The Megyn Kelly Show - Israel Blocks Cardinal From Palm Sunday Mass, Thousands of U.S. Troops Near Iran: AM Update 3/30

Episode Date: March 30, 2026

Israel police block Cardinal Pizzaballa from entering Jerusalem's Church of Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday service, before reversing course after massive international backlash. Thousands of American troops gather near Iran as a ground operation appears more likely than ever. President Trump's first Surgeon General goes public in an effort to torpedo the nomination of Dr. Casey Means, who he has selected as his next Surgeon General. The FBI reportedly is considering making public the documents associated with Rep. Eric Swalwell's relationship with "Fang Fang," the alleged Chinese spy.   Riverbend Ranch: Visit https://riverbendranch.com/ | Use promo code MEGYN for $20 off your first order.   Birch Gold: Text MK to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Good morning, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Monday, March 30th, 2026, and this is your AM update. This Palm Sunday afternoon, we gather without a procession, without palms through the streets, waving through the streets. A Palm Sunday controversy in Israel as police block the top Catholic leader in Jerusalem from leading Palm Sunday Mass. Obviously, you're seeing troop movement, and we've got a number of bases in that region, too, that have been there for a long time. So until that day comes, I'm not going to speculate. American boots on the ground in Iran appear more likely than ever, as thousands of troops make their way to the region amid a serious new attack that left an American aircraft destroyed and at least 15 service members injured.

President Trump's first Surgeon General leading the charge to stop his pick for the next Surgeon General. This is an effort to knock out the person who's been in the lead. And are we about to learn a whole lot more? more about Congressman Eric Swalwell and Fang Fang. Do we want to? All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update. If you are looking to make smarter choices for your health this year, consider River Bend Ranch. Their steaks are not only delicious, they also contain real high-quality protein that helps fuel your body. Beef is a complete protein 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 River Bend Ranch stands apart. For more than 35 years, River Bend Ranch has been building an elite Black Angus herd, carefully selecting cattle for exceptional flavor and tenderness. All River Bend 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 at Riverbentranch.com and use the promo code Megan for 20 bucks off your first order.

Controversy on Palm Sunday in Israel, as police stop Cardinal Pierre Batista Pizabala and another top church official from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to deliver mass. The celebration traditionally features tens of thousands of Catholics coming for the full Palm Sunday procession in the old city. This week, that was canceled due to safety concerns amid the war with Iran. But Cardinal Pizabala was planning to hold a private mass to be broadcast for everyone to watch. That plan, however, blocked by police. The groups that oversee this church and the holy site issuing a joint statement, quote, this incident is a grave precedent. And and disregards the sensibilities of billions of people around the world who during this week

looked to Jerusalem. They say it was, quote, the first time in centuries the heads of the church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This, as Israel has closed the holy sites in the city, like the Western Wall to public access for fear of attacks by Iran. Instead, worship ceremonies are limited to fewer than 50 worshippers, which the church says they will comply with. Pizabala ultimately moving to celebrate Mass at the nearby St. Savior's Monastery, alluding to the earlier moment in his message.

This Palm Sunday afternoon, we gather without a procession, without palms through the streets, waving through the streets. This absence is not merely a matter of form or weather. It is the war that has interrupted our festive journey, making even the simple joy of following our king difficult. Our brothers and sisters of the Holy Land today cannot fill the streets

nor join their voices to the festive procession. Today Jesus weeps once more over Jerusalem. He weeps over this city which remain a sign of both hope and sorrow of grace and suffering. War will not erase the resurrection. Grief will not distinguish hope. Today we do not carry palms in procession. Instead, we carry the cross.

A cross that is not a useless burden, but a source of true peace. The office of the Israeli Prime Minister addressing the incident yesterday afternoon by pointing to missile fragments from an Iranian strike hitting just meters from the church recently, posting to X, quote, there was no malicious intent whatsoever,

only concerned for his safety and that of his party, while promising, quote, given the holiness of the week leading up to Easter for the world's Christians, Israel's security arms are putting together a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days. U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, writing on X, that police denying access to the church was, quote, an unfortunate overreach, already having major repercussions around the world and saying it was, quote, difficult to understand or justify. French President Emmanuel Macron's message, much more plain and direct, among the world leaders speaking out against the action. Writing on X, quote, I condemn the decision of the Israeli police, which joins a disturbing

sequence of violations of the status quo of the holy places in Jerusalem. Freedom of worship in Jerusalem must be ensured for all religions. Jerusalem police blaming the army's regulations for the interference, but listen to reporter Noga Tarnapolski from French public TV, explain the situation. here. The police have laid the blame absolutely at the feet of the army saying that they were just following the military's rules and regulations for wartime. But even if, I mean, it's just not true because the regulations do permit small gatherings. And one should add, no rabbi has been prevented from holding a service at any synagogue during this time, even synagogues that don't have bomb shelters. In an interview with Italian media outlet TV2,

2000 after the Palm Sunday service, Pizza Bala sounding conciliatory, saying, quote, we had not asked for anything public, just a brief and small private ceremony to preserve the idea of the celebration in the Holy Sepulchre. There were no clashes. Everything was done in a very polite manner. I do not want to force the issue. We want to use the situation to try to clarify better in the coming days what to do in respect for everyone's safety, but also in respect for the right to prayer. Last night, Prime Minister Netanyahu, with international outrage growing, reversing course, granting, quote, full and immediate access to the church, and posting to X, quote, as soon as I learned about the incident with Cardinal Pizabala, I instructed the authorities to enable

the patriarch to hold services as he wishes. Multiple media outlets signaling the Trump administration is preparing for a ground operation in Iran that could last several weeks at least. The Washington Post reporting the operation would, quote, involve raids by a mixture of special ops forces and conventional infantry troops and would, quote, fall short of a full-scale invasion, whatever that means. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt telling the outlet, it's not a done deal, quote, it's the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander-in-chief maximum optionality.

It does not mean the president has made a decision. Thousands of troops are arriving in the Middle East as the war escalates. The New York Times reports there are now more than 50,000 troops in the entire region, at least 10,000 more than the usual number. We know at least 5,000 of those arrived this past Friday. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Republican from Louisiana, pressed on ABC News yesterday over whether Republicans would support a boots-on-the-ground operation, something many of the war's chief press advocates had scoffed at as an impossibility in the beginning of this war, but which President Trump has refused to rule out from the start. Here's Scalise.

Are Republicans in Congress going to support an effort to put boots on the ground? If Donald Trump, he sent the Marines in, you got the 82nd Airborne on the way, if President Trump decides to put American soldiers, American airmen, American Marines on the ground in Iran, is there going to be widespread support from Republicans for that? Well, John, we're not at that point yet. Obviously, you're seeing troop movement. and we've got a number of bases in that region, too, that have been there for a long time.

So until that day comes, I'm not going to speculate, and you're not going to see the president go negotiate this in public. He's having negotiations, and you just reported on some of those negotiations, and I think they're hopefully going to be fruitful. Remember, Iran declared war in America going back to 1979. They've been killing Americans for decades. So some president was going to do something about it. many thought about it, President Trump's finally taking the action that, frankly, all of the free world and the civilized world is applauding right now. Details about the scope of Iran's attacks on American bases in the region coming to light over the weekend, including a particularly destructive one in Saudi Arabia Friday.

At least 15 U.S. service members reportedly injured in the attack, according to the Associated Press, including five seriously. The attack consisting of a combination of missiles and drones. A target of the attack also appearing to be a particular aircraft, an E3 sentry, that aircraft helping to track and manage drones, missiles, and other aircrafts from hundreds of miles away aiding in intercepting threats, according to the Wall Street Journal. Images circulating on X showing extensive damage. The cost to replace the aircraft could be more than $700 million per the journal.

Exactly how Iran was able to strike this high-value target, the subject of an interview. given by Ukrainian president Volodomir Zelensky to NBC news on Saturday. Mr. Zelensky telling the outlet he is, quote, 100% certain this is the result of his own enemy, Russia, sharing intelligence with the Iranians. Zelensky pointing to a report from Ukraine's spy agencies that Russian satellites had taken images of the Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia on March 20th, March 23rd, and March 25th ahead of the attack. Zelensky telling NBC, quote, We know that if they make images once they are preparing.

If they make images a second time, it's like a simulation. The third time, it means that in one or two days, they will attack. New polling showing increasing trouble for President Trump among the coalition he built to win in 2004, as the focus on Iran grows. In a new Qantas Insights poll of approximately 1,500 likely voters conducted last week, support from young voters, 18 to 29-year-olds, dropping enormously in recent months. Just 23 now approve of the job President Trump is doing, with 76% disapproving.

That net approval of negative 53 was just negative 23 in December, and only negative 1 in February 2025, soon after Mr. Trump was inaugurated. CNN's Harry Enten, who also highlighted the collapse of the president's support from men under the age of 45 last week in the wake of this war, focusing on another key constituency for Mr. Trump in 2024, speaking to the massive drop in working class support for the president. The working class, those making 50K or less, those making under 50K, were a big swing vote. We're a big swing vote in the 2024 election. Trump was able to win them. And that was a very important part of his coalition.

But look at this now. Look at the net approval rating that he has with those making under 50. Down it goes. Look at that. That's a 26-point switcheroo in the latest average of polls. Look at that minus 24 points. The working-class voters are abandoning Donald Trump. Pakistan's foreign minister yesterday saying his country will host talks between the U.S. and Iran,

as of last night, no confirmation of that from either side. Coming up, President Trump's former Surgeon General waging a campaign to torpedo the current Surgeon General nominee. And are we about to learn a lot more about Congressman Eric Swalwell and his past Fang Fang relationship? Think about this. In 2006, $20,000 equaled roughly 33 ounces of gold at spot price. At today's prices, those 33 ounces would be worth about 165,000 bucks. That's why many smart Americans diversify a portion of their savings into precious metals. And that's why you should consider buying gold from Birch Gold Group. For thousands of years, gold has been a store of wealth.

And today, it's a crucial part of any balanced strategy. Even better, Birch Gold can help you convert an existing IRA or 401k into a tax sheltered retirement account in gold. Just text MK to the number 9-8-989 to receive your free info kit on gold. There's no obligation, just useful information. With an A-plus rating with the Better Business Bureau and tens of thousands of happy customers, let Birch Gold help you diversify with gold. Now that's peace of mind. Again, text MK to 9-8-98-98-t today.

It's now been more than a month since Dr. Casey Means testified before the Senate, part of her long path to becoming Surgeon General, nearly 11 months since she was first nominated in May of last year. Her nomination apparently now on hold, while GOP senators expressed. concern over Dr. Means, a close ally of HHS Secretary RFKJ. And now we're learning more about one of the forces fighting against her, President Trump's first surgeon general, Dr. Jerome Adams. In what appears to be a coordinated media campaign, Adams speaking to the Washington Post in a piece published yesterday morning, and joining CBS Newses face the nation yesterday as well, trying his best to torpedo the nomination. I don't want to underplay this.

Every physician, every nurse, every pharmacist, and the Public Health Service Corps has to maintain an active license. I had to fire people for not having an active medical license. So this is not about disruption. Casey Means can be a part of this administration. She can advise the White House. She can advise Secretary Kennedy, as her brother does. But that does not mean she's qualified to be Surgeon General of the United States after dropping out of a residency and not having an active license. That reference to not having an active medical license, a talking point at Dr. Means' hearing last month as well, when Means addressed it head on.

I'm a medical doctor. I graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine. I have a medical license. My professional history is a feature. It's not a bug. I have had a unique history that has merged entrepreneurship, public health advocacy, faculty, course direction at Stanford University, as well as being an editor of a medical journal and a biomedical researcher. And in these complex times for American health care, that type of multidisciplinary history is going to be extremely valuable for the American people. Dr. Means had an active license until 2024 when she voluntarily placed it into inactive status because she was not seeing patients. The question of whether the license is current versus active came up in an ex-exchange between Adams and Casey Means' brother, our FK advisor, Callie, in February. In addition to calling Adams a, quote, Democrat activist and lightweight surgeon general, who is not, quote, in the same stratosphere as Casey in terms of intelligence, Callie Means, pointing out the medical license is current. It's just not currently active. Separately, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, Brian Christine, writing to senators last year, quote, Dr. Means fulfills the statutory requirements to be the next surgeon general of the U.S., and I look forward to serving with her. In the Washington Post, Jerome Adams telling reporter Dan Diamond, quote,

the role of Surgeon General has centuries of precedent and requirements, and she does not meet them. Casey Means responding in that article, quote, My professional history has prepared me to meet these very complex times as an innovative, unifying, and practical leader, focused on reversing chronic disease, and highlighting her unique experience as a strength, not a weakness, quote, under the tenures of our recent past surgeon generals, America's health and lifespans have worsened. Adams has been a thorn in the side of the Trump administration for years, calling for RFKJ's firing and even praising Dr. Fauci.

So maybe take his thoughts with a grain of salt. President Trump's first Surgeon General nominee of his second term, Jeanette Neshawatt, withdrawn, just before her hearing over her enthusiastic past support, well into the COVID pandemic, for vaccinating young children and making them wear mass. in schools. Means then nominated shortly thereafter. Her initial hearing scheduled for October of 2025, but she went into labor with her first child, delaying it further. Currently, there is no

vote scheduled to advance her nomination. Representative Eric Swalwell locked in a very tight primary raise to become the next governor of California, not likely to help his chances, the potential release of FBI documents related to his alleged relationship with a Chinese spy. The Washington Post reporting FBI director Cash Patel is preparing to potentially release documents related to the congressman's past and a previous investigation that ultimately did not lead to charges. The post reporting director Patel has agents in the FBI's San Francisco Bureau working to, quote, quickly redact the files while also pursuing new criminal charges. The focus stemming from Swalwell's relationship with Christine Fang, also known as Fang Fang, who is alleged to have

courted Swalwell and other politicians from 2011 to 2015. She was pictured with Swalwell in 2012 and helped with his 2014 re-election campaign. In 2020, Axios breaking the news that Fang was a suspected Chinese intelligence operative who had worked her way into several American politicians' lives. That included, quote, sexual or romantic relationships with at least two mayors of Midwestern cities over a period of about three years, according to one U.S. intelligence official and one former elected official. In that original report, there was no indication of a sexual relationship between Swalwell and Fang, although rumors have persisted for years. It's a topic that has led to drama in Congress like these moments with GOP members of Congress and Swalwell during hearings in

23 and 2024. I find it incredibly rich Mr. Swalwell was going to come to this committee and lecture us about how China penetrates our government. I think that's something he may know a thing or two about. That was quite entertaining from someone that had a sexual relationship with a Chinese spy and everyone knows it. Mr. Swalwell is down there. Obviously everybody knows he's made some comments. He's got a checkered past. He's alleged I'm sorry. A checkered past? I would ask. It's my time. Mr. Alleged affairs relationships with yum, no, no, no, no, sir. You don't get to say that That's not true. Swalwell was pressed about the relationship on CNN by Dana Bash in January, 2023 after he was denied a seat by the GOP on the Intel Committee.

You were also removed by Republicans from the Intelligence Committee. What the speaker said about you is that beginning in 2012, a suspected Chinese spy developed ties to you and to your office, even put an intern there, raised campaign funds for you. You say very clearly you cut off ties with this person back in 2015 when you found out you cooperated with the FBI. But the bottom line question is this. Did you put yourself in a vulnerable position in any way so that this alleged Chinese spy could have benefited or even learn American secrets? Absolutely not. But Dana, don't take my word for it. Take the FBI's word for it.

They never talk about ongoing investigations. Three different times they came out and said, two things. All I did was help them, and also, I was never under any suspicion of wrongdoing. Axios reporting Swalwell was informed of the FBI's concerns about Fang in 2015 and cut off contact with her at that time. She's believed to have left the country shortly thereafter. In 2023, a House Ethics Committee, led by the GOP, closed a two-year investigation into Swalwell saying it would, quote, take no further action. Now the American public might soon get a look at what the FBI saw. The FBI pushing back on the notion that this has anything to do with politics,

telling the post, quote, this FBI being the most transparent in history, prepares documents for numerous different reasons, including for release to different agencies and departments to further review investigations that may have been opened under previous administrations. CNN asking Swalwell about the post report yesterday. I suspect it's politically motivated, Jim. have the only lawsuit that has survived this presidency. It's me in the January 6th officers.

I was an impeachment manager. I worked with Adam Schiff on the Russia investigation, and I'm a candidate for governor in California to start voting in about 35 days. So these are dangerous individuals who have gone after over 500 political opponents and organizations, Donald Trump and the FBI. And we know that they want a Western White House. There's a threat right now that two Republicans will get through in the top two primary in California. This is an effort to knock out the person who's been in the lead. And Cash Patel, by the way, in his own book called Government Gangsters, has a list of government gangsters.

I'm not on the list. I'm above the list. Adam Schiff and I are in the prelude to that list. But Californians know better. They are going to pick the next governor, not Donald Trump. The California Open Primary election is June 2nd, where the top two vote getters, irrespective of which party they come from, will move on to the general election in November.

According to the RCP polling average, any of the candidates could take those spots. Currently, there are about five hovering near the top. With our pal Steve Hilton on the GOP side in first, with 15%, Swalwell currently in second, with 14, another GOP candidate Chad Bianco in third, with 13 and two more Dems, Representative Katie Porter and billionaire Tom Steyer, rounding out the top five with 11 and 10 percent

respectively. We'll report back if and when the docs are made public. And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK Show, live on Sirius XMs, the Megan Kelly Channel, 11 at noon east on YouTube.com slash Megan Kelly and on all podcast platforms.