denies the allegations. He began
00:11:17.260
publicly speaking out about the immigration crisis in the summer of 2023, saying, quote,
00:11:22.420
our cup has basically runneth over. We have no more room in the city. Documents obtained by CBS suggest
00:11:29.200
the Trump administration is preparing to implement Title 42, the order used during COVID to expel
00:11:35.700
incoming migrants on the grounds of health concerns without entertaining any asylum claims.
00:11:41.420
Title 42 was first implemented under Trump 1.0. The Biden administration kept it in place until 2023.
00:11:48.920
CBS reporting the CDC is planning to issue an order labeling the illegal immigrants as a public health
00:11:55.080
risk. In May 2024, a measles outbreak in Chicago was traced back to a migrant shelter.
00:12:04.100
Joy Reid out of a job as MSNBC's new president makes major programming changes. Reid is the highest
00:12:11.580
profile star of the network to get the axe, though others are now going to. In December, Reid was
00:12:17.640
reportedly required to take a pay cut from her alleged $3 million salary in order to hold on to her chair.
00:12:23.640
Never a good sign. The network plans to fill the time slot with a panel show hosted by Simone
00:12:28.820
Sanders-Townson, who previously worked as a senior advisor to Kamala Harris, Michael Steele,
00:12:34.640
Never Trumper, who at one point headed the RNC, and left-wing journalist Alicia Menendez,
00:12:40.060
the daughter of former Democratic Senator Bob Menendez. The final episode of The Readout aired last night.
00:12:46.300
The Readout worked because everybody from the interns on up put their whole heart into it. Much love to
00:12:52.260
everybody, everybody who made The Readout great. Shout out to our amazing readers, our audience. I
00:12:57.140
just love running into y'all in the airport, on these streets, and on social media. I could not
00:13:01.460
love or appreciate you more. Thank you, thank you, thank you for holding us down. Almost five years,
00:13:07.220
we are a toddler, and we out in these streets, in this world, and we are not going to stop.
00:13:10.820
Those four viewers are really going to miss her. Alex Wagner, host of the 9 p.m. slot four days per
00:13:16.780
week, is getting a demotion to correspondent. Former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki will
00:13:22.060
take over that time slot after the conclusion of the first hundred days of the Trump administration.
00:13:27.420
That's when Rachel Maddow goes back to work hosting just one day a week while still earning her
00:13:34.280
$30 million paycheck, reportedly. Earning? Hmm. That'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly.
00:13:42.560
Join me back here for The Megan Kelly Show later today, live on SiriusXM Triumph Channel 111 at
00:13:47.720
noon east, on youtube.com slash megankelly, and on all podcast platforms.
00:13:52.360
Canada Life has flexible plans for companies of all sizes,
00:14:22.080
so it's easy to find a solution that works for you. Visit canadalife.com slash employee benefits
00:14:28.140
to learn more. Canada Life. Insurance. Investments. Advice.