Trump Dismantles Ed Dept, RFK Goes After Food Chemicals, American Released: AM Update 3/21

Summary

The Megyn Kelly Show: Detailed Summary of "Trump Dismantles Ed Dept, RFK Goes After Food Chemicals, American Released: AM Update 3/21"

Release Date: March 21, 2025
Host: Megyn Kelly
Platform: SiriusXM

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1. President Trump Announces Plans to Eliminate the Department of Education

Overview: The episode opens with a significant announcement from then-President Donald Trump regarding the future of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). At [00:09], Trump declares his intention to sign an executive order aimed at dismantling the DOE, marking a historic shift in federal education policy.

Key Points:

• Executive Order to Shutter DOE:
  Trump states, “I will sign an executive order to begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all” ([00:09]). This bold move signifies the administration's stance on reducing federal involvement in education.

• Megyn Kelly’s Analysis:
  Megyn elaborates on the announcement, highlighting that the order seeks to "begin to eliminate the department" rather than completely abolish it immediately, acknowledging that complete dissolution would require Congressional approval—a challenging feat given the slim Republican majorities at the time ([02:06]).

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2. Reactions and Implications of Shuttering the Department of Education

Overview: Megyn delves into the potential consequences and logistical challenges of dissolving the DOE, including the retention of essential functions and the redistribution of responsibilities to state governments.

Key Points:

• Retention of Critical Functions:
  Caroline Levitt, Press Secretary, informs that while Pell Grants and student loans will remain under the DOE’s purview, the overarching responsibility for education will revert to the states ([03:15]).

• Impact on Civil Rights Enforcement:
  Megyn raises concerns about the DOE’s role in enforcing civil rights laws in education, questioning who will oversee these crucial protections post-dissolution ([03:24]). Levitt responds by assuring that essential functions will remain, albeit on a reduced scale ([03:33]).

• Industry Criticism and Concerns:
  Randy Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, voices apprehensions about the shift, fearing that states might misuse funds for programs like vouchers, which could undermine public education ([04:10]).

• Educational Outcomes and Spending:
  Statistical insights are shared, indicating a decline in student proficiency despite increased per-pupil spending. Megyn cites that "math and reading scores for 13-year-olds have fallen to the lowest level in decades," prompting debates on the effectiveness of federal involvement ([04:24]).

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3. Detention of Georgetown Student Sparks Controversy

Overview: The podcast addresses the arrest of Badr Khan Suri, a Georgetown University student on a student visa, detained by Homeland Security under allegations of spreading Hamas propaganda.

Key Points:

• Details of the Arrest:
  Suri, an Indian national, was arrested in Arlington, Virginia, accused of active support for Hamas and anti-Semitic activities on social media ([04:24]). His lawyer argues that his detention is linked to his marriage to Mafizi Salah, a Georgetown student with familial ties to Hamas ([07:15]).

• Media Coverage:
  Megyn highlights the sympathetic tone of media outlets like Politico and AP, which question the simplicity of the government's accusations and shed light on Suri’s personal circumstances ([08:11]).

• Official Statements and Legal Actions:
  The Department of State has not confirmed specific actions leading to Suri’s detention. Meanwhile, his lawyer has filed a lawsuit demanding his immediate release, citing potential misuse of immigration laws ([03:24]).

• Human Impact:
  Suri recounts experiences of captivity, including extreme starvation and psychological torture, emphasizing the severe personal toll of his detention ([08:11] - [08:29]).

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4. RFK Jr. Initiates Comprehensive Review of Food Chemical Standards

Overview: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, announces a thorough examination of the "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) standards governing food additives.

Key Points:

• Evolution of GRAS Standards:
  At [09:28], RFK Jr. explains that the GRAS designation originated in the 1950s to expedite food regulation by avoiding mandatory testing. However, this has led to over 10,000 ingredients being added to the American food supply without rigorous FDA review, compared to only 400 in Europe.

• Current Industry Practices:
  Megyn points out that GRAS notices are voluntarily submitted, with a vast majority of new food chemicals not receiving FDA approval ([10:06]). This loophole has resulted in questionable substances permeating everyday food products.

• Call for Reform:
  RFK Jr. emphasizes the need to reevaluate and potentially phase out artificial food dyes, urging the industry to proactively reformulate products to meet higher safety standards ([10:06] - [11:31]).

• Industry Pushback:
  The Consumer Brands Association warns that banning food dyes could disrupt the industry’s reliance on cost-effective, vibrant additives, despite neighboring European markets enforcing stricter regulations ([11:06]).

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5. Release of American Citizen from Taliban Custody

Overview: The episode covers the release of George Glesman, an American citizen who was held captive by the Taliban for over two years.

Key Points:

• Capture and Detention:
  George Glesman, a 66-year-old airline mechanic from Atlanta, was detained by Taliban intelligence in December 2022 while traveling in Afghanistan. He was held without charges ([13:47]).

• Negotiation Process:
  Under the Biden administration, the Taliban proposed releasing Glesman in exchange for the Taliban’s demand for the release of three Taliban members in American custody, including an Al-Qaeda aide from Guantanamo Bay. The negotiations were facilitated by the Qatari government ([13:47]).

• Diplomatic Breakthrough:
  Megyn notes that this release marks a significant diplomatic achievement, as it involved direct talks between U.S. Special Envoy Adam Bowler and Taliban officials—the first substantial contact since President Trump’s tenure ([15:14]).

• Trump's Involvement and Promises:
  Trump hails the release as fulfillment of a long-awaited campaign promise, expressing optimism about the transparency and volume of the newly released JFK files linked to the event ([15:14]).

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6. Release of JFK Files Sheds New Light on Historical CIA Analysis

Overview: In conjunction with Glesman’s release, previously classified JFK documents are made public, revealing critical insights into the Kennedy administration's relationship with the CIA.

Key Points:

• Unredacted Documents:
  Trump announces the release of approximately 80,000 pages of JFK files, with about 60,000 pages made public on Tuesday. These documents include memos criticizing the CIA for its extensive covert operations ([15:14]).

• CIA Operations in Cuba:
  An unredacted 1964 memo reveals that the CIA had no direct agents operating in Cuba during the Bay of Pigs invasion, contradicting prior narratives and highlighting intelligence failures ([15:25]).

• Kennedy’s Distrust of the CIA:
  The documents expose President Kennedy's deep frustration with the CIA, particularly after the failed Bay of Pigs operation. A notable quote reveals Kennedy's intention to "splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it to the winds" ([15:25]).

• Lee Harvey Oswald Investigation:
  Despite revelations about CIA-Kennedy tensions, major news outlets like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times continue to support the conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of JFK ([15:25]).

• Public and Political Impact:
  The release of these documents provides historians and the public with a more nuanced understanding of Cold War-era intelligence operations and internal government conflicts during JFK’s presidency ([15:25]).

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7. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Food Safety Standards

Overview: Further insights from RFK Jr. highlight the ongoing efforts to reformulate food safety standards in the United States.

Key Points:

• Health Concerns Linked to Food Chemicals:
  Dr. Marty Makary, Trump's nominee to lead the FDA, emphasizes the correlation between childhood illnesses and artificial food additives, advocating for stricter regulations ([11:06]).

• Industry Resistance:
  Despite RFK Jr.'s push for phasing out harmful food dyes, industry leaders remain hesitant, as evidenced by the Consumer Brands Association’s memo expressing concerns over cost and product appeal ([11:31]).

• International Standards:
  The disparity between U.S. and European regulations serves as a catalyst for the ongoing review, with European markets enforcing more stringent safety standards, prompting U.S. companies to reconsider their formulations ([11:31]).

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Conclusion

In this multifaceted episode, Megyn Kelly navigates through significant policy shifts, international diplomacy, and historical revelations. From President Trump's ambitious plan to overhaul the Department of Education, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s critical review of food safety standards, to the delicate diplomatic negotiations leading to the release of an American citizen from Taliban custody, the episode provides a comprehensive overview of pressing national and international issues. Additionally, the release of JFK's previously classified documents offers a fresh perspective on historical intelligence dynamics, reaffirming longstanding narratives around his assassination.

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump at [00:09]:
  “I will sign an executive order to begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all.”

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at [09:28]:
  “Any new chemical that they want to add to our food is generally recognized as safe and gets no review.”

• Randy Weingarten at [04:10]:
  “So, and then let the state education department decide what to do so we know, for example, what Texas would do, right? They'll use it for vouchers.”

• Dr. Marty Makary at [11:06]:
  “Half of our nation's children are sick and nobody has really been doing anything meaningful on this front.”

• Donald Trump on JFK Files at [15:14]:
  “People have been waiting for decades for this. I don't believe we're going to redact anything. It's going to be very interesting.”

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For those interested in the full conversation and additional insights, tune into The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM Triumph Channel 111 at noon Eastern, on YouTube.com/MegynKelly, and across all podcast platforms.

Transcript

[Megyn Kelly]

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

[Donald Trump]

I will sign an executive order to begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all.

[Megyn Kelly]

President Trump announcing an executive order aimed at shuttering the Department of Education.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

Any new chemical that they want to add to our food is generally recognized as safe and gets no review.

[Megyn Kelly]

RFKJ announcing a sweeping review of industry food standards aimed at ridding the food supply of potentially harmful ingredients. A Georgetown researcher on a student visa arrested by Homeland Security. The reporting largely sympathetic to the student glossing over a key detail about his personal life. An American citizen held captive by the Taliban released what the Taliban was offered in return. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update.

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[Megyn Kelly]

On Thursday afternoon, President Trump announcing the beginning of the end for the Department of Education.

[Donald Trump]

Today we take a very historic action that was 45 years in the making. In a few moments, I will sign an executive order to begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all. My administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department. We're going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. It's doing us no good.

[Megyn Kelly]

Completely abolishing the Department of Ed will require an act of Congress, not likely to happen under the current slim Republican majorities. The order will instead, quote, begin to eliminate the department. Last week, education secretary Linda McMahon announcing a reduction in workforce amounting to half of the department's employees. Prior to the new order, the DOE was responsible for developing three federal education guidelines and initiatives like Common Core, enforcing civil rights compliance in schools and administering federal student aid. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt describing to reporters Thursday morning what tasks will remain under the department.

[Caroline Levitt]

Pell grants and student loans will still be run out of the department in Washington, D.C. but the great responsibility of educating our nation students will return to the state.

[Megyn Kelly]

The Department of Education plays a critical role in enforcing civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination. Who's going to do that now?

[Caroline Levitt]

Any critical functions of the department, such as that will remain, but again, we're greatly reducing the scale and the size of this department.

[Megyn Kelly]

President Trump saying Pell grants, a common form of undergraduate aid and Title 1 funding allocated toward children with disabilities, will be preserved in full and eventually handed over to other agencies. The details of how exactly the Trump administration plans to hand education back to the states remain unclear. Randy Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers and critic of the move, outlining her fears to left wing journalist Molly Zhang fast they're saying, oh don't.

[Randy Weingarten]

Worry, let's block grant it so we'll give it to a state education department. So, and then let the state education department decide what to do so we know, for example, what Texas would do, right? They'll use it for vouchers.

[Megyn Kelly]

Math and reading scores for 13 year olds have fallen to the lowest level in decades. Six in 10 fourth graders are not proficient in math and standardized test scores have shown little to no improvement. In fact, per pupil spending has risen by more than 245% since the 1970s, with test scores rising less than 2%. Critics say federal involvement in education caused less competition, innovation and now students will have more choice and taxpayers will have more of their own money. A Georgetown University researcher on a student visa detained by Homeland Security, part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration on foreign students supporting causes deemed counter to US Foreign policy. Badr Khan Suri, an Indian national arrested outside of his home in Arlington, Virginia on Monday night. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Trisha McLaughlin posting on X Suri was a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University, actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti Semitism on social media. The statement also claiming Mr. Suri has close ties to a senior advisor to Hamas, rendering him deportable under the Immigration and Nationality Act. His lawyer has since filed a lawsuit demanding his immediate release. Media reporting surrounding the case largely sympathetic to Mr. Suri Politico the headline Trump is seeking to deport another academic who is legally in the country, lawyer says VAP Georgetown scholar detained over American wife's Palestinian ties Lawyer says MSNBC Trump administration seeks to deport Georgetown University student with no apparent criminal record well, it's not quite that simple. In the petition for release obtained by POLITICO, Mr. Suri's lawyer arguing that his client is being punished because his wife, a US Citizen, is Palestinian. Is that it? His lawyer Hassan Ahmed, also claiming the government suspects Mr. Suri and his wife oppose US foreign policy toward Israel Attack again, Is it quite that simple? Badr Khan Suri is married to Mafizi Salah, also a Georgetown University student. A February investigation from National Review identifying her as the daughter of Ahmed Yousef, a former advisor for Hamas, a terrorist organization. National Review reporting. Ms. Salah, quote, has been open about her own role with the Hamas government. She served with the Hamas government's committee to Break the siege in Gaza, which happened to be chaired by her father. Ms. Salah's father is co author of a book titled the End of the Jewish State, Just a Matter of Time. A review of her own social media reveals the glorification of Hamas and the atrocities they committed. On October 7, just days after the terror attack resulting in the slaughter of 1200 Israelis and the kidnapping of approximately 250 people, including Americans, Ms. Salah posted on Facebook an image of a Palestinian hang glider, a reference to the vehicles used to infiltrate Israel, with the caption we shall prevail. In a July post on Instagram, Ms. Salah writing in Arabic, america is the plague. Do you believe these press reports? Scholar detained over American wife's Palestinian ties It's a little more complicated than that. And AP, another Instagram post showing images of Israeli hostages in Gaza saying their smiles and healthy appearance indicated how nicely they were treated. I'm sure it was a real joy. Many freed hostages have spoken out about their treatment after they were returned back safely to Israel.

[Randy Weingarten]

There were lots of moments when they tortured us, when they moved us one of the times and they put black material on our eyes that we won't be able to see anything. And I had to find out where to put my next step while holding the wall and I thought, and I thought that I'm going to fall and I thought that they're going to kill me.

[Caroline Levitt]

Then we started the phase of almost two months of extreme starvation and I couldn't walk for more than a month.

[Megyn Kelly]

It's unclear how exactly or when the daughter of a Hamas advisor was able to obtain U.S. citizenship. The state Department has yet to publicly Identify specific actions taken by Mr. Suri to spread Hamas propaganda. A Georgetown University spokesperson saying, quote, we are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity and we have not received a reason for his detention. Mr. Suri is currently held in a Texas detention center. His deportation proceedings set for May. Secretary of Health and Human Services RFKJ announcing a complete review of grass or generally recognized as safe standards in the food industry. Mr. Kennedy describing on Fox News the evolution of grass standards since their inception. In the 1950s when FDA was created.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

To regulate food, there were foods that were generally recognized as safe. G R A s generally recognized as safe, like flour, like dairy, like eggs. And they didn't want to make companies test those products so they created that designation. That designation was expanded. An industry began taking advantage of it so that any new chemical that they want to add to our food is generally recognized as safe and gets no review. That's why we have 10,000 ingredients in our food in this country. In Europe they only have 400.

[Megyn Kelly]

Food companies are not in fact required to submit a GRAS notice to the FDA when introducing a new chemical that reporting entirely voluntary. A 2022 analysis by Consumer watchdog group the Environmental Working group finding since 2000, food and chemical companies have petitioned the FDA just 10 times to approve a new substance in that same time period. The EWA says more than 98% of the at least 766 new food chemicals were not approved by the FDA at all. CBS News reporting. There are at least 950 substances in our food that are not permitted in Europe. Chemicals linked to health concerns show up in hundreds of products that line the shelves of American supermarkets. President Trump's nominee to head the FDA, Dr. Marty Makary of Johns Hopkins at his confirmation hearing connecting the dots between childhood illness and chemicals in the food industry.

[Dr. Marty Makary]

Half of our nation's children are sick and nobody has really been doing anything meaningful on this front. Food has a big part of it. When we eat foods with a lot of molecules that do not appear in nature, these are chemicals. These are chemicals that the industry insists are safe, a subset of which are concerning. There's a body of research now that suggests concern with some of these ingredients.

[Megyn Kelly]

RFKJ's sweeping review of grass standards comes just two weeks after a closed door meeting with the heads of major food companies. Secretary Kennedy made clear artificial food dyes must be phased out by the end of his term. Industry leaders were urged to take proactive steps to reformulate their products before any regulatory action. Those leaders reportedly resistant to the move A memo from the Consumer Brands association warning a ban on food dyes threatens the industry's reliance on cheap, vibrant dyes to maintain product appeal and affordability. Many of these same companies already sell similar products in European markets, which have far more restrictions with reformulated recipes to meet safety standards. Coming up, An American citizen held captive by the Taliban released what the Taliban was offered in return and the long awaited release of the JFK files. What new info was contained in those thousands of pages?

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[Megyn Kelly]

An American citizen declared by the State Department as wrongfully detained by the Taliban, returning back to the United States after more than two years in custody. George Glesman, an airline Mechanic from Atlanta, Georgia, captured by the Taliban's intelligence service in December 2022. The Foley foundation and advocacy organization for Americans detained overseas says Mr. Glesman, 66 years old, was traveling in Afghanistan as a tourist. The Taliban held Mr. Glesman without any charges Under President Biden, the Taliban offered the release of Mr. Glesman and another American, but only in exchange for three Taliban members in American custody, including an Al Qaeda aide held in Guantanamo Bay. The Wall Street Journal reporting the Taliban now agreeing to release Mr. Glesman in exchange for improved relations with Washington. The Taliban has no diplomatic relations with the US Nor is it recognized as the official government of Afghanistan. Mr. Glesman's release was brokered by the Qatari government. The talks took place between US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Bowler and Taliban officials in Kabul. The new York Times reporting the meeting between American and Taliban officials was the first known in person contact of any significance between the two governments since President Trump's return to office. The Trump administration fulfilling a long awaited campaign promise. The release of the JFK files.

[Donald Trump]

People have been waiting for decades for this. I don't believe we're going to redact anything. It's going to be very interesting. Approximately 80,000 pages. So it's, it's a lot of stuff.

[Megyn Kelly]

On Tuesday, the documents totaling about 60,000 released to the public a newly unredacted memo from a special assistant, Arthur Schlesinger to President JFK criticizing the CIA for overusing the State Department to cover for its agents in other countries. Mr. Schlesinger informing President Kennedy the number of undercover CIA agents, quote, outnumbers regular State Department personnel in some countries. Another unredacted document from 1964 revealing the CIA did not have any direct agents operating in Cuba despite Cold War tensions. This revelation particularly significant in the context of of the failed U. S backed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, a disastrous attempt to overthrow Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Spotty intelligence a key factor identified in the failure of that invasion attempt. The fiasco deeply damaging President Kennedy's trust in the CIA. The New York Times reporting in 1966, a frustrated President Kennedy telling an aide in the aftermath of the debacle, quote, I want to splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it to the winds. Despite the new documents providing a clearer look at tensions between President Kennedy and the CIA, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and others agreeing with the conclusion brought to us by the Washington Post, quote, so far, nothing upends the notion that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman. And that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megyn Kelly. Join me back here for the Megyn Kelly show live on SiriusXM Triumph Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com Megan Kelly and on all podcast platforms.

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