The Megyn Kelly Show — AM Update (March 5, 2026)

Episode Theme:
In this packed AM Update, Emily Jasinsky covers explosive hearings on massive welfare fraud in Minnesota, escalating U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran, and key developments in the Texas Senate race, including a looming Trump endorsement and scrutiny of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on Capitol Hill. The episode weaves together political scandal, national security, and the battleground for the U.S. Senate in 2026.

1. Minnesota Welfare Fraud: High-Stakes Hearings

[02:15 – 07:39]

Background:
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison faced intense questioning from the House Oversight Committee regarding at least $9 billion in alleged fraud across multiple state welfare programs. Federal prosecutors have so far convicted dozens, predominantly from the state's Somali community.

Key Segments:

• Congressman Pat Fallon quizzes Gov. Walz’s statistics:
  • Points to stark differences in poverty, food stamp, and Medicaid rates between native-born Minnesotans and the Somali community.
  • Quote [03:57, Pat Fallon]:
    “I think it was 85 out of 98, which comes out to 13% Minnesotan and 87% Somali Minnesotan. The only way this kind of fraud can reach this scale is if there’s people in power that are colluding and collaborating and willfully blinding themselves to the realities around them.”
• Discussion on race and whistleblowers:
  • Multiple lawmakers press Walz and Ellison about whistleblower reports claiming agency employees were told not to highlight fraud for fear of being labeled racist or Islamophobic.
  • [04:32-05:17]:
    • Is it racist to identify fraud?
      Keith Ellison: “No.”
      Gov. Walz: “No, I don’t believe it would be.”
    • Quote [05:17, Panelist]:
      “That was the message your administration was sending to multiple whistleblowers.”
• Governor Walz on Trump’s focus:
  • Quote [05:37, Walz]:
    “I think it’s because we are so ideologically opposed to making children go hungry, people go unhoused. We invest in education, we invest in research, and we believe everybody has a place. And so I think it’s just personal about how we do business.”
• Congressman Clay Higgins confronts Ellison:
  • Accuses Ellison of not taking the lead on criminal prosecutions beyond Medicaid fraud.
  • Quote [07:29, Clay Higgins]:
    “…the attorney general of the state of Minnesota should resign.”

2. U.S.-Israel Operation Against Iran: Military Escalation and Loss

[07:39 – 08:50]

Highlights:

• Military campaign update:
  Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan “Raisin” Kaine provide an update after five days of joint strikes.
  • Quote [08:01, Hegseth]:
    “The Iranian Air Force is no more. Built for 1996, destroyed in 2026. The Iranian Navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf. Combat ineffective. Decimated, destroyed, defeated. Pick your adjective.”
  • Reports of a U.S. submarine sinking an Iranian warship with a torpedo, the first such event since WWII.
• American casualties:
  U.S. plans a Dignified Transfer Service at Dover AFB for six Army soldiers killed amid strikes.

3. Texas Senate Race: Primary Drama and Looming Trump Endorsement

[10:51 – 12:56]

Democratic side:

• Jasmine Crockett concedes.
  James Talarico wins the Democratic primary with 52% of the vote, calls for party unity.
  • Quote [11:15, Crockett]:
    “Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person.”
  • Kamala Harris, after endorsing Crockett, quickly pivots to support Talarico.
• Republican runoff:
  • Incumbent Senator John Cornyn faces a challenge from Texas AG Ken Paxton.
  • Trump on Truth Social signals impending endorsement, urges the non-endorsed candidate to drop out.
  • Quote [12:56, Trump via Truth Social]:
    “It must stop now. We have an easy to beat radical left opponent and we must totally focus on putting him away quickly and decisively.”
  • The runoff is set for May 26.

Opposition Research Highlights:

• Old Talarico posts from 2020 on systemic racism and biological sex resurface, likely campaign issues.
  • Quote [12:30, Talarico]:
    “Modern science obviously recognizes that there are many more than two biological sexes. In fact there are six…”

4. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem: Congressional Grilling Over DHS Operations

[14:44 – 18:17]

Main Points:

• Allegations of misuse of DHS funds:
  • Quote [14:44, Keith Ellison]:
    “You spent $172 million to buy not one, but two luxury jets for your travel, and now you’re using taxpayer funds to lease a third jet. Secretary Noem, you’re flying high now, maybe even a little bit too close to the sun.”
• Clarification on housing by Noem:
  • Quote [16:15, Noem]:
    “I’m not in the commandant’s house. I’m in a Coast Guard house, but not the commandant’s house. … I rent that facility. I rent where I stay and pay personal dollars to do that.”
• Operational scrutiny:
  • Democrats press on immigration enforcement tactics, particularly Operation Metro Surge, and hold Noem responsible for collateral harms and constitutional violations.
  • Republicans use their time to let Noem defend herself and raise safety concerns.
    • Quote [15:55, Noem]:
      “Yes, sir. I can’t speak specific to the threats…”
• Body camera policy for agents:
  • Quote [17:38, Noem]:
    “I have said that we will deploy every body camera that we have, but clearly we need tens of thousands more. … Our officers, overwhelmingly, they support body cameras because they give you the full context of the interaction.”

5. Memorable Quotes & Exchanges

• “Is it racist for a government official to identify fraud?” — Panelist, [00:14], echoed in the hearings [04:32]
• “Decimated, destroyed, defeated. Pick your adjective.” — Pete Hegseth on Iranian military [08:01]
• “You spread [racism] wherever we go through our words, our actions and our systems.” — James Talarico via resurfaced tweet [11:45]
• “Secretary Noem, you’re flying high now, maybe even a little bit too close to the sun.” — Keith Ellison, [14:44]
• “It must stop now. ... We must totally focus on putting him away quickly and decisively.” — Donald Trump on the Texas race [12:56]

6. Timestamps Reference

• [02:15] – Minnesota fraud hearings begin
• [03:10] – Congressman Fallon’s Somali community line of questioning
• [04:32] – Race/Islamophobia in fraud whistleblower claims
• [05:37] – Walz on Trump’s “obsession”
• [06:35] – Clay Higgins confronts Ellison
• [07:39] – U.S.-Israel operations update
• [08:01] – Hegseth’s military report
• [10:51] – Texas Democratic primary results and Trump’s moves
• [12:54] – Biological sex comments resurface against Talarico
• [14:44] – DHS Secretary Noem questioned on spending and operations
• [15:55] – Noem on personal safety/threats and housing
• [17:38] – Noem on body cameras for federal agents

Conclusion

This AM Update episode delivers an unflinching look at political accountability in Minnesota over welfare fraud, the U.S.’s aggressive posture against Iran, and a Texas Senate race that has national implications. Memorable exchanges highlight deep partisan divides, the real stakes of administrative oversight, and the ever-present influence of Donald Trump leading into 2026’s elections.
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