Catastrophic Texas Flooding, Netanyahu Visits the White House, Musk Starts New Party: AM Update 7/7

Summary

The Megyn Kelly Show: Catastrophic Texas Flooding, Netanyahu Visits the White House, Musk Starts New Party - AM Update 7/7 Summary

Release Date: July 7, 2025

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1. Devastating Flooding in Central Texas

Overview: The episode opens with Megyn Kelly addressing the catastrophic flooding in Central Texas, which has resulted in at least 70 fatalities across five counties. The disaster has left numerous individuals missing, including 11 campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic, a popular Christian camp along the Guadalupe River.

Key Details:

• Camp Mystic Tragedy: According to the New York Post, the youngest campers were asleep in their cabins just over 200 feet from the river's edge when flash flooding occurred early on July 4th. The river surged from 1 to 34 feet within hours, causing significant destruction by uprooting trees, moving RVs, and displacing large boulders.

Personal Accounts:

• Brian Eads’ Story [03:29]: An adult camper, Brian Eads, recounted his harrowing experience to a local NBC station.

  "Woke up about 3:30, 4:00 in the morning and there was just torrential river coming through the campground. Got my wife up. We tried to make it to my truck. We didn't make it. We were washed away..." [03:29]

  Tragically, Mr. Eads' wife did not survive the flood. However, there are miraculous survival stories, such as that of a 22-year-old woman who endured extreme conditions to survive.

• Survivor's Account [04:13]: A local CBS reporter shared the story of the young woman's survival:

  "She had gone over four dams and been dropped. She told them the story of fighting refrigerators, dodging recreational vehicles as she traveled down that long 20-mile stretch..." [04:13]

Government Response:

• Disaster Declaration: President Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, enabling the allocation of additional resources for ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.

National Weather Service (NWS) Controversy:

• Forecasting Failures: Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd addressed the inadequacy of initial forecasts.

  "The original forecast from the National Weather Service predicted 3 to 6 inches of rain... It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw." [05:23]

• Political Repercussions: CNN National Security Analyst Juliette Kayam criticized potential impacts of budget cuts on weather services, questioning whether these cuts hindered effective warning systems.

• Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice’s Explanation [06:41]:

  "This happened within less than a two-hour span. Very, very quickly. The speed and scale of the flooding could not have been predicted even with the radar." [07:24]

• Associated Press & Texas Tribune Reports: Highlighted staffing shortages and the effectiveness of NWS's emergency push notifications, which were triggered multiple times during the flood event.

Expert Opinions:

• Meteorologist Matt Lanza [06:41]: Emphasized that budget and staffing issues did not play a role in this particular flood event.

  "We have seen absolutely nothing to suggest that current staffing or budget issues within NOAA or the NWS played any role at all in this event." [06:41]

Government Initiatives:

• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem [10:01]: Announced ongoing upgrades to national weather systems.

  "We are committed to upgrading national weather systems... renewing this ancient system that has been left in place with the federal government for many years." [10:01]

• Papal Blessing [10:31]: Pope Leo from Rome extended special blessings to those affected by the flooding.

  "I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones... We pray for them." [10:37]

2. International Affairs: Netanyahu’s White House Visit

Meeting with President Trump: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House amid ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire with Hamas. This visit marks the third White House meeting since the second Trump administration began.

Key Topics Discussed:

• US Military Actions: Acknowledgment of the successful US military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and operations targeting Iran's nuclear program.

• Ceasefire Negotiations: Ongoing talks with Hamas officials in Qatar aim to restart indirect negotiations.

• Netanyahu’s Stance [12:58]:

  "We will not allow a situation where there will be more hostages, more murders, more beheadings, more invasions. This means the elimination of Hamas's military and governmental capabilities." [12:58]

Future Agreements:

• Abraham Accords Expansion: Discussions are underway to include Syria in the Abraham Accords, potentially normalizing relations between the US and Syria for the first time since 1948.

• Historical Context: In May, President Trump met with Syrian leader Ahmed al Sharrah, signaling a willingness to engage despite Sharrah's militant background.

3. Elon Musk Launches the America Party

Formation of a New Political Party: Elon Musk announced the creation of the America Party in response to concerns over the projected deficit increases from President Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill," signed on July 4th.

Key Points:

• Deficit Concerns: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts the bill will increase the deficit by trillions through fiscal year 2034. The Trump administration disputes these numbers, attributing future economic growth and tariff revenues as offsetting factors.

• Public Support:

  Musk posted a poll on X (formerly Twitter) asking users if he should create The America Party, with 65.4% responding yes vs. 34.6% no. [14:05]

Strategic Focus:

• Targeted Elections: Musk aims to concentrate efforts on a few Senate seats and House districts with narrow margins to influence legislative outcomes.

• Platform Highlights: While a comprehensive platform remains unpublished, initial signals indicate priorities on debt reduction, military modernization with AI and robotics, deregulation in energy sectors, free speech promotion, and centrist policies.

Reactions and Criticism:

• Republican Concerns: Scott Pressler, a Republican and founder of Early Vote Action, criticized the move, arguing that a third party could split the Republican vote and benefit Democrats.

  "If Republicans lose the house in 2026, there will be no budget for DHS to deport criminal illegal aliens... it was all for naught." [15:44]

• Corporate Reactions: Pressler also suggested that Musk’s boards might prefer him to focus on his businesses rather than political endeavors.

4. Additional Insights and Closing Remarks

Debt Relief Advertisement: A brief segment promotes "Done With Debt," a debt relief service claiming to help reduce or eliminate personal debt without pushing loans or bankruptcy.

Final Thoughts: Megyn Kelly wraps up the AM Update by highlighting the gravity of the Texas flooding, international diplomatic efforts, and the emergence of new political movements, setting the stage for more in-depth discussions during the show.

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Notable Quotes:

• Brian Eads [03:29]:

  "A fight for survival. I grabbed a hold of one tree... I couldn't see her. I couldn't hear her."

• Dalton Rice [07:24]:

  "This happened within less than a two-hour span. Very, very quickly."

• Kristi Noem [10:01]:

  "We are committed to upgrading national weather systems... renewing this ancient system that has been left in place with the federal government for many years."

• Benjamin Netanyahu [12:58]:

  "We will not allow a situation where there will be more hostages, more murders, more beheadings, more invasions."

• Scott Pressler [15:44]:

  "If Republicans lose the house in 2026, there will be no budget for DHS to deport criminal illegal aliens... it was all for naught."

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This comprehensive summary captures the critical discussions from The Megyn Kelly Show AM Update on July 7, 2025, covering the tragic Texas floods, significant international diplomatic engagements, and the controversial formation of Elon Musk’s America Party.

Transcript

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[Megyn Kelly]

Good morning everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Monday, July 7, 2025 and this is your AM update.

[Kerrville City Manager]

This happened very quickly over a very short amount of time that could not be predicted.

[Megyn Kelly]

Extreme flooding in Central Texas leaving dozens dead and many missing as crews work around the clock on rescue efforts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visiting the White House today fresh off of the successful military campaign that crippled the Iranian nuclear program.

[Scott Pressler]

The principles of DOGE were very popular. I think if you looked at the polling, Elon was not Elon Musk announcing.

[Megyn Kelly]

He will follow through on his promise to form a new political party following the passage of the one big beautiful bill. All that and more coming up in just a moment. On your AM Update. Every dollar you spend is either supporting your values or working against them. In today's economy, where you spend your money matters. Patriot Mobile is leading the way as America's only Christian conservative wireless provider. Switch today without sacrificing quality or service. You'll get exceptional nationwide coverage because unlike most budget wireless providers, Patriot Mobile has access to all three major US Networks. You can even add two numbers on two networks on one phone, something the big eyes cannot even do. Stay connected with flexible, unlimited data plans to fit your lifestyle. When you switch to Patriot Mobile, you are supporting faith, family and freedom. And switching is simple. Keep your number, keep your phone or upgrade. Patriot Mobile's 100% US based team will get you activated in minutes. Right now go to patriotmobile.com megan or call 972 Patriot to get a free month of service with promo code. Megan, make the switch. Defend freedom with every call and text you make. That's patriotmobile.com M, E, G Y N or just call 972 Patriot. Devastating flooding across Central Texas. At least 70 dead so far across five counties with flood warnings still in effect in multiple counties. 11 campers and one counselor still missing from Camp Mystic, a popular Christian camp located along the shores of the Guadalupe river, which has already seen five of its campers confirmed dead. The New York Post reporting the youngest campers were sleeping in their cabins just over 200ft from the river's edge when the flash flooding began early July 4 morning. In a matter of a few hours, the river rising from 1 to 34ft with enough force to push RVs, lift massive boulders and rip fully grown trees out of the ground from the root, leaving a trail of destruction across the Texas hill country. Crews working night and day to locate displaced victims across the region searching for children and adults, so far making more than 850 rescues. Adult camper Brian Eads, describing the experience to a local NBC station on Saturday.

[Brian Eads]

Woke up about 3:30, 4:00 in the morning and there was just torrential river coming through the campground. Got my wife up. We tried to make it to my truck. We didn't make it. We were washed away. Got into another truck. He was able to get it started. We made it 20ft. A fight for survival. At that time me and my wife got separated. I grabbed a hold of one tree. I was trying to push something for her to float on. I took a tumble in the river. I came back up and I couldn't see her. I couldn't hear her.

[Megyn Kelly]

Mr. Eads wife did not survive amid the devastation. Also some miracles. A local CBS station describing a young woman surviving under seemingly impossible odds.

[Local CBS Station Reporter]

And if there's any hope in this story, it's that this 22 year old woman went into the water in the Ingram, Texas area which is about 20 miles upstream. She had been in the tree for several hours at that point already because she was swept out of her campground, out of her tent at 4 o' clock in the morning. Firefighters, the paramedics checked her vitals. She had a few bumps and bruises and they said that was amazing because she had gone over four dams and been dropped. She told them the story of fighting refrigerators, dodging recreational vehicles as she traveled down that long 20 mile stretch of being wiped away.

[Megyn Kelly]

President Trump Sunday morning signing a major disaster declaration for Kerr county, freeing up additional resources for rescue and recovery efforts throughout the weekend. Questions and accusations swirling about the level of warnings before the natural disaster. Texas Division of Emergency Management chief Nim Kidd saying original forecasts from the National Weather Service did not predict the level of rainfall that was to come.

[Nim Kidd]

The original forecast that we received on Wednesday from the National Weather Service predicted 3 to 6 inches of rain in in the Concho Valley and 4 to 8 inches of rain in the Hill Country. Everybody got the forecast from the National Weather Service right You all got it. You're all in media. You got that forecast. It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw.

[Megyn Kelly]

Some seizing on those comments to point to the Trump administration's cuts to the National Weather Service earlier this year through Doge. CNN national security analyst Juliette Kayam, who never misses a chance to bash Trump, posting to X quote, the question we have to ask is whether any ability to notify or warn was impacted by decreases or Doge on weather services. I don't know the answer and we can't assume it. The camp may have been isolated, but I'd want to know if I were a parent. That narrative quickly taking off online and through legacy media outlets. The New York Times report on the tragedy headlined, as floods hit, key roles were vacant at weather service offices in Texas, focusing on staffing shortages within the National Weather Service, some of which were Doge related and some of which predated the current Trump administration. However, there's more to the story. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice describing the unusual conditions causing the rapid flooding.

[Kerrville City Manager]

For one, under normal conditions, if you call it that, you'll hit water in one of those areas and those two forks will converge into the Guadalupe, which comes through the city of Kerrville. This rain event sat on top of that and dumped more rain than what was forecasted on both, both of those forks. When we got the report, it was about 7ft or so on the south fork, and within a matter of minutes it was up to 29ft. And all of that converged at the Guadalupe, and that's where we saw those very quick rise and floods. So there's not alarms everywhere on the river? No, sir.

[Megyn Kelly]

Rice saying that local officials remained in constant contact with the National Weather Service, but the speed and scale of the flooding could not have been predicted.

[Kerrville City Manager]

I was running the river trail at 3am this morning. There was no signs of it. The rain was here on the river trail, which is down below at the water's edge at 3:30 and 4:00'. Clock. When I left, there was no signs of it rising at that point. This happened very quickly over a very short amount of time that could not be predicted even with the radar. Our team constantly reviews radar, constantly has nws, National Weather Service messages. We send them out on a regular basis and we communicate effectively. This is not like a tornado where you can have a siren. This is not like a hurricane where you're planning weeks in advance. You know, it hit, it hit hard. And things like this happen in a very strategic, very isolated area. And when those two things Converged, you had what happened today. So this happened within less than a two hour span. Very, very quickly.

[Megyn Kelly]

The Associated Press reporting the National Weather Service office in New Braunfels, which is responsible for forecasting that area, actually had extra staff on duty during the storm. The rain began falling around midnight. The NWS issuing its first flash flood warning at 1:14am local time on Friday. The Texas Tribune reporting all National Weather Service flash flood warnings set off emergency push notifications through cell phone towers. The service reportedly updating that warning nine times throughout Friday at 4:03am the most serious warning, a flash flood emergency warning of a quote, extremely dangerous and life threatening situation. The Texas Tribune reporting, quote, the timing of the flood may have been a complicating factor. The alerts came out during the start of the Fourth of July weekend when RV parks, cabins and homes are filled with tourists who might not be familiar with the flood risks or the habits of the water. An independent meteorologist based out of Houston, Matt Lanza writing on Substack, quote, we have seen absolutely nothing to suggest that current staffing or budget issues within NOAA or the NWS played any role at all in this event. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly telling the AP several years back the county considered a flood warning system along the river that would have functioned like a tornado warning system, but the idea never took off because of the expense. Meteorologist James Spann posting to X1 takeaway is the importance of having a NOAA weather radio at every home, business and any place where there are large numbers of people gathered like a camp on a river. I would imagine cell service is spotty along the Guadalupe where the camps were located. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a Saturday briefing saying the Trump administration is committed to upgrading national weather systems.

[Kristi Noem]

The National Weather Service over the years at times has, has done well and at times we have all wanted more time and more warning and more alerts and more notification. That is something and one of the reasons that when President Trump took office that he said he wanted to fix and is currently upgrading the technology and the National Weather Service has indicated that with that and NOAA that we needed to renew this ancient system that has been left in place with the federal government for many, many years and that is the reforms that are ongoing there.

[Megyn Kelly]

On Sunday from Rome, Pope Leo offering a special blessing for those impacted by this terrible tragedy.

[Kristi Noem]

I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were at summer camp in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe river in Texas in the United States. We pray for them.

[Megyn Kelly]

Coming up, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House today as Israeli officials negotiate toward a ceasefire deal with Hamas. And Elon Musk forms a new political party, ruffling many feathers on the right. It wasn't supposed to get this bad, you know. Remember the time when you actually were on top of your bills. Then inflation hit. Groceries, gas, everything shot up. Prices up 26% from just a few years ago. It's not necessarily your fault if you have fallen into real debt. Let me share a smarter, faster, far easier way out of it. It's called done with Debt. And they are not like other debt relief companies. They don't push loans or bankruptcy on you. Done With Debt has legendary negotiators who go head to head with your credit card and loan companies. And they have one goal, to drastically reduce or eliminate your debt altogether. They move lightning fast. Most clients see more money in their pocket month one. But a word to the wise hurry because some of their debt erasing strategies are time sensitive. So consider talking to a done with Debt strategist before you make another bill payment. It's free. Visit donewithdebt.com, donewithdebt.com,'donewithdeb.com Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visiting President Trump at the White House today. The meeting in part a victory lap following the successful US Military strike on three key Iranian nuclear weapons facilities, as well as Israeli operations against Iran's nuclear program. This the third White House visit for the prime minister since the start of the second Trump administration. The two leaders are now focusing on what comes next in the war on Hamas. Ceasefire negotiations with the terrorist group have so far remained unsuccessful. On Sunday, Israeli and Hamas officials meeting in Qatar to restart indirect negotiations prior to departing for the White House. Prime Minister Netanyahu telling reporters, quote, we will not allow a situation where there will be more hostages, more murders, more beheadings, more invasions. This means one thing, the elimination of Hamas's military and governmental capabilities. Hamas will not be there. President Trump also likely to bring up Syria. The administration is reportedly working to bring Syria into the Abraham Accords, thus normalizing relations between the two countries for the first time since the creation of the modern Jewish state in 1948. In May, President Trump becoming the first US president in 25 years to meet a Syrian leader, President Ahmed al Sharrah, who in December toppled Bashar al Assad's regime. Despite Al Sharah's militant background and ties to jihadist groups, President Trump extending an olive branch, inviting Syria to a new opportunity to join the global community Elon Musk on Saturday announcing the formation of the America Party resulting from Musk's highly publicized outrage over the projected deficit increases within President Trump's one big beautiful bill signed on July 4th. The CBO predicting the bill will increase the deficit by trillions through fiscal year 2034. The Trump administration arguing the CBO does not properly account for economic growth or tariff revenue, which they say will largely offset the added debt on Independence Day. Musk posting a poll to X asking users if he should create The America Party 65.4% responding yes vs 34.6% responding no. Several users quickly noting the poll was not restricted to Americans and consists of Musk's followers and others on the platform he owns. X Musk on Friday outlining a possible strategy for the party. Quote, one way to execute on this would be to laser focus on just two or three Senate seats and eight to 10 House districts given the razor thin legislative margins. And that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws ensuring that they serve the true will of the people. Though a full platform has yet to be published on X, Musk signaling the America Party will focus on reducing debt, modernizing the military with AI and robotics, reducing regulation across the board, especially in energy, promoting free speech and promoting centrist policies. Many on the right criticizing the movement, voicing concerns that a third party will only divide the Republican vote, boosting Democrats. Founder of Early Vote Action Republican Scott Pressler posting to X if Republicans lose the house in 2026, which the creation of a third party is likely to do, there will be no budget for DHS to deport criminal illegal aliens. We will likely lose 2028 and there goes control over the census. The border opens up again and it was all for naught. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant reacting Sunday on CNN to Musk's new venture.

[Scott Pressler]

The principles of DOGE were very popular. I think if you looked at the polling, Elon was not. I believe that the boards of directors at his various companies wanted him to come back and run those companies, which he is better at than anyone. So I imagine that those board of directors did not like this announcement yesterday and we'll be encouraging him to focus on his business activities, not his political activities.

[Megyn Kelly]

And that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megyn Kelly. Join me back here for the Megyn Kelly show live on SiriusXM Triumph Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com megankelly and on all podcast platforms.

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