Big Tech Held Liable in Major Case, Iran War Support Slides, Dems' Surprise FL Wins: AM Update 3/26

Summary

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The Megyn Kelly Show – AM Update, March 26, 2026

Host: Emily Jasinsky
Key Themes: Big Tech liability, US-Iran conflict sentiment, DHS contract scandal, Democratic wins in Florida

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Episode Overview

Emily Jasinsky hosts a news-driven AM update covering three headline stories: landmark verdicts against Big Tech for youth harms and child safety failures, declining US public support for the Iran war effort and shifting diplomacy, a mounting DHS contracts scandal, and surprising Democratic wins in traditionally Republican Florida legislative seats.

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Major Verdicts Against Big Tech

[02:28–06:32]

Key Points

• Historic Lawsuits:
  Both Meta (parent company of Facebook, Instagram) and YouTube have been found liable in separate lawsuits:

  • Los Angeles Case: Meta and YouTube held responsible for harming a young woman, "KGM," due to platform designs (infinite scroll, autoplay, constant notifications) connected to deteriorating child mental health.
  • Bellwether trials: This is the first in a series expected to influence thousands of similar cases.

• Damages Ordered:

  • $3 million in compensatory damages to KGM — 70% paid by Meta, the rest by YouTube
  • Jury deliberating punitive damages related to alleged malice or fraud

• Legal Comparison:

  • Analysts draw parallels with “big tobacco” cases from the 1990s for precedent and potential industry-wide changes.

• New Mexico Verdict:

  • Separate civil suit: Meta ordered to pay $375 million for failing to protect children from predators.
  • 37,502 willful violations found under a consumer fraud statute.

Notable Quotes

• On calculated platform harms:
  “Features like infinite scrolling, constant notifications, and autoplaying videos are engineered to keep kids on social media, driving compulsive use linked to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, and suicide.”
  – Emily Jasinsky (02:28)

• On the magnitude of violations:
  “How many willful violations did Meta commit by engaging in unfair or deceptive trade practice? The jury’s answer is 37,502.”
  – Legal Analyst/Court Reporter (00:29, 05:59)

• Analyst Commentary:
  “It was done purposefully for the point of maximizing profit.”
  – Misty Maris, NBC News Legal Analyst (05:09)

• Signal to industry:
  "It should be a clear signal to everyone in this space, and to Mr. Zuckerberg in particular, that enough is enough. It's time to change the way they do business."
  – AG Raul Torres, New Mexico Attorney General (06:32)

Additional Points

• Meta and Google (YouTube) both plan to appeal.
• Eight similar cases are pending in New Mexico alone.
• A case targeting Snapchat is in the discovery phase.

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Iran: Public Opinion, Peace Talks & Policy Tensions

[06:32–08:52]

Key Points

• Polling Shifts:

  • Majority souring: 61% of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s handling of the war with Iran; only 38% think launching Operation Epic Fury was the right decision.
  • Sharp partisan divide: Only 69% of Republicans approve, and 90% of Democrats disapprove.

• Diplomacy and Uncertainty:

  • NYT reports of a US 15-point peace proposal addressing Iran's missiles and nuclear issues—but the White House urges caution, refusing to confirm specifics.
  • Iran’s Foreign Minister says no negotiations are happening, directly contradicting US statements.

• War Developments:

  • Pentagon signals possibility of a new ground operation and plans for paratrooper deployment.
  • Operation Epic Fury enters week five.

Notable Quotes

• White House caution:
  “I saw a 15 point plan that was floated in the media. I would caution reporters...from reporting about speculative points...There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual.”
  – Press Secretary Caroline Levitt (08:15)

• Iranian response:
  “No negotiations have happened with the enemy until now and we do not plan on any negotiations.”
  – Former Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragtri (08:52)

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DHS Scandal: Kristi Noem Under Investigation

[10:57–12:05]

Key Points

• Investigation Launched:

  • Kristi Noem, former DHS Secretary, faces investigation (with ex-aide Corey Lewandowski) over billions in no-bid federal contracts and a $220M taxpayer-funded ad campaign.
  • Probe initiated by DHS Inspector General; officials ordered to preserve communications related to contract approvals and the ad blitz.

• Wider Contract Scrutiny:

  • Noem had a policy requiring personal approval for all expenses over $100,000.
  • Allegations emerge of a so-called “Lewandowski tax”—financial incentives sought for contract access, which Lewandowski denies.

Notable Quotes

• Hearing confrontation:
  “No, ma'am, I'm asking you...Did the president approve ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?”
  – Legal Analyst/Court Reporter to Noem (11:43)

• Noem’s response:
  “Yes, sir. We went through the legal processes. Did it correct the president working with OMB? Yes, he did, yes.”
  – Kristi Noem (11:58)

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Florida: Surprises for Democrats in Special Elections

[12:05–15:13]

Key Points

• Democratic Upsets:

  • Democrats win two of three contested legislative seats. Notably, they flip Palm Beach County’s House district (Mar-a-Lago area—Trump’s district) and a Tampa-area Senate seat.
  • Democrat Emily Gregory (Army wife, small business owner) wins the seat previously carried by Trump by 10 points in 2024, focusing her campaign on affordability, healthcare, and insurance.

• Political Implications:

  • The wins are perceived as warning signs for Republicans’ hold on Florida and an energizer for Democrats going into the 2026 election.

Notable Quotes

• Emily Gregory’s message:
  “I think it's a real reaction to the current policies at the national and state level and I think that is a clear indication from voters it's the wrong track...Representatives focus on property, insurance, healthcare, education. Focus on the things that Floridians care about.”
  – Emily Gregory, victorious Democrat (14:54)

• National implications:
  “If Mar A Lago is vulnerable, imagine what's possible this November.”
  – Heather Williams, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (15:13)

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Timestamps — Segment Guide

• Big Tech Verdicts: 02:28–06:32
• Iran Update: 06:32–08:52
• DHS/Noem Scandal: 10:57–12:05
• Florida State Elections: 12:05–15:13

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Summary

This AM Update spotlights seismic legal shifts for Big Tech, a weakening public mandate for US military action in Iran, intensifying scrutiny of DHS contracting, and signs of shifting political winds in Florida. The discussion is fast-paced, loaded with analysis and first-hand quotes, and frames each story with a mix of legal detail, political context, and electoral stakes. The tone remains direct and driven by primary source statements throughout.

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Transcript

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[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

Good morning everyone. I'm Emily jasinsky, host of Afterparty and the Megyn Kelly wrap up show on SiriusXM channel 111. It's Thursday, March 26, 2026 and this is your AM update.

[Legal Analyst / Court Reporter]

How many willful violations did Meta commit by engaging in unfair or deceptive trade practice? The jury's answer is 37,502 juries delivering

[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

two major verdicts totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. Putting social media companies on notice.

[White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt]

I saw a 15 point plan that was floated in the media. I would caution reporters in this room from reporting about speculative points.

[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

The White House says talks with Iran are ongoing while Tehran says it's not going to negotiate. And new polling shows Americans are increasingly souring on the war. Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and a top aide reportedly under investigation over billions in no bid contracts. And Democrats pull off a surprise double win in deep red Florida state legislature elections, including a flip on President Trump's home turf. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

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[NBC News Legal Analyst Misty Maris]

a pair

[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

of verdicts this week delivering a clear message to big social media companies can be held liable for harm caused by their products. In Los Angeles, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram and YouTube found liable for harming the plaintiff, a now 20 year old woman identified as KGM, KGM's legal team arguing features like infinite scrolling, constant notifications and autoplaying videos are engineered to keep kids on social media driving compulsive use linked to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self harm and suicide. Yesterday, Meta and YouTube ordered to pay KGM $3 million in compensatory damages. Meta on the hook for 70% of the damages and YouTube covering the rest of the this case, the first in a series of bellwether trials in California. Bellwether trials are seen as representative of the totality of cases and can act as a test to gauge how juries may respond to similar suits. The jury continuing deliberations to determine punitive damages the companies owe for malice or fraud, according to the New York Times, legal analysts drawing comparisons to the big Tobacco cases of the 1990s, which led to massive payouts and forced sweeping changes to how cigarettes were marketed, especially to minors. Throughout the trial, Meta's legal team arguing KGM's mental health issues stemmed from her troubled home life. YouTube Maintaining it is a streaming platform, not a social media company. The trial running five weeks, featuring testimony from top executives including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Yesterday's verdict potentially paving the way for more trials and settlements down the line with thousands of other suits already filed. A spokeswoman for Meta issuing a statement we respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options. Google, which owns YouTube, planning to appeal eight more cases in this series are still set to go to trial in New Mexico. A separate jury also handing down a major verdict against Meta on Tuesday ordering the company to pay $375 million after finding it failed to adequately protect children from predators on its platforms. The civil suit brought by New Mexico's Attorney General Raul Torres. Throughout the six week trial, the state arguing Meta publicly portrayed Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp as safe for children while downplaying the scale of harmful and exploitative content on its platforms. NBC News legal analyst Misty Maris breaking down the case and the verdict this

[NBC News Legal Analyst Misty Maris]

was actually brought by the state of New Mexico through the Attorney General and it's brought under a consumer frauds statute which says you can't be deceptive and cause harm to consumers in the state. And the theory was, according to the attorney General that these that Meta, Instagram and Facebook were breeding grounds for sexual predators and that they were willfully concealing these dangers from those consumers. The jury clearly agreeing and finding them liable. Again, this is civil and to the tune of significant civil pen penalties which which are $5,000 per violation. So that requires a showing of willful conduct yes, which means that it was done purposefully for the point of maximizing profit.

[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

After less than a day of deliberations, the jury finding Meta committed tens of thousands of violations. Here, the judge reading part of the

[Legal Analyst / Court Reporter]

verdict in accordance with the civil penalty instruction and the instructions as a whole. How many willful violations did Meta commit by engaging in unfair or deceptive trade practice? The jury's answer is 37,500.

[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

Meta responding to the verdict in a statement, quote, we respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal. AG Torres yesterday on the Today show reacting to the verdict, it should be

[Legal Analyst / Court Reporter]

a clear signal to everyone in this

[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

space, and to Mr. Zuckerberg in particular, that enough is enough. It's time to change the way they do business. AG Torres office also pursuing a similar case against Snapchat, parent company Snap, which is currently in the discovery phase. New polling now signaling growing public skepticism over the US Military's Operation Epic Fury in Iran. A survey from Pew Research finding a majority of Americans disapprove of President Trump's handling of the conflict, 61% disapproving, compared to 37% who approve. The poll conducted from March 16th through the 22nd showing just 38% of Americans believe launching the operation was the right decision, while 59% say it was wrong. And on the question of how the war is going, more Americans say not well, 45% compared to just 25% who say it's going very well or extremely well. The divide remaining sharply partisan, 90% of Democrats disapproving. Among Republicans, just 69% approve of the president's handling of the conflict. On Tuesday, the New York Times reporting the United States sent Iran a 15 point peace proposal aimed at ending the war. The Times noting it did not obtain a copy of the plan, but citing officials familiar with the proposal who say it broadly addresses Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs. Yesterday, Iran's foreign minister telling state media the country does not intend to enter negotiations with the United States, but confirming that an American proposal to end the war is now under review by senior leadership in Tehran. At the White House yesterday, Press Secretary Caroline Levitt pushing back on reports that talks may be stalling.

[White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt]

Talks continue, they are productive, as the president said on Monday, and they continue to be. However, I saw a 15 point plan that was floated in the media. I would caution reporters in this room from reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources. The White House never confirmed that full plan. There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual. So I am not going to negotiate on behalf of the president here at the podium. What I will tell you is these talks are ongoing. We're not going to get into the nitty gritty details that have been exchanged between the United States and Iran at this time.

[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

But just hours later, a direct contradiction from Tehran. According to the Associated Press, Iranian former Minister Abbas Aragtri saying no negotiations have happened with the enemy until now and we do not plan on any negotiations. Oh boy. On the Hill, Pentagon officials briefing lawmakers on the operation. According to Wall Street Journal reporter Alex Ward. At least three congressional Republicans, including the chairs of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, strongly hinting that a ground operation could potentially be under way soon. This coming amid reports that the military is preparing to deploy at least 1,000 paratroopers to the region. Tomorrow marks the start of week five of Operation Epic Fury. Coming up, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and her former aide reportedly under investigation over billions paid out in no bid contracts. And two state legislature wins for Democrats in deep red Florida, including a flip and President Trump's home district could spell trouble for Republicans this November.

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[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, now reportedly under investigation by her own department's watchdog along with her alleged lover and colleague Corey Lewandowski over the awarding of billions in government contracts. Noem formally exiting the department earlier this week, her ouster following a string of controversies including that $220 million taxpayer funded ad campaign prominently featuring herself.

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[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

That ad blitz drawing bipartisan scrutiny on Capitol Hill, with even Republican Senator John Kennedy pressing Nome about it during a recent hearing?

[Legal Analyst / Court Reporter]

No, ma', am, I'm asking you. Sorry to interrupt, but the president approved ahead of time. You spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?

[Kristi Noem]

Yes, sir.

[Advertiser / Kristi Noem]

We went through the legal processes. Did it correct the president working with omb? Yes, he did, yes.

[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

Now the contracting process behind that spending reportedly facing deeper scrutiny, according to the Daily Mail. Senior DHS officials say the department's inspector general has opened an investigation into how major contracts were approved, including no bid deals worth billions. Investigators reportedly ordering dozens of current and former officials, including members of Nome's inner circle, to preserve communications like emails, texts and phone records. The probe extending beyond the ad campaign, focusing on a broader pattern of contract approvals tied directly to Noem's office during her tenure. Noem implementing a policy requiring personal approval for expenses totaling more than $100,000. The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General has not accused anyone of a crime and the investigation remains ongoing. But according to the Daily Mail, some contractors told White House officials that Lewandowski allegedly sought financial incentives and tied to contract access referred to as the Lewandowski tax. Claims he denies. Lewandowski responding to the Daily Mail's reporting, calling it fake news, the Daily Mail says it contacted Noem, the White House and DHS for comment. No response. As a publication, we also reached out to the White House and have not yet heard back. If investigators ultimately find evidence of criminal wrongdoing, the case could be referred to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution. A Florida state House seat for flips in President Trump's own backyard, highlighting what Democrats hope is a shift in momentum heading into 2026 in a trio of special elections in deep red Florida Tuesday night. Democrats scoring two big Republicans holding onto one state House seat. Democrat Brian Nathan defeating Republican Josie Tomko in a narrow upset, winning a Tampa area seat in the state Senate by just over 400 votes. Nathan, a Navy veteran, flipping a seat Republicans carried by about 10 points just two years ago despite a sizable GOP voter registration advantage elsewhere in the state. Democrats flipping the Palm Beach County House district containing President Trump's Mar a Lago home and club territory. President Trump carried by about 10 points in 2024. Democrat Emily Gregory, an Army wife who runs a women's gym, centering her campaign on that familiar Democrat message. Affordability zeroing in on housing, health care and insurance costs. Gregory defeating Trump endorsed Republican John Maples for the open seat by about three points. Gregory speaking to CNN Tuesday night after the victory.

[Advertiser / Kristi Noem]

Since President Trump's term started more the Democrats have flipped more than 20 legislative seats. You're just adding to that. How does that feel?

[Kristi Noem]

I think it's a real reaction to the current policies at the national and state level and I think that is a clear indication from voters it's the wrong track. And go ahead. Legislatures go ahead. Representatives focus on property, insurance, healthcare, education. Focus on the things that flirtings care about.

[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams telling the ap, quote, if Mar A Lago is vulnerable, imagine what's possible this November. Williams going on to say Tuesday's race was the 29th seat that Democrats have flipped from Republican control since President Trump took office. Meanwhile, Republican Hillary Hawley handily defeating Democrat Edwin Perez in House District 51. Covering the area between Tampa and Orlando. That'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Emily Drishinski, host of Afterparty. Catch the Megan Kelly show live on SiriusXM's the Megyn Kelly Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com Megyn Kelly and all podcast platforms.

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[Emily Jasinsky / Emily Drishinski (Host)]

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