
Democrat Graham Platner, U.S. Senate candidate from Maine, is facing a new round of damaging reports, now involving "sexting" exchanges with multiple women while he was married. President Trump wants changes to the Iran deal as discussions continue over the nuclear stockpile, future enrichment, unfrozen funds, and guarantees surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. California voters head to the polls tomorrow, with the governor’s race tightening around Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer, and Steve Hilton, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faces a serious challenge from a surging Spencer Pratt. A three-foot meteor exploded over Massachusetts this weekend, rattling homes from Boston to Rhode Island and sending police departments across New England scrambling to identify the source of the boom. Supersure Insurance: Simplify your business insurance and get a free coverage report at https://Supersure.com/Megyn Pure Talk: Dial #250 and say keyword MEGYN KELLY to switch to Pure Talk and get unlimited...
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Megyn Kelly
Good morning, everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Monday, June 1st, 2026, and this is your AM update.
Amy Gertner
I just really wanted to make sure that everyone knows that Graham and I have a great marriage.
Megyn Kelly
Democrat Graham Plattner, U.S. senate candidate from Maine facing explosive new reporting involving sexting exchanges with multiple women and an account on a messaging app with a dark reputation. President Trump holds off on approving an Iran deal. Frank demanding tougher terms as the conflict enters its 14th week.
Political Commentator
I think it's likely you're gonna get a Democrat and a Republican, but it's not guaranteed. It's just the nature of California's top two system.
Megyn Kelly
California's high stakes primary hitting the final stretch as voters head to the polls tomorrow. And a meteor crashes down off the coast of Massachusetts, startling residents from New Hampshire down to Rhode Island. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update. Here's a question for you. How many brokers does it take to insure your business? If you're like most business owners, the answer is too many. Multiple policies, multiple applications, and no clear view of how it all fits together. And when questions come up, it's not easy to get the clarity you need at all. No one's there for you. But super sure changes that. A one stop shop for all of your business insurance backed by a team that works with you year round, not just at renewal. You are not a burden to them. They will take care of you. They want you to be happy. And if you've ever stared at a policy wondering what it actually covers, super sure has a fine print facts tool that translates the legal jargon into plain English so you know what's covered and what's not. It's not some shell game that they seem to be enjoying playing at your expense right now. You can go to super sure.com and get a full report on your current policies or with no obligation, find out if you're overinsured, underinsured or somewhere in between. Go to super sure.com one super agency, one powerful platform. All your policies in one place. Imagine it. Go to super sure.commegan today that's super sure.commegan paid for by Super Sure Insurance Agency LLC, a licensed insurance agency. A fresh round of damaging reports emerging from the scandal plagued campaign of Graham Platner, the presumptive Democrat nominee running for U.S. senate in Maine. The Wall Street Journal and New York Times reporting Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, told campaign officials last year that she previously discovered sexually explicit text messages between her husband and multiple women. Platner and Gertner marrying in November of 2023. Platner's campaign officially launching less than two years later on August 19, 2025. According to the Times, Gertner contacted Genevieve McDonald, then political director of the campaign, just days before Platner was set to appear at a Labor Day rally with Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont last year, raising concerns that her husband's messages could become a political liability. McDonald telling the Times that Gertner described the messages as, quote, sexting, adding that Platner had been communicating with as many as a dozen women. The Times reporting A current campaign official has confirmed the exchanges, though clarifying that Platner had only messaged up to six women and stopped before the campaign actually launched, which they appear to think makes a difference. Campaign aides reportedly deciding the issue was a private matter being handled by Platner and Gertner in marriage counseling last October. McDonald resigning as political director of the campaign amid mounting controversies over Platner's dicey past social media posts as well as his chest tattoo widely regarded as a Nazi symbol. Then, as reporters at the Wall Street Journal and New York Times were preparing stories on the sexting allegations. The Banger Daily News reporting one of Platner's top advisors, Morris Katz, sent quite a warning on Friday to McDonald through an intermediary. The message reportedly telling McDonald she would be publicly accused of lying, betraying the couple's trust and of trying to sabotage the campaign if she dared to speak to reporters. The move apparently backfiring, though, with McDonald then agreeing to go on the record with the New York Times telling the paper, quote, the U.S. senate is not a training ground for redemption. It is a place for proven leaders with moral clarity and integrity. The Journal's report surfacing another issue involving Platner's extensive online footprint. An account on Kick that's a private messaging app with a long history of child safety concerns. The national center on Sexual Exploitation referring to Kik as, quote, a predator's paradise, citing the app's anonymous messaging features and its history of allowing underage users to communicate with adults. The Journal reporting It verified an account tied to Platner using the handle phustle0331, similar to handles he has used on other social media platforms. The Daily Wire reporting the account was created in 2016 when Platner was 32 years old. The profile featuring a shirtless mirror selfie of a man wearing only a towel, with his face out of frame but with visible tattoos matching Platner's. Platner's campaign, telling the Journal he deleted the app from his phone years ago, but never deactivated the account. Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, who is reportedly on the campaign payroll, recording a video response posted Saturday night to Platner's account on X.
Amy Gertner
It makes me really angry, disappointed, and I find it really shameful that there's a group of media outlets and people who are willing to spread gossip instead of talking about real issues that Graham is running on, like health care and education and childcare. I just really wanted to make sure that everyone knows that Graham and I have a great marriage. Being married is hard. Being newly married is hard. Being newly married and going through infertility is hard. Being newly married, going through infertility and a Senate campaign is hard. Our marriage counselor helps. My personal counselor helps. Graham's personal counselor helps. And we work on our mental health every day.
Megyn Kelly
Platner speaking yesterday to local outlet WMTW, denying McDonald's story. Sort of.
Morris Katz
This is the amazing part. The Wall Street Journal, New York Times ran stories without any evidence besides the gossip from a staffer. I'm sorry, that's. That's frankly journalistic malpractice. We pushed back on it. They want it. They did it anyways.
Megyn Kelly
So are you confirming that the messages did not exist?
Morris Katz
What's that?
Megyn Kelly
The messages, they did not.
Morris Katz
I'm confirming that what Genevieve McDonald said in the New York Times is not true.
Steve Hilton
So you never met with her about
Political Commentator
uncomfortable, for lack of a better word, sexting messages?
Morris Katz
As the campaign was going, we talked about things in Amy and I's marriage that we've gone through over the years. We talked about that because that's our marriage, and we discussed it with the campaign. What Genevieve McDonald claims isn't true.
Megyn Kelly
Platner, now the presumptive Democratic nominee after Maine governor Janet Mills, the establishment favorite, dropped out of the race in late April, citing a lack of funds to continue her campaign. Platner's remaining Democratic challengers are polling in the low single digits ahead of the June 9 primary. He is expected to face incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in November in a race Democrats see as one of their best chances to pick up a Senate seat in the midterms. Yesterday, multiple Democrats asked on the Sunday shows about the latest revelations surrounding Platner, each offering similar evasive responses. Here, U.S. senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim of New Jersey and Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
Political Commentator
That guy has questions to answer and
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that's what campaigns are for. But when I go all over New
Political Commentator
Jersey and see hundreds and hundreds of
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thousands of New Jerseyans los losing their
Political Commentator
health care and millions more, seeing their health care costs go up, I know that so much is riding on Democrats
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taking control of the Senate.
Megyn Kelly
You know, this information's out there with
Political Commentator
any campaign in the country.
Megyn Kelly
The character and the transparency about the
Political Commentator
different candidates is going to come out. That's part of a campaign. But what I am, what I do hear from people in New Jersey, around the country is that they don't trust this U.S. senate right now, led by the Republicans. I mean, Grant Platner is somebody that served our country. He served his community. He certainly admitted that he has made mistakes. But I think this is going to be a pretty clear contrast in Maine between somebody who has spent his life protecting us versus somebody who seems to be protecting Donald Trump's corruption.
Megyn Kelly
The Real Clear Politics polling average currently shows Platner leading Senator Collins by 7.8 points. More on this later today on the MK Show. More than 13 weeks into the U. S. Iran war and a peace deal remains out of reach for now. President Trump on Friday laying out terms for a possible peace agreement on Truth Social, including that Iran, quote, will never have a nuclear weapon or bomb, that the Strait of Hormuz quote, must be immediately open and that enriched nuclear material buried underground, quote, will be unearthed by the United States and destroyed. The president ending the post writing quote, I will be meeting now in the Situation Room to make a final determination. But no final determination arrived. Instead, after two hours of discussions with top aides, the president reportedly attempting to toughen the terms of a potential framework. According to the New York Times, Mr. Trump raising concerns about provisions that would unfreeze Iranian funds. Iran has said it will not negotiate on its nuclear program unless and until we release some $12 billion of its frozen assets. Axios reporting. President Trump also requesting changes to some of the wording regarding the Strait of Hormuz, though the nature of those modifications remains unclear. The nuclear section of the proposal also still uncertain, including what happens to Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and what restrictions would be placed on future enrichment. President Trump seeking more detail on that front with one senior administration official saying the president wants, quote, more specifics about how the US Gets the material and the timing. Whether Iran has agreed to anything at all around the uranium is also unclear. It has previously dismissed as baseless. Earlier, Trump comments that its stockpile would be destroyed, reports Iranian media. President Trump speaking to his daughter in law Lara Trump Saturday on Fox about some of the nuclear language still being negotiated.
Lara Trump
One guarantee that I have to have is that there will be no nuclear weapons. They've agreed to that and it was very interesting. They said they originally said we will not develop a nuclear weapon. I said, well, what happens if you buy a nuclear weapon? So now it says we will not develop or in any way purchase a military weapon. That's a big difference. So we're getting what we want. Slowly. Very tough negotiators. It takes a long time. I'm in no hurry. I'd like to say I'm in a hurry because, you know, gasoline prices are going to come tumbling down. But if you're going to be in a hurry, you're not going to make a good deal. And slowly but surely we're getting, I think, what we want. And if we don't get what we want, we're going to end it a different way.
Megyn Kelly
Iran's chief negotiator Mohammed Bagr Galiboff warning yesterday that the US Is not to be trusted, saying there's no deal until Iranian rights, whatever that means, are protected. With Iran's foreign minister adding everything that is being said now is speculation. Axios reports Trump was told it could take roughly three days for the Iranians to respond, with one senior administration official saying, quote, they're literally in caves and they're not using email. As the diplomatic effort continues, several Americans injured last week after an Iranian missile was shot down near an air base in Kuwait, Mississippi now reporting. A U.S. official confirms four American troops and three contractors suffered quote, minor injuries last Wednesday. The outlet reporting all seven return to duty within 24 hours. Coming up, California voters heading to the polls tomorrow as a new poll finds LA mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt surging. And Massachusetts residents rattled over the weekend as a meteor explodes in the sky. Paying 70, 80, 90 bucks a month to Big Wireless for unlimited data is insane, especially when PureTalk is going to give you unlimited high speed data for just 34.99amonth. Unlimited high speed data at PureTalk used to start at 55 bucks a month, but because PureTalk is constantly pushing to give you more for less, you can now get unlimited high speed data for just under 30, $35. How about that? So if you've looked at Pure Talk before but didn't quite make the move, check again. And if you're wondering, is Pure Talk's network really as good as the overpriced big guys, try it out for 30 days with no contract and no cancellation fees, you have nothing to lose. Their US Customer service team is standing by to help you switch in as little as 10 minutes. Just dial £250 and say Megyn Kelly to claim unlimited high speed data for just 34.99. Again, dial pound 250 and say Megyn Kelly to switch to America's wireless company. That's Pure Talk. Check it out. Candidates for governor of California and for LA mayor making their final pitches over the weekend as voters head to the polls tomorrow in several key races. At the gubernatorial level, a new poll from Emerson College shows Democrat Javier Becerra leading the race with 28%, with Democrat Tom Steyer following him at 22 and Republican Steve Hilton at 21%. Hilton warning Republicans to unite now behind him or risk a pair of Democrats in the runoff. Hilton posting a message on social media yesterday to anyone still supporting his fellow Republican, Chad Bianco.
Steve Hilton
I know that many Republicans were holding onto the hope that we might have two Republicans in the top two, myself and Chad, and then we're guaranteed change in California. But if that was ever possible, it's certainly not possible today. You just have to look at the math. This is not personal. It's not about me or Chad or our qualities or our record or anything like that. It's about the future of California. And if we don't get a Republican in the top two, we have no chance for change. So I'm asking each and every one of you, please, let's focus on what we all care about, including Chad, which is saving California.
Megyn Kelly
Steyer releasing a final ad over the weekend voiced by actor Jon Hamm.
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Sweet California built by the go getters, the pioneers, the brave to make this big, beautiful, crazy place we call home, a home that's become unaffordable for the people who live here and make it run. This election is about change versus more of the same. If you want a governor who can't be bought, who can take on the powerful interests crushing us if you're ready for change. Tom Steyer for governor.
Megyn Kelly
Meanwhile, Stier last week also voicing support for a very unpopular stance, male athletes in women's and girls sports. Steyr posting a video to social media with A.B. hernandez, a male pretending to be female who's just finished his high school sports career with two, count em, two women's state track titles.
Political Commentator
I was saying in this town hall, it's the job of the governor to stand between danger and Californians. And I mean it. And to make sure that people are safe and to protect them from all the malign influences in this world. And I take that super, super, super seriously for you, just so you know. And I'm so proud of you for what you're doing.
Megyn Kelly
Thank you.
Political Commentator
So proud of you for succeeding. So proud of you for competing. That's really the point. And I'm going to hope like heck that you don't just make state, but you do really well there. Thank you. Deal?
Lara Trump
Deal.
Political Commentator
Deal. Congratulations on what you've done as a mom and congratulations what you've done as an athlete.
Megyn Kelly
Steyer referencing AB's mother at the end of that clip there. In the governor's race, the top two will advance, setting up a high stakes November showdown to replace current governor Gavin Newsom in the LA mayoral race. Polls show Democrat incumbent Karen Bass holding a narrow lead. Unbelievably, she burned their city down. But there she is with progressive City Council member Nithya Raman and former reality TV star Spencer Pratt right behind. A new poll from the California Post showing Pratt jumping into a statistical tie with bass 30% to 29%, with council member Raman in third. The poll finding voter frustration as the driving force behind the shift, with 62% of Angelenos saying the city is on the wrong track. Currently Bass approval rating sits at 32%. If one of the candidates somehow gets over 50% of the vote, the race is over. Otherwise the top two will advance to a runoff to be decided in November. Parts of New England getting a rare out of this world wake up call over the weekend. On Saturday, a three foot meteor creating a thunderous boom plunging into Cape Cod Bay, according to NASA. The noise startling residents and rattling windows from Boston to Rhode Island. One woman telling WBZ Boston she thought it might be an earthquake. I have never been in an earthquake, but it felt like maybe what it might feel like felt like it was felt like a little bit of a vibration. And I'm on the fourth floor but I could feel another Massachusetts resident telling ABC News it felt like someone was slamming all the doors in his house at once.
Steve Hilton
You can see in the footage that I provided you can see like the physical shaking of the cameras.
Political Commentator
Whatever that shockwave was was was enough
Megyn Kelly
to literally move things. Calls flooding into police around the Northeast.
Political Commentator
You hear a logic explosion in West Peabody we're getting calls. I heard it, Ian felt it, but no idea where it came from.
Megyn Kelly
NASA saying the meteor hit around 2pm Eastern, breaking apart roughly 40 miles above the ground, unleashing energy equal to 300 tons of TNT. There was apparently no warning of the space rock before or after it entered the Earth's atmosphere, traveling at approximately 75,000 miles per hour. Carl W. Hergenrother, the executive director of the American Meteor Society, tells the New York Times, when these rocks land, they generally do not cloud with steam, as fallen meteors are occasionally depicted to do in media. Quote it's not like in the movies where it leaves a big, you know, steaming hole in the ground and it's just you walk outside and there's a black rock on the ground where there shouldn't be. So far, no injuries, no damage, and no piece is being recovered from the water, though scientists are looking over eyewitness videos and satellite data in hopes of tracking down the space rock's origin. This incident the latest in a string of dramatic fireball reports across North America this year, all coming as the Trump administration has started rolling out their UFO files, disclosures and that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megyn Kel. Join me back here for the MK show live on SiriusXM's the Megyn Kelly Channel 1 one at noon east on YouTube.com megankelly and on all podcast platforms.
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Episode Title: Platner Sexting Scandal Explodes, LA Mayor's Race Tightens, Meteor Crashes in MA
Date: June 1, 2026
Host: Megyn Kelly (SiriusXM)
This morning update from Megyn Kelly dives into three main topics dominating the headlines:
Throughout the episode, Kelly provides analysis, highlights notable quotes from key political figures, and contextualizes current events for her audience.
Notable Quote:
“[McDonald] described the messages as, quote, sexting, adding that Platner had been communicating with as many as a dozen women.” – Megyn Kelly (03:33)
Memorable Moment:
“The U.S. senate is not a training ground for redemption. It is a place for proven leaders with moral clarity and integrity.”
— Genevieve McDonald, as reported by Megyn Kelly quoting The New York Times (05:10)
"It makes me really angry, disappointed, and I find it really shameful that there’s a group of media outlets...willing to spread gossip instead of talking about real issues that Graham is running on."
"Being married is hard...Being newly married and going through infertility and a Senate campaign is hard. Our marriage counselor helps. My personal counselor helps. Graham's personal counselor helps. And we work on our mental health every day." — Amy Gertner (06:21–07:19)
“The Wall Street Journal, New York Times ran stories without any evidence besides the gossip from a staffer. I’m sorry, that’s...frankly journalistic malpractice.” – Morris Katz (07:26)
“I’m confirming that what Genevieve McDonald said in the New York Times is not true.”
— Morris Katz (07:50)
Platner’s Nomination Status: Now the presumptive nominee after Janet Mills dropped out; likely general election facing Susan Collins (R).
Democratic Evasiveness: National Democrats offer generic or evasive comments on the scandal, focusing on the party’s prospects instead.
Polling Update: Platner still leads Collins by 7.8 points (09:50).
Negotiation Status:
President Trump resists approving a draft Iran deal as the U.S.-Iran conflict enters its 14th week. Demands tougher terms, especially:
Trump’s Perspective:
“If you're going to be in a hurry, you’re not going to make a good deal. And slowly but surely we're getting, I think, what we want. And if we don’t get what we want, we're going to end it a different way.”
— Donald Trump (via Lara Trump interview on Fox) (11:49)
Iran Pushback:
Iran’s negotiators warn U.S. is “not to be trusted;” deal is speculation until “Iranian rights” are guaranteed. (12:30)
Recent Clash:
Iranian missile shot down near U.S. air base in Kuwait; minor injuries to U.S. personnel, all returned to duty within 24 hours.
“If we don’t get a Republican in the top two, we have no chance for change. So I’m asking each and every one of you…please, let’s focus on what we all care about…saving California.”
— Steve Hilton (15:27)
“I’m so proud of you for succeeding. So proud of you for competing. That’s really the point.”
— Tom Steyer, speaking with trans athlete AB Hernandez (16:58)
Meteor Details:
3-foot meteor entered Cape Cod Bay, creating a loud “boom,” startling residents across New England on Saturday afternoon.
Eyewitness Reactions:
“I have never been in an earthquake, but it felt like maybe what it might feel like…like a little bit of a vibration.”
— MA resident to WBZ Boston
“Whatever that shockwave was…was enough to literally move things.”
— Steve Hilton (19:11), reflecting universal surprise
“It’s not like in the movies where it leaves a big, you know, steaming hole in the ground…you walk outside and there’s a black rock on the ground where there shouldn’t be.”
— Carl W. Hergenrother, American Meteor Society (19:29)
“The U.S. senate is not a training ground for redemption. It is a place for proven leaders with moral clarity and integrity.”
— Genevieve McDonald (05:10)
“Being married is hard. Being newly married is hard. Being newly married and going through infertility is hard. Being newly married, going through infertility and a Senate campaign is hard. Our marriage counselor helps. My personal counselor helps. Graham’s personal counselor helps. And we work on our mental health every day.”
— Amy Gertner (06:21–07:19)
“If you don’t get a Republican in the top two, we have no chance for change.”
— Steve Hilton (15:27)
“They generally do not cloud with steam, as fallen meteors are occasionally depicted to do in media.”
— Carl W. Hergenrother (19:29)
| Timestamp | Topic/Quote/Event | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:39 | Platner sexting scandal introduction | | 03:33 | Details on sexting reports and campaign turmoil | | 05:10 | McDonald’s NYT quote: Senate “not a training ground for redemption” | | 06:21 | Amy Gertner’s emotional video/gossip pushback | | 07:26 | Platner campaign advisor Morris Katz denies McDonald’s claims | | 08:55 | National Democrats evade Platner questions; focus on Senate control | | 09:50 | Platner vs. Collins polling update | | 09:50–12:30 | U.S.-Iran peace negotiations: Trump’s demands, Iran’s response | | 15:27 | Steve Hilton appeals to GOP unity in California governor’s race | | 16:10 | Steyer final ad and Jon Hamm narration | | 16:58 | Steyer supports trans athlete in women’s sports | | 17:17 | LA mayoral race: polling, voter frustration, runoff mechanics | | 18:00 | Meteor explosion in Massachusetts, eyewitness accounts | | 19:29 | NASA & expert weigh in on meteor phenomenon |
For further in-depth discussion, tune in to The Megyn Kelly Show live at noon Eastern or on your favorite podcast platform.