Summary of "The Megyn Kelly Show" Episode: Megyn Kelly's FULL Interview with Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson

Release Date: May 31, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Megyn Kelly Show on SiriusXM, host Megyn Kelly engages in a deep and provocative conversation with CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios's Alex Thompson regarding their newly released book, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. The book delves into President Joe Biden's cognitive decline during his tenure, the alleged efforts by Democratic officials and the media to obscure these issues, and the broader implications for American politics.

Overview of Original Sin

Marty Smith, co-author alongside Alex Thompson, explains the rationale behind the book's title Original Sin. According to Smith, the "original sin" refers to Biden's decision to seek reelection despite concerns about his cognitive health—a decision that, in their view, necessitated subsequent cover-ups and negative developments within his administration.

Marty Smith [08:38]: "It's called original sin because right after the election, we started talking to Democratic sources who were telling us how horrible things were, not just in front of the cameras and all those clips you showed, but how much worse it was actually behind the scenes."

Media's Role in the Cover-Up

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the media's complicity in downplaying or ignoring signs of Biden's cognitive decline. Tapper critiques legacy media outlets, including Marty's coverage, for failing to adequately investigate or report on these issues despite evident signs over several years.

Jake Tapper [16:25]: "You know as well as I do that there's a way of... you can say, hey, there's this poll on your age. Or you could say you just forgot that Jackie Walorski was dead. You asked where she was moments after watching a videotape tribute to her. You lowered the flags at the White House after she died. There is a way of pressing a man like that on the actual infirmities to bring it home to him and to the audience. And you didn't do it."

Smith acknowledges shortcomings in his past reporting, expressing humility and regret over not addressing Biden's age and cognitive issues more aggressively during interviews.

Marty Smith [17:58]: "I wish I could do differently... I wish I had covered the issues of age and acuity much more."

Evidence of Biden's Cognitive Decline

Tapper and Thompson present various instances illustrating Biden's apparent cognitive lapses, including public gaffes, forgetting names of key figures, and inconsistent memory during critical moments. They argue that these issues have been ongoing since 2015, intensifying after personal tragedies in Biden's life, such as the death of his son, Hunter Biden.

Jake Tapper [05:00]: "In his new book, Original Sin, co-authored with Axios's Alex Thompson, the pair document the behind the scenes panic among Democratic officials over Joe Biden's decline."

Smith and Thompson discuss testimonies from over 200 Democratic insiders who suggest that there were effectively "two Bidens"—one functioning and one not—highlighting a progressive deterioration in his cognitive abilities.

The "Polyburo" and Executive Decision-Making

The interview delves into the inner workings of Biden's administration, specifically the formation of a "polyburo" comprising key advisors who, according to the authors, exerted disproportionate influence over presidential decision-making. This group allegedly minimized Biden's direct involvement, thereby masking his declining cognitive health from both the public and higher-level officials.

Alex Thompson [45:16]: "The people that we're naming would be Mike Donnel and Steve Rachetti... they were known as a politburo, gray hairs, poobahs."

The authors identify key figures such as Mike Donilon, Steve Rachetti, Ron Klain, and Bruce Reed as central to this decision-making process, asserting that their control contributed to the concealment of Biden's declining health.

Reactions and Criticism

The episode highlights significant backlash faced by Tapper and Thompson, particularly from mainstream media and Democratic circles. Megyn Kelly questions the authors' credibility, pointing out what she perceives as biased reporting and a lack of follow-up on evident signs of Biden's health issues during interviews.

Megyn Kelly [12:11]: "But when you sat with him again, including one month after the Jackie Walorski thing, you didn't ask him about it."

Smith defends his past reporting while admitting deficiencies and expresses a desire for more transparent and thorough investigative journalism regarding presidential health.

Biden’s Late Announcement of Cancer Diagnosis

A critical moment in the discussion is Biden's recent announcement of a prostate cancer diagnosis, which some view as suspiciously timed amid the book's release. Tapper and Thompson suggest that the timing may not be coincidental, raising questions about transparency.

Alex Thompson [61:57]: "I can tell you that some people that worked for him felt very strange about the sudden timing of this."

The authors contend that this revelation underscores the need for ongoing scrutiny and transparency regarding presidential health.

Presidential Debate Performance

Smith recounts Biden's performance during a recent presidential debate, which included notable moments of cognitive lapse, such as losing his train of thought and making incoherent statements. These incidents are presented as evidence of his deteriorating cognitive state.

Marty Smith [53:57]: "I wrote, holy smokes. Now what I was thinking was, holy fuck. It was just shocking... the worst debate in the history of presidential debates going back to 1960."

The dramatic portrayal of Biden's debate performance serves to illustrate the severity of the cognitive decline discussed throughout the book.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the interview concludes, Smith and Thompson emphasize the importance of their work in uncovering and reporting these critical issues. They advocate for greater media accountability and transparency in reporting on the health of national leaders.

Marty Smith [70:30]: "I think what we've learned in the last couple of days about President Biden's health... the difficulty of hard reporting and investigative journalism when it comes to health issues."

Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson defend the integrity of their reporting while acknowledging the contentious nature of their findings. The conversation ends on a note underscoring the necessity for honest and thorough journalism in safeguarding democratic processes.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Marty Smith [08:38]: "It's called original sin because right after the election, we started talking to Democratic sources who were telling us how horrible things were..."

• Jake Tapper [16:25]: "You know as well as I do that there's a way of... you can say, hey, there's this poll on your age... And you didn't do it."

• Alex Thompson [45:16]: "The people that we're naming would be Mike Donnel and Steve Rachetti..."

• Marty Smith [53:57]: "The worst debate in the history of presidential debates going back to 1960."

• Marty Smith [70:30]: "We should be very skeptical and we should also demand more from our leaders when it comes to health records."

Final Remarks

This episode of The Megyn Kelly Show presents a thorough examination of the allegations surrounding President Biden's cognitive health and the supposed efforts to obscure these facts. Through detailed discussion and critical questioning, Megyn Kelly facilitates a conversation that challenges both media practices and political accountability, offering listeners a nuanced perspective on one of the most pressing issues in contemporary American politics.