
More than three days after the attack, the suspect in the Brown University mass shooting remains at large as investigators release limited new video and urge the public for help - Retired FBI Agent James Fitzgerald weighs in on this next phase. Los Angeles prosecutors formally charge Nick Reiner with two counts of first-degree murder, accusing him of fatally stabbing his parents, legendary director Rob Reiner and wife Michele. Australian officials now say the deadly Bondi Beach shooting that targeted a Hanukkah celebration was inspired by ISIS, with investigators uncovering explosives, flags, and possible overseas training. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth brief lawmakers behind closed doors on U.S. strikes targeting drug-smuggling vessels, as Democrats demand greater transparency. Herald Group: Learn more at https://GuardYourCard.com All Family Pharmacy: Order now at https://allfamilypharmacy.com/MEGYN and save 10% with code MEGYN10
Loading summary
A
Looking for a last minute gift for your people. You know, your people, that weird bunch of friends and family that you love dearly. Well, here's an easy idea. Oregon Lottery Holiday Scratchets. Because your people, they're the ones that, amidst all the holiday crowds and endless notifications, help you find the fun. Which calls for a little gift that brings big cheer. Oregon Lottery Holiday Scratchets. You know where to find them. Grab some today. Must be 18 or older to play lottery games are based on chance and should be played for entertainment only.
B
Good morning everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Wednesday, December 17, 2025 and this is your AM update.
C
We all know the first 24 to 48 hours are the most important in a homicide investigation.
B
More than 72 hours after the attack, the Brown University Mass shooter remains on the loose.
D
These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
B
Prosecutors filing charges against 32 year old Nick Reiner, accusing him of slaying his parents, famed movie director Rob Reiner and wife Michelle with a knife. Australian authorities officially saying the Bondi beach shooting is connected to isis. Secretary of State Marco Rubio plus Secretary of War Pete Hegseth brief lawmakers on the drug boat strike campaign.
C
I get to marry the love of.
B
My life and I feel just like the luckiest girl in the world. And a Trump is getting married. We'll tell you who all that and more in just a moment on your AM Update. As President Trump is settling into his new administration, one of the top Democrats in Congress aiming to undermine the Trump agenda is Senator Dick Durbin. And according to our sponsor, the Electronic Payments Coalition, Senator Durbin has a new scheme, a government takeover of your credit card. Today, Americans have thousands of choices in credit cards, but they say Senator Durbin's plan will result in less competition and less security and that means more risk for your credit and identity. Learn more@guardyourcard.com and consider telling your senators to stop Dick Durbin's government takeover of your credit card before it's too late. The Brown University shooter still on the loose. Providence, Rhode Island, Authorities yesterday giving an update but providing little new information. Police releasing enhanced video of what they're still calling a person of interest hours prior to the shooting. The same husky mail seen in the videos released yesterday. Authorities again asking the public to search doorbell cameras and other devices for more footage that may have captured the subject. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Narona saying the video released so far contains the clearest images they have of this person of Interest on Tuesday afternoon, online sleuths noting Brown University apparently removing pages associated with a student touting left wing ideology. Many speculating that student might be the suspect. AG Nerona weighing in on those reports.
A
I think this is an area where caution is really necessary. There are lots of reasons why a page might be taken down, particularly if there's chatter out there about words that were spoken. It's easy to jump from someone saying words that were spoken to what those words are to a particular name that reflects a motive targeting a particular person. That's a really dangerous road to go down. Really dangerous. If that name meant anything to this investigation, we would be out looking for that person. We would let you know we were looking for that person. You know, again, I think it's just a really dangerous road to go down.
B
Some wondering if the target of the attack was vice president of the Republican Club at Brown, Ella Cook, one of the deceased victims and a prominent conservative voice on campus, Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez, saying authorities do not believe she was the intended target. At this point. Three days removed from the attack, many growing weary and impatient. We spoke to retired FBI agent James Fitzgerald, known for his role in capturing the Unabomber, about what to expect. Fitzgerald says these video releases, even short clips, are encouraging steps that can further the investigation.
C
Good for them. They found some of this person, much like the J5 bomber, that he could kind of put him walking through some neighborhoods. They're sort of doing the same with this guy. And it does give a better picture in terms of height and weight. He looks like a white male, at least from a little bit of his face that we can see. None of this we knew before. I'm not sure. The age, 20s to early 30s perhaps, kind of an unusual gait. And that can be analyzed with various software programs. So it's always a good thing to get these types of pictures, videos. Let's hope there's some video of him somewhere getting into a car or getting into a public transportation, going into a business. And at that point, perhaps they can further narrow down the search and perhaps even identify the individual involved.
B
FBI agents and other law enforcement officers seen canvassing throughout the streets and kicking through the snow in recent days. Fitzgerald describing the tedious searching that lies ahead for investigators and the major breakthroughs it could lead to with the Charlie.
C
Kirk investigation in September, they did the same thing and they actually found the rifle buried under some leaves or debris or something. So that type of a search paid off. A ground search on the immediate area is, you know, investigation 101 you have to do that. They're going to go through some sewer systems and there's ways of looking for weapons that way. They may drag some lakes or rivers or creeks, whatever, or send in drones, you know, underwater. They're going to do all kinds of searches. They're also going to go door to door and neighbor to neighbor. That's what you do. A neighborhood canvas, they call it. And I'm probably within a half mile of the, of the campus and certainly any streets this guy walked along, investigators are going to be knocking on every door.
B
We asked Fitzgerald about the typical timeline in a manhunt like this and how we are already past the most crucial window.
C
There is no normal timeline. We all know the first 24 to 48 hours are the most important in homicide investigation nowadays with social media and again, surveillance footage as we're discussing here, sometimes it takes extra hours, extra days. And I've been in these investigations. I know how difficult they are. After the Olympic bombings and other bombings after that, in the mid to late 90s, we knew the guy was Eric Rudolph. We knew he drove his truck to western North Carolina. It still took us five years to find him. And we knew his name. So you don't know this guy. May decided to be perfectly quiet about it. Deep, deep cover, sort of his own Manchurian Candidate and didn't say a word to anybody and just went out on Saturday, shot up the school. And that may be it, but I'm giving these investigators the benefit of the doubt. Certainly now with the FBI involved, my former agency and I have a feeling this guy's days are numbered.
B
Nick Reiner officially charged in connection with the murder of his parents, legendary director Rob Reiner, and wife Michelle. Nick's arraignment originally set for Tuesday, delayed pending medical clearance for transportation from the jail to the courthouse. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hockman yesterday evening outlining the charges.
D
These charges will be two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders. He also faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, that being a knife. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. No decision at this point has been made with respect to the death penalty we have requested and currently Nick Reiner is being held without bail.
B
Hochman elaborating on what the special circumstances elevation means.
D
Special circumstances is a situation where one of the enumerated factors that lead to elevating in some ways a first degree murder case to a special circumstance first degree murder case occurs. One of those special circumstances is called multiple murders. Here we have two. And it qualifies under the definition of multiple murders to allege the special circumstance in this particular case.
B
High profile criminal defense attorney Alan Jackson now representing Reiner Jackson, previously serving as legal counsel for Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Karen Reed, who was acquitted over the summer after being charged with murdering her Massachusetts cop boyfriend. New reporting bringing the timeline of the murders into sharper focus. Nick tagging along with his parents on Saturday night to a holiday party hosted by Conan o'. Brien. Rob and Nick Reiner reportedly getting into a loud argument at the party, one of the attendees telling the New York Times. Another guest reporting that people were worried about Nick's behavior, saying he looked, quote, anxious and uncomfortable in a way that deeply unsettled them. Around 4am early Sunday morning, TMZ reporting, Nick checked into the pierside Santa Monica Hotel about 15 minutes from the Reiners Brentwood mansion. According to eyewitnesses, Nick seemed, quote, tweaked out, but there was no indication of a violent altercation. Hotel staff later reportedly discovering the shower in Nick's room full of blood with more blood stains on the bed and sheets covering his windows. The Daily Mail reporting Rob and Michelle were found in their bed with their throats slit in addition to other stab wounds, possibly asleep when they were murdered. The LA County DA's office announcing yesterday evening Nick's arraignment will be set for a later date. Coming up, Australian officials linking the Bondi beach shooters with isis. Was it the multiple ISIS flags all over their car? Top Trump cabinet officials brief members of Congress on those boat strikes. And love is in the air for a man named Trump. We'll explain. The holidays are here, which means family time, great food, lots of travel and of course a few too many germs. That is why I love all family pharmacy. They make it simple to stay healthy and prepared. Just go to allfamilypharmacy.com Megan place your order online and then a licensed physician will review it, provide a prescription if necessary. And once it is approved, your medication ships right to your door, fast and secure. Whether you are looking for ivermectin, antibiotics or your everyday maintenance medications, they've got you covered. And right now you can save 10% with code MEGAN10 at checkout. So while you focus on family, good food and everything that makes this season special, let all family pharmacy handle the rest. Visit allfamilypharmacy.com Megan today. And remember, remember to use code Megan10 to stay healthy, happy and ready for the holidays. Allfamilypharmacy.com Megan Today Code Megan10 for 10% off at checkout. Australian officials including the Prime Minister confirming the Bandai beach shooters were inspired by ISIS. 50 year old father Sajid Akram and 24 year old son Navid Akram opening fire on a Jewish celebration on the first night of Hanukkah, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more. The elder killed by police in the shootout, the son still in the hospital. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon yesterday with new information on the rampage.
A
There has been reports in the news about our two offenders traveling to the Philippines last month. I can confirm that they did travel to the Philippines. The reasons why they went to the Philippines and the purpose of that and where they went when they were there is under investigation at the moment. I also confirmed that the vehicle which is registered to the younger male contained IEDs, but I also confirmed that it contained two homemade ISIS flags.
B
The New York Times reporting the shooters entering the Philippines on November 1, then departing on the 28th. Parts of the Philippines are known hotbeds for ISIS training. Authorities declining to share more details on their activity in the country. But ABC Australia reporting officials do believe the pair received military style training while on the trip. Investigators for Azio, an Australian intel agency reportedly investigating the sun in 2019 for links to Islamic extremism, determining then he did not pose a threat. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth yesterday providing lawmakers with a closed door briefing on the campaign to take out drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. Democrats railing against the strikes since they began. Their criticism intensifying following reports that one strike left two survivors who were then taken out in a second strike. Unsurprisingly, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying he is not satisfied with the briefing, a sentiment echoed by other Democrats throughout the day yesterday.
A
My demand of Secretary Hegseth in front of all hundred senators that he allow every senator to see the unedited version, the unedited video of what happened on September 2. He refused. The administration came to this briefing empty handed. That's the major question that we face. And if they can't be transparent on this, how can you trust their transparency on all the other issues swirling about in the Caribbean?
B
Secretary Hegseth telling reporters the full video remains classified and will not be released to the public. But later today the House and Senate Armed Services Committees will be able to view the video as those members hold higher level security clearances Last night, President Trump increasing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro posting to Truth Social quote, Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America. It will only get bigger and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the oil, land and other assets that they previously stole from us.
C
Huh?
B
The full scope of that demand is not immediately clear though. In 2007, Venezuela's government seized oil assets owned by foreign companies, including US companies like ExxonMobil after they refused to give Venezuela's state run oil company majority control of their operations. Over on the House side, Speaker Mike Johnson describing the White House's legal reasoning.
E
Post the briefing Pursuant to this constitutional authority and the law of armed conflict, the President determined that the United States is in non international armed conflict, that's NIAC as the acronym is known, and that is with designated terrorist organizations and their affiliates who have evolved into complex structures with financial means and parliamentary capabilities needed to operate with impunity, engage in violence and terrorism that presents a clear and present danger to the security of America and threaten other nations in our hemisphere. I want to make this point very clear. Over the last four years alone, America has lost more lives to drug overdoses and other drug related deaths than we did to the enemy actions In World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq combined. This is a serious problem that a serious administration is addressing.
B
It'll soon be wedding bells for Donald Trump Jr. Announcing his engagement to Bettina Anderson from the White House on Monday.
A
I just want to wish all of you guys an incredible holiday season, a Merry Christmas, a very happy new Year, and to thank Bettina for that one word. Yes. It's almost when you go down there.
E
And it's like you're gonna go and.
A
You'Re trying to ask, you're not sure.
E
What the answer is gonna be.
A
It's always a little bit rough. But she said yes.
B
This has really been the most unforgettable.
A
Weekend of my life and I get.
B
To marry the love of my life and I feel just like the luckiest girl in the world. Yes, one of America's most eligible bachelors in love and now engaged to Palm beach socialite Anderson. The pair an item for about a year and a half now following Don Jr. S breakup with former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle and a previous marriage to ex wife and mother of his five children, Vanessa Trump. Having spent time with both of them after our tour stop in Sugarland Texas, your humble correspondent can report they make the perfect couple. Best wishes and that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megyn Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show live on SiriusXM's the Megyn Kelly Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com Megyn Kelly and on all podcast platforms.
A
Before the trophy and bragging rights are rightfully yours. Before your sleeper turns in a season no one saw coming, before stats and projections turn into points, points on the board and your lineup falls perfectly into place, you flip the lid on a can of on nicotine pouches. And as you make your first pick, you know this is the season where fantasy's going to surpass reality. It's on products for tobacco consumers 21 years of age or this product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
Episode Theme:
A fast-paced morning update covering the still-unfolding search for the Brown University mass shooter, the high-profile indictment of Nick Reiner for the murder of his famous parents, new details linking the Bondi Beach (Australia) attack to ISIS, and brief highlights on U.S. military action and a Trump family engagement.
[00:39–07:29]
“There are lots of reasons why a page might be taken down… If that name meant anything to this investigation, we would be out looking for that person.” – AG Peter Nerona [03:10]
“It does give a better picture in terms of height and weight… white male, 20s to early 30s perhaps, kind of an unusual gait. That can be analyzed with various software programs… Let’s hope there’s some video… getting into a car… business. Then they can further narrow down the search.” – James Fitzgerald [04:26]
“A ground search of the immediate area is investigation 101… go door to door. That’s what you do… The first 24 to 48 hours are the most important… sometimes it takes extra days. After the Olympic bombings… we knew his name. It still took us five years to find him… Certainly now with the FBI involved… this guy’s days are numbered.” – Fitzgerald [06:25]
[07:29–08:59]
“Two counts of first degree murder… special allegation that he personally used a deadly weapon, that being a knife. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison… or the death penalty… No decision at this point has been made with respect to the death penalty.” – DA Nathan Hockman [07:51]
[09:00–13:51]
“I also confirmed that the vehicle… contained IEDs, but I also confirmed that it contained two homemade ISIS flags.” – Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon [12:19]
[13:51–16:29]
“If they can’t be transparent on this, how can you trust their transparency on all the other issues swirling about in the Caribbean?” – Sen. Chuck Schumer [13:57]
“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America. It will only get bigger and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before…” [15:12]
“The President determined that the United States is in non-international armed conflict… with designated terrorist organizations… Over the last four years alone, America has lost more lives to drug overdoses and other drug related deaths than we did to the enemy actions in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq combined.” [15:35]
[16:30–16:57]
“I just want to wish all of you guys an incredible holiday season… and to thank Bettina for that one word. Yes… She said yes.” – Donald Trump Jr. [16:38] “I get to marry the love of my life and I feel just like the luckiest girl in the world.” – Bettina Anderson [16:58]
“If that name meant anything to this investigation, we would be out looking for that person.” – AG Peter Nerona [03:29] “There is no normal timeline... In the mid to late 90s, we knew [Eric Rudolph’s] name. It still took us five years to find him.” – James Fitzgerald [06:25]
“It will only get bigger and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before...” – Donald Trump (quoting from Truth Social) [15:12]
“America has lost more lives to drug overdoses and other drug related deaths than… World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq combined.” – Speaker Mike Johnson [15:35]
Tone & Style: Direct, urgent, and news-focused—consistent with Megyn Kelly’s AM update approach. The episode offers rapid-fire news with brief legal and expert commentary on major cases and security events, balanced with lighter personal news at the close.
Recommended for: Those seeking a crisp, insightful rundown of current high-profile criminal cases, terrorism connections, and geopolitical developments, all delivered in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner.