Podcast Summary: The Megyn Kelly Show – "Tapper Pressed on Biden Coverage, DOJ Charges Dem Rep, Rubio's Fiery Senate Hearing: AM Update 5/21"

Released on May 21, 2025 by SiriusXM

1. Jake Tapper Criticizes Legacy Media's Coverage of Biden's Cognitive Decline

In the opening segment, Megyn Kelly introduces CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson, who discuss their collaborative book, Original Sin. The book alleges that legacy media has neglected the apparent cognitive decline of President Joe Biden, suggesting a systemic effort to conceal his mental fitness.

• Legacy Media Accountability: Tapper emphasizes the need for introspection within traditional media outlets regarding their coverage of Biden’s cognitive state.

  "There should be a lot of soul searching, not just among me, but among the legacy media." (00:09)

• Pressure from the Biden White House: Tapper recounts attempts by the Biden administration to pressure him into altering his reporting stance.

  "Alina Hopper wanted me to admit to doing something that I did not do, and I was not going to do that." (00:25)

• Insights from Original Sin: The book details interviews with over 200 Democratic insiders and White House staffers, revealing efforts to downplay Biden's cognitive issues and suppress challenging questions from the press.

  "We're very sure of our story. It wasn't just in our book. It was thoroughly fact-checked in the New Yorker, who did an excerpt of it and we stand by it." (08:00)

• Reflections on Media Coverage: Tapper admits shortcomings in past media coverage, acknowledging moments where more aggressive journalism was necessary.

  "I wish I could do differently." (04:25)

• Disastrous June 2024 Debate: Tapper describes the June 2024 presidential debate as the worst in history, highlighting Biden's perceived lack of awareness and performance issues.

  "Holy smokes. Now what I was thinking was, holy fuck. Dana writes to me on a piece of paper. He just lost the election... the worst debate in the history of presidential debates." (05:06)

2. DOJ Charges Democratic Congresswoman LaMonica McIver

Megyn Kelly transitions to a significant political development involving New Jersey House Democrat LaMonica McIver. Following a confrontation at an ICE detention center, McIver faces criminal charges.

• Incident Overview: On May 9, McIver and fellow Democrats attempted to tour Delaney Hall in Newark, leading to a scuffle with law enforcement. Mayor Roz Baraka was briefly arrested but released.

  "Body cam footage shows Congresswoman McIver physically engaging with the officers." (08:00)

• DOJ Actions: Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Haba dropped charges against Mayor Baraka to "move forward" and initiated charges against McIver for alleged assault and interference with law enforcement.

  "Congresswoman McIver... calling the charges, 'purely political,' saying she looks forward to clearing her name in court." (09:50)

• Political Reactions: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic leaders condemned the charges as extreme and politically motivated.

  "The criminal charge against Congresswoman LaMonica McIver is extreme, morally bankrupt and lacks any basis in law or fact." (10:05)

• President Trump's Stance: Trump criticized the charges, labeling McIver as "out of control" and declaring an end to "woke" policies.

  "That woman was out of control. The days of that crap are over in this country." (10:48)

3. Testimonies in Sean "Diddy" Combs' Criminal Trial

The episode delves into the ongoing criminal trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, focusing on testimonies that shed light on Combs' alleged illicit activities.

• David James' Testimony: Combs' former assistant, David James, details his responsibilities, including setting up drug supplies and handling personal items without reimbursement to avoid company records.

  "I frequently procured drugs for Combs' friends, including cocaine." (11:00)

• Sheree Hayes' Testimony: Mail stripper Sheree Hayes describes orchestrated "sexy scenes" involving baby oil at the Trump International Hotel, noting that Combs never appeared intoxicated during these events.

  "My understanding was we were creating a scene, a sexy scene that was enjoyable to her partner." (13:00)

• Evidence Presented: Special Agent Gerard Gannon revealed items found in Combs' Miami home, including sex toys, lingerie, and AR15 parts, indicating a possible connection to firearms and illicit activities.

  "Agents found platform high heels, sex toys, baby oil, personal lubricant and lingerie in Mr. Combs's closet, as well as parts to AR15 rifles and loaded magazines." (14:00)

4. Marco Rubio's Fiery Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing

Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced intense scrutiny during his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, marking his first appearance since securing unanimous confirmation.

• Clashes with Democratic Senators: Rubio engaged in heated exchanges with Democrats, particularly Senator Chris Van Hollen, who criticized Rubio's "America First" policies and likened them to McCarthy-era tactics.

  "Like the McCarthy era witch hunts of the 1950s, your campaign of fear and repression is eating away at foundational values of our democracy." (15:24)

• Rubio's Defense: Rubio dismissed the criticisms, asserting pride in his administration's foreign policy decisions, including the restructuring of the State Department and immigration enforcement.

  "I'm actually very proud of the work we've done with USAID... We deported gang members." (16:17)

• Controversial Statements on Refugees: During the hearing, Rubio controversially stated that the U.S. has the right to prioritize refugee admissions based on race, sparking backlash and accusations of racial bias.

  "The United States has a right to pick and choose who they allow into the United States, even based on the color of somebody's skin." (17:22)

• Implications: The exchange highlighted deep partisan divides over immigration and foreign policy, raising questions about the future direction of U.S. international relations.

Conclusion

This episode of The Megyn Kelly Show provides a comprehensive update on significant political and legal developments, including media accountability concerning President Biden's cognitive health, legal challenges faced by Democratic Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, intricate details from Sean "Diddy" Combs' criminal trial, and the contentious Senate hearing of Secretary Marco Rubio. Through in-depth discussions and notable quotes, Kelly offers listeners a nuanced understanding of these pressing issues.

Notable Quotes:

• "There should be a lot of soul searching, not just among me, but among the legacy media." — Jake Tapper (00:09)

• "Holy smokes. Now what I was thinking was, holy fuck... the worst debate in the history of presidential debates." — Jake Tapper (05:06)

• "The days of woke. No, I didn't." — Jake Tapper responding to President Trump (10:41)

• "The United States has a right to pick and choose who they allow into the United States, even based on the color of somebody's skin." — Marco Rubio (17:22)

Note: Timestamps are referenced based on the provided transcript for easy navigation to specific sections.