The Megyn Kelly Show - Tafoya and Graham Advance, El-Sayed’s Hidden History, Trump’s Air Force One Fake-Out: AM Update 8/12

Episode Date: August 12, 2026

Michele Tafoya advancing in Minnesota, and Darline Graham moving on in South Carolina, are among many important primary results across several key states. Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed faces new scrutiny over deleted online commentary on guns, the border, and Fourth of July fireworks. New reporting from the Washington Post reveals an elaborate security operation used to protect President Trump from a possible Iranian assassination threat, involving a decoy flight and an airport catering truck.   Subscribe to Mark's show Next Up: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-up-with-mark-halperin/id1810218232 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2f0n8G4xqUo8aGxbbbtRjH YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextuphalperin?sub_confirmation=1     Supersure Insurance: Upgrade your business insurance to a year-round SuperAgency at https://Supersure.com/Megyn   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.

Hey, good morning, everyone. I'm Mark Kalprin, host of Next Up with Mark Kalprin. Filling in today for Megan Kelly. It's Wednesday, August 12, 2026, and this is your AM update. Primary voters across several states making their choices and closely watched Senate and governors' races with major contests in Minnesota, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. If I could tweak one thing about the Constitution, it would be two words in the Second Amendment. Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Abdul al-Sad, scrubbed online history, revealing a trail of radical takes from guns in the border to fireworks and football. This, quite frankly, was very creative. It worked, but the main thing here is that the president got home safe.

And President Trump's team pulling off an elaborate airport fake out to dodge a possible Iranian assassination plot involving a decoy plane and an airport catering truck. All that and more coming up on your AM update. When you sign your insurance policy for some brokers, that's the finish line. Bye. You may not hear from them again until it's time for renewal. But your business runs all year, and so do the gaps in the risk, which is why I want to tell you about Super Sure. If your company has more than 25 employees, whether you're the owner, CFO, or HR manager, it can be too complex to just buy a policy online. SuperSure is the super agency built just for you, licensed in

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On the Republican side, former sports broadcaster Michelle Tofoya entering Election Day as the overwhelming polling favorite, facing a nine candidate field that includes former Navy SEAL, Adam Schwarzie, and former NBA player Royce White, the eventual nominee trying to end a two-decade drought for Minnesota Republicans who have not elected a candidate to statewide office since 2006. At the end of the night, Minnesota Republicans choosing Michelle Tofoya as their nominee for U.S. Senate, Defoya is speaking after her victory. Our message took. Our message resonated with people. We know here in Minnesota, that this state is going in the wrong direction at the speed of sound. And that breaks a lot of Minnesotans' hearts, mine especially, but so many Minnesotans are sad about it. They're either leaving, their businesses are leaving.

But I hope this gives them hope that we can change things because this single party rule that we have had in this state for years, Katie, has brought us to this point of embarrassment, of fraud, of low school scores, test scores, reading scores, of elevators, of elevators. crime. And the only way we're going to get out of that is by not continuing to re-elect the same people who got us here. So we think that message was sent, loud and clear, and we're thrilled. The Democratic contest, meanwhile, coming down to moderate Congresswoman Angie Craig and progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in one of the latest tests of the ideological divide inside the Democratic Party. Minnesota Democrats going to the left, choosing Lieutenant Governor Peggy

Flanagan, Minnesota Republicans also choosing their nominee for governor with Trump-backed My Pillow founder Mike Lindell entering primary day ahead of his two leading rivals, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Damuth, and businessman Kendall Qualls. Voters ultimately choosing Damoth as their nominee. The night's winner to face Democrat Senator Amy Klobuchar in November who enters the general election as the clear favorite in current polling. South Carolina Republicans, meanwhile, voting last night in a special primary to choose a new. Senate nominee following the sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham last month, his sister, Darlene Graham, now temporarily filling the vacancy and entering election day as the Trump-backed

frontrunner in a crowded field. At the end of the night, Darlene Graham and Congressman Ralph Norman finishing in the top two spots, advancing to an August 25 runoff. Here, Graham addressing supporters. First, I want to say that this is a very emotional night because I'm usually standing here celebrating with Lindsay. So I know he's looking down right now, smiling, though, so that gives me peace, but it's difficult. Secondly, I want to say thank you. Thank you to God for carrying my family and me through some of the most challenging times we've ever had the past few weeks.

It's been extremely difficult. I want to thank President Trump, his steadfast support, and his complete and total endorsement means so much to me. He knows that I will stand with him and fight for his agenda just like Lindsay did. The Republican Senate nominee set to face Democratic Party pediatrician Annie Andrews in the November 3rd general election and his state expected to heavily favor the Republican candidate. And in Wisconsin, Democratic Socialist State Representative Francesca Hong entering Election Day with a commanding polling lead over the more moderate Milwaukee County executive David Crowley. Hong drawing renewed scrutiny over past calls to defund and ultimately abolish the police, along with the 2020 push to cancel Thanksgiving, which she described as a celebration of

colonialism and an original, quote, super spreader event. As of 11 p.m. last night, Wisconsin's Democratic race for governor still too close to call. The winner set to face Trump-backed Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany in November. Coming up, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Abdul al-Sayat under new scrutiny after CNN covers years of deleted and hidden commentary, including some eye-opening takes on guns and football. And new reporting reveals the extraordinary length President Trump's team went to it in order to dodge a possible Iranian threat, including an unlikely getaway vehicle. Everybody's talking about weight loss injections because the results can be so dramatic. They work by lowering blood sugar and reducing appetite. But what if you are looking to lose weight but are not

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and enter mk for your discount. That's promo code mk at takelein.com. Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Abdul El-Said facing new scrutiny over a digital past he apparently did not want following him into the general election. CNN's K-file reporting El-Sahad made at least 100 videos on his YouTube channel private before narrowly winning last week's Democratic primary. Archive transcripts revealing years of commentary on everything from the Second Amendment and the southern border to 4th of July fireworks and even football. El-Sahed defeating moderate Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens by roughly one percentage point last Tuesday,

setting up a November showdown with Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers and a race poised to help determine control of the U.S. Senate. The newly uncovered videos adding to a pattern of El-Sad removing portions of his online history as he seeks elective office. K-file previously revealing El-Sahad deleted social media posts supporting the defund the police movement, saying in 2020, quote, we do need to defund the police. El-Sad since insisting he never called for defunding law enforcement, arguing those previous comments were taken out of context. Apparently, policing was not the only constitutional issue on his mind. In a since-removed April 2020-3 YouTube video, El-Sad floating the idea of replacing the

Second Amendment's right to bear arms with a constitutional right to health care. El-sad making a very similar argument in a separate episode of his American, dissected podcasts, release that same month, which remains publicly available on Apple Podcasts. Imagine what America might be if we took access to health care as seriously as some people take access to guns. If I could tweak one thing about the Constitution, it would be two words in the Second Amendment, from the right to bear arms to the right to have health care. Guns take a lot of lives in America. Health care, health care saves them. His campaign responding to CNN saying, quote, Elsa had respects the Second Amendment while supporting

policies aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. Another now private video from September 2022 showing El-Sahed taking aim at Republican concern over the southern border, calling in an issue the party, quote, loves to flog while arguing it did not even rank among the five biggest issues affecting Americans' lives. The campaign responding to CNN that Elsaid, quote, has long argued for immigration reform that keeps the southern border safe and secure and has criticized ISIS' recent actions under the Trump administration. El-Sad also taking a at some distinctly American traditions. A July 2024 video asking Americans, whether they could, quote,

please find another way to celebrate the 4th of July giving viewers four reasons, quote, why fireworks suck. The since-remove video featuring a section titled, quote, fireworks just aren't worth it, hear us out, with El-Side citing air pollution chemicals risk to children and pets, and the possibility that fireworks could trigger PTSD among veterans. And then there's football. Unlike many of the other clips uncovered by K-File,

this one is still publicly available. Al said in a February 2023 episode of his podcast, questioning whether the sport could ever be, quote, ethical or, quote, safe before connecting football's culture to that of the slave trade. I'm out there hitting somebody trying to hit them harder than they hit me, recognizing that both of us are at risk of injury, all because we've got to tell ourselves that we're strong. or faster, more powerful.

And, you know, let alone, and like in our own lives, it has destructive consequences, let alone what that tells us about where our country does, right? You think about all the wars that we fight abroad, all of the sorted history of oppressing other people in the name of this American idea, right? Whether it was, quote, manifest destiny and destroying Native Americans, or it was the transatlantic slave trade, where, you know, folks who, quote, founded this country on the backs of Native folks that they destroyed, then captured people enslaved them and had them work their fields because they thought it was their right. And all of this, like a lot of these narratives, you kind of

see echoed in the ethos of football. His campaign pushing back on the significance of the resurfaced material telling CNN, quote, Abdul is the former captain of his high school football team, loves Michigan football on Saturdays and celebrates the 4th of July with fireworks like the next Michiganer, cherry-picked comments from old podcasts don't reflect his beliefs today. A newly revealed security operations showing just how far President Trump's team reportedly went to keep him safe from a possible Iranian assassination attempt involving three airplanes a decoy flight and one very unusual ride across a Turkish airport. The Washington Post reporting the elaborate decoy operation took place as the president left

the NATO summit in Ankara last month. a credible threat involving Iran reportedly prompting security officials to conceal which plane was actually carrying the president. Mr. Trump arriving in Turkey for the summit aboard the new Air Force One gifted by Qatar. Then as he prepared to leave on July 8th, the president announcing, he would instead fly out aboard the familiar blue and white legacy Air Force One, publicly boarding that plane, climbing the stairs and waving goodbye in full view of television cameras. At least that's what everyone watching was led to believe. The post reporting within minutes of boarding, the president and several lays slipped out through a door on the opposite side of the plane

directly into an airport catering truck that had been raised hydraulically to meet them. The truck then lowering back down to the tarmac and driving away, reportedly carrying the president across the airport to a third aircraft, a smaller Air Force military jet. The plane looking similar to a smaller version of Air Force One, but this time, reportedly flying Trump to Britain under the far less conspicuous call sign, Reach 18. Secretary of War Pete Hankseth reportedly boarding the smaller jets separately, using ordinary exterior stairs part of the effort to make its departure appear routine. Meanwhile, the Legacy Air Force won taking off with reporters

and White House staff still aboard apparently serving as the decoy. The post-reporting journalists aboard that plane were instructed to close their window shades as they prepared to depart preventing them from seeing outside activity. According to the post, while President Trump was secretly flying aboard Reach 18, The legacy plane carrying the press reportedly continued using the Air Force One call sign, even though the President was not aboard. Exactly how the President was then transferred back onto the Legacy Air Force One after reaching Britain remains unclear. However, by the time Camberus were raiding at RAF Milton Hall, a US-use military air base in England, Mr. Trump

once again appearing exactly where everyone expected him to be, walking down the stairs of the presidential jet shortly before 11 p.m. He then transitioned to be, he then transferred to the to the newer Qatari-gifted plane for the flight back to Washington. After Mr. Trump was back aboard the new presidential jet, journalists pressing him about the unusual order they had received to close their window shades on the previous flight. Do you think there wasn't a security concern? No, no.

Why would you? Do you know why they had us close our window blinds? That was no. Well, yeah, because you're probably on a dangerous flight. Because if the sleeves bags that we have to deal with safety, that are wrong. was possibly thinking. Well, I mean, if they asked you to close your windows, probably they'd feel like.

They didn't ask me to close mine, but if they did, I would have done it. Were you aware of any credible threat by Iran against her first one? Well, I haven't threatened all the time. I'm number one on their list before you. But if I go, you go. Right? But was there a specific threat today? Perhaps someday want to change professions.

The post-reporting the threat was considered credible enough to trigger what one U.S. official described as a, quote, deception operation. Similar presidential decoy operations have reportedly been used before when facing serious threats with the highly recognizable Air Force One sometimes becoming a liability precisely because everyone knows what it looks like. The White House not disputing the post reporting when presented with its findings, instead telling the paper that officials use every tool available to protect the president from threats. While the operation apparently accomplished its most important objective getting the president safely out of Turkey without revealing his location, the revelation that report was. orders themselves were kept out of the loop, apparently ruffling more than a few feathers in the media. Here, CNN and MS Now. It was kind of stunning to think that all those on the plane were sort of a decoy there and were not told

that the president wasn't on board and that the deception was continued even after he was safely returned to Washington, and that's hard for me to understand. Now, the Secret Service in the past has used decoy-armored cars, but the decoy, is manned by Secret Service agents. They don't put individuals, journalists, and White House staff, sort of at risk. So this is just unprecedented, is certainly in my experience. The idea that you would leave reporters, civilian, staff, administrative staff, the pilots, vulnerable, as sort of an acceptable loss, is unprecedented.

It's not only just bad transparency and bad public governance, it's definitely. dangerous to our national security, and I hope they never do this again. Retired Secret Service agent Robert McDonald offering a much more favorable assessment on CNN. Look, the Secret Service has to be creative. We've had two, almost two and a half years now since Butler. We've had a lot of attempts. Secret Service is doing a good job every day, but they've had some issues that they've had to deal with, the optics of some of the things that they've been doing, the complacency that they've been accused of. So look, This, quite frankly, was very creative. It worked, but the main thing here is that the president got home safe.

It may not have looked pretty. It may have been a little bit ugly and a little bit non-transparent, but the president got home safe, especially in this very high threat environment, which we're seeing right now. That'll do it for your AM update. I'm Mark Halperin host of NextUp. Find out more at NextUp Halperin.com and catch the Megan Kelly show today, live on SiriusXM's The Macon Kelly Channel.

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