Minnesota Senate Race Surprise, Russell Brand Trial Begins, Roller Coaster Death: AM Update 10/14

(upbeat music) - Good morning everyone, I'm Megan Kelly. It's Wednesday, October 14th, 2026, and this is your AM update. - Pretty good poll that we picked up just recently. See that last line independence? What is going on in Minnesota? - An overlooked Senate race in Minnesota showing a surprisingly close contest as new polling reveals an interesting divide among independent voters. - I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an embassy oboe. What never was? - Was a right list. - Opening statements set to begin today in the rape and sexual assault trial of Russell Brand. Greta Tumberg finding herself a new cause to champion as the former climate and Gaza activist joins student protests in France. Authorities identifying the man killed in a horrifying roller coaster accident at six flags in Georgia as investigators work to determine what caused the deadly fall. 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One US Senate race receiving relatively little national attention despite the polling showing a surprisingly close contest. It's the Minnesota matchup between Democrat Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Republican former sports broadcaster, Michelle Tafoya. The real clear polling average showing Flanagan leading Tafoya by just over two points, 45.3 to 43.1% in a state that has not elected a Republican to the US Senate since 2002. A new Minnesota star Tribune and K.A.R.E. 11 poll finding Democrat Flanagan leading Republican Tafoya by four points, although the more revealing numbers may be what's happening among independents. Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer, my old pal, breaking down the latest survey. 47 Flanagan, 43 to FOIA right here. That's a plus or minus three and a half points. So you can move the line both directions. This, based on the margin of error in Minnesota, is a dead heat. Who would have thought that? So who's got the support? Flanagan right now among Democrats is at 90%. Tafoya from Republicans is at 97%. All right, margin of error, 3.5%. Star Tribune, pretty good poll that we picked up just recently. You see that last line independence? You got 32 at Flanagan, 38 at Tafoya, 29%, a clear almost one-third of the voters in Minnesota are still undecided as they say they are independence looking at this race three weeks from today. So a lot of things could change. The Senate contest proving considerably closer than Minnesota's race for governor with the same star Tribune and K.A.R.E. 11 poll finding Democrat Senator Amy Klobuchar leading Republican Lisa Daymeth by 9.50% to 41%. The Cook Political Report continuing to rate the open U.S. Senate see as likely Democrat and prediction market Kalshi gives Flanagan an 86% chance of victory compared to just 14% for Tafoya. That's still more than double from early August when Tafoya had just a 6% chance. Give our sponsor Kalshi a try by using code Megan Kelly or clicking the link in the description. All new users get $25 free when they trade $25. According to Minnesota Public Radio, outside political groups spent more than $20 million during the candidates' primary contests, much of it on the Democrat side. That spending dropping dramatically since the August primaries to approximately $2 million as of last Friday, including 1.3 million supporting Flanagan through billboard advertisements. Senate Majority Leader John Thune traveling to Minnesota earlier this month to campaign alongside Tafoya, although national Republicans have yet to commit significant financial resources to the race according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. The candidates making competing arguments to voters as Minnesota continues dealing with the fallout from its massive welfare fraud scandal. Tafoya making the scandal a central focus of her campaign, accusing Flanagan of failing to prevent the theft of taxpayer dollars during her tenure as Lieutenant Governor under Democrat Governor Tim Walls. Flanagan, meantime, arguing that health care costs and affordability are more pressing concerns for Minnesota voters while making her opposition to President Trump a central part of her campaign. Flanagan's focus on the president comes as the latest Star Tribune poll finds just 38% of Minnesota voters approve of his job performance compared to 58% who disapprove. Tafoya seeking to appeal to voters outside the Republican base like in this ad. A senator should work for Minnesota, not party bosses, lobbyists, or even the president. I'm a pro-choice Republican. I'm not afraid to stand up to my party. When Trump is right, I'll work with him. When he's wrong, I'll stand up for Minnesota. Earlier this week, President Trump publicly throwing his support behind Tafoya during a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio. Just look at what's happening in the once great state of Minnesota, what a mess they have done, Somalia. And members of the Somalian community have looted tens of billions of dollars from Minnesota welfare programs. They drive up taxes. They drive up health care costs and insurance costs, child care costs, and they cheat on everything. It's a disaster. And we're not going to stand for it. We're not going to stand. That's right. Road, you have to vote for Michelle Tafoya, who's a very respected person. Tafoya, however, offering a rather tepid response yesterday when asked about the president's endorsement during a news conference. Michelle, can you just tell us how you're feeling about getting President Trump's endorsement or at least insane that people should vote for you? I heard about that. Look, this campaign is about bringing all Minnesotans together, whether they voted for President Trump or whether they voted for Kamala Harris, or whether they didn't vote at all. I want all Minnesotans to come together. We have a great community behind us in our corner that includes farmers, law enforcement, businesses. So the ultimate endorsement will come for me on November 3rd from the state of Minnesota. Was the endorsement a surprise to you? Most of the things that the president says are a surprise to somebody. Tafoya and Flanagan now preparing for their only scheduled debate set for Friday hosted by Minnesota Public Radio, less than three weeks before Election Day. Opening statements set to begin today in the rape and sexual assault trial of British comedian and actor Russell Brand, who is facing seven criminal charges involving six different women. The 51-year-old first appearing at Sothec Crown Court in London Monday, returning yesterday as a jury of eight men and four women was sworn in to hear the case. Prosecutors expected to begin laying out their case today, detailing allegations of sexual misconduct spanning a decade between 1999 and 2009. The AP reporting prosecutors accused brand of raping a woman inside a hotel room during a British labor party conference and sexually assaulting a TV employee inside a bathroom. A third allegation involves a woman who worked at a radio station who claims Brand forcibly kissed and grouped her. The identities of all six women protected under British law, brand pleading not guilty to all seven charges and repeatedly denying ever-engaging in non-consensual sexual activity, brand denying the allegations on the Megan Kelly show in April. - What find gave me and what my addiction fueled was an opportunity for endless consent, which led me to be a hedonist and a fool and an explorer of women. And that is wrong. And that is something that needs to be redeemed and addressed and a tone for. What I'm obviously not only querying, but violently or aggressively or assertively opposing is the idea that this is a judicial criminal matter where consent was overridden. - The trial beginning more than three years after allegations against brand first emerged in a joint investigation by Britain's Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4. The report's prompting a police investigation eventually leading to criminal charges brand is now contesting. On Monday, Judge Joel Benathan warning perspective jurors to disregard previous media coverage of the allegations and debase their eventual verdict solely on evidence presented during the trial. The judge also instructing the jury against conducting its own research or discussing the case outside. the courtroom. Cameras are not permitted inside the courtroom. Brand initially rising to fame as a comedian and TV personality in Britain, before becoming a familiar face in Hollywood through films, including for getting Sarah Marshall and get him to the Greek. He was married to pop star Katie Perry from 2010 through 2012. In recent years, Brand stepping away from traditional entertainment, building a substantial independent online following, producing content focused on politics, personal wellness, spirituality, and faith. Brand publicly converting to Christianity in 2024, speaking extensively about his religious beliefs and personal transformation. The trial expected to last six to ten weeks. Coming up, Greta Tuneberg jumping into the middle of France's student protests, because why not? As the one-time climate activist takes up yet another cause, amid signs the demonstrations are losing momentum. And six flags temporarily closing several roller coasters across North America, following a deadly accident at its Georgia amusement park. 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Just use promo code Megan30 at hometitlelock.com to find out today if you are already a victim. The AI threat is real. Don't let scammers have the upper hand. That's hometitlelock.com promo code Megan30 to get peace of mind today. Swedish climate activist Greta Tuneberg finding herself a new cause to champion, joining French high school students protesting the country's education system, even as the week's long demonstrations appear to be losing steam. Tuneberg showing up Tuesday outside a high school in the Paris suburb of Saundanie, where students have been demonstrating over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and deteriorating school buildings. The 23-year-old rising to international fame as a teenage climate activist before expanding her activism to the Palestinian cause, now apparently adding French education reform to her growing list of grievances. Tuneberg speaking to the Associated Press about why she is standing in solidarity with the French students. I came here to be here and support the students who are protesting to protect their basic rights and the whole world is watching with all like for these students who are fighting back, reclaiming their future that has been taken away from them. I mean this generation is one that has been growing up with a sense of hopelessness for the future when we can see our future and our rights taken from us in front of our very eyes and like what do they expect? Of course people are going to find back. They don't need me at all, but I do believe that we all have a duty to stand up and stand in solidarity with these struggles wherever they're happening. I am an extremely privileged person. I am a white person from Sweden. I am very much part of this very destructive system that systematically benefits people like me and if I choose to say silent, knowing that, I choose the side of the oppressor. Toonberg's appearance coming as the nationwide protest movement enters its fourth week, although the latest numbers suggest enthusiasm may be fading. According to Reuters, roughly 161,000 demonstrators taking to the streets Tuesday compared to 266,000 last week. The number of schools forced to close also falling dramatically from approximately 800 last Tuesday to just 214 this week. While some protesters have remained peaceful, others have vandalized property, set fires, and hurled objects at police. President Emmanuel Macron's government maintaining it is working to address students' concerns, although France's strained finances are limiting how much additional money officials can commit to public education. The protests unfolding six months before France's presidential election where the unrest is exposing sharp political divisions. Far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melachon, criticizing the police response while right-wing national rally leader and presidential candidate Marie Le Pen condemning violence and vandalism by protesters. The election is set for April of next year as France prepares to choose a successor to outgoing president Emmanuel Macron. Authorities in Georgia identifying the man killed in a shocking accident after being thrown from a rollercoaster at six flags over Georgia as investigators work to determine what caused the incident that also left four other people injured. According to the Cobb County Police Department, the victim identified yesterday as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Karim of Atlanta, who died Monday afternoon while riding the Goliath rollercoaster. Karim working as an information technology manager at Wesley International Academy, a public charter school in Atlanta where he had previously taught technology. WSBTV speaking to a family friend who described Karim as a fighter, revealing he had survived cancer and a serious battle with COVID in addition to a car fire involving his daughter just weeks before his death. The tragedy unfolding shortly before four o'clock Monday afternoon, when witnesses say Karim was suddenly ejected from his seat on Goliath, a rollercoaster that climbs 200 feet and reaches speeds of approximately 70 miles an hour. Police confirming Karim's body struck other passengers before falling beneath the attraction where responding officers found him unconscious and not breathing. Witnesses describing a horrifying scene on Monday to Atlanta's 11 alive. He didn't fall directly onto us. He fell onto a girl who rose in front of us. He fell and hit the car three different times. They got it right where the pictures for the Goliath is took in. He was in our pictures. We got down the ramp. You can see him above us. We were all we were all gone and screaming. So then you can see him above us flying off the part of the picture. His son was sitting right beside him. His wife and daughter were not on the right. They were at the bottom and had no idea his son washed it all because in our Goliath pictures, the pictures that they take that you can keep. He is in our pictures out of the car and everything. His blood splattered over everybody and his body fell behind one of the haunted attractions. WSBTV reporting for other people were injured and transported to the hospital. Although authorities have not yet released details about their conditions, the incident forcing emergency crews to evacuate passengers from another Goliath train, which had stopped partway up the rollercoasters initial climb. Investigators still working to determine exactly how Karim was thrown from the ride, as the Cobb County Police Department's major crimes unit continues interviewing witnesses and park employees. George's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire also launching a separate investigation examining the circumstances of the accident and whether applicable safety procedures were followed. Six flags temporarily shutting down nine other rollercoasters at six amusement parks across the U.S. and Canada, describing the closures as a precaution while the investigation continues. The affected attractions include rides at six flags, Magic Mountain in California, Great Adventure in New Jersey, and Great America in Illinois, along with parks in Ohio, North Carolina, and Canada. The company not providing a timeline for when the rides might reopen while expressing condolences to Karim's family and pledging its cooperation with investigators. The deadly accident coming amid other questions about safety at six flags attractions, just last month, six flags, Magic Mountain in California, announcing the retirement of its X2 rollercoaster following a series of lawsuits alleging riders suffered severe brain injuries. The park previously settling a wrongful death lawsuit involving a 22-year-old man who died after riding X2 in 2022, although six flags denied in court filings that the coaster caused his fatal injuries. And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show, live on Sirius XM's The Megan Kelly Channel 111 and New East on youtube.com/megankelly and an all podcast platforms.