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US Launches Military Strikes on Iran, Feds Investigate Terrorism Ties in TX Shooting: AM Update 3/2
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The United States and Israel launch Operation Epic Fury, a massive coordinated strike targeting Iran’s leadership and military infrastructure, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and striking hundreds of regime and weapons sites across the country. Lawmakers and voters react sharply to the Iran strikes as retaliation begins, and U.S. casualties mount. Federal authorities investigate possible terrorism ties after a gunman killed two people and injured more than a dozen in a downtown Austin shooting hours after Iran’s Supreme Leader was killed. Texas voters head to the polls in high-stakes Senate primaries featuring a volatile Democratic clash between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico and a bitter Republican fight among John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, and Wesley Hunt. Riverbend Ranch: Visit https://riverbendranch.com/ | Use promo code MEGYN for $20 off your first order. Relief Factor: Break up with pain—Relief Factor targets inflammation so you can move better and feel bette...
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Good morning everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Monday, March 2, 2026 and this is your AM update.
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We have hit hundreds of targets in Iran, including Revolutionary Guard facilities, Iranian air
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defense systems, the US Military launching a joint operation with Israel over the weekend aiming to wipe out Iranian military capabilities. Lawmakers weighing in on the strikes as the potential for another Middle east quagmire looms, rolled down his window and began
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using a pistol shooting out of his car windows.
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The FBI investigating a possible terrorism connection following a deadly shooting in Austin, Texas. And Texas voters head to the polls tomorrow in two dramatic and high stakes Senate primaries. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update. If you're looking to make smarter choices for your health this year, consider Riverbend Ranch. Their steaks are not only delicious, they also contain real high quality protein that helps fuel your body. Beef is a complete protein, complete and contains all nine essential amino acids your body needs to function. It also keeps you fuller for longer, reducing cravings and snacking. But here's the key. Not all beef is created equal. The quality of the beef depends entirely on how it's raised and where it comes from. That's where Riverbend Ranch stands apart. For more than 35 years, Riverbend Ranch has been building an elite Black Angus herd, carefully selecting cattle for exceptional flavor and 10 tenderness. All Riverbend Ranch cattle are born and raised right here in the usa. They never use growth hormones or antibiotics and the beef is processed at the ranch in their award winning USDA inspected facility. No shortcuts, no middlemen, just incredible healthy and flavorful beef shipped directly to your home. Order today@riverbendranch.com and use the promo code Megan to get $20 off your first order overnight. Friday, the United States working in coordination with Israel, launching a sweeping military operation targeting Iran's regime leadership and military infrastructure in what officials are calling Operation Epic Fury. President Trump yesterday afternoon posting a video update to his social media.
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We have hit hundreds of targets in Iran, including Revolutionary Guard facilities, Iranian air defense systems just now was announced that we knocked out nine ships plus their naval building. All in a matter of literally minutes, Iran's formerly supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei is dead. This wretched and vile man had the blood of hundreds and even thousands of Americans on his hands. The entire military command is gone as well and many of them want to surrender into saving their lives. Combat operations continue at this time in full force and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved.
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Ayatollah Khamenei was the supreme leader of Iran since 1989. In addition to Khamenei, Israeli strikes taking out more than 40 top Iranian regime and security officials in the first wave of the attack, according to multiple reports. Some of those officials reportedly include the head of National Defense Council Ali Shamkhani and Defense Minister Aziz Nazerzada reports Iran's former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had also been killed. Have not yet been confirmed. Four American B2 bombers reportedly dropping dozens of 2,000 pound bombs on Iranian ballistic missile facilities while US naval forces struck additional targets at sea. US military forces carrying out 900 strikes in the first 12 hours of the operation alone. President Trump addressing the nation early Saturday morning shortly after combat operations began.
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Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world. For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime's proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle east in recent years, as well as US Naval and commercial vessels in international shipping lands. It's been mass terror and we're not going to put up with it any longer.
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Iran responding Launching strikes against Israel and US Targets in neighboring states including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. U.S. central Command, or CENTCOM, which oversees U.S. military operations across the Middle east, reporting U.S. forces defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks leading to minimal damage. However, the Pentagon confirming three US Service members have been killed and five seriously wounded so far, with several more sustaining minor shrapnel injuries and concussions. NBC News reporting the US Deaths occurred in Kuwait. President Trump acknowledging casualties in yesterday afternoon's
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video update as one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives. We Pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen. And sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That's the way it is.
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Iranian casualties remaining unclear, with local sources estimating at least 200 deaths so far in Israel, nine civilians killed in a missile attack, one killed in Kuwait, three killed in the UAE, dozens more injured across the region. The strikes following weeks of escalating tension as the US Surged military assets into the region, including two aircraft carriers, while US And Iranian officials pursued nuclear negotiations. Reuters reporting last week, the latest round ending with, quote, no deal, but potential signs of progress. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas saying yesterday on CBS there is no intelligence indicating Iran is anywhere close to having a nuclear weapon, but saying US Officials felt they still wanted one and still posed
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a threat because the diplomacy was an abject failure. They said they would not stop enriching no matter what. They were going to continue to enrich uranium. They also refused to discuss their proxies. They refused to discuss Hamas and Hezbollah and the Houthis. And President Trump understood that the Iranian, quote, negotiation was just a stall tactic. Margot, what I just told you, what I just told you is almost word for word what Secretary of State Marco Rubio told me yesterday.
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Former CENTCOM Commander Frank McKenzie yesterday on CBS on what's likely to happen over the next few days.
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The American people should be prepared for several more days of exchanges of long range, long range rockets. We're going to continue to strike them with our aircraft, with our TLAMs, our tomahawk land attack missiles. And the essential calculus over the next 72 to 96 hours, Margaret, is going to be whether or not we can reduce the Iranian ability to generate volleys. And by volleys, I mean groups of missiles that are fired at our bases in the region. I think the president's comments actually were spot on when he warned the American people that this wasn't going to be, it wasn't going to be a cakewalk.
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Mr. Trump yesterday indicating a potential timeline of epic fury to the Daily Mail, quote, it's always been a four week process. As strong as it is, it's a big country. It'll take four weeks or less. President Trump telling NBC the campaign is already, quote, ahead of schedule. The president explicitly framing the operation as designed to cause regime change, urging the Iranian people to, quote, take over your government when the bombing campaign stops. In an interview with the Atlantic yesterday morning, Mr. Trump saying, quote, the Iranians want to talk and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them, adding they waited too long. Some of the people we were dealing with are gone, though. Mr. Trump declining to say when the talks would occur or with whom they would be conducted. Notably, no top Trump administration officials appearing on the Sunday shows yesterday, rare any weekend, but particularly on this one, with much of the early reaction coming from lawmakers, many Democrats sharply criticizing the decision to launch the strikes. Hear Senator Adam Schiff of California, a Democrat, yesterday on abc.
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You're right about the ayatollah. He was a brutal dictator. This is a murderous regime. But at the same time it posed no imminent threat of attack to the United States. They had not reconstituted their nuclear program, which the president just months ago said had been obliterated. They do not have ballistic missiles capable of hitting the United States. There was simply no basis to go in with this massive military campaign with the goal of regime change. And the concern here is that we have unleashed factors in the region now that we cannot control.
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Criticism not exclusive to Democrats. Some voices on the right also warning the operation risks pulling the US into yet another endless war in the Middle East. Here Executive director of the American Conservative Kurt Mills yesterday on Steve Bannon's War
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Room and I think there's going to be a real desire to keep President Trump in here. I think the president has gotten very poor counsel and I do think it matters politically that he was the no more endless wars candidate in 2016 and 2024 particularly. And this looks like an open betrayal of the base. And now there's an argument that this is different than the Bush era neocon wars. But I will flag what Bush era neocon is not for this today. Find me one name, name one. Bolton is pleased as hell about what we're doing. He what he said. His only regret is that he didn't convince Trump to do this in 2018.
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Quick polling on the strikes is mixed. Reuters finding limited support for them. The poll conducted after the strikes began but before the announcement of any U.S. casualties, finding just 27% of respondents approve. 43% disapprove. 29% say they are unsure. 55% of Republicans say they approve of the strikes versus just 13% who disapprove. Among Democrats, 74% disapprove, just 7% approve. 54% of respondents say they would be less likely to support the campaign if it leads to US Troops in the Middle east being killed or injured. However, polling by Insider Advantage released on Saturday finding 54% of respondents approve of the president's use of military, air and naval strikes to eliminate Iran's leadership and disable their nuclear and ballistic rebuilding. With just 37% disapproving. So 27% approve in Reuters, 54% in Insider Advantage. Supporters of the strike challenging critics claims that President Trump is conducting an illegal military operation here. Senator Dave McCormick, Republican from Pennsylvania, yesterday on Fox.
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First of all, the president acted completely within his constitutional authority. He briefed the Congress as is required by the War Powers resolution. He has 60 days even under that resolution before any further requirements come into effect. And what we need to focus on now is continuing to support these great young Americans that are carrying out this extraordinary mission.
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Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, a Republican, arguing on ABC that Iran has been a longtime threat to Americans.
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We certainly have been provoked on this. Just a year ago, we had over 180 attacks from Iran on Americans either through their proxies or directly from Iran. They continue to be able to fund the attack of ships off the coast of Yemen. Obviously, they're funding Hezbollah, the Shia militants. They have continued to be able to attack us now for decades, and that has accelerated. So just because we have blocked their attacks doesn't mean they're not attacking us. So this becomes the situation where you're shooting at a police officer and telling him you can't fire back unless they hit you.
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Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a Democrat, breaking with much of his party, saying the supreme leader's death is worth celebrating.
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How, how can you celebrate that the Iranian leadership has been eliminated? Doesn't that make the region more safe, more secure, more, more just, more free? Yeah. And now, of course, there's other things. It's possible right now, but right now, why can't you just acknowledge that founder
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of the private military contracting company Blackwater, Erik Prince, who spoke to Steve Bannon on Sunday, concluding quote, this was not in America's interests, adding it's going to lead to chaos and saying regime change is not possible without troops on the ground, something Prince vehemently opposes.
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If you had a chance to talk to the president today, what would be Erik Prince's recommendations to the commander in chief? Don't ever contemplate ground troops in Iran. You think that's even a possibility? I didn't think this was a possibility today over the last couple of days, Steve. I didn't really think that was, that he was going to do it.
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Coming up, federal officials, officials now investigating possible terror ties in a deadly weekend shooting in Austin, Texas and elsewhere in the Lone Star State. Voters heading to the polls tomorrow in high stakes Senate primaries with A bitter battle unfolding in both parties. Ever been in a bad relationship? You know the kind, it just wears you down. You settle in even though deep down you know this is not how it's supposed to be. That's what daily aches and pains can feel like. You stop expecting to feel good. You start thinking maybe this is just life now. But it doesn't have to be. With relief factor you can break up with pain just like Anthony did. He wrote, quote, I was dealing with debilitating pain and fatigue. I've been talking about relief factor and taking it for about two months and now I'm back to running my business, fishing, gardening and doing the things that really matter to me. And listen, maybe it's your back pain, your knee issues or stiffness that's slowing you down. Relief factor might help give you your mobility back. Relief factor is 100% drug free and it targets the inflammation that causes pain so you can move better, feel better and actually enjoy life again. Try the three week quick start for just 1995. Go to relieffactor.com or call 800 for relief. Break up with pain and get back to what matters. Two people killed and at least 14 more injured in a shooting early Sunday morning at a bar in downtown Austin, Texas. The gunman shot dead by police as federal officials now investigating possible ties to terrorism. Police responding around 2am on Sunday to reports of an active gunman on Sixth Street, a popular nightlife spot in the city. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis yesterday describing the incident to reporters.
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We had a call came in that
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shooting that someone was shooting around the bar, Buford's Bar. We know that a vehicle, a large
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SUV drove several times around the block in that area.
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At one point he put his flashers on, rolled down his window and began using a pistol, shooting out of his car windows, striking patrons of the bar that were on the patio and that
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were in front of the bar. He then proceeds westbound on sixth street,
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goes to Wood street where he parks
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his car, gets out once again, starts
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shooting his gun at some people that are walking by. Everyone knows the amount of resources we use on East 6th Street. We were about 55, 56 seconds away coming from east to West Austin and that saved multiple lives. Officers were coming toward him and at the intersection he was shot and he was killed. Law enforcement identifying the shooter as 53 year old and naturalized citizen from Senegal. Fox News obtaining a photo of Dianye from the scene carrying a rifle and wearing a sweatshirt with the caption Property of Allah across the front. The shooter reportedly wearing an undershirt with an Iranian flag on it, according to Fox News's Bill Malujian. Investigators recovering a Koran from the shooter's car, per the New York Post. The attack coming hours after the death of Iran's supreme leader. FBI Director Kash Patel placing counterterrorism and intelligence teams on high alert on Saturday, quote, to address and disrupt any potential threats to the homeland. Texas voters heading to the polls tomorrow into very tense Senate primary races on both sides of the aisle. On the Democratic side, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, an outspoken social media star with a growing national profile, faces State Representative James Tallarico, a former teacher and minister in training running on a message of unity but with serious progressive policies underneath the veneer. The two candidates overlap on policy but offer sharply different political strategies. Crockett focusing on energizing her core Democratic voters while Talarico is betting Democrats can and must expand their appeal beyond the base, campaigning heavily in red districts. According to the University of Texas Texas Politics Project survey conducted among likely Democrat primary voters, Crockett leads 56 to Talarico's 44. But polling has been all over the place. In a poll from Chisholm Strategies, a Democrat aligned group, Talarico is ahead by 12 points. Emerson releasing a final poll yesterday in the race. With Talarico up five, the Real Clear Politics average now has Talarico with a slight lead of just 1.6 points. Bottom line, nobody knows nothing. Talarico emphasizing outreach directly to Spanish speaking Texans on the campaign trail.
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Hola, Soy James Tadavico. Mi espanol es maso menos, pero ocho miones de tejanos hablan espanol.
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Crockett meanwhile receiving a last minute boost from four, former Vice President Kamala Harris who recorded a robocall urging Democrats to support her campaign. Texas has the chance to send a fighter like Jasmine Crockett to the United States Senate. Jasmine has the experience and record to hold Donald Trump and his billionaire cronies accountable. It's time to turn Texas blue. On the Republican side, a bitter three way primary battle between incumbent Senator John Cornyn and State Attorney General Ken Paxton and Congressman Wesley Hunt. Mr. Cornyn, first elected in 2002 and long viewed as the traditional Republican statesman, now facing a serious challenge from Paxton, a three term AG who built his profile aggressively suing Democrats filing at least 100 lawsuits against the Biden administration. In the Real Clear Politics polling average, Paxton leading at 41.7 points followed by Senator Cornyn's 34.7. Then Congressman Hunt at 15.7. The Emerson poll yesterday showing the race tightening with Paxton up just four points over Cornyn. Senator Cornyn going scorched earth in the final days before the primary accusing Paxton of corruption in his official duties and moral failings at home.
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Crooked Ken Paxton cheated on his wife. She's divorcing him on biblical grounds. So now Paxton's wrecking another home stone, sleeping around with a married mother of seven. And remember this crooked kin has increased his net worth by as much as 7,000% since taking office. And his actions in office even more troubling. Paxton gave millions of Texas tax dollars to left wing organizations including the Montrose center that hosts drag queen shows and performs gender affirming services to kids as young as seven. The wife, cheater and fraud or the Texas workhorse. Senator John Cornyn is endorsed by the Border Patrol and he voted with President Trump 99% of the time.
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Paxton previously admitting to an affair, but he and his allies calling accusations of official wrongdoing a, quote, politically motivated witch hunt. Paxton's daughter Maddie writing an op ed maintaining that, quote, my dad is not perfect, none of us are. But he is a man of deep faith. Faith, genuine love for his family and an unrelenting commitment to doing right by the people of Texas. Senator Cornyn saying a Paxton win would, quote, be the kiss of death for Republicans. The New York Times reporting Cornyn's messaging is an attempt to secure a critical endorsement from President Trump, who so far has only said he supports all three candidates. The presence of Congressman Hunt a key factor. If no candidate secures 50% plus one vote, the contest heads to a runoff between the top two finishers, set for May 26th. And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megyn Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show live on SiriusXM's the Megyn Kelly Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com Megyn Kelly and on all podcast platforms, Few things are as uplifting as the greatest moments in sports. And nothing brings us together quite like Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games. From NBCUniversal's iconic storytelling to the innovative technology across Xfinity and Peacock, Comcast brings the Olympic Games home to America, sharing every moment with millions. When Team USA steps onto the world stage, we're not just watching, we're cheering together. This winter, we're all on the same team. Comcast, proud partner of Team usa.