The Megyn Kelly Show - Kash Patel Responds Exclusively, WH Defends Boat Strike, Luigi Mangione in Court: AM Update 12/2

Episode Date: December 2, 2025

The White House faces mounting scrutiny over a second lethal strike on a suspected drug vessel, even as President Trump and his national security team escalate preparations for potential U.S. action in Venezuela. FBI Director Kash Patel is pushing back hard against a new negative report from anonymous agents in an AM Update exclusive. Accused killer Luigi Mangione is in a New York courtroom seeking to suppress key evidence, including items found in his backpack and statements made before Miranda warnings, in the assassination of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson. Geviti: Go to https://gogeviti.com/megyn and get 20% off with code MEGYN.Lean: Visit https://BrickhouseSale.com for 30% off  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. I think we've gone from bad to worse, but I'm going to muddle through it because I've got some news for you. It's Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, and this is your AM update. A.M. Update with new and exclusive reaction from FBI director Cash Patel to an attack on FBI leadership from anonymous agents. Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. The White House, confirms a second strike was ordered on a suspected drug vessel as President Trump's top advisors discuss next moves in Venezuela. It shows a cold, calculated, premeditated murder. It is the lock that any prosecutor wants. And Luigi Mangione in a New York courtroom seeking to exclude key evidence in his trial. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update. We talk a lot about personal responsibility on this. show. Well, here's one aspect that's really important, your health. And I'm not talking about

following whatever the experts recommend. I'm talking about real data-driven decisions based on your body's actual numbers. We demand transparency in government, but most of us have no idea what's happening inside of our own bodies, never mind inside of D.C. disease can develop silently for years before symptoms appear. By then, you're playing catch-up with expensive treatments instead of preventing problems when they're cheap and easy to fix. Well, I want to tell you about Jevity. They are revolutionizing preventative care with something radically different, 100-plus blood markers tested at your home. Personalized supplement packs shipped directly to you based on your deficiencies, bi-annual retesting to track progress, plus ongoing virtual consultations

on your schedule. This is health care independence, and you get 20% off at gogevity.com with code Megan when you check out. That's go-G-E-V-I-com slash Megan. That's go-G-E-V-I-com because no one should control your health decisions but you. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt yesterday confirming reports that a second strike was conducted on an alleged drug boat heading for America on September 2nd as two suspected narco-terrorists who survived the first strike clung to the battered boat in the sea. The Washington Post reporting Friday, the quote, double tap, was ordered by Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley.

This following an earlier order prior to the initial strike from Secretary of War Pete Hegeseth authorizing kinetic strikes to take out these vessels. The Washington Post and subsequent reporting intensely focusing on the legality of Admiral Bradley's order contending that the survivors did not pose an ongoing threat to the U.S., which actually has not yet been confirmed. As adjunct Cornell law professor and retired U.S. Army soldier Brian Cox

has argued and will explain today live on the MK show. If this boat were just disabled, as the Washington Post reports, and not entirely destroyed after strike number one, the order to strike again would be entirely legal. Caroline Levitt from yesterday's briefing, reading a prepared statement moments after denying that the order for the second strike came directly from Secretary Hegeseth. President Trump and Secretary Hegsef have made it clear

that presidentially designated narco-terrorist groups are subject to lethal targeting in accordance with the laws of war. With respect to the strikes in question on September 2, Secretary Hegeseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated. And I would just add one more point to remind the American public why these lethal strikes are taking place. Because this administration has designated these narco-terrorists as foreign terrorist organizations. The president has a right to take them out if they are threatening the United States of America and if they are bringing illegal narcotics that are

killing our citizens at a record rate, which is what they are doing. And under the previous administration, there was enough fentanyl trafficked into our country to kill every American man, woman and child many times over. Leavitt's saying Admiral Bradley ordered the second strike, but stopping short of addressing whether it was intended specifically to kill survivors. The Post initially reporting four strikes total on the boat, two to kill everyone, and two more to fully sink the wreckage, the topic consuming about half of the briefing with intense focus on the nature of the order itself. With the initial order from Secretary Hagseth, everyone be killed, and did that come from President Trump?

I saw that quoted in a Washington Post story. I would reject that the Secretary of War ever said that. However, the president has made it quite clear that if narco-terrorists, again, are trafficking illegal drugs towards the United States, he has the authority to kill them. And that's what this administration is doing. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffrey is reacting bluntly at a press conference. is lying, but that's no surprise, because they lie for a living, and the American people know it. The House and Senate Armed Services Committees, led by Republicans, launching inquiries into the matter. Secretary Hegseth posting on social media yesterday evening, quote, let's make one thing crystal clear. Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional

and has my 100% support. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made on the September 2nd Mission, and all others since. Also yesterday, President Trump meeting with his national security team in the Oval to discuss Venezuela, CNN reporting Secretary Hegeseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Raisin Cain, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, among those in attendance. The president ramping up pressure on Venezuela in recent weeks as part of a campaign to crack down on cartels trafficking drugs into the U.S. U.S. military ships and troops amassing in the region,

last week President Trump saying operations to halt trafficking via land routes would begin very soon. On Saturday, President Trump posting to Truth Social, quote, to all airlines, pilots, drug dealers, and human traffickers, please consider the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela to be closed in its entirety, leading many to wonder if U.S. intervention is imminent.

On Sunday, President Trump confirming he had recently spoken to President Maduro. The New York Times reported that you had a phone call with Maduro, did you? I don't want to comment on it. The answer is yes. And can you tell us a little bit about it? No, I can't do that. And you say it went well? I wouldn't say it went well or badly.

It was a phone call. Last week, the administration designating President Maduro as the head of a foreign terrorist organization, saying he and other members of his government had the Cartel de Los Sos. Solis, a step U.S. officials say provides wider legal authority to conduct operations inside Venezuela. Coming up, a new report goes after FBI director Cash Patel. Director Patel responds on the record to AM Update, and accused murderer Luigi Mangione is in court seeking the dismissal of critical pieces of evidence. Do doctors have Cyber Monday sales? The doctors at Brickhouse Nutrition do. And this is your last chance to save 30% on everything. It's the final hours of their biggest sale of the year with trusted health products all 30% off. Like Lean, the doctor formulated weight loss supplement for people who want to lose meaningful weight without injections. And 30% off creatone as well. That's creatine designed.

just for women to help you look leaner in shape and toned without extra dieting or exercise. Even 30% off, field of greens. A superfruit and vegetable drink, they say was shown in a university study to actually slow aging. Yes, every brickhouse product from better sleep to superior collagen is 30% off. This is your last chance to save during the Brickhouse Nutrition Cyber Monday sale. Visit Brickhouse Sale.com and save 30%. Brickhouse Sale.com. Brickhouse sale.com. Brickhouse sale.com. A new report compiled by a group of active duty and retired FBI agents painting an unflattering image of FBI director Cash Patel

and to a lesser degree, his deputy director, Dan Bongino. The 115-page report, a mostly scathing assessment of Patel's first six months in office, reportedly set to be presented to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees this week. The New York Post's Miranda Devine, getting her hands on the report, which labels the FBI, quote, a rudderless ship under Director Patel, whom the document concludes is, quote, in over his head. The report citing multiple internal FBI sources accuses Director Patel of lacking, quote, the breadth of experience needed

to be successful. Another source saying the director, quote, lacks the requisite experience to be FBI director. Divine posting on X yesterday that, quote, for those claiming this report is from a bunch of disgruntled FBI staffers who don't like change or are salty ex-FBI critics of Cash and Dan? You're wrong. It's from an alliance of patriotic operational insiders opposed to the abuses and corruption of the FBI, which accelerated under Joe Biden. Am Update spoke exclusively with Director Patel about the report, who rejected that characterization, dismissing the report as a, quote, dossier compiled by anonymous, disgruntled sources, end quote, whom he argued, do not know what they're talking about. He scoffed at the notion that the FBI is, quote, rudderless,

pointing out that under his leadership, the Bureau has made almost 30,000 arrests this year, a 100% increase from 2024, 25,000 of those for violent crimes, including over 100 MS-13 gang members and 200-plus Trenda-Iragua members. 6,000 missing children have been found, a 22% increase over last year. 1,700 child predators have been arrested. That's up 10% from last year. Human trafficking arrests are up 15% from last year. Domestic terrorism arrests, up 30%.

1900 kilos of fentanyl have been seized. That's enough to kill 127 million Americans. four of the top ten most wanted criminals in the U.S. have been nabbed under his leadership. That's the same number President Biden's FBI arrested over four years. In short, Director Patel maintains the numbers speak for themselves. This FBI is succeeding beyond anyone's expectations. Director Patel also responding to allegations in the report

of his alleged behavior around the Charlie Kirk murder. We will have that piece of the story for you on the M.K. show later today. Last week, MS now reporting three unnamed sources saying President Trump is considering removing Director Patel as top aides grow frustrated by the negative headlines. Caroline Levitt calling that report completely made up, with the president himself weighing in saying of Patel, quote, I think he's doing a great job.

Luigi Mangione in New York State Court yesterday for the start of a multi-day pretrial hearing, asking a judge to exclude evidence collected during his arrest, last year. The defense arguing Mangione's rights were violated when cops searched his backpack and questioned him before obtaining a warrant and reading him his Miranda rights. 27-year-old Mangione accused of assassinating United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside of a Manhattan hotel on December 4th, 2024. The brutal slaying captured on surveillance video showing the suspect approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire at close range before

fleeing. Thompson hit in the back and in the leg, dying from his injuries. Prosecutors say the words deny, delay, and depose were written on the ammunition, echoing a phrase used to describe how insurance companies dodge paying claims. They argue that they have a substantial body of evidence against Mangione, including video, placing him at the scene of the shooting, and a manifesto obtained from his backpack upon arrest. The attack leading to a five-day manhunt, cops are arresting Mangione at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania, about 230 miles from Manhattan. Former prosecutor Joey Jackson on CNN explaining the rules governing police interrogations and the circumstances requiring Miranda warnings.

Does the prosecution acknowledge they never told Mangione he has a right to remain silent? Indeed they do, but however, there are other arguments, even though they eventually did, but at the time that they were making an accusation towards him, if it's a custodial interrogation, Doesn't mean you're in cuffs, but if you're not free to leave and they're asking questions that could incriminate you, you have to give Miranda. However, if you're simply investigating a case and not really questioning him such that you're eliciting guilty statements, you don't. And so there's a fine line with respect to investigatory information being supplied and incriminatory, meaning you're looking for evidence to incriminate them. The police say, we just needed to know what the lay of the land was, and that was the basis upon which we asked those questions. While cops were talking to Mangione, one officer searching his backpack, saying she wanted to ensure their, quote, wasn't a bomb or anything inside.

Mangione's team arguing that statement was, quote, designed to cover up an illegal warrantless search of the backpack. In the bag, cops finding a loaded magazine, silencer, 3D printed gun, electronic devices, and a journal. According to court filings, Mangione's journal allegedly containing an entry reading, quote, I finally feel confident about what I will do. The target is insurance. It checks every box. Mangione faces life in prison on the state charges, which include second-degree murder

in addition to multiple federal charges. And that'll do it for a raspy AM update. Thanks for bearing with me. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show. We have news to break. Let's see if I can actually do it. Live on Series XMs, the Megan Kelly channel,

11 at noon east, on YouTube.com slash and Kelly and on all podcast platforms.