Podcast Summary: The Megyn Kelly Show

Episode: Media Ignores Shooter Reality, Megyn Reveals Blake Lively Subpoena, and Adelson on Trial
Date: August 28, 2025
Featuring: Megyn Kelly (host), Matt Walsh (Daily Wire), Mark Iglarsch, Mark Geragos, Phil Holloway

Overview

This episode tackles three hot-button topics:

1. The media and political response to a recent mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school, committed by a transgender-identifying individual.
2. Megyn Kelly’s own legal and media clash with actress Blake Lively, including revelations of Lively's attempts to subpoena Kelly and other content creators.
3. Updates and legal analysis of the ongoing Adelson family murder trial in Florida.

Throughout, the tone is unflinchingly critical of mainstream narratives, unapologetically blunt, and sometimes combative—with a heavy emphasis on calling out what the hosts and guests see as hypocrisy, media censorship, and weaponization of victimhood in legal/cultural battles.

Segment 1: Media and Political Response to the Minneapolis Catholic School Shooting

[00:47 – 38:36]

Key Discussion Points

• Incident Recap:

  • A 23-year-old transgender-identifying suspect committed a mass shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, killing two children (ages 8 & 10) and injuring others.
  • Authorities, including the FBI, are classifying the event as both a hate crime and domestic terrorism targeting Catholics.

• Media & Political Framing:

  • Megyn Kelly criticizes media—especially outlets like The New York Times, CNN, and USA Today—for obscuring or ignoring the shooter’s gender identity, focusing exclusively on gun control, or shifting focus onto potential backlash toward the trans community rather than victims.
  • Quotes from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other officials are highlighted as examples of this:
    • Mayor Frey: “Anybody that is going to use this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community… has lost touch with a common humanity.” [02:50]
    • Kelly: “It’s not about hating the trans community. It’s about being honest about what was wrong with this obviously extremely mentally ill man who picked up his guns…” [03:26]

• Mental Health, Gender Identity, and Treatment

  • Matt Walsh links mass shootings involving trans-identifying individuals to what he and Kelly term the psychiatric community's “affirmation-only” approach:
    • “If somebody identifies as trans, that means that they are delusional. This is a delusional person who is confused about a basic fact of reality...” [09:07]
    • Kelly and Walsh argue that instead of exploring underlying trauma, sexual abuse, or psychological issues, the current medical standard “abandons” patients to “coping mechanisms” that may escalate.

• Critique of Affirmation-Only Standards for Minors:

  • Citing psychiatrist Miriam Grossman, the discussion highlights that challenging a young person’s expressed gender identity is considered “conversion therapy,” and therefore forbidden in much of the profession.
  • Kelly: “The only standard... is to affirm. You're not allowed to explore possible psychotic breaks ...” [11:07]

• Political/Media Catchphrases & Outrage:

  • The hosts mock slogans and repetitive virtue signaling, including viral chants by politicians (“We love trans people!”) and T-shirts featuring knives and “Protect Trans Kids” slogans.
  • Walsh: “It's just their favorite tactic—we’re going to filibuster by screaming because they can't make an argument in favor of chemically castrating kids…” [18:24]

• Manifestos, Motives, and Media Self-Censorship:

  • Detailed reading of the shooter's manifesto reveals explicit hatred, obsession with violence, regret about "being trans," and self-awareness about their own dysfunction.
  • Kelly slams media personalities who perform verbal contortions to avoid gendered pronouns or mention trans status (e.g., NPR host Alisa Chang, Joe Scarborough, Andy McCabe, and Catherine Schweit).
    • Walsh: “You're worrying about respecting the so-called gender identity of a guy who just killed children… That guy’s burning in hell right now.” [23:37]

• Policy Proposals and Security Measures:

  • Kelly and Walsh advocate for robust mental health interventions, halting gender-affirming medical care, greater school and church security, and institutionalization of dangerous individuals.
  • Walsh: “We should stop transing the kids. We should shut down the gender affirmation industry entirely…” [31:53]

Notable Quotes

• Megyn Kelly: “What this is really about is how mean we are to trans people. … They’re completely whitewashing [the shooter’s gender identity] like it’s a non-factor, Matt.” [08:22]
• Matt Walsh: “If someone comes to you and is a male and says, ‘I feel like I'm a female,’ you should not be allowed to take advantage… by giving them castration drugs… no matter what their age is.” [20:14]
• Kelly (re: media “even-handedness”): “You don't get the first thing about being a woman just because you put on lipstick and a dress. … I'm not a costume.” [21:19]

Segment 2: Kelly on the Blake Lively Subpoena and Media Harassment

[52:43 – 76:39]

Key Discussion Points

• Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni Lawsuit:

  • Lively is suing co-star/producer Baldoni for harassment and blaming him for negative press around the movie "It Ends With Us."
  • News surfaces of Lively subpoenaing over a dozen journalists/content creators who’ve been critical of her — including Megyn Kelly and her show.

• Kelly’s response to the subpoena:

  • Reveals her team fought it and won, forcing Lively to back down.
  • Kelly: “She actually tried to get the confidential and proprietary materials my team and I used for any and all stories about her… It's called the First Amendment, freedom of the press.” [52:43]
  • Frames Lively’s action as “bulllying,” “narcissistic,” and an attempt to intimidate less-resourced creators.
  • Suggests Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds are trying to silence dissenting voices with lawfare.

• Patterns of Alleged Bullying & Bad Behavior:

  • Kelly delves into past allegations of Lively mistreating set staff and fans.
  • Includes testimony from a Gossip Girl intern and a film assistant director about her being ‘passive aggressive,’ ‘rude,’ and making co-workers cry.

• Media Law, PR, and First Amendment:

  • Legal guests (Mark Geragos, Phil Holloway, Mark Iglarsch) discuss the lack of legal or ethical basis for Lively’s subpoenas.
  • Concern is raised for less-established creators lacking resources to resist legal overreach.

Notable Quotes

• Kelly (on Lively): “You are a sad, pathetic, untalented, narcissistic bully. And I will never back down to the likes of Blake Lively. Never.” [56:35]
• Kelly: “She believes that anyone who does not worship her must be on the payroll of her enemies. Well, I’m not, Blake.” [63:39]
• Holloway: “…the only people that benefit are the lawyers. …She’s extending this out and she's going after public figures … just confirms my suspicions.” [68:28]
• Iglarsch (re: legal ethics): “If there’s no good faith basis to believe that someone's been paid, then yeah, you can't.” [75:44]

Segment 3: Legal Analysis — Adelson Family Murder Trial

[93:51 – 118:13]

Key Discussion Points

• Case Background:

  • Dan Markel was murdered after a contentious divorce/custody battle with ex-wife Wendy Adelson.
  • Two hitmen (Luis Rivera and Sigfredo Garcia) and the go-between (Katherine Magbanua) have been convicted.
  • Focus has shifted to the matriarch, Donna Adelson (on trial), and possibly eventually to Wendy Adelson.

• Trial Theatre and Strategy:

  • Donna Adelson shown sobbing in court—called out as insincere by host/guests.
  • Judge warns her about emotional displays in front of the jury.
  • Testimony from Donna’s estranged son (Robert) paints her as cold, uninterested in who killed her ex-son-in-law:
    • “I don't know and I don't care. It doesn't concern me.” (Donna, via Robert Adelson) [101:27]
  • Defense strategy includes pointing the finger at daughter Wendy as the mastermind, leveraging inconsistent testimony from one of the hitmen.

• Trial Progress/Predictions:

  • The panel debates whether the state has proven their conspiracy case or whether there’s enough reasonable doubt.
  • Holloway notes the prosecution’s strongest evidence may be yet to come: video of Donna attempting to flee to Vietnam and incriminating wiretaps.
  • Discussion of jury psychology, the challenge of proving conspiracy, and the impact of defense tactics.

Notable Quotes

• Iglarsch: “Listen, trials are not necessarily about the truth. Trials are about theatre. … No one's buying [Donna's crying].” [99:12]
• Geragos: “…if you have a couple people who are not going to buy what the prosecution's selling because they've been through a bad divorce … I don't know how you lose that case if you're the defense.” [116:15]
• Holloway: “…the video is going to get her. … It's going to be her own words, her own conduct when it comes to flight in the face of accusation.” [116:53]

Other Memorable Moments

• Repeated references throughout the episode to hypocrisy in media and politics, with both Kelly and Walsh calling out what they see as a refusal to even mention transgender perpetrators in mass shooting narratives.
• Extended metaphor and humor about “hard boiled” and “soft boiled” personalities regarding legal analysis.
• Kelly’s frank, personal tone and willingness to name names, even among lesser-known figures, marks the episode’s “no agenda, no BS” character.

Key Quotes & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 03:26 | Megyn Kelly | “It’s not about hating the trans community. It’s about being honest about what was wrong with this … man … and PS it’s the same thing that’s been wrong with shooters in a multitude of mass shootings now, which your side mayor refuses to acknowledge.” | | 09:07 | Matt Walsh | “…if somebody identifies as trans, that means that they are delusional. This is a delusional person who is confused about a basic fact of reality…” | | 23:37 | Matt Walsh | “…worrying about respecting the so-called gender identity of a guy who just killed children… That guy’s burning in hell right now.” | | 52:43 | Megyn Kelly | “She actually tried to get the confidential and proprietary materials my team and I used for any and all stories about her … It’s called the First Amendment.” | | 99:12 | Mark Iglarsch | “Trials are not necessarily about the truth. Trials are about theater. … No one's buying [Donna’s crying].” | | 116:53 | Phil Holloway | “…the video is going to get her. … It's going to be her own words, her own conduct when it comes to flight in the face of accusation.” |

Segment Timestamps

• Minneapolis Shooting & Media Response: 00:47 – 38:36
• Blake Lively Subpoena Saga: 52:43 – 76:39
• Adelson Family Murder Trial: 93:51 – 118:13

Summary and Takeaways

This episode encapsulates Megyn Kelly's combative and unapologetic approach to controversial news and legal analysis:

• Longstanding claims that media, political, and psychiatric institutions are distorting public discourse on gender identity and violence.
• A strong, personal stance against Hollywood and media legal intimidation.
• Detailed, accessible breakdowns of high-profile criminal trials, making complex legal dynamics digestible and dramatic.

Listeners are left with a blend of investigative journalism, editorial commentary, and heated legal debate—true to the show’s “no BS, no agenda, no fear” mantra.