The Megyn Kelly Show - Trump Pushes for Peace, DNC Civil War Over Hogg, Michelle's Inauguration Excuse： AM Update 4⧸25

00:00:00.000 Good morning, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Friday, April 25th, 2025. And this is your

00:00:08.700 AM update. We may have to conclude that they're so far apart that peace is impossible at this

00:00:13.120 time. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing an increasing impatience with Russia-Ukraine

00:00:19.120 peace negotiations as the Trump administration reaches its deadline to strike a deal.

00:00:24.160 As I've said to him, if you want to challenge in comments, you're more than free to do that,

00:00:28.620 but just not as an officer of the DNC. A Civil War bruise inside the DNC as Vice Chair David Hogg

00:00:36.560 launches an outside campaign to unseat fellow Democrats. And Michelle Obama opens up on

00:00:43.040 skipping the inauguration and the burdens of being her. All that and more coming up in just a moment

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00:01:50.780 The Trump administration expressing cautious optimism about reaching a Russia-Ukraine peace deal

00:01:59.660 as Ukraine rejects the most recent proposal and Russia ramps up attacks on Ukrainian civilian

00:02:05.560 infrastructure. On Thursday, President Trump addressing the ongoing talks while hosting the

00:02:10.520 Norwegian prime minister at the White House. I don't like that it takes long at all,

00:02:15.440 but I think they both want to make peace. I do believe so. There's a lot of hatred there.

00:02:20.080 There's a lot of very bad blood, a lot of distrust, but I think we're going to,

00:02:23.600 I hope we're going to get there for the sake of a lot of young people that are dying.

00:02:28.160 I have my own deadline and we want it to be fast and the prime minister is helping us. He wants it

00:02:34.040 to be fast too. And I think everybody in this, you know, at this time in NATO, they want to see

00:02:39.220 this thing happen. The White House previously stating the desire to finish a deal by the 100-day

00:02:44.340 mark of the second Trump administration. President Trump's tone remaining optimistic as other White

00:02:50.160 House officials express an increasing impatience. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a Wednesday

00:02:55.700 interview with the Free Press.

00:02:57.500 And I remain hopeful that we can get something done because this is a terrible war and it needs to end

00:03:01.740 because it has no military solution. There is no military solution to this war. We have to be

00:03:05.940 frank. You know, Russia is not just going to roll over Ukraine and take the whole country and

00:03:09.700 Ukraine is not going to push them all the way back to where they were before 2014. So what I

00:03:14.360 would say we're involved in is understanding what is the Russian position. We have a better

00:03:18.420 understanding of that now because we've actually spoken to them after three years of not speaking

00:03:22.060 to them. What is the Ukrainian position? And figure out, are these guys even in the same

00:03:26.740 neighborhood? Because if they're in completely different zip codes, then we may have to conclude

00:03:30.860 that they're so far apart that peace is impossible at this time. We've done our best. We put a lot of time

00:03:35.640 and energy at the highest levels of our government. We'll continue to be willing to do so as long as

00:03:40.620 there's a realistic path forward. If at some point we determine that we're just too far apart and not

00:03:46.200 enough movement is happening, we may need to move on to other priorities because there are a lot of

00:03:50.120 important things happening in the world. But ultimately, it's not up to us. It's up to Russia 0.99

00:03:53.920 and it's up to Ukraine. They have to make the decision that they're willing to move closer to one

00:03:57.600 another. Vice President J.D. Vance conveying a similar sentiment earlier this week.

00:04:01.820 We've issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians and it's time for 0.91

00:04:07.200 them to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process. I feel pretty

00:04:11.980 optimistic about it. I think everybody has been negotiating in good faith, but it's now time I

00:04:16.780 think to take, if not the final step, one of the final steps, which is at a broad level, the party's

00:04:22.600 saying we're going to stop the killing. We're going to freeze the territorial lines at some level close

00:04:28.200 to where they are today and we're going to actually put in place the kind of long-term

00:04:32.740 diplomatic settlement that hopefully will lead to long-term peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr

00:04:37.020 Zelensky rejecting the U.S.-backed peace proposal presented last week in Paris, calling it too biased

00:04:42.940 toward Russia. Mr. Zelensky saying the plan offers clear concessions to Russia and only vague promises

00:04:49.620 to Ukraine. According to Axios, the plan includes formal U.S. recognition of Crimea as Russian territory,

00:04:56.380 a key demand from Russian President Vladimir Putin and a red line for President Zelensky.

00:05:02.360 The peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 in violation of the U.N. charter prohibiting member

00:05:08.260 states from using force to change international borders. President Zelensky at a Tuesday presser

00:05:13.720 saying, quote, Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There is nothing to talk

00:05:19.600 about here. This is against our Constitution. President Trump responding on Truth Social, calling

00:05:25.500 President Zelensky's stance, quote, very harmful, writing, quote, Crimea was lost years ago under

00:05:31.840 Obama and is not even a point of discussion. It's inflammatory statements like Zelensky's that make

00:05:37.840 it so difficult to settle this war. Multiple outlets, including Axios, The Washington Post,

00:05:43.420 and Politico, reporting the deal also includes lifting Russian sanctions. Secretary Rubio responding to

00:05:50.020 that reporting on X, writing, this is unequivocally false. Neither Steve Witkoff nor I have had any

00:05:56.000 conversations about lifting sanctions against Russia as part of a deal with Ukraine. In response to

00:06:02.160 President Zelensky's resistance, Russia ramping up attacks against Ukraine on Thursday, launching the

00:06:07.960 deadliest barrage in nine months. CNN reporting 70 missiles and 145 drones striking targets, mostly in

00:06:15.780 Kyiv. Ukraine emergency services stating at least 12 killed and more than 90 injured across 13 locations,

00:06:23.020 including civilian areas, with the possibility of those numbers increasing as rescue crews search

00:06:28.480 through the rubble. President Trump posting to Truth Social on Thursday, quote, I am not happy with the

00:06:34.280 Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary and very bad timing. Vladimir, stop. 5,000 soldiers a week are dying.

00:06:41.960 Let's get the peace deal done. A civil war brewing within the Democratic National Committee sparked

00:06:49.720 by newly elected Vice Chair David Hogg's plan to use his PAC, Leaders We Deserve, to target members of

00:06:56.760 his own party. Last week, Mr. Hogg, who rose to national prominence as a gun control activist after the

00:07:02.740 2018 Parkland school shooting, launching a $20 million campaign to unseat Democrats in safe blue

00:07:10.060 districts. His goal to replace them with candidates he claims will revitalize the party. Mr. Hogg laid out

00:07:16.720 the effort on Friday to Scripps News. The work that we're doing is twofold. One, we're looking to elect

00:07:22.640 the most effective Democrats possible. Part of that looks like challenging Democrats that are failing to

00:07:28.140 meet the moment right now. Our party has a 27 percent approval rating and specifically challenging

00:07:33.300 Democrats that are in safer Democratic seats that in no way, shape or form risk us losing a majority

00:07:37.960 in Congress by any means whatsoever. Our party is in a moment of crisis. Our country is a moment of

00:07:44.400 crisis right now. And we have to show people how we are actively working, not to push out older people

00:07:48.940 by any means, but push out ineffective people and bring in the most effective leaders that are ready

00:07:53.300 to meet this moment. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday responding to the announcement.

00:07:58.120 I look forward to standing behind every single Democratic incumbent from the most progressive

00:08:03.240 to the most centrist and all points in between. They're working hard in their communities, rising to

00:08:09.220 the occasion this past week. We had, of course, a Medicaid Matters Day of Action, a safe Social Security

00:08:14.960 Day of Action, and we have to continue to do all of the things. That's why we have elections every two

00:08:20.220 years. Primaries are a fact of life. But here's the thing. I'm going to really focus on trying to

00:08:26.440 defeat Republican incumbents so we can take back control of the House of Representatives and begin

00:08:33.240 the process of ending this national nightmare that's being visited upon us by far-right extremism.

00:08:40.660 DNC Chairman Ken Martin calling out Mr. Hogg Thursday on NewsNation.

00:08:45.160 As I've said to him, if you want to challenge incumbents, you're more than free to do that,

00:08:49.640 but just not as an officer of the DNC, because our job is to be neutral arbiters.

00:08:55.540 We can't be both the referee and also the player at the same time. You have to make a decision.

00:09:04.440 The chairman pushing a proposal that would require officers to take a neutrality pledge.

00:09:09.440 Such a pledge would force Mr. Hogg to either step back from his PAC or vacate his post within the DNC.

00:09:15.380 Mr. Hogg publicly vowing to fight to keep his position, though political reports Mr. Hogg told

00:09:20.480 two Democrats he is willing to lose the vice chair position. The push for reform comes amid mounting

00:09:26.720 distrust from the party's progressive wing, long critical of the DNC's treatment of outsider

00:09:31.900 candidates. In 2016, leaked DNC emails revealing internal bias against Bernie Sanders, prompting the

00:09:38.680 resignation of then-chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. In 2020, similar suspicions arose when Sanders led

00:09:44.820 early only to see Joe Biden surge after a South Carolina win, boosted by what appeared to be a

00:09:50.880 coordinated exit and endorsement by Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Beto O'Rourke just days before

00:09:58.020 Super Tuesday. Chairman Martin's neutrality proposal is expected to be voted on at the DNC's August meeting.

00:10:04.060 Coming up, a first-of-its-kind terrorism case, the DOJ targeting a top member of Venezuelan gang

00:10:13.860 Trenda Aragua, and Michelle Obama opens up about skipping the Trump inauguration in January.

00:10:24.720 As President Trump is settling into his new administration, one of the top Democrats in

00:10:29.000 Congress aiming to undermine the Trump agenda is Democrat Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois.

00:10:34.060 And according to our sponsor, the Electronic Payments Coalition, Senator Durbin has a new

00:10:39.640 plan, a government takeover of your credit card. Today, Americans have thousands of choices in

00:10:45.240 credit cards, but they say Senator Durbin's plan will result in less competition and less security,

00:10:50.660 which means more risk for your credit and your identity. You can learn more for yourself at

00:10:55.940 guardyourcard.org, and you could consider telling your senators to stop Dick Durbin's government

00:11:02.500 takeover of your credit card before it's too late.

00:11:05.760 The DOJ this week bringing its first-ever terrorism case against an alleged high-ranking

00:11:15.380 member of the Trenda Aragua gang. President Trump designated the Venezuela-based group a foreign

00:11:20.960 terrorist organization earlier this year. The designation allows the Justice Department to

00:11:25.620 prosecute members under federal anti-terrorism laws to seize assets, to increase penalties, and

00:11:32.140 coordinate more closely with international law enforcement. Federal prosecutors charging 24-year-old

00:11:38.200 Jose Enrique Martinez-Flores with conspiring to provide and providing material support to a

00:11:44.940 designated foreign terrorist organization, as well as conspiracy and distribution of cocaine in

00:11:50.860 Colombia, intended for distribution in the U.S. Mr. Flores apprehended by Colombian officials in March

00:11:57.360 at the request of the American government. He remains in custody there as prosecutors move

00:12:03.040 forward with the charges filed in Texas. According to the indictment, Mr. Flores is a high-ranking leader

00:12:09.360 within Trenda Aragua's operations in Bogota, Colombia, allegedly orchestrating the delivery of

00:12:15.720 large quantities of cocaine with the proceeds funding the gang's activity. If convicted on all charges,

00:12:21.780 Mr. Flores faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Attorney General Pam

00:12:28.340 Bondi saying the charges, quote, represent an inflection point in how this Department of Justice

00:12:33.300 will prosecute and ultimately dismantle this evil organization, which has destroyed American families 0.88

00:12:39.700 and poisoned our communities. How long till the ACLU says we're not allowed to prosecute this guy?

00:12:46.020 Former First Lady Michelle Obama opening up on her podcast, IMO, to actress Taraji P. Henson about

00:12:55.940 burnout, boundaries, and how hard it is to be her. Mrs. Obama addressing her controversial absence from

00:13:02.980 President Trump's inauguration as a form of self-care. But then this is what makes it hard because,

00:13:09.980 you know, my decision to skip the inauguration, you know, what people don't realize, or my

00:13:15.880 decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me were met with such ridicule and

00:13:23.580 criticism. Like, people couldn't believe that I was saying no for any other reason, that they had to

00:13:28.740 assume that my marriage was falling apart, you know. It's like, while I'm here really trying to own my life

00:13:37.340 and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me, and it took everything in my power

00:13:44.020 to not do the thing that was right or that was perceived as right, but do the thing that was

00:13:52.660 right for me, that was a hard thing for me to do. I had to basically trick myself out of it, and it

00:14:00.260 started with not having anything to wear. I mean, I had affirmatively, because I'm always prepared for

00:14:06.200 any funeral, anything. I walk around with the right dress. I travel with clothes just in case something

00:14:13.120 pops off. So I was like, if I'm not going to do this thing, I got to tell my team, I don't even want

00:14:20.180 to have a dress ready, right? Because it's so easy to just say, let me do the right thing.

00:14:27.600 Ms. Henson lavishing praise on the former first lady, saying, quote, 0.96

00:14:31.060 when do you ever get to live for you? Ms. Obama then complaining that as a Black woman, 1.00

00:14:36.560 she is not allowed to give voice to her pain. We grew up with women who weren't voicing the pain 1.00

00:14:44.440 and the burden. They made it look easy. And when you make stuff look easy, people assume that you

00:14:52.660 must like this. It's okay with you, right? We don't articulate as Black women our pain,

00:15:00.640 because it's almost like nobody ever gave us permission to do that.

00:15:05.140 And does anyone care?

00:15:06.560 Yeah, there's that part.

00:15:07.780 Well, if we knew, I think we would care. If we knew. If we knew.

00:15:14.100 Or, you know, yeah. And we have to ask ourselves, the men in our lives is, you know, why wait to be

00:15:23.480 asked? You know, it seems like what we go through is pretty obvious. I mean, maybe we're not

00:15:30.000 complaining, but we're actually living life out loud.

00:15:32.800 She went on to lament how hard she had it in the White House those eight years.

00:15:38.240 So I'm at this stage in life where I have to define my life on my terms for the first time.

00:15:46.100 So what are those terms? And going to therapy, just to work all that out. Like, what happened

00:15:52.380 that eight years that we were in the White House? What did that do to me?

00:15:57.460 Yes.

00:15:58.160 Internally, my soul, we made it through. We got out alive. I hope we made the country proud.

00:16:03.900 My girls, thank God, are whole. But what happened to me?

00:16:07.820 The White House is 55,000 square feet with 18 acres and a full staff of people who wait on the

00:16:13.820 first family hand and foot. Mrs. Obama now enjoys three luxury mansions, including a seven-bedroom,

00:16:19.580 $20 million estate in Martha's Vineyard, a multimillion-dollar Netflix and book deal,

00:16:24.620 as well as worldwide adulation and two healthy, elite university-educated daughters. 1.00

00:16:30.980 And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for The Megan Kelly Show,

00:16:35.560 live on SiriusXM Triumph Channel 111 at noon east, on youtube.com slash megankelly,

00:16:40.560 and on all podcast platforms.

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The Megyn Kelly Show - April 25, 2025

Trump Pushes for Peace, DNC Civil War Over Hogg, Michelle's Inauguration Excuse： AM Update 4⧸25

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