The Megyn Kelly Show - NJ Gov Race Neck-and-Neck, US Nuclear Testing Resumes, Trump Meets Xi Jinping: AM Update 10/31

Episode Date: October 31, 2025

With election day around the corner, New Jersey’s governor’s race is deadlocked between Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill - New Jersey Globe Editor David Wildstein breaks down what to expect in the final days. President Trump announces the U.S. will resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 1992, citing Russia’s recent trials. After a week-long Asia tour, President Trump touts “a 12 out of 10” meeting with China’s Xi Jinping and progress toward a major new trade deal. Lawmakers clash over whether to make Daylight Saving Time permanent as Americans prepare to “fall back” an hour this weekend. Walmart: Learn how Walmart is fueling the future of U.S. manufacturing at https://Walmart.com/America-at-work All Family Pharmacy: In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, save 40% on Mebendazole. Visit https://allfamilypharmacy.com/MEGYN — offer ends October 31st. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Happy Halloween, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly, and it's Friday, October 31st, 2025. This is your AM update. I'm just going with my gut feel, which is this is a close race. Election night is right around the corner, and the race for New Jersey governor is neck and neck. The U.S. resumes nuclear testing in response to recent Russian nuclear trials. Well, I guess on the scale of from zero to ten, with ten being the best, I would say the meeting was at 12.

President Trump returns from a marathon tour through Asia, culminating in significant progress on a new trade agreement with China. And it's that time of year again, the clocks set to fall back this weekend and regain a glorious hour of sleep. Is it worth it? All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update. When customers are walking through the aisles of their local Walmart, they're not just picking up groceries or supplies.

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Republican candidate Jack Cheddarlli and Democrat candidate Mikey Cheryl in a statistical tie, according to the latest poll by Emerson College. Cheryl leading Cheddarrelly by 1.49 to 48 percent among likely voters. Three more polls released on Thursday showing wider margins. leading 46 to 42, according to Suffolk University. Fox News has Cheryl with 52, Chatterrelli with 45% among likely voters. Quinnipiac has Cheryl up by eight points, 51 to 43, in a matchup deciding whether the Garden State stays blue or flips red.

With early voting underway, we spoke to New Jersey Globe editor, David Wildstein, about the state of the race and the most recent polls. You know, at this point, I'm not really paying that much. attention to polling because these numbers are all over the place. And we're not getting a really good read or at least an adequate read about where they projected electorate will be. At this point, there's just so much data out there that I'm just going with my gut feel, which is that this is a close race. With early voting beginning on Saturday, Wildstein notes a shift in voting behavior? What we're seeing is Republicans becoming increasingly more comfortable with voting in

advance of election day. Republicans are now returning vote by mail ballots at roughly the same pace as Democrats. I haven't seen that before. What we saw in 2024 is Republicans love in person early voting and those numbers are good but now Democrats are catching up there so the advantage uh still belongs to the Democrats because they are are more accustomed to voting by mail so so 60 plus percent of all the vote by mail ballots that have been sent out had been sent to Democrats it's it's almost a three to one advantage Republicans have a long time to get a long way to go before they catch up here The environment and energy policies taking center stage in New Jersey,

Chittarelli telling the Megan Kelly show on Thursday, he would roll back the plastic bag ban. Thank God, try going to bed, bath, and beyond, and getting out to your car and then back from your car into your home. With all that stuff and no bag, it's impossible. At least at the grocery store, they sell the bags that you can buy, but they don't sell them at the big home goods store. I speak from experience. trigger. Also, he says he would block the horrible offshore wind projects that almost nobody likes or wants, characterizing his opponent as too liberal on environmental matters. So she's doubled down on the Green New Deal that the current governor's put in place that

has two things that people can't stand. The first is the plastic bag ban. We're getting rid of that. And the second thing is wind farms off the Jersey shore. We asked Wildstein how these issues play with voters on the plastic bags i i've seen this in in surveys over the last couple years this might be the most grassroots rank and file unpopular law of the last last eight years and and chitterelli gets and he says it you know i don't know that voters are going to make a decision about who they want to be their governor based upon plastic bags i i think energy costs or are hugely important. People's electricity bills have gone through the roof over the last few months.

And they look at affordability issues, and they look at taxes. And, you know, this is going to make me sound really old. But this is my 14th New Jersey governor's race. And this is the 14th time candidates for governor have promised to cut property taxes. And the state has been disappointed in each of the last 13 times. just never happens. The candidates also starkly divided on cultural issues. Mikey Cheryl reaffirming her support for LGBTQ curriculum in schools earlier this year on local station NJSN. I would push an LGBTQ education into our schools. Parents have a right to

opt out of a lot of things, but this is not an area where they should be opting out, because this is an area of understanding the background of people throughout our nation. Chederrelli, leaning into parental rights and also protecting girl sports from transgender insanity. Here's a sampling from yesterday's MK show. This mother of two daughters voted yes twice to allow biological boys to participate in girls' sports. That's an 80-20 issue. And I just find this so hypocritical, because you and I both know the Democrats will always talk about their defense of women. While you're undermining Title IX by allowing biological boys to participate in girls' sports, But this is somebody that also supports one of Phil Murphy's policies, our current governor, where school

districts keep secrets from parents, which I think is immoral, indecent, wrong, and dangerous. Cheryl's campaign working to tie Cheddarally closely to President Trump, who lost to Kamala Harris by about six points in the Garden State, surrogate Pete Buttigieg yesterday morning on the campaign trail for Cheryl. The problem is that Jack Chittorelli knows that standing up for New Jersey would require standing up to Donald Trump. And he just doesn't have the backbone to do that. He would rather see those jobs destroy it. He'd rather see those workers get hurt and commuters get hurt than display one inch of independence from his dear leader. Here's Wildstein on how that messaging may resonate. Cheryl, you know, is a middle of the road Democrat. You have a lot of progressive Democrats in New Jersey.

And I don't know if progressive Democrats you're going to be incredibly motivated to vote for Cheryl. That's one of the things I'm going to be looking for on Election Day. But she thinks that opposing Trump is going to be in her best interest. I think that every poll, whether it's a Democratic poll or Republican poll, is showing Trump upside down in New Jersey. The question is, is that the issue that people are going to vote on? Cheryl is betting that it is, and Chidorelli thinks it won't. As far as Wildstein's predictions for Tuesday?

During a part of my life that I'm glad is over, I had the privilege of attending Federal Witness Academy at the U.S. Attorney's Office. And the first thing they taught me is don't answer a question unless you can answer it honestly. I have no idea. I think this could go either way. I think it's a close race. In a dramatic shift in U.S. nuclear policy, President Trump announcing Wednesday that the U.S. will resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 1992, according to the Associated Press. Just for some perspective, that was the year, some of us graduated from college, and the number one song in the nation was, I will always love you by Whitney Houston.

Mr. Trump, writing ominously on truth social, quote, the U.S. has more nuclear weapons than any other country. was accomplished during my first term in office. Because of the tremendous destructive power, I hated to do it, but had no choice. Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately. Prior to Mr. Trump's post, the nonpartisan nuclear watchdog Federation of American scientists, placing Russia ahead of America in total nuclear stockpile, with about 4,300 active warheads compared to what they said was about 3,700 for the U.S. The announcement coming shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin

announcing the successful test of an underwater nuclear-powered drone called the Poseidon, and just days after revealing a separate test of a nuclear-capable missile. Mr. Putin's saying of the Poseidon, quote, there is nothing like this in the world in terms of the speed and depth of the movement of this unmanned vehicle, and it is unlikely there ever will be. All of this unfolding amid a breakdown in talks for a planned summit between President's Trump and Putin. Overnight Wednesday, Mr. Trump's speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. We don't do testing. We've halted it years and many years ago.

But with others doing testing, I think it's appropriate that we do also. I'd like to see a denuclearization because we have so many in Russia's second and China's third. I think de-escalation would be, they would call it denuclearization would be a tremendous thing. It's something we are actually talking to Russia about that, and China would be added to that if we do something. Coming up, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet face-to-face for the first time in years to discuss a number of critical trade issues. And are you ready to fall back? Every October, we honor the strength and resilience of women and families affected by breast

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They work with like-minded physicians across the country who review every order and provide prescriptions when appropriate. In honor of breast cancer awareness month, they are offering 40% off Mabendazol until October 31st. That's this Friday. The discount is automatically applied at checkout. Visit allfamilyfarmacy.com slash Megan to learn more and save 40% today. Again, that's allfamilyfarmacy.com slash Megan. Overall, I guess on the scale from zero to 10 with 10 being the best, I would say the meeting was at 12. I think it was in 12.

The whole relationship is very important. I think it was very good. President Trump back in the U.S. after nearly one week, in Asia on a multi-country diplomatic trip, culminating in a meeting in South Korea with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Over the last several months, U.S. and Chinese negotiators inching toward a deal as rising tensions between the two nations threatened to erupt in an all-out trade war. With crucial rare earth minerals, semiconductors, and billions in tariffs on the line, the talks carrying major economic stakes, not just for those at the table, but the rest of the world

as well. Mr. Trump leaving the meeting without inking the deal, though on Air Force One, noting it could be signed pretty soon. What can I say? It was an outstanding group of decisions, I think, that was made. A lot of decisions were made. There wasn't too much left out there. And we've come to conclusion on many very important points. We have a deal. Now, every year we'll renegotiate the deal, but I think the deal will go on for a long time. Long beyond the year, we'll negotiate it. the end of a year. But all of the rare earth has been settled. And that's for the world. I mean, you know, worldwide. I guess you could really say, this was a worldwide situation, not just the U.S. situation. So we continue to produce the rare earth and buy the rare earths

and everything else, you know, when you see from other countries. But China is that whole situation, that roadblock has got now. There's no roadblock at all. It's a one-year deal. that will, I think, be very completely extended as time goes much. The flow of fentanyl and the chemical precursors used by cartels to make the deadly drug, often originating in China and then processed in Mexico before these materials are funneled into the U.S., a key sticking point between Washington and Beijing. U.S. officials previously accusing the Chinese of not doing enough to crack down on illegal precursor exports. On fentanyl, we agreed that he was going to work.

very hard to stop the flow. You know, it's a very complex subject because it's used for lots of different reasons, including anesthetics and things. But he's going to work very hard on it, recursors, and I think you can see some real action taken. I've agreed, as you know, I put a 20% tariff on China because of the defense that are all coming in, which is a big tariff. And based on his statements today, I reduced it by 10%. I believe he's going to work very hard to stop the death that's coming in.

But again, it's complex because of what fentanyl is, what the precursors do. Mr. Trump saying the overall tariff rate will be reduced from 57% to 47% effective immediately. President Xi echoing the goodwill, saying at the start of the meeting, quote, In the face of winds, waves, and challenges, you and I at the helm of China-U.S. relations should stay the right course and ensure the steady sailing forward of the giant ship of Chinese U.S. relations. President Trump set to visit China along with the First Lady in April, with the Chinese president visiting the U.S. sometime after that. Goodbye, sunshine. This Sunday at 2 a.m., the clocks fall back one hour, thrusting the nation

into early sunsets until March. Earlier this year, President Trump calling on Congress to lock the clock, making daylight savings time permanent, meaning we would eliminate the twice a year change of clocks and keep the time one hour ahead where we set it in the spring forward part of daylight savings. The change would require congressional approval. Over the years, a bipartisan group of legislators introducing and then reintroducing bills to put an end to daylight savings time. always, though, facing opposition.

Earlier this week, U.S. Senator from Florida, Republican Rick Scott, calling to pass the latest bill, dubbed the Sunshine Protection Act by unanimous consent. A bipartisan group of senators promoting the bill in the chamber, Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Rick Scott, and Democrat Senator from Rhode Island, Sheldon White House. Switching the clock back and forth is the exact opposite of making America Health again movement. The American people are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year. It's confusing, unnecessary, and completely outdated. I don't always agree with President Trump and with former Senator, now Secretary Rubio, but I sure do agree about this. But Republican Senator from Arkansas, Tom Cotton, blocking the motion.

If permanent daylight savings time becomes the law of the land, it will again make winter a dark and dismal time for millions of Americans. permanent daylight savings time would push winter sunrises to an absurdly late hour, depriving Americans of morning sunshine that's essential for our safety and well-being. For many Arkansas, permanent daylight savings time would mean the sun wouldn't rise until after 8 or even 8.30 a.m., Americans in northern states and on the western side of time zones would be even worse off. For instance, the sun wouldn't rise until nearly 9 o'clock during winter, in Seattle. The darkness of permanent daylight savings time would be especially harmful for school

children and working Americans. As much as I love the extra hour of sleep on this one day, I think I'd rather have the light in the evenings when we're fully awake and alert, since here in the Northeast, you lose morning sunshine really fast, pretty much as soon as December arrives with or without daylight savings time. What do you think? Email me. It's Megan at Megan Kelly.com. And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the Megan Kelly Show, live on SiriusXM Triumph Channel 11 at noon east,

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