The Megyn Kelly Show – Episode 1085 Summary

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 1085 of The Megyn Kelly Show, host Megyn Kelly engages in a spirited discussion with guests Stephen A. Smith and Link Lauren, focusing on the contentious issue of transgender athletes competing in women's sports. The conversation navigates through specific incidents, media backlash, and the broader implications for female athletes and societal norms.

Transgender Athletes in Women's Sports

Megyn Kelly initiates the episode by addressing the resurgence of debates surrounding male and female participation in sports, particularly highlighting recent events involving transgender athletes. She references the case of Algerian male boxer Iman Khalif, emphasizing the physical disparities and advocating for biological classifications in sports.

"We're talking about fairness and safety, all right?"
— Megyn Kelly [05:30]

Stephen A. Smith voices his frustration over the inclusion of athletes like Khalif in women's competitions, asserting that it undermines the integrity of female sports.

"It's a male who is competing in the boxing tournament for women."
— Stephen A. Smith [09:00]

Link Lauren concurs, questioning the motives behind policies that allow male-identifying individuals to compete in female categories, suggesting an agenda to erase women's dedicated spaces.

"They want to erase these women's spaces."
— Link Lauren [24:01]

Media Response and Backlash

The hosts delve into the media's reaction to their stance, recounting instances where mainstream outlets branded them as transphobic for presenting their viewpoints. Megyn Kelly recalls the immediate backlash from publications and media personalities.

"Publication after publication came after this show... calling us transphobes and bigots."
— Megyn Kelly [02:10]

Stephen A. Smith criticizes journalists like Jake Tapper and organizations such as Media Matters for misrepresenting their facts and intentions.

"They were wrong and how freely they throw around those terms just to shut you up when you are reporting facts."
— Stephen A. Smith [04:15]

Case Studies and Implications

Specific cases are examined to illustrate the perceived advantages male transgender athletes hold over their female counterparts. For instance, A.B. Hernandez's performances in track and field events are highlighted to demonstrate the competitive edge attributed to male physiology.

"A.B. Hernandez took second place in the long jump... the only female to finish ahead of Hernandez in any competition..."
— Stephen A. Smith [12:22]

Link Lauren emphasizes the detrimental impact on female athletes, including missed scholarships and compromised competitive integrity.

"Girls getting beat up, losing out on gold medals and scholarships."
— Link Lauren [13:50]

Policy and Political Views

The conversation shifts to the political arena, with a focus on President Trump's policies aimed at excluding males from female sports categories. Both Megyn Kelly and Stephen A. Smith commend these measures, citing them as steps towards ensuring fairness.

"They made me understand that fairness and safety are paramount."
— Megyn Kelly [06:45]

Stephen A. Smith introduces the term "FAFO" (F around and find out) to describe the Trump administration's tough stance on the issue.

"He just sort of starts each day again, almost like a video game character... the FAFO administration."
— Stephen A. Smith [69:22]

They also discuss Trump's rising approval ratings, attributing his popularity to his unwavering stance on issues like transgender athletes in sports.

"Trump's approval rating right now is up eight points, according to Trafalgar."
— Stephen A. Smith [45:08]

Critique of Broader LGBTQ+ Movements

Link Lauren and Stephen A. Smith critique the broader LGBTQ+ movements, arguing that the focus has shifted from equal rights to what they perceive as special treatment for transgender individuals. They express concerns over the implications of such shifts on societal norms and the rights of other groups.

"Now trans rights... These are not rights, okay?"
— Link Lauren [28:36]

Concluding Remarks

Megyn Kelly and her guests reiterate their position on maintaining distinct categories for male and female athletes to preserve fairness and safety in sports. They advocate for policies that prevent male physiological advantages from compromising female competitions.

"Females should not have to compete against males."
— Megyn Kelly [88:33]

Notable Quotes

• Megyn Kelly [05:30]: "We're talking about fairness and safety, all right?"
• Stephen A. Smith [09:00]: "It's a male who is competing in the boxing tournament for women."
• Link Lauren [24:01]: "They want to erase these women's spaces."
• Megyn Kelly [02:10]: "Publication after publication came after this show... calling us transphobes and bigots."
• Stephen A. Smith [04:15]: "They were wrong and how freely they throw around those terms just to shut you up when you are reporting facts."
• Link Lauren [28:36]: "Now trans rights... These are not rights, okay?"

Conclusion

Episode 1085 of The Megyn Kelly Show presents a fervent debate on the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, emphasizing concerns over fairness, safety, and the integrity of female competitions. Megyn Kelly, Stephen A. Smith, and Link Lauren advocate for policies that uphold biological distinctions in sports categories, reflecting their broader apprehensions about societal shifts and media portrayals surrounding transgender issues.