The Megyn Kelly Show | Ep. 1254 (February 17, 2026):

The Left’s Brainwashing & The Nancy Guthrie Case Sheriff’s Alarming Changing Story

With Buck Sexton, Jonathan Gillam, Maureen O’Connell, Chad Ayers

Episode Overview

This episode tackles two major topics: Buck Sexton's new book Manufacturing Delusion, which explores techniques of mass brainwashing and mind control in modern America, and the latest developments — and confusion — in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance case. The show mixes deep cultural and political critique with practical discussion of high-profile crime investigation failures.

Key Discussion Points

1. Buck Sexton on Mass Delusion and Brainwashing

(00:37–49:47)

The Central Thesis of Manufacturing Delusion

• Sexton explains: The greatest threat to societies is not climate change or political division but “mass hysteria and mass delusion.” He draws parallels between the mind-control tactics of cults, authoritarian regimes (Soviet Union, Maoist China), Islamic terror groups, and today’s left-wing activism in America.

  “The biggest threat that we as a species face is mass hysteria and mass delusion ... people go mad in masses or in herds and this is done often intentionally.” — Buck Sexton (03:45)

Drawing Parallels from CIA and Counterterrorism Work

• From Jihadism to Wokeness: Sexton leverages his CIA experience against terror groups to illustrate how individuals can be rapidly radicalized—even to the point of violence—by psychological tactics, arguing the same processes are now mobilizing the left, especially around issues like trans rights and anti-ICE activism.

  “If it’s possible for a kid who grows up in Birmingham to fly out and blow people up in Iraq for a cause he just learned about, it’s possible for this to happen elsewhere in different ways, at different levels ...” — Buck Sexton (06:28)

• Cult Examples: Kelly and Sexton discuss how “struggle sessions” of the Chinese Cultural Revolution and cult self-denunciation now echo in public shaming rituals and performative apologies in U.S. schools and online cultures.

“Menticide” and “Rewriting Basic Circuitry”

• Buck introduces the concept of “menticide” (mind-killing) and how modern trans ideology is an example: the pressure to accept statements like “men can be women” is a deliberate assault on basic cognition, enforcing submission and confusion.

  “Menticide is based on artificial breakdown and deconditioning ... the belief in the most core and fundamental lie.” — Buck Sexton (08:15) “Rewriting of my basic circuitry. That’s truly what the trans thing does.” — Megyn Kelly (09:37)

Historical Tactics: Pavlov, Soviet, Maoist Methods

• Behavioral Conditioning: Pavlov’s dog experiments demonstrated how trauma and stress rewire behavior—a foundation for later brainwashing techniques.
• Language Policing and Ritual Degradation: Both the Soviets and Maoists used not just violence, but forced confession, word-policing, and social rituals to coerce and degrade, breaking down resistance and enforcing the party line.

American Hysteria: BLM, Covid, Pronouns, and Ritual Compliance

• The show compares modern social “rituals”—mask mandates, pronoun usage, climate alarmism, and racial panic—to cultic rituals that reinforce group control, even when the rationale is transparently false.

  “The wearing of the mask is very much like, use the preferred pronouns. Even if they know you don’t believe ... the act of submission itself is part of that rewiring.” — Buck Sexton (16:27)

Media, Academia, and the “Manufactured Delusion”

• Examples cited: Outlandish overestimation of police killings among the left, performative public apologies at Evergreen College, and the willingness of supposed science authorities to state obvious falsehoods due to cultural pressure.
• Public Shaming as Control: Both Kelly and Sexton recall how confession and humiliation rituals are now centerpieces for social justice activism and social media “call-outs.”

  “The self-denunciation ... is a critical part of a menticidal process. And this has been seen again, all totalitarian regimes do this.” — Buck Sexton (26:01)

“Live Not By Lies”: Resisting Delusion

• They hold up figures like Tish Hyman (who resisted trans ideology at her gym) as civil rights heroes standing against the herd, referencing Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s advice: “Live not by lies.”

  “She refuses to live by the lie ... If you go through life that way, it’s really hard to control your brain.” — Buck Sexton (46:30)

2. Nancy Guthrie Disappearance: Media & Law Enforcement Foul-Ups

(52:55–127:45)

Case Recap

• 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has been missing from Tucson, Arizona, for over two weeks.
• Kelly critiques the local sheriff for erratic communication, ego-driven turf wars with the FBI, and prioritizing media management over facts.

  “There’s something very off about this sheriff. Very off.” — Megyn Kelly (52:35)

Sheriff's Shifting Narrative

• Tension Between Facts and Feelings: The sheriff publicly flip-flops—denying family members are suspects one day, then reversing, often with no new evidence. Kelly and her law enforcement panel argue this indecisiveness undermines the investigation and will complicate any future prosecution.

  “We don’t do feelings in a criminal investigation. We don’t do feelings, we do facts.” — Megyn Kelly (55:57) “He’s making an emotional statement and it’s not based in fact, because you can’t clear people unless you know the motive.” — Jonathan Gillam (66:15)

Faulty Crime Scene Protocol

• Sloppy evidence collection: Gloves discarded by searchers, excessive focus on one suspect location, and possibly inadequate experience within the department.

  “We’re seeing sloppy, sloppy investigations ... this sheriff’s acting like he’s on Paw Patrol. This is policing 101.” — Chad Ayers (72:46)

FBI Interventions and New Leads

• FBI investigates 40-person lists at local gun shops, suggesting multiple suspects or possible associations but little is known publicly.

• Backpack Lead: Investigators have a promising lead—a backpack model exclusive to Walmart. They track purchase histories and camera footage to try to identify the perpetrator.

Theories and Speculation

• The panel walks through every scenario: family involvement, burglary gone wrong, random abductor, or someone targeting Savannah Guthrie through her mother because of Guthrie's public profile.
• Discuss parallel examples of stalkers (including Kelly and BBC anchor Ann McAlpine’s experiences) and how such people can develop delusional relationships with their targets, potentially leading to escalation and violence.

Misdirection, Ransom Notes, and Media Noise

• A series of bizarre emails sent to TMZ and other outlets by someone claiming to know the identity of the perpetrator, demanding payment in bitcoin. The panel speculates whether the letter-writer could be the real kidnapper.

  “20% of the people who commit a homicide are the ones who call in and report the homicide.” — Jonathan Gillam (118:42)

South of the Border and Cross-Border Coordination

• While the sheriff dismisses the idea of a Mexico connection as “not a thing,” the panel finds this premature and suspects political motives.

Symbolism and the "Kidnapping" Story in Savannah Guthrie's Book

• A childhood story Savannah Guthrie told in a 2024 book about a game with her cousin called "Kidnapping" spurs discussion about whether stories and media portrayals could inspire unstable individuals.

Notable Quotes (w/Timestamps)

• “The biggest threat we face as a species is mass hysteria and mass delusion.” — Buck Sexton (03:45)
• “Menticide ... the belief in the most core and fundamental lie and to give up all that you have believed in before.” — Buck Sexton (08:15)
• “Rewriting of my basic circuitry. That’s truly what the trans thing does.” — Megyn Kelly (09:37)
• “The act of submission itself continuously is part of the process of that rewiring or rewriting.” — Buck Sexton (16:27)
• “They will confess to absurdity... They will call for their own execution in court ... because I am so good at this mind control.” — Buck Sexton (20:21)
• “She refuses to live by the lie. ...If you refuse to live by lies, it’s really hard to control your brain.” — Buck Sexton (46:30)
• “We don’t do feelings in a criminal investigation. We do facts.” — Megyn Kelly (55:57)
• “He’s making an emotional statement and it’s not based in fact... He doesn’t know how to work the media, and he certainly does not know how to run a task force investigation.” — Jonathan Gillam (66:15)
• “This sheriff’s acting like he’s on Paw Patrol. This is policing 101.” — Chad Ayers (72:46)
• “If you want to affect the hearts of a young woman, go take her mother.” — Chad Ayers (96:04)
• “20% of the people who commit a homicide are the ones who call in and report the homicide.” — Jonathan Gillam (118:42)

Memorable Moments & Color

• Public accountability and live commentary: Kelly directly calls out Chris Cuomo for attacking her crime coverage, in a high-octane, personal defense segment (57:47–63:15).
• Panel chemistry: Banter about investigative protocols, inside law enforcement humor, and the grim realities of crime alongside genuine expressions of sympathy for victims' families.
• Savannah Guthrie’s Book Excerpt: The panel listens, slightly disturbed, to Savannah’s recounting of childhood “kidnapping games” involving her mother, speculating about the unpredictable ways unstable minds can reinterpret innocuous stories (105:25–112:36).

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Introduction / Buck Sexton Welcome – 03:35
• Mass Delusion, Brainwashing, and Cult Tactics – 03:45–38:51
• Live Not By Lies / Individual Resistance – 46:30
• Transition to Nancy Guthrie Case – 52:55
• Sheriff’s Shifting Narrative and Media Criticism – 55:57–76:00
• FBI Investigation Leads / Walmart Backpack Evidence – 81:01–83:05
• Speculation: Motives, Theories, Stalker, South of Border – 91:26–125:29
• Savannah Guthrie’s Book: Childhood Kidnapping Game – 105:25–112:36
• Closing Thoughts and Next Episode Teaser – 127:45–128:31

Style and Tone

• Candid, Direct, and Provocative: True to the show’s branding, Kelly and guests speak frankly—sometimes with biting sarcasm—about both political and criminal justice subjects.
• Mix of Scholarship and Pop Culture: Heavy references to books, psychology, history, cults, and even Soviet brainwashing, counterbalanced by TV news drama, media criticism, and true crime tropes.
• Personal: Both hosts and panelists share their own encounters with stalkers and inside law enforcement stories, making the show immersive and relatable.

Conclusion

This episode showcases the ease with which mass conformity and hysteria can be engineered, drawing a direct line from totalitarian mind games to contemporary American activist and bureaucratic culture. The Guthrie case segment exposes how ego, incompetence, and performative concern in law enforcement can undermine serious investigations.

For listeners, it offers a rich blend of current events, deep dives into history and psychology, sharp cultural criticism, and the captivating uncertainty of a real-time missing persons case.

Quick Links:

• Buck Sexton’s book, Manufacturing Delusion (please insert retailer link)
• Timestamps for segment navigation provided above.