The Megyn Kelly Show — Ep. 1189 (Nov 7, 2025)

“Ben Shapiro Responds to Tucker Carlson, Plus Sydney Sweeney and Newsom, with Michael Knowles and Andrew Klavan - ‘Megyn Kelly Live’ in FL”

Episode Overview

Broadcast live from Jacksonville, Florida, this episode of The Megyn Kelly Show unites Megyn Kelly with conservative thought leaders Ben Shapiro, Andrew Klavan, and Michael Knowles (all affiliated with The Daily Wire). In a wide-ranging, candid, and sometimes fiery conversation, they dissect the changing political and cultural landscape, focusing on celebrity activism, the conservative movement’s internal rifts (notably Shapiro’s public dispute with Tucker Carlson), Hollywood’s shifting winds, faith, and the outlook for the 2028 election.

The tone is open and combative, yet often lightened by humor and camaraderie. Megyn acts both as moderator and provocateur, keeping the conversation honest, occasionally personal, and always firmly rooted in her "no BS, no agenda, no fear" ethos.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Decline of Celebrity Political Power

• Megyn Kelly opens by observing how celebrities’ political activism—once a reliable asset for Democrats—is losing potency even among the left. She cites recent examples like Jennifer Lawrence and Sydney Sweeney stepping away from overt politicking.
  • “One of the great things about the Internet is it’s democratized celebrity. We really don’t give a sh*t what they say… and even the left is starting to feel that way.” (03:30)
  • Jennifer Lawrence's recent NYT interview is referenced, where she admits: “Celebrities do not make a difference whatsoever on who people vote for.” (Lawrence quoted at 05:46, with Shapiro agreeing)

Faith, Conversion, and American Morality

• Andrew Klavan shares his journey from secular Judaism to Christianity, underscoring the personal and philosophical roots of his conversion.
  • “If there is a right and wrong, there must be a supreme good. And that supreme good has to be a consciousness, because only consciousness is good.” (11:25)
  • Klavan speaks about the loss of spirituality leading to societal malaise, and underscores the unique bond (and tensions) between Jews, Christians, and Muslims in modern American politics.
  • “If you think about it, if there’s a God — and spoiler alert, there is — then for about 200 years of secular life, all of our thinkers… have been living in a delusion about the most important thing in the world.” (19:16)

Hollywood, Wokeness, and Christian Media

• Hollywood’s ideological monoculture is dissected, with inside stories about the secretive ‘Friends of Abe’ conservative group, and the growing market for independent and Christian content.
  • “There’s an entire social system… you cannot [openly hold traditional values]... and my phone turned off like I thought someone had unplugged it.” (23:37, Klavan)
  • The panel agrees the path forward is for conservatives and Christians to “make their own stuff”—pointing to The Chosen and Sound of Freedom as proof of market demand and creative advancement.
  • “Building an audience is a good thing… Christians have done that. If conservatives will get past the hurdles… we can beat [Hollywood].” (26:36, Klavan)

Michael Knowles on Pop Culture Provocations & Faith at Yale

• Michael Knowles recounts being blacklisted by Fox News over critical remarks about Greta Thunberg, his experiences with cancel culture, his faith journey from 'clever atheist' to practicing Catholic during his time at Yale.
  • “The most intelligent people were not atheists. They were theists… And they presented me with intellectual arguments for the existence of God.” (43:09)

Charlie Kirk's Legacy and the Grieving Conservative Movement

• The conversation grows emotional and resolute as speakers reflect on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, its impact on personal faith, and the culture of political violence.
  • “It’s deeply sad, and we should grieve and we should mourn, and it’s a great injustice. We should be absolutely furious about it.” (47:42, Knowles)
  • The panel highlights Kirk’s impact as both political leader and friend.

Ben Shapiro vs. Tucker Carlson: The Conservative Rift

Background

• Ben Shapiro addresses his rift with Tucker Carlson over Carlson’s interview with far-right figure Nick Fuentes and perceived ‘glossing’ of dangerous ideas.
  • Shapiro notes that both the alt-right and far-left hate him, making him a target and underscoring his definition of the ‘alt-right’ as grievance-based and anti-Semitic.
  • “Tucker is eminently capable of asking tough questions... but he decided for any number of reasons... that he was going to treat Fuentes with kid gloves...” (64:25)
• Exchange with Megyn: Megyn tries to mediate, arguing Carlson’s approach with Fuentes was an attempt to contain, not normalize, extremism. They debate whether Carlson's technique is a productive challenge or an ideological failing.
  • Shapiro: “I’m not in politics to be friends with people… If I see someone breach basic moral values by having on a Nazi and… glossing the Nazi, then I’m going to speak out about that.” (80:59)

Risks and Costs to the Movement

• Both Kelly and Shapiro emphasize the risk of right-wing infighting: “There are limits to the side… You have to define your side.” (84:30, Shapiro)
• Shapiro sees ideological clarity as necessary; Kelly pushes for practical unity against the left.
  • Shapiro: "The question always is whether someone's statements are forwarding moral values I think are worthwhile… If the ideas are bad, I am against them. If they are good, I am for them. End of story." (92:22)

Is Detente Possible?

• Despite tensions, Shapiro: “When Tucker changes his positions, then sure [detente is possible]. If he does not, then no.” (90:45)
• Kelly points out Carlson’s importance to the movement and appeals for unity, but Shapiro is resolute.

Pop Culture: Sydney Sweeney Moment

• Sweeney refuses to be baited by GQ into apologizing for a supposedly offensive ad. The panel celebrates her discipline and the broader trend of celebrities resisting progressive litmus tests.
  • “That’s watershed stuff up there... She understands the game.” (97:17, Kelly & Shapiro)
  • Klavan: “That was actually sexier than the dress.” (97:12)

2028 Election: Who's on the Bench?

• Discussion of Democratic prospects:
  • Gavin Newsom is mocked for his shape-shifting identity politics; Knowles jokes Newsom will try to be the “next black president,” despite privileged upbringing.
  • AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez): Shapiro predicts a strong run, citing her progressive appeal and demographic advantages. “I think everyone is underestimating AOC ... if she’s not, I think right now it’s Newsom and her. But I think Newsom fades.” (105:16)
  • Stephen A. Smith suggested as a normie, outsider Democrat who could shake things up, to broad amusement.
• For Republicans:
  • JD Vance / Marco Rubio ticket is heavily favored by the panel.
  • The mechanics of succession—Trump as kingmaker—are discussed, as is the possibility of foreclosed primaries.

Political Violence & How to Respond

• The panel discusses whether to reach across the aisle or “steamroll” the Democratic opposition given recent violence.
  • Shapiro: “We should define who these people are… not every single Democrat is a person who wants to slit our throats… But there is a segment who absolutely 100% celebrated Charlie Kirk’s murder. We all saw it.” (114:19)
  • Knowles: “When someone is threatening people, that’s not protected speech… [Such people] need to be ostracized from society… lose their jobs…” (117:16)
  • Klavan: “I actually think it’s free speech that’s going to save us… The violence of the left has been hidden… that power is gone.” (118:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (by Timestamp)

On Celebrity Political Power & Hollywood

• “One of the great things about the Internet is it’s totally democratized celebrity. We really don’t give a sht what they say at all because they’re ubiquitous. And even the left is starting to feel that way.”*
  — Megyn Kelly [03:30]
• “She [Jennifer Lawrence] realizes now it’s... pissing into the wind when they come out and what do they do? They hurt their own careers.”
  — Megyn Kelly [05:46]

On Faith and Politics

• “If there is a right and wrong, there must be a supreme good. And that supreme good has to be a consciousness, because only consciousness is good.”
  — Andrew Klavan [11:25]
• “If there’s a God — and spoiler alert, there is — then for about 200 years of secular life, all of our thinkers… have been living in a delusion about the most important thing in the world.”
  — Andrew Klavan [19:16]

Shapiro v. Carlson: The Rift

• “Tucker is eminently capable of asking tough questions... but he decided for any number of reasons... that he was going to treat Fuentes with kid gloves...”
  — Ben Shapiro [64:25]
• “When I draw a line with regard to what I believe Tucker Carlson is doing to the conservative movement and what he is fomenting, that is because that is my… requirement to speak out when people do and say things that are both detrimental to conservatism and morally wrong.”
  — Ben Shapiro [70:31]
• “If I see someone breach basic moral values by having on a Nazi and… glossing the Nazi, then I’m going to speak out about that.”
  — Ben Shapiro [80:59]
• “There are limits to the side… You have to define your side.”
  — Ben Shapiro [84:30]
• “When Tucker changes his positions, then sure [detente is possible]. If he does not, then no.”
  — Ben Shapiro [90:45]
• “The question always is whether someone's statements are forwarding moral values I think are worthwhile… If the ideas are bad, I am against them. If they are good, I am for them. End of story.”
  — Ben Shapiro [92:22]

On Sydney Sweeney and the New Hollywood

• “That was actually sexier than the dress.”
  — Andrew Klavan [97:12]
• “She understands the game… No gas for the car. And now where are you going to go?”
  — Ben Shapiro [97:50]

2028 Election Chat

• “He is such an unbelievable, unbelievable lizard person… you’re waiting for him to unzip and just a dinosaur pops out.”
  — Ben Shapiro on Gavin Newsom [103:15]
• “I think everyone is underestimating AOC ... if she’s not, I think right now it’s Newsom and her. But I think Newsom fades.”
  — Ben Shapiro [105:16]
• “Assuming [the presidency] doesn't happen, Trump can crown Vance and Rubio, and I think that's the end of the story.”
  — Michael Knowles [108:47]

On Political Violence and Building the Future

• “There for sure is a segment of Democrats who absolutely 100% celebrated Charlie Kirk’s murder. We all saw it. We all know who they are.”
  — Ben Shapiro [114:19]
• “When someone is threatening people, that’s not protected speech… ostracized from society… lose their jobs…”
  — Michael Knowles [117:16]
• “I actually think it’s free speech that’s going to save us… as long as we can disprove what they’re saying in real time, people are going to see pretty soon who is calling for death, who’s calling for murder.”
  — Andrew Klavan [118:01]

Important Timestamps

• [03:30] – Megyn’s monologue on celebrity power/support for Democrats
• [11:25] – Andrew Klavan’s faith journey
• [19:16] – On spirituality, Jews, and Western decline
• [23:37] – Hollywood’s treatment of conservatives; secret ‘Friends of Abe’
• [47:42] – Michael Knowles on Charlie Kirk’s murder, grief, and the need for justified anger
• [64:25] – Ben Shapiro on Tucker Carlson’s “glossing” of Nick Fuentes
• [80:59] – Shapiro: “If I see someone breach basic moral values… I’m going to speak out about that.”
• [97:12] – Sydney Sweeney’s message discipline celebrated
• [103:15] – Newsom as “lizard person” and the 2028 bench
• [114:19] – Defining "the opposition" post-political violence

Conclusion

This live episode channels the spirit of the modern American right: defiant, self-aware, embattled, celebratory of its cultural advances, and deeply divided on strategy regarding its most visible figures. The panel’s willingness to air personal and ideological grievances—without sacrificing humor or unity of higher purpose—makes it both an illuminating snapshot of the conservative movement in 2025 and essential listening for those tracking the evolution of media, faith, politics, and pop culture on the American right.

Memorable, combative, and intellectually lively, this episode is a must-listen for all sides.