Hegseth Blasts Media, Diddy Closing Arguments Begin, Deep Dive on Zohran Mamdani: AM Update 6/27

Summary

The Megyn Kelly Show: In-Depth Episode Summary Episode Title: Hegseth Blasts Media, Diddy Closing Arguments Begin, Deep Dive on Zohran Mamdani: AM Update 6/27
Host: Megyn Kelly
Release Date: June 27, 2025
Platform: SiriusXM

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1. Introduction

Megyn Kelly opens the episode by setting the stage for a comprehensive AM update, highlighting key topics slated for discussion: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's critique of the media, the commencement of closing arguments in Sean "Diddy" Combs' criminal trial, and an in-depth analysis of Zohran Mamdani's surprising lead in the New York City mayoral race.

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2. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Criticizes Media Reporting on Iranian Strikes

In a forceful press conference, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth challenged the media narratives surrounding the recent U.S. strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities.

• Key Points:

  • Effectiveness of Strikes: Hegseth asserted that the media's portrayal undermines the success of the military operations.
  • Media Bias: He accused the media of having an inherent agenda to discredit President Trump, stating, "it's like in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump because you want him not to be successful so bad" (00:39).
  • Leak Concerns: The Defense Department is scrutinizing leaks from CNN and The New York Times, which reported that the strikes only caused temporary damage, contrary to official statements of complete destruction.

• Supporting Statements:

  • Caroline Levitt, Press Secretary: Emphasized international consensus on the strikes' success, mentioning endorsements from Iranian Foreign Minister and the United Nations. "It was a total obliteration, as the President said." (04:40)
  • General Dan Crenshaw: Detailed the precision and impact of the bunker buster bombs used, reinforcing the mission's success. "All six weapons at each vent at Fordeaux went exactly where they were intended to go." (05:18)

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3. Sean "Diddy" Combs' Criminal Trial: Closing Arguments Begin

The episode delves into the high-profile criminal case against Sean "Diddy" Combs, with assistant U.S. attorney Christy Slavic delivering the prosecution's closing arguments.

• Prosecutor’s Key Points:

  • Leadership of a Criminal Enterprise: Slavic painted Combs as the head of a dangerous criminal organization, stating, "He's the leader of a criminal enterprise." (08:53)
  • Pattern of Crimes: The prosecution highlighted multiple predicate crimes, including drug distribution, arson, and coercion of associates into illicit activities.
  • Witness Testimonies: Notable testimonies from Cassie Ventura and Jane (pseudonyms) detailed Combs' involvement in drug supply and forcing participation in sexual escapades.

• Specific Allegations:

  • Arson Incident: Combs allegedly orchestrated a Molotov cocktail attack on musician Kid Cudi's car after discovering Ventura's relationship with Cudi. "Of course the defendant was behind this." (08:53)
  • Statistical Probability: Slavic questioned the likelihood of the car being blown up coinciding with Combs' verbal threats, aiming to implicate him further.

• Next Steps:

  • The defense is scheduled to present its closing arguments later in the day. Following this, the jury may commence deliberations immediately or by the following Monday, depending on the defense's schedule.

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4. Political Deep Dive: Zohran Mamdani's Mayoral Bid in New York City

Megyn Kelly shifts focus to Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim Democratic Socialist, who has surged ahead to win the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor in a surprising upset over former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

• Background of Zohran Mamdani:

  • Early Life: Born in Uganda, Mamdani moved frequently during childhood due to his parents' prominent academic and film industry careers.
  • Career Shift: Transitioned from attempting a rap career to politics in 2018 upon gaining U.S. citizenship.
  • Political Experience: Served as a counselor for low-income nonwhite homeowners and secured a seat in the New York State Assembly in 2020 without holding any leadership positions.

• Policy Platform:

  • Green Energy Initiatives: Advocates for making every public building in NYC energy-efficient, projecting a cost of $3.21 billion over four years.
  • Defunding the Police: Proposes reallocating police funds to other community resources.
  • Tax Increases: Plans to increase taxes on the wealthy to fund various initiatives.
  • Rent Control: Supports freezing rents across the board to combat housing affordability.
  • Government-Controlled Grocery Stores: Introduces state-run grocery chains as a strategy to tackle inflation and ensure affordable food prices.

• Campaign Strategy:

  • Target Demographic: Focuses primarily on highly educated, progressive white voters concentrated in specific NYC districts.
  • Engagement Tactics: Utilized impactful social media campaigns and strategic stunts, such as confronting border czar Tom Holan in Albany to elevate his profile.
    • During a staged confrontation, Mamdani shouted, "How many more New Yorkers without to-y?" (13:46), highlighting his confrontational approach to policy debates.

• Controversies and Criticisms:

  • Antisemitism Concerns: Faced backlash from Jewish voters due to perceived inability to condemn Hamas post-October 7 attacks and use of phrases like "globalize the intifada," which many interpreted as antisemitic.
  • Ideological Positioning: Characterized by consultant Ryan Gardusky as a "cultural Marxist" rather than a jihadist, stressing his opposition to Western influences and support for neoliberal policies.

• Electoral Outlook:

  • Primary Victory: Despite being a relative unknown, Mamdani secured a significant lead over Cuomo.
  • General Election Challenges: Expected to face Republican Curtis Sliwa, incumbent Democrat Eric Adams (running as an independent), and potentially Andrew Cuomo on a third-party ballot.
  • Polls and Predictions: While favored to win, he currently polls just above 35%, with early registered voters at 9%, indicating potential volatility.

• Expert Analysis:

  • Ryan Gardusky's Insights: Suggests that Mamdani's success hinges on leveraging progressive votes in specific demographics, but cautions against complacency among opponents. "The odds of anyone beating Mamdani are not good, but people need to sober up and let egos go." (15:58)

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5. Conclusion

Megyn Kelly wraps up the AM update by emphasizing the significance of the discussed topics and encouraging listeners to stay informed. She invites audiences to return for future episodes featuring guests like Maureen Callahan.

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Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• Pete Hegseth on Media Bias:
  "It's like in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump because you want him not to be successful so bad." (00:39)

• Caroline Levitt on Strike Success:
  "It was a total obliteration, as the President said." (04:40)

• Dan Crenshaw on Military Precision:
  "All six weapons at each vent at Fordeaux went exactly where they were intended to go." (05:18)

• Prosecutor Christy Slavic on Diddy Combs:
  "He's the leader of a criminal enterprise." (08:53)

• Zohran Mamdani Confrontation Stunt:
  "How many more New Yorkers without to-y?" (13:46)

• Ryan Gardusky on Mamdani's Electability:
  "The odds of anyone beating Mamdani are not good, but people need to sober up and let egos go." (15:58)

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Additional Notes

• Advertisements Skipped: The summary excludes segments related to advertisements for BuiltForAmerica, Cozy Earth, and Financial Yield Solutions Inc., focusing solely on the episode's content.
• Balanced Perspective: While the episode presents strong opinions from figures like Pete Hegseth, the summary maintains an objective tone, summarizing viewpoints without endorsing or contesting them.

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For more detailed discussions and insights, listeners are encouraged to tune into The Megyn Kelly Show on SiriusXM Triumph Channel 111 or available podcast platforms.

Transcript

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[Megyn Kelly]

Good morning everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Friday, June 27, 2025 and this is your AM update.

[Pete Hegseth]

It's like in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump because you want him not to be successful so bad.

[Megyn Kelly]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slamming the media in a press conference designed to dispel any notion that the US Strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities were anything other than a stunning success. The prosecution makes its closing argument in the Sean Diddy Combs criminal case.

[Ryan Gardusky]

His policies were mad libs for the.

[Megyn Kelly]

Insane asylum and a deep dive into how a 33 year old Muslim Democratic Socialist won the Democrat nomination for New York City mayor. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

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[Megyn Kelly]

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Raisin Cain holding an extraordinary Thursday morning press conference with Mr. Hegseth forcefully combating media reports claiming the Trump administration overstated the success of the strikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities. The Reporting originating with CNN and then the New York Times based on anonymous sources familiar with an early low confidence intel assessment and not the assessment itself, suggesting the facilities were merely damaged rather than permanently disabled, downplaying the extent of said damage. In response to the leaks, the Trump administration planning to limit the sharing of classified information. Now with Congress Axios reporting the initial assessment was uploaded late Monday to CapNet, a resource used to share classified information with Congress. The CNN and New York Times reporting on the assessment following the next day. The FBI is currently investigating the source of the leaks. Secretary Hegseth slamming the media for relying on what he says is selective and biased information in order to satisfy their anti Trump agenda.

[Pete Hegseth]

There was a great deal of irresponsible reporting based on leaks, preliminary information in low confidence. Again, when someone leaks something, they do it with an agenda. And when you leak a portion of an intelligence assessment, but just a little portion, just a little portion that makes it seem like maybe the strike wasn't effective. Then you start a news cycle. You, the press corps, it's like in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump because you want him not to be successful so bad. So let's take half truths, spun information, leaked information, and then spin it, spin it in every way we can to try to cause doubt and manipulate the mind, the public mind, over whether or not our brave pilots were successful. There are so many aspects of what our brave men and women did that because of the hatred of this press corps are undermined.

[Megyn Kelly]

Press Secretary Caroline Levitt in a later Thursday briefing pointing to additional intelligence collected since the strike, supporting the mission's success.

[Caroline Levitt]

It was a total obliteration, as the President said. And not only does our own intelligence say that, but also the Iranian foreign minister has said that we saw Israel conclude the same thing based on their own intelligence. We also had the United nations say that as well. So I think the only other time the United Nations, Israel, Iran and the United States has agreed on something is that it's that the sky is blue. But they all agree that Iran's nuclear facilities were completely demolished.

[Megyn Kelly]

General Kaine, Thursday morning, reiterating the military's high confidence of success, describing how bunker buster bombs, which were developed specifically to take out fordo, work unlike a normal.

[Dan Crenshaw]

Surface bomb, you won't see an impact crater because they're designed to deeply bury and then function. I know there's been a lot of questions about that. All six weapons at each vent at Fordeaux went exactly where they were intended to go. A bomb has three effects that causes damage Blast fragmentation and overpressure. In this case, the primary kill mechanism in the mission space was a mix of overpressure and blast, ripping through the open tunnels and destroying critical hardware.

[Megyn Kelly]

On Thursday, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei from an undisclosed location looking very fragile, making his first appearance since last week congratulating Iranians on their so called victory over the US the Iranians launching a retaliation effort on Monday firing 14 missiles toward Al Udid air base in Qatar. Every missile was intercepted by US troops stationed at Al Udid with the exception of one that was heading in a non threatening direction. General Kaine describing the mission of the 44 soldiers responsible for defending U.S. interests there.

[Dan Crenshaw]

Most folks had moved off the base except for a very few army soldiers At Al Udid, two Patriot batteries remained on base, roughly 44American soldiers. The oldest soldier was was a 28 year old captain. The youngest was a 21 year old private. It's hot, you're getting nervous and you expect an attack. You know that you're going to have approximately 2 minutes 120 seconds to either succeed or fail. As the sun sets in the west, Iran attacks. As the targets were detected, round after round of Patriot missiles are ejected from their canisters and round after round goes out and guides against those missiles coming inbound. We believe that this is the largest single Patriot engagement in US military history. These awesome humans, along with their Qatari brothers and sisters in arms stood between a salvo of Iranian missiles and the safety of Al Udid.

[Megyn Kelly]

Coming up probably prosecutors deliver closing arguments in the Sean Diddy Combs criminal trial and a deep dive into the 33 year old Muslim Democratic socialist poised to win the race for mayor of New York City.

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[Megyn Kelly]

Today, closing arguments in the Sean Diddy Combs criminal trial beginning on Thursday. Assistant U.S. attorney Christy Slavic addressing the jury, quote, over the last several weeks, you've learned a lot about Sean Combs. He's the leader of a criminal enterprise. The defendant was a very powerful man, but he became more powerful and more dangerous because of the support of his inner circle and his businesses. The enterprise to secure a racketeering conviction, the government must prove Combs was the head of a criminal enterprise engaging in a pattern of two or more predicate crimes. Slavic summing up multiple examples of potential predicate acts the prosecution says Combs carried out with the help of his staff. The prosecutor pointing to distribution of drugs as one act. Alleged victims of Combs star witness Cassie Ventura and Jane testifying under a pseudonym describing heavy drug use provided by Combs throughout the freak offs and hotel nights. The prolonged sexual escapades involving male escorts, they say the mogul effectively forced them to participate in. Slavic also pointing to arson, alleging Combs was responsible for the Molotov cocktail attack on musician Kid Cudi's car. After Combs discovered Kid Cudi's relationship with Ventura, Slavic saying, quote, of course the defendant was behind this. We're not suggesting the defendant personally cut the hole in Kid Cudi's Porsche. The defendant didn't even buy his own soup. The prosecutor reminding the jury of Ventura's testimony, saying Combs told her he was going to have Kid Cudi's car blown up. Slavic questioning, quote, what are the odds that the car the defendant just said he was going to blow up got blown up? The defense set to present closing arguments later today. Depending on how long the defense takes, jury deliberations could start today. If the defense needs more time, the jury will begin deliberations on Monday. On Tuesday. Tuesday. A 33 year old Democratic Socialist Muslim born in Uganda who wants to defund the police, open the prisons and ban all guns. Zoran Mamdani winning the Democrat primary for New York City mayor in an upset over disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. We spoke to Republican consultant and host of the A Numbers Game podcast Ryan Gardusky, a New Yorker about who Mamdaami is and how this relatively unknown candidate was able to pull off a win.

[Ryan Gardusky]

Mandani was born in Uganda and lived until he was seven years old. He bounced between a lot of major cities as the father was a prominent academic and the mother was a prominent film producer and director. So yeah, he came from an immense privileged background his entire life. Which is why in his mid-20s you saw Zoran trying to create a rap career for himself. Before he entered the world of politics in 2018. He didn't become a citizen until 2018, which it's seven years ago. He worked as a counselor for low income nonwhite homeowners trying to stop evictions. He won a seat in the New York State assembly in 2020. And he was not in any leadership.

[Megyn Kelly]

Position despite a limited professional resume. Gardusky explains how Mamdomi was able to capture support.

[Ryan Gardusky]

His policies were mad libs for the insane asylum. His main things were he wanted to make every public building in New York City green energy, which would cost taxpayers $3.21 billion over a 4. He wanted to defund the police, he wanted to increase taxes on the wealthy, he want rent freezes across the board. He wanted government controlled grocery stores. Was a big part of his initiative because that was his way of fighting inflation, was have the government run everything. He mostly ventured and we need to have economic liberation theory in order to make life more affordable for working class New Yorkers. But ironically he didn't get the vote of working class New Yorkers.

[Megyn Kelly]

Gardusky describing the key group driving Mamdami's success.

[Ryan Gardusky]

Zoran maxed out in these high college educated white progressive areas. They were his base. It was the transient white vote who are progressive, who have 36 genders, who don't know what sex they are, who don't believe biological sex exists. Those were Zoron's votes.

[Megyn Kelly]

Mamdani made so called gender affirming care, meaning trans medical procedures, a crux of his campaign, promising $65 million of taxpayer money for it. To fund all of these proposals, he promised to tax the rich, seemingly unconcerned about them leaving New York altogether. Mamdaami generating recognition throughout the campaign with slick social media videos and stunts, including this moment in March when he confronted border czar Tom Homan in Albany. How many more New Yorkers will you contain?

[Donald Trump]

How many more New Yorkers without toy?

[Ryan Gardusky]

Do you believe in the first Amendment? Do you believe in the First Amendment?

[Megyn Kelly]

Amendment, Tom Holman Garduski describing that moment as a calculated move meant to raise Mom Dhami's profile.

[Ryan Gardusky]

Zoron sat there behind armed guards and screamed at Tom Holman when he was really nowhere near him and was never even close to it. And that absolutely made him look to the resistance group within New York City. Left wing politics as the man who would go farther and further than anybody else would.

[Megyn Kelly]

Many Jewish voters raising concerns about Mamdami's candidacy, citing his inability to condemn hamas following the October 7 attack and his refusal to denounce the phrase globalize the intifada as evidence of antisemitism. New York City is home to the world's second largest population of Jewish people behind only Israel. Gardusky says Mamdami's views are not born of his beliefs as a Muslim, but of his beliefs as a cultural Marxist.

[Ryan Gardusky]

Zoran is part of the global infara, the far lapse is there and says, this is not about anti Semitism, this is anti Zionism. At this point, there's really no difference. I think it's important that conservative audiences do not believe he is a jihadist because he is not a jihadist. He is a cultural Marxist. He is a neoliberal. He's talking about, you know, queer pride and defending the police is, is part of, you know, queer liberation. That's not something that would be very positive in Gaza. So it's not that he's a. He's an orthodox Muslim, sun Muslim, and he's not that he is a jihadist necessarily, but he views anything as a resistance of Western civilization, of the State of Israel, of Christianity and Judaism as part of the same global effort to kind of fight against neocolonialism, Westernism, patriarchy and whiteness. That's kind of the worldview in which he comes out of.

[Megyn Kelly]

Mamdami will be running against Republican Curtis Sliwa, incumbent Democrat Eric Adams, who is running as an independent, and potentially Andrew Cuomo on a third party ballot in the general election. Some Republicans calling on Sliwa to drop out and endorse Mayor Adams. Gardusky says the odds of anyone beating Mamdami are not good.

[Ryan Gardusky]

He is absolutely the favorite to win, but as of right now, I've not seen a single poll where he polls over 35% of New Yorkers and he only got 9% of registered voters in the primary. It's possible to beat him. There's very much a possibility. But people need to sober up and let egos go. And I don't know, politics has never been known as a game where people can let their egos show. Step aside.

[Megyn Kelly]

Good luck, New York. You were fun while you lasted. And that'll do it. For your AM Update, I'm Megyn Kelly. Join me back here for the Megyn Kelly show, where my pal Maureen Callahan will swing by for the show live on Sirius XM Triumph channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com Megan Kelly and on all podcast platforms.

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