The Megyn Kelly Show - Trump Threatens Insurrection Act, Mahmoud Khalil Faces Setback, Twiggs Family Speaks: AM Update 1/16

Episode Date: January 16, 2026

President Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, blaming violent clashes with ICE on state and local leaders he says are encouraging lawlessness. Columbia University student agitator Mahmoud Khalil remains in the U.S., but a federal appeals court has now overturned the ruling that secured his release from immigration detention - Article 3 Project Founder Mike Davis weighs in. Two national security nominees face the Senate Armed Services Committee, as Democrats continue pushing questions about unlawful military orders. A family member of Lance Twiggs, the roommate and alleged boyfriend of accused Charlie Kirk killer Tyler Robinson, is now disputing claims that Twiggs fully cooperated with investigators in an interview with NewsNation.   Herald Group: Learn more at https://GuardYourCard.com  Done with Debt: https://www.DoneWithDebt.com & tell them Megyn Kelly sent you! 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 Friday, January 16th, 2026, and this is your AM update. This kind of violence is perpetuated by what we hear the governor saying, what we hear the mayor is saying, and their irresponsibility is extremely reckless. President Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota as violent rioters are encouraged by state and local leadership. Columbia student agitator Mahmood Khalil is still here, but the ruling that secured his, his release has now been overturned. If your legal advisor tells you that an order is illegal, will you refuse to carry out that order? Two nominees for key national security positions appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee

as Democrats maintain their focus on their campaign against illegal orders. And a family member of Lance Twiggs, the roommate and alleged boyfriend of Tyler Robinson, speaks out about Twiggs' role in the Charlie Kirk murder. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update. Our sponsor, the Electronic Payments Coalition, says Washington politicians are always getting in your wallet and that now they're messing with your credit card. They say your credit card and the security it offers are under attack, and that senators Dick Durbin and Roger Marshall want to change the nation's payment system in a way that

would benefit corporate megastores like Walmart and Target at the expense of everyday Americans. Credit cards can keep your payments secure and they can provide. rewards that families use to help make everyday purchases more affordable. The Electronic Payments Coalition says the Durban Marshall mandates would let corporate megastores cut corners on credit card processing, routing transactions over cheaper, untested networks with weaker security and fewer protections. Find out more at guardyourcard.com and consider telling Congress to guard your card. President Trump threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota, which would allow him to send in the military to subdue violent and obstructive protesting activity,

causing repeated clashes with federal immigration authorities. The threat coming after a Wednesday ambush on an ICE agent, which saw three illegals attacking the agent in response to which the agent shot one attacker in the leg. Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem yesterday on Fox describing the lead-up to the shooting. Our agents were out doing what they're doing every single day across this country as they were doing targeted enforcement, going after individuals that are breaking federal law. When this individual drove away, crashed his car, tried to run into a home, and as they were wrestling on the ground trying to detain this individual, two other men came out of that building and started attacking him with weapons and shovels and brooms. And as it was three-on-one,

the agent feared for his life and defensively had to take action. But, you know, this kind of violence is perpetuated by what we hear the governor saying, what we hear the mayor in Minneapolis saying, and their irresponsibility is extremely reckless. Secretary Noam reporting the agent is bruised and injured, saying DHS is thankful he's still alive. Our source at DHS telling AM update, the agent was, quote, beat up pretty bad, end quote, with lacerations, bruising, and an injury to his leg. DHS releasing information on the three illegals accused of participating in the attack, Julio Salis, the target of the operation and man who was shot in the leg, photographed smiling in the ambulance.

Salis is reportedly here illegally from Venezuela, arriving in 2022. He has a previous conviction for driving without a license and an arrest for giving a fake name to a peace officer. Alfredo Ahorna also hear illegally from Venezuela entering in May 2023, a judge issuing a final order of removal when he failed to show up for immigration. proceedings. And criminal illegal alien Gabriel Ledesma arriving here in 2023 from, you guessed it, Venezuela. Ledesma reportedly marked by the Biden administration as a non-priority for removal. Way to screw that one up, Gabe, should have stayed out of it. Minnesota Governor Tim Wals and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frye, both Democrats, reacting to the shooting by blaming the feds for the chaos. This, as the sanctuary city in a sanctuary,

state, Minneapolis, does not allow local law enforcement to assist federal immigration agents. As news of the shooting spread, tensions in Minnesota inflaming further, Mayor Fry on Wednesday night issuing this backhanded plea to protesters. So let's be very clear. I've seen conduct from ICE that is disgusting and is intolerable. If it were your city, it would be unacceptable there too. and for anyone that is taking the bait tonight, stop. By the end of the night, protesters vandalizing multiple vehicles used by federal agents. One spray painting, a car believed to have been used by a federal agent with the words, quote, the only good agent is a dead one.

On Wednesday night, one protester breaking into an agent's vehicle, stealing a firearm. Borders are Tom Homan yesterday on Fox with the epilogue to that act of stupidity. before I got in front of camera, my security team advised me that the person that stole that farm last night did not wear a set of handcuffs in custody. So I was just advised that for I got in the camera. And there's others. Others are coming. So they're going to be held accountable. President Trump taking to Truth Social yesterday morning, quote, If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don't obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the patriots of ICE who are only trying to do their job,

I will institute the Insurrection Act, which many presidents have done before me and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great state. Secretary Nome yesterday publicly urging Governor Wals multiple times to cooperate with the feds, the secretary describing her last phone call with the governor on Fox. When was the last time you called the governor, Governor Walsh? I talked to him just a couple of days ago. I said, sir, listen, Tim, you know with a situation what's going on. We are enforcing federal law.

If you don't like the laws, go change them. But don't do it by giving place to these protesters and rioters that are perpetuating violence. And I said, you have my personal cell phone. You call me. If you need me, you call me. We will be there to help back you up, but protect your city, protect your state. And he paused for a few seconds. And he just said, yeah, okay, we have very different viewpoints of what's going on.

I said, maybe we do. But we will be here if you need us because that's our goal every day is to keep people safe. Secretary Nome saying the president is actively considering the use of the Insurrection Act, which could mean the military will go to Minneapolis. Meanwhile, the administration dealing with some recent polling on who Americans think was to blame in the shooting death of ICE agitator Renee Good. Three recent surveys put the percentage of adults who believe the shooting was unjustified at 53%.

Mostly, Democrats and independents, over two-thirds of Republicans, support the ICE officer. The press has been overwhelmingly critical of ICE, leading to this moment yesterday at the White House press briefing between Caroline Levitt and the Hills, Nile Stanich. 32 people died in ICE custody last year. 170 US citizens were detained by ICE, and Renee Good was shot in the head and killed by an ice agent. How does that equate to them doing everything correctly? Why was Renee Good unfortunately and tragically killed? Are you asking me my opinion? Because an ice agent acted

reacted recklessly until it unjustified. Oh, okay. So you're a biased reporter with a left-wing opinion. You're a left-wing hack. You're not a reporter. You're posing in this room as a journalist. And it's so clear by the premise of your question, and you and the people in the media who have such biases, but fake, like you're a journalist, you shouldn't even be sitting in that seat. Do you have the numbers of how many American citizens were killed at the hands of illegal aliens who ICE is trying to remove from this country? I bet you don't. I bet you didn't even read up on those stories. I bet you never even read about Lake and Riley or Jocelyn Nungre are all of the innocent

Americans who were killed at the hands of illegal aliens in this country and shame on people like you in the media who have a crooked view and have a bias view and pretend like you're real honest journalist. Secretary Nome yesterday saying ICE's work in Minnesota arresting and removing the worst criminals, including child rapists, will continue. New Year, new legal setback for Columbia University student agitator Mahmood Khalil's bid to resist deportation as he remains in America. The third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

based in Philadelphia ruling two to one that a New Jersey district court judge lacked jurisdiction when he ordered Khalil's release from an ICE detention facility in Louisiana last June. ICE agents arrested Kalia last March, the Trump administration moving to remove him despite his student visa and a green card, under a law that states,

an alien whose presence or activities in the U.S., the Secretary of State, has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States, is deportable. Secretary of State Marco Rubio making that determination in Khalil's case, citing his role as a student negotiator for the Columbia University apartheid divest group. That group reportedly sympathizing with terrorist organizations, including Hamas, and calling for, quote, the end of Western civilization, while occupying Columbia's campus, illegally seizing academic buildings, and demanding the university cut ties with Israel. Following his arrest by ICE, the DOJ transferring Khalil to an ICE detention center in Louisiana, where he was held pending removal proceedings. Under federal law, immigration proceedings are handled by the executive brand. not the judiciary. An immigration judge first determines removability. That ruling can be challenged in front of the Board of Immigration Appeals. Only after a final order of removal, can the case then move to a federal appellate court. However, Khalil's legal team instead turning immediately

to the district court in New Jersey, filing a separate petition challenging the legality of his detention while his immigration case was still pending. That case assigned to Biden-appointed judge Michael Farbiars, who ordered Khalil's release with travel restrictions while the case proceeded. The Trump administration challenging that order as coming from a court that lacked jurisdiction, bringing us to yesterday's appeals court ruling, agreeing with Team Trump, finding the federal district court had no authority to intervene in ongoing removal proceedings in immigration court and ordering Khalil's petition to be dismissed. The judge is writing, quote, the district court lacked jurisdiction over Khalil's removal proceedings.

George W. Bush appointed judge, Thomas Hardiman, and Trump appointed judge, Stephanos Bebis, stressing that Congress set up a process, giving non-citizens, quote, just one bite at the apple to challenge their removal in the federal district court system, requiring Khalil to work through the established immigration removal process in the executive branch, before as a last-ditch effort filing an appeal before a federal circuit court of appeal. In her dissent, Biden appointed Judge Ariana Freeman determining Khalil showed he experienced irreparable harm during his detention, concluding while quoting Supreme Court precedent, quote, it is most unlikely that Congress intended to foreclose all forms of meaningful judicial review over his claims.

Khalil releasing a statement through the ACLU, which reads, quote, the door may have been opened for potential redatainment down the line, but it has not closed our commitment to Palestine or to justice and accountability. I will continue to fight through every legal avenue and with every ounce of determination until my rights and the rights of others like me are fully protected. We asked Article III project founder, Attorney Mike Davis, if he believes this case could go all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court does not need to take this case because the Third Circuit Court of Appeals

with Judge Hardiman and Judge Beavis's opinion got the law rights. Now, if there is a circuit split, meaning of another federal appellate court, rules differently than the Third Circuit, then the Supreme Court is more likely to take the case. If this same immigrant files a habeas petition in another district and another circuit, maybe he creates a circuit split, who knows? these Democrat plaintiffs and Democrat attorneys and Democrat judges certainly know how to play their games to sabotage the will of the American people.

Davis describes what effects this ruling will have on other immigration cases. My unsolicited advice to the Trump administration is to house these immigrants in Delaware, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania before their deportation. Because these three states are bounds by this federal appellate court ruling by the Third Circuit Court of appeals. Coming up, Democrats warning again about unnamed, unspecified illegal orders, this time in a hearing for two prominent national security positions. And a family member of Charlie Kirk's accused killer's boyfriend speaks out. If you're stressed about getting out of debt, it's go time.

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taking out another loan or filing for bankruptcy. Dumb with Debt helps you through the debt relief process so you keep more of your paycheck every month. Go to Dumbwithdebt.com right now. Done withdebt.com. Don't wait. Two nominees for key national security roles testifying yesterday before the Armed Services Committee, with Democrat senators zeroing in on the issue of unlawful military orders, despite their inability to point to any concrete examples. The focus coming after a group of six Democrats, some of whom sit on the Armed Services Committee, released an unsolicited video months ago, urging members of the military to disobey unlawful orders. Trump officials accusing those lawmakers of sowing confusion and chaos within the ranks, or at least trying to, those lawmakers

insisting they're simply stating the law. Army Lieutenant General Joshua Rudd, nominated to head the National Security Agency, and Marine Corps Lieutenant General Francis Donovan, nominated to lead U.S. Southern Command, which is responsible for military operations across Central and South America, plus the Caribbean, remaining stoic throughout the hearing, U.S. Senator from Michigan, Democrat Alyssa Slotkin, one of the participants in the unlawful orders video, and possibly the most annoying member of the U.S. Senate, who never misses an opportunity to tell us, She worked in intelligence, which she appears to think means she outranks all members of the military, pressing Lieutenant General Rudd about a hypothetical scenario.

Can you answer for me if the Secretary of Defense or the President of the United States asks you to put NSA or military intel personnel people or tools or assets targeted at American citizens who don't have a link to a foreign terrorist organization? Will you reject that? Senator, if confirmed, I will execute my responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution and all applicable laws. There is just a ton of law saying that we cannot wiretap, using the layman's term, American citizens' communications just for expressing their freedom of speech, right? We couldn't be more clear. And as a CIA officer, after coming in years and years after Watergate, like that was drilled into us, that we never turned the intelligence community against the American people.

U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, Democrat Elizabeth Warren, repeatedly pressing Lieutenant General Donovan on illegal orders. I'm just asking a very straightforward question. You tell me you have questioned orders in the past about their legality. Is that right? Senator, I have questioned orders when either one, I didn't understand. I wasn't equipped to carry them out. and I needed clarity before I can actually execute those orders. But you've never questioned whether an order was legal. You've never wondered whether or not an order is legal and sought additional counsel on that? Senator, in our planning processes, I always have a legal advisor at my side. General Donovan, if your legal advisor tells you that an order is illegal, will you refuse to carry out that order?

I will take that very seriously if my legal advisor says that is an illegal order, and I will seek clarification from higher headquarters. Okay. And if somebody hires says no, what are you going to do at that point? Senator, then I make a decision using 37 years' experience to carry out that order or not. Then she took a hit off her piecepipe and walked barefoot to her teepee. On the other side, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, Republican from Arkansas, chiding Democrats for their focus on this topic. I had to step out for a few other commitments. And I can't get back and be here for fewer than two minutes without hearing the Democrats talk about.

illegal orders. So General Donovan, I would like to ask you, have you ever received an illegal order? No, Senator. And you're a pretty high-speed Marine, as I understand it. You've been out on the front a lot in your lifetime. So from the time you were Lieutenant Donovan to the time now where you've got three stars and you're about to add a fourth, no one has ever given you an illegal order. No, Senator. Well, it seems to me that our military, does a very good job of training our troops from the time they enlist as privates or the time they commission as lieutenants all the way up to your level and to the commander in chief not to issue illegal orders. General Rudd also confirming he has never received an illegal

order throughout his time in the service, both men likely to sail through the confirmation process, though a vote is not yet scheduled. A family member of Lance Twigs, the alleged so-called transgender furry boyfriend of accused Charlie Kirk killer Tyler Robinson speaking out for the first time in an interview with News Nation. Robinson and 22-year-old Twigs shared an apartment in Utah prior to the murder. Authorities in September reporting Twigs was cooperating with the investigation. DA Jeffrey Gray publicly disclosing what he says are messages between the two from the hours after the shooting in which Robinson confesses to the killing. After Robinson wrote to Twigs that he had taken the opportunity to take Charlie out,

Twigs responding, quote, what? You're joking, right? Robinson replies, quote, I am still okay, my love, but I'm stuck in Orum for a little while longer yet. Twigs asking, you weren't the one who did it, right? Robinson replying, quote, I am, I'm sorry. In the following weeks, multiple outlets reporting Twiggs's location was unknown. Now a female family member appearing in silhouette on News Nation, shedding light on Twigs' whereabouts. For the first few weeks, because there were so many threats against his family and him, my understanding is they did have a little bit of FBI detail, and they kind of moved around a little bit, but they're not anymore. He's with his family.

Twigs' relative disputing accounts of his cooperation, saying he did not come forward on his own. Will he still cooperate with the investigation from what you know? You know, I don't know. You know, when I first found out about how he was taken in and talked to by the police, you know, I know that they said that he was very cooperative, but they had to go get him and bring him in. He didn't voluntarily go in and say, hey, I heard about this and I have some knowledge. You know, he had to go in.

Then he had to, he handed things over when they asked for him, but he didn't give up any information until he had to. The relative describing Twigs and Robinson as, quote, so smart with so much potential, noting Twigs is a gifted concert pianist. She says the two went down a dark path in the online world. What do you think changed? I don't, you know, and then being as antisocial as they were, from my understanding of, you know, playing these games

and being a part of this discord, group, you know, it just, they didn't seem like they were in a real world. The relative stating she is 100% certain authorities have the correct suspect with Tyler Robinson. Robinson set to appear in court later today. And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show, live on SiriusXMs, the Megan Kelly Channel 11 at noon east, on YouTube.com slash Megan Kelly and on all podcast platforms.