The Megyn Kelly Show – AM Update, November 3, 2025

Episode Title: Obama Hits Trail For Dems in Tight Races, Halloween Terror Plot, Another UK Stabbing
Host: Megyn Kelly (SiriusXM)
Date: November 3, 2025

Overview

This episode centers on the final campaign events before the 2025 gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, with a particular focus on Barack Obama’s return to the campaign trail to support Democratic candidates. The show also covers a thwarted Halloween terrorist plot in Michigan and a knife attack on a train in the UK, providing updates and political implications. As always, Megyn Kelly offers sharp commentary on the narratives and controversies of the day.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Election Day Eve: The Stakes in New Jersey and Virginia

• Megyn Kelly sets the scene for crucial gubernatorial races:
  • Virginia: Democrat Abigail Spanberger vs. Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earl Sears.
  • New Jersey: Republican Jack Ciattarelli vs. Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill.
• Trump’s political operation is investing heavily to mobilize off-year Republican voters, although Trump himself has avoided campaign rallies in those states, instead participating in telerallies.
  • “Sometimes that can be unhelpful if the state is dominated by the other party…” — Megyn Kelly [03:05]

2. Barack Obama Hits the Campaign Trail

• Obama rallies for Democrats, emphasizing concerns about the state of American politics and launching pointed attacks on Donald Trump.
  • “It’s like every day is Halloween, except it’s all tricks and no treats.” — Barack Obama [00:39, repeated at 04:37]
  • “Every day this White House offers up a French batch of lawlessness and recklessness and mean spiritedness and just plain craziness.” — Barack Obama [04:14]
• Obama’s message: Republicans are using the Justice Department as a political weapon, deploying the National Guard as a show of force, and scapegoating minorities.
  • “They never miss a chance to scapegoat minorities and blame DEI for every problem under the sun. You got a flat tire, must be DEI. Your wife kicked you out, DEI…” — Barack Obama [08:20]

3. Virginia Attorney General Race Scandal

• Jay Jones, Democratic AG nominee, appears at a rally without addressing his recent text message scandal in which he fantasized about murdering a Republican colleague and their family.
• Republicans, especially Earl Sears, condemn both Abigail Spanberger and Jay Jones for insufficient responses to the scandal.
  • “How about you get a backbone and tell him he needed to get out of the race? How about you do that?” — Earl Sears [06:30]
• The scandal is seen as a major factor in the tightening Attorney General race.

4. Polling and Analysis – Party Branding Challenges

• Democrats show strong polling leads in congressional preference for 2026, but party image remains a significant vulnerability.
  • “Democrats only 28% positive. Look at that: 53 negative…Democrats are 25 points underwater.” — Steve Kornacki [11:31]
• Obama’s presence in Virginia is interpreted as a sign of internal concern for Democrats, despite Spanberger’s 9-point lead for governor.
• In New Jersey, the race remains razor-thin. GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli emphasizes historical strengths in Election Day turnout.
  • “Back in 2021, I beat Phil Murphy, the current governor, on election day in person voting on the machines by 250,000.” — Jack Ciattarelli [10:35]

5. Personal Moments and Notable Exchanges

• Obama jokes with a member of the audience during a rally:
  • “I love you. But hold on... I mean, you look cute, but I am married. Michelle’s fine too.” — Barack Obama [09:24]
• Michelle Obama, meanwhile, is on a book tour and raises issues of racial bias about how her family was treated as First Family.
  • Paraphrased by Megyn Kelly [09:00]

6. Security Incidents: Halloween Terror Plot Thwarted in Michigan

• FBI stops a potential terror attack; multiple young suspects detained, with some media tied to ISIS speculation.
• Attorney Amir Mokled disputes terrorism allegations, suggesting that the suspects are young men who “may have gone a little too far on the Internet in terms of their curiosity.”
  • “No mass casualty event or plot or terrorism act… Now, whether or not there’s some perhaps online rhetoric… we’re talking about guys that are, you know, 18 to 20 years old.” — Amir Mokled [15:26]
  • “Nobody is involved in ISIS or Al Qaeda or terrorist organizations from this group…” — Amir Mokled [15:26]
• Investigation tied to discussions in an online chat room about a “Pumpkin Day” attack (i.e., Halloween).

7. UK Train Stabbing Attack

• 11 people stabbed on a train to London in what was initially feared to be a terror attack. Motive remains unclear; a 32-year-old UK-born suspect is in custody.
• Footage showed attacker saying, “the devil’s not going to win.”
• A train employee was critically injured while trying to stop the attack, actions lauded as “nothing short of heroic.”
  • “It is clear his actions were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved many people’s lives.” — British Transport Police, quoted by Megyn Kelly [17:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Barack Obama [04:37, 00:39]: “It’s like every day is Halloween, except it’s all tricks and no treats.”
• Steve Kornacki [11:31]: “Democrats only 28% positive…53 negative. Republicans, it’s only 37 and 46. Democrats are 25 points underwater.”
• Earl Sears [06:30]: “How about you get a backbone and tell him he needed to get out of the race?”
• Jack Ciattarelli [10:35]: “Back in 2021, I beat Phil Murphy…in person voting…by 250,000.”
• Amir Mokled [15:26]: “No mass casualty event or plot…nobody is involved in ISIS or Al Qaeda…from this group of young men who were questioned.”
• British Transport Police (quoted) [17:10]: “His actions were nothing short of heroic and undoubtedly saved many people’s lives.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Election Day Eve Recap & Candidate Matchups: [01:01–03:35]
• Obama’s Virginia Rally – Key Remarks: [04:10–05:01]
• Virginia AG Race Scandal & Response: [05:01–07:16]
• Polling Insights with Steve Kornacki: [11:01–12:18]
• Obama in New Jersey – Critique of GOP: [08:20–09:00]
• Ciattarelli on GOP Undercounts: [10:35–11:01]
• Halloween Terror Plot Thwarted – FBI/Michigan: [13:10–15:42]
• UK Train Stabbing Incident: [16:15–18:15]

Tone and Context

True to Megyn Kelly’s style, the episode is direct, unfiltered, and deeply skeptical of political messaging from both sides. While providing factual details, Kelly infuses pointed commentary, questioning Democratic narratives and highlighting Republican talking points, but also relaying significant polling challenges for both parties.

For listeners looking to stay informed on election eve (and on top national security stories), this episode succinctly distills the news, political drama, and implications heading into pivotal state elections.