Schumer Facing Dem Revolt, Trump Pardons "Alternate Electors," BBC Edit Fallout: AM Update 11/11

Summary

The Megyn Kelly Show: AM Update – November 11, 2025

Episode Title: Schumer Facing Dem Revolt, Trump Pardons "Alternate Electors," BBC Edit Fallout
Host: Megyn Kelly (SiriusXM)
Air Date: November 11, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this AM Update, Megyn Kelly and guests dissect major stories in U.S. politics, law, and culture, including a fracturing Democratic caucus over the government shutdown; President Trump’s controversial pardons for the “alternate electors” from the 2020 election; fallout from a BBC documentary that misleadingly edited Trump’s January 6th speech, and a criminal indictment against two MLB pitchers for illegal gambling.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Democratic Defections and Government Shutdown Drama (00:42–07:31)

Government Shutdown Context

• Eight lawmakers (seven Democrats and Independent Angus King) side with Republicans to advance a deal that reopens the government without renewing the Obamacare tax credits.
• This reversal breaks Democratic unity, with ongoing pressure since the October 1st shutdown for Republicans to include ACA subsidy extensions.

Internal Democratic Backlash

• Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) expresses sharp disapproval:
  • “Eight Democrats voted with the Republicans to allow them to go forward on this continuing resolution. And to my mind, this was a very, very bad vote… the American people want us to stand up to Trumpism, to his war against working class people, to his authoritarianism… But tonight that is not what happened.” (04:57)
• Progressive voices online and in statehouses echo calls for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s ouster.
  • Senate candidate Graham Platner (ME): “Chuck Schumer should step down.”
  • IL Gov. J.B. Pritzker: “Not a deal, it’s a surrender.”
  • Gov. Gavin Newsom (CA): “This isn’t a deal, it’s a surrender.”
• Schumer is criticized as a “feckless leader,” not one of the eight defectors but blamed for failing to maintain party cohesion.

Cross-Party Justifications

• Angus King (I-ME), one of the defectors, explains rationale:
  • “The shutdown wasn’t accomplishing either goal… there was zero likelihood it was going to… the shutdown actually gave [Trump] more power. Exhibit A: what he’s done with SNAP and SNAP benefits across the country. Guess who’s getting paid during the shutdown? ICE agents.” (03:55)
• Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) adds: "Keeping the government shut down for another week or another month does not indicate that there would be any change in the outcome." (04:37)
• Progressive Democrats and activists remain unconvinced, demanding stronger stands against the GOP and the Trump administration.

Fallout and Prospects

• The Senate passes spending bills, moving the deal back to the House. Many House Democrats object to the deal.
• Rep. Ro Khanna (CA): “Time for [Schumer] to be replaced. He is not meeting the moment, he’s out of touch with where the party’s base is.” (07:06)
• Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader, nevertheless defends Schumer when pressed.

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2. Trump Pardons “Alternate Electors” in Symbolic Gesture (07:31–11:09)

Overview of the Pardons

• President Trump, via U.S. pardon attorney Ed Martin, issues blanket pardons to 77 individuals tied to Trump’s 2020 alternative elector strategy.
• Notable names: Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Mark Meadows, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis.
• These “alternate electors” submitted paperwork in battleground states after the 2020 election claiming Trump had won, contingent on ongoing legal challenges—described by critics as “fake electors,” by Team Trump as a legal contingency.

Legal and Political Analysis

• CNN Legal Analyst Elie Honig (09:32):
  • The pardons apply only to federal crimes—not the ongoing state prosecutions in WI, MI, NV, GA, AZ.
  • Most state-level cases are “in the process of collapsing… or have collapsed in their own right.”
  • Pardons “have no impact on civil lawsuits”—example: Giuliani’s defamation liability stands.
  • No federal indictments existed or were likely.
  • “In that respect, they’re largely symbolic.”
• Critics claim the act rewards allies and undermines democracy:
  • “He pardons cronies… people who support him… in this case and in the case of January 6, people who are attempting to erode the foundations of our democracy.” (10:42, Democratic Politician)

MAGA Narrative and Reconciliation

• The Trump/Ed Martin memo: “No MAGA left behind” and “This proclamation ends a grave national injustice… and continues the process of national reconciliation.” (10:56)
• The president does not pardon himself, leaving that constitutional debate for another day.

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3. BBC Faces Lawsuit Over January 6th Speech Editing Scandal (11:09–15:52)

Trump’s Defamation Threat

• Trump threatens a $1 billion lawsuit against the BBC over its documentary “A Second Chance,” which splices together remarks from January 6th, removing Trump’s calls for peaceful protest.
• Michael Prescott (BBC whistleblower) criticized the documentary:
  • “I watched the program and found it to be neither balanced nor impartial… this created the impression that Trump said something he did not and in doing so materially misled viewers.” (13:47)
• Comparison of BBC's edited version and Trump’s full remarks:
  • Edited: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… We fight like hell and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” (14:05)
  • Original: Includes “…peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” (14:21)
• Prescott and others argue that omitting “peacefully and patriotically” is a serious editorial misstep.

Institutional Fallout

• BBC’s top officials, including director Tim Davy and head of news Deborah Turness, resign following the scandal.
• BBC Chair Sameer Shah: “We accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action… The BBC would like to apologize for that error of judgment.” (15:31)
• Donald Trump Jr.: “The fake news reporters in the UK are just as dishonest and full of shit as the ones here in America.”
• The broadcaster is still considering its response to the threatened lawsuit.

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4. MLB Pitchers Indicted in Illegal Gambling Scheme (15:52–19:50)

• Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Luis Ortiz (26) and Emmanuel Clase (27), indicted for alleged pitch-fixing in an illegal gambling ring.
  • They are accused of collaborating with bettors to throw specific pitches for prop bets, receiving bribes in return.
  • The indictment alleges the group won over $450,000 from bets on more than 100 pitches.
• Ortiz was arrested and released on $500,000 bail. Clase is not yet in U.S. custody.
• MLB has placed both players on paid leave since July, with investigations ongoing.
• If convicted, each faces up to 65 years in prison.
• Lawyers for both assert innocence. Notably, Clase’s attorney does not explicitly deny the central allegation in his statement.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT):
  “…the American people want us to stand up to Trumpism, to his war against working class people, to his authoritarianism. That is what the American people wanted. But tonight that is not what happened.” (04:57)

• Sen. Angus King (I-ME) on Democratic Defections:
  “The shutdown wasn’t accomplishing either [goal]… There was zero likelihood it was going to… the shutdown actually gave him [Trump] more power.” (03:55)

• Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) on Schumer:
  “Time for him to be replaced. He is not meeting the moment, he’s out of touch with where the party’s base is.” (07:06)

• CNN Legal Analyst Elie Honig, on the pardons:
  “The pardons have no impact on state prosecutions… largely symbolic… No MAGA left behind.” (09:32–10:56)

• Donald Trump Jr., reacting to the BBC scandal:
  “The fake news reporters in the UK are just as dishonest and full of shit as the ones here in America.”

• BBC Chair Sameer Shah, in apology:
  “We accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action. The BBC would like to apologize for that error of judgment.” (15:31)

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Highlighted Segments (Timestamps)

• Democratic Revolt Against Schumer: 00:42–07:31
• Trump’s Elector Pardons: Context & Critique: 07:31–11:09
• BBC Editing Scandal & Institutional Response: 11:09–15:52
• MLB Gambling Indictments: 15:52–19:50

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Tone and Style

True to Megyn Kelly’s brand, the episode combines direct reporting, unsparing analysis, and confrontation of political and media controversies. The tone is brisk, highly topical, occasionally fiery—particularly when sharing social media reactions and political rhetoric—and aims for clarity over partisanship, while capturing voices across the spectrum.

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For Listeners

This AM Update concisely encapsulates escalating tensions in American politics, legal maneuvering at the highest levels, and the consequences of editorial missteps in media, all delivered in Megyn Kelly’s signature, forthright style. Key personalities and critical developments are foregrounded with direct quotes, making the episode an essential briefing for anyone tuning in after the fact.

Transcript

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[Megyn Kelly]

Happy Veterans Day and thank you to all who have served this country. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Tuesday, November 11, 2025 and this is your AM update.

[Political Analyst]

In terms of standing up to Donald Trump, the shutdown actually gave him more power.

[Megyn Kelly]

Democrats spiraling after a small group of their colleagues decided to join Republicans and move to end the government shutdown.

[Democratic Politician]

He pardons cronies, he pardons people who support him, who say nice things about him. And he pardoned people in this case and in the case of January 6th.

[Megyn Kelly]

President Trump issues pardons for the so called alternate electors Team Trump named when challenging the 2020 election results, the BBC facing a possible $1 billion lawsuit from President Trump over its deceitful editing and two star MLB pitchers indicted in an alleged illegal gambling scheme. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update. When customers are walking through the aisles of their local Walmart, they're not just picking up groceries or supplies. They're supporting American businesses and their communities. The real story is what's behind the label. With over two thirds of the products Walmart buys made, grown or assembled right here in the US Buying local is not just stocking shelves. It's about strengthening communities. Because of that commitment, Walmart invested 350,000 billion in US manufacturing helping American companies like Fisher and Weezer Specialty Foods, a local Texas business, expand their operations in Fredericksburg, Texas, hire more people and bring their Texas grown peach jam to a national market. Their story is just one example of how Walmart's US manufacturing investment is supporting over 750,000American jobs. Businesses across the country are empowered to sell more, hire more and help their communities grow from farms to factories to final shopping carts. Learn how Walmart is fueling The Future of US Manufacturing at Walmart.com AmericaatWork Democrats melting down after seven members of their party, plus Independent Senator Angus King, who caucuses with the Democrats, sided with the GOP to advance a deal which will begin the process of reopening the government without extending the Obamacare tax credits set to expire at the end of the year. Democrats holding out since the government shutdown began on October 1, demanding Republicans include the Obamacare tax credit extension if they want to reopen the government. Republicans standing firm in their refusal to re litigate Obamacare as a condition of extending the current government spending levels. Late Sunday, the eight defectors caved, agreeing to advance. The House passed continuing resolution which keeps spending where it's been as the first step to reopening the government. The GOP agreeing to hold a vote on the Obamacare subsidies next month. Late Monday evening, the Senate voting to pass a series of spending bills fully funding certain key departments through the end of the fiscal year September 30 and funding the rest of the government until January 30, sending the legislation back to the House for approval, which could happen later this week. Senator King explaining his decision to vote with Republicans Monday on Morning Joe.

[Political Analyst]

Joe, you have to go back to what the strategy was at the beginning of the shutdown. There were two goals, both of which I support. One was standing up to Donald Trump. The other was getting some resolution on the ACA premium tax credit issue. The problem was the shutdown wasn't accomplishing either goals. And there was practically, well, there was zero likelihood that it was going to in terms of standing up to Donald Trump. The shutdown actually gave him more power. Exhibit A being what he's done with SNAP and SNAP benefits across the country. Oh, by the way, Joe, you're going to love this. Guess who's getting paid during the shutdown? Not, not the park rangers or air traffic controllers, the ICE agents.

[Megyn Kelly]

U.S. senator from New Hampshire, Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, another defector, saying, quote, keeping the government shut down for another week or another month does not indicate that there would be any change in the outcome. U.S. senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, an independent caucusing with Democrats raging against the deal. Monday night, in a social media video.

[Progressive Democrat]

Eight Democrats voted with the Republicans to allow them to go forward on this continuing resolution. And to my mind, this was a very, very bad vote. Just on Tuesday we had an election all over this country and what the election showed is that the American people want us to stand up to Trumpism, to his war against working class people, to his authoritarianism. That is what the American people wanted. But tonight that is not what happened. So we've got to go forward, do the best that we can to try to protect working class people.

[Megyn Kelly]

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who was not one of the eight Dems to join Republicans but is being blamed as a feckless leader, also facing significant backlash from Democrats and members of the media. Senate candidate Graham Platner of Maine posting to X quote, chuck Schumer should step down. Democrat Governor J.B. pritzker of Illinois also slamming the deal. Gavin Newsom calling it pathetic, writing on X quote, this isn't a deal, it's a surrender. This is the second time this year Minority Leader Schumer has taken extraordinary flak from his own party in relation to government funding. The minority leader caving earlier this year to advance an earlier continuing resolution which ultimately brought us to the current battle. This time, Senator Schumer not one of the crossover votes, but not stopping the cave either.

[CNN Legal Analyst Ellie Hoenig]

For months and months, Democrats have been fighting to get the Senate to address the health care crisis. This bill does nothing to ensure that that crisis is addressed. I am voting no and I will keep fighting.

[Megyn Kelly]

As mentioned, the House will ultimately have to approve any legislation passed by the Senate before it can be sent to the president's desk. Mr. Trump signaling on Monday he stands ready to sign the deal. Many Democrat members of the House none too pleased with the Senate plans. US Congressman from California Ro Khanna slamming the deal, accusing Schumer of being ineffective and calling for his ouster as Senate leader Monday on the takeout podcast it's.

[Donald Trump]

Time for him to be replaced. He is not meeting the moment he's out of touch with where the party's base is.

[Megyn Kelly]

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries asked about the discontent among House Dems. Some Democrats in your own caucus are suggesting Schumer is ineffective and Senate Democratic leader and should be replaced. You, of course, are critical of this deal.

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Do you view him as effective and should you keep yes and yes.

[Megyn Kelly]

Senator Schumer is up for reelection in 2028. Early yesterday morning, U.S. pardon attorney Ed Martin posting on X a signed order from President Trump containing quote, full, complete and unconditional pardons for 77 individuals tied to their roles in Mr. Trump's alternate slate of electors strategy in the 2020 election. After an election, every state appoints electors to cast its Electoral College votes as determined by the state's election results. When Mr. Trump challenged his loss in 2020, his allies in the swing states created their own list of electors ready to cast their votes for him if his litigation challenges to the vote were successful. Names on the list, including attorney Rudy Giuliani, attorney Sidney Powell, former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, DOJ attorney Kenneth Chesbrough, and even attorney Jenna Ellis, who was criticized by Team Trump for flipping and ultimately aiding prosecutors. In Arizona, the alternate electors called fake electors or false electors by critics of President Trump's 2020 election challenges, working in several battleground states submitting alternate election certificates claiming Mr. Trump had won those states, hoping their votes might be counted during the January 6 vote certification, depending on how his challenges played out. Team Trump, describing these as contingent electors meant to preserve his legal rights amid ongoing legal challenges to the election results. Importantly, Sunday's pardons are largely symbolic given the alternate electors did not face federal charges. Under special counsel Jack Smith's election interference investigation, President Trump only has the power to issue pardons for federal crimes. Some of the newly pardoned people still facing charges at the state level. CNN legal analyst Ellie Hoenig breaking down the state of those cases and what this pardon means going into the future.

[CNN Legal Analyst Ellie Hoenig]

Several of these people are currently being prosecuted at the state level relating to the fake elector scheme in Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, Georgia and Arizona. So the part the pardons have no impact on those state prosecutions. Now, it's worth noting those state prosecutions are largely in the process of collapsing or have collapsed in their own right. But the pardon has no impact. Also pardon has no impact on any civil lawsuit. So for example, Rudy Giuliani has been found liable for millions of dollars in defamation for statements that he made against Georgia election workers. That verdict, that liability is completely unimpacted to no impact by this pardon. The only thing it could impact is federal criminal cases. None of these people have been charged federally with any crimes. It's, I think, very unlikely they would have been charged during the rest of Pam Bondi's term as attorney general. And even if they were to be charged by a hypothetical next DOJ that would be in 2029, way beyond the statute of limitations. So in that respect, Sarah, I think.

[Megyn Kelly]

They'Re largely symbolic critics slamming President Trump for the move. Naturally. Here a sampling from CNN, Ms. now and and CBS.

[Democratic Politician]

He pardons cronies. He pardons people who support him, who say nice things about him. And he pardoned people in this case and in the case of January 6, people who are attempting to erode the foundations of our democracy.

[Megyn Kelly]

This is something that fits in with a long held goal of the president and of Ed Martin, his pardon attorney, which is that they have essentially said, quote, no MAGA left behind.

[Progressive Democrat]

This statement of pardons comes as the.

[Megyn Kelly]

President has resumed claiming the 2020 election was rig. This type of move amplifies those baseless claims once again, nearly five years later. The pardon memo framing it quite differently, quote, this proclamation ends a grave national injustice perpetrated upon the American people following the 2020 presidential election and continues the process of national reconciliation. The president did not pardon himself, saving the constitutional debate over whether he has that power for another day. Coming up, President Trump threatening the BBC with a one billion dollar defamation lawsuit over a documentary featuring a drastically edited version of his January 6th speech. And two more professional athletes wrapped up in an alleged gambling scheme. A full report as President Trump is settling into his new administration, one of the top Democrats in Congress aiming to undermine the Trump agenda is Democrat Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois. And according to our sponsor, the Electronic Payments Coalition, Senator Durbin has a new plan, 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, which means more risk for your credit and your identity. You can learn more for [e-mail] and you could consider telling your senators to stop Dick Durbin's government takeover of your credit card and before it's too late, President Trump taking on the British broadcasting corporation or BBC. The latest in Mr. Trump's crusade against media bias. Mr. Trump on Monday demanding a full retraction, apology and payment to compensate for harm caused by a BBC documentary in which the president's January 6 remarks were edited in a grossly misleading way, according to a letter obtained by the New York Times. The president setting a Friday deadline or threatening a $1 billion defamation lawsuit which would be filed in Florida, according to the BBC. The firestorm kicking off last week when the Telegraph reported on an internal whistleblower memo from a former advisor to the BBC Standards Committee, Michael Prescott, addressed to members of the BBC board. Prescott blasting the network over a range of issues, including its documentary titled A Second Chance. The doc originally airing the week before the 2024 election. Prescott writing, quote, I watched the program and found it to be neither balanced nor impartial. It seemed to be taking a distinctly anti Trump stance. Chief among the complaints, a clip of the president's remarks at The Capitol on January 6, 2021. The version aired by the BBC here.

[Donald Trump]

We're going to walk down to the Capitol and I'll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore.

[Megyn Kelly]

And here is the original version of Mr. Trump's remarks that day.

[Donald Trump]

We're going to walk down to the Capitol and we're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women and we're probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them because you'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong. We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated. Lawfully slated. I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.

[Megyn Kelly]

So they took quote, we're going to walk down to the Capitol and I'll be there with you and butted it to words about fighting like hell or you won't have a country anymore, words which actually came 54 minutes later in his speech. This is clearly unethical. They also omitted entirely Mr. Trump's words urging people to march, quote, peacefully and patriotically to make your voices heard. Prescott writing, quote, this created the impression that Trump said something he did not and in doing so materially misled viewers. On Sunday, the head of the BBC, Tim Davy, and the head of news, Deborah Turness, resigning in the wake of the controversy. The BBC is publicly funded, holding a special status in the uk the New York Times reporting, quote, it is funded primarily from an annual license fee paid by households that watch tv, supplemented by commercial revenue and it has a mandate to act in the public interest, providing impartial, high quality content that informs, educates and entertains. BBC chair Sameer Shah writing a letter Monday to the governing body overseeing the BBC, largely defending against the accusations of bias, but writing, quote, I want to make clear that we have taken Mr. Prescott's concerns seriously and considered the points he made carefully going on to say, quote, we accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action. The BBC would like to apologize for that error of judgment. As far as a response to President Trump, the BBC is, quote, considering how to respond. Donald Trump Jr. Posting to social media on the day the story originally broke, quote, the fake news reporters in the UK are just as dishonest and full of shit as the ones here in America. Well said. What is going on in the world of professional sports? 2 Major League Baseball pitchers indicted by federal prosecutors out of the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn accused of rigging pitches in an illegal gambling scheme. 26 year old Luis Ortiz and 27 year old Emmanuel Clase, both members of the Cleveland Guardians hailing from the Dominican Republic, now facing charges including wire fraud, conspiracy, honest services wire fraud. Conspiracy meaning using wire communications to betray public trust in the faithful applications of one's duties, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. Authorities arresting Ortiz Sunday in Boston. Ortiz making a court appearance yesterday, the judge setting his bond at $500,000. Ortiz will be arraigned at a later date. According to prosecutors. Class A is not yet in U.S. custody. According to the indictment, quote, the defendants conspired with bettors to rig pitches in professional baseball games so that the bettors would profit from illegal wagers made based on that inside information. Prosecutors say the men agreed in advance to throw specific types of pitches, for example, tossing a ball instead of a strike in what are known as prop bets or specific bets placed on a player's performance in return the pitcher's allegedly receiving kickback payments and bribes. The indictment alleging the unidentified bettors won at least $450,000 from betting platforms on more than 100 pitches thrown by Classe and Ortiz. NPR reporting. Quote, Classe, the Guardian's former closer and Ortiz, a starter, have been on non disciplinary paid leave since July when MLB started investigating what it said was unusually high in game betting activity when they pitched Major League Baseball. Releasing a statement to espn MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated through the process. We are aware of the indictment and today's arrest and our investigation is ongoing. If convicted on all charges, each player facing a maximum of over 65 years in prison. Ortiz's lawyer releasing a statement asserting that his client is innocent and quote, would never improperly influence a game. Classe's lawyer releasing a statement claiming Emmanuel Classe has devoted his life to baseball and doing everything in his power to help his team win. Emmanuel is innocent of all charges and looks forward to clearing his name in court. Noticeably absent from the attorney statement for Class A are the words he did not throw pitches in exchange for kickbacks. And that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megyn Kelly. Join me back here for the Megyn Kelly show live on SiriusXM's the Megyn Kelly Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com megankelly and on all podcast platforms.

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