The Megyn Kelly Show

Trump Sends National Guard to Portland, and Unhinged Leftist Reaction, with Michael Shellenberger and Leland Vittert
Episode 1159 — September 29, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on President Trump's decision to send the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, following months of violent protests targeting federal agents, particularly ICE officers. Megyn Kelly is joined by journalist Michael Shellenberger and news anchor Leland Vittert to dissect the political, legal, and cultural fallout — including the resistance of local Oregon officials, the deeper crises of lawlessness and mental illness in American cities, the polarization of responses on the left and right, and broader themes of societal disorder and parental perseverance. The episode concludes with a moving personal interview with Vittert about his memoir, highlighting themes of resilience and family.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Introduction: Five Years of The Megyn Kelly Show (01:00–04:20)

• Megyn reflects on the show's growth and evolution, thanking loyal listeners and staff.
• Recognizes the changing sociopolitical landscape since the show’s inception, referencing the defeat of "wokeism," while acknowledging lingering ideological battles.

2. Trump Orders National Guard to Portland: The Immediate News (04:20–10:12)

• Official Resistance: Oregon Democratic leaders and Governor insist federal intervention is unnecessary.
  • Quote: “This is an American city. We do not need any intervention. The president will not find lawlessness or violence here.” — Leland Vittert (04:20)
• Megyn’s Counternarrative: Details ongoing nightly confrontations, arson, threats against ICE agents, and the overall climate of fear and violence.
  • Quote: “Is it bucolic for the ICE agents? I think not.” — Megyn (05:11)
• Describes protester tactics: vandalism, doxxing ICE agents, and even staging a guillotine.
  • Quote: “In August, the protesters rolled out a guillotine in front of the facility. I mean, that's just so perfect. Like, let's go sophisticated in our violence threats.” — Megyn (07:04)
• Portland Police Response: Video evidence of overwhelmed, retreating local police.
  • “There’s like seven of them. Then they get on their little bikes and they ride away as protesters chant in their faces.” — Megyn (09:11)
• Argues Portland has been lawless for five years and finally “we have a president who's willing to do something about it.”

3. In-Depth with Michael Shellenberger: Lawlessness, Leftist Ideology, and Governance (12:14–26:31)

• Diagnosing Portland’s Problems:
  • Shellenberger explains the specific urban crises: not only protest violence but endemic disorder from open-air drug scenes and untreated mental illness.
  • “In Oregon and Portland, you have a problem of massive disorder...These are extremely violent places of sexual assault and drug overdose. Deaths are up dramatically since 2020.” — Shellenberger (13:07)
• On Law Enforcement:
  • Advocates for increased police presence, aligning the U.S. with European police-to-population ratios.
  • Calls for comprehensive anti-crime and mental health legislation—the mere “show of force is not going to be quite enough” (15:42).
• Partisan Motives:
  • Discusses why Democratic leaders resist federal help: political gain, ideological aversion to law enforcement, and “radical left...controls the Democratic Party on the West Coast” (16:20).
  • Notes that performative standoffs can galvanize each side’s political base.
• Republican Contradictions:
  • Megyn points out GOP reluctance to fully implement E-Verify, hinting at big-business interests (17:51).
  • Quote: “The Republican Party is still half run by the Chamber of Commerce Republicans who hire all these illegals…” — Megyn (18:02)

4. The Des Moines Schools Scandal & Woke Ideology (20:41–23:41)

• Case Example: Outrage over discovery that the Des Moines Public Schools superintendent was an illegal immigrant fugitive with a criminal record, yet earned a high salary.
  • “It’s amazing how widespread the presence of these people who are here illegally is.” — Megyn (20:41)
• Shellenberger ties policies of progressive “equity” to enabling unqualified or outright criminal individuals to acquire power, referencing a “white guilt” dynamic in elite institutions (22:07).
• Debate over the persistence of “wokeism”: Megyn sees it in decline; Shellenberger claims it’s weakened but far from dead.

5. Societal Disorder, Political Violence, and Solutions (23:41–40:38)

• Rising Pathologies:
  • Increasing approval of political violence among college students (“34%... now say it’s okay to use violence to stop a campus speaker" — Shellenberger, 23:41).
  • Trend in mass shootings linked to trans-identifying individuals, mental illness, and sociocultural confusion.
  • The left’s tendency to “celebrate the murder of somebody who said things that hurt their feelings” (28:06).
• Structural Causes:
  • Shellenberger: Social media, broken family and community structures, lack of mental health intervention, and toxic ideological myths.
• Presidential Responsibility:
  • Both agree that Trump’s “showbiz” focus on military crackdowns isn’t enough—America needs affirmative legislative solutions on mental health, trans medicine, and crime.
  • “Put forward … positive agenda because … those ICE raids … aren’t a solution.” — Shellenberger (26:31)
  • Legislative gridlock is highlighted; Megyn argues nothing meaningful can be accomplished without a 60-vote Senate supermajority (36:53).

6. Comey Indictment & Lawfare as Political Weapon (42:00–46:22)

• Megyn and Shellenberger discuss the criminal indictment against James Comey, viewing it as a delayed but essential reckoning for the Russiagate scandal and FBI misconduct.
  • “The Russia gate, the Russia collusion hoax begins out of the Hillary Clinton ... dismissal ... of the Hillary Clinton email scandal." — Shellenberger (43:32)
• Criticism of media complicity (notably, The New York Times).
  • “At this point, it’s like Pravda, but that’s already being too nice.” — Shellenberger (43:32)
• Agreement that the indictment may not hold up on constitutional grounds, but represents an overdue confrontation with intelligence agency abuse.

7. Digital ID & Surveillance State Fears (47:39–50:25)

• Shellenberger warns about trends in the UK and Switzerland moving toward mandatory digital IDs tied to employment and social monitoring.
  • Plays a chilling clip of Oracle’s Larry Ellison:
    • “We’re constantly recording, watching and recording everything that’s going on. Citizens will be on their best behavior because we’re constantly recording and reporting everything…” — Larry Ellison, replayed by Megyn at (49:34)
  • Both Kelly and Shellenberger decry the encroachment of a surveillance state.

8. Interview: Leland Vittert’s Memoir & Autism Journey (54:30–93:34)

Growing Up Autistic — "Born Lucky"

• Vittert tells his inspiring personal story of being born with severe physical complications (“the luckiest baby…” — 57:41), diagnosed with autism, and overcoming profound social and behavioral challenges with the guidance and tough love of his father.
• Key Story: As a child, his IQ measured both in genius and developmentally delayed ranges — “a 70-point spread, the biggest they’d ever seen” (60:26). Doctors told his parents “there’s nothing you can do”; his dad refused to accept this, instituting a rigorous system of drills and real-world practice.
  • “It was very, very granular, minute by minute, sort of, for lack of a better term, reprogramming of my brain.” — Vittert (63:39)
• The impact of parental presence and unconditional love is a recurring theme.
  • “It makes an enormous difference...Just showing up.” — Vittert (92:51)
• Real-world struggles and resilience: bullying, alienation, and his father’s quiet suffering (“he would sit in the living room in the dark and cry” — 67:18).
• His journey: From socially isolated child to network anchor and author.

Reflections on American Media and Political Culture

• Candid about career ups and downs, including his ouster at Fox News for pressing Trump campaign claims on air, and his independence at NewsNation.
• Debates the “superpower” framing of autism, instead crediting discipline, adaptation, and enduring effort.
• Quote: “If you gave me a box to check, will my child have autism or not? A thousand out of a thousand, you check no. That to me is just bonkers.” — Vittert (75:34)

9. Return to Political Violence & Societal Crisis (76:09–84:58)

• Megyn voices her anger at the left’s unwillingness to acknowledge or condemn ideological violence, particularly surrounding the assassination of conservative figures.
• Leland Vittert calls for honest acknowledgment and discussions about these problems, criticizing those who “would rather hate Trump than possibly be open to the idea that maybe we found something” that could prevent tragedies (79:08).
• Includes a disturbing montage of women (including doctors) taking Tylenol during pregnancy as a political statement, despite evidence of possible risks — described by both as an act of mental illness (80:13–81:54).
  • Quote: “That is so sick...long term I’ve got real concerns about those mothers and those babies.” — Megyn (81:11)
• Vittert’s viral moment: Laughs at Representative Steve Cohen dodging a direct question about legal double standards for Trump and Democrats — “Honestly, I didn't know what else to do…” (83:44)

10. Parental Love, Presence & Final Reflections (88:51–end)

• The interview closes on the power of unwavering parental support.
• Vittert’s father, though a private person, ultimately agreed to share their story so that others would not feel alone (“if somebody had handed you this book...I would have read it every week for 10 years” — 90:15).
• Megyn echoes the theme of deliberate, consistent parenting over career ambition, reflecting on her own choices and satisfaction.
• The episode ends in a hopeful, humanistic tone, urging listeners not to make politics the price of connection and to seek out wisdom and companionship even across divides.
  • Quote: “Don’t give up on your fellow Americans just because they don’t share your politics. And don’t make politics the price you have to pay for engaging with them.” — Megyn (98:25)

Notable Quotes and Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Is it bucolic for the ICE agents? I think not.” — Megyn Kelly (05:11)
• “These are extremely violent places of sexual assault and drug overdose…Deaths are up dramatically since 2020.” — Michael Shellenberger (13:07)
• “If they really wanted these illegals out, they would implement E-VERIFY…and we would get millions of them out like that overnight.” — Megyn Kelly (17:51)
• “We are producing psychopathic mythologies and we need to deprogram people from these really bad, crazy ideas, including that all white people are responsible for all problems in the black community, including the idea that you can change your gender or sex…” — Shellenberger (28:06)
• “34% of college students now say it’s okay to use violence to stop a campus speaker. That’s pathological.” — Shellenberger (23:41)
• “We’re constantly recording, watching and recording everything that’s going on. Citizens will be on their best behavior because we’re constantly recording and reporting everything…” — Larry Ellison (49:34)
• “A spread of 20 points between the two scores is a learning disability. I had a 70 point spread. The woman said, this is the biggest spread we’ve ever seen…my dad goes, what can we do? And she says, generally not. I wanted to give parents… the hope my parents didn’t have.” — Leland Vittert (60:26)
• “Just showing up. That’s what it’s about. It makes an enormous difference.” — Leland Vittert (92:51)
• “Don’t give up on your fellow Americans just because they don’t share your politics. And don’t make politics the price you have to pay for engaging with them.” — Megyn Kelly (98:25)

Flow and Tone

• Megyn Kelly’s tone: Candid, occasionally confrontational, deeply invested in cultural and political battles, but also humanistic and emotionally reflective.
• Michael Shellenberger: Analytical, policy-oriented, critical of both right and left, concerned about serious social and psychiatric crises.
• Leland Vittert: Open, self-deprecating, focused on personal development, resilience, journalistic integrity, and finding hope amid adversity.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:00 — Five-year anniversary reflections
• 04:20 — Trump’s National Guard order; Portland reaction
• 12:14 — Michael Shellenberger joins; Portland’s deeper crises
• 20:41 — Des Moines schools scandal and wokeism
• 23:41 — Political violence and causes
• 42:00 — Comey indictment & lawfare
• 47:39 — Digital ID discussion
• 54:30 — Leland Vittert interview: Born Lucky
• 76:09 — Tylenol, autism debate, and crisis of reason
• 83:02 — Leland Vittert’s viral interview moment
• 88:51 — Parental love, presence, and final lessons
• 98:25 — Closing reflections: hope, wisdom, and connection

This episode delivers a comprehensive look at escalating political divisions, urban disorder, institutional failures — but also offers a poignant exploration of family, perseverance, and the enduring value of honest, non-partisan connections.