The Megyn Kelly Show | Ep. 1216

Episode Title: AOC vs. Vance, Bongino Leaving FBI, and Coldplay "Kiss Cam" Woman Speaks Out, with Glenn Greenwald
Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Megyn Kelly
Guest: Glenn Greenwald (Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Host of Rumble's System Update)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the evolving landscape of American politics, notable cultural viral moments, and the state of American institutions through candid, lively conversations between Megyn Kelly and Glenn Greenwald. Major topics include the hypothetical AOC vs. JD Vance 2028 face-off, Dan Bongino’s resignation from the FBI, fallout from the Coldplay kiss cam viral video, investigations at Brown University, recent political and media developments, and viral cultural moments exemplifying American discourse.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. AOC vs. JD Vance: 2028 Showdown (04:19–15:50)

• Bloop Poll: Discussion starts with a highlighted (and questionable) poll cited by AOC showing her leading JD Vance in a theoretical 2028 presidential matchup. Kelly scrutinizes the validity of the poll.
• AOC’s Social Media Persona: Glenn finds AOC’s efforts to appear relatable “contrived,” critiquing her social media lingo (“bloop!”) as “the worst of all combinations” of cringey Democratic performative coolness mixed with internet jargon.
  “Everything is just so contrived with her... there is nothing radical about her unless you just think that ordinary Democratic Party politics is radical.” – Glenn Greenwald, (13:22)
• Vance’s Growth as a Politician: Megyn praises JD Vance’s deepening political skills, likening his new political charm to Bill Clinton’s.
  “He worked that room like Bill Clinton... making everyone feel like they were special in not an artificial way... like a real political talent.” – Megyn Kelly (13:37)
• Authenticity, Substance, and Electability: Conversation covers the importance of candidates’ backgrounds, authenticity, and policy substance. Both agree Vance’s “outsider” experience and working-class origins feel more genuine compared to AOC, whose personal narrative they critique.

Notable Quotes:

• “If I really have to continue to watch Democrats behaving in this manner... it might actually make me just go in and want to open a car dealership or something.” – Glenn Greenwald, (08:48)
• “Congressional Kardashian. That’s what she is.” – Megyn Kelly, (13:22)

2. DNC, Kamala Harris, and Post-2024 Democratic Dilemma (19:28–24:25)

• DNC Shelves Election Autopsy: The Democratic Party chooses to keep its 2024 “autopsy” report under wraps, fearing its release could stoke internal conflict.
• Kamala Harris’s Future and Party Paralysis: Kamala’s possible 2028 aspirations and lack of connection with voters are explored. Glenn explains the Democratic Party’s internal bind: they can’t alienate their base by bypassing Harris, but they know her general unpopularity is a risk.
  “If Kamala Harris wants to be the nominee, there's going to be a lot of people who… believe it is her entitlement, and if she doesn't get it... the Democrats can't win again with Kamala Harris or without the people who are going to be alienated if she's not the nominee.” – Glenn Greenwald (24:03)

3. Brown University Shooting Investigation (24:25–35:39)

• Incompetent Investigation?: Discussion on police mishandling – lack of interviews with witnesses, slow progress, and possible issues with camera surveillance.
  “On a case of this magnitude... at a place like Brown, it looks like the Keystone Cops... Is this just how incompetent they are? Or is there something about the university environment causing impediments?” – Glenn Greenwald (28:20)
• Surveillance and Sanctuary Politics: The duo entertains theories about campus cameras possibly being limited due to sanctuary city politics and local reluctance to aid federal authorities, leading to further public distrust.

4. Dan Bongino Quits FBI – Trust, Talent, and the MAGA Base (35:39–47:04)

• Bongino’s Resignation: Megyn and Glenn analyze Bongino’s abrupt exit as Deputy Director of the FBI, including backlash from both the left and right, specifically regarding the Epstein investigation and broader “deep state” mistrust.
• Role Misfit: Glenn highlights how Bongino’s outsider status and skills as a commentator didn’t translate to insider bureaucratic administration—suggesting humility is needed in political appointments. “Dan Bongino is a very effective outsider... Running the FBI is an entirely different skill set.” – Glenn Greenwald, (42:00)
• Real Limits of ‘Cleaning House’: Both agree institutional inertia within agencies like the FBI or DOJ neutralizes rapid reform, regardless of leadership intentions.

5. The Media, Soft Propaganda, and Politician Branding (47:04–56:31)

• Katie Miller’s Focus on Family Podcasts: Greenwald expresses discomfort with “soft” partisan media efforts to humanize key figures (e.g., the girlfriend episode with Cash Patel), calling it “propagandistic.”
• Line Between Private and Public: Both agree that showcasing private or romantic relationships (unless well-established or serious) can harm political credibility, especially in volatile news cycles.

6. Rob Reiner Family Tragedy – Reflections on Addiction and Fame (62:39–68:38)

• Morality Play: The murder case prompts a discussion on addiction, privilege, and expectations in celebrity families versus working-class ones.
• Universal Struggles: Glenn highlights how severe, lifelong mental health and addiction challenges transcend social status and can devastate even families with every resource.
  “Sometimes that demon is the hardest one to battle... it cuts across all socioeconomic lines.” – Glenn Greenwald (65:01)

7. Coldplay Kiss Cam Scandal Revisited (68:38–82:17)

• Trying to Restore the "Victim": Discussion of the Coldplay concert viral moment, focusing on the HR executive caught on camera, now giving media interviews to recast herself as a victim of viral shaming.
• Nuanced View on Infidelity: Glenn argues that public schadenfreude is heightened by her being an “HR manager” violating workplace norms, while Megyn notes the public is often harsher on the “other woman”, especially when shame is telegraphed on camera.
• Changing Social Morality: Comparison to how society handles the personal affairs of public figures now versus decades ago.

Notable Excerpts:

• “If you want to do that, go to a place that’s private, keep it behind closed doors. Everybody in the public... You’re going to get people angry at you... just accept that and stop whining about it.” – Glenn Greenwald (81:24)

8. NYT on Trump & Epstein – Manufactured Scandal? (84:42–90:55)

• NYT’s “Bombshell” Fails to Deliver: Megyn summarizes, and Glenn critiques, a new New York Times story linking Trump to Epstein. Both note the absence of any evidence tying Trump to criminal sexual abuse, calling the article “political activism disguised as journalism.”
  “Is it actually breaking news that Donald Trump in the 80s and 90s... had a strong interest in women and even womanized? ...People have decided that this is not disqualifying.” – Glenn Greenwald (88:45)

9. Institutional Trust and Media Manipulation (91:57–98:41)

• Brown/MIT Case Link: Brief update on breaking news that police are probing a link between the Brown shooting and an MIT professor’s murder, though motivations remain unclear.
• “Hostile” Portraits of Trump World: A photographer’s deliberate styling of Trump surrogates to look unattractive in Vanity Fair photos is dissected. Glenn slams the double standard, noting similar outlets would never mistreat left-leaning public figures’ portraits. “I kind of blame, you know, Susie Wiles and these Trump officials who continuously give access to these media outlets that they know hate them and act surprised or indignant when they’re not treated fairly.” – Glenn Greenwald (96:42)

10. Viral Kindness: Jeannie from Target and the Charlie Kirk Shirt (100:51–114:01)

• Viral confrontation: An elderly Target employee, Jeannie, is berated and filmed by a young leftist customer for wearing a Charlie Kirk shirt, with the antagonizer posting the video online to seek validation.
• Mass Reaction and Karmic Justice: The public swamps the abuser’s employer with calls; Megyn praises Jeannie’s magnanimous refusal to call for her abuser’s firing. A fundraiser for Jeannie quickly tops $200,000.
  “Imagine saying, no, I don’t want her fired just because she did that to me… already is such an admirable person. How many of us would react that way?” – Glenn Greenwald (111:02)
• Deeper Lessons: Glenn and Megyn praise generational civility and suggest a lesson for all sides: “If you're a private citizen, you can express whatever views you want and you don’t lose your job over it. You don't get publicly attacked for it.” – Glenn Greenwald (111:02)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “Congressional Kardashian. That’s what [AOC] is.” – Megyn Kelly, (13:22)
• “Dan Bongino is a very effective outsider... Running the FBI is an entirely different skill set.” – Glenn Greenwald, (42:00)
• “On a case of this magnitude... at a place like Brown, it looks like the Keystone Cops.” – Glenn Greenwald (28:20)
• “I don’t think these institutions are filled with what I would call leftists... they are more like establishment operatives... permanent power faction not subject to elections.” – Glenn Greenwald (45:25)
• “You want to know Mike Johnson, you kind of have to know his family and his wife... A girlfriend is different.” – Glenn Greenwald (59:30)
• “That demon is the hardest one to battle... it cuts across all socioeconomic lines.” – Glenn Greenwald (65:01)
• “We need to get back to the spirit that part of what is America is if you’re a private citizen, you can express whatever views you want and you don't lose your job over it.” – Glenn Greenwald (111:02)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment Topic | Start | End | |---------------------------------------------------|-------|-------| | AOC vs. JD Vance | 04:19 | 15:50 | | DNC/Kamala Autopsy Discussion | 19:28 | 24:25 | | Brown University Incident | 24:25 | 35:39 | | Dan Bongino Quits FBI | 35:39 | 47:04 | | Cash Patel, Media Softball Interviews | 47:04 | 59:30 | | Rob Reiner Family Tragedy | 62:39 | 68:38 | | Coldplay Kiss Cam Viral Fallout | 68:38 | 82:17 | | NYT: Trump and Epstein Bombshell? | 84:42 | 90:55 | | Media, Photos, and Perceptions | 91:57 | 98:41 | | Jeannie vs. TikTok Mob: Target, Charlie Kirk |100:51 |114:01 |

Episode Tone & Language

The tone is candid, irreverent, and at times playful, punctuated by biting sarcasm, sharp media criticism, and personal anecdotes—hallmarks of both Kelly’s and Greenwald’s styles. Mutual skepticism toward political and institutional narratives dominates, with a clear throughline of demanding substance and authenticity over performance or propaganda.

Summary Takeaway

This episode juxtaposes American political theater, cultural viral moments, and the struggle for authenticity and institutional trust. Glenn and Megyn dissect the performative, often contrived nature of some politicians, the complex challenges of agency reform, shifts in societal morality, and the contradictions of the contemporary media landscape. Viral stories of minor characters, like Jeannie at Target, showcase how the American public can still offer unexpected kindness and moral clarity, providing a hopeful contrast to the noise of the news cycle.