Bessent Slams NYT, DHS Crackdown in New Orleans, Doc Sentenced in Matthew Perry Case: AM Update 12/4

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Megyn Kelly Show (AM Update 12/4/2025)

Overview

This episode of The Megyn Kelly Show AM Update, hosted by Emily Jashinsky on SiriusXM, delivers a brisk rundown of the day’s most pressing political, legal, and cultural stories. Main topics include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s fiery critique of The New York Times, a new DHS immigration crackdown in New Orleans, the release of inside images from Jeffrey Epstein's island, and the first sentencing in the Matthew Perry overdose case. The episode aims for unfiltered analysis and candid reporting on current events.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Scott Bessent Critiques The New York Times at Dealbook Summit

[02:38–07:34]

• Setting: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sat with Andrew Ross Sorkin at the NYT Dealbook Summit for a probing interview. Known for his measured style, Bessent was unusually combative, especially toward The New York Times itself.
• Main Critique: Bessent criticized a recent NYT article suggesting President Trump was experiencing fatigue and reduced activity.
  • Quote: “The New York Times is no longer the paper of record. I read this article like President Trump is slowing down. It is 100% fake that like he only called me twice at 2 in the morning last week instead of three times.”
    — Scott Bessent [03:42]
• Double Standards Alleged: Bessent accused the NYT of targeting Trump for scrutiny on his schedule while giving lenient coverage to President Biden’s periods of inactivity.
  • Quote: “Where was this intrepid reporting when President Biden would go days without any appearances or spent long weekends napping on a beach in Delaware?”
    — Emily Jashinsky (host summarizing Bessent’s point) [02:56]
• Cabinet Access: Bessent contrasted Trump’s frequent engagement with his Cabinet with Biden’s alleged distance.
  • Quote: “We just had a three hour cabinet meeting yesterday, Andrew. For ten months the Biden administration did not have a cabinet meeting. How are you going to invoke the 25th Amendment if the cabinet secretaries never see the president?”
    — Scott Bessent [04:13]
• Media and Power Connections: Sorkin questioned Bessent about Trump’s involvement in entertainment deals (e.g., Rush Hour 4). Bessent argued that political-entertainment entanglements figured into both Democratic and Republican circles, referencing the Obamas' Netflix contract and Hunter Biden’s foreign dealings.
  • Quote: “If you want to start pulling at every thread, then let’s start pulling at every thread of where Chuck Schumer’s children work.”
    — Scott Bessent [05:53]

The Trump Accounts Program

• Announcement: The Trump administration is launching “Trump Accounts” in July 2025 to help American children build investment portfolios, seeded by donations.
  • Quote: “You either have assets or you don’t. And I think that this is an opportunity for the American people, for everyone to have a stake in the system.”
    — Scott Bessent [06:31]

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2. Jeffrey Epstein Island Photos Released

[07:39–10:02]

• Event: Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released newly obtained photos and videos of Jeffrey Epstein’s Little St. James Island, giving the public a rare look inside.
• Details: The images, some eerie in nature, included a “creepy” dentist’s chair and masks in one room, as well as a blackboard with the words “power plots, deception and political.”
• Purpose: Committee members say this furthers transparency and fills out the record on Epstein’s activities and alleged crimes.
• Controversy: A GOP spokesperson called out Democrats for releasing “selective information,” invoking claims about prior document handling.
• Upcoming: The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump, sets a 30-day deadline for the DOJ and FBI to release all unclassified Epstein-related records.

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3. DHS Crackdown: “Operation Catahoula Crunch” in New Orleans

[11:23–14:17]

• Launch: The Department of Homeland Security initiated a new campaign targeting undocumented immigrants with violent criminal records in New Orleans, a sanctuary city.
• DHS Statement: Assistant Secretary Tricia McLachlan described the mission’s focus:
  • Quote: “We're first and foremost really focusing on those worst of the worst criminals... child pedophiles... burglars, gang members, rapists.”
    — Tricia McLachlan [11:40]
• Case Examples: Named arrestees included repeat offenders charged with aggravated assault, sexual battery, and child endangerment, some with multiple deportations.
• Local Reaction: The city sees a split:
  • Activists distribute whistles to warn of ICE presence.
  • Mayor-elect Elena Moreno accuses the Feds of racial profiling on CNN:
    • Quote: “What they're seeing... appears to be racial profiling of brown people and then going after these individuals and treating them like... violent offenders.”
      — Elena Moreno [13:08]
  • Governor Jeff Landry backs the operation:
    • Quote: “New Orleans is a crime ridden city... We should be doing the same thing here. Just because someone is committing crimes and is in the country illegally, they get a pass. That's what Democrats are saying. It’s ridiculous.”
      — Jeff Landry [13:39]

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4. Matthew Perry Overdose Case: Doctor Sentenced

[14:31–16:13]

• Sentencing: Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who supplied Matthew Perry with ketamine (against medical guidance), received 30 months in prison for distribution, alongside fines and assessment fees.
• Background: Perry, famed for Friends, died from a ketamine overdose in October 2023.
• Details: Plasencia provided the drug after Perry sought higher dosages from legitimate clinics. Plasencia collaborated with another doctor, Mark Chavez, and both have since lost their medical licenses.
• Quote (from sentencing):
  • “There is no excuse... I’m just so sorry.”
    — Dr. Salvador Plasencia [reported by NYT, cited at 14:31]
• Next steps: Chavez will be sentenced later this month, facing up to 10 years.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Scott Bessent on NYT:
  “The New York Times is no longer the paper of record.” [03:42]
• Bessent on double standards:
  “Where was the New York Times? We just had a three hour cabinet meeting yesterday, Andrew. For ten months the Biden administration did not have a cabinet meeting.” [04:13]
• Elena Moreno (Mayor-elect) on profiling:
  “What they’re seeing is what appears to be racial profiling of brown people...” [13:08]
• Governor Jeff Landry on DHS operation:
  “Just because someone is committing crimes and is in the country illegally, they get a pass. That’s what Democrats are saying. It’s ridiculous.” [13:39]
• Dr. Salvador Plasencia (in court):
  “There is no excuse... I’m just so sorry.” [14:31]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• NYT Dealbook Summit/Scott Bessent: 02:38–07:34
• Epstein Island Documents Released: 07:39–10:02
• DHS Crackdown in New Orleans: 11:23–14:17
• Matthew Perry Case Sentencing: 14:31–16:13

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This episode delivers pointed dialogue on elite media criticism, high-profile criminal investigations, and aggressive law enforcement initiatives, blending political candor with accessible news analysis.

Transcript

[A]

Hey, it's Chris K from Target wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas.

[B]

Hit it.

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[A]

Give me some jingle Bells. Dancer, Prancer. Let's hear a Beat.

And Mouse chorus.

Oh, it's a beautiful job, everybody. All right now, bring it home.

Happy holidays, everybody.

[B]

Good morning, everyone. I'm Emily Jasinsky, host of After Party and the Megyn Kelly Wrap Up show on Sirius XM channel 111. It's Thursday, December 4, 2025 and this is your AM update.

[C]

The new York Times is no longer the paper of record.

[B]

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant rips into the New York Times at a summit hosted by the New York Times. Democrats on the Oversight Committee released never before seen photos of Jeffrey Epstein's island.

[D]

We're going to take these daydream criminals off the streets in Louisiana.

[B]

DHS arrives for an immigration crackdown in New Orleans with the governor's blessing and the first of five defendants sentenced in connection with actor Matthew Perry's overdose death. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

[E]

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[B]

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant sitting down with the New York Times Andrew Ross Sorkin at the New York Times Dealbook Summit for a wide ranging conversation yesterday. The typically calm and measured secretary at times getting heated with the journalist, challenging him on several issues in one particularly fiery moment. Secretary Bessant slamming the New York Times for a recent report headlined quote Shorter days, signs of fatigue. Trump faces realities of aging in office. The Times analyzing the president's schedule finding quote, Mr. Trump has fewer public events on his schedule and is traveling domestically much less than he did by this point during his first year in office in 2017. Although he is taking more foreign trips, he also keeps a shorter public schedule than he used to. Most of his public appearances fall between noon and 5pm on average. Where was this intrepid reporting when President Biden would go days without any appearances or spent long weekends napping on a beach in Delaware? Secretary Bessant yesterday the New York Times.

[C]

Is no longer the paper of record. I read this article like President Trump is slowing down. It is 100% fake that like he only called me twice at 2 in the morning last week instead of three times.

[F]

You're saying he called you. I believe that he called you in the morning.

[C]

Like that whole narrative you had what was the greatest, one of the greatest scandals of all time that the coverage of the Biden administration, Joe Biden's diminished capacity and the COVID And that's why.

[F]

It'S probably fair to raise these questions.

[C]

Where was the New York Times? We just had a three hour cabinet meeting yesterday, Andrew. For ten months the Biden administration did not have a cabinet meeting. How are you going to invoke the 25th Amendment if the cabinet secretaries never see the president, which they did that. You know, I hear from people in the treasury building that I see President Trump more in a day than my predecessor saw Joe Biden in half a year.

[B]

Sorkin pressing Bessant on recent reporting that President Trump pushed for Paramount to greenlight buddy comedy Rush Hour 4 as it attempts to buy Warner Bros. In a deal that would ultimately require regulatory approval. Brett Ratner, who directed a forthcoming documentary about Melania Trump set to debut on Amazon Prime Video is the director of the Rush Hour movies. Besant then flipping the script on Sorkin.

[F]

And people look at this and think that this is an example of that the President is trying to push him and they are trying to placate the President. What do you think of that?

[C]

Not much. That the, that that a transaction of that size would be.

[F]

But do you think it's appropriate for the President to be, to be asking them to do something like that?

[C]

I don't know. Is the, you know the Obama's contract with Netflix, is that appropriate?

[F]

My understanding is that came after he was the President of the United States.

[C]

Okay. So for the first son to have a contract with the, with a Ukraine.

[F]

Energy well and Don Jr. Has a relationship. I don't know where Shane is Polymarket and with Kalshi. And so it's very complex. I mean, I'm curious how you think about these things.

[C]

These things are very complicated. And I think, you know, if you want to start pulling at every thread, then let's start pulling at every thread of where Chuck Schumer's children work. Let's start pulling at every thread where every one of his former staffers work.

[B]

Secretary Bessant also elaborating more on the administration's vision for the Trump Accounts program to kickstart savings and economic participation for children. Earlier this week, the Dell family making a historic first contribution, announcing plans to deposit $250 directly into the investment accounts of millions of American kids.

[C]

10% of Americans own 88% of the equities. And then the balance, you go down to 50. The other 12%. That's mostly through 401ks. You know what we're seeing now, we've seen this asset appreciation in America. You either have assets or you don't. And I think that this is an opportunity for the American people, for everyone to have a stake in the system. When you see that people have a stake in the system, they don't want to bring the system down. I believe that we are going to see this incredible outpouring into these accounts. And we now have the greatest fortunes in the history of America. And this is the chance that because this had been talked about for a long time and President Trump insisted on it being included in the one big beautiful bill, that this is the opportunity for philanthropists, for foundations and for corporates to contribute to all the American children.

[B]

The Trump Accounts program is set to activate in July.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday releasing a set of pictures and videos taken of Jeffrey Epstein's private Caribbean island. This release offering a rare look inside the twisted world of the disgraced financier. The oversight committee obtaining the images from the US Virgin Islands DOJ as part of its investigation into the handling of the Epstein case. The Images of Little St. James, one of two private islands Epstein owned in the Caribbean, taken in 2020 by US Virgin island authorities. Most of the images are unremarkable. Several videos show off the large grounds, a pool with multiple cabanas, a no trespassing sign. One image showing a large library type room with a blackboard scribbled on in chalk with the words including power plots, deception and political. The creepiest photo showing what appears to be a dentist's chair in a room with 10 masks depicting various male faces hanging on the walls, with two more masks laying side by side on a countertop. The images are available on MeganKelly.com the files released to the committee in response to a November letter from the US Virgin Islands Attorney General requesting all documents and communications related to the federal or local investigations into Epstein or co conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, ranking Member of the Committee Robert Garcia, issuing a statement. We are releasing these photos and videos to ensure public transparency in our investigation and to help piece together the full picture of Epstein's horrific crimes, a Republican spokesperson for the committee telling Axios. It's odd that Democrats are once again releasing selective information as they have done before. The last time Democrats cherry picked and doctored documents, their attempt to construct yet another hoax against President Trump completely collapsed these images coming as a bipartisan group of five lawmakers yesterday request a briefing from Attorney General Pam Bondi on the status of the DOJ's effort to release the Epstein files. President Trump signing the Epstein Files Transparency act on November 19, setting a 30 day deadline for the public release of all unclassified records, documents, materials, et cetera in the DOJ and FBI's possession regarding Epstein and those who had ties to him.

Coming up, DHS agents flocked to New Orleans, the latest city in the Trump administration's illegal immigration crackdown, and a doctor sentenced in connection with Friends actor Matthew Perry's death.

[G]

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[B]

On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security officially launching its latest immigration crackdown, this one in New Orleans dubbed Operation Catahoula Crunch, DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLachlan yesterday on CNN describing the nature of the mission.

[H]

We're first and foremost really focusing on those worst of the worst criminals, those criminals who have previously been locked up by local authorities. But then, because New Orleans functions as a sanctuary city, those individuals were not released to ice. They were instead released back onto New Orleans streets. So we're talking about child pedophiles who are on our list of targets, burglars, gang members, rapists. Those individuals we are highly targeting and we will continue, Whether it be 5000.

[B]

Arrests or beyond, in advance of federal agents swooping into the Big Easy. Dhs, putting out a list highlighting a few examples of the types of offenders previously released back onto the streets by local officials in Louisiana. The list, including Juan Ramon Dubon Argueda, arrested for aggravated assault, child endangerment. Kisi Ani Ahmad Albasani, arrested for sexual battery and Andres Lopez Castillejos, previously deported four times arrested for domestic abuse, child endangerment. New Orleans residents anticipating the launch of an operation in their community. Some businesses closing, others posting anti ICE signs. As in many other cities, local activists rallying against the enforcement effort, passing out whistles to alert others to the presence of ICE officials operating in the area. Mayor Elect Elena Moreno, a Democrat on cnn, accusing the feds of racial profiling.

[I]

What they're seeing on TV and reports that they're seeing is not that Border Patrol is going after the most violent criminals. You know, it's not. That's not what they're seeing. What they're seeing is what appears to be racial profiling of brown people and then going after these individuals and treating them like they are these significantly violent offenders.

[B]

On the flip side, Republican Governor Jeff Landry Monday on fox welcoming federal assistance.

[D]

New Orleans is a crime ridden city that we've been trying to keep people safe. It's something that we've been working on since I became governor here in Louisiana. What I don't understand is when fugitive apprehension teams around the country go in and take dangerous criminals off the street, we applaud them. We should be doing the same thing here. Just because someone is committing crimes and is in the country illegally, they get a pass. That's what Democrats are saying. It's ridiculous. I'm welcoming them to come in. We're going to take these dangerous criminals off the streets in Louisiana.

[B]

The governor in September requesting up to 1,000 National Guard troops in assistance. President Trump saying on Tuesday soldiers will soon be deployed. It is unclear how long the operation is expected to last.

A doctor who pleaded guilty to supplying friends, actor Matthew Perry with ketamine weeks before his death, sentenced to 30 months in prison plus two years of unsupervised release, a $5,600 fine and in a $400 special assessment, Perry paid Dr. Salvador Plasencia about $57,000 for the ketamine, which he sought out after doctors at a local ketamine therapy clinic refused to increase his dosage. In the Los Angeles courtroom, the New York Times reporting Placentia saying, quote, there is no excuse turning to Perry's family to say, quote, I'm just so sorry. Perry overdosed on the drug in October 2023 at age 54. He was found unresponsive in the Jacuzzi at his LA home after a lifelong struggle with addiction. The medical examiner ruling the cause of death acute effects of ketamine. Plasencia, who ran an urgent care center in Southern California, pleading guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic. Prosecutors say he repeatedly supplied Perry with the drug over several weeks. Plasencia is one of five people charged in connection to Perry's death and the first to face sentencing, according to the doj. Once Plasencia learned of Perry's interest in obtaining ketamine, he reached out to another doctor, Mark Chavez, who ran a ketamine clinic to obtain the drug. Plasencia texting. Chavez was also charged in connection to the death, stating, I wonder how much this moron will pay. Let's find out. Plasenci and Chavez both gave up their medical licenses following their convictions. Chavez also set for sentencing this month. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

That'll do it for your AM update. I'm Emily Jasinsky, host of Afterparty. Catch the Megyn Kelly show live on SiriusXM's the Megyn Kelly Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com Megyn Kelly and all podcast platforms.

[J]

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