The Megyn Kelly Show — AM Update (September 25, 2025)

Episode Theme:
The episode, hosted by Mark Halpern (filling in for Megyn Kelly), covers the deadly shooting at a Dallas ICE facility, the FBI’s seizure of documents with classified markings in a raid on John Bolton’s office, shifting U.S. rhetoric and policy towards the Russia-Ukraine war, and a viral UN speech by Violet Affleck on Covid precautions. The episode offers pointed discussion on law enforcement, political rhetoric, national security, ongoing international tensions, and the return of pandemic anxieties.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dallas ICE Facility Shooting

• Incident Overview (02:35)
  • A sniper fired at a Dallas ICE facility in the early morning, killing one detainee and critically injuring two others before committing suicide.
  • The shooter, Joshua Yawn (29), targeted detainees inside a van and a secure entry.
  • FBI confirmed the incident is being investigated as “an act of targeted violence.”
  • Shell casings with “Anti ICE” written on them were found.

Quote:
“I can confirm at this time that the FBI is investigating this incident as an act of targeted violence.”
— FBI Official (03:36)

• Context of Escalating Violence (03:56)

  • The attack marks the fourth violent threat/incident against Texas ICE or Customs & Border Protection facilities this year.
  • Reference to a coordinated July 4th attack on another Texas ICE facility by at least 10 armed individuals.
  • ICE agents have faced a 1,000% increase in assaults and doxing campaigns.

• Political & Rhetorical Reactions

  • Democrats’ harsh rhetoric against ICE agents and federal law enforcement is showcased, including labeling ICE as a “terrorist organization.”
  • California Governor Gavin Newsom just signed the “No Secret Police Act” banning law enforcement from using masks and requiring visible identification. On Late Night with Stephen Colbert, Newsom argued these are “authoritarian actions by an authoritarian government.” (05:51)

Quote:
“If some guy jumped out of an unmarked car in a van with a mask on, tried to grab me...you’re going to push back. These are not just authoritarian tendencies, these are authoritarian actions by an authoritarian government.”
— Gov. Gavin Newsom (06:04)

• Conservative Pushback
  • Vice President J.D. Vance blamed Democratic rhetoric for inciting violence against law enforcement.
  • Explicitly condemned left-wing media and politicians:

    “If your political rhetoric encourages violence against our law enforcement, you can go straight to hell and you have no place in the political conversation of the United States of America.”
    — J.D. Vance (06:47)

2. FBI Raid on John Bolton — Classified Documents

• Details of the Raid (07:32)
  • Newly released court filings reveal the FBI found documents with “classified markings” relating to WMDs, the UN, and strategic communications in John Bolton’s D.C. office.
  • Some materials labeled “confidential” or “secret.”
  • Bolton’s attorney claims these were old documents, previously reviewed and cleared for Bolton’s memoir, and are standard for a long government career.
  • Bolton is being investigated under the Espionage Act; no charges have been filed.

Quote:
“Many of which are documents that had been previously approved as part of a pre publication review for Ambassador Bolton’s book, reviewed and closed years ago...typical records of someone who’s been in government over a 40 year career.”
— Bolton’s attorney Abby Lowell (paraphrased from 08:20)

• Political Framing
  • Discussion on whether the raid exemplifies authoritarian overreach by a President using the DOJ for political revenge (referencing both Trump and Biden administrations).
  • NYT reporting alleged emails from Bolton with sensitive info sent via unsecured channels.

3. Shifts in U.S. Russia-Ukraine Policy

• Trump’s Messaging Turns (11:22)
  • President Trump posted that Ukraine “could actually win the war” with EU help, without conceding territory to Russia—a “drastic shift” from his past positions.
  • Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed surprise at this new openness, attributing it to improved US-Ukraine communication and Trump’s perceived learning curve regarding Putin’s intentions.

Quote:
“It’s good that we have often phone calls and meetings...the fact that Putin was lying to President Trump so many times also made a difference between us.”
— President Zelensky (11:57)

• Recent Developments

  • Trump and Putin met in Alaska last month to discuss ending the war, but no summit with Zelensky followed.
  • Russian attacks escalated since, including airspace incursions into NATO countries.

• Trump’s Take at the UN (13:37)

  • Trump acknowledged his relationship with Putin but admitted the war’s dynamics have overridden expectations:

    “I thought that would be the easiest one because of my relationship with President Putin...but in war, you never know what’s going to happen.”
    — President Trump (13:37)

• VP Vance’s Interpretation (14:09)

  • Framed Trump’s position as adapting to “reality on the ground,” not a flip-flop.
  • Emphasized that Trump sees the war as disastrous for all sides and intends to keep pressure on Russia.

Quote:
“He is responsive to the reality on the ground...If the Russians refuse to negotiate in good faith, I think it’s going to be very, very bad for their country.”
— J.D. Vance (14:09)

4. Violet Affleck’s UN Speech—Calls for Mask Mandates

• Youth Activism Returns to the Fore (15:06)
  • Violet Affleck (age 19, daughter of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner) gave a speech at the UN, wearing a KN95 mask and urging world leaders to reinstate Covid mask mandates.
  • Criticized adults for wanting a “relentless beat of back to normal” and accused them of neglecting children’s health.

Quote:
“It is neglect of the highest order to look children in the eyes and say, we knew how to protect you and we didn’t do it.”
— Violet Affleck (15:29)

• Host’s Tone & Cultural Reference
  • Host Mark Halpern wryly likened Violet’s speech to Greta Thunberg’s famous “how dare you” admonition at the 2019 UN summit, underscoring the cyclical nature of youth-led climate and health policy demands.

Quote:
“While these remarks sound like something out of the 2020 time capsule, they were indeed made just this week, two years and four months after President Biden’s administration declared an end to the national Covid health emergency.”
— Mark Halpern (16:07)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• FBI on targeted violence and ICE:

  “It is unfortunately just the most recent example we’ve seen of targeted violence...here in North Texas.”
  — FBI Official (03:36)

• VP J.D. Vance on political rhetoric and law enforcement:

  “If your political rhetoric encourages violence against our law enforcement, you can go straight to hell...”
  — J.D. Vance (06:47)

• Governor Newsom framing ICE operations as authoritarian:

  “I’m deeply proud that I had the privilege of signing the nation’s first bill to address the issue of masking...these are authoritarian actions by an authoritarian government.”
  — Gavin Newsom (06:04)

• President Zelensky on Trump and Putin:

  “Putin was lying to President Trump so many times...he just used the situation. He got images with President Trump. He sold to his audience Russian society. ‘You see, I’m shakable with the United States.’”
  — Zelensky (11:57)

• Trump’s reflection on Ukraine negotiations:

  “In war you never know what’s going to happen. There are always lots of surprises, both good and bad.”
  — Donald Trump (13:37)

• Violet Affleck’s UN appeal:

  “We have access to a technology to prevent airborne disease...and we refuse to use it. And I shudder to think of where we will be in another five years of unmitigated infection.”
  — Violet Affleck (15:29)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [02:35] Dallas ICE Facility Shooting - Full details and FBI statement
• [03:56] Escalation of violence against ICE and law enforcement
• [05:51] Governor Newsom on “No Secret Police” act and left-wing rhetoric
• [06:47] Vice President J.D. Vance reaction to rhetoric and violence
• [07:32] FBI raid and classified documents found at John Bolton’s office
• [11:22] Trump’s new Russia-Ukraine messaging and Zelensky’s reaction
• [13:37] President Trump at the UN on challenges ending Ukraine war
• [14:09] VP Vance explains the shift and continued Trump administration efforts
• [15:06] Violet Affleck’s UN address on Covid masking
• [16:36] Throwback to Greta Thunberg’s 2019 “How Dare You” speech

Closing Thoughts

This episode of The Megyn Kelly Show AM Update provides a sharp, fast-paced rundown of breaking national and international events. The discussions focus on the dangerous real-world impacts of political rhetoric, scrutiny of law enforcement actions, the ongoing saga of classified information with political implications, evolving U.S. foreign policy, and the resurgence of youth activism on global stages. The tone is brisk, pointed, and direct, with little equivocation—a signature feature of the show.

Listeners will come away with a multifaceted view on issues ranging from immigration and security to geopolitics and pandemic-era debates, all contextualized within the rhetoric and power struggles of 2025.