The Megyn Kelly Show - Maine Dems Pick Platner Replacement, Anti-ICE Attack in NYC, New UK Prime Minister: AM Update 7/21

Episode Date: July 21, 2026

Former Maine state Senate President Troy Jackson effectively secures the Democrat nomination to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins, despite questions surrounding his record - Editor-in-Chief of The Maine Wire Steve Robinson weighs in. A former Army soldier accused of anti-government extremism allegedly sets a fire and fires a pellet gun outside a Manhattan federal building housing immigration courts and ICE offices. Andy Burnham becomes the UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade, replacing Keir Starmer as Labour leader and promising stability while signaling a possible shift on North Sea drilling. President Trump says his Qatari-donated Air Force One will be grounded for about a month this fall while it receives additional security upgrades.   Birch Gold: Text MK to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold   Lean: Discover why LEAN is becoming the choice for real weight‑loss results—shop now at https://TAKELEAN.com use code MK. 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 Tuesday, July 21st, 2026, and this is your AM update. I'm a Maynard, a dad, a fifth generation logger from Alligax. I'm a progressive. Far left candidate Troy Jackson, effectively securing the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine. So, who is he? Mr. Airbock was looking to injure people and harm people. He had two axes, a hammer. a machete in three knives. An alleged anti-ice extremist setting a fire outside a Manhattan federal building, then shooting a pellet gun before agents taking him down.

Britain getting its seventh prime minister in a decade as the Labor Party replaces Kier Starmour with the so-called King of the North. And President Trump revealing his new Air Force One Plain will soon receive additional security upgrades. All that and more coming up in just a moment. on your AM update. We wouldn't be celebrating America 250 if it wasn't for a strong foundation set by the framers. Hamilton built America's financial foundation on the principle of sound, stable money, a principle later embodied by the gold standard.

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to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins after dominating the party's delegate selection process over the weekend. More than two-thirds of the delegates expected to attend the party's statewide convention this Saturday, now committed to supporting Jackson, though they are not. not legally bound to support him. Jackson's commanding lead prompting all four of his major opponents to withdraw from the primary by Sunday evening, including Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former state public health official, Nirav Shah. Trans candidate Ashley Webb, also vying for the nomination and formerly known as James, has not dropped out, however. He's busy telling constituents that he would never lie to them as he deletes earlier Reddit posts

claiming he menstruates out of his backside. So there's that. The hastily organized convention set to formally replace progressive Graham Platner, who won the June primary, but dropped out earlier this month after a former girlfriend accused him of raping her. Plattner denies the allegations. Jackson entering the race with strong support from the party's progressive wing and many former Plattner supporters. The fifth generation logger and former state Senate president, backed by California Democratic Congressman Roe Kana and Our Revolution, the political group founded by Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders and the main chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America also endorsing Jackson during his unsuccessful campaign for governor earlier

this year. Jackson presenting himself as a candidate who can form a broad enough coalition to unseat Senator Collins. Together, we can fix what's broken in Washington. We can pass Medicare for We can take on corporate power and the politicians in their pocket. We can take our country back. We can create the future Mainers and Americans deserve. I've been fighting this fight for 30 years, and I'm sure as hell not backing down now. I'm a Maynard, a dad, a fifth-generation logger from Alligash. I'm a progressive.

I've been tested. I've won time and time again in deep red Trump country by double digits. I've won in progressive cities like Portland and Bangor. I know what a tough fight looks like, and I know how to win. With the nomination effectively secured, Jackson now facing the far more difficult task of taking on Senator Collins, who has repeatedly defeated well-funded Democrat challengers since first winning her Senate seat in 1996. We spoke with Maine Wire, editor-in-chief Stephen Robinson, about Jackson's record and the political vulnerabilities that could follow him into the general election.

The main wire reporting earlier this month on an allegation circulated by the progressive organization, Progressive Victory, claiming Jackson once threw a water bottle that struck a female colleague during a heated disagreement. People associated with Jackson denying the accusation, since Jackson began to look more viable, progressive victory, saying it repeated the allegation, quote, in a panic, without first verifying it and that it would be more responsible in the future. It did not, however, say it's untrue. Robinson says the story has circulated among main political insiders for years, but predicts the alleged incident is unlikely to derail Jackson's campaign,

given how many accusations it took to force Plattner from the race. I mean, think about how much it took in order for actual assault allegations to become credible. You know, it had to be like a third woman coming forward doing an on-the-record, to televised interview with Jake Tapper. They were never going to stop supporting him, and he was never going to drop out until the claims reached that level of overwhelming credibility. I frankly don't even think that this will be the most devastating

or the biggest story for Troy. For me, the water bottle story is, it's kind of a funny anecdote of his time in Augusta, but it's a he says, she said thing, where he claims that he, through the water bottle at the floor in frustration, while the anonymous sources repeating the perspective of an anonymous lawmaker say that it was thrown at a female lawmaker.

I don't think it'll be a big deal by the end of this week. Robinson arguing Jackson's 2019 purchase of a home in Augusta, hundreds of miles outside the northern Maine district he represented, could prove far more damaging. I've spent a long time reporting on him. He abused the FHA mortgage program to buy a house in Augusta, which is 230 miles away from his district in Al-Aash, Maine. The FHA loan program has an occupancy clause in the mortgage. So he swore that he was going to live in Augusta as his primary residence.

At the same time, he was swearing in campaign documents and filings with the Maine Ethics Commission that his primary residence was in Al-A-Gash. So both of those things can't be true. The main wire first reporting on the documents in 2023 after Jackson became embroiled in a legal dispute involving the Augusta property. Jackson later acknowledging that he did not satisfy the mortgage's primary residence provision while saying he had not fully read the agreement, according to the outlet. The Maine Ethics Commission ultimately declining to investigate the allegations with its staff, concluding, the Commission lacked jurisdiction over some of the claims and had insufficient grounds to pursue the other. according to local outlet, Maine public. Robinson arguing the discrepancies in Jackson's federal mortgage paperwork

could still expose him to charges, depending on whether Maine's current U.S. attorney decides to pursue the case. When he got the mortgage in the first place, there was a Biden appointee who has since gotten a judgeship from the Mills administration, so kind of a loyal Democrat would be reluctant to file charges against the Senate president. but now you have an appointee from President Trump.

So the U.S. attorney right now could bring fraud charges against Troy Jackson for mortgage fraud. We asked Robinson whether Jackson can generate the same enthusiasm among Maine Democrats that Graham Platner brought to the race. Not at all. They're two very different animals. I mean, they're both holding hands with Bernie Sanders, but Jackson is not the natural performer that Graham Platner is. I don't think he has the same vigor in energy. He has his own way of being a talented politician, and he can connect with people. He can play friendly enough. But there's no grassroots movement for Jackson.

Robinson says Jackson's delegate advantage reflects the party's insider-driven replacement process more than broad voter enthusiasm. Robinson, nevertheless arguing Jackson still has a plausible path against Senator Collins. The demographics of the state have changed, you know, beginning with COVID, something like 30,000 people have moved here, mostly, you know, wealthy boomers trying to get out of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, and they've brought their politics. Based on the way the demographics have shifted, you know, it's still just about even in terms of party enrollment with a slight advantage to the Democrats. For that reason, I would still put it at about a coin flip odds for Troy Jackson. But I think that Susan Collins, she's, She's the best at winning the elections in history. She does it better than anybody else. A former Army soldier accused of setting a fire and opening fire with a pellet gun outside a federal building in Lower Manhattan in what the FBI is calling an anti-government attack.

Authorities say 43-year-old Andrew Arabaaka arriving at the employee entrance of 26 federal plaza shortly before 9 o'clock yesterday morning, pouring gasoline onto the ground, and igniting it using a lighter and a large firework inside a canister. The flames climbing several feet into the air before Ara Baca allegedly pulled out an airsoft rifle and fired between five and seven pellets toward the building. Video from the scene showing the suspect retreating toward a cart as a federal officer moved to confront him. The building housing federal immigration courts, the local ICE field office, FBI offices,

and several other government agencies. FBI assistant director in charge, James Barnacle, at a press conference yesterday, describing what investigators have learned about the suspect. He was enlisted for approximately four years, serving from 2001 to 2005. He was a repairman or a mechanic on Patriot missile systems. Mr. Airbock was looking to injure people and harm people.

He had two axes, a hammer, a machete, and three knives, fixed blade knives. He had, as I said earlier, six incendiary devices or fireworks, and he had some other destructive items. On his cart, he had a cart. He had anti-ice literature on it. When he was being arrested, he yelled derogatory terms to ice, used bad words, obviously.

He is an anti-American, anti-government extremism. We know that from what he said. We know that from what he has said post arrest. And we know that from what his actions that he tried to take today. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch saying the cart carried a sign reading, quote, ICE off our streets. Barnacle saying the suspect admitted after his arrest that he deliberately targeted the building and did not care whether federal employees or civilians were injured or killed.

The FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force now leading the investigation, with assistance from the NYPD, the fire department, and city fire marshals. Two government employees and one civilian suffering minor injuries in the incident yesterday. New York City mayor, Zoran Mamdani, releasing a statement, calling the incident, quote, deeply disturbing, and expressing relief that no one was seriously injured and the suspect was taken into custody. Federal Plaza becoming the focus of anti-ice demonstrations in New York since President Trump returned to office last year. Protesters and Democrat elected officials arrested there in September while attempting to enter an area where ICE was holding migrants, according to the New York Times. Ara Baca has not yet been charged. Barnacle says investigators are still collecting evidence, which will be presented to the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecutors to determine the federal charges. coming up, the UK changing leaders yet again as Andy Burnham takes over from Kier Starmer

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Visit takelein.com. Enter code MK for your discount when you check out. That's promo code MK at takeleen.com. The UK has a new prime minister again. Labor Party leader Andy Burnham taking office yesterday becoming the UK's seventh prime minister in just a decade. Burnham replacing Kier Starmor, who officially submitted his resignation to King Charles yesterday morning, just two years after leading the Labor Party to a landslide election victory. Starrmer announcing last month that he would step down following a string of controversies and heavy labor losses in Britain's local elections. Burnham previously serving nearly a decade as mayor of Greater Manchester, earning the

nickname the King of the North due to his push to move political power and public investment beyond London to the rest of the country. The 56-year-old previously serving 16 years in Parliament and holding cabinet positions under former Labor Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. The UK's parliamentary system allows Burnham to take office without a nationwide vote because voters elect members of Parliament and the leader of the party controlling the House of Commons ordinarily becomes the Prime Minister. That means the governing Labor Party was permitted to replace Starmer with its new leader without holding another general election. The UK's next election does not have to take place until 2029, though Burnham could call one earlier. In his first remarks outside 10 Downing Street,

Burnham calling for a new period of stability and national unity. I am acutely conscious that I am the sixth person in the last 10 years to walk up this street, the seventh Prime Minister since 2016, making this a moment for reflection and new resolution. It requires my generation of politicians to raise our game. and rise to the new challenge. Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again. And that is our challenge

to make politics work, to make it work better. Let's build a new national sense of unity, of common purpose and positivity. Let us make this. this the moment when Britain starts to believe again, the moment we bring back hope. Burnham's relationship with President Trump already appearing to get off to an uneven start, asked last month by a reporter about Burnham, President Trump responding. You mentioned that our Prime Minister has got one foot out the door.

The new guys coming in, Andy Burnham. What do you know about him, Mr. President? And what does he need to do to improve the relationship between our two countries? The new incoming Prime Minister, Andy Byrne? I don't know. I see that he was, I guess, the mayor of a town. I hear he was extremely liberal, extremely. So that means he probably won't up and up the North Sea.

The oil-rich region currently closed to new exploration licenses under the Labor government's climate policies, despite pressure from President Trump to dramatically expand drilling. However, the president striking a far more enthusiastic tone over the weekend. after the BBC reported, Burnham was preparing to announce new North Sea oil and gas drilling. Mr. Trump, writing on Truth Social, that expanded drilling would, quote, make the United Kingdom from a poverty-stricken disaster to one of the richest countries anywhere in the world. Burnham speaking with President Trump shortly after taking office yesterday afternoon and inviting him to visit Manchester in the future.

President Trump announcing his new Air Force One will undergo additional security upgrades following questions about whether the Qatari-donated jet is equipped for higher-risk international travel. The president making the switch to the new Air Force won at the start of this month, a reporter asking the president about the plane's missile defense capabilities Sunday night after he returned to Washington from the World Cup final in New Jersey. It has a lot, and, you know, it has a lot of capability. But as I understand it, in about a month or so, they're going to send it to have it be maxed out. So they're going to be sending it, and they'll have it be maxed out.

It'll take you about a month. White House press secretary, Caroline Levitt, telling CBS News, quote, the new Air Force One is perfectly safe for the president's travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall, which will take approximately one month to complete. Levitt adding that during that time, the president will travel on the old Air Force One. The plane's security capabilities drawing attention earlier this month,

after President Trump unexpectedly switched to the older Air Force One while leaving the NATO summit in Turkey, just days after making the switch to the new plane. The president posting to true social at the time that the change was made, so American service members at Milden Hall Air Force Base in the UK could tour what he called the, quote, brand new and truly spectacular aircraft. The New York Times reporting, however, that the Secret Service urged the switch as a precaution after hostilities with Iran resumed. The Air Force describing the Qatari-donated jet as a temporary bridge aircraft

intended for use until Boeing delivers too long overdue, permanent replacements for the aging presidential fleet. President Trump saying the plane will eventually be placed in his presidential library after he leaves office, presumably after it is fully, quote, maxed out. And that'll do it for your AM update. Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show live on Series XMs, the Megan Kelly Channel 111 at noon east, on YouTube.com slash Megan Kelly, and on all podcast platforms.