
The Trump administration wins a major legal battle as a federal appeals court clears the way for National Guard troops to deploy to Portland to protect immigration operations. President Trump and the Australian Prime Minister sign a new framework deal to boost rare earth mineral production and reduce China’s control over the global supply chain. The Trump administration carries out another strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel from South America, as former DHS Secretary Chad Wolf defends the aggressive new strategy and dismisses talk of regime change in Venezuela. Former Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre promotes her new book Independent, explaining why she’s leaving the Democratic Party while still defending President Biden in eyebrow-raising fashion. Riverbend Ranch: Visit https://riverbendranch.com/ | Use promo code MEGYN for $20 off your first order. Geviti: Go to https://gogeviti.com/megyn and get 20% off with code MEGYN.
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Chad Wolf
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Andy Cohen
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Megyn Kelly
Good morning everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Tuesday, October 21, 2025, and this is your AM update. A major win for the Trump administration as the ninth Circuit Court of Appeals allows the National Guard to deploy to Portland.
Donald Trump
We'll have so much critical mineral and rare earths that you won't know what to do with them.
Megyn Kelly
President Trump and the Australian prime minister agreeing to a framework deal aimed at increasing cooperation in producing rare ear minerals.
Chad Wolf
You get wine and you start to crack down on some of these foreign terrorist organizations and these narco terrorists. And if you don't, then we will.
Megyn Kelly
President Trump carries out another strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs to the United States. But what's the end game here? And Karine Jean Pierre's book tour is off to a ridiculous start. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update. I've been talking a lot lately about Riverbend Ranch because I love their steaks. Riverbend Ranch has taken Black Angus beef to a whole new level. For the last 35 years, Riverbend Ranch has been creating a very elite Angus herd by using ultrasound to select genetically superior cattle with a focus on flavor and tenderness. When you purchase from Riverbend Ranch, you're not only supporting the 64 Cowboys and Cowgirls and their families who work on the ranch, but you're also supporting over 260 other US ranches and the hundreds of American families who work on them. It is born in the USA, raised in the USA and processed here too. It's aged to perfection for 21 days and shipped directly from the ranch to your home. This is not your average Black Angus beef, so order from Riverbendranch.com use the promo code Megan for 20 bucks off your first order and let me know what you think. Riverbendranch.com, promo code Megan the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals delivering a major victory to the Trump administration on Monday, permitting National Guard troops to be deployed to Portland, Oregon to protect immigration operations as predicted by am update. After more than three months of turmoil and attacks at an ICE facility in Portland. The Department of Homeland Security on September 26th requesting from the Department of War, quote, immediate and sustained assistance to safeguard federal personnel, facilities and operations in the state of Oregon. The next day, President Trump writing on Truth Social that he had directed War Secretary Pete Hegseth, quote, to provide all necessary troops to protect war ravaged Portland. Secretary Hegseth on September 28 calling up 200 members of the Oregon National Guard into federal service, quote, immediately for a period of 60 days. The city of Portland and the state of Oregon suing and despite the case being assigned to the Trump appointed Judge Karen Immergut, plaintiffs won a temporary restraining order, or tro, prohibiting the federalization and deployment of members of the Oregon National Guard. In response, the Trump administration capitalizing on the words Oregon national guard, instead sending 100 members of the already federalized California National Guard to Portland with plans to send more, possibly from Texas and other states. Judge Immergut then issuing a second TRO stopping Trump from deploying any federalized members of the National Guard to Oregon. Judge Immergut ruling that Trump likely exceeded both his statutory and constitutional authority in sending the Guard to Portland. The Trump administration only appealing the first tro, explaining that it believed Judge Immergut would be required to dissolve both of them if the Trump administration prevailed since they relied on the same legal reasoning. By a 2 to 1 vote, the court siding with Trump's Department of Justice and issuing a stay on Judge Immergut's ruling. From the majority opinion, quote, we conclude that it is likely that the President lawfully exercised his statutory authority which which authorizes the federalization of the National Guard when the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States. The evidence the President relied on reflects a colorable assessment of the facts and law within a range of honest judgment. The two judges in the majority, Judges Bridget Bade and Ryan Nelson, both appointed by Donald Trump in Trump 1.0. Though the 9th Circuit has been traditionally dominated by liberal judges, thanks to Trump 1.0, it is now more balanced with 16 Democrat appointed judges and 13 Republican appointees, thus increasing Mr. Trump's chances of getting a fair hearing before this court. Judge Susan Graeber, a President Bill Clinton nominee, issuing a blistering dissent, quote, today's decision is not merely absurd. It erodes core constitutional principles, including sovereign states control over their state's militias and the people's First Amendment rights to assemble and to object to the government's policies and actions. Lawyers for Oregon and Portland immediately asking for an on bank rehearing another appeal before the 9th Circuit's chief judge and 10 randomly selected judges. An unnamed judge on the 9th Circuit also calling on the court to vote on whether to hold an en banc hearing. Lawyers on both sides have until midnight Wednesday to file arguments on whether there should be such a rehearing. Regardless, Monday's decision is unlikely to be the last word on this issue. Judge Immergut has scheduled a trial on the full case on October 29th. President Trump on Monday meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House, signing an agreement to increase production and refinement of rare earth minerals, which are key components for producing electronics and advanced technologies. China currently controls the vast majority of the world's extraction and refinement capabilities. Yesterday's meeting coming just shy of President Trump's November 1st deadline to cement a new trade deal with China. President Trump routinely emphasizing the importance of rare earth mineral production to US national security. The infamous Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in February was supposed to end with a signed rare earth agreement between the US And Ukraine. That deal ultimately not signed until late April of this year. Here, Mr. Trump amplifies the goal of flooding the market with rare earth minerals.
Donald Trump
We are discussing critical minerals and rare earths, and we're going to be signing an agreement that we work together very much on rare earths, critical minerals and lots of other things. In about a year from now, we'll have so much critical mineral and rare earths that you won't know what to do with them. They'll be worth about $2.
Megyn Kelly
The partnership underscoring a broader push to loosen China's grip on the global supply chain. President Trump is planning to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea. On a somewhat lighter note, one reporter yesterday asking President Trump about disparaging comments made by the Australian Ambassador to the U.S. kevin Rudd. Mr. Rudd in the past calling Mr. Trump, quote, the most destructive president in history, a, quote, traitor to the west and, quote, a village idiot. The ambassador has previously apologized for the comments. President Trump responding to the question, apparently unaware the ambassador was seated across the table.
Chad Wolf
Even things the ambassador said about you in the past, the Australian investment.
Donald Trump
I don't know anything about him. I mean, if he said bad, then maybe he'll like to apologize. I really don't know. Did an ambassador say something bad about it? Don't, don't tell me. Where is he? Is he still.
Chad Wolf
Yeah, yeah.
Donald Trump
You said bad Before I took this position, Mr. President, I don't like you either. I don't. And it probably never will.
Megyn Kelly
Funniest president ever. Coming up, former acting Secretary of Homeland security Chad Wolf weighs in on speculation that the Trump administration is considering and possibly pushing for regime change in Venezuela. And former White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre not ready to ditch her old bad habits. I want to talk to you about Jevoty. In my career, I have learned that information is everything. The same applies to our health. Having the right information makes all the difference. And that's where jevoty comes in. It is not just another health app. It's a longevity and health optimization platform that uses your health data to build custom care plans for your unique needs. Gevity creates personalized supplement packs based on your specific bloodwork, and they provide ongoing guidance to you. No more fragmented healthcare or wasting money on random supplements. Hoping something works, the platform analyzes essential biomarkers, giving you comprehensive health data, all accessible from home. So go to Jevity.com Megan and get 20% off with code. Megan, that's Gojevity. Okay. G O Jevity. G E V I T I.com Megan In a world of one size fits all solutions, Jevoty brings clarity, personalization and scientific precision to your wellness. This is not just healthcare. It's healthcare reimagined with you in mind. On Sunday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announcing another US Strike on a vessel allegedly carrying drugs from South America to the US Secretary Hegseth posting to X quote, the vessel was known by our intel to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was traveling along a known narco trafficking route and was transporting substantial amounts of narcotics. Hegseth saying the vessel was affiliated with a Colombian guerrilla group known as ELN, a designated terrorist organization and was operating in the US Southern Command's area of responsibility. This announcement marking the seventh known strike in recent weeks, killing more than 30 alleged drug smugglers, most of the destroyed vessels originating from Venezuela. We spoke to former acting secretary of Homeland Security under the first Trump administration, Chad Wolf, about President Trump's new approach to combating cartels.
Chad Wolf
He's indicated we're essentially at war with these narco terrorists. So I think that's the approach that they're sending. So you ask the question, well, why don't we arrest them? When you're at war with folks, you're not sending in law enforcement individuals to arrest folks, right? You're taking a different approach. And I think that's what the Trump administration is trying to send a signal in doing that. And part of this is President Trump and his team clearly wants to send a signal to others in the, in the region that if you continue this type of action, you continue to smuggle illicit narcotics into the United States, the same actions could fall on you as well.
Megyn Kelly
White House officials posting videos online showing these seemingly unsuspecting vessels in question zipping across the sea, when all of a sudden the screen flashes and moments later, what's left is a plume of smoke and scattered wreckage. Some lawmakers expressing concern over the strikes. US Senators from Arizona, Mark Kelly, a Democrat, and Rand Paul from Kentucky, a Republican, saying the administration is overstepping its authority. Wolf disagrees.
Chad Wolf
The president and his team, and they've alerted Congress to this fact as well, you know, they're going to take that threat off of the, off of the playing board. Now, they're doing this obviously in international waters, so they have the legal right to do this as well. But again, I think the Trump team's taking a look at that as well. I think it's important that, you know, the cartels or these narco traffickers, however you want to refer to them, they're not common criminals. These are in some cases, sophisticated multinational organizations, billion dollar operations. And you can't just arrest your way out of it. You got to take action.
Megyn Kelly
In addition to the strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug boats, President Trump confirming last week that his administration has authorized CIA action in Venezuela ruled by authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela has long been at odds with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, regularly asserting that Washington does not recognize Maduro as the country's legitimate president. Chad Wolf, again here, the Venezuelan people.
Chad Wolf
Picked another leader, but yet Maduro is still holding power. And so, you know, you've got a couple of things going on there. You've got Maduro, who is not, in the United States view, the rightful leader of the Venezuelan people. At the same time, you've got a Venezuelan economy and country that is, is failing, if it's not failed already. And so you've got the Chinese, you've got the Iranians operating out of Venezuela. You've got a whole host of things that are going on in Venezuela that the United States is looking at, President Trump and his team are looking at and say, we don't like any of it. They're taking action because they don't believe that, you know, the individual Maduro in this case is the, is a rightful leader of the Venezuelan people.
Megyn Kelly
These moves fueling speculation among some that the administration could be laying the groundwork for regime Change. Wolf has his doubts.
Chad Wolf
Yeah, I think this is a pressure campaign more than anything else right now. I think the Trump team wants to inflict maximum pressure to have Maduro either leave power if he so chooses, or somehow, you know, destabilizes and that the people decide to take actions in their hands. When you have someone like Maduro who leads through intimidation, fear, and he's got the military and others, then the question becomes, how long do you allow this to operate in your backyard? And particularly as he exports terror, as he exports various drugs, illicit narcotics to the United States, the president is sending a very clear signal not only to Maduro, but to others in the region. Either you get in line and you start to crack down on some of these foreign terrorist organizations and these narco terrorists. And if you don't, then we will.
Megyn Kelly
Former Biden White House press secretary Kari Jean Pierre, the former first black queer female press secretary ever. She would want you to know that. Joining the Bulwark podcast with host Tim Miller yesterday, promoting her new book Independent, in which Jean Pierre explains why she's abandoning the Democratic Party after more than.
Karine Jean Pierre
Two decades As a black woman who was obviously part of the Democratic Party. And I'm speaking for myself here, and again, I'm trying to start a conversation, but black women have been the backbone of the Democratic Party party. Black women have been on the front lines of the Democratic Party. And what I have seen over and over again is that for the most part, in large part, we are left out of the process or we are forgotten. And I feel like groups who have stood by the party leadership get forgotten and are not included. I want them to work for my vote. I want to actually stand outside of the two party lines and speak up and push and push from, from where I am. The system should not be about parties. It should should be about people. People, power, Dems.
Megyn Kelly
Leave black women out of the process. That will come as news to Kamala Harris, Joe Biden's vice president and the most recent Democrat nominee for president. Also, while Jean Pierre says she wants Democrats to work for her vote, she also said on CBS yesterday she could not vote for a Republican. What's she thinking? Green Party? Throughout the interview, Karine Jean Pierre casting blame on Democrats, accusing them of ignoring the voices of millions of people and throwing marginalized communities under the bus, which actually is true. However, her burst of honesty was fleeting. Blink and you'd miss it. Here she is arguing that President Biden regularly appeared publicly while president and quite frequently dealt with with the press and the people.
Karine Jean Pierre
We did have legislative wins and yeah.
Tim Miller
Talk about them that well, though. He couldn't talk about.
Karine Jean Pierre
Wait. First of all, first of all, Yuri, he did talk about them. Whether it broke through or not. He did, Tim. He did talk about.
Tim Miller
He talked way less to the press.
Chad Wolf
Than Donald Trump does.
Karine Jean Pierre
Way less.
Tim Miller
And he wasn't out there at all. He wasn't good off the cuff. He wasn't doing press conferences. Let's just be real. Like he didn't do.
Karine Jean Pierre
That's not true, Tim. You're conflating all of it. That's what you're. No, you're first, you're telling me he didn't talk well about it. Then you're telling me he didn't talk at all.
Tim Miller
He didn't do either. He didn't talk very often. And when he did, it wasn't very good. He sounded very old.
Karine Jean Pierre
You weren't paying attention to what we were doing at the White House.
Tim Miller
But I paid attention that. I'm with you on the policies. I'm talking about his performance.
Karine Jean Pierre
The president. The president spoke to the American people a couple times a week. He traveled and did domestic travel and talked directly to the American people.
Megyn Kelly
He traveled. Sure. Jan. The truth is that by 2024, Axios was reporting that Joe Biden had held fewer press conferences and media interviews than any of the last seven presidents. Not surprising since he only worked 10am to 4pm with aides saying they couldn't schedule him on the weekends, mornings or in the evenings. Contrast that with Donald J. Trump, who can seem literally inhuman in his appetite for work and for communicating with the press and the people. Listen to the Associated Press's White House reporter eight months ago describing it here.
Associated Press White House Reporter
One of the questions we get the most as White House reporters is what is the difference between covering President Trump and President Biden? One of the first and most obvious changes is how often President Trump speaks to the media. We're hearing from him several times a day sometimes. For example, on Friday, he spoke to the press. When he left the White House to fly to North Carolina, he spoke to the press. When he landed in North Carolina, he spoke to the press two more times in North Carolina and then again when he was in California visiting a Wildfire site out there. This is the type of pace that we're coming to expect from President Trump.
Megyn Kelly
And that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megyn Kelly. Join me back here for the Megyn Kelly show, live on Sirius XM Triumph channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com Megan Kelly and on all podcast platforms.
Andy Cohen
Hey everyone, it's me, Andy Cohen. Buckle up because I have a podcast called Daddy Diaries where I take my listeners on an as it happened, recount of life as a daddy to two kids, dozens of housewives, and the occasional fella. Listen to the Daddy Diaries to hear about my high highs and low lows of parenting, housewives, drama, and so much more. Daddy Diaries available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode Title: Trump's National Guard Victory, Real Story Behind Drug Boat Strikes, KJP on Tour
Air Date: October 21, 2025
Host: Megyn Kelly (SiriusXM)
On today’s AM Update, Megyn Kelly explores several key developments in U.S. politics and policy:
The episode provides legal background, government insider analysis, and pointed commentary on current affairs and the media landscape.
(00:32 - 07:06)
Ninth Circuit Court Ruling:
Legal Battle and Rulings:
“We conclude that it is likely that the President lawfully exercised his statutory authority...” (Megyn Kelly quoting the court, 05:15)
“Today’s decision is not merely absurd. It erodes core constitutional principles, including sovereign state’s control over their state’s militias and the people’s First Amendment rights...” (Megyn Kelly quoting dissent, 06:12)
(07:06 - 08:07)
“We’ll have so much critical mineral and rare earths that you won’t know what to do with them. They’ll be worth about $2.” (Donald Trump, 07:19)
“I really don’t know. Did an ambassador say something bad about... Where is he? Is he still...” (Donald Trump, 08:12) “You said bad Before I took this position, Mr. President, I don’t like you either. I don’t. And it probably never will.” (Donald Trump, 08:27)
(11:06 - 14:55)
Escalation Against Narco-Traffickers:
“He’s indicated we’re essentially at war with these narco terrorists...” (Chad Wolf, 11:06)
Legal and Political Backlash:
“Some lawmakers expressing concern over the strikes...” (Megyn Kelly, 11:43)
“They’re doing this obviously in international waters, so they have the legal right to do this as well... these aren’t common criminals. These are in some cases, sophisticated multinational organizations.” (Chad Wolf, 12:10)
Venezuela & Regime Change Rumors:
“...You’ve got a Venezuelan economy and country that is failing...You’ve got the Chinese, you’ve got the Iranians operating out of Venezuela...President Trump and his team are looking at and say, we don’t like any of it. They’re taking action because they don’t believe that... Maduro...is a rightful leader...” (Chad Wolf, 13:13)
“I think this is a pressure campaign more than anything else right now...They want to inflict maximum pressure to have Maduro either leave power if he so chooses, or somehow...the people decide to take actions in their hands.” (Chad Wolf, 14:02)
"Either you get in line and you start to crack down on some of these foreign terrorist organizations and these narco terrorists. And if you don’t, then we will.” (Chad Wolf, 14:51)
(15:15 - 17:50)
Jean-Pierre Goes Independent:
“Black women have been the backbone of the Democratic Party...what I have seen over and over again is that...we are left out of the process or we are forgotten...I want them to work for my vote. I want to actually stand outside of the two party lines and speak up and push and push from where I am...” (Karine Jean-Pierre, 15:15)
“Leave black women out of the process. That will come as news to Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s vice president...” (Megyn Kelly, 16:07)
Media & Messaging Clashes:
"The president spoke to the American people a couple times a week..." (Karine Jean-Pierre, 17:37)
“He didn’t do either. He didn’t talk very often. And when he did, it wasn’t very good. He sounded very old.” (Tim Miller, 17:27)
(18:24 - 19:00)
“This is the type of pace that we’re coming to expect from President Trump.” (AP Reporter, 18:24)
On federalizing National Guard:
“The evidence the President relied on reflects a colorable assessment of the facts and law within a range of honest judgment.”
(Ninth Circuit Majority, 05:15, read by Megyn Kelly)
Judge Graeber’s dissent:
“It erodes core constitutional principles, including sovereign states control over their state’s militias and the people’s First Amendment rights to assemble and to object to the government’s policies and actions.”
(Megyn Kelly quoting, 06:12)
Trump’s brash economic confidence:
"In about a year from now, we'll have so much critical mineral and rare earths that you won't know what to do with them. They'll be worth about $2."
(Donald Trump, 07:19)
Awkward ambassador moment:
“I don’t know anything about him. I mean, if he said bad, then maybe he'll like to apologize. I really don’t know.”
(Donald Trump, 08:12)
Chad Wolf on U.S. Drug War:
"When you're at war with folks, you're not sending law enforcement individuals to arrest folks, right? You're taking a different approach."
(Chad Wolf, 11:06)
Karine Jean-Pierre on Dems and black women:
"I want them to work for my vote. I want to actually stand outside of the two party lines and speak up and push... The system should not be about parties. It should be about people."
(Karine Jean-Pierre, 15:15)
Tim Miller on Biden:
“He didn’t talk very often. And when he did, it wasn’t very good. He sounded very old.”
(Tim Miller, 17:27)
AP Reporter on Trump’s press engagement:
“One of the first and most obvious changes is how often President Trump speaks to the media. We’re hearing from him several times a day sometimes...”
(AP Reporter, 18:24)
The episode is fast-paced, sharply critical, and laced with Megyn Kelly’s trademark skepticism, particularly toward Democratic messaging and the Biden White House. There is a mix of legal rigor, insider analysis, and sarcastic commentary, creating a highly engaged presentation of current events.
This episode provides a comprehensive rundown of several major ongoing political and legal stories with insider insights, notable direct quotes, and a brisk analytic pace—useful for anyone trying to keep up with evolving events in U.S. politics and governance.