The Megyn Kelly Show | Ep. 1167 Katie Porter's Interview Meltdown, AOC's "Body-Shaming," and the Truth About Biden Corruption, with Link Lauren and Ken Vogel Date: October 8, 2025

Overview of the Episode

This episode centers on three main themes: the viral Katie Porter interview meltdown amid her California gubernatorial campaign, controversies surrounding AOC’s comments and “body-shaming,” and a deep-dive into Biden family corruption—especially Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings—featuring an in-depth interview with journalist Ken Vogel. Host Megyn Kelly is joined by political commentator Link Lauren and New York Times reporter Ken Vogel for candid and often biting discussion on political hypocrisy and media double standards. The tone is irreverent, direct, and unfiltered, with biting humor and cultural criticism.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Katie Porter’s Interview Meltdown (begins ~05:45)

• Context: Porter, leading candidate for CA governor, botches a softball local TV interview when asked how she would appeal to Trump voters.
• Discussion: Porter’s inability to directly address the question or remain composed is dissected at length. The panel plays the entire interview clip, highlighting Porter's frustration at follow-ups and ultimate decision to cut the interview short (09:01–11:14).
• Analysis: Megyn and Link argue this episode confirms Porter's reputation for a short temper and lack of readiness for high office.

Notable Segment Breakdown & Quotes

• The Set-Up (07:15–09:00): Comparison clips show how other candidates easily answer the same question.

  • Megyn (07:51): “It’s not hard. Literally you can pivot to something you do. Just say something resembling anything. So good.”

• The Meltdown unfolds (09:01–11:14):

  • Julie Watts (reporter, 09:04): “What do you say to the 40% of California voters who you’ll need in order to win, who voted for Trump?”
  • Katie Porter: (09:27) “No, no, I'm saying I'm going to build the support. I have the support...I have stood on my own two feet and won Republican votes before.”
  • Katie Porter: (10:39) “I don't want to keep doing this. I'm going to call it.”
  • Julie Watts: (11:04) “I will continue to ask follow up questions because that’s my job as a journalist.”

• Reaction & Analysis

  • Megyn (12:00): “Katie Porter's not ready for primetime. That’s obvious. You could tell from the dress she was wearing, the lighting...and her absolute meltdown.”
  • Link (13:07): Equates the atmosphere to an interrogation scene on Homeland; mocks Porter's appearance harshly.
  • Megyn/Link riff (15:14): Discuss the unprofessional setting and how Porter failed to own her walk-off.

2. Porter’s Reputation and Identity Claims

• Toxic workplace allegations:
  • Katie Porter (20:39): Frames criticism as sexism and racial bias: “Female professors, particularly women of color, get much worse teaching evaluations...It’s really unfortunate because those are the very voices we need more of in our government.”
  • Megyn & Link: Mock Porter's attempt to position herself as a victim, not a bully.
• Refusal to condemn anti-American protests (22:56):
  • Porter avoids answering when asked about “Death to America” chants, another walk-off moment.

3. Democrats on Women’s and Trans Rights, and Media Hypocrisy

• Porter on Bill Maher Panel (24:31):
  • Refuses to take a clear stance on trans women in women’s sports; Piers Morgan calls her out.
  • Megyn/Link reaction: Critique Dem women for equating women's rights only to abortion access, ignoring concerns like fairness in women’s sports.
• Porter’s Mothering & Abortion Anecdote (26:36):
  • Shares that her 12-year-old daughter was afraid of rape and needing an abortion if Trump wins.
  • Megyn: “It’s really a reminder of how sick you are as her mother to be filling a 12-year old’s head [with such worries]...”

4. AOC’s “Body-Shaming” & Left-Wing Hypocrisy (begins ~28:37)

• Context: AOC mocks Stephen Miller’s height on social media, calls him “like 4'10".”
• AOC (29:14): “Never seen that guy in real life. But he looks like he’s 4'10 and he looks angry about that...”
• Megyn, Link (30:15–31:04):
  • Point out AOC’s hypocrisy, using her own looks to advance her career while mocking others.
• AOC Backtracks (32:43): Claims to love the “Short King community,” tries to re-explain.
• Panel’s Take:
  • Ridicule AOC’s double standard and lack of substantive accomplishments.
  • Megyn (34:38): “The internet is commenting on how she's gained a bunch of weight… calling her abuelita. So okay, let’s do that. Okay. What she wants done.”

5. The View’s Racial Comedy and Law Enforcement Takes (begins ~35:29)

• Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar: Joke on darkening skin and using accents to confuse ICE; reminded of their past acceptance of blackface.
  • Megyn (37:11): “At least Whoopi is consistent...The left is hypocritical.”
  • Link (38:36): “None of these women are in Mensa either.”
• Discussion: Panel points out leftist hypocrisy on racial issues and the dangerous effects of vilifying law enforcement.

6. Greta Thunberg’s Activism Shift (begins ~43:51)

• Context: Greta joins a pro-Palestinian flotilla; background given on her rise, family, and penchant for seeking notoriety.
• Greta Soundbites Played (45:17–46:08): Iconic “How dare you” montage.
• Trump Reacts (46:20): “She’s just a troublemaker. She has an anger management problem.”
• Panel: Lampoons Greta’s activism as self-serving and unserious.

7. Meghan Markle Critique (starts ~48:14)

• Context: Markle posts video from spot where Diana died, seen as self-promotional and insensitive.
• Link: Calls her “sociopathic. She’s a malignant narcissist.” Says everything Markle does is calculated for attention, not ignorance.
• Megyn: Calls Markle a “disaster tourist” who exploits tragedy for PR, not someone truly interested in being a devoted mother as claimed.

Hunter Biden, Burisma, and Biden Family Corruption

Interview with Ken Vogel (New York Times)
Starts at 54:36

Summary

• Vogel’s new book Devil’s Advocates investigates how Hunter Biden and others leverage political connections for foreign business dealings—especially Burisma and Ukrainian corruption, but also other cases in Romania and China.
• He discusses how U.S. elites, both left and right, routinely profit by providing reputation-laundering and influence-peddling for foreign oligarchs.

Key Points

The Grift Model Explained (57:35):

• Foreign interests routinely look to bribe or curry favor with U.S. officials, often via family members or associates.
• “There are plenty of well connected Americans who are willing to take those paydays, including Hunter Biden, including Rudy Giuliani, but also many others...” (Ken Vogel, 58:40)

Hunter’s Unqualified Burisma Role (63:40):

• “He didn’t [have the industry experience]. There was absolutely no basis for him to be there other than to curry favor with his father...”

Influence Operations (Book Details):

• Hunter Biden’s actual work for Burisma wasn’t business or gas expertise, but to arrange American “fixers” to clean up Burisma’s image and legal status—consulting and legal firms including Blue Star Strategies and top US law firms.
• PR and legal efforts from ex-Clinton and Obama staffers and former Justice officials work to shield Burisma from US and UK investigations.

Biden Team Obstruction (60:38):

• 2016: Biden VP office blocks the CIA from sharing a report with policymakers about Hunter and Burisma.
• Vogel: “...the Ukrainians think Hunter Biden is a joke and are rolling their eyes at these professions by Joe Biden... while his own son was on the take.”

The Prosecutor Scandal (68:17–73:03):

• Recap of famous story: Biden brags about pressuring Ukraine to fire their top prosecutor.
• The fired prosecutor was investigating Burisma, who was paying Hunter Biden $1 million/year.
• Panel details the uncomfortable appearance of a double standard and argues that, regardless of who benefited, the optics and the backchannel efforts to conceal Hunter’s role undermine anti-corruption claims.

Media Suppression and Democrat Aggression (84:54):

• Vogel recounts extreme backlash from the Biden campaign, including public and private attacks to chill reporting.
• Ken Vogel: “They recognized this was a real issue and one they wanted to get ahead of...The way the Biden campaign was able to marshal all these former intelligence officials to essentially shout it down and encourage successfully the social media companies to suppress the spread of the link to the New York Post story...”

Bipartisan Nature of Corruption (99:41):

• This influence operation system is bipartisan; GOP and Dem lobbyists and fixers regularly join forces abroad to profit from foreign oligarchs.
• Noted example: Paul Manafort for pro-Russia Ukraine, with Dem Tony Podesta, and others all teaming up.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Ken Vogel (58:40): “There are plenty of well connected Americans who are willing to take those paydays, including Hunter Biden, including Rudy Giuliani...”
• Megyn Kelly (63:40): “There was absolutely no basis for him to be there other than to curry favor with his father.”
• Ken Vogel (68:17): “That arrangement started in early 2014 and was made official in about April or May when Hunter Biden was added to the board...”
• Megyn Kelly (70:52): “This whole business of cleaning up Zlochevsky’s reputation...would have tentacles throughout America like Hunter, the VP's office, law firms, PR firms...”
• Ken Vogel (84:54): “The way that the Biden campaign was able to marshal all these former intelligence officials to essentially shout [the Hunter Biden laptop story] down...”

Memorable and Notable Moments

• Katie Porter Interview Footage & Mockery:

  • “I just want a positive conversation. I’m here for a pleasant experience.” [Porter’s actual quote, 10:52] becomes a punchline throughout.

• AOC’s “Short King” Walk-back:

  • “I want to express my love for the Short King community...” (32:43)
  • “Some of my best friends are short.” (33:27, Megyn, sarcasm)

• Whoopi & Joy’s Advice for Avoiding ICE:

  • “Everybody get a little cocoa butter. Sit in the sun...give yourself a Latin accent.” (36:45, Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg, mocked by panel)

• Greta Thunberg Parody:

  • “She’s just a troublemaker. She has an anger management problem.” (46:20, Trump)
  • “I don’t take Greta Thunberg seriously at all…” (46:44, Link)

• Meghan Markle as “Disaster Tourist”:

  • “She’s sociopathic. She’s a narcissist...for her to act like she didn’t know where Princess Diana died...is just malarkey, buffoonery, tomfoolery.” (49:04, Link)

Structured Timestamps for Major Segments

• Porter Interview Segment: 08:54–11:14
• Panel Reaction: 12:00–19:52
• Porter “Bullying” Clip: 20:39–21:24
• Israel/Protest Walk-Off: 22:56–23:19
• Trans Sports/Bill Maher Clip: 24:31–25:20
• Porter’s Daughter/Abortion: 26:36–27:43
• AOC “Body-Shaming”: 29:14–30:47, follow-up 32:43–33:36
• Whoopi/Behar ICE Segment: 36:15–38:43
• Trump on Greta: 46:20–46:42
• Ken Vogel Interview Begins: 54:36
  • Burisma/Ukraine Details: 57:35–81:28
  • On Media Suppression: 84:54–89:06
  • Bipartisan Influence Biz: 99:41–102:30

Style and Tone

• Highly irreverent, employing direct criticism, biting sarcasm, and cultural references.
• Host and guests mock political figures with little restraint; explicit language surfaces (“motherfuckers,” “fuck off,” “malarkey, buffoonery, tomfoolery”).
• Mockery is often attached to a broader cultural critique about media bias, Democrat hypocrisy, and the decay of public debate standards.

Conclusion

This episode provides a lively, scathing dissection of progressive politicians' media implosions, controversies over political correctness, and the ongoing scandal of foreign influence-seeking in Washington. Through high-profile clips, thorough analysis, and interviews with key journalists like Ken Vogel, Megyn Kelly and her guests lay bare the hypocrisy and cynicism of current American politics and media—with plenty of humor for their audience.

For listeners seeking coverage on the Katie Porter meltdown, AOC's rhetoric, leftist media hypocrisy, or granular details on Biden family influence-peddling, this episode is both informative and brutally candid.