El Paso Airspace Closure Mystery, Canadian School Shooting, Bondi Brawls on the Hill: AM Update 2/12

Summary

The Megyn Kelly Show – AM Update 2/12/26

Guest Host: Mark Halpern
Date: February 12, 2026
Featured Segments: El Paso Airspace Closure, Canadian School Shooting, AG Pam Bondi Judiciary Hearing

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Overview

In this AM Update, guest host Mark Halpern guides listeners through a packed news rundown: the mysterious and swiftly reversed ten-day airspace closure over El Paso, a tragic mass shooting at a Canadian school with controversy over suspect identity disclosures, and explosive testimony by Attorney General Pam Bondi before House Democrats on the Epstein documents and DOJ transparency. Special correspondents and officials give updates and commentary, all in the candid, no-nonsense tone signature to The Megyn Kelly Show.

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Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Nancy Guthrie Disappearance – Evidence Found

• [02:15-04:18]

  • Police searching the area around the home of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie in Tucson uncover two black gloves on roads near her residence, one about a mile and a half away.
  • Video footage shows a masked individual at Nancy’s door on the night of her disappearance.
  • The FBI is canvassing neighborhoods and collecting digital evidence, particularly tracking a suspect phone that may be leaving an electronic trail.

  Phil Holloway: “If that phone were turned on, that phone would have talked, so to speak, with every cell tower between Nancy’s home and wherever it went. …So the FBI presumably would be able to trace the route that that phone would have taken if it were turned on when the perpetrator left Nancy’s house.” [03:17]

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2. El Paso Airspace Closure Mystery

• [04:18-09:46]

  • The FAA issues, then quickly rescinds, a rare ten-day airspace shutdown over El Paso and surrounding regions, initially citing “special security reasons.”
  • The closure disrupted commercial flights and medevacs, reportedly the result of conflict between the FAA and Department of War over unscheduled anti-drone military testing.
  • El Paso’s mayor criticizes the move as an “unnecessary disruption… not occurred since 9/11.”
  • Confusion escalates with mixed explanations: the Pentagon cites anti-drone laser tests, while Transportation Secretary links it to cartel drone incursions—though it emerges one shot-down “drone” was a party balloon.
  • Former acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf describes frequent cartel drone use, but notes full airspace closures are rare unless true aerial threats exist.

  Chad Wolf: “There’s a significant amount of cartel activity when it comes to the use of drones… thousands of recorded incursions… This doesn’t appear to be the same case, so we’ll see what more information comes out.” [06:40]

  “The 10-day closure that FAA originally put out is highly unusual… You would think that something very, very significant is happening in real time. And then, of course, the FAA pulls it back and says okay, it’s canceled.” [08:24]

• Wolf dismisses speculation that the closure was UFO/UAP-related.

  Chad Wolf: “I think what’s more logical is that [it was] either responding to drone incursions by the cartels, which we know they use… or the fact that, you know, the Department of War was was testing some type of technology as well…I think that’s more plausible given the location.” [09:22]

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3. Canadian School Shooting Details & Identity Controversy

• [10:57-13:47]

  • A mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in a rural British Columbia town leaves 8 dead, 25 injured.
  • The shooter, described initially as “female in a dress with brown hair,” is later confirmed to be an 18-year-old biological male who had identified and presented as a transgender girl since the age of 12.
  • The New York Times reports two of the victims at a nearby residence were the shooter’s 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother.
  • RCMP spokespersons push back against accusations of withholding suspect details, stating they deferred to the individual’s presented identity.

  Commissioner McDonald (RCMP): “We’re not hiding it… I can say that Jesse was born as a biological male who… approximately six years ago, began to transition to female and identified as female both socially and publicly.” [13:23]

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4. Attorney General Pam Bondi vs. House Democrats: Judiciary Fireworks

• [13:47-18:23]

  • AG Pam Bondi faces off against Democrats in a heated and marathon House Judiciary Committee session, with the Epstein files and DOJ transparency at the forefront.

  • Ranking Member Jamie Raskin bluntly warns Bondi not to filibuster or evade questions.

    Jamie Raskin: “We’re stuck with five minutes. That’s clearly insufficient to give voice to America’s victims… Please do not waste one second of our precious time by evading questions, by changing the subject or engaging in personal attacks… This isn’t a game.” [14:01]

  • Lawmakers accuse Bondi of failing to meet with Epstein survivors, prompting impassioned exchanges.

    Pam Bondi: “To the survivors in the room, if you are willing, please stand. And if you are willing, please raise your hands if you have still not been able to meet with this Department of Justice.” [15:16]

    Phil Holloway: [to victims in attendance] “Can you please raise your hand if you think… the feds have your back. Do we have your back?” [15:30]

  • Bondi accuses Democrats of hypocrisy, claiming they ignored the Epstein case during Obama’s presidency, while Trump increased transparency.

    Pam Bondi: “You all should be apologizing. You sit here and you attack the president, and I am not going to have it. … This has been around since the Obama administration. This administration released over 3 million pages of documents… Donald Trump signed that law to release all of those documents. … None of them asked Merrick Garland over the last four years one word about Jeffrey Epstein. How ironic is that?” [15:58]

  • In a rare moment of comity, Rep. Eric Swalwell asks Bondi for DOJ help regarding threats against his family.

    Eric Swalwell: “I hope somebody shoots you and your children and your wife in the head… But we never expected that the Department of Justice would not seek to prosecute and investigate those who are making threats against us.” [17:00]

    Pam Bondi: “None of you should be threatened, ever. None of your children should be threatened. None of your families should be threatened. I’ll gladly talk to you after this hearing about your cases, but I can tell you some of them are very active.” [17:32]

  • Session closes with a tense spat between Bondi and Raskin.

    Jamie Raskin: “You can let her filibuster all day long, but not on our watch, not on our time. No way. And I told you about that Attorney General before you started.” [18:02]

    Pam Bondi: “You don’t tell me.” [18:10]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Chad Wolf on FAA closure: “To close airspace for 10 days. I think you, you would think that something very, very significant is happening in, in real time.” [08:41]
• Mark Halpern on mayor’s outrage: “El Paso Mayor Bernard Johnson describing as quote, a major and unnecessary disruption, one that has not occurred since 9 11.” [04:54]
• AG Pam Bondi’s rebuke: “You all should be apologizing. … None of them asked Merrick Garland over the last four years one word about Jeffrey Epstein. How ironic is that?” [15:58]
• RCMP on suspect identity: “We identify the suspect as they chose to be identified in public and in social media.” [13:23]

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Segment Timestamps

• Nancy Guthrie disappearance update: [02:15-04:18]
• El Paso airspace closure coverage: [04:18-09:46]
• Canadian school shooting report: [10:57-13:47]
• AG Pam Bondi House testimony: [13:47-18:23]

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Summary

This morning’s episode captures a fast-moving day of national and international headlines—featuring mystery (El Paso airspace), tragedy and debate (Canadian school shooting), and political showdown (Pam Bondi’s combative appearance before House Democrats). Through interviews and field reports, listeners hear the drama and controversy direct from the newsmakers themselves.

Transcript

[News Reporter]

Foreign.

[Security Analyst]

Choose to lean into it.

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[Mark Halpern]

I wake up. Good morning everyone. I'm Mark Halpert, host of NextUp, filling in today for Megan Kelly. It's Thursday, February 12, 2026 and this is your AM update.

[Phil Holloway]

There's electronic breadcrumbs that would be less.

[Mark Halpern]

Law enforcement continue searching Nancy and Annie Guthrie's neighborhood in Tucson and stumble on what may be a key piece of.

[Security Analyst]

Evidence to close airspace for 10 days. I think you would think that something very, very significant is happening in real time.

[Mark Halpern]

Federal officials reverse an unprecedented airspace closure over El Paso within hours in an eyebrow raising move. Canadian authorities identify the suspect in a deadly mass shooting at a school which follows a familiar pattern. And Attorney General Pam Bondi goes toe to toe with Democratic lawmakers in a heated House Judiciary Committee hearing. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

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[Mark Halpern]

Law enforcement officials continuing their search for 84 year old Nancy Guthrie and finding what might be a key piece of evidence yesterday. Since the release of videos and images recovered from a Nest camera showing a masked individual outside Nancy's door on the night of her disappearance. Law enforcement receiving more than 4,000 calls. MK True Crime Host Phil Holloway, reporting from Tucson, says much of yesterday's law enforcement activity was focused on searching roadways and foothills just north of Nancy's home. In a possible new breakthrough, investigators discovering a black glove on the roadside about one and a half miles from Nancy's home. Fox News reporting. A second black glove was also discovered. The figure captured on Nancy's nest Cam was wearing what appeared to be a similar pair investigators spotted recently going door to door in Nancy's daughter's Annie's neighborhood again as well. About five miles away from Nancy's home. Holloway spoke to some of Annie's neighbors about what the FBI is asking them about.

[Phil Holloway]

They are looking for the neighbors to turn over any relevant information from any electronic devices that they may have. But specifically, one of the things that I was told they were looking for was a phone. And apparently a phone was believed to have been in the possession of the perpetrator, the one seen in the photos and videos at Nancy Guthrie's door. So if that phone were turned on, that phone would have talked, so to speak, with every cell tower between Nancy's home and wherever it went. And in addition, it would have talked to every wireless router. So there's electronic breadcrumbs that would be left when a phone, if it's turned on is, is traveling. And so the FBI presumably would be able to trace the route that that phone would have taken if it were turned on when the perpetrator left Nancy's house.

[Mark Halpern]

Megan will have much more on this case later today on the Megyn Kelly show. And anyone with information is urged to call 1-800- call FBI or submit [e-mail] a dramatic and mysterious announcement of a 10 day shutdown of airspace over El Paso, Texas, now raising deeper questions about what really happened after it was quickly reversed. The FAA issuing a notice to Airmen or notam Tuesday night blocking flights in the airspace over El Paso and Nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico from yesterday through February 21, citing temporary flight restrictions for special security reasons. The sweeping ground stopped disrupting commercial traffic, rewriting medical evacuation flights and raising rapid alarm among the public. El Paso Mayor Bernard Johnson describing as quote, a major and unnecessary disruption, one that has not occurred since 9 11. Within hours of issuing the 10 day grand stop, the FAA suddenly lifting the order. CBS News reporting the closure resulting from a spat between the FAA and the Department of War over drone related testing. The Pentagon reportedly planning tests of anti drone military technology near Fort Bliss adjoining the El Paso International Airport, including a high energy laser. But safety coordination meetings with the FAA were still pending. According to cbs, the Pentagon felt ready to proceed with testing prior to scheduled safety meetings. FAA Administrator Brian Bedford then abruptly closing the airspace without first notifying the White House, the Pentagon or dhs. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pointing to the involvement of the cartels posting to X. The FAA and Department of War acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion the threat has been neutralized and there's no danger to commercial travel in the region. The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming. However, CBS reporting at least one object initially believed to be a foreign drone during recent operations turned out to be a party balloon and it was reportedly shot down. Now, with conflicting explanations emerging, questions mounting about whether this was a real security emergency, a breakdown in coordination, or maybe something else entirely. Former acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf tells us cartel drone activity along the border is real and it's extensive.

[Security Analyst]

Yeah, I mean, there's significant amount of cartel activity when it comes to the use of drones. I mean, thousands and thousands of recorded incursions and others. And usually, you know, an incursion of the US Is just very, very briefly because most of their operations are on the Mexican side. Or if they are dropping contraband, you know, they will drop it over the border and then the drone will treat very, very quickly. This doesn't appear to be the same case, so we'll see what, what more information comes out. But the use of drones by cartels and limited amount of counter drone authority that the Department of Homeland Security has as well is kind of an ongoing battle.

[Mark Halpern]

Despite that threat, Wolff tells us cartel drone activity rarely shuts down airspace, especially at any major airport.

[Security Analyst]

Historically, you do not see airspace closures because of drone activity. Usually if it is, it's because the Department of War is interdicting or there's a significant amount of, of drones that are coming fairly close to commercial aircraft landing or takeoff paths at a commercial airport. And it's in this, a prolonged incursion of some kind. I mean, normally where you see a lot of these incursions along the border are not in urban areas, or if they are in urban areas, they're in small urban areas. Unlike El Paso, there are other airports in Del Rio and Brownsville Laredo that are, that are fairly close to the border.

[Mark Halpern]

Wolf says the FAA is often cautious, but he has major questions about the initial 10 day shutdown.

[Security Analyst]

If there is any type of threat to commercial aviation, they're going to close that airspace and then they're going to figure out what's going on and then, and then try to open it back up, which was the case. Right. I mean, the, the 10 day closure that FAA originally put out is, is highly unusual. You know, wherever the President's at.

[Mark Halpern]

Right.

[Security Analyst]

For instance, or when there's a Super bowl or when there's a big event. But those are limited duration. In most cases, maybe a couple of days. And so to close airspace for 10 days. I think you, you would think that something very, very significant is happening in, in real time. And then of course, the FAA pulls it back and says, okay, it's canceled. I think they're probably, they probably do need to answer some questions to say, well, why did you jump to 10 days right away? And what was the coordination with the Department of War and was it exactly what happened?

[Mark Halpern]

And while some have speculated about unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs, the new term for UFOs, Wolf dismisses that as unlikely.

[Security Analyst]

I suppose it's possible, but I think what's more logical is that either responding to drone incursions by the cartels, which we know they use, they use drones very liberally, or the fact that, you know, the Department of War was, was testing some type of technology as well, I think it's, I think that's more plausible given the location.

[Mark Halpern]

Coming up. Canadian authorities confirmed the gunman who murdered eight in a remote British Columbia town was a young man living as a woman and temper slayer. In Capitol Hill, Attorney General Pam Bondi battles Democrats over the Epstein files and pretty much everything else in a lengthy.

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[Mark Halpern]

A gunman opening fire in western Canada on Tuesday, killing eight and injuring dozens more in one of the deadliest shootings in the country's history. This the latest act of violence in North America to be carried out by a man pretending to live as a woman. Police receiving reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School located in a rural town in British Columbia around 1:20pm local time on Tuesday. Arriving at the scene within two minutes. Authorities finding six of the victims dead at school before discovering the bodies of two more victims at a residence in the remote town. Which has just 2,400 residents. It remains unclear what time those murders took place. The gunman also injuring 25 people, two with quote, serious or life threatening injuries, according to the Royal Canadian mounted police or RCMP. Duane McDonald, a deputy commissioner at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia, saying at a Wednesday press conference that one of the victims previously believed to have died in transport to the hospital actually remains in critical condition. Commissioner McDonald with more details on the victims.

[News Reporter]

The deceased victims from the school include an adult female educator, three female students and two male students between the ages of 13 and 17. Two additional victims, an adult female and a male youth, were located deceased in the local residence.

[Mark Halpern]

The New York Times identifying the victims at the residence as the 18 year old shooter's 39 year old mother and 11 year old stepbrother. Police finding the suspect dead at the school, which is an enrollment of around 175 students in grades seven to 12 from a quote, self inflicted injury. Authorities now coming under fire for what they did and did not say about the suspect in the aftermath of the shooting. An initial alert issued about the active shooter at the school Tuesday afternoon, describing the suspect as, quote, female in a dress with brown hair. Police Superintendent Ked Floyd later characterizing the shooter in a press briefing as a quote, gun person, fueling speculation that the shooter may have been identifying as transgender. On Wednesday, RCMP confirming the speculation, identifying the shooter as a resident of Tumblr Ridge who was born male and began presenting as a girl around the age of 12. At yesterday's press conference, Commissioner McDonald Pushing back on claims that authorities were withholding the information about the shooter, instead saying the department is simply respecting his identity.

[News Reporter]

We're not hiding it. I will say this. We identify the suspect as they chose to be identified in public and in social media. I can say that Jesse was born as a biological male who approximately the information that I have approximately six years ago, began to transition to female and identified as female both socially and publicly.

[Mark Halpern]

Attorney General Pam Bondi on the Hill yesterday, appearing before the House Judiciary Committee for more than five hours in a hearing with more fireworks than a typical Fourth of July ranking member Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland, starting off the proceedings with this friendly greeting.

[Jamie Raskin]

I asked the chairman to add a few extra rounds of questions today because we each have five hours of questions, not five minutes. But we're stuck with five minutes. That's clearly insufficient to give voice to America's victims and survivors and to demand answers about all the corruption and cover ups that we see at DOJ right now. We've got just one round, so we ask you politely but firmly, Madam Attorney General, please do not waste one second of our precious time by evading questions, by changing the subject or engaging in personal attacks against members of Congress. We saw your performance in the Senate, and we're not going to accept that this isn't a game.

[Mark Halpern]

Democrats focusing largely on the Epstein files, pressing AG Bondi on the DOJ's handling of the document rollout, which was supposed to be completed by December 19th. Under the Epstein Files Transparency act signed into law by President Trump. Democratic lawmakers frequently invoking the presence of a group of alleged Epstein victims in attendance, berating AG Bondi for what they call a lack of accountability for Epstein survivors.

[Jamie Raskin]

To promote justice for the people, you've got to listen to the victims. Like the women seated behind you today, you still haven't met with these survivors.

[Pam Bondi]

To the survivors in the room, if you are willing, please stand. And if you are willing, please raise your hands if you have still not been able to meet with this Department of Justice.

[Phil Holloway]

But I'm going to ask the victims behind you right now first, can you please stand up? And then can you please raise your hand if you think after everything you've heard today, you feel that AG the feds have your back. Do we have your back? And that's the issue, Madam.

[Mark Halpern]

AG Attorney General Bondi firing back, accusing Democrats of a glaring double standard, noting that many of the loudest voices regarding the Epstein files were silent on the issue for years.

[Pam Bondi]

You all should be apologizing. You sit here and you attack the president, and I am not going to have it. I'm not going to put up with it. You know, all they want to do. All the American people need to know this. They are talking about Epstein today. This has been around since the Obama administration. This administration released over 3 million pages of documents. Over 3 million. And Donald Trump signed that law to release all of those documents. He is the most transparent president in the nation's history. And none of them, none of them ask Merrick Garland over the last four years, one word about Jeffrey Epstein. How ironic is that?

[Mark Halpern]

In a rare moment of agreement, Congressman Eric Swalwell of California raising concerns about violent threats against him and his family. AG Bondi pledging to work with the congressmen and all lawmakers who are dealing with threats.

[Eric Swalwell]

What I want to talk to you next is serious and I did not expect this would happen and I'd like your help on it. May through December of 2025, we received messages at my office that said, I hope somebody shoots you and your children and your wife in the head. I would stay indoors as much as possible. And my children, unfortunately, have to do that. The president can come after me. It's fine. I'm in the arena. So are these folks. But we never expected that the Department of Justice would not seek to prosecute and investigate those who are making threats against us.

[Pam Bondi]

Congressman, I completely agree with you. I know about several of those personally involving you. I believe one has been charged publicly. None of you should be threatened, ever. None of your children should be threatened. None of your families should be threatened. I'll gladly talk to you after this hearing about your cases, but I can tell you some of them are very active.

[Eric Swalwell]

Appreciate that and yield back.

[Mark Halpern]

And of course, this testy exchange with Congressman Raskin.

[Jamie Raskin]

You can let her filibuster all day long, but not on our watch, not on our time. No way. And I told you about that Attorney General before you started.

[Pam Bondi]

You don't tell me.

[Jamie Raskin]

No, I did tell you because we saw what you did did in the Senate.

[Pam Bondi]

Not even a lawyer.

[Mark Halpern]

Committee will be in order. I should get back at least 45 seconds. We will give you a few more seconds.

[Pam Bondi]

I said that already.

[Mark Halpern]

Well, that'll do it. For your AM Update, I'm Mark Halpern, host of Next up on the MK Media Podcast Network. Catch the Megan Kelly show Today live on SiriusXM, the Megan Kelly Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com Megan Kelly and on all your favorite podcasts podcast platforms.

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