
President Trump seeks roughly $230 million from the Justice Department for what he calls malicious prosecutions, a move raising unprecedented conflict-of-interest concerns inside his own administration. Construction begins on a privately-funded 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom, triggering outrage from critics. Journalist Nick Sortor films inside a suspected Antifa hideout near Portland’s ICE facility and is met with threats and slurs as police face questions over alleged stand-down orders. The Louvre reopens after Sunday’s $100 million jewel heist as prosecutors arrest a suspect in a separate Paris museum robbery. All Family Pharmacy: Order now at https://allfamilypharmacy.com/MEGYN and save 10% with code MEGYN10 Herald Group: Learn more at https://GuardYourCard.com
Loading summary
Commercial Announcer
Are you a parent looking for an independent, flexible and tuition free school in Oregon? Evergreen Virtual Academy offers a dynamic and tuition free public education with Oregon certified teachers for PK through 12th grade students. Your student gets a laptop, live class sessions and the ability to chart their own unique path plus in person events and social activities all year. When school has no walls, learning has no limits. Learn more and enroll now. Evergreen Virtual Academy evergreenvirtual.org.
Megyn Kelly
Good morning everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 and this is your AM update.
Donald Trump
All I know is that they would owe me a lot of money.
Megyn Kelly
President Trump seeking hundreds of millions of dollars to compensate him for the lawfare by President Biden's doj as critics cry foul over potential conflicts of interest.
Political Commentator
Donald Trump wants to be a king. Just look at what he's doing right now. To the White House.
Megyn Kelly
Construction begins on the new White House ballro and the press is not happy. A shocking look inside an antifa safe house in Portland leading to homophobic slurs directed at an independent journalist and Paris prosecutors announced the arrest of a museum thief, but not that museum thief. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update. Every October we honor the strength and resilience of women and families affected by breast cancer. But cancer touches all of us in some way and and more people today are seeking options beyond the standard approach. That's why I want to tell you about what All Family Pharmacy is doing this month. They are helping patients gain access to trusted, affordable medicines like ivermectin and Mebendazole. These treatments that are sometimes used off label are currently being researched in Florida for their potential to support cancer treatment and prevention. For those looking for an alternative or addition to their current care, it's always important to consult with a doctor and All Family Pharmacy makes that simple. They work with like minded physicians across the country who review every order and provide prescriptions when appropriate. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, they are offering 40% off Mebendazole when you order this month with the code PINK40. Visit all family pharmacy.com allfamilypharmacy.com Megan to learn more. And remember to use code PINK40 by October 31st to save on mobendazole. President Trump responding to a New York Times report that he is seeking about $230 million in damages from the DOJ he now oversees as a result of the lawfare against him. An unprecedented situation. Any settlement reached between Mr. Trump and the DOJ may have to be approved by his own top DOJ officials who represented him in a personal capacity. At issue, two administrative complaints submitted to the doj. The first step in seeking damages. If no settlement is reached, the next step could be a lawsuit. According to the Times, both claims filed prior to Mr. Trump's return to office. The first, submitted in 2023, reportedly, quote, seeks damages for a number of purported violations of his rights, including the FBI and Special counsel investigation into Russian election tampering and possible connections to the 2016 Trump campaign. The second complaint, filed in 2024, relates to the FBI's 2022 search of Mr. Trump's Mar? A Lago home and club for classified documents and accuses the DOJ of malicious prosecution. From the complaint obtained by the Times, quote, Attorney General Garland, FBI Director Wray and and Special Counsel Smith's targeting indictment and harassment of President Trump has always been malicious political prosecution aimed at affecting an electoral outcome to prevent President Trump from being reelected. It continues, quote, this malicious prosecution led President Trump to spend tens of millions of dollars defending the case and his reputation. Mr. Trump, responding to the report on Tuesday from the Oval, is that something you want, your legal team?
Donald Trump
I don't know what the numbers, I don't even talk to them about it. All I know is that they would owe me a lot of money. But I don't, I'm not looking for money. I'd give it to charity or something. I would give it to charity. Now with the country, it's interesting because I'm the one that makes the decision, right? And you know, that decision would have to go across my desk. And it's awfully strange to make a decision where I'm paying myself. In other words, did you ever have one of those cases where you have to decide how much you're paying yourself in damages? But I was damaged very greatly and any money that I would get, I would give to charity.
Megyn Kelly
Any settlements must be approved by the Deputy Attorney General or the Associate Attorney General. Funds are paid out with taxpayer dollars. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche served as President Trump's lead defense lawyer in multiple criminal cases before Mr. Trump won reelection. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, who represented Trump co defendant Walt Nada in the Mar? A Lago case, has also represented several Trump officials in January 6th related investigations, including current FBI Director Cash Patel. This set up raising questions about conflicts of interest and setting off a firestorm among the left and establishment media.
Political Commentator
So the conflict of interest is just so obvious and egregious. I don't think there would be any way it could be worked out in an ethical way. The victim is the American people. They are the ones who will be out the $230 million. It is a blatant grift. It's an ethics scandal, and we are combining the weaponization of the Department of Justice with his grift and corruption to make money off of the presidency.
Megyn Kelly
A DOJ spokesman telling the Times, quote, in any circumstance, all officials at the Department of Justice follow the guidance of career ethics officials. Conservative political strategist Scott Jennings on CNN offering some advice to. To the president.
Scott Jennings
And he did also say, you heard him say it there. It's going to come across my desk. I might be the one to decide whether I get paid a quarter of a billion dollars, Scott. I mean, do you think that that is something that should ever happen in this country?
Political Commentator
I don't know if it's true, if it has to come across his desk or not, however, because it is an unprecedented situation.
Scott Jennings
But do you think he should get paid by the Justice Department? That's the question.
Political Commentator
My personal advice, if he asked me, would be have them table this until you leave office. The process started before you came to office. You then won an election, and you look, I think he, maybe he was damaged and he's entitled to the process. If it were me and I were advising him, I would just say you could table it and put it off until you leave office.
Megyn Kelly
This is far from the first time someone targeted by the FBI or DOJ has filed a complaint or received a payout seeking damages. Just last year, Joe Biden's DOJ settled a case brought by disgraced former FBI agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page. You remember them, the lovers whose texts the DOJ made public in which they agreed that, quote, we can't take the risk of Trump being elected, writing that they had, quote, an insurance policy designed to, quote, stop it. Well, those two sued the DOJ for violating their privacy as a result of those text messages being released. And Merrick Garland ag, under Joe Biden, approved a settlement. Here he is defending the DOJ's decision in an exchange with Republican Congressman Jim Jordan just last year.
Political Commentator
Go after a president and you get rewarded for doing so, according to the Justice Department. A question of reward. It's a question of the government paying for violating the law.
Megyn Kelly
Guess how much the DOJ paid them. $2 million. Does the scorn their lawyer claimed they were subjected to compare at all to what Donald Trump was put through. Hmm. Construction beginning earlier this week on the new White House ballroom on Tuesday, a crane seen demolishing parts of the East Wing to make room for the 90,000 square foot addition. The optics of the construction proving too much for many of the president's critics to bear surprise. Donald Trump is literally destroying the People's House because apparently he thinks it's his house.
Political Commentator
Donald Trump wants to be a king. Just look at what he's doing right now. The White House, I think it's fairly.
Megyn Kelly
Grotesque to begin construction. Just the optics of beginning construction on a grand ballroom at a time when the government is shut down.
Political Commentator
What we see is destruction, demolition, and the symbolism is just staggering.
Megyn Kelly
Hillary Clinton chiming in on X. It's not his house, it's your house and he's destroying it. This is the same woman who, along with her husband, was criticized for taking nearly $200,000 worth of china, flatware, rugs, TVs, sofas and more when they left our house, and who later paid back only about $86,000 of it. As for the Trump Reno, according to the White House Historical association, the People's House has an extensive renovation history since its original construction in 1792, including in 1993 when First Lady Hillary Clinton. There she is again. Oversaw restoration projects in the Blue Room and the East Room and the conversion of a butler's pantry into a kitchen for family meals. The current press briefing room sits on top of what was once a swimming pool constructed in 1933 by FDR. President Obama turned a tennis court into a basketball court. The list goes on and on. President Trump showing off plans for the ballroom yesterday afternoon.
Donald Trump
I think it'll be one of the great ballrooms anywhere in the world. Right now we have a space that with tables, holds about 79 people. And this is a proper kind of a thing. Now what the White House was doing, as you know, is they were putting tents out on the lawn. It's being paid for 100% by me and some friends of mine, donors to it. The government is paying absolutely nothing. Over the years, many presidents have made changes. This obviously would be the biggest change, but this was something they've wanted for at least 150 years.
Megyn Kelly
The ballroom expected to run an estimated $300 million. Donors are lining up to contribute to the cause. Lockheed Martin reportedly in for 10 million. Google committing at least 5 million, 22 million of the YouTube settlement won by President Trump last month earmarked for the construction project, according to the Hill. Other companies considering donations include Amazon, Apple, Coinbase, Comcast, Microsoft and T Mobile. Construction set to be completed by early 2020. Nine, just shy of the end of President Trump's second term. Coming up, an independent journalist takes a peek inside what he calls an antifa safe house, just one block away from the Portland ICE facility. And as Paris investigators hunt for the Louvre jewel thieves, another alleged Paris museum thief is busted. As President Trump is settling into his new administration, one of the top Democrats in Congress aiming to undermine the Trump agenda is Democrat Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois. And according to our sponsor, the Electronic Payments Coalition, Senator Durbin has a new plan, a government takeover of your credit card. Today, Americans have thousands of choices in credit cards, but they say Senator Durbin's plan will result in less competition and less security, which means more risk for your credit and your identity. You can learn more for yourself@guardyourcard.com and you could consider telling your senators to stop Dick Durbin's government takeover of your credit card before it's too late. Independent journalist Nick Sorter capturing video inside what he describes as an antifa safe house in Portland, Oregon, just one block away from the ICE facility. At the center of the nightly protests. The safe house appears to be a commercial space on the ground level, the glass windows blocked with pull down curtains. Political signage including a cardboard poster reading quote, regulating capitalism only delays oligarchy and a Palestinian flag Check Sorter posting on X. The space is where, quote, violent antifa terrorists flee after they commit crimes. Portland police allow them to harbor criminals there and do nothing about it. The video shows a small space with a small kitchen against one wall. There appears to be little to no furniture. A few apparent antifa members seen unmasked, sitting on the floor, surrounded by canned drinks and more political signage. Sorter is quickly spotted recording by the group a young woman slamming the door closed. Moments later, the door bursting back open, a masked man now appearing through it. A warning. The language here is colorful.
Political Commentator
Get the fuck back.
Megyn Kelly
What are you doing? What are you doing?
Political Commentator
That's what I thought. I'm just checking it out. I'm on a public sidewalk. Close the window if you don't want to see in. There you go. You're so fucking closeted. You're a fag, you look stupid.
Megyn Kelly
Sorter saying this is the same location to which post millennial journalist Katie Daviscourt followed her alleged attacker after she was beaten on September 30th. Davis court says an activist struck her with a metal pole, leaving her with a black eye and a concussion, then retreated to the building. That Sorter reported is the safe house video showing multiple people blocking Davis Court's view of the door with umbrellas. The Portland Police Bureau responding to AM Update Quote, the establishment shown in the video appears to be located on private property. With that in mind, any law enforcement action to include a search, seizure or investigative activity would require the establishment of probable cause that a crime has been committed. A search warrant may only be issued following a thorough investigation and must be authorized by a judge in accordance with state and federal law. As with all public safety matters, the Portland Police Bureau follows appropriate legal procedures before taking enforcement action. Nowhere in that statement does PPB deny antifa activists are using the property. Might want to make sure it's zoned for use as a home too. Sorter telling Fox News Portland officers are running cover for anti ICE activists.
Political Commentator
I would believe that they've gotten some type of stand down order not to do certain things, to not respond to this type of violence. Yeah, no, I mean they'll definitely arrest people like me, but they have orders not to look like they are assisting ICE or DHS in any way, shape or form. They've said that publicly at this point. Officers out here on camera. So that's not just speculation. They're saying that themselves. So somebody is giving that order and I'm telling you or I'm going to find out who.
Megyn Kelly
Responding to AM update. Quote, Our officers who are in the south waterfront during protest activity are there to protect life, safety and First Amendment rights. The Louvre museum in Paris back open to the public after the brazen Sunday heist as French prosecutors announced the arrest of a woman stemming from a separate robbery from another museum just weeks before. Authorities still searching for the crew of four responsible for breaking into the Louvre just after its open on Sunday. The crew, dressed in yellow construction vests, driving a truck mounted ladder up to a window, forcing their way into the Apollo Room, which houses France's crown jewels, smashing through two glass cases, swiping eight pieces of Napoleonic jewelry, then dashing away on motor scooters. Paris prosecutor Laur Baku, who is leading the investigation, telling French outlet RTL the jewels hold an estimated value of 88 million euros or 102 million bucks. Though stressing the historical loss is far greater, Baku says about 100 investigators are working to identify the crew and locate the jewels before they are broken down and resold, saying, quote, we can perhaps hope that they'll think about this and won't destroy these jewels. Oh boy. French President Emmanuel Macron is calling for an expedited rollout of already planned security renovations. Now back to that other thief who was just arrested. This is a separate case, French authorities on Tuesday announcing the arrest of a 24 year old Chinese woman for allegedly stealing gold from Paris's Natural History Museum. That's about a 20 minute walk from the Louvre, prosecutor Bekou saying. On September 16, a single suspect entered the museum after 1am leaving, or should we say escaping three hours later scot free with about 13 pounds of gold nuggets valued at 1.7 million. A blowtorch, grinder, screwdriver and saw were among the tools recovered near the scene. Authorities busting the suspect later in Barcelona. She is charged with theft and criminal conspiracy and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. What is going on in Paris? 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 Megyn Kelly and on all podcast platforms.
Commercial Announcer
When the flu is keeping you up at night, don't try to tough it out. Knock out your flu symptoms with NYQUIL Intense Flu. You got this. It provides powerful relief of your flu symptoms so you can sleep well through the night. NYQUIL Intense Flu the nighttime sniffling, aching, aching fever. Best sleep with a flu medicine. Use as directed. Keep out of reach of children.
Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Megyn Kelly
Platform: SiriusXM
Theme: Breaking updates on headline-grabbing legal, political, and cultural news, with a particular focus on President Trump’s latest move to seek damages for DOJ prosecutions, controversy over White House renovations, Antifa safe-house activity in Portland, and a pair of museum heists in Paris.
Megyn Kelly kicks off with an “AM Update,” providing listeners a rapid-fire rundown of major stories at the intersection of politics, law, and culture. The episode focuses on Donald Trump’s unprecedented bid to claim damages from the Biden-era Department of Justice for legal actions taken against him, media reaction to renovations at the White House, disturbing developments regarding Antifa in Portland, and news of high-profile thefts from Paris museums.
Trump’s Claims for Compensation:
Trump is reportedly seeking around $230 million in damages from the DOJ, alleging lawfare during the Biden administration, including the well-publicized Mar-a-Lago documents search and prior Russia probe.
Conflict of Interest Concerns:
The process could force Trump DOJ officials (who had previously represented him and his allies) to weigh in on his own claims, raising ethical alarms.
Historical Precedents and Criticisms:
Megyn Kelly contextualizes Trump’s move by recalling the DOJ settlement payouts to Peter Strzok and Lisa Page for privacy breaches during earlier probes—approved by then-AG Merrick Garland—arguing that such claims are not unique, but that the scales of harm differ.
Donald Trump (04:15):
"It's awfully strange to make a decision where I'm paying myself. In other words, did you ever have one of those cases where you have to decide how much you're paying yourself in damages?"
Scott Jennings (06:05):
"It's going to come across my desk. I might be the one to decide whether I get paid a quarter of a billion dollars, Scott. I mean, do you think that that is something that should ever happen in this country?"
Media and Political Backlash:
Work has begun on a lavish new White House ballroom, inciting ire from critics, particularly given ongoing government shutdowns and the grand scale of the project.
Renovations Past and Present:
Kelly details historical context—White House renovations are regular, with notable work by past first families (including the Clintons), and even Obama, to downplay the outrage.
Trump’s Rebuttal and Funding:
Trump claims the ballroom is donor-funded, not taxpayer-supported, listing defense contractors and tech giants as early contributors, using a tone of grandiosity and justification.
Journalistic Investigation:
Reporter Nick Sorter ventures inside a suspected Antifa safe house near Portland’s ICE facility, documenting the conditions and confrontations.
On-the-Ground Incident:
Video captures Sorter being threatened, with Antifa activists hurling homophobic slurs and physically obstructing other journalists.
Lack of Law Enforcement Response:
Criticism mounts for Portland Police, who—per their own statement—claim legal constraints limit their ability to intervene without probable cause, and do not deny the safe house’s use.
Allegations of “Stand Down” Policy:
Sorter claims police are under explicit orders not to interfere with anti-ICE protests or pursue Antifa-linked crimes.
Details of the Louvre Robbery:
The illustrious Louvre museum is again open following a bold heist: a gang of four—disguised as construction workers—stole over $100 million in Napoleonic jewels, escaping on scooters.
Separate Theft at Natural History Museum:
In a distinct case, a 24-year-old Chinese woman is arrested for stealing over 13 pounds of gold from Paris’s Natural History Museum, apprehended in Barcelona.
French Official Reactions:
Investigators stress the historical loss outweighs monetary value; French President Macron urges a speed-up of security upgrades.
Trump on Conflict of Interest (04:15):
"It's awfully strange to make a decision where I'm paying myself."
Political Commentator on Ethics (05:25):
"It is a blatant grift. It's an ethics scandal..."
Critics of White House Renovation (08:23):
"Donald Trump wants to be a king. Just look at what he's doing right now..."
Nick Sorter and Antifa Encounter (13:01):
Mask-wearing activist, to Sorter: "You're so fucking closeted. You're a fag, you look stupid."
Kelly on Strzok/Page Settlement (07:45):
"Guess how much the DOJ paid them. $2 million. Does the scorn their lawyer claimed they were subjected to compare at all to what Donald Trump was put through. Hmm."
The episode showcases Megyn Kelly’s signature style: sharp, critical, and adversarial toward mainstream narratives. She amplifies the legal and ethical dilemmas of Trump’s actions, exposes partisan outrage over White House renovations, and highlights both on-the-ground reporting (in Portland) and international intrigue (Paris heists). The episode is rich in pointed commentary, historic context, and combative soundbites, making it a brisk yet thorough update for the politically engaged listener.