Summary of "America Approves of Trump's Diverse Cabinet, and Jack Smith DROPS Charges" | The Megyn Kelly Show | Ep. 953

Release Date: November 25, 2024

Introduction

In Episode 953 of The Megyn Kelly Show, hosted by Megyn Kelly on SiriusXM, listeners are treated to a robust discussion centered around President-elect Donald Trump's diverse cabinet nominations and recent legal developments involving Special Counsel Jack Smith. Joining Megyn are Stu Bergeer, host of Stu Does America for BlazeTV, and Stephen L. Miller, contributing editor at The Spectator and host of the Versus Media podcast, known as @edstease on X (formerly Twitter).

1. Media Bias and Attacks on Journalism

Megyn Kelly opens the discussion by addressing the ongoing attacks on journalism within the current political climate. She criticizes figures like Joe Scarborough for their portrayal of the media as essential and factual, juxtaposing this with her guests' views on media impartiality.

• Megyn Kelly (09:30): "Joe Scarborough this morning is outraged... What we do matters. What the New York Times does matters."

Stephen L. Miller challenges Elon Musk's claim that "we are the media" by emphasizing the rigorous standards journalists adhere to in pursuit of truth.

• Stephen L. Miller (10:08): "You have to get up every single day and say, I want to get to the closest approximation of the truth without any fear, without any favoritism."

Stu Bergeer echoes the sentiment, highlighting the monetization of media influence and the disharmony it creates.

• Stu Bergeer (14:01): "What you do matters. What the New York Times does matters... The more you can get people angry, the more followers you get."

The trio collectively criticizes mainstream media for fostering division and losing credibility, especially in the wake of political events that challenge journalistic integrity.

2. Trump’s Cabinet Approval and Public Support

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the overwhelming public support for Trump's cabinet nominations. A new CBS News poll indicates that approximately 60% of Americans approve of Trump's cabinet choices, a stark contrast to the 37% approval during his initial cabinet formation.

• Megyn Kelly (43:57): "CBS poll, 59% of those polled approve of his choices so far. This time in 17, when he was assembling his first cabinet, only 37% approve."

Stu Bergeer analyzes the shift in public perception, attributing it to a more favorable retrospective view of Trump's first term and a desire for change from the Biden administration.

• Stu Bergeer (43:57): "I think people are seeing the fact that he's willing to maybe reach out across the aisle as a positive. I think that's helping him as well."

Stephen L. Miller adds that younger demographics, particularly those under 30, show even higher approval ratings for Trump's cabinet, suggesting a generational shift in political alignment.

• Megyn Kelly (45:41): "Under 30 has a 65 percent approval rating... Of the choices Trump has made so far."

The guests discuss how Trump's approach to cabinet appointments aligns with his voter base's expectations, emphasizing loyalty and ideological alignment.

3. Media’s Response to Trump’s Cabinet

The media's reaction to Trump's cabinet selections is characterized by skepticism and bias, according to Kelly and her guests. They argue that mainstream media outlets are intent on undermining Trump's choices regardless of public support.

• Megyn Kelly (43:57): "The desperate media that wants to be relevant... what does the media do with that?"

Stu Bergeer suggests that the media's hostility toward Trump's cabinet is driven by a loss of credibility and an inability to sway public opinion as effectively as before.

• Stu Bergeer (14:01): "These same outlets... they just overplayed it."

Stephen L. Miller posits that the media's current strategy is unsustainable as it fails to resonate with a populace increasingly critical of mainstream narratives.

• Stephen L. Miller (14:03): "The punishment for all of this bad behavior over multiple decades that has only been getting worse and worse..."

4. The Pete Hegseth Controversy

One of the most heated segments of the episode focuses on Pete Hegseth, Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, amidst serious allegations of sexual misconduct. The discussion delves into the inconsistencies and perceived media bias surrounding the case.

• Megyn Kelly (55:09): "The sum and substance of the opinions is that the audience is not impressed with Pete's moral character at all."

Stephen L. Miller critiques the media's handling of the allegations, highlighting omissions and selective reporting that paint an incomplete picture of the incident.

• Stephen L. Miller (69:00): "Media bias isn't about how they lean in a story. It's about the details that they feel like they have to omit to push the narrative they want to push."

Stu Bergeer discusses the challenges Hegseth faces in confirmation hearings, noting that partisan divisions complicate the process.

• Stu Bergeer (66:00): "They're going to come after that... It's going to be difficult to get through confirmation because you have one side that says, believe all women."

Megyn Kelly emphasizes the importance of due process and fairness, questioning the media's rush to judgment without comprehensive evidence.

• Megyn Kelly (67:11): "I don't think he should be. This is totally unfair... but you know what the problem is here, Stephen, is that you could potentially get to a situation."

The segment underscores the tension between media narratives and the nuanced realities of legal proceedings, advocating for a balanced approach.

5. Jack Smith Moves to Dismiss Charges Against Trump

The episode also covers the legal maneuvering surrounding Special Counsel Jack Smith's decision to move to dismiss a pending criminal case against Trump related to election interference.

• Megyn Kelly (86:03): "Special counsel Jack Smith moves to dismiss election interference case against Trump's case. But time to assess the unprecedented circumstances."

Stephen L. Miller interprets this move as indicative of politically motivated investigations aimed at hindering Trump's potential return to office.

• Stephen L. Miller (89:48): "If there's any way to prove that these cases seem to be politically motivated to stop Trump from becoming president again... that's a pretty good indicator they didn't really mean what they said."

The hosts argue that dismissing the case without prejudice leaves the door open for future legal actions, potentially undermining democratic processes.

• Megyn Kelly (86:03): "They are pointing out the media that this actually leaves open the possibility that Trump could pardon himself to foreclose the possibility of legal jeopardy in the future."

This development is framed within the broader context of political retaliation and the erosion of trust in legal institutions.

6. Media’s Inconsistent Coverage of January 6th and Police Accountability

Kelly and her guests critique the media's inconsistent portrayal of events surrounding January 6th and police actions, particularly focusing on the shooting of Ashley Babbitt by a Capitol police officer.

• Megyn Kelly (91:16): "They know that ter, how about the Port HELE helped them all fall into places that we're just looking outside, all over the media... is extremely low."

Stu Bergeer compares the media's treatment of different incidents to highlight perceived double standards.

• Stu Bergeer (93:22): "Every other shooting by a police officer... got the exact opposite treatment by the media."

Megyn Kelly references Jonathan Turley's analysis to support her claims of media bias in covering the death of Ashley Babbitt, suggesting that media narratives are shaped to protect certain political figures.

• Megyn Kelly (94:58): "Jonathan Turley... said correctly, that liberal pundits often refer to the number of officers who died that day. The truth is not a single officer died that day on January."

The discussion underscores frustration with what the hosts perceive as selective accountability and the media's role in perpetuating politically charged narratives.

7. The Surgeon General Nominee: Dr. Janet Neshawat

Towards the episode's conclusion, Megyn Kelly brings up concerns regarding Trump’s nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. Janet Neshawat. She questions Dr. Neshawat's stance on public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting perceived contradictions in her positions.

• Megyn Kelly (102:44): "She loves masks, masking. She loved the vaccine. She loved to mask the children long into the pandemic, past the point where the rest of us were saying, stop that."

Stu Bergeer provides context on Dr. Neshawat's background and policies, critiquing her educational credentials and her adherence to pandemic-related health measures.

• Stu Bergeer (85:45): "She's very pro Trump. But I don't really care about that stuff so much as I care about the fact that she loves masks..."

The hosts express skepticism about Dr. Neshawat's qualifications and suitability for the role, questioning her decision-making during the pandemic and her alignment with Trump's public health policies.

8. Audience Feedback and Interaction

Throughout the episode, Megyn Kelly incorporates feedback from her audience, sharing emails and comments that reflect listeners' opinions on topics like Pete Hegseth's allegations and media coverage. This interactive element reinforces the show's commitment to engaging with its audience's perspectives.

• Megyn Kelly (55:09): "A lot of people were a lot harsher on the judgment of his marital infidelities than I was."

Listeners express strong disapproval of Hegseth's moral character and question whether personal indiscretions should disqualify him from a high-profile government position.

Conclusion

Episode 953 of The Megyn Kelly Show presents a critical examination of the intersection between media bias, political appointments, and public opinion. Megyn Kelly, alongside Stu Bergeer and Stephen L. Miller, navigates complex topics such as the high approval ratings of Trump's cabinet, the controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth's nomination, and the legal strategies employed against Trump by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The discussion highlights a pervasive distrust in mainstream media narratives and underscores the hosts' advocacy for fair and unbiased journalism. As Trump prepares to navigate a potentially tumultuous administration, the episode sets the stage for upcoming deep dives into Trump’s cabinet selections and their implications for American politics.

Notable Quotes

• Megyn Kelly (00:00): "The Megyn Kelly Show is your home for open, honest and provocative conversations with the most interesting and important political, legal and cultural figures today. No BS. No agenda. And no fear."

• Stephen L. Miller (10:08): "You have to do it by doing the hard work."

• Stu Bergeer (14:01): "They're clapping on the set of Morning Joe. It's very hard, very hard."

• Megyn Kelly (43:57): "CBS poll, 59% of those polled approve of his choices so far. This time in 17, when he was assembling his first cabinet, only 37% approve."

• Megyn Kelly (55:09): "But they just keep putting that in every. And we don't know anything about the accuser. But this could be."

• Stu Bergeer (93:22): "Every other shooting by a police officer got the exact opposite treatment by the media."

• Megyn Kelly (102:44): "She loves masks, masking. She loved the vaccine. She loved to mask the children long into the pandemic."

Timestamp Highlights

• 00:00 - Introduction and advertisements.
• 01:02 - Show begins with Megyn Kelly discussing Thanksgiving.
• 04:28 - Guests Stu Bergeer and Stephen L. Miller join the show.
• 09:30 - Discussion on media attacks on journalism with reference to Joe Scarborough.
• 43:57 - Examination of CBS poll showing 59% approval for Trump's cabinet.
• 55:09 - Deep dive into Pete Hegseth's sexual assault allegations.
• 86:03 - Jack Smith moves to dismiss charges against Trump.
• 91:16 - Media coverage of Ashley Babbitt's death criticized.
• 102:44 - Concerns raised about Surgeon General nominee Dr. Janet Neshawat.
• 104:09 - Final remarks and promotion of future episodes.

Closing Remarks

Megyn Kelly wraps up the episode by previewing future discussions on Trump's cabinet and reiterating the show's commitment to unbiased dialogue. She encourages listeners to engage with the show’s content and participate in upcoming deep dives, promising thorough analyses of Trump's cabinet selections and their broader political ramifications.

Disclaimer: This summary is based on the provided transcript and is intended to encapsulate the main themes and discussions of the podcast episode. For a complete understanding, listening to the full episode is recommended.