The Megyn Kelly Show – AM Update 11/18/2025

Episode title: Charlotte Immigration Crackdown, Trump Eyes Venezuela, Major Update in Comey Case
Host: Megyn Kelly (SiriusXM)
Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This AM Update with Megyn Kelly covers three major subjects dominating US headlines:

• The Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown in Charlotte, NC
• Escalating US tensions with Venezuela, including Trump’s openness to military intervention
• A major legal setback for the DOJ’s case against former FBI Director James Comey
  The episode also spotlights a surge in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s political influence and electoral potential for 2028.

1. Charlotte Immigration Crackdown (Operation Charlotte’s Web)

Key Developments

• President Trump has surged DHS agents to Charlotte, NC, targeting undocumented immigrants as part of “Operation Charlotte’s Web” (01:00).
• Over 130 arrests reported in initial days; criminal records include gang membership, hit and run, DWI, re-entry after deportation, and violent offenses.
• Local pushback:
  • Hundreds of residents and high school students held protests and walkouts.
  • Reports of aggressive tactics, including a van driver fleeing a federal operation and subsequent firearms recovery.

Officials Respond

• DHS Asst. Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized city leaders for non-cooperation with ICE and detailed the operation’s rationale:
  • “Charlotte’s a beautiful city, but in this case its leadership has absolutely failed it...We're talking about serial child pedophiles, murderers, rapists, gang members, people who pose for real public security threats to the American people. And so of course, we are surging resources there and we won't stop until Charlotte is safer.” (03:15)
• NC Governor Josh Stein (Democrat) accused CBP agents of stoking fear:
  • “In Charlotte, we've seen masked, heavily armed agents in paramilitary garb driving unmarked cars, targeting American citizens based on their skin color. This is not making us safer. It's stoking fear...” (04:41)
• CBP Senior Advisor Ron Vitello defended the crackdown:
  • “If you come across the border illegally...you're subject to arrest. And they are going after the worst of the worst and the data proves it so far.” (06:06)
• Border Czar Tom Homan signaled escalating enforcement:
  • “We’re going to flood the zone...That’s your biggest cities or sanctuary cities...When we find a bad person, and we will. If they're with others that aren't a criminal threat within the country, legally, they're coming too.” (06:31)

Memorable Moments

• Notable quote: “We know that there's more 1400 criminal legal aliens who are in their jails and they refuse to turn over those individuals to ICE law enforcement…a revolving door of justice.” – Tricia McLaughlin (03:15)
• Public reaction: Closure of a popular Colombian bakery after agents reportedly tackled people outside (03:57).

2. Trump Eyes Venezuela: Sanctions and Military Posture

Critical Events

• Cartel de los Solis designated a foreign terrorist organization by the US, allowing asset freezes and criminalization of support (08:00).
• US military buildup: USS Gerald R. Ford and other warships stationed in the region; confirmed deadly strikes on drug trafficking vessels from Venezuela.
• Trump’s stance: In a press Q&A, Trump declined to rule out any US action, including boots on the ground:
  • “No, I don't rule out that. I don't rule out anything. We just have to take care of Venezuela. They dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country from prisons." (08:57)
• Trump blames Venezuela and Democrats for US security issues:
  • “What Biden and the Democrats have done to this country can never, ever be forgotten.” (09:29)

Diplomatic Back-and-Forth

• President Maduro denies ties to cartels and makes a brief, odd public call: “peace, peace, peace.” (10:09)
• Trump willing to talk: “Yeah, I probably would talk to him. Yeah, I talk to everybody.” (10:28)
• Trump signals no leniency: “He has not been good to the United States...I'll be talking to him.” (10:35)

Memorable Moments

• Notable quote: “They sent them in like we're a dumping ground.” – Trump, on Venezuela releasing prisoners (09:04)
• Maduro rally: Chants of “Peace, peace, peace.” noted as bizarre by Megyn Kelly (10:09)

3. DOJ's Case Against James Comey: Major Legal Setback

Legal Update

• Federal Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick ordered release of grand jury transcripts to Comey’s defense after finding “a disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps” (12:30).
• 11 issues identified:
  • FBI exceeded scope of original warrants, may have improperly accessed privileged attorney-client communications (12:50).
  • An FBI agent who testified to the grand jury viewed privileged communications, termed “highly irregular” by the judge (13:20).
  • DOJ misstatements of law may have misled jurors about Comey’s right not to testify (13:35).
• Result: Comey’s team could use materials to bolster a motion to dismiss. Judge Michael Nachmanoff issued a stay pending government objections (15:10).

Reactions

• Attorney Mike Davis (Article 3 Project) slammed the decision:
  • “Fitzpatrick, through his highly irregular ruling, is grasping at straws to make his findings that Lindsay Halligan somehow did something wrong. She did not. They know the evidence against Comey is damning, so they are doing everything they can to stop Lindsay Halligan.” (14:48)

Memorable Moments

• Judge’s phrase: “disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps” (12:40)
• Notable legal detail: Prosecution may have implied Comey “did not have a Fifth Amendment right not to testify,” an error in law (13:35)

4. AOC’s Political Clout and 2028 Buzz

Key Insight

• AOC’s voiceover ad for California’s Prop 50 outperformed all other political ads, including Obama’s, moving support by 5+ points (16:34).
• Future Forward Super PAC Head of Data:
  • “Of all the ads on our side, one stands out as the clear winner. AOC's spot that connects the perhaps esoteric issue of redistricting to real-world impacts.” (16:38)
• Growing speculation about AOC’s ambitions for Senate or presidency, possibly challenging Gavin Newsom.

Memorable Quote

• AOC ad (voice):
  • “California, you know we don't back down from a fight...With Prop 50 we can stop him. Prop 50 levels the playing field and gives power back to the people. Fight for democracy in all 50 states.” (16:07)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Charlotte Immigration Crackdown: 01:00 – 07:30
• Venezuela/US Escalation: 07:30 – 11:00
• Comey DOJ Case Update: 12:30 – 15:15
• AOC’s Rising Influence: 16:00 – 17:00

Notable Quotes (with Attribution)

• Tricia McLaughlin (DHS):
  • “Charlotte’s a beautiful city, but in this case its leadership has absolutely failed it...” (03:15)
• Gov. Josh Stein (NC):
  • “This is not making us safer. It's stoking fear and dividing our community.” (04:41)
• Tom Homan (Border Czar):
  • “We’re going to flood the zone. We got 10,000 more agents coming on...” (06:31)
• Donald Trump:
  • “They dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country from prisons...I love Venezuela. I love the people of Venezuela. But what they've done to this country...can never, ever be forgotten.” (08:57–09:29)
• Judge Fitzpatrick (ruling):
  • “A disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps.” (12:40)
• AOC (Prop 50 ad):
  • “Prop 50 levels the playing field and gives power back to the people. Fight for democracy in all 50 states.” (16:07)

Tone and Language

The episode maintains a direct, urgent, and sometimes combative tone, especially in coverage relating to immigration enforcement and the DOJ case. Megyn Kelly’s commentary is brisk, fact-focused, and occasionally sardonic. Official statements and quotes preserve the voices and rhetoric of political and legal figures.

Summary

In this episode, Megyn Kelly sharply dissects intensifying federal immigration enforcement in Charlotte, Trump’s saber-rattling at Venezuela’s regime, and the DOJ’s embattled prosecution of James Comey—all while tracking AOC’s latest political coup. The update is dense with news, memorable quotes, and ongoing battles at the intersection of crime, border security, legal accountability, and the simmering 2028 presidential field.