The Megyn Kelly Show: AM Update – September 9, 2025

Podcast: The Megyn Kelly Show
Host: Megyn Kelly
Episode Title: SCOTUS Hands Trump ICE Victory, Biden Autopen News, Assassination Attempt Trial Start
Date: September 9, 2025
Platform: SiriusXM

Overview

This AM Update episode of The Megyn Kelly Show dives into major developments in U.S. politics: the Supreme Court’s decision enabling ICE patrols in Los Angeles, controversy surrounding President Biden’s use of the autopen for executive actions and pardons, and the start of the trial for the alleged would-be assassin of Donald Trump. Megyn Kelly offers brisk, pointed commentary, with major political and legal voices quoted or featured throughout.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Supreme Court Ruling: ICE Patrols Resume in Los Angeles

(00:30–05:21)

• Background: The Supreme Court, in an unsigned order, allowed the Trump administration to reinstate ICE "roving patrols" in Southern California. This overturned a previous federal court injunction that had limited such stops based on concerns of racial profiling.
• Core Arguments:
  • Pro-ICE/Trump View: The ruling is heralded as a victory for enforcing immigration laws and a check on "judicial micromanagement."
  • Concerns Raised: Immigrant groups and officials in California argue these patrols will increase racial profiling, especially of Latino communities.
• Judicial Opinions:
  • Justice Kavanaugh (Concurring):

    “Apparent ethnicity alone cannot furnish reasonable suspicion under this court's case law regarding immigration stops. However, it can be a relevant factor when considered along with other salient factors.”
    — (03:46)

  • Justice Sotomayor (Dissenting):

    “The Fourth Amendment protects every individual's constitutional right to be free from arbitrary interference by law officers. After today, that may no longer be true for those who happen to look a certain way, speak a certain way and appear to work a certain type of legitimate job that pays very little.”
    — (05:21)

• Reactions:
  • Attorney General Pam Bondi calls it “Another massive victory at the Supreme Court from the DOJ attorneys, this time defending ICE.”
  • California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticizes the decision, calling the Supreme Court "the grand marshal for a parade of racial terrorists in Los Angeles" and claiming “Trump's private police force now has a green light to come after your family.”

[Notable Moment]

• National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez (04:36) underscores the operational justifications for raids:

  “These are targeted enforcement actions... we use a number of factors... many of these people, they run as soon as our agents and officers get there. So that as well is an articulable fact that can be used for reasonable suspicion.”

2. Biden’s Auto Pen & Clemency Controversy

(05:21–10:29)

• Scope of Pardons: President Biden granted clemency to 4,225 individuals, with a staggering 95% of actions in the last 3.5 months of his term. Many documents—including a statement commuting 2,500 nonviolent drug offenders—were signed using the autopen device.
• Internal White House Concerns: Axios uncovered emails and DOJ memos questioning the validity of the process, transparency, and whether proper vetting occurred.
  • DOJ ethics attorney memo:

    “Calling the recipients nonviolent was untrue or at best misleading... we were not afforded a reasonable opportunity to vet and provide input.”

• Congressional Investigation: House Oversight Committee, led by Rep. James Comer, is investigating whether these actions are legally valid since President Biden reportedly delegated this to criteria rather than individual review.
• Question of Biden’s Capacity:
  • Rep. James Comer (09:29) highlights concerns about Biden's absence and decision-making capacity:

    “No one in the White House saw Joe Biden very often, especially during the last six months of the his presidency... These people in the Biden White House covered for Joe Biden's cognitive decline. I think that these pardons and executive orders, especially in the last few months of the Biden presidency, I think they're in legal jeopardy.”

3. Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump: Trial Begins

(10:29–14:39)

• Background: Jury selection opens in the federal trial of Ryan Ruth, accused of attempting to assassinate then-candidate Donald Trump in West Palm Beach last September.
• Trial Dynamics:
  • Ruth is representing himself, with standby public defenders.
  • Pretrial has been chaotic; Ruth's filings included inflammatory challenges, such as requesting “a round of golf with the racist pig... He wins, he can execute me. I win, I get his job.”
• Legal Commentary:
  • Former Assistant US Attorney Andy McCarthy (13:41) warns:

    “He will try to make it chaotic, make it incoherent, make it very hard to proceed... The judge will have to try to keep that reined in while allowing him to represent himself.”

• Details of the Incident: Prosecutors allege Ruth set up a sniper nest near Trump International Golf Club, was spotted by Secret Service, fled, and was later apprehended with evidence outlining planned attacks.

[Notable Moment]

• NPR reporting (14:39): Judge Cannon denied Ruth’s proposed lines of questioning about Palestine and the US purchasing Greenland due to their political charge.

4. Cabinet Infighting: Treasury Secretary Scott Besant vs. Housing Chief Bill Pulte

(14:39–17:45)

• Incident: At an elite DC dinner, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant reportedly confronted Housing Secretary Bill Pulte, accusing him of badmouthing to Trump and threatening violence.
  • Exchange (paraphrased for tone):
    • Besant:

      “Why the f are you talking to the president about me? F you. I’m going to punch you in your effing face.”

    • When Pulte asked if the confrontation was a threat, Besant replied:

      “I'm gonna beat your effing ass.”

  • Omid Malik intervened to keep the peace.
• History: Besant had previously “clashed” with Elon Musk in a heated West Wing exchange.
• Social Media: Elon Musk amplifies the dinner story by posting “hmm, indeed” to X.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Remark | |------------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:46 | Justice Kavanaugh | “Apparent ethnicity alone cannot furnish reasonable suspicion... can be a relevant factor.” | | 05:21 | Justice Sotomayor | “The Fourth Amendment protects every individual's constitutional right to be free...” | | 04:36 | Paul Perez | “These are targeted enforcement actions...as soon as our agents... get there... they run.” | | 09:29 | James Comer | “No one in the White House saw Joe Biden very often, especially during the last six months.”| | 13:41 | Andy McCarthy | “He will try to make it chaotic... The judge will have to try to keep that reined in...” |

Important Segment Timestamps

• SCOTUS ICE Decision & Analysis: 00:30–05:21
• Biden Pardons & Auto Pen Investigation: 05:21–10:29
• Trump Assassination Attempt Trial Coverage: 10:29–14:39
• Cabinet Fight Story: 14:39–17:45

Tone and Style

Megyn Kelly delivers the update with her signature brisk, wry, and unfiltered style. The episode features direct quotes, sharp critiques, and a blend of legal, political, and personality-driven news.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode offers an incisive look at three major national stories: new legal leeway for ICE under the Trump administration, escalating scrutiny on the legitimacy of President Biden’s pardons and executive actions, and the dramatic opening of a high-stakes criminal trial. For a lighter, gossipy touch amid the hard news, listeners are treated to a ‘D.C. brawl’ among top Trump officials, highlighting the current political climate’s volatility both in policy and personality.