Trump's Ukraine War Negotiations, Adams in Crisis, Pope Francis’ Health Battle: AM Update for 2/19

Summary

The Megyn Kelly Show: Detailed Summary of "Trump's Ukraine War Negotiations, Adams in Crisis, Pope Francis’ Health Battle: AM Update for 2/19"

Release Date: February 19, 2025

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1. President Trump's Response to Ukraine Peace Negotiations

Timestamp: [00:40]–[05:58]

The episode opens with Megyn Kelly addressing the ongoing peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Donald Trump criticizes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for feeling sidelined in the initial peace talks.

• Trump's Critique of Zelensky:

  • “I hear that, you know they're upset about not having a seat. Well, they've had a seat for three years and a long time before that. This could have been settled very easily.” ([00:40])
  • Trump emphasizes that Ukraine has been involved in discussions for an extended period and suggests that previous negotiators lacked the effectiveness to resolve the conflict promptly.

• Marco Rubio on Negotiation Progress:

  • Marco Rubio shares optimism about the progress made in the first round of peace talks:
    • “We were able to get in the room and really articulate what are my powers?” ([00:55])
    • He outlines four key points of agreement:
      1. Re-establishing embassy functions between Moscow and Washington.
      2. Appointing high-level negotiation teams from both sides.
      3. Exploring geopolitical and economic cooperation post-war.
      4. Delegating the bulk of negotiations while keeping initial attendees engaged.

• Ukrainian President Zelensky's Dissatisfaction:

  • Volodymyr Zelensky expresses frustration during the Munich Security Conference:
    • “The war is in Europe and America is far from the invasion. And I think that we need to share more details because to my mind there are a lot of different voices around new American administration and I'm not sure that all these voices on… our side in multiple forums.” ([03:31])
  • Zelensky insists on Ukraine's active participation in peace talks and doubts Vladimir Putin's sincerity in seeking lasting peace.

• National Security Advisor Mike Walz's Perspective:

  • Mike Walz conveys hope for meaningful engagement from Russia:
    • “I came away today convinced that they are willing to begin to engage in a serious process to determine how and how quickly and through what mechanism can an end be brought to this war.” ([05:10])
  • He underscores the importance of all parties' willingness to agree on terms that are acceptable to everyone involved.

• Trump on European Troop Deployment:

  • Donald Trump expresses support for European leaders stationing troops in Ukraine as part of a peace deal:
    • “If they want to do that, that's great. I'm all for it.” ([05:58])
  • He clarifies that such a deployment would alleviate the need for the U.S. to station troops in Ukraine.

Notable Quote:

“This could have been settled very easily. Just a half-baked negotiator could have settled this years ago without, I think, without the loss of much land, very little land, without the loss of any lives and without the loss of cities that are just laying on their side when they're worried about not being seated.”
— Donald Trump ([00:40])

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2. Hamas's Promise to Return Hostages and Ongoing Conflict

Timestamp: [06:18]–[08:00]

Megyn Kelly transitions to the distressing news concerning hostages captured by Hamas during their attack on October 7, 2023.

• Hostage Situation:

  • Hamas has informed Israeli officials that they will return the bodies of Shari Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel (4 years old) and Kfir (9 months old), later in the week.
  • Shari was last seen in a video pleading for safety, highlighting the severe human cost of the conflict.
  • Additionally, Yarden Bibas, the father of the boys, was captured but later released alive. Six other hostages remain in Hamas custody, including two held since 2014 and 2015.

• Comments on Hostage Release:

  • The accelerated timeline for the release is puzzling, with three hostages initially expected to be freed but now expanded to six.
  • Megyn Kelly provides a somber reflection on the impact of these events, emphasizing the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Notable Quote:

“They were carrying rifles. Kfir, who would now be two, never celebrated a birthday outside of Hamas custody.”
— Megyn Kelly ([06:18])

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3. New York City Mayor Eric Adams Faces Corruption Charges and Political Turmoil

Timestamp: [09:14]–[10:07]

The focus shifts to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is embroiled in a political crisis following the Department of Justice's decision to drop corruption charges against him.

• Dropping of Charges:

  • On February 10, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered the DOJ to drop corruption charges initially brought under the Biden administration.
  • The dismissal led to the resignation of several federal prosecutors who alleged the decision was influenced by a quid pro quo arrangement.

• Adams' Cooperation with the Trump Administration:

  • Mayor Adams is actively cooperating with the Trump administration to address illegal immigration, causing friction within his own Democratic Party.
  • In a recent appearance on "Fox & Friends," Adams discussed his collaboration with Tom Homan, the border czar, highlighting bipartisan efforts.

• Political Fallout:

  • Marco Rubio criticizes Adams' performance, threatening a political confrontation if Adams fails to deliver on agreements:
    • “If he doesn't come through, I'll be back in New York City and we won't be sitting on a couch. I'll be in his office up his butt saying where the hell is the agreement we came to?” ([09:58])
  • The mayor faces backlash from fellow Democrats, including Reverend Al Sharpton, who accuses Adams of political blackmail, and State Senator Zellner Myre, who claims Adams prioritizes Trump over New Yorkers.

• Governor Kathy Hochul's Dilemma:

  • Governor Hochul contemplates removing Mayor Adams from his position, a significant and unprecedented move in New York politics.
  • A recent statement from Hochul acknowledges the gravity of overturning voters' will but cites troubling conduct at City Hall that necessitates action.
  • Public opinion shows two-thirds of New York City voters support Hochul's potential removal of Adams.

Notable Quote:

“The power to oust a mayor has never before been utilized in New York.”
— Governor Kathy Hochul ([10:07])

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4. Labor Department Nomination: Lori Chavez Dreamer Faces GOP Opposition

Timestamp: [10:07]–[11:00]

The episode delves into the nomination of Lori Chavez Dreamer for the Labor Department, highlighting the political challenges she faces.

• Confirmation Hearing:

  • Dreamer's confirmation hearing is scheduled for 10 AM East, where she is expected to encounter tough questioning from Republicans.
  • Senator Rand Paul is particularly opposed, actively campaigning against her nomination.

• Support and Endorsements:

  • Despite Republican resistance, Dreamer garners support from key figures and Democratic senators:
    • Senators Tim Kaine, Tammy Baldwin, and Ed Markey praise her qualifications.
    • Senator Chris Murphy calls Dreamer one of the best picks Democrats could hope for.

• Background and Advocacy:

  • Dreamer is a longstanding union ally, known for supporting the PRO Act, which aimed to ban right-to-work laws in multiple states.
  • Her nomination is seen as a strategic move by the Trump administration to secure union votes, with support from Sean O'Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Notable Quote:

“She may face the toughest questions yet from Republicans.”
— Megyn Kelly ([10:07])

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5. FBI Nomination: Cash Patel Advances Amidst Opposition

Timestamp: [11:00]–[12:30]

Megyn Kelly provides an update on Cash Patel's nomination to lead the FBI, noting the progress and remaining hurdles.

• Nomination Progress:

  • Patel has successfully cleared significant hurdles in his nomination process despite strong opposition from Democrats.
  • The final vote is anticipated to occur the following day, reflecting the contentious nature of his appointment.

• Comparison to Previous Nominations:

  • The process mirrors that of past nominees like Tulsi Gabbard, suggesting a potentially prolonged confirmation timeline.

Notable Quote:

“If his timeline mirrors that of Tulsi, Gabbard and rfkj, his final vote will likely be held tomorrow.”
— Megyn Kelly ([11:00])

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6. Pope Francis' Health Battle Amidst Ongoing Religious Leadership

Timestamp: [12:30]–[14:06]

The episode concludes with an update on Pope Francis' health, a matter of significant concern for the Catholic community worldwide.

• Health Condition:

  • The 88-year-old pontiff has been admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital following a pneumonia diagnosis.
  • The Vatican describes his condition as complex, noting the infection's spread to his lung air sacs—a serious development, especially for the elderly.

• Medical History:

  • Pope Francis has a longstanding history of lung issues, including the removal of part of his right lung at age 21.
  • Recently, his health has visibly impacted his duties, including struggling to complete homilies due to breathlessness.

• Vatican's Response:

  • The Vatican remains closely monitoring the Pope's condition and has committed to providing updates as they become available.

Notable Quote:

“The Pope's condition is complex. They say the infection has spread to lung air sacs, a potentially dangerous development in elderly people.”
— Megyn Kelly ([12:30])

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Conclusion

In this episode of "The Megyn Kelly Show," host Megyn Kelly navigates through a series of pressing topics, including President Trump's involvement in Ukraine peace negotiations, the political turmoil surrounding New York City Mayor Eric Adams, significant nominations within the Biden administration, and the health challenges faced by Pope Francis. The discussions are enriched with direct quotes from key political figures, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of current events shaping the political and global landscape.

Transcript

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[Megyn Kelly]

Good morning, everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Wednesday, February 19, 2025. This is your AM update.

[Donald Trump]

I hear that, you know they're upset about not having a seat. Well, they've had a seat for three years and a long time before that. This could have been settled very easily.

[Megyn Kelly]

President Trump responds to the Ukrainian president's complaints about being left out of initial peace negotiations.

[Marco Rubio]

We were able to get in the.

[Unknown Announcer]

Room and really articulate what are my powers?

[Megyn Kelly]

What are my author, New York Democrats revolt over Mayor Eric Adams, immigration cooperation with the Trump administration and President Trump's labor nominee set to face some friendly fire on the Hill. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

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[Megyn Kelly]

The first round of peace talks to end the war in Ukraine concludes yesterday. In Saudi Arabia, the meeting between the US Led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Russians led by Foreign Minister Sergei lavrov, lasted approximately four and a half hours. Mr. Rubio telling reporters he was pleased with the initial progress outlining four points of agreement so far. One, the US And Russia will work to re establish functionality of respective embassies in Moscow and Washington. Two, high level teams will be appointed by each side to conduct negotiations, the end goal of which will be enduring and acceptable to all parties engaged. Three, both sides will work to examine areas of potential cooperation both geopolitically and economically after the war has ended. And four, the bulk of the negotiations will be delegated to other people, but the attendees of today's meeting will remain engaged in the process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the Trump administration's approach to these negotiations. The Ukrainian leader not holding back at the Munich Security Conference.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

The war is in Europe and America is far from the invasion. And I think that we need to share more details because to my mind there are a lot of different voices around new American administration and I'm not sure that all these voices on, on.

[Megyn Kelly]

Our side in multiple forums. Mr. Zelensky has stated there can be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. Mr. Zelensky was slated to visit Saudi Arabia yesterday as well, though not as part of the negotiations. That trip was rescheduled to a later date. Mr. Zelensky instead visited Turkey, where he suggested future peace talks should take place with Ukrainian participation. The Ukrainian leader does not believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is serious about finding a lasting peace. President Trump addressed Zelensky's concerns last night from Mar a Lago.

[Donald Trump]

Did I hear that, you know, they're upset about not having a seat? Well, they've had a seat for three years and a long time before that. This could have been settled very easily. Just a half, a half baked negotiator could have settled this years ago without, I think, without the loss of much land, very little land, without the loss of any lives and without the loss of cities that are just laying on their side when they're worried about not being seated. You mean somebody that should have gone in and made a deal a long time ago.

[Megyn Kelly]

President Trump also calling out the Ukrainian president's declining poll numbers in Saudi Arabia. Secretary Rubio came away from the meeting believing the Russians are serious about beginning negotiations.

[Mike Walz]

I came away today convinced that they are willing to begin to engage in a serious process to determine how and how quickly and through what mechanism can an end be brought to this war. Whether we can ultimately reach that outcome will obviously depend on every side in this conflict's willingness to agree to certain things. When you talk about an enduring and sustainable end of the conflict, it means one that's acceptable to everyone involved in it, and that obviously includes Ukraine, but also our partners in Europe and of course the Russian side as well.

[Megyn Kelly]

National Security Adviser Mike Walz, also a member of the delegation maintained that communications between the US European allies and the Ukrainians are ongoing. President Trump said that he would be fine with European leaders stationing troops in Ukraine as part of a lasting peace deal.

[Donald Trump]

If they want to do that, that's great. I'm all for it. If they want to do that, I think that's, that'd be fine. If we have a peace deal, I think having troops over there for, from the standpoint of Europe, we won't have to put any over there because, you know, we're very far away. But having troops over there would be fine. I would not object to it at all.

[Megyn Kelly]

French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have both stated they support deploying a European peacekeeping force. The date for the summit between President Trump and President Put is not yet determined. The Hamas terror organization tells Israeli officials the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, will be returned later this week. Ariel, aged 4, and Kafir, just 9 months old when they were captured on October 7, 2023, the youngest hostages taken in Hamas's savage attack that left about 1200 dead. Sheree and her boys with their red hair last seen in a video taken by their captors. Just awful. She was seen wide eyed and desperately clinging to her sons, surrounded by Hamas soldiers carrying rifles. Kfir, who would now be two, never celebrated a birthday outside of Hamas custody. Israeli officials have yet to confirm the deaths. Yarden Bibas, the father of the boys, was also captured by Hamas on that day. He was held separately from his wife and children. Earlier this month, he was released alive. Six living hostages remain in Hamas's custody, two of whom have been held in Gaza since 2014 and 2015. They will all be released on Saturday. Three were originally expected to be freed. The reasoning for the accelerated timeline is unclear. Coming up, the fate of New York City Mayor Eric Adams is in governor Kathy Hochul's hands, and the latest on the health of the Pope in just a moment.

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[Megyn Kelly]

New York City Mayor Eric Adams fighting to retain retain his position after the DOJ drops corruption charges against him. Governor Kathy Hochul weighing whether or not to remove the embattled mayor from his post. A quick timeline of events on February 10, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered the DOJ to drop charges against Adams. The charges were brought under the Biden administration. Several federal prosecutors resigned over the dismissal, alleging it amounted to a quid pro quo. Mayor Adams is cooperating with the Trump administration's efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. Last Friday, the Democrat mayor sat down with Fox and friends, side by side with border czar Tom Homan to discuss their cooperation.

[Marco Rubio]

If he doesn't come through, I'll be back in New York City and we won't be sitting on a couch. I'll be in his office up his butt saying where the hell is the agreement we came to?

[Megyn Kelly]

Mayor Adams decision to cooperate with the Trump administration Facing serious blowback from fellow Democrats on Monday, four deputy mayors resigned from their positions. Governor Hochul spent yesterday in a series of meetings with top officials and influential community leaders. Mayor Adams taking a lot of crossfire from his fellow Democrats. Reverend Al Sharpton equated the mayor's cooperation with the Trump administration to political blackmail. Rival mayoral candidate State Senator Zellner Myre saying, eric Adams no longer works for New Yorkers. He works for For Donald Trump, the power to oust a mayor has never before been utilized in New York. Hochul released a statement that reads in part, overturning the will of the voters is a serious step that should not be taken lightly. That said, the alleged conduct at City hall that has been reported over the past two weeks is troubling and cannot be ignored. The AP reports about two thirds of New York City voters would approve of Governor Hochul removing Mayor Adams, President Trump's nominee to help the Labor Department. Lori Chavez Dreamer, will take the hot seat today. Her confirmation hearing, held by the Health, Education, labor and Pensions Committee, is set to begin at 10am East. Ms. Daremer may face the toughest questions yet from Republicans. A GOP Senate insider telling the New York Post, rand Paul is dead set against her. He is whipping against her right now. He's telling everyone who will listen how much he hates her. Ms. Daremer is a longtime union ally. As a member of Congress, she backed the PRO Act. That act ultimately failed in the House, but it would have banned right to work laws in more than two dozen states. President Trump worked hard to court the union vote. Sean O'Brien became the first president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to speak at the RNC last July. Politico reported in November that O'Brien was pushing behind the scenes for Ms. Daremer to get the nomination. In the ultimate plot twist, Democrats tend to approve of the pick. Senators Tim Kaine, Tammy Baldwin and Ed Markey have all spoken positively of the nominee. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut telling Punchbowl News Ms. Dreamer was among the best picks Democrats could hope for. Oh boy. Cash Patel cleared another hurdle in his nomination process to lead the FBI. Despite strong Democrat opposition, Mr. Patel appeared to have the votes to pass. If his timeline mirrors that of Tulsi, Gabbard and rfkj, his final vote will likely be held tomorrow. Pope Francis facing a lengthy hospital stay following a diagnosis of pneumonia, the 88 year old pontiff admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday after a week of struggling with bronchitis. The Vatican releasing a statement describing the pope's condition as complex. They say the infection has spread to lung air sacs, a potentially dangerous development in elderly people. This is just the latest in a string of medical episodes suffered by the head of the Catholic Church about a week and a half ago. Pope Francis only got halfway through his homily before breathlessness forced him to hand it off to an aide. This was not the first time such a thing has happened. The Pope has a long history of lung problems. Part of his right lung was removed when he was just 21 years old. We will closely monitor the Pope's condition and deliver updates as they come. Well, that'll do it for episode one of your AM Update. Hope you enjoyed it. I did. I'm Megyn Kelly and we'll be back here for the Megyn Kelly show in just a bit. Live on Sirius XM Triumph channel 111 at noon east and on YouTube.com Megan Kelly as well as all podcast platforms.

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