The Megyn Kelly Show – AM Update 11/10/2025

Shutdown Nears End Amid Nationwide Airport Chaos, Push to Nuke Filibuster Grows

Episode Overview

This episode of The Megyn Kelly Show delivers a comprehensive AM update on November 10, 2025. Megyn Kelly delves into the ongoing government shutdown and its severe impact on the nation—particularly the chaos unfolding in airports across the U.S. She also covers the heated debate over ending the Senate filibuster, the latest developments in the Russia collusion probe with new grand jury subpoenas for high-ranking former intelligence officials, and the launch of Elise Stefanik's campaign for Governor of New York. Each segment features direct commentary from leading political figures, analysis of recent polling data, and key moments highlighting the current political climate.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. Government Shutdown: Breakthrough Deal Near, Ongoing Airport Chaos

• Overview of Situation and Human Impact

  • Airports nationwide are experiencing massive delays and cancellations due to the prolonged government shutdown, now the longest in history (40 days).
  • Travelers describe their experiences:
    • “Total headache. Disaster. Nightmare.” (Airport Traveler 1, 00:39)
    • “It’s terrible. It’s just terrible. I feel like the American people are being held hostage right now.” (Airport Traveler 2, 03:54)

• Senate Deal Emerges ([02:36])

  • Late-night Senate agreement on a continuing resolution to keep government funding at current levels through January 30.
  • Key departments (Agriculture, FDA, Veterans Affairs, Military Construction, Congressional operations) to be funded through September 30, 2026.
  • Additional provisions:
    • Separate December vote on Obamacare tax credit extension.
    • Funding for SNAP benefits through September 2026.
    • Assistance for federal employees laid off during the shutdown.

• Escalating Air Travel Crisis

  • FAA reduces flights at 40 major airports due to staffing shortages in air traffic control.

  • [04:00] Staffing cuts increase by 1% daily (up to 10%), risking further disruption as Thanksgiving approaches.

  • “Yesterday we had 81 staffing triggers with air traffic controllers across the airspace... That trend line is getting worse, right? More controllers aren’t coming to work day by day... I look at that data that came from the safety team and the trend line is going in the wrong direction. So I need to take action and make sure that we keep people safe.”
    — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy (05:07)

  • FAA Administrator Brian Bedford reports up to 40% of controllers absent daily; over 5,400 flights delayed Saturday alone.

  • Secretary Duffy predicts delays will persist after a return to work:

    • “If the government opens on day one, will I see an immediate response from controllers? No. The union is telling me it’s going to take time to get them all back in.” (05:58)

2. Push to Abolish Senate Filibuster

• White House Pressure and Republican Division

  • President Trump urges Senate Republicans to “go nuclear” and abolish the filibuster for legislative efficiency:

    • “[If] we don’t do the termination of the filibuster... nothing will be passed and Republicans will be blamed.” (Trump via Truth Social, paraphrased 06:31)

  • Vice President J.D. Vance supports the move, asserting Democrats would act likewise given the chance:

    • “Both [Manchin and Sinema] had their careers destroyed by the far left for protecting the filibuster. And you better believe every Senate Democrat internalized that lesson.” (07:16)

• Arguments for Preserving the Filibuster

  • Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator James Lankford (R-OK) defend the status quo:
    • “Yeah, we should not get rid of the filibuster. The filibuster has been core in the United States Senate since the early 1800s... it’s the only place in our government where both sides have to talk to each other. That’s a good thing for America.”
      — Senator James Lankford (08:24)

• GOP and Democrat Advocates for Abolition

  • Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI): “If we want to do good things for the American public, we better end the filibuster on our watch.” (09:06)
  • Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA): “I have continued to oppose the filibuster and would be happy to do away with [it]... so that we can expand and protect people’s freedoms and their rights.” (09:57)

• Potential Compromise

  • Ben Shapiro proposes a constitutional amendment to enshrine the filibuster permanently, or else abolish it:
    • “...what Republicans should do is they should say to Democrats, let’s do a constitutional amendment to enshrine the filibuster permanently. And if you won’t do it, then we’ll nuke it. I like that...” (Ben Shapiro, 10:25)

3. Russia Collusion Probe: New Subpoenas

• Grand Jury Subpoenas Issue

  • A federal grand jury subpoenas former CIA Director John Brennan, ex-FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, with up to 30 more expected.
  • Probe focuses on the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation and possible “conspiracy against rights”.

• Background and Revelations

  • DOJ investigation into alleged misconduct and politicization of intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

  • Infamous text exchange:

    • Lisa Page: “Trump’s not ever going to become president. Right? Right?”
    • Peter Strzok: “No. No he won’t. We’ll stop it.” (Recalled at 15:15)

  • Brennan’s involvement with the Steele dossier and internal disputes over its inclusion in the 2017 ICA scrutinized.

    • “Yes, but doesn’t it ring true?” — Reported Brennan quote regarding inclusion of the dossier (16:32)

• Prognosis

  • Subpoenas could be a prelude to criminal charges; the scope of the investigation remains tightly held.

4. Elise Stefanik Launches NY Gubernatorial Bid

• Campaign Message

  • Stefanik targets Governor Kathy Hochul and NY Mayor-Elect Zoran Mamdani:
    • “Kathy Hochul made New York the most unaffordable state in the nation, crushing families with sky high taxes, unaffordable rent, soaring energy costs and record high grocery bills and cozied up to a defund the police tax hiking anti Semitic communist... The spirit of the Empire State cannot be broken. Elise Stefanik will make New York affordable and safe.” (Stefanik, 17:03)
  • Campaign aims to win over independents and moderate Democrats alienated by Hochul and Mamdani’s policies.

• Political Landscape

  • Republican statewide prospects are daunting; no GOP win in NY since 2002.
  • Polling shows volatile voter sentiment:
    • Manhattan Institute poll: Stefanik ahead by 1 point (43-42).
    • Siena College poll: Hochul up by 25 points (52-27).

• Stefanik as a National Voice Against Antisemitism

  • Highlights her December 2023 Congressional hearing moment confronting Ivy League leaders:
    • “Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard’s rules of bullying and harassment? Yes or no?” (Airport Traveler 2 quoting Stefanik, 19:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Airport Travelers on Shutdown

  • “Total headache. Disaster. Nightmare.” (Airport Traveler 1, 00:39)
  • “I feel like the American people are being held hostage right now.” (Airport Traveler 2, 03:54)

• Secretary Duffy’s Warnings

  • “More controllers aren’t coming to work day by day. The further they go without a paycheck because Democrats refuse to pay them.” (05:07)
  • “If the government opens on day one, will I see an immediate response from controllers? No.” (05:58)

• Senator Lankford Defends Filibuster

  • “It’s the only place in our government where both sides have to talk to each other. That’s a good thing for America.” (08:24)

• Senator Ron Johnson’s Realism

  • “If we want to do good things for the American public, we better end the filibuster on our watch.” (09:35)

• Ben Shapiro’s Proposal

  • “Let’s do a constitutional amendment to enshrine the filibuster permanently. And if you won’t do it, then we’ll nuke it.” (10:25)

• Lisa Page & Peter Strzok’s Texts

  • “Trump’s not ever going to become president. Right? Right?” — Lisa Page
  • “No. No he won’t. We’ll stop it.” — Peter Strzok (recalled by Megyn Kelly, 15:15)

• Elise Stefanik’s Campaign Launch

  • “From the ashes of Kathy Hochul’s failed policies, New York will rise like we always do. The spirit of the Empire State cannot be broken.” (Stefanik, 17:03)

• Congressional Hearing on Antisemitism

  • “Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard’s rules of bullying and harassment? Yes or no?... This is why you should resign. These are unacceptable answers across the board.” (Stefanik, quoted, 19:26)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:32 — Megyn Kelly AM Update intro
• 00:39 – 06:31 — Shutdown impact on airports, Senate deal, FAA & Secretary Duffy statements
• 06:31 – 10:51 — Filibuster debate: Republican and Democrat perspectives, Shapiro’s proposal
• 10:51 – 17:40 — Russia probe subpoenas, grand jury focus, background on Strzok, Page, Brennan
• 17:03 – 19:54 — Elise Stefanik’s campaign for NY governor, polling, strategy, congressional hearing moment

Tone and Style

The episode maintains Megyn Kelly’s trademark direct, no-nonsense style, blending news summaries, analysis, and pointed commentary. She provides a platform for various voices, presenting arguments from multiple political sides without masking the urgency and frustration of the moment.

Listeners will leave this episode well-informed on the government shutdown negotiations, the growing pressure to abolish the Senate filibuster, new developments in the Russia investigation, and the opening shots of the 2026 New York gubernatorial race.