Trump Agrees to Temporary Ceasefire with Iran, DOJ Fraud Crackdown, Ye's UK Setback: AM Update 4/8

Summary

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The Megyn Kelly Show – AM Update 4/8

Episode: Trump Agrees to Temporary Ceasefire with Iran, DOJ Fraud Crackdown, Ye's UK Setback
Date: April 8, 2026
Hosted by: Emily Jashinsky (wrap-up anchor for The Megyn Kelly Show, SiriusXM Channel 111)

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Episode Overview

This episode covers three major developments:

• President Trump’s last-minute agreement to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, easing a dangerous standoff.
• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's announcement of a new nationwide fraud enforcement initiative and his pushback against allegations of DOJ politicization.
• DHS Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen's threat to escalate federal pressure on sanctuary cities regarding customs operations at airports.
• An update on Kanye West (“Ye”), who has been barred from entering the UK, derailing a headlining slot at a major music festival.

The episode is fast-paced, driven by breaking news, pointed commentary, and direct quotes from political leaders.
Skip to timestamps for highlights on the Iran deal (02:53), DOJ crackdown (06:27), DHS and sanctuary cities (12:15), and the Ye UK ban (14:55).

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1. Trump Secures Temporary Ceasefire with Iran – Brinkmanship Averted

Main Points:

• With just 88 minutes left before Trump's deadline, Iran and the US agreed to a two-week ceasefire, pulling back from threats of “massive destruction.”

• Trump had posted a stark warning online:

  “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” – Donald J. Trump, Truth Social (02:53)

• Iran initially broke off direct talks, but after Pakistan’s PM proposed a compromise on social media (an extension and reopening the Strait of Hormuz), negotiations resumed via intermediaries.

• Trump agreed to the two-week pause, conditional on Iran reopening the Strait. He indicated a 10-point Iranian proposal is now under review.

  “I agreed to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided ceasefire.” – Donald J. Trump, Truth Social (04:06)

• Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mashtabh Khamenei, and Foreign Minister, Abbas Arakchi, confirmed safe passage through Hormuz for two weeks.

• Iran’s 10-point plan (as reported) demands:

  • U.S. non-aggression guarantees
  • U.S. troop withdrawal from the region
  • Recognition of Iran’s uranium enrichment program
  • Lifting of all sanctions
  • Iran retains control over Hormuz

• Media analysis noted this plan has circulated for weeks, with no major changes.

• Israel reluctantly accepted the ceasefire, with China urging Iran to show flexibility to avoid economic collapse.

• Oil prices plummeted (from $110 to $91 per barrel) on news of the truce.

Key Quotes:

• “It’s a significant step, it’s not good enough but it’s a very significant step.” – Donald J. Trump, Truth Social (05:30)
• “The US has received a 10 point proposal from Iran now serving as the basis for continued negotiations.” – Emily Jashinsky (05:07)

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2. DOJ Announces National Fraud Crackdown; Responds to ‘Weaponization’ Claims

Key Discussion Points:

• Todd Blanche, recently appointed Acting Attorney General and previously Trump’s personal lawyer, unveiled the new National Fraud Enforcement Division.
• This move was described as the largest fraud-fighting push in DOJ history, with 93 dedicated prosecutors added in every district.
• The initiative aims to tackle fraud involving taxpayer funds, especially pandemic-related and benefits fraud.

  “Its core mission will be to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal taxpayer dollars and rip off the American people.” – Todd Blanche (06:32)

Press Questions and DOJ Response:

• Blanche was pressed on his objectivity, given his past as a Trump defense attorney and recent remarks noting that no prosecutors who pursued Trump remain at DOJ.

  “What we saw...every single prosecutor...you have a duty to do the right thing...none of those prosecutors...should work here if you’re not doing the right thing.” – Todd Blanche (08:09)

• Blanche’s view on Justice Department independence:

  “There is always communication between a president and his priorities and what the Department of Justice should be focused on...As far as whether we would take a referral from the White House or take a referral from you even. Yes.” (09:19)

• Blanche firmly rejected the “weaponization” narrative:

  “What happened the last four years is something that will never happen again.” (08:54) “No, the President has said time and time again that he wants justice...So I understand the question...but it happens not to be true.” (10:08)

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3. DHS Secretary Signals Threat to Sanctuary City Airports

Context:

• New DHS Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen, formerly a Senator, took office amid a record-length government shutdown; the department is still unfunded.
• Mullen blamed Democrats for the stalemate, accusing them of defunding DHS and opposing immigration enforcement:

  “Unfortunately, what you see from a lot of Democrats right now is political theater...what they’ve done is they’ve defunded Department of Homeland Security. I mean, that’s like defunding the Department of War, right?” – Mark Wayne Mullen (12:44)

Key Policy Shift:

• The Trump administration claims nearly 3 million deportations since returning to office.
• Mullen raised the possibility of stripping customs operations from international airports in sanctuary cities, potentially stopping all international flights to those cities:

  “Some of these cities have international airports. If they’re a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city? ... Maybe we need to have a really hard look at that.” – Mark Wayne Mullen (14:17)

• DOJ previously targeted cities like LA, SF, Chicago, Newark, and JFK, which now face direct threats to their airport operations.
• Such a move would certainly be unprecedented and is likely to prompt immediate legal challenges.

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4. Ye (Kanye West) Banned from the UK; Festival Canceled

Summary:

• Kanye West’s attempted career comeback faced a setback as the UK government banned his entry.
• Ye, fresh off a sold-out run at LA’s SoFi Stadium and a Billboard Top 10 album (“Bully”), was set to headline London’s Wireless Festival in July.
• Corporate sponsors fled after the announcement; the UK denied Ye’s travel authorization, citing the public good.

  “The UK government denying West’s travel authorization, determining his presence would not be, quote, conducive to the public good.” – Emily Jashinsky (15:47)

• The entire Wireless Festival was canceled.
• Ye has not yet publicly responded.

Notable Backstory:

• West’s recent apology for his past anti-Semitic remarks, including a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal, was referenced.

  “You feel like you’re seeing the world more clearly, when in reality you’re losing your grip entirely.” – Kanye West (16:14, Wall Street Journal Quote)

• Despite controversy, significant commercial momentum prior to the UK ban.

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Notable Quotes & Key Timestamps

• Trump’s threat and ceasefire deal: 02:53 – 05:30
• Todd Blanche unveiling fraud crackdown: 06:27 – 10:40
• Blanche on DOJ weaponization claims: 08:08, 09:18, 10:08
• Mark Wayne Mullen on sanctuary city airports: 14:17 – 14:55
• Kanye West banned from UK: 15:47 – 16:55

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Episode Takeaways

• The White House and Iran avoided immediate conflict, but the future in the Middle East remains uncertain pending further negotiation.
• DOJ, under Trump loyalists, is aggressively pursuing fraud, dismissing charges of political interference and internal purges as false.
• Immigration enforcement confronts a bold new tactic—targeting airport customs as leverage on cities defying federal policy.
• Kanye West’s attempts to rehabilitate his public image face significant international resistance, underscoring continuing reputational challenges.

For further details, listen to the full AM Update or follow The Megyn Kelly Show on Sirius XM Channel 111 and YouTube.

Transcript

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[Emily Jashinsky]

Good morning everyone. I'm Emily jasinsky, host of Afterparty and the Megyn Kelly wrap up show on SiriusXM channel 111. It's Wednesday, April 8, 2026 and this is your AM update. A last minute deal in the Iran standoff with less than two hours to spare, President Trump pulling back from the brink and agreeing to a conditional ceasefire with Iran.

[Todd Blanche]

When I see reporting about shock and awe at this supposed weaponization of this department, it it means nothing to me because it's completely false.

[Emily Jashinsky]

Acting AG Todd Blanche announcing a new nationwide fraud fighting unit and forcefully pushing back on media claims the department is being politicized.

[Mark Wayne Mullen]

We're asking them to partner with us at the airport, but once they walk out of the airport, they're not going to enforce immigration policy.

[Emily Jashinsky]

DHS Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen suggests a major escalation against sanctuary cities, potentially stripping customs operations from airports and in cities that refuse to work with federal immigration authorities. And Kanye West's comeback effort hits a roadblock as the UK bans him from entering the country. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

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[Emily Jashinsky]

Today, with just 88 minutes to spare before President Trump's 8pm deadline for Iran to make a deal or face massive destruction. Mr. Trump announcing a temporary two week ceasefire yesterday, beginning with a stark warning from the President declaring on Truth Social quote, a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. Following that threat, Iran reportedly breaking off direct communications with U.S. negotiators while continuing talks through intermediaries, according to the Wall Street. Then a public intervention from Pakistan. Prime Minister Shabazz Sharif posting a proposed compromise on X, urging the US to extend the deadline by two weeks and calling on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture during that same period. Hours later, President Trump responding on Truth Social agreeing to a conditional pause contingent on Iran reopening the strait of Hormuz. Mr. Trump writing quote, I agreed to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided ceasefire. The President writing that the US has already met and exceeded its military objectives and is now very far along on what he describes as a definitive agreement toward long term peace in the Middle East. Mr. Trump adding the US has received a 10 point proposal from Iran now serving as the basis for continued negotiations. The Israelis also reluctantly agreeing to the ceasefire, according to cnn. The New York Times reporting Iran accepted the terms of the deal after last minute prodding from China to show flexibility and diffuse tensions amid growing concerns about the economic devastation from damages to critical infrastructure. The ceasefire reportedly approved by new Supreme Leader Mashtabh Khamenei. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi releasing a statement for a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordinating with Iran's armed forces. The Wall street journal publishing the 10 points in Iran's proposal outlining sweeping demands. The plan calling for the US to commit to guaranteeing non aggression and the withdrawal of US forces from the region. Iran insisting on maintaining control of the Strait of Hormuz and acceptance of a nuclear program involving uranium enrichment. The proposal calling for the removal of all sanctions both direct and secondary, targeting foreign entities doing business with Iran. Dropsite News reporter Ryan Grimm pointing out the ten point plan has been in circulation for weeks. The New York Times reporting the US and Israel received a copy on Monday. President Trump saying quote, it's a significant step, it's not good enough but it's a very significant step. It is unclear if there are significant changes to the 10 point plan between then and last night. Oil prices dropping drastically on the news. Brent Oil the international benchmark, dropping from about $110per barrel where it hovered most of the day to about $91. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announcing a new nationwide initiative targeting fraud in his first press conference since taking over the Justice Department from former AG Pam Bondi last week. The Trump administration making fraud enforcement a top priority. Swearing in Colin McDonald last week as the first ever assistant Attorney general for national fraud enforcement here. AG Blanche outlining the mission I'm proud

[Todd Blanche]

to announce in greater detail the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. Its core mission will be to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal taxpayer dollars and rip off the American people. Our vision is to build a robust fraud fighting squad capable of investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of fraud against taxpayer dollars. Every U.S. attorney's office across the country will also be joining this re energized fight against fraud. This means in pure numbers that there will be an additional 93 prosecutors in every district across the country devoted to the mission of combating fraud with the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The new division will bring together data and investigators from across the entire government so that you can track down even the most sophisticated fraudsters and hold them accountable.

[Emily Jashinsky]

The rollout quickly giving way to pointed questions from the press about Blanche himself and the direction of the Justice Department. Blanche, before joining the administration, served as President Trump's personal attorney, defending him in the Mar? A Lago documents case, the election interference case and the New York business records case. Reporters pressing him on how that background could shape his leadership at the Justice Department and whether the Trump administration is weaponizing the department. One reporter referencing a recent comment by AG Blanche at a political conference where he told the audience that not a single prosecutor who participated in the Trump prosecutions remains in office. Today, the reporter asking if that's a sign the DOJ is firing people for political reasons. Mr. Blanche's response?

[Todd Blanche]

It's much more simple than that. I mean, look, if you, if you were a prosecutor and you were trying to prosecute your boss, you have ethical duties as a lawyer that I think prevent you from continuing to work in that environment. And so in this case, what we saw and what, what President Trump went through, every single prosecutor in this department, whether you're an AUSA or working here, you have a duty to do the right thing. And so in cases where you had prosecutors that were absolutely not doing the right thing. Okay. And so none of those prosecutors, I hope everybody agrees that they shouldn't work here if you're not doing the right thing. And that's what I meant by that. And you know, listen, it's been talked about a lot, but what happened the last four years is something that will never happen again.

[Emily Jashinsky]

When questioned about the White House's role in directing fraud investigations, AG Blanche responding forcefully. What if the White House or somebody in the White House says, we want you to investigate this state or this program? I mean, how do you handle that? Because historically, as you know, since Watergate, there's been a kind of a firewall, if you will, on criminal investigations between the White House and the Justice Department.

[Todd Blanche]

I mean, that is the most false statement I've ever heard in my life. There is always communication between a president and his priorities and what the Department of Justice should be focused on and not focused on. That is not a new thing in this administration, although I know it sounds fun to say that it is. As far as whether we would take a referral from the White House or take a referral from you even. Yes, I mean, yes, if somebody knows about fraud, please tell us. And so if the President of our United States says, I have heard that there is ongoing fraud in Minneapolis, Minnesota, like any president before him, I hope that the Attorney General would absolutely say, yes, we'll investigate that.

[Emily Jashinsky]

Blanche Rejecting ongoing claims of, quote, weaponization of the DOJ and arguing the department is finally being refocused on its core mission.

[Todd Blanche]

What we're doing and what we've been doing for the past 14 months is changing this department. We're no longer. People say the President wants to go after his political enemies. No, the President has said time and time again that he wants justice. And if you look at what happened to him, his family, his administration, the agents that protected him, people that happened to just walk by him on a given day, they had to. They got subjected to massive investigations by this department. So I understand the question and I understand the pretty constant role of the media, that somehow this department is weaponizing itself, but it happens not to be true. We have tens of thousands of prosecutors all over this country putting bad guys in jail. Okay? That's something that wasn't happening like it should have been happening for the past four years. That's going to happen tomorrow and it's going to happen in the coming days.

[Emily Jashinsky]

Coming up, DHS Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen raising the stakes against sanctuary cities, suggesting airports in non cooperative areas could lose customs operations in their airports. And Kanye West's comeback derailed overseas, banned from entering the UK ahead of a major music festival.

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[Emily Jashinsky]

Newly sworn in DHS Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen speaking with Fox News on Monday in his first major interview since taking the job in late March, stepping into a department still mired in what is now the longest government shutdown in American history. Funding for DHS expiring mid February, and with lawmakers currently on recess, negotiations remain stalled and complicated. Secretary Mullen, who just left the Senate to take the role, says the impasse is simply political theater.

[Mark Wayne Mullen]

Unfortunately, what you see from a lot of Democrats right now is political theater because what they've done is they've defunded Department of Homeland Security. I mean, that's like defunding the Department of War, right? Department of War takes care of us abroad. Department of Homeland Security. We take care of everything that is in our backyard. ICE agents are simply trying to enforce the policies that Congress passed, right? I don't get to pick and choose which policies I enforce. I enforce all the policies that Congress put on my plate. If Cory and some of our Democrats want to change it, then then let's have immigration reform. But instead they're wanting to defund ICE and they're wanting to defund our custom and Border Patrol. So essentially what they're saying is we don't want to deport any of our felonies or felons or the criminals that are here that came underneath the Biden administration and they want to open, open our border completely. And I don't know how we get past that.

[Emily Jashinsky]

At the same time, the Trump administration pushing forward on a separate front its effort to conduct the largest mass deportation effort in history, which Secretary Mullen says has already resulted in nearly 3 million removals since taking office. A major obstacle, sanctuary jurisdictions where local policies restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The administration ramping up pressure on these jurisdictions, threatening funding cuts and increasing federal immigration enforcement efforts, with many of those actions facing legal challenges. On fox, Secretary Mullen suggesting the federal government may revisit whether sanctuary cities should process international arrivals.

[Mark Wayne Mullen]

Some of these cities have international airports. If they're a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city? I mean, seriously, if they're a sanctuary city and they're receiving international flights and we're asking them to partner with us at the airport, but once they walk out of the airport, they're not going to force immigration policy. Maybe we need to have a really hard look at that because we need to focus on cities that want to work with us.

[Todd Blanche]

So you're saying that big cities that are sanctuary cities that have a big airport, they might lose their customs?

[Mark Wayne Mullen]

Well, I'm saying we're going to have to start prioritizing things at some point.

[Emily Jashinsky]

Such a move could potentially block those airports from receiving international flights altogether. In August, then Attorney General Pam Bondi officially identifying dozens of jurisdictions accused of obstructing federal immigration enforcement, including cities home to some of the busiest international airports in the country, LAX in Los Angeles, SFO in San Francisco, Chicago, o', Hare, Newark, New York's jfk, among others. An attempt to remove customs from any of these ports of entry would certainly result in legal challenges. The next step in Kanye Ye West's attempted comeback hitting a major setback overseas after the UK blocks the rapper's entry into the country, where he was set to headline a major music festival. Ye working to re enter the public sphere in recent months, releasing a new album in late March and selling out two shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles last week, earning about $33 million, according to Bloomberg. The renewed push coming after years of controversy that derailed much of his career, including a series of anti Semitic remarks beginning in 2022, which led major partners like Adidas, Balenciaga, Gap and talent agency CAA to cut ties. In January, west taking out a full page ad in the Wall Street Journal apologizing for his past statements and attributing his behavior in part to bipolar disorder, writing that during manic episodes, quote, you feel like you're seeing the world more clearly when in reality you're losing your grip entirely. Despite the repeated controversy, his latest album, Bully, performing strongly, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200, marking his 14th top 10 album, according to Variety. Ye aiming to build on that momentum this summer with plans to headline London's Wireless Festival in July, one of the largest hip hop festivals in Europe, drawing about 50,000 people per day. That announcement sending corporate sponsors fleeing major brands including PepsiCo and Anheuser Busch InBev withdrawing their support. Then yesterday, the UK government denying West's travel authorization, determining his presence would not be, quote, conducive to the public good, according to the Wall Street Journal. In response, event organizers canceling the Wireless festival entirely, issuing refunds to ticket holders, Ye has yet to publicly respond following the cancellation. That'll do it for your AM Update, I'm Emily Jashinsky, host of Afterparty. Catch the Megyn Kelly show live on Sirius XM's the Megyn Kelly Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com Megyn Kelly and all podcast platforms. Why have I asked my H Vac guy I found on angie.com to change my grandpa's trachea tube? I was so amazed at how he replaced our air ducts. I knew I could trust him to change Pop Pop's tube.

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[Todd Blanche]

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