
Spirit Airlines shuts down after years of financial strain and a blocked JetBlue merger during the Biden administration, canceling all flights overnight and stranding passengers as rivals step in to help. President Trump rejects Iran’s latest peace proposal, while launching “Project Freedom” to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions and surging gas prices. Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow of Michigan faces scrutiny over resurfaced tweets criticizing the Midwest and questions about voting in California. A historic Kentucky Derby sees long-shot Golden Tempo surge to victory, delivering the first win for a female trainer and a rare one-two finish for jockey brothers. 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 data for just $34.99 a month!
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Megyn Kelly
Good morning everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Monday, May 4, 2026 and this is your AM update.
Political Analyst
There was a significant effort by President Trump in the administration to make it happen, but in the end a deal couldn't be reached.
Megyn Kelly
Spirit Airlines abruptly shutting down after years of financial troubles and a blocked merger by the Biden doj, canceling all flights and leaving passengers scrambling to get President Trump rejecting Iran's latest peace proposal while announcing the US Will begin guiding ships to safely make it through the Strait of Hormuz.
Mallory McMorrow
I tweeted normal things like a normal person and people are desperate for authenticity.
Megyn Kelly
US Senate candidate from Michigan, Mallory McMorrow, facing scrutiny over resurfaced social media posts critical of working class voters and questions surrounding her voting record and a Kentucky Derby for the history books, the first female trainer to win the race and jockey brothers battling to a stunning onew finish. And what about that horse? All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update. Here's a question.
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Megyn Kelly
Spirit Airlines officially going out of business over the weekend after 34 years. The discount airline releasing a statement Saturday morning quote it is with great disappointment that Spirit Airlines has started winding down its global operations effective immediately. All flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available. The statement indicating customers with outstanding tickets will be refunded. Thousands of passengers as well as pilots and crew left stranded as a result of the sudden closure. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announcing a coordinated effort among US Airlines to return passengers home at costs similar to their discount Spirit Tickets. United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest are all capping ticket prices for Spirit customers with proof of ticket purchases on the now defunct airline. In addition, American, Delta, Allegiant and Frontier will offer temporary discounts to all passengers traveling routes overlapping with Spirit. Some airlines also offering the ability for Spirit's 17,000 employees to jump the line in applying for a new job. The collapse comes after years of financial hardship for the airline. In 2023, the Biden department of justice, backed by several states, suing to block a proposed merger between Spirit and JetBlue, a deal the airline had hoped would stabilize its finances. Then Attorney General Merrick Garland announcing the interference.
Merrick Garland
Our complaint alleges that JetBlue's proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act. We allege that if allowed to proceed, this merger will limit choices and drive up ticket prices for passengers across the country. And we further allege that the impact of this merger will be particularly harmful for travelers who rely on what are known as ultra low cost carriers in order to fly. Those include working and middle class Americans who travel for personal as opposed to business reasons and who must pay their own way. By acquiring Spirit, JetBlue will eliminate the largest ultra low cost carrier in the United States.
Megyn Kelly
That's our job, basically, said the Biden administration, blocking the merger and effectively signing Spirit's death warrant. Then Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in this Politico interview, fully backing the move.
Pete Buttigieg
Our department The Department of Transportation has generally not gotten involved in these merger cases, but that's changing today. It is so important to make sure that passengers have choices, that they have access to low fares, that they have access to competition. And yet we've seen less and less and less of that competition over the years. We are taking a step that again is unusual in terms of recent years, but we think is the right thing to do, supporting the DOJ's lawsuit and independently using our own authorities, which are a little bit different from the doj, starting our own investigation and taking other actions.
Megyn Kelly
In early 2024, a federal judge blocking the merger, agreeing with the Biden DOJ that the $3.8 billion merger was anti competitive in March of that year, JetBlue formally abandoning plans to acquire Spirit. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, posting to X at the time, quote, I've warned for months that a JetBlue Spirit Airlines merger would have led to fewer flights and higher fares. This is a Biden win for Flyers, totally a huge boon for the consumer. Assuming of course that Chief Lizalot had some plan up her sleeve to solve Spirit's $500 billion losses two years in a row by that point, which made a merger appear kind of necessary because without a plan, Democrats were sealing the airline's fate. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant yesterday on Fox blaming the Biden administration for Spirit's collapse.
Scott Baier
This is just more of the mess we inherited from the Biden administration in 2020, September 2022. Elizabeth Warren, who loves to write letters, sent, sent a letter to the Justice Department, to the labor, to the Transport Department saying that they should oppose the merger with Spirit Airlines. JetBlue wanted to buy them for $3.8 billion. It would have given them much more resiliency. And she and the transportation secretary, people to judge, is probably the worst transportation secretary in history. When he came to the office, they also, they were against the merger and if JetBlue had merged with Spirit, we would have all, all these jobs that were lost. Yesterday we had 30 airport, 30 regional airports who have lost service. But the reason we were here was because the merger, the Biden administration opposed the merger. We shouldn't have been here in the first place.
Megyn Kelly
Spirit Airlines representatives in the statement announcing its closure writing, quote, despite the company's efforts, the recent material increase in oil prices and other pressures on the business have significantly impacted Spirit's financial outlook. With no additional funding available to the company, Spirit had no choice but to begin this wind down. Secretary Duffy speaking to reporters on Saturday disputing claims that Rising oil prices are to blame for the closure.
Political Analyst
Once the merger was denied in 2024, Spirit filed for bankruptcy immediately after the denial. And then last August, Spirit again filed for bankruptcy. So Spirit was in dire straits long before the war with Iran. Multiple times they had filed for bankruptcy, their model wasn't working, they couldn't get to fiscal. So this, this was not the impetus, the, the war was not the impetus for Spirit.
Megyn Kelly
It is true, however, that the Iran war is causing airline costs to soar. Axios reporting just days ago that, quote, global jet fuel prices are skyrocketing and supply is dwindling due to the Iran war. Spirit Airlines has suffered, as have several other carriers in Europe, the Mideast and domestically. American Airlines, for example, has announced that the soaring price of jet fuel will cost it another $4 billion this year, wiping out its forecast profits, reports the Guardian. In the days leading up to Spirit's collapse, the Trump administration considering a possible $500 million bailout for Spirit. Secretary Duffy saying, however, quote, there was a significant effort by President Trump and the administration to make it happen, but in the end a deal could not be reached. President Trump on Sunday afternoon announcing the US will begin guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid the war with Iran. Mr. Trump writing on Truth Social, quote, countries from all over the world have asked the United States if we could help free up their ships which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz on something which they have absolutely nothing to do with. The Post continuing, quote, we have told these countries that we will guide their ships safely out of these restricted waterways so that they can freely and ably get on with their business. The effort, dubbed Project Freedom, expected to begin Monday morning local time. It will instruct US flagged ships and others how to safely navigate passages of the strait which has been closed by Iran. According to the Wall Street Journal. The outlet describing Project Freedom as a joint effort between the State Department and U.S. central Command. The president warning any interference with this process will be dealt with forcefully. Over the weekend, President Trump receiving a 14 point peace plan from the Iranians. That plan reportedly calling on the US to withdraw from areas near the Iranian border, end the naval blockade of Iranian ports and cease all hostilities, including Israel's campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman telling state media this plan did not include nuclear negotiations. President Trump yesterday morning telling reporter Nathan Gutman, correspondent for the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation based in D.C. the latest deal is not acceptable. However, discussions with Iran remain ongoing. Despite rejecting the latest proposal. President Trump characterizing the Talks as, quote, very positive at home. More than two months into this conflict, gas prices reaching new highs. AAA reporting the national average is at $4.45 now per gallon, a $1.28 increase from this time last year. It was 509 a gallon in our neighborhood this weekend for unleaded regular. With midterms just six months away, it's not only gas prices but President Trump's poll numbers that are moving in the wrong direction. A new poll from the Washington Post, ABC and ipsos finding that 66% of Americans disapprove of how the President is handling this war. Mr. Trump's overall disapproval rating is also at a new high. 62% of adults say they disapprove, compared to 37% who say they approve. Among Republicans who make up about 29% of the electorate. President Trump holding steady with an 85% approval rating. Support among Republican leaning independents dropping to a new low however of 56%. His approval rating among all independents, 25%. Coming up, US Senate candidate from Michigan, Democrat Mallory McMorrow responding to resurfaced social media posts and some questions about her voting history. And a stunning Kentucky Derby finish. A victory for the record books.
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Megyn Kelly
U.S. senate Democrat primary candidate in Michigan, Mallory McMorrow, responding to resurfaced social media posts, making fun of the state she hopes to represent. And new questions now surfacing regarding her voting history. McMurrow, currently serving as Michigan's state Senate Majority whip, is running in a competitive primary ahead of what's expected to be a closely watched general election as Democrats target key seats in their bid to take control of the U.S. senate. CNN reporting last week that McMorrow, who moved to Michigan from California in 2014, deleted about 6,000 old tweets, some of which mock rural Midwesterners and lament leaving California. Others admit to McMorrow still voting in California elections even after she moved to Michigan. The account wiped following a New York Post report last year on McMorrow's tweets dating back to the 2016 election. In one example, McMurrow affirming a post from someone else suggesting that it's not the elites but white working class voters who are out of touch with the rest of the country and who need to reach outside of their comfort zone. McMurrow also adding to the thread Empathy should go both ways, but Trump's base fears what they've never seen. It's the Trump base that fears the coastal elites, not the other way around, in McMurrell's view. CNN reporting the now deleted posts containing, quote, a range of progressive views from contemplating a future without cars to supporting the Black Lives Matter movement to comparing President Donald Trump and his supporters to Nazis in the wake of supreme court Justice Antonin Scalia's 2016 death. McMurray posting quote, thoughts after Scalia on life Never be the type of person that makes people cheer when you're dead. One day prior to the official certification of President Trump's 2016 election victory. McMurray posting quote, There are days like these that make me miss California even more. The 2016 election marking the first time a Republican had won Michigan since 1988. McMurray on CNN yesterday saying the deleted tweets are proof of just how authentic she is.
Mallory McMorrow
I think the bigger liability is somebody who's been so concerned that one day they might run for office that everything about them is manufactured. And if that is what you're looking for, there are two other opponents in this race who fit that bill. I am not somebody who wanted to be in office or wanted to be in Congress. When I was in divers, I started my career as a car designer and then I worked in a very different career and wasn't thinking about it. I tweeted normal things like a normal person and people are desperate for authenticity. So that is what we need in November.
Megyn Kelly
CNN also reporting on possible discrepancies in McMorrow's voting record, noting that despite writing in her 2025 autobiography that she, quote, relocated permanently to Michigan in 2014, she continued to describe herself on social media as a California resident as late as July 2016. McMorrow's posts containing repeated references to voting in California's June 2016 Democratic PR with public records showing she registered to vote in Michigan in August 2016. McMurray addressing these posts, of course you're
Interviewer
required to vote in the state you're a resident of, so why would you be voting in California two years after moving to Michigan?
Mallory McMorrow
So we decided to move to Michigan in 2014. I was still working in Southern California. My then boyfriend, now husband was working in Michigan. Like a lot of millennials, moving takes time. It was a two year process to finally settle in Michig and I registered to vote in Michigan in August of 2016 and voted in the general election in November that year.
Interviewer
But you wrote you relocated permanently in 2014 and you also posted an Instagram post that you had moved out of California and that was before the June 16 primary in that state. Should you have voted in the 2016 primary in California?
Mallory McMorrow
We still had our place out in Southern California and as I mentioned, we had multiple jobs. Moving is ugly. I wish we could have just up and moved in one fell swoop. But that's not the case. Just it is for a lot of people.
Megyn Kelly
CNN finding a series of posts from 2024 in which McMurrow admonishes an X user who says he is registered in Michigan despite living in Los angeles for work. McMorrow writing quote, so you moved for work and live in California but are registered somewhere you no longer live. That's illegal. Early voting begins July 6, the primary election set for Aug. 4. The Real Clear Politics polling average showing McMorrow in second right now with 20.7 points, slightly trailing Abdul El Said, who's averaging 23 points. The winner likely to face former GOP Congressman Mike Rogers in the November general election.
Race Announcer
O Sally is also gaining ground on the far outside as they come to the last 16th of a mile. Danon Bourbon in front of but both selling a huge long shot. Renegade and Golden Tempo are closing two here's Golden Tempo, Golden Tempo and Sheree Demo make history in the Kentucky Derby over Renegade in a final time of 202.27 seconds.
Megyn Kelly
A thrilling finish at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Golden Tempo with jockey Jose Ortiz storming from last place to win as a 23. One long shot in a dramatic run at Churchill Downs, the victory marking a historic moment. Trainer Cherie deveau becoming the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby and just the second to win any triple crown race. DeVoe on NBC, reacting moments after the win.
Cherie DeVoe
I don't even have any words right now. I just can't just so, so, so happy for the Golden Tempo. Jose did a wonderful job, masterful job at getting him there. He's so far out of it and he has had so much faith in this horse. I want to say thank you to the team of St. Elias and 5th stable for giving me an opportunity to be here. I'm glad that I could be a representative of all women everywhere that we can do anything to set our minds to.
Megyn Kelly
Finishing second Renegade, a horse written by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Irad is the brother of the winner Jose Ortiz. The one two finish marking the first brother duo to place first and second in the Derby. The two men sharing an emotional moment just past the finish line, grabbing each other by the arm after the race in a celebration they've dreamed of for more than a decade. This 2015 interview with the New York Racing Association.
Interviewer
I know you guys have accomplished so much in a short period of time. If you had one major goal, one thing that you want to do more than anything else in this game, what would it be for me is win the Derby. And you know, that's my dream and hopefully I can do it. Jose, how about you?
Jose Ortiz
Kentucky Derby, of course, should be the greatest goal in my career.
Interviewer
Well, I got a feeling we're going to see that happen for both of you and maybe one day you guys will sweep the card. How about that?
Jose Ortiz
Thank you. Yeah, hopefully.
Megyn Kelly
Winner Jose Ortiz in a post race press conference reflecting on competing against his brother.
Jose Ortiz
Well, obviously he was on, I felt like he was on a closer on Renegade, a little uncomfortable position. So I knew he was gonna drop a little bit to the back. But I also knew he's a very nice horse, so I was expecting him to run a very good race, maybe win it. So it was one of my target to follow and I did. I wasn't expecting it, but I was like, I could see it happening but I don't know he was going to be second. You know, I just, I mean it's good for him hit on second. Like I said before, hopefully he get the opportunity to win it one day, but it wasn't today.
Megyn Kelly
The win coming in Jose's 11th try at the Kentucky Derby, his first time taking home the trophy. Golden tempo's team winning 3.1 million bucks in prize money with runner up Renegade earning $1 million back to back third place finishes in this horse's two most recent races gave some pause on Golden Tempo, who was bred by Phipps Stables. And St. Elias Stables, but no one's doubting him now. If you bet a hundred bucks on this horse, you went home with 2,300 in profit. Not bad. The Kentucky Derby marking the first leg of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing, followed by the Preakness Stakes on May 16, then the Belmont Stakes set for June 6. A Triple Crown sweep winning all races, the Derby, Preakness and Belmont remaining one of the most difficult achievements in sports accomplished by only 13 horses in history. We will have an in depth report on this amazing story later today on the MK Show. And that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megyn Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show live on SiriusXM's the Megyn Kelly Channel 111 and at new east on YouTube.com Megan Kelly and on all podcast platforms.
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This episode of The Megyn Kelly Show delivers a fast-paced morning update focused on three central stories: the dramatic collapse of Spirit Airlines, President Trump’s rejection of Iran’s latest peace plan and new involvement in the Strait of Hormuz, and a landmark Kentucky Derby featuring the first female trainer to win the race. Megyn also covers political developments in Michigan’s Senate race, including candidate Mallory McMorrow's resurfaced social media controversy.
Megyn Kelly:
"Spirit Airlines officially going out of business over the weekend after 34 years... canceling all flights and leaving passengers scrambling." ([00:47])
"If allowed to proceed, this merger will limit choices and drive up ticket prices ... particularly harmful for travelers who rely on ultra low cost carriers." ([04:43])
"It is so important to make sure that passengers have choices ... we've seen less and less and less of that competition over the years." ([05:40])
"If JetBlue had merged with Spirit, we would have all these jobs that were lost... the Biden administration opposed the merger. We shouldn't have been here in the first place." ([07:16])
"Spirit was in dire straits long before the war with Iran... their model wasn't working, they couldn't get to fiscal." ([08:41])
"By acquiring Spirit, JetBlue will eliminate the largest ultra low cost carrier in the United States." ([04:43])
"Blocking the merger...effectively signing Spirit's death warrant." ([05:28])
"There was a significant effort by President Trump ... but in the end a deal could not be reached." ([00:39])
"We have told these countries that we will guide their ships safely out of these restricted waterways..." ([09:10])
"The latest deal is not acceptable. However, discussions with Iran remain ongoing." ([09:10])
"A new poll ... finding that 66% of Americans disapprove of how the President is handling this war." ([09:10])
"People are desperate for authenticity. So that is what we need in November." ([16:30])
"I tweeted normal things like a normal person and people are desperate for authenticity." ([01:08], repeated at [16:30])
"I'm glad that I could be a representative of all women everywhere that we can do anything to set our minds to." ([20:18])
"Hopefully he [his brother] gets the opportunity to win it one day, but it wasn't today." ([21:51])
"...it is with great disappointment that Spirit Airlines has started winding down its global operations effective immediately. All flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available." ([03:15])
"By acquiring Spirit, JetBlue will eliminate the largest ultra low cost carrier in the United States." ([04:43])
"We are taking a step that again is unusual in terms of recent years, but we think is the right thing..." ([05:40])
"If JetBlue had merged with Spirit ... we wouldn't have all these jobs that were lost." ([07:16])
"I tweeted normal things like a normal person and people are desperate for authenticity." ([16:30])
"I'm glad that I could be a representative of all women everywhere that we can do anything to set our minds to." ([20:18])
"The Kentucky Derby, of course, should be the greatest goal in my career." ([21:31])
| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------|------------| | Spirit Airlines Collapse | 03:15-09:10| | Iran War, Trump, Project Freedom | 09:10-13:10| | Michigan Senate Race – McMorrow | 14:17-19:20| | Kentucky Derby Historic Win | 19:20-22:31|
This AM Update from Megyn Kelly offers a comprehensive, tightly-packed summary of major U.S. news, combining sharp political commentary with high human-interest sports. The collapse of Spirit Airlines is dissected through policy and economic lenses, Trump’s foreign policy on Iran examined alongside poll impacts, and the episode closes on a feel-good, historic Kentucky Derby story.
Listeners walk away up to date on aviation, foreign policy, election drama, and sporting history — all delivered in Megyn’s signature bracing, slightly sardonic tone.