The Megyn Kelly Show: Detailed Summary

Episode Title: Fact-Checking the New York Times' "Daily" Podcast's Disinformation-Filled Russiagate Episode, with Michael Shellenberger and Aaron Mate
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Host: Megyn Kelly
Guests: Michael Shellenberger (Founder of Public News Substack), Aaron Mate (Independent Journalist for Real Clear Investigations)

1. Introduction

The episode embarks on a critical examination of The New York Times' podcast, "The Daily," specifically targeting its coverage of the Russiagate scandal. Megyn Kelly introduces the premise, expressing skepticism about the integrity of "The Daily" episode hosted by Michael Barbaro and featuring investigative reporter Michael Schmidt, a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Notable Quote:

Megyn Kelly [01:00]: "The New York Times did not acknowledge any of [Schmidt's] personal involvement in the controversy... this is one of the biggest media scandals of all time."

2. The Russiagate Narrative and Media Involvement

Kelly and her guests delve into how mainstream media, particularly The New York Times, allegedly perpetuated the Russiagate narrative without adequately addressing conflicting evidence. They argue that Michael Schmidt, despite his accolades, failed to disclose his connections that may have influenced his reporting.

Notable Quote:

Aaron Mate [03:46]: "They're hoping their supporters aren't going to go and read the actual materials that they're putting out. But when you read them, they're not what they claim to be."

3. Intelligence Community Assessments: House vs. Senate Reports

The discussion shifts to contrasting reports from the House Intelligence Committee (HIPC) and the Senate Intelligence Committee. Kelly emphasizes that the HIPC report, which recently became available, undermines the conclusions of the initial intelligence assessment that suggested Russian interference favored Donald Trump.

Notable Quotes:

Megyn Kelly [09:37]: "Every single thing that Michael Schmidt said about Russian interference and the preference for Trump was wrong."

Aaron Mate [07:33]: "The intelligence community comes to a series of conclusions... that Putin tried to hurt Hillary Clinton and help Donald Trump."

4. The Steele Dossier and Its Impact

A significant portion of the conversation critiques the Steele dossier's role in shaping the Russiagate narrative. The guests assert that the dossier, characterized as "conspiracy fiction," was improperly integrated into official assessments, thereby compromising their credibility.

Notable Quotes:

Michael Shellenberger [11:57]: "What you're seeing in the Michael Schmidt podcast is just a continuation of that disinformation effort..."

Megyn Kelly [39:32]: "It’s a collection of conspiracy theories funded by Hillary Clinton."

5. Internal Conflict Within the Intelligence Community

Kelly and her guests highlight internal disagreements within the intelligence agencies, pointing out that high-ranking officials like NSA Director Mike Rogers expressed reservations about the conclusions drawn in the intelligence assessments. These concerns were allegedly overridden by officials like John Brennan and James Clapper to maintain a predetermined narrative.

Notable Quotes:

Megyn Kelly [25:21]: "Mike Rogers... says, you're not showing us the intelligence to reach your most important conclusion that Russia hacked and leaked Democratic Party emails."

Michael Shellenberger [37:27]: "It's constantly a lie when they say it's a consensus."

6. Accountability and Media Responsibility

The episode criticizes The New York Times and Michael Schmidt for lacking accountability and transparency. Kelly accuses them of perpetuating false narratives to serve specific political agendas, thereby misleading their audience.

Notable Quotes:

Megyn Kelly [14:40]: "They want their audience to be deluded by the Times and its reporters."

Michael Barbaro [19:54]: "People will want to point to anything they can, but the information that is most comprehensive... shows that underlying intelligence simply didn't support it."

7. The Role of Key Figures and Alleged Conspiracies

Further discussion centers on allegations that significant intelligence figures and agencies conspired to undermine President Trump. The guests suggest that actions taken by these individuals were part of a deliberate effort to fabricate evidence against Trump, including the misuse of hacked emails related to Hillary Clinton.

Notable Quotes:

Megyn Kelly [47:52]: "Hillary Clinton framed Trump as a Russian agent. It’s beyond dispute."

Aaron Mate [48:27]: "An email between Clinton allies in which they claim that Clinton personally approved a plan to tie Trump to Russia."

8. Conclusion and Call for Transparency

The episode concludes with a call for greater transparency and accountability within the intelligence community and the media. Kelly emphasizes the need to reassess and critically evaluate longstanding narratives that may have been influenced by biased reporting and partisan agendas.

Notable Quotes:

Megyn Kelly [33:31]: "We don't have the evidence you claim that you have. You misled us in this document."

Michael Shellenberger [31:40]: "The big picture remains the same, which is that Schmidt is creating straw men and dismissing them..."

Key Takeaways

• Media Critique: The New York Times' "The Daily" podcast episode on Russiagate is accused of disseminating disinformation without addressing conflicting evidence.

• Intelligence Reports: Recent HIPC reports challenge the initial intelligence community assessment that suggested Russian interference favored Trump's election.

• Steele Dossier's Role: The Steele dossier is portrayed as a flawed and conspiratorial document that was improperly used to support questionable conclusions.

• Internal Intelligence Conflicts: High-ranking officials within the intelligence community expressed doubts about the Russiagate narrative, which were allegedly overridden by others.

• Accountability Issues: The New York Times and key journalists like Michael Schmidt are criticized for lacking transparency and perpetuating biased narratives.

• Calls for Reform: The episode underscores the necessity for intelligence community reform and honest, unbiased media reporting.

Note: This summary captures the key discussions and viewpoints presented in the episode. For a complete understanding, listeners are encouraged to access the full transcript and listen to the episode directly.