The Megyn Kelly Show — AM Update 1/9/2026

Episode Title: Feds Shoot Suspected Gang Members in Portland, National Guard To MN, Pratt Running: AM Update 1/9
Air Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Megyn Kelly (SiriusXM)
Summary by Podcast Summarizer

Episode Overview

This Friday morning AM Update covers a tumultuous 24 hours in American law enforcement and politics: escalating federal/local tensions after shootings in Minneapolis and Portland involving federal immigration agents, National Guard deployment to Minnesota, controversy over federal investigations and prosecutorial jurisdiction, a new DOJ anti-fraud initiative, a Senate war powers resolution regarding Venezuela, and the headline grab of Spencer Pratt launching a run for LA Mayor after the devastating Palisades fire.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minneapolis Shooting and Federal Law Enforcement Backlash

• Event Recap:
  • An ICE agent fatally shot a woman resisting arrest in Minneapolis. National Guard deployed by Governor Tim Walz as protests erupt.
  • “Governor Tim Walz orders the National Guard to Minneapolis as tensions escalate following the shooting death by an ICE agent.” (00:32)
• Law Enforcement Perspective:
  • DHS describes a pattern: over 100 vehicle-ramming attempts targeting immigration officers in recent weeks.
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defends the agent:
    • “This is an experienced officer who followed his training... when they demanded and commanded her to get out of her vehicle several times, she did not.” (07:02)
• Political & Media Reactions:
  • Politicians and media outlets sharply criticize ICE and federal operations; Vice President J.D. Vance rebukes this coverage as misleading and dangerous.
    • “The way that the media by and large has reported this story has been an absolute disgrace and it puts our law enforcement officers at risk every single day.” — J.D. Vance (08:20)
• Jurisdiction Dispute:
  • FBI leads the shooting investigation, denying state access; Minnesota’s BCA withdraws, citing lack of evidence access.
  • Vance clarifies this is a federal case and criticizes local attempts to prosecute the agent:
    • “You have a federal law enforcement official engaging in federal law enforcement action. That's a federal issue. That guy is protected by absolute immunity.” (09:51)
• Ongoing Enforcement:
  • DHS confirms federal operations in Minnesota continue despite local backlash, focusing on a wide-ranging Medicaid fraud probe.

2. Portland Border Patrol Shooting

• Event Recap:
  • Border Patrol agents shot two suspects (connected to Venezuelan transnational gang Tren de Aragua) after one tried to run over agents with a vehicle.
  • “Border Patrol agents shoot two suspects during a vehicle stop in Portland... the driver weaponized his vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents. An agent then firing on the vehicle in self-defense...” (After 01:14)
• City & Congressional Response:
  • Portland’s Mayor and Congressional Rep. Maxine Dexter demand a halt to federal enforcement, with Dexter mistakenly blaming ICE (it was Border Patrol).
  • Megyn Kelly highlights the omission of crucial facts in their statements:
    • “First of all, Mayor Wilson and Representative Dexter, this did not even involve ICE. It was Border Patrol... she mentions nothing about the fact that these two people are accused gang members or affiliates who allegedly tried to run over the officers. Kind of an important fact, no?” (After 04:40)

3. Political Rhetoric & Escalation

• Escalating Language:
  • National and local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor and Governor, blame the Trump administration for conducting raids in sanctuary cities.
  • Protesters in Minneapolis become violent, with law enforcement resorting to tear gas.

4. New DOJ Anti-Fraud Initiative

• Announcement:
  • J.D. Vance: New Assistant Attorney General position to combat nationwide fraud, starting in Minnesota due to systemic Medicaid fraud.
    • “We are creating a new Assistant Attorney General position who will have nationwide jurisdiction over the issue of fraud. ...this is the critical piece at the Department of Justice to really ramp this fraud investigation into high gear.” (11:18)
• Scope & Scale:
  • Treasury Secretary reports $300-600 billion annual government fraud (10% of spending), with $10+ billion in social services funds already frozen across five states.

5. Senate War Powers Resolution — Venezuela

• Context:
  • Senate votes to debate restricting military action in Venezuela following a US operation capturing Nicolas Maduro approved solely by the President.
    • “Five Republicans voting with Democrats... The final tally 52–47.” (13:28)
• Debate & Fallout:
  • Republican Senators support operation but want Congressional oversight before further action.
  • President Trump posts criticism, warning this “hampers American self-defense.”

6. Spencer Pratt Runs for LA Mayor

• Candidacy Announcement:
  • Following the loss of his home in the Palisades fire, Spencer Pratt (former MTV “villain”) launches mayoral bid, running on accountability and disaster management reform.
    • “All of this was preventable. The state and local leaders let us burn.” — Spencer Pratt (01:08, 17:49)
    • “It was the cruel incompetence of Mayor Karen Bass who sabotaged this once great agency and left us all to burn.” (17:19)
• Campaign Tone:
  • Pratt promises to “expose the system,” accusing city and state leaders of neglect and scapegoating; insists on running as a nonpartisan, willing to work across the aisle.
    • “As mayor, I will not serve either party. I will work with anyone who wants to help the city. No labels necessary.” (18:48)
• Fire Aftermath:
  • The Palisades and Eaton fires killed 31 people, destroyed thousands of structures. Pratt asserts few homes rebuilt, criticizing slow recovery.
• Support & Outlook:
  • Receives early backing from ex-Trump officials and GOP figures; polling sparse, but Mayor Bass’s approval is low.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “First of all, Mayor Wilson and Representative Dexter, this did not even involve ICE. It was Border Patrol… And she mentions nothing about the fact that these two people are accused gang members or affiliates who allegedly tried to run over the officers. Kind of an important fact, no?” — Megyn Kelly (Approx. 04:40)
• “The way that the media by and large has reported this story has been an absolute disgrace and it puts our law enforcement officers at risk every single day.” — J.D. Vance (08:20)
• “You have a federal law enforcement official engaging in federal law enforcement action. That's a federal issue... He was doing his job. …the idea that a local official can actually prosecute a federal official with absolute immunity. I've never seen anything like that.” — J.D. Vance (09:51)
• “Since Gavin Newsom hasn't given us our Palisades investigation, we are going to get to the bottom of how our town burned down and how 12 senior citizens were killed. It wasn't hurricane winds that screwed these guys. It was the cruel incompetence of Mayor Karen Bass... and left us all to burn.” — Spencer Pratt (17:19)
• “As mayor, I will not serve either party. I will work with anyone who wants to help the city. No labels necessary.” — Spencer Pratt (18:48)

Important Timestamps

• 00:32 — Megyn Kelly opens on National Guard deployment to MN after ICE-involved shooting
• 01:14 — Spencer Pratt’s first soundbite: “All of this was preventable. The state and local leaders let us burn.”
• 07:02 — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defends ICE agent
• 08:20 — J.D. Vance condemns media coverage of shooting
• 09:51 — Vance decries local efforts to prosecute federal agents, discusses jurisdiction
• 11:18 — Vance introduces new DOJ fraud-hunting AAG
• 13:28 — Senate war powers debate (Venezuela)
• 16:52–18:48 — Spencer Pratt’s statements and campaign launch

Tone and Delivery

• Unapologetically direct and critical, especially regarding media and local officials’ handling of federal law enforcement.
• Megyn Kelly blends hard news with pointed commentary and sarcasm (“Yes, Whoopi, she could have been anyone in The View’s audience...” [06:42]).
• Political figures (Vance, Noem) adopt a forceful, defensive tone on behalf of federal agents and against what they see as biased reporting or radical local politics.
• Pratt’s remarks are impassioned, dramatic, evoking survivor’s outrage, and promise for radical transparency.

Takeaway

The episode painted a volatile picture of federal/local relations amid violence and mass protests, the politicization of crime and enforcement, the challenge of rooting out public fraud, and growing anti-establishment instincts, exemplified both by congressional war powers debates and Pratt’s outsider mayoral run. Throughout, Megyn Kelly’s voice remains confrontational but analytic—challenging official narratives and amplifying underreported details.