Tapper Pressed on Biden Coverage, DOJ Charges Dem Rep, Rubio's Fiery Senate Hearing: AM Update 5/21

Summary

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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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)

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

Transcript

[Megyn Kelly]

Good morning, everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Wednesday, May 21, 2025, and this is your AM update.

[Jake Tapper]

There should be a lot of soul searching, not just among me, but among the legacy media.

[Megyn Kelly]

To begin with, CNN's Jake Tapper admitting legacy media needs to do some soul searching over their coverage of the very obvious cognitive decline of President Joe Biden.

[Jake Tapper]

Alina Hopper wanted me to admit to doing something that I did not do, and I was not going to do that.

[Megyn Kelly]

A New Jersey House Democrat facing charges following an altercation at an ICE detention center earlier this month. New voices in the courtroom. Witnesses take the stand in the criminal case against Sean Diddy. Combs, shedding light on what they say really happened. And Marco Rubio battles with Democrat senators in a fiery hearing. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM upd. I would like to introduce you to a new brand of Angus beef. You can order it directly from Riverbend Ranch, which is located just a few miles from West Yellowstone, Montana. Riverbend Ranch raises their cattle a lot differently than most ranches. For example, they never use artificial growth hormones or antibiotics. They track the health of every animal from the day it is born and can guarantee that it has been healthy every day of its life. And they handle their animals humanely and with respect. But most important is the quality of the beef. You'll find it as tender and flavorful as the finest restaurants, and that's because they have spent the last 35 years selecting cattle for tenderness and flavor, aging their beef to perfection for 21 days. The result is some of the most tender and flavorful beef you have ever tasted. You cannot buy beef like this in a grocery store. And since it is shipped directly from the ranch to your home, you get a much better price than going through the middlemen. Order directly from Riverbendranch.com use promo code Megan to get 20 bucks off your first order. That's Riverbendranch.com code Megan. And be prepared. Once you taste it, you're going to be coming back for more again. That's Riverbendranch.com, code Megan. CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson joining the Megyn Kelly show on Tuesday for their first extended interview promoting their new book, Original Sin. The book, citing interviews with more than 200 Democrat insiders and Biden White House staffers, details the behind the scenes efforts to conceal the true state of President Joe Biden's cognitive decline, including threatening or retaliating against reporters who dared to question Mr. Biden's mental fitness. Many in legacy media caving to that pressure or not needing any pressure at all to protect Mr. Biden and ignoring what was apparent to this listening audience for years. President Biden was undergoing significant cognitive decline. Your Humble reporter questioning Mr. Tapper on his role in the COVID up. It could only ever work if you allowed it, if the press allowed it. Some of us tried not to and some of us were complicit.

[Jake Tapper]

The Biden White House did not like me. Okay. This is. I do not have great connections with the Biden White House.

[Megyn Kelly]

Well, clearly a lot of sources. You say you Talked to over 200 sources for this book. This is after the election could have called and worked.

[Jake Tapper]

No, that's the point is that they were not being honest. That's the point that Wall Street Journal.

[Megyn Kelly]

Get it in June of 2024. And Jake Tapper and CNN couldn't find sources for this story. Then before he dropped out, Annie Lynske.

[Jake Tapper]

And Siobhan Hughes did an amazing job in their reporting. And they should be heralded. And I heralded them. I had them on my show right after the debate to talk about their great reporting, but to the debate.

[Megyn Kelly]

But you did not put them on when they published that story, which was before the debate.

[Jake Tapper]

Correct. If we're gonna do this, let's just stick to the facts here, okay? When there is a damaging report.

[Megyn Kelly]

That's what I've been doing all along.

[Jake Tapper]

I'm talking about what you just said.

[Megyn Kelly]

The biggest story of the century when it comes to presidential politics. And one of us did. Mr. Tapper called the book reporting process humbling, admitting that he should have pushed harder on the Biden White House and revealing he called Lara Trump to apologize for dismissing her 2020 concerns about Mr. Biden's cognitive decline. He says it's now time for the corporate press to reflect.

[Jake Tapper]

And Alex and I are here to say that conservative media was right and conservative media was correct and that there should be a lot of soul searching, not just among me, but among the legacy media to begin with. All of us, for how this was covered or not covered sufficiently. 100%. So I mean, I'm not here to defend coverage that I've already acknowledged. I wish I could do differently.

[Megyn Kelly]

Mr. Tapper, who moderated the disastrous June 2024 debate that forced many on the left to finally admit President Biden was not up to the job, describing what that moment was like from the front row.

[Jake Tapper]

So we have iPads because you can't communicate, obviously talking to your control room during a debate. We have iPads. I wrote holy smokes. Now what I was thinking was, holy fuck. Dana writes to me on a piece of paper. He just lost the election. And it was just, I mean, it is, I don't think this is hyperbole at all. The worst debate in the history of presidential debates going back to 1960. I just can't think of anything even remotely close to it.

[Megyn Kelly]

And then you saw him immediately after you write in the book and he seemed like unaware, that oblivious.

[Jake Tapper]

Did I just see that? Was that, did, did I just witness this 90 minute event?

[Megyn Kelly]

For years, critics of the Biden administration have questioned who was really running the White House. Original Sin offering the clearest answer yet, reporting that four senior aides effectively ran the country with President Biden described as at most, quote, unquote, a senior member of the board. Reporter Alex Thompson with more.

[Jake Tapper]

The people that we're naming would be Mike Donnell, Steve Rachetti. Mike Donald's his top political advisor. Steve Rochetti is his top legislative advisor. Ron Klain, when he was chief of staff. Bruce Reed, his basically longtime policy advisor. You can. Those are sort of the four. They were known as a politburo. Gray hairs, poobas and, and they were with him the most of anybody. Now if you were to ask them, and I still think even if you put them on truth serum today, they would say he was fine. Then there's this other sort of group that aren't the politburo but are just as powerful. And they were the ones that kept the schedule, affected personnel and really built the bubble. And that would be Annie Tomasini, who was deputy chief of staff and previously Oval Office operations. And then Anthony Bernal, who was the top aide slash enforcer for First Lady Jill Biden and had incredible influence. The point that even people in the Biden White House would refer to her as one of the most powerful first ladies in history.

[Megyn Kelly]

The book facing criticism not just from the right, but from the left as well, including some Biden allies, including former ambassador and Democratic fundraiser Rufus Gifford, who pushed back on its account of a now infamous fundraiser who hosted by George Clooney and Julia Roberts. According to original sin, Mr. Clooney, a longtime friend of President Biden's, was reportedly stunned, stunned when the President did not recognize him. George Clooney. That anecdote appearing to align with Mr. Clooney's later op ed following the June 2024 debate, where he acknowledged only after the disastrous debate that he had earlier seen Mr. Biden's decline. But Gifford, who attended the event, says the book got it wrong, insisting there was no moment where Mr. Biden failed to recognize Clooney. Mr. Tapper, responding to that pushback, we.

[Jake Tapper]

Just went through as a country, years and years of the Biden people lying and denying, and I'm not particularly interested in pretending any of that is credible. We are 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. And I I don't really care what Rufus says.

[Megyn Kelly]

The full interview with Tapper and Thompson, including many new details from the book, is available on the Megyn Kelly show feed, on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. On Monday, interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey Alina Haba announcing two actions tied to a recent clash between Democratic lawmakers and law enforcement at an ICE detention facility. On May 9, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez and Lamonica McIver arrived at Delaney hall in Newark seeking a tour. Newark Mayor Roz Baraka, a vocal critic of the facility, also showed up. Tensions escalated, leading to a scuffle, the Trump administration accusing the Democrats of storming the facility. Mayor Baraka was arrested for misdemeanor trespassing, but released the same day. Body cam footage shows Congresswoman McIver physically engaging with the officers. On Monday, U.S. attorney Haba dropped the charges against Baraka, quote, for the sake of moving forward, offering to personally tour the facility with him. Haba then announcing charges against Congresswoman McIver for allegedly assaulting and interfering with law enforcement, saying she had, quote, given her every opportunity to come to a resolution. Congresswoman McIver firing back, calling the charges, quote, purely political, saying she looks forward to clearing her name in court. On cnn, the congresswoman implying she rejected a plea deal.

[Jake Tapper]

Well, the Justice Department and Alina Hoppa wanted me to admit to doing something that I did not do and I was not going to do that. Once again, I came there to do my job and conduct an oversight visit and they wanted me to say something differently.

[Megyn Kelly]

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other members of the House Democrat Leadership Committee condemning the move in a joint written statement, quote, the criminal charge against Congresswoman LaMonica McIver is extreme, morally bankrupt and lacks any basis in law or fact. A statement characterizing the charges as, quote, a blatant attempt by the Trump administration to intimidate Congress and interfere with our ability to serve as a check and balance on an out of control executive branch. President Trump asked about the charges on Tuesday. Oh, give me a break. Did you see her? She was out of control. Those days are over. The days of woke. The days of woke. No, I didn't.

[Jake Tapper]

The days of woke are over.

[Megyn Kelly]

That woman, I have no idea who she is.

[Jake Tapper]

That woman was out of control.

[Megyn Kelly]

She was shoving federal agents.

[Jake Tapper]

She was out of control. The days of that crap are over in this country.

[Megyn Kelly]

We're going to have law and order. Coming up, a participant in the infamous so called freak offs takes the stand in the Sean Diddy Combs trial and Secretary of State Marco Rubio's fiery Senate hearing. Next, I want to tell you about Patriot Mobile. They support Americans who believe that faith, family and freedom are worth fighting for. But did you know that they have got cutting edge technology too? Switching is easy. No store visits, no hassle. Keep your number, keep your phone if you want or you can upgrade their 100%. US based team can activate your phone in minutes right over the phone. Patriot Mobile is one of the few carriers with access to all three major US Networks and that means exceptional nationwide coverage. Plus they can even put a second number on a different network on one phone. It's like carrying two phones in one. They have unlimited data plans, mobile hotspots, international roaming, Internet on the go devices and more. You can't get all this from those big guys. So consider making the switch today and experience the Patriot Mobile difference. Go to patriotmobile.com megan or just call 972 Patriot and use the promo code megan for a free month of service. Switch to Patriot Mobile and defend freedom with every call and text you make. Patriotmobile.com Megyn or just call 972 Patriot. Testimony in the Sean Diddy Combs criminal trial continuing on Tuesday. Mr. Combs former assistant David James taking the stand for a second day of testimony. Mr. James worked for Mr. Combs from 2007 to 2009, telling prosecutors he often set up hotel rooms for Mr. Combs. The work involved prepping clothing, a toiletry bag, a medicine bag, food and drinks for Combs. The witness saying the medicine bag typically contained 25 to 30 pill bottles, including Ecstasy and Percocet. James testified to frequently procuring drugs for Combs friends, including cocaine. James would restock items for Mr. Combs, including baby oil, lubricant and condoms. James said he would ask Combs's security for cash reimbursement for these items held in a Louis Vuitton bag always carried by Combs Security. On cross examination, Mr. James testifying he was instructed not to submit those personal items for reimbursement, accepting those cash repayments instead because Combs did not want to have a company record for those items. Prosecutors then calling mail stripper Sheree Hayes to the stand. Mr. Hayes testifying that he met Mr. Combs and Ms. Ventura in 2012. According to Hayes, Ms. Ventura hired him while she was using a fake name when he arrived at the Trump International Hotel in New York City. Ms. Ventura told Mr. Hayes she and her husband, quote, liked to create a sexy scene involving baby oil. Ventura allegedly telling Hayes that her husband would eventually enter the room, but Hayes was instructed not to look at him. Hayes telling prosecutors he participated in about 8 to 12 of these sessions in total and that Combs never appeared to be intoxicated. Hayes says the events were typically planned a few hours in advance and he would be invited by Ventura. The defense clearly trying to show that Ms. Ventura freely participated in these freak offs, even handling the sex worker logistics. The witness telling prosecutors, quote, my understanding was we were creating a scene, a sexy scene that was enjoyable to her partner. Going on later to say he never saw filming or violence in any of their encounters. Special Agent Gerard Gannon, the agent in charge during the search of Mr. Combs's Miami home in March 2024, also taking the stand, telling prosecutors 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. Court will resume later today with more testimony from Special Agent Gannon. Secretary of State Marco Rubio returning to Capitol Hill on Tuesday for testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, his first appearance in securing unanimous Senate confirmation. The three hour hearing erupting in fireworks several times. Secretary Rubio clashing with Democrat lawmakers furious over the Trump administration's America first foreign policy vision. Democrat Senator from Maryland Chris Van Hollen using his entire allotted time to rip into Secretary Rubio without asking a single question.

[Jake Tapper]

You've made a mockery of our country's refugee process, turning it into a system of global apartheid where political ideology and race more than truth or need matter. Like the McCarthy era witch hunts of the 1950s, your campaign of fear and repression is eating away at foundational values of our democracy. Attorney Joseph Welch to cut through the hysteria with the simple question he asked Senator McCarthy, have you no sense of decency? And I would ask you the same, Secretary Rubio, but you have shown through your words and your actions what the answer is. And I have to tell you directly and personally that I regret voting for you for Secretary of State. I yield back.

[Megyn Kelly]

Secretary Rubio defending the administration's foreign policy agenda, including cuts to foreign aid, changes to immigration enforcement and the overall restructuring of the State Department.

[Jake Tapper]

Well, first of all, your regret for voting for me confirms I'm doing a good job. I can't respond to everything he said because much of these are untrue, but I'll go through a few. First of all, I'm actually very proud of the work we've done with USAID. For example, I don't regret cutting $10 million for male circumcisions in Mozambique in the case of El Salvador. Absolutely. Absolutely. We deported gang members. Gang members, including the one you had a margarita with. And that guy is a human trafficker. And that guy is a gang banger.

[Megyn Kelly]

Mr. Rubio referencing Senator Van Hollen's previous travel to El Salvador to visit the deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia and a credibly accused MS.13 gang member in Salvadoran custody. Secretary Rubio also clashing with Democratic senator from Virginia, Tim Kaine, over the Trump administration's recent acceptance of white refugees from South Africa. Those refugees citing fears of racial persecution under a South African law allowing race based land seizures without compensation. Democrats condemning the policy, accusing the Trump administration of racial bias. Hear now some of that exchange.

[Jake Tapper]

So a well justified fear of persecution. Yeah, they thought that their farms were being burned down and they were being killed. I think that's a pretty good justification for wanting to come. They're afraid for their lives. And should it be applied in an even handed way, that's an easy no. Our foreign policy. Our foreign policy doesn't require even handedness. It requires prioritizing the statutes of the United States. Phrase says you are entitled to entrance as a refugee if you demonstrate a well justified fear of persecution. No, no, you're not entitled. So can you have a different standard based upon the color of somebody's skin? Would that be acceptable? Well, I'm not the one arguing. Apparently you are because you don't know the fact that they're white. And that's why they say that that would be unacceptable. No, I would say that the United States. A very easy thing. 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. No one's. You're the one that's talking about the color of their skin, not me.

[Megyn Kelly]

The president of South Africa will visit the White House later today and that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the Megan Kelly show. Live on SiriusXM Triumph Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com megankelley and on all podcast platforms.

[Jake Tapper]

Courage.

[Megyn Kelly]

I learned it from my adoptive mom.

[Jake Tapper]

Hold my hand. You hold my hand.

[Megyn Kelly]

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