Podcast Summary: The Megyn Kelly Show

Host: Mark Halpern (filling in for Megyn Kelly)
Episode: Democrat Rep Charged with FEMA Fraud, Trump vs Dems on Hypothetical "Illegal Order": AM Update
Date: November 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This AM Update delivers a rapid-fire digest of political controversies and breaking news, centering on a Florida Democratic congresswoman’s federal indictment, an escalating rhetorical battle over Trump’s hypothetical "illegal military order," economic updates, immigration debates, and a bizarre case involving a staged political attack. Mark Halpern steers the coverage with a focus on the day’s headline-grabbing stories and trenchant political reactions.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick's Federal Indictment

[02:41 - 05:42]

• Allegations:
  Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) indicted for allegedly diverting $5 million in FEMA COVID staffing funds to her 2021 campaign, laundering the money through accounts linked to friends and relatives.
• Accused Co-Conspirators:
  • Her brother Edwin
  • Staffer Najej LeBlanc
  • Tax preparer David Spencer (charged with filing a false return)
• Prosecutors’ Charge:
  Funds used for political spending and personal expenses, falsely deducted as business outlays and inflated charitable contributions.
• Potential Consequence:
  Faces up to 53 years in prison if convicted.
• Congresswoman’s Response:

  "This is an unjust, baseless sham indictment and I am innocent. The timing alone is curious and clearly meant to distract from far more pressing national issues."
  — Cherfilus-McCormick statement, [03:53]

• Context:
  Already under House Ethics Committee investigation for allegedly steering project funding to for-profit enterprises she controlled.
• Relevant Past Action:
  Settled a lawsuit with the State of Florida over $5 million in overcharges, agreeing to pay it back over 19 years.

2. Democrats vs. Trump: The "Hypothetical Illegal Order" Controversy

[05:42 - 09:56]

• The Video:
  Six Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Alyssa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, post a message urging military/intel personnel to refuse “illegal orders” and to “not give up the ship.”
  • Quote:

    "Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders."
    — Alyssa Slotkin, [05:44]

• Underlying Context:
  Fears that a second-term Trump might order unlawful military actions; no specific examples cited.
• Legislative Action:
  Slotkin introduces the “No Troops in Our Streets Act” to let Congress block National Guard deployments.
• Trump’s Reaction:
  • On Truth Social, Trump calls the video “seditious behavior from traitors” and floats “Lock them up???”

    "This is really bad and dangerous to our country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. Seditious behavior from traitors. Lock them up. ???"
    — Donald Trump, [06:48]

• Democrats Fire Back:
  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responds:

    "The president of the United States is calling for the execution of elected officials. This is an outright threat and it's deadly serious."
    — Chuck Schumer, [07:08]

  • Warns of increasing risk of political violence.
• White House Press Secretary’s Clarification:
  • Caroline Levitt asserts Trump does not want to execute Congress members, points to lawmakers’ video as provocative.

  • "You have sitting members of the United States Congress who conspired together to orchestrate a video message...encouraging them to defy the president's lawful orders."
    — Caroline Levitt, [07:53]

• House Speaker’s Take:
  • Mike Johnson calls the congressional video “very dangerous”

    "You have leading members of Congress telling troops to disobey orders. I think that's unprecedented in American history."
    — Mike Johnson, [08:38]

• Sen. Slotkin’s Response to Trump:

  “Earlier today, President Trump threatened myself and a number of other service and veteran lawmakers with arrest, trial and death because he didn’t agree with a video we put out this week. I would hope that people of all backgrounds...would agree that threatening death for people you disagree with is beyond the pale of who we are as Americans.”
  — Alyssa Slotkin, [09:16]

• Overall Tone:
  Mutual accusations of sedition, escalation of political rhetoric, and highlighting fears about constitutional overreach and incitement.

3. Vice President J.D. Vance: Jobs Report, Immigration, and Catholic Response

[10:58 - 14:32]

• Jobs Report:
  • 119,000 new jobs in September (surpassing economist expectations of 50,000)
  • Unemployment up marginally to 4.4% (highest since October 2021)
  • Vance’s Analysis:

    "A huge jobs report...the Trump economic policies are actually working...If you look below the surface, the numbers are actually better...we’ve increased take home pay by about $1,200, adjusting for inflation."
    — J.D. Vance, [11:32]

• Immigration & the Catholic Church:
  • US Conference of Catholic Bishops/ Pope Leo XIV criticize mass deportation and the climate of fear.
  • Papal Comments:

    "No one has said that the United States should have open borders. I think every country has a right to determine who and how and when people enter. But when people are living good lives...to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful to say the least."
    — Pope Leo XIV, [12:48]

  • Vance on Faith and Border Security:

    "We ignored how open borders were not actually good for the dignity even of the illegal migrants themselves...Border security is not just good for American citizens. It is the humanitarian thing to do for the entire world."
    — J.D. Vance, [13:31]

  • 527,000 deportations, 1.6 million self-deportations reported since the start of Trump's second term.

4. Republican Staffer Charged With Staging Violent Attack

[14:32 - 16:45]

• Key Details:
  • Ex-staffer Natalie Green (previously with Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-NJ) charged with concocting a fake assault implicating political motivations.
  • Crime involved zip ties, staged injuries, and painted slurs; investigation revealed preparatory scarification and self-inflicted wounds.
• Legal Consequences:
  • Charges: conspiracy to convey false statements, making false statements to federal officials
  • Faces up to five years in prison per count, $250,000 fine.

  • "Craziest thing I’ve ever heard."
    — Mark Halpern, [16:45]

  • Rep. Van Drew’s office:

    "Our thoughts and prayers are with her. We hope she’s getting the care she needs."
    — Spokesman statement, [16:39]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Politicization of Indictments:

  "The timing alone is curious and clearly meant to distract from far more pressing national issues."
  — Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, [03:53]

• On Military Obedience & Civilian Control:

  "Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders."
  — Alyssa Slotkin, [05:44]

• Escalation of Rhetoric:

  "The president of the United States is calling for the execution of elected officials. This is an outright threat and it's deadly serious."
  — Sen. Chuck Schumer, [07:08]

• Vice President Vance on Immigration:

  "Border security is not just good for American citizens. It is the humanitarian thing to do for the entire world."
  — J.D. Vance, [13:31]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:41] Indictment details of Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick
• [05:42] Debate over Trump "illegal order" video
• [07:08] Chuck Schumer denounces Trump’s response
• [08:38] House Speaker Mike Johnson's statements
• [09:16] Senator Slotkin’s video response
• [10:58] VP J.D. Vance discusses the jobs report
• [12:48] Pope Leo XIV’s nuanced immigration stance
• [13:31] Vance’s perspective on faith and border security
• [14:32] Story of the staged political attack

Tone and Language

The episode’s delivery is brisk, news-centric, and leans on sharp, often adversarial quotations to illustrate deepening polarization in national politics. Speaker attributions preserve the distinctive voices—serious, at times indignant, and colored with frustration or defiance.

Summary

This AM Update unpacks another tumultuous news cycle: a Democratic lawmaker faces dire federal charges, Congress and Trump trade heated threats and accusations over civilian-military relations, J.D. Vance touts economic and border successes, and a surreal tale of political deception unfolds in New Jersey. Listeners are left with an urgent sense of the combative, high-stakes environment gripping American politics in late 2025.