The Megyn Kelly Show – Ep. 1162

Title: Left Losing Meme War, Chelsea Clinton’s Pod, and How AI Helps Scammers
Guests: Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon, and Andrew Walworth (RealClearPolitics)
Special Guest (Segment 2): Eric O’Neill (ex-FBI agent and author)
Date: October 2, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Megyn Kelly welcomes the hosts of the RealClearPolitics podcast—Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon, and Andrew Walworth—to break down the political fallout from the ongoing partial government shutdown, the media meme wars, and the Democrats’ messaging struggles. The crew also reacts to Kamala Harris’ new book and Chelsea Clinton’s fact-checking podcast. In the second half, Kelly interviews Eric O’Neill, the ex-FBI spy-catcher, about his new book on cybercrime, deepfakes, and AI-driven scams targeting everyday Americans.

Key Segments & Timestamps

• [00:00–04:41]: Shutdown drama and Democratic messaging failures
• [04:41–18:57]: The meme war, the Democrats’ media missteps, and the “sombrero” controversy
• [18:57–34:12]: Political implications, predictions on the shutdown’s resolution, and Democratic leadership woes
• [45:36–52:42]: Trump’s focus on crime as a 2025 election issue
• [55:35–64:06]: Kamala Harris’ book success (or lack thereof) and speculation on her political future
• [64:06–74:55]: Chelsea Clinton’s new podcast and broader media critiques
• [76:18–88:09]: Michelle Obama’s podcast and “oversharing” marital gripes
• [94:05–133:32]: Eric O’Neill on AI scams, cybercrime stories, and Robert Hanssen’s case

Detailed Summary

1. Government Shutdown: Democrats’ Messaging Problems & the Meme War

[00:00–18:57]

Main Discussion Points:

• Shutdown Blame Game:
  – Democrats tried a YouTube telethon/marathon to blame the Republicans for the government shutdown, featuring House members and influencers.
  – Even liberal outlets like Politico noted the Dem livestream’s low viewership and lackluster energy.
  – Carl Cannon: “The Democrat strategy is a little mystifying… they tried to score cheap points on blaming the Republicans… it interfered with their larger message.” [04:41]

• Confusion on Health Care for Illegals:
  – Debate over who exactly is being covered under new Medicare provisions: legal residents vs. undocumented immigrants.
  – Andrew Walworth explains: “What the GOP is trying to do is exclude some now-lawful immigrants… Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans with Biden-given protected status.” [08:24]
  – Kelly and guests highlight hypocrisy in Democratic messaging—Democrats advocated health care for illegals before but now claim otherwise.
  – Notable Quote: “Raise your hand if your government plan would provide coverage for undocumented immigrants. Everyone’s hand is up.” (Megyn, recalling 2019 debate) [11:15]

• Meme Warfare & the “Sombrero” Gag:
  – Republicans, especially “MAGA” accounts, have deployed memes (e.g. putting sombreros and mustaches on Democrats) mocking Dems’ positions and their indignation.
  – Tom Bevan: “Democrats don’t know how to meme… Republicans… have mastered the art.” [05:50]
  – Democrat and media reaction is to call the memes/AI videos “racist,” but this falls flat with much of the public.
  – Notable Quote: “It’s better to be in on the joke… The Democrat media… are much happier leveling accusations of racism than discussing the truth.” (Kelly, [16:02])

• Media Overreaction:
  – Clips of cable news hosts refusing to play the “offensive” videos, instead describing them as “depraved” or “bigoted.”
  – Tom Bevan: “If it really was racist, they would show it… Their audience might actually laugh at it privately.” [16:21]
  – Carl Cannon: “If you say it’s depraved and filthy, then your watchers on MSNBC think ‘I gotta see this.’” [16:44]

• C Span Call-In Moment:
  – A caller jokes about buying a sombrero for Hakeem Jeffries, highlighting how the meme has bled into mainstream awareness.
  – Andrew Walworth: “It makes me a little nostalgic for when we all bemoaned Twitter ruining discourse… now memes are the heart of political discourse.” [19:25]
  – Panel agrees: the left is losing the meme war, unable to compete with Trumpian social-media energy.

2. Shutdown Endgame, Political Dynamics, & Democrat Leadership

[18:57–45:36]

Main Discussion Points:

• Shutdown’s Real-World Impact:
  – Despite hype, most services remain open; public not noticing shutdown effects.
  – “A subtle message… is maybe we shouldn’t take these shutdowns so seriously in the future.” (Walworth, [29:24])

• Resolution Predictions:
  – Panelists predict moderate Dems will cave under pressure, possibly just enough to pass a funding bill, but Chuck Schumer will likely remain a “holdout” for political reasons.
  – Key issue: Democrats worried about losing base support or being “Schumer shutdown’d” by rivals like AOC.

• Democratic Party Infighting:
  – Schumer’s hesitancy to cave stems from previous backlash and fear of a primary challenge, especially after polls show AOC outperforming him among Dem voters.
  – Pelosi’s careful “damning with faint praise” response when asked about AOC’s leadership role.
  – AOC on MSNBC: “If that’s the case, my office is open, and you are free to walk in and negotiate with me directly,” bluntly staking her territory. [38:03]

• Emergence of AOC:
  – Tom Bevan predicts AOC won’t primary Schumer for Senate—she’ll run for president instead.
  – Andrew Walworth: “She’s shown that she is where the future of the Democratic Party is.”

3. Crime as Trump’s Top Issue & Republican Messaging

[45:36–52:42]

• Memphis crisis: Trump administration sends federal troops to target crime (at the governor’s request), leveraging the issue as the best polling topic for Trump.
• Dramatic Stephen Miller clip: “We will liberate this city from the criminal element that has plagued it for generations… all that bullshit is done. It’s over, it’s finished.” [45:54–46:30]
• Panel agrees “crime is an important issue… the Democrats are losing on this issue because they’re pretending things are fine.” (Carl Cannon)
• Kelly notes: Safety and order in cities could lead to investment—as happened in NYC under Giuliani—and that’s the message Republicans are pushing.

4. Kamala Harris’ Book Tour and the “Artificial” Hype

[55:35–64:06]

• Kamala Harris is “in a great mood” as book sales soar (350,000 copies), but panelists question the legitimacy: “I find it hard to believe she is selling out all these places.” (Bevan, [58:47])
• Suspicions of astroturfing and bulk sales to inflate popularity, but Andrew Walworth concedes the book could be a hit because people want to hear her “go after” fellow Democrats.
• Panel discusses who is likely to run for president in 2028, with AOC and Gavin Newsom as emerging players.

5. Chelsea Clinton’s Podcast – Who’s Listening?

[64:06–74:55]

• Clinton Foundation launches “That Can’t Be True,” a podcast billed as taking on “context-confusing headlines” in public health.
• Panel lambastes concept as tone-deaf, with Chelsea presented as an ultimate “nepo baby” lacking medical authority.
• Notable Quote: “She’s basically Hunter Biden in a dress and without the drug addiction.” (Kelly, [68:50])
• Reality check: Produced/funded by Clinton Foundation, and likely just another vanity project for Chelsea.
• Panel jokes about the “Dr.” title claims and recounts newsroom policies on proper “doctor” usage.

6. Michelle Obama’s Podcast and “Oversharing”

[76:18–88:09]

• Kelly and company critique recent podcast clips in which Michelle Obama repeatedly complains about Barack and her kids.
• Kelly: “She can't do it. She cannot do it. She's desperately trying to be Oprah and she can't be Oprah.” [53:15]
• Panel sees this as emblematic of a wider left-leaning cultural message that’s anti-family, anti-marriage, and negative towards children.
• Tom Bevan: “She seems like she has imposter syndrome… She does make it sound like she's miserable and it’s a struggle.” [82:32]
• Carl Cannon: “We live in an age of oversharing… Are we going to start hearing about farts next?” [83:51]

7. Interview: Eric O’Neill on AI Scams, Cybercrime, and Cautionary Tales

[94:05–133:32]

Cybercrime Is Booming

• O’Neill: “Cybercrime right now is the biggest growing business on Earth…” [96:36]
• Modern hackers use “social engineering” (phishing, calls, and texts relying on human psychology) more than software exploits.

Deepfakes & AI-Driven Scams

• AI can convincingly clone voices and faces, enabling new fraud tactics (e.g., using loved ones’ voices to demand money in emergencies).
• Kelly recalls how her own family was briefly duped by a scammer impersonating her sister-in-law.
• O’Neill demonstrates how quickly he can create a deepfake promo using Kelly’s image and a synthesized voice. [101:58]

The Dark Web

• O’Neill describes the “dark web” as a massive illicit marketplace: “A little under 5% of the internet is the dark web… it’s the most extreme black market on earth.” [108:57]
• Shocking detail: “You can buy a heart and a shady doctor to transplant it for you… hands, feet… they will literally sell you anything you want.” [109:51]
• FBI and global law enforcement can occasionally disrupt dark web operations (e.g., Silk Road), but platforms quickly reconstitute.

Notorious Spycatching: Robert Hanssen Case

• O’Neill recounts being recruited at age 22 as an undercover “ghost” to surveil and ultimately help trap Hanssen, the worst mole in FBI history.
• Hanssen spied for Russia for over 20 years due to a mix of resentment, need for money, and the thrill of belonging to something bigger.
• O’Neill’s big break: Stealing and duplicating Hanssen’s encrypted Palm Pilot, which held the smoking-gun evidence.
• Emotional toll: Trapped between cover story, law school, and new marriage. He finishes: “I was 100% sure he was going to walk out and shoot me… but just sometimes God looks out for us, and I did [get it back].” [124:09]

How to Protect Yourself

• Take a breath—attackers exploit urgency.
• Always double-check stories and call back loved ones separately if you get emergency requests.
• Establish “sign of life” codes (e.g., a silly poem known only to family) to outsmart impersonators.
• Watch out for out-of-place texts or friendly overtures from unknown numbers; avoid responding.
• Don’t be embarrassed to fall for scams—O’Neill (a pro) nearly was.

Notable Quotes

• “If it can happen to me, and I’m trained, it can happen to you.” (O’Neill, [128:27])
• “You have to have like an interesting personality. You actually do. If you fake it, they’ll know.” (Kelly, on podcasting, [74:55])

Most Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Meme War Realities:
  – “Republicans… have mastered the art.” (Bevan, [05:50]) – “It’s better to be in on the joke.” (Kelly, [16:02])

• On Democrats' Messaging Confusion:
  – “Raise your hand if your government plan would provide coverage for undocumented immigrants. Everyone’s hand is up.” (Kelly, referencing Dem debate, [11:15]) – “They've gone in six years from bragging about this policy to saying if you say they believe in it, you're a liar.” (Cannon, [11:32])

• On Chelsea Clinton’s Podcast:
  – “She’s basically Hunter Biden in a dress and without the drug addiction.” (Kelly, [68:50])

• On Michelle Obama’s Podcast:
  – “She seems to be oversharing here in exquisite detail about her marriage… If you can’t say something nice, you better not say anything at all.” (Bevan, [81:37])

• On AI and Cybercrime:
  – “Cybercrime right now is the biggest growing business on Earth… attackers aren’t using computers to attack computers. They’re using spycraft to attack us.” (O’Neill, [96:36])

Conclusion

This episode delivers a lively, no-holds-barred roundtable on the ways Democrats are faltering in modern political communication—especially online meme wars—while Republicans thrive on irreverence and social-media savvy. The RealClearPolitics crew critically examines leadership crises, emerging Democratic stars, and the art of political messaging. Segments on Kamala Harris and Chelsea Clinton provide a lens into the influence-obsessed media landscape and the pitfalls of misspending cultural capital. Finally, Eric O’Neill’s fascinating and cautionary segment is a must-listen for anyone concerned about digital security in the age of AI. The tone remains sharp, candid, and skeptical—a trademark of The Megyn Kelly Show.

For further details, reference:

• Meme wars and shutdown: [05:50–18:57]
• AOC, Schumer, shutdown endgame: [28:50–34:12]
• Cybercrime and deepfakes: [94:05–133:32]
• Kamala, Chelsea, Michelle Obama segments: [55:35–88:09]

(All times in MM:SS format)