The Megyn Kelly Show - Episode 1030 Summary

Title: Tesla Attacks, Weird Walz Comments, and Judges Keep Fighting Trump, with Rich Lowry and Charles C.W. Cooke
Host: Megyn Kelly
Guests: Rich Lowry (Editor in Chief of National Review), Charles C.W. Cooke (Senior Editor and Host of the Charles C.W. Cooke Podcast)
Release Date: March 19, 2025

1. Introduction and Overview

Megyn Kelly opens the show by introducing her guests, Rich Lowry and Charles C.W. Cooke, highlighting the intense legal battles facing former President Donald Trump. The discussion is set against a backdrop of ongoing "lawfare"—the use of legal systems to achieve political ends—targeting Trump's presidency and agenda.

2. Lawfare Against Donald Trump

Rich Lowry emphasizes the pervasive legal challenges Trump faces during his second term, stating:

"We are in day 58 of Trump's presidency and the resistance is out in full force. [...] they're trying to block Trump's clear constitutional powers"
[01:02]

He outlines how courts are being leveraged to impede Trump's actions, reminiscent of impeachment efforts from his first term. Lowry criticizes judges appointed by Obama and Biden for allegedly overstepping their roles to sabotage Trump's agenda.

Charles C.W. Cooke supports this view, arguing that the legal system is being misused:

"[...] if it has to do with the President of the United States core executive functions, [...] he's ultimately going to win these cases."
[05:35]

Both guests agree that the judiciary is intruding into areas traditionally reserved for the executive branch, particularly regarding military appointments and border policies.

3. Judge Anna Reyes and Military Policies

The conversation delves into the controversial rulings of Judge Anna Reyes, a federal judge whose decisions have significant implications for Trump's military policies. Rich Lowry expresses frustration:

"You got some woke LGBTQ female justice judge who thinks she knows better. [...] She's out of control."
[05:35]

Charles Cooke defends Trump's stance, arguing that gender dysphoria is incompatible with combat roles and that Judge Reyes is overstepping judicial boundaries. They discuss the broader implications of judges influencing military readiness and questioning executive decisions.

4. Deportations and the Alien Enemies Act

The show transitions to the Trump administration's efforts to deport alleged gang members to El Salvador, highlighting a legal dispute involving Judge Roseberg, another Obama-appointed judge. Rich Lowry criticizes the judge's decision to block these deportations:

"An activist judge ordering planes to turn around during a national security operation is not a judicial decision. It is a highly illegal and extremely dangerous sabotage of the presidency."
[76:23]

Charles Cooke engages in a detailed analysis of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, debating its applicability and the justiciability of the president's proclamations of invasion or incursion. The guests debate whether the judiciary should interfere with executive actions under this statute, ultimately expressing doubt about the judge's overreach.

5. Chief Justice John Roberts' Statement on Impeachment

The discussion shifts to Chief Justice John Roberts' recent statement discouraging impeachment as a response to judicial decisions. Rich Lowry critiques Roberts' intervention:

"It's not for Chief Justice John Roberts to weigh in. [...] This is not the time."
[60:19]

Charles Cooke counters by affirming Roberts' stance, suggesting it's appropriate for the judiciary to assert boundaries against presidential overreach. They reflect on the implications of a Chief Justice publicly addressing impeachment matters, emphasizing the separation of powers.

6. Attacks on Tesla and Elon Musk

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the increasing attacks against Elon Musk and his company, Tesla. Rich Lowry highlights incidents of vandalism and violence directed at Tesla vehicles and dealerships:

"Tesla's under attack, while Elon's under attack, this is his message yesterday saying..."
[84:32]

Unnamed Guest condemns these actions as domestic terrorism motivated by ideological extremism:

"They want to make Elon Musk afraid. [...] They want to make the people who work for him afraid."
[86:04]

The guests criticize left-leaning figures and media for seemingly defending these violent acts, arguing that such behavior is unacceptable regardless of political affiliations.

7. Critique of CNN’s Bill Weir

The panel turns to Bill Weir, CNN's Chief Climate Correspondent, scrutinizing his reporting and activism. Rich Lowry presents Weir's dubious fact-check incident:

"He published a letter on CNN.com [...] contrasting it with his corrected statements."
[100:02]

Unnamed Guest lambasts Weir's biased reporting and emotional appeals, particularly his letters to his son about climate change, labeling them as evidence of his partiality and lack of journalistic integrity.

8. Tim Walsh’s Controversial Statements

Rich Lowry brings up comments by Tim Walsh regarding societal issues, provoking a heated exchange:

"He's going to kick their ass [...] That's a low level form of domestic terrorism."
[82:12]

The guests debate the appropriateness of Walsh's rhetoric, with Unnamed Guest defending strong language against perceived leftist threats, while Charles Cooke questions the effectiveness and conduciveness of such aggressive statements.

9. Chuck Schumer’s Remarks and Democratic Rhetoric

The conversation examines remarks by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, criticizing the Republican stance on government and economic policies. Rich Lowry mocks Schumer's statements:

"A different kettle of fish than it used to be. [...] 'How dare your government take my money from me.'"
[93:51]

Unnamed Guest reflects on the long-standing antagonism between Democrats and Republicans, suggesting that current Democratic rhetoric alienates key voter demographics, particularly young men of color.

10. EPA Reporting and Lee Zeldin’s Role

The guests discuss Bill Weir's reporting on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. Rich Lowry criticizes Weir's inaccuracies and Zeldin's factual corrections:

"Lee Zelda and I agree with Charlie, he's great. [...] He's dotting his eyes and crossing his T's."
[103:00]

Unnamed Guest praises Zeldin's leadership while condemning Weir's biased and incorrect reporting, underscoring the challenges faced by conservative voices in environmental policy debates.

11. Closing Remarks

Megyn Kelly wraps up the episode by thanking her guests and teasing upcoming segments, including discussions on high-profile cases and cultural debates like the "Snow White debacle." She reiterates the show's commitment to "open, honest, and provocative conversations" without bias.

Notable Quotes

• Rich Lowry:
  "We are in day 58 of Trump's presidency and the resistance is out in full force. [...] they're trying to block Trump's clear constitutional powers."
  [01:02]

• Charles C.W. Cooke:
  "[...] this seems to me one that he will ultimately prevail on."
  [06:41]

• Unnamed Guest:
  "Anyone who commits violence against Tesla or Congress or anyone else should be put in jail 1,000%."
  [86:25]

• Chuck Schumer on The View:
  "They hate government. Government's a barrier to people, a barrier to stop them from doing things. They want to destroy it."
  [93:51]

Conclusion

Episode 1030 of The Megyn Kelly Show delves deep into the ongoing legal battles against Donald Trump, highlighting concerns over judicial overreach and the politicization of the legal system. The guests passionately discuss the threats facing Elon Musk and Tesla, critiques of biased journalism, and the fracturing political rhetoric fueling societal divisions. The episode underscores a persistent tension between the executive branch and the judiciary, exacerbated by partisan influences and aggressive media narratives.