All the LIES in Karmelo Anthony Case From “The View,” with VDH, and Former FBI Special Agent Says She's 75% Confident There Will Be Arrest in Guthrie Case | Ep. 1345

Episode of The Megyn Kelly Show · June 23, 2026 · 2 h 31 min

Megyn Kelly, Victor Davis Hanson, and ex-FBI agents Maureen O'Connell and James Hamilton discuss the Karmelo Anthony appeal, Bill Ayers, Bryon Noem, and the Nancy Guthrie ransom notes.

Summary

Megyn Kelly opened with Karmelo Anthony's new pro bono appellate team and criticized Sunny Hostin's claims on The View that Anthony was denied a jury of his peers and acted in self-defense. Kelly argued that defendants have no right to a jury of any particular racial makeup and that self-defense was unavailable because Anthony provoked Austin Metcalf. Clips of Judge John Roach and Metcalf's father, Jeff Metcalf, were played.

Victor Davis Hanson called the case open and shut and placed the reaction within what he described as a pattern of racialized narratives in cases from Ferguson to George Floyd. He argued that DEI ideology is driven by elites and is producing a backlash. Kelly and Hanson then discussed Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn attending the opening of Barack Obama's presidential library, with clips from Kelly's 2014 interview with Ayers. They also covered the DOJ's appeal of Nicholas Roske's eight-year sentence for the attempted assassination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Hanson's claim of coordinated lawfare against Trump, and reports that Bryon Noem kept messaging a dominatrix.

In the final segment, former FBI agents Maureen O'Connell and James Hamilton analyzed newly reported contents of the second ransom note in the Nancy Guthrie case, which said she had died and been "buried with nature." O'Connell described the note's language as feminine and conciliatory. Hamilton defended the FBI's refusal to pay without proof of life and said he suspected the notes were a scam. Both dismissed a TMZ tipster as a likely fraudster. O'Connell said her sources indicated investigators were closing in on the man seen on the porch, putting her confidence at 75%.

Chapters

0:00
Show open and credit for Guthrie scoop
Kelly previews the episode and insists that Howard Blum and the X account Nerdy Addict get credit for breaking the ransom note news.
1:16
Karmelo Anthony's new team and The View
Kelly rebuts Sunny Hostin's claims about jury selection and self-defense, and plays clips from Judge John Roach and Jeff Metcalf.
15:54
Hanson on the Anthony case and racial narratives
Hanson argues the case was open and shut and ties the reaction to a broader pattern of racialized narratives and a backlash against DEI.
37:29
Elites, universities, and race politics
Kelly and Hanson discuss what they describe as elite-driven racial grievance, grade inflation, and black conservative intellectuals.
44:22
Bill Ayers at Obama's library opening
Kelly revisits her 2014 interview with Weather Underground co-founder Bill Ayers after he and Bernardine Dohrn attended the Obama library opening.
1:01:41
Nicholas Roske sentencing appeal
Kelly and Hanson criticize the eight-year sentence given to the would-be assassin of Justice Kavanaugh and the DOJ's appeal of it.
1:15:14
Lawfare against Trump
Hanson describes what he calls coordinated state and federal prosecutions of Trump, the subject of his book.
1:17:26
Bryon Noem and the dominatrix
The hosts discuss reports that Kristi Noem's husband continued messaging dominatrix Shy Sotomayor.
1:24:24
The second Guthrie ransom note
Kelly lays out the case timeline, and O'Connell and Hamilton analyze the note's reported claim that Nancy Guthrie died and was buried with nature.
1:48:11
Should the FBI have paid the ransom?
Hamilton and O'Connell defend the proof-of-life protocol and discuss the FBI's small Bitcoin deposit meant to test the kidnappers' account.
2:00:41
Harvey Levin's tipster
The guests dismiss a TMZ tipster who demanded money as a typical fraudster.
2:05:28
O'Connell predicts an arrest
O'Connell says her sources indicate investigators are close to identifying the man on the porch, putting her confidence at 75%.
2:15:38
Legitimacy of the notes and number of suspects
The panel debates whether the notes are authentic, whether more than one person was involved, and whether cartels fit the profile, ending with Kelly's family fraud story.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Megyn Kelly
Kelly argues that Hostin misstated the law because the Supreme Court has held that defendants have no right to jurors of their own race.
“As she knows, the Supreme Court has specifically held that you have no right to have individuals of your same race on your jury”
Listen from 4:16 · Jury selection and peremptory challenges
Megyn Kelly
Kelly argues that self-defense must be proportionate and that a push cannot justify a fatal stabbing.
“You cannot respond to a push with a knife to the heart. That is inherent in the law, which she knows perfectly”
Listen from 11:30 · Killing of Austin Metcalf
Victor Davis Hanson
Hanson argues that any weight difference between Anthony and Metcalf is irrelevant when the provocation was a gentle push.
“the idea that there was a weight disparity is not really applicable when you push somebody”
Listen from 17:03 · Killing of Austin Metcalf
Victor Davis Hanson
Hanson says he does not expect the country to return to the racial politics of the years after George Floyd's death.
“I don't think we're going to go back to that aberration after George Floyd for four or five years. I just don't think it's going to happen”
Listen from 20:48 · Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Victor Davis Hanson
Hanson argues that Democrats' popularity is falling because of the candidates they are nominating.
“their popularity is going down, down, down, down, the Democrats. And it's because of the candidates that they are nominating”
Listen from 25:11
Victor Davis Hanson
Hanson says professors privately admit to inflating grades out of fear of being statistically accused of racism.
“I don't want to be statistically accused of being a racist when particular people don't get the grade that they like”
Listen from 27:33 · Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Victor Davis Hanson
Hanson argues that racial grievance ideology is imposed from the top down by media and educators rather than arising from the grassroots.
“This is a top-down media, academics, professors, K-12, who create these ideologies”
Listen from 32:50 · Diversity, equity, and inclusion
Megyn Kelly
Kelly argues that Ayers's presence at the library opening vindicates past criticism of Obama's ties to him.
“Everything we've said about Barack Obama was true. He's as radical as they come”
Listen from 48:44 · Barack Obama Presidential Center
Megyn Kelly
Kelly supports the DOJ's decision to appeal Roske's eight-year sentence.
“I think this is actually a great move by the DOJ”
Listen from 1:02:55 · Attempted assassination of Brett Kavanaugh
Victor Davis Hanson
Hanson argues that state and federal prosecutions of Trump were coordinated to destroy a political opponent.
“one of the most egregious examples of coordinating state, local, county, federal prosecutors to destroy a political opponent”
Listen from 1:15:14 · Prosecutions of Donald Trump
Linked moment · 1:36:39Skip to 1:36:39 using a listen link in the info box.
Maureen O'Connell
O'Connell rejects the note's claim that the death was unintended and calls the abductors murderers.
“Yeah, it's just utter nonsense. They're murderers. They murdered her, period”
Listen from 1:36:39 · Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
Maureen O'Connell
O'Connell says the language of the second ransom note sounds feminine and comforting.
“It sounds feminine to me. A lot of the verbiage is feminine. This buried with nature. It's like they're trying to comfort people”
Listen from 1:38:30 · Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
James Hamilton
Hamilton agrees with the FBI's decision not to pay the $4 million ransom without proof of life.
“I agree that, you know, they shouldn't have paid the four million without an actual proof of life of Miss Guthrie”
Listen from 1:51:42 · Kidnapping ransom and proof of life
Maureen O'Connell
O'Connell says her sources indicate investigators are close to building their case.
“I think they're close right now to pulling this case together. And that's what my sources are telling me”
Listen from 2:05:42 · Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
Maureen O'Connell
O'Connell predicts that investigators will identify the man on the porch and that doing so will open up the case.
“I think they're getting close to. The porch guy. And when they get the porch guy, the floodgates shall swing open”
Listen from 2:07:44 · Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
James Hamilton
Hamilton believes the TMZ tipster is a fraudster exploiting Harvey Levin for money and publicity.
“he sees Harvey is an easy mark and wants some publicity and wants a little bit of money”
Listen from 2:10:47 · Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
James Hamilton
Hamilton says that in his experience real kidnappers contact the family directly rather than media outlets.
“every kidnapper I ever worked, they called the family. They didn't call TMZ”
Listen from 2:14:54 · Kidnapping ransom and proof of life
Maureen O'Connell
O'Connell argues that the Guthrie abduction does not resemble a cartel-style kidnapping.
“they're not they're not running this operation like a cartel would run a a kidnapping because it's a hit and run”
Listen from 2:22:17 · Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
James Hamilton
Hamilton believes the abduction was carried out by a team and doubts the ransom notes are legitimate.
“I think it's a team. I think it always has been. I don't really believe these ransom notes are legitimate”
Listen from 2:25:43 · Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie

People

In the conversation

Megyn KellyConservative broadcaster and podcaster
Victor Davis HansonClassicist, military historian, and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution; author of The Counterrevolution
Maureen O'Connell25-year FBI veteran and co-host of the 'Best Case Worst Case' podcast
James HamiltonFormer FBI supervisory special agent who created the FBI's close protection school; security consultant

Discussed

Karmelo AnthonyTexas teen on trial for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf
Austin Metcalf17-year-old Texas football player killed at a track meet in 2025
Howard BlumJournalist reporting on the Guthrie case for Air Mail
Bernardine DohrnWeather Underground co-founder and wife of Bill Ayers
Barack ObamaFormer president referenced in comparing 2010 midterm conditions
Nicholas RoskeMan sentenced for attempting to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh
Deborah BoardmanFederal judge who sentenced Nicholas Roske
Brett KavanaughUS Supreme Court justice targeted in an assassination attempt
Kristi NoemU.S. Secretary of Homeland Security discussed in connection with a DHS contract scandal
Bryon NoemKristi Noem's husband, reported to have paid models in a fetish arrangement
Nancy Guthrie84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie who disappeared on January 31
Thomas SowellAmerican economist and social theorist
Shelby SteeleAuthor and Hoover Institution fellow
Jasmine CrockettU.S. representative from Texas
Derek ColellaCalifornia man charged with sending a fake ransom text to Annie Guthrie
Christine Blasey FordProfessor who accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault in 2018

Topics

Latest Arrest Connected to Karmelo Anthony Case, Nowak Prosecutors Appeal Digwa’s Lenient Sentence, New Developments in Nancy Guthrie Case | Ep. 1348
The Megyn Kelly Show · Jun 26, 2026 · 2 h 9 min
Megyn Kelly discusses the Karmelo Anthony retaliation arrests and Caitlin Clark with Jason Whitlock, the Henry Nowak sentence appeal, and the Nancy Guthrie case with profilers James Fitzgerald and John Kelly.
Austin Metcalf's Father Speaks Out, Plus False Karmelo Anthony Narratives, and Blake Lively Legal Fees Ruling, with Mark Geragos and Arthur Aidala | Ep. 1338
The Megyn Kelly Show · Jun 12, 2026 · 1 h 42 min
Megyn Kelly fact-checks Karmelo Anthony's parents, interviews Austin Metcalf's father Jeff, then discusses the case, the Lively–Baldoni fee ruling and Nick Reiner with Mark Geragos and Arthur Aidala.
UK's Righteous Anger, Karmelo Anthony's Parents' Lies, and Cheating in LA Mayor Race, with Laurence Fox and Mike Solana | Ep. 1337
The Megyn Kelly Show · Jun 11, 2026 · 2 h 4 min
Megyn Kelly talks with Laurence Fox about UK anger over a Belfast attack and migration, then with Mike Solana about the Karmelo Anthony verdict, LA mayor race, and AI.
Shady California Vote Counting, and Dems' Platner Hypocrisy, with Sohrab Ahmari and Sean Davis, Plus James Patterson on Patriotism | Ep. 1333
The Megyn Kelly Show · Jun 5, 2026 · 1 h 43 min
Megyn Kelly, Sohrab Ahmari and Sean Davis discuss California's slow vote count, allegations against Graham Platner and the Karmelo Anthony trial, then James Patterson and Matt Eversmann discuss Rocket's Red Glare.
Blake Lively's Legal Fees Ploy, and Mackenzie Shirilla's Shocking "Crash," with MK True Crime's Phil Holloway, Ashleigh Merchant, and Dave Aronberg | Ep. 1330
The Megyn Kelly Show · Jun 2, 2026 · 1 h 55 min
Megyn Kelly talks with law professor Victoria Burke about Blake Lively's fee bid, then with the MK True Crime hosts about the Karmelo Anthony trial, Mackenzie Shirilla, and Henry Nowak.
EXCLUSIVE: Nancy Guthrie
Crime Junkie · Jul 22, 2026 · 54 min
Crime Junkie reporter Briana Whitney and Ashley Flowers revisit the Nancy Guthrie abduction six months on: ransom notes, investigative missteps, and a 'wrench attack' theory.

More from The Megyn Kelly Show

How the Media Shapes the Cornell Lie, with Matt Taibbi, and the Harms of "White Guilt," with Eli and Shelby Steele | Ep. 1414
Oct 8, 2026 · 1 h 43 min
Megyn Kelly discusses media coverage of the Cornell fraternity sexual assault case with Matt Taibbi, then talks with Shelby and Eli Steele about their documentary White Guilt.
Joe Biden's Incoherent Book Launch, Meghan Markle's Emmy Nom, and Ellen's TRUE Persona, with Adam Carolla | Ep. 1360
Jul 15, 2026 · 1 h 42 min
Megyn Kelly and Adam Carolla discuss Democratic political theatrics, the Butler shooting, Joe Biden's book promo, Meghan Markle's Emmy nod, celebrity personas, and the JPMorgan lawsuit.
Horrifying Case of Left-Wing Terrorism, and Prince Harry's FAILED UK Trip, with Alex Phillips and Rob Shuter | Ep. 1359
Jul 14, 2026 · 1 h 42 min
Megyn Kelly discusses Ann Widdecombe's murder and UK political violence with Alex Phillips, then Prince Harry's lawsuit loss, royals, Taylor Swift's wedding and Blake Lively with Rob Shuter.
Lindsey Graham's Legacy, McConnell's "Proof of Life," and the Robinson Video You DIDN'T See, with Knowles, Posobiec, and Fitz | Ep. 1358
Jul 13, 2026 · 1 h 42 min
Megyn Kelly discusses Lindsey Graham's death, McConnell's health and Elliot Page with Michael Knowles, then the Tyler Robinson hearing with Jack Posobiec and James Fitzgerald.
Judge Graf Shows ZERO Confidence Despite MOUNTAINS of Evidence in Tyler Robinson Hearing, Lance Twiggs DOWNPLAYS His "Trans" Identity, w/ Aronberg, Frei, Eiglarsh, Murphy & Spilbor | Ep. 1357
Jul 10, 2026 · 1 h 44 min
Megyn Kelly and legal analysts Dave Aronberg, Viva Frei, Matt Murphy, Mark Eiglarsh and Jonna Spilbor dissect day five of Tyler Robinson's preliminary hearing.

From the publisher

Megyn Kelly begins the show with the latest developments in the Karmelo Anthony case, the hiring of a high-profile new legal team, Sunny Hostin's disgusting and misleading claims about the trial on The View, the efforts to inject race into the case despite the jury's verdict, and more. Then, Victor Davis Hanson, author of "The Counterrevolution," joins to discuss the lies being spread about the Karmelo Anthony case, from Hostin's comments on The View to Team Anthony's changing narrative after the verdict, how it fits into the pattern of racialization in other high-profile criminal cases, Weather Underground co-founders Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn spotted in the third row at Barack Obama's library opening, recent reports involving Bryon Noem continuing to message a dominatrix after his fetish was revealed, the ongoing allegations on bizarre behavior that are still surfacing, and more. Then, James Hamilton, former FBI and security expert, and Maureen O’Connell, host of "Best Case Worst Case," join to discuss bombshell new reporting in the Nancy Guthrie case, the contents of a second note allegedly sent after her disappearance, what the note may reveal about her fate, how the note's tone sounds "feminine," what the unusual language may reveal about the sender's relationship to the case, questions surrounding whether the FBI should’ve paid the ransom, whether authorities are close to an arrest, and more. Hanson- https://www.amazon.com/Counterrevolution-Fall-Donald-Trump-Movement/dp/1541607821 O'Connell- https://m.youtube.com/@bigcitydan Hamilton- https://www.hamiltonsecuritygroup.com/ Relief Factor: Reclaim your mobility and celebrate your freedom from aches this year by grabbing your $17.76 3-week QuickStart at https://ReliefFactor.com or by calling 800-4-RELIEF.Byrna: Go tohttps://Byrna.com or your local Sportsman's Warehouse today.Supersure Insurance: Upgrade your business insurance to a year-round SuperAgency at https://Supersure.com/MegynBirch Gold: Text MK to…

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 29, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: True Crime·News Commentary·Politics