#309 Megyn Kelly - "I Now Have to Worry About Getting Shot Because of My Opinion"

Episode of The Shawn Ryan Show · June 1, 2026 · 3 h 26 min

Megyn Kelly joins Shawn Ryan to discuss the Iran war, Israel's influence on US politics, Trump administration turmoil, AI, and threats against her.

Summary

Megyn Kelly returned to The Shawn Ryan Show for a wide-ranging conversation dominated by disillusionment with the second Trump administration. Kelly argued that Thomas Massie's primary loss was driven by roughly $30 million in spending from the Israel lobby and by Trump's intolerance of dissent, criticized Pete Hegseth's campaigning against Massie, and contended that Iran was not close to a nuclear weapon when the United States launched its war. She said Trump likely regrets the war as it has damaged his polling and the economy, while Ryan voiced concern about the dollar's reserve status, Canada's oil pivot to China, and US aid to Israel.

The pair discussed departures from the administration, including Tulsi Gabbard, Joe Kent, Pam Bondi, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, with Kelly preferring principled officials remain inside and Ryan arguing their resignations sent a stronger message. Kelly predicted Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could be the next to leave, citing reversals on the MAHA agenda such as glyphosate liability protections. She also discussed the Michael Jackson biopic and abuse allegations, the overturned Alex Murdaugh conviction, and her faith in the Supreme Court and rule of law.

Ryan described using ibogaine to quit drinking and MDMA therapy with his wife, while Kelly relayed psychedelic researcher Roland Griffiths's cautions. Kelly expressed fear that AI will eliminate white-collar jobs and called for slowing development and labeling AI content. She described the collapse of cable news, her falling-out with Ben Shapiro over her friendship with Tucker Carlson and the Candace Owens–Erika Kirk feud, and said death threats over her views on Israel have required FBI involvement. The conversation closed with discussion of Trump-family conflicts of interest, possible US action in Cuba, 2028 prospects including JD Vance and Rahm Emanuel, and Kelly's view that Israel will be a central issue in the next presidential election.

Chapters

0:05
Reunion and assassination attempts
After small talk about Kelly's new studio and team, the two discuss disillusionment with Trump and Kelly's view that the Butler attempt was genuine.
5:34
Israel criticism, Epstein and Michael Jackson
Kelly describes attacks for questioning Israel and recounts evidence in the Michael Jackson abuse allegations tied to the new biopic.
23:47
Massie's defeat and the Israel lobby
Kelly attributes Thomas Massie's loss to AIPAC-linked spending and Trump's intolerance of dissent, and criticizes Hegseth's campaigning.
40:59
Iran war, Hormuz and Canada
The pair discuss the Iran war's justification, the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf allies, and Canada's pipeline pivot toward China.
53:07
US aid to Israel and Trump's regret
Ryan lists US aid to Israel and Kelly argues Trump has agency and regrets the war as polls collapse.
1:06:37
Epstein files and administration departures
They debate the resignations of Greene, Kent, Gabbard and the firing of Bondi, and Trump's attack on Joe Kent.
1:26:26
RFK Jr. and the MAHA agenda
Kelly predicts RFK Jr. may leave, citing glyphosate protections and other MAHA reversals.
1:33:25
Courts and legal news
Kelly praises the Supreme Court and explains the overturned Alex Murdaugh conviction.
1:37:37
Psychedelics, ibogaine and MDMA
Ryan describes quitting alcohol via ibogaine and MDMA couples therapy while Kelly relays Roland Griffiths's cautions.
1:46:21
Artificial intelligence fears
Kelly warns about job losses, superintelligence and social isolation and proposes slowing AI and labeling its output.
2:11:19
News habits and cable news decline
Kelly lists the podcasts she consumes and argues cable and broadcast news are dying.
Linked moment · 2:24:33Skip to 2:24:33 using a listen link in the info box.
2:24:33
Feud with Ben Shapiro and death threats
Kelly recounts her rupture with Shapiro and describes rising death threats and FBI involvement.
2:40:23
Charlie Kirk, 2028 and corruption
They discuss Kirk's murder, potential 2028 candidates, and Trump-family conflicts of interest.
3:01:18
DOGE, China, Cuba and the way forward
They discuss DOGE's shortfall, China's rise, possible action in Cuba, and Kelly's optimism about a political realignment.

Key points

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

Megyn Kelly
Kelly argues NAMBLA books found in Jackson's bedroom strongly indicate pedophilia.
“There's no one who's not a pedophile who has that”
Listen from 12:29 · Michael Jackson child sexual abuse allegations
Megyn Kelly
Kelly attributes Massie's primary loss to unusually heavy spending by the Israel lobby.
“And this one was $30 million piled against him by the Israel lobby”
Listen from 24:08 · 2026 Kentucky 4th congressional district Republican primary
Megyn Kelly
Kelly argues Pete Hegseth should not have been deployed to campaign against Massie.
“They should not have deployed him in the fight against Massey”
Listen from 31:51 · 2026 Kentucky 4th congressional district Republican primary
Megyn Kelly
Kelly asserts claims that Iran was near a nuclear weapon before the war were false.
“Iran was not close to getting a nuclear weapon. Those are lies”
Listen from 42:04 · United States war with Iran
Shawn Ryan
Ryan argues the US is punishing Canada with tariff threats over China deals despite having rejected the Keystone XL pipeline.
“Trump is threatening them with 100% tariffs to do deals with China, but the previous administration didn't even put the pipeline down here”
Listen from 47:41
Megyn Kelly
Kelly argues Trump, not Netanyahu, bears responsibility for the decision to go to war.
“I do think it's important to remember Trump has agency and Trump is in charge of the U.S. military”
Listen from 58:48 · United States war with Iran
Megyn Kelly
Kelly believes Trump regrets the Iran war because it is damaging his poll numbers.
“Because he's not dumb, and he knows it's crushing him. It's crushing his numbers”
Listen from 1:01:11 · United States war with Iran
Megyn Kelly Prediction · due Jan 2027
Kelly predicts Massie will reveal Epstein-linked names from the House floor before leaving office.
“there's nothing stopping him from standing on the House floor and revealing to us some of these names”
Listen from 1:08:33 · Jeffrey Epstein
Megyn Kelly
Kelly says Pam Bondi was reportedly fired for not indicting more of Trump's enemies.
“he was reportedly mad that she wasn't indicting more of his enemies”
Listen from 1:11:34 · Political corruption in the United States
Megyn Kelly Prediction · due Nov 2026
Kelly predicts Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may be the next official to leave before the midterms because Trump is dismantling the MAHA agenda.
“Because he's dismantling the Maha agenda week by week. Trump is”
Listen from 1:26:43
Megyn Kelly
Kelly argues overturning Murdaugh's conviction over jury interference was the right decision.
“Under our system, you have a constitutional right to a fair trial with an impartial jury”
Listen from 1:35:36 · Alex Murdaugh murder trial
Shawn Ryan
Ryan claims ibogaine immediately cures most addictions and says it helped him quit drinking over four years ago.
“it is curing addiction immediately. Opiates, alcohol, pretty much anything but benzos”
Listen from 1:39:52 · Ibogaine
Shawn Ryan
Ryan says he does MDMA therapy with his wife and recommends it.
“I do MDMA therapy with my wife, and it's fucking amazing”
Listen from 1:42:54 · MDMA-assisted psychotherapy
Megyn Kelly
Kelly worries AI will deprive the next generation of meaningful work.
“I'm very worried for our children and their ability to get meaningful jobs”
Listen from 1:46:42 · Technological unemployment
Megyn Kelly
Kelly argues AI cannot replace real reporting because it depends on human source-gathering.
“But a real reporter spends his or her day on the phones or going door to door and gathering information”
Listen from 1:55:06 · Artificial intelligence
Megyn Kelly
Kelly predicts laws will eventually require disclosure of AI-generated content.
“Eventually, there's gonna have to be a law that requires the disclosure of whether it's AI or real”
Listen from 2:08:12 · Artificial intelligence
Megyn Kelly
Kelly argues cable and broadcast news are dying.
“Cable News is dead. It's just running out its lifespan. Same for broadcast”
Listen from 2:16:18 · Media credibility and independent journalism
Megyn Kelly
Kelly says Ben Shapiro's attack on her was really about her refusal to end her friendship with Tucker Carlson.
“it was about my not ending my friendship with Tucker, which is the thing that he had been pushing me on for weeks”
Listen from 2:29:36
Megyn Kelly
Kelly says death threats over her views on Israel have forced her to worry about her physical safety.
“I now have to worry about getting shot because of my opinion”
Listen from 2:38:31 · Israel lobby in the United States
Megyn Kelly
Kelly considers Charlie Kirk's murder the defining event of the year.
“I just think that Charlie's murder was the seminal event of the whole year”
Listen from 2:40:47 · Assassination of Charlie Kirk
Megyn Kelly Prediction · due Nov 2028
Kelly predicts Pete Buttigieg will be neither the Democratic nominee nor president.
“He's not going to be the Democrat nominee, and he's not going to be president”
Listen from 2:44:58
Megyn Kelly Prediction · due Nov 2026
Kelly predicts Republicans will lose the House in November, triggering congressional investigations of Trump.
“congressional investigations, which are gonna start the moment the Republicans lose the House in November”
Listen from 2:56:13 · Political corruption in the United States
Megyn Kelly
Kelly predicts Israel will be a central issue in the 2028 presidential contest.
“And Israel's 100% going to be one of those big issues”
Listen from 3:22:27 · Israel lobby in the United States

People

In the conversation

Shawn RyanFormer U.S. Navy SEAL and CIA contractor, host of the Shawn Ryan Show
Megyn KellyConservative broadcaster and podcaster

Discussed

Donald TrumpPresident of the United States whose conduct of the Iran war is the episode's main subject
Thomas MassieKentucky congressman facing a Trump-backed primary challenge
Ben ShapiroConservative commentator who advocated the Iran war
Mark LevinConservative radio host who pressed for strikes on Iran
Tucker CarlsonConservative broadcaster cited as part of right-wing media
Pete HegsethU.S. Secretary of Defense overseeing the Iran campaign
Joe KentFormer U.S. official who resigned and disputed stated motives for the Iran conflict
Tulsi GabbardDirector of National Intelligence
Pam BondiU.S. Attorney General reported fired during the episode
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Health secretary whose appointment Jesse Kelly cited as coalition-building
Michael JacksonAmerican pop musician Druski names as who he would want to be in another life
Candace OwensConservative commentator and podcaster cited as a top-ranked show
Erika KirkAmerican figure Trump reportedly told to sue over a comedy sketch
Charlie KirkAmerican conservative activist and podcast host assassinated in September 2025
JD VanceVice President of the United States
Marco RubioU.S. Secretary of State who defended the Iran campaign at a cabinet meeting
Rahm EmanuelDemocratic politician and possible presidential candidate
Miriam AdelsonIsrael-first megadonor said to own an Israeli newspaper that ran a hit piece on Vance
Alex MurdaughFormer South Carolina attorney whose double murder convictions were overturned
Marjorie Taylor GreeneRepublican former congresswoman who called Fox News 'fake news' over its war coverage
Roland GriffithsJohns Hopkins psychedelic researcher
Pete ButtigiegFormer U.S. Secretary of Transportation

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From the publisher

Megyn Kelly is an American journalist, political commentator, and former attorney. She rose to national prominence as an anchor and host at Fox News from 2004 to 2017, where she hosted programs including America Live and The Kelly File. After a short tenure at NBC News, she launched her independent media company, Devil May Care Media, and now hosts the widely followed podcast and video program, The Megyn Kelly Show. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Visit https://drinkag1.com/SRS to get a free Morning Person Hat and free AG1 Flavor Sampler in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription (an $82 value!). Go to https://meetfabric.com/SHAWN and apply today, risk-free. Go to https://calderalab.com/SRS and use code SRS for 20% off your first order. Get 20% off with code SRS at https://rhonutrition.com Megyn Kelly Links: IG - https://www.instagram.com/megynkelly X - https://x.com/megynkelly FB - https://www.facebook.com/MegynKelly TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@megynkellyshow YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/MegynKelly Podcast - https://www.megynkelly.com/listen Website - https://www.megynkelly.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 28, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Politics·News Commentary·Technology