Podcast Summary: The Megyn Kelly Show

Ep. 1177: Cuomo's Failed Zohran Strategy, Platner Oppo Dump, and KJP's Only Line
Guests: Mark Halperin, Sean Spicer, Dan Turrentine
Date: October 22, 2025

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This episode, airing less than two weeks before Election Day, dives deep into high-stakes political races in New York City, Virginia, and New Jersey, with sharp critiques of candidate backgrounds, media coverage, and the Democratic Party's internal dynamics. Broad discussion also covers campaign strategies, opposition research casualties, and the contentious influence of identity politics in public office.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The New York City Mayoral Race: Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa

• Mamdani’s landslide and Cuomo’s collapse: Zoran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, appears set to win big over former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. (03:00–07:00)
  • Polymarket odds: Mamdani at 94% probability to win.
• Democratic Party anxiety: Mamdani's likely win is poised to redefine the Democrats’ image, stoking fears he will become the party's "face" and widen party fissures.
  • Mark Halperin (04:11): "Anyone who cares about the fight to define both parties, but particularly the Democrats, I think is pretty riveted by this."
• Curtis Sliwa’s resistance to pressure: Sliwa remains in the race despite public and private censures, blamed for potentially splitting the anti-Mamdani vote.
  • Sean Spicer (05:02): "This debate tonight will have zero impact on anything unless Sliwa literally gets up there, rips the beret off, and says, I'm joining a potential Cuomo administration."
• Attacks on Sliwa’s motives: Fundraising tactics and campaign payroll come under scrutiny, particularly after a pointed tweet by Bill Ackman accusing Sliwa of exploiting public funds.
  • Megyn Kelly (12:38): "Curtis, please correct the record if I got anything wrong... Please clarify the record."
• Sliwa’s populist appeal: He robustly defends his candidacy, denouncing both Democratic leadership and billionaire pressures in a viral clip.
  • Curtis Sliwa clip (15:52–17:39): "I have more donations than Andrew Cuomo does matching funds. … Since when do we not let people vote? Billionaires determine the next mayor. If they don't like it, they can leave."

Notable Quotes

• Mark Halperin (19:14): "Sliwa and Mamdani are both anti-billionaire. … Even if the country isn't riveted, there's a lot to learn here about the mood of the nation."
• Megyn Kelly (24:22): "This guy Mamdani went arm in arm, all smiles with a man who absolutely loved what happened to us in New York on 9/11."
• Sean Spicer (24:41): "You do need to be deeply concerned about Zoram Mamdani. … He's not hiding these views; he's embracing them."

On Mamdani’s Associations with Extremist Figures (24:01–31:40)

• Extended scrutiny of Mamdani’s ties to Imam Siraj Wahaj, an Imam with a history of incendiary jihadist rhetoric (clip samples played).
• Panel discusses lack of mainstream media coverage ("the dog that didn't bark") of Mamdani’s associations, contrasting it with how Republicans would be treated.
  • Mark Halperin (31:40): "The New York Times... silent on all these issues. The New York Post has covered them extensively, but... no scrutiny."
• Mamdani doubles down, refusing to distance from controversial supporters.

2. Virginia Attorney General and Gubernatorial Contests

Jay Jones Text Scandal Fallout:

• Jay Jones, the Democratic AG candidate, takes a nosedive after texts emerge showing him advocating violence towards Republicans and their families.
  • Sean Spicer (39:48): "He actually wanted Todd's wife to see his dead child lie in her arms. And that's despicable to an all new level."
• The scandal has tightened both the AG race and, by "reverse coattails," impacted the governor’s race.
  • Mark Halperin (43:04): "Most political professionals laugh when the notion of reverse coattails are mentioned, but I think this may be a special case."
• Spanberger, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, is viewed as running a lackluster campaign and is evasive on denouncing Jones or on hot-button social issues.
  • Spanberger quote, (45:35): "The fact that I have to spend even a moment’s time talking about somebody else’s text messages... is something that I am deeply unhappy about."
• Transgender rights and parental notification laws are another battleground, with Democrats accused of trying to quietly strip parental rights.
  • Sean Spicer (58:33): "[Democrats] will take the parents... They’re removing the ability from parents to stand in the middle."

3. New Jersey – Tight Governor’s Race

• GOP candidate Jack Cittarelli is within striking distance of Democrat Mikie Sherrill; campaign energized by an ad featuring Kelsey Grammer. (61:01–64:41)
  • Dan Turrentine (63:27): "Democrats... feel better today, but they feel better than two weeks ago only because the Republican has kind of stalled."
  • Mark Halperin (63:30): "Spectacular ad... The thematic, I think, is perfect... It’s time, right? All the issues he raises... taxes, all these things are problems in New Jersey."
• Sherrill, a Navy veteran, is under fire for lack of transparency about a past cheating scandal at the Naval Academy.

4. Maine Senate Race Implosion – Graham Platner

• Opposition research sinks candidacy of Graham Platner (self-described former communist), after old Reddit posts resurface with racist, ableist, and anti-American content.
• Further controversy erupts over Platner’s Nazi-affiliated chest tattoo, with critcs (including a former campaign manager) accusing him of lying about its meaning.
  • Megyn Kelly (73:53): "She said [Platner] is a history buff who knows damn well what that tattoo means."
  • Platner claims ignorance and has the tattoo covered, not removed.
• Discussion on the Democratic Party's tendency to look the other way on candidate scandals in several states.
  • Sean Spicer (78:59): "There is becoming an acceptance on the left that it’s okay to root for death."
  • Mark Halperin (75:34): "This guy... worked for the company that was Blackwater. This is a pretty sophisticated guy... Who’s dropping all this stuff on this guy?"

5. The Role of Identity Politics and Media in Democratic Leadership

Karine Jean-Pierre and Kamala Harris:

• Panel critiques KJP's book tour and constant identity-based framing; Megan plays montage of her repeatedly introducing herself as a Black, queer, immigrant woman.
  • Megyn Kelly (85:53): "Not that we didn't know what she was doing before, but... she recognizes this is the only reason she was chosen."
• KJP’s feud with Anita Dunn, accusations of racism within the Biden White House, and her public declaration of independence from the Democratic Party.
• Discussion reiterates how representation is being centered over merit in Democratic PR and comms strategy.
  • Mark Halperin (89:25): "She's unambiguously unqualified, not because she's a black woman, but just because she was. And it did a disservice..."

6. Biden's Selection of Harris & Hunter Biden Interview

• Hunter Biden, on a low-profile podcast, bluntly implies Harris was selected mainly for identity reasons, sparking discussion about expediency driving leadership slots.
  • Hunter Biden (83:08): "He [Biden] believes, and I certainly believe the most powerful force within the Democratic Party is... African American women. … That’s why he thought it was so important to have [Harris]."

7. Increasing Political Polarization and Dangerous Rhetoric

• "Watch your neck, Nazi": Megyn plays a viral campus clip showcasing threats against conservative students at Turning Point USA. (102:22)
  • Extended panel concern over the normalization of violent rhetoric targeting opponents from all corners, both young and old, in left-leaning circles.
  • Sean Spicer (106:10): "There is becoming an acceptance on the left that it's okay to root for death."
  • Megyn Kelly (106:10): "Sales of The Bible jumped 36%. ... People do feel deeply moved by [Charlie Kirk’s] message of faith, ... and those are the people who are going to bring us forward."

Memorable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps

Curtis Sliwa on Mamdani and Billionaires

"This is called voting. Since when do we not let people vote? Billionaires determine the next mayor. If they don’t like it, they can leave."
– Curtis Sliwa (17:14–17:39)

Sean Spicer on Cuomo’s Options

"Mondami is the next mayor of New York City, unless and until... Sliwa were to... make a pact where he says, I am going to be part of a Cuomo administration..."
– Sean Spicer (04:52–05:36)

Megyn Kelly on Democratic Candidate Vetting

"I don't know why the Democrats couldn't do better than sex pest Andrew Cuomo as their next best representative."
– Megyn Kelly (05:40)

Mark Halperin on Media Coverage

"You imagine how the New York Times would cover a Republican candidate who's associated with people with those views... They’re silent on all these issues."
– Mark Halperin (31:40)

Spanberger Dodging on Jay Jones Scandal

"I have to spend even a moment’s time talking about somebody else’s text messages... is something that I am deeply unhappy about."
– Abigail Spanberger (45:35)

Timestamps Guide to Major Segments

• Election Snapshots / Debates: 01:01–07:13
• Mamdani’s Extremist Ties: 24:01–31:40
• Virginia Races (Jones Scandal, Spanberger, Parental Rights): 38:15–59:59
• New Jersey Race & Kelsey Grammer Ad: 61:01–66:09
• Maine: Graham Platner’s Tattoo Implosion: 70:09–77:48
• Hunter Biden on Harris, KJP’s Identity Campaigns: 82:13–89:48
• Rising Political Violence & ‘Watch Your Neck’ Incident: 102:22–106:10

Tone and Style

• The tone throughout is direct, combative, and unsparing, with panelists regularly leveraging humor, sarcasm, and pointed analogies.
• Megyn Kelly is openly critical and often indignant, especially regarding Democratic candidates, big media’s selective scrutiny, and the perceived dangers of unchecked identity politics and political extremism.
• The guests, largely center-right or right-leaning, balance political analysis with campaign-trail anecdotes, breaking down the inside baseball of opposition research and vote math.

Conclusion

In a climactic pre-election stretch, the panel deconstructs prominent Democratic scandals, candidate flubs, and volatile party fractures, foregrounding the outsized influence of identity on modern campaigns and the media’s role in framing narratives. The final segments emphasize concern about partisan toxicity and social-media radicalization—ending on a rare optimistic note: an increase in Bible sales driven by Americans’ search for community and faith in turbulent times.