The Megyn Kelly Show, Ep 1142: “Fake Theater Kids Booker and Markle, Adelson Guilty and Cardi B Wins”

Air Date: September 5, 2025
Guests: Link Lauren, Dave Aronberg, Jonna Spilboer

Episode Overview

In this wide-ranging episode, Megyn Kelly is joined by Link Lauren, Dave Aronberg, and Jonna Spilboer to tackle a series of headline-making stories.
The discussion flows from recent cultural controversies surrounding sports (NFL “wokeness”, US Open drama), to the dramatic Donna Adelson murder trial verdict, to celebrity spectacle involving Meghan Markle, Cory Booker, and Cardi B’s courtroom win. The episode is marked by spirited, no-holds-barred commentary, pop culture savvy, legal insight, and plenty of memorable one-liners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

NFL "Wokeness" and Sports Culture

Timestamps 03:10–15:16

• NFL’s Social Justice Messaging:
  The pair express exasperation at the continued presence of the “black national anthem” and social justice slogans like “End Racism” on the field, five years after the George Floyd protests.
  • Megyn Kelly: “Why, why, why? … Even AOC took her pronouns out of her Twitter bio. We’re over the stupid end racism, black national anthem nonsense in the NFL.” (08:26)
  • Link Lauren: “America is not racist… The NFL is probably the least racist sport because you have so many black men making tens of millions of dollars and they’re exceptional. … The Black Lives Matter thing was a scam.” (07:15–08:26)
• General Reaction:
  Both critique what they see as pandering and “outdated identity politics,” emphasizing the merit-based nature of sports.

Sportsmanship, Race, and the U.S. Open

Timestamps 15:26–34:33

• Tennis Drama:
  The discussion covers recent US Open incidents, notably a spat between Taylor Townsend (Black American) and Jelena Ostapenko (Latvian) over etiquette, leading to accusations of racism.
  • Megyn Kelly: “The ‘you have no education’ [from Ostapenko to Townsend] ... gets racialized by the loons.” (18:53)
  • Link Lauren: “I didn’t know higher education was a requirement to play sports. … There are plenty of athletes who can’t spell mom backwards.” (22:15)
• Broader Critique:
  The hosts argue that not all conflict should be racialized, criticizing media and activists for injecting race into every drama.
• Crowd Behavior:
  Novak Djokovic’s response to a hostile US Open crowd is held up as an example of professional resilience, compared to “mopey” athletes.
• On Transgender Athletes:
  Venus Williams’s refusal to speak out against biological males in women’s sports (33:03) is framed as cowardice.
  • Megyn Kelly: “Shame on these women who have big platforms, especially in sports, and they’re not using them to condemn this.” (34:33)
  • Link Lauren: “You could open yourself up to a whole new audience… Why are you not using your platform?” (34:33)

Political Figures as "Fake Theater Kids"

Timestamps 34:33–43:42

• Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s Persona:
  The panel ridicules Rep. Jasmine Crockett for code-switching, comparing her to an “overgrown theater kid.”
  • Link Lauren: “She unveils new accents every five minutes… She’s just playing into these stereotypical tropes.” (36:12)
• Cory Booker's “Fake” Engagement:
  Link Lauren lampoons Sen. Cory Booker’s engagement photos and language.
  • “The only thing faker than those photos is her orgasm later tonight.” (Link Lauren, 40:49)
  • Complaints about political figures using the term “partner” instead of husband/wife, framed as inauthentic.

Meghan Markle’s “Fake” Martha Stewart Routine

Timestamps 43:42–50:49

• With Love, Meghan:
  Kelly and Lauren eviscerate Markle’s “relatability” efforts on her Netflix show, her $300,000+ jewelry while cooking, and her “A-list” friends like Chrissy Teigen who can’t remember her own children’s birthdays.
  • Link Lauren: “It was like watching a woman in an insane asylum… but they’re letting her kind of do arts and crafts where she can’t hurt herself.” (48:01)
  • Megyn Kelly: “She’s desperate to be, like, ‘Me too, me too.’… She’s got a craft barn on her property.” (49:01)
• Authenticity Deficit:
  The two agree Markle’s media attempts lack authenticity and that her career is in steep decline.

Kelly’s Court: Donna Adelson Trial Verdit

Timestamps 53:33–74:08

• Case Recap:
  The murder-for-hire plot of Daniel Markel, and the web of Adelson family involvement, with Donna (the grandmother) convicted.
  • Megyn Kelly: “Innocent people do not talk in code.” (64:52)
  • Dave Aronberg: “The first thing [Donna Adelson] does is call her son Charlie … That’s a confession.” (63:02)
• Lawyer Performance:
  Panelists critique defense lawyering (“a week long of just sort of shuffling along…” – Spilboer, 59:23) and the strength of evidence.
• Speculation on Next Prosecutorial Steps:
  The team predicts daughter Wendy Adelson’s arrest is imminent: “If I were Wendy, I would not be buying green bananas right now…” (Dave Aronberg, 57:04)
  • Aronberg expects charges “within 60 days.” (73:46)

Lisa Cook and Alleged Mortgage Fraud

Timestamps 74:08–85:32

• Overview:
  Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is under investigation for alleged serial mortgage fraud; Pulte, a banking whistleblower, is pressing the case.
• Should She Be Prosecuted?
  • Jonna Spilboer: “Do not cry a river… I would like to know, where is the playbook for how to get rich as a public servant?” (76:32)
  • Megyn Kelly: “It looks clear she did it. She looks quite guilty to me.” (84:13)
• Potential Defense:
  • Dave Aronberg: Warns about selective prosecution and actual jail time (average 18 months). (84:40)

Cardi B’s Courtroom Victory

Timestamps 90:17–99:26

• Lawsuit Recap:
  Cardi B was sued for $24 million by a security guard over a verbal spat; the panel celebrates Cardi’s authenticity and courtroom win.
  • Dave Aronberg: “The jury took less than an hour to come back with its verdict. That tells you something.” (94:29)
  • Jonna Spilboer: “The facts of this case support an Instagram post… not a civil suit.” (96:48)
• Celebrities Not Settling:
  • Megyn Kelly: “Nine out of 10 celebrities would have settled this. … So good for her for standing up.”

Defamation Suit: Kash Patel’s Girlfriend vs. Podcaster

Timestamps 99:26–104:04

• Case Details:
  Alexis Wilkins (Kash Patel’s girlfriend) sues podcaster Kyle Serafin for falsely claiming she was a Mossad honeypot.
• Analysis:
  • Dave Aronberg: “He’s got a problem because he stated it as though it were a fact. … There’s no question that’s defamatory.” (101:25)
  • Jonna Spilboer: “He’s a jerk … she wasted no time. Good for her and her team.” (103:06)
  • Megyn Kelly: “If I were him, I would apologize, I would retract it…”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “America is not racist… just let people watch football and have a good time.”
  — Link Lauren (07:15)
• “I’m tired of the multiple national anthems, mainly because I just don’t have that much of an attention span… Let’s get on with the game.”
  — Link Lauren (11:01)
• “There’s something very homoerotic about it… If someone’s going to spit on me, you better buy me a drink first.” — Link Lauren on NFL spitting incident (14:11)
• “A majority of Americans don’t want men in women’s sports. And you guys look ridiculous.”
  — Link Lauren (34:33)
• “When I look at these men like Cory Booker, when I look at folks like Chris Murphy, these male senators … I hope they don’t have daughters because they support men in women’s sports.”
  — Link Lauren (43:42)
• “It was like watching a woman in an insane asylum. … There’s a Truman Show element where we all know she’s kind of nuts and cuckoo-cachoo, but she’s not in on the joke.” — Link Lauren on Meghan Markle’s Netflix show (48:01)

Segment Timestamps (Approximate)

• 03:10 – NFL “Woke” Complaints
• 15:26 – US Open Drama & Racialized Insults
• 34:33 – Political Theatrics: Crockett, Booker
• 43:42 – Meghan Markle’s Image Problems
• 53:33 – Donna Adelson Murder Verdict, Legal Breakdown
• 74:08 – Lisa Cook Mortgage Fraud Allegations
• 90:17 – Cardi B Courtroom Win
• 99:26 – Kash Patel’s Girlfriend Sues Podcaster

Language and Tone

The show’s tone is irreverent, candid, and sometimes biting, filled with jokes, sarcasm, and a strong anti-“woke” sensibility. Guests and host alike offer sharp-tongued, often funny personal commentary alongside serious legal and political analysis.

Recap Utility

For listeners who missed the episode, this summary offers detailed coverage of each headline segment, expert legal and political analysis, major quotes, and a glimpse into the show’s characteristically lively energy.