Record-Breaking Texas Early Voting, Netflix Shake-Up, Indiana Dem on Drunken Rant: AM Update 10/21

(upbeat music) - Good morning everyone, I'm Megan Kelly. It's Wednesday, October 21st, 2026, and this is your AM update. - Elon Musk is trying to buy this Senate seat in Texas. I'm gonna fight that every Texan can buy a home, raise a family, and live a healthy life. - Record-breaking early voting in Texas as Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Tallerico find themselves in a dead heat in a race for U.S. Senate. A major shake-up at Netflix as the streaming giant overhauls its leadership amid declining viewer engagement and growing criticism of its programming. A new investigation revealing the FBI pursued bribery allegations, involving late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democrat Congressman James Clyburn. - I was nervous. - I was nervous. - It's okay. - I got it. - I was going to have been with the former Republicans. And an Indiana Democrat running for County Council admits she was boozing before a now viral anti-Republican rant. But does she regret any of it? 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 to benefit corporate megastores like Walmart and Target at the expense of everyday Americans. Credit cards can keep your payments secure and provide rewards that families use to help make everyday purchases more affordable. The Electronic Payments Coalition says the Durbin 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 for yourself at guardyourcard.com and consider telling Congress to guard your card. Texas voters turning out in record numbers as the early voting gets underway in one of the country's most closely watched Senate races as Democrats hope to win their first statewide election in more than three decades. Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat State Representative James Tallariko locked in a surprisingly competitive contest. President Trump carried the state by nearly 14 points just two years ago. The latest CBS news you go of poll showing Tallariko leading Paxton 51 to 49% a statistical tie within the survey's margin of error. The real clear politics average has Tallariko up two points as well. Voter enthusiasm already reaching historic levels several major Texas counties reporting record breaking turnout on the first day of early voting Monday, WFA political reporter Natalie Hadad breaking down the surge across North Texas. - And Tarant County more than 50,000 votes compared to the 29,000 in the 2022 midterm election. Over in Dallas County reports 76,079 ballots cast on day one that's more than double the nearly 33,000 ballots on the first day of early voting also in the 2022 midterm election. And Colin County you guessed it. They saw a similar surge 34,500 people voted yesterday compared to just 19,000 on day one in 2022. - Meantime in Houston's Harris County another Democratic stronghold more than 104,000 voters casting ballots Monday setting a new first day record. Republican leaning Denton County near Dallas also seeing record numbers underscoring strong voter participation in both Democratic and Republican strongholds. Both candidates now criss-crossing the state in a final push to mobilize supporters ahead of November 3rd. Talariko launching his 21 city clear eyes full hearts to her Sunday focusing his closing argument on the influence of wealthy political donors, particularly Elon Musk. The billionaire pouring 158 million dollars into the Senate GOP's main super PAC last month money subsequently transferred to a Texas political action committee financing a massive advertising campaign supporting Paxton. Talariko accusing Musk of attempting to buy the Senate seat. We just found out that the richest man in the world is bankrolling this effort to install Ken Paxton in the US Senate and stop this movement that we've built in our state. - In all likelihood, if you've seen an attack add on your TV, that was Elon. If you've gotten lies in your mailbox, that was Elon. If you've received a text message saying scary things about me, that was Elon too. - Musk weighing in yesterday on X writing quote, "The fate of Texas and America is at stake. Vote for Ken Paxton today." Paxton launching his own statewide bus tour Saturday planning more than 30 stops ahead of election day. The Republican Attorney General, Monday in Fort Worth, emphasizing affordability and his economic agenda. - My agenda is very simple. I'm gonna fight for that every Texan can buy a home, raise a family and live a healthy life without struggling to make ends meet. And that's why I've unveiled my protecting the Texas Promise Plan, which is an economic vision to put thousands of dollars back into the pockets of hardworking Texans. The race attracting national political heavyweights as both parties work to energize voters in the final stretch. Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders headlining a rally in El Paso Monday, alongside former Democrat Congressman Beto O'Rourke and several Democrat lawmakers. Talariko notably absent from the event, instead holding campaign stops hundreds of miles away in Denton and Fort Worth. On the Republican side, President Trump planning a trip to Waco on Tuesday to boost Paxton. The Senate race, not the only closely contested statewide election in Texas, where Republican governor Greg Abbott is facing an unexpectedly competitive challenge from Democrat state representative Gina Hinojosa. The governor seeking a fourth term after winning reelection by 11 points in 2022, the real clear politics average has Abbott up just two points. Democrats looking for their first victory in a Texas gubernatorial election since Ann Richards won the state in 1990. Netflix making sweeping changes to its leadership amid mounting concerns over declining viewer engagement and a shortage of blockbuster hits. The company announcing the departure of Chief Content Officer Bella Bajaria last Thursday, just one day after eliminating roughly 1000 jobs representing 6% of its workforce. Bajaria, spending nearly a decade at Netflix, overseeing the company's expansion into international productions, reality TV, live sports and other entertainment. Her dismissal was followed Monday by the departure of Netflix's film chief Dan Lynn, the Hollywood producer behind the Lego movie and many others who joined the company in 2024. Sharon Waxman, editor in chief of entertainment news outlet, The Wrap, describing the leadership changes as a major shift in the company's priorities on her site's YouTube channel. So Bella came from television. She came out of CBS and she was very focused on broadening the number of products that Netflix had, whether that was podcasting, whether that was live sports. She did a lot of big deals and live sports. She was really pushing international production as far as I understand she was popping all over the globe. But in the meantime, the main content on Netflix has basically gotten super crappy, very mediocre. When we did a straw poll in our pro-meeting yesterday and I asked how many people in the meeting had not logged into Netflix for weeks at a time, most of the people raised their hands. The shakeup coming as Netflix execs reportedly grow increasingly frustrated with the quality of its programming and the company's apparent inability to keep American audiences watching. According to the Wall Street Journal, Netflix co-CEO Ted Cerandos, spending months privately expressing concerns over declining viewing time among US subscribers. Cerandos pushing for renewed attention to the company's core business of producing movies and television shows after years of expanding into everything from video games to far-left podcasts. Now, Netflix appointing veteran Hollywood executive Peter Rice, a former Fox and Disney executive to oversee its roughly $20 billion global content budget. The leadership overhaul follows years of criticism over Netflix's programming, including a string of controversial productions accused of promoting overtly woke political and social agendas. The company's children's programming drawing particular scrutiny. The animated series Coco Mellon, featuring an episode in which a young boy dresses in a tutu and tiara, encouraged by his two fathers to explore different activities and interests. Another animated series directed toward children, Dead End Paranormal Park, featuring a gender-confused teenage protagonist who discusses his gender identity with another character. The show rated appropriate for children ages seven and older, becoming the focus of a major boycott campaign last year. According to the Wall Street Journal, research firm antenna, finding Netflix has failed to register a net increase in US subscribers during any month this year, although Netflix disputes the firm's methodology. The company's stock, falling more than 40% over the past year, as investors question its growth prospects, following an unsuccessful attempt to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery Studios. and HBO Max. The company attempting to attract audiences by offering more types of entertainment with decidedly mixed results. Live sports proving relatively successful, while Netflix's efforts to expand into video games falling short. Despite the turbulence, Netflix maintaining the lowest cancellation rate among major US streaming services, just 2.1% in September according to the journal. Netflix releasing its latest earnings report yesterday showing profits jumping more than 40% from a year ago, even as revenue growth slows. The company bringing in nearly $13 billion over the past three months, boosted in part by higher subscription prices. However, Netflix lowering its revenue forecast for the year, falling short of Wall Street's expectations, and sending shares tumbling roughly 6% in after-hours trading last night. Coming up, a new pro-publica report detailing bribery allegations against Lindsey Graham and James Clyburn, and the convicted fraudster behind them. 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Plus, I have to say it would make a great gift, housewarming, Christmas, etc. Best of all, you can try Cozy Earth completely risk-free with their 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. Go to CozyEarth.com, use the code Megan AM for up to 20% off home and sleepwear. CozyEarth.com, code Megan AM, and when they ask where you heard about them at checkout, tell them you heard about them on AM Update. A pro-publica investigation revealing details about how the FBI pursued bribery allegations involving several prominent members of Congress and a convicted fraudster at the center of it all. The allegations coming from Martin Cow, the former CEO of Hawaiian Defense Contractor, Navatec, who accused late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, Democrat Congressman James Clyburn, and Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, all of South Carolina, of trading government funding for campaign contributions. The accusations stemming from Navatec's efforts to expand its federal contracting business, beginning in 2019, when the company partnered with the University of South Carolina to pursue millions of dollars in Navy research funding. Cow and his associates lobbying the state's congressional delegation for support, ultimately securing an initial 9.5 million in federal funding that December. Pro-publica acknowledging that Congress approved the funding before Cow and his associates made their first reported campaign contributions to any of the three lawmakers. The following year, Navatec seeking tens of millions of dollars in additional funding, as Cow arranged private meetings with the lawmakers and made further political contributions. The most detailed allegation involving a dinner with Graham in March 2020, where Cow claims the Senator requested $100,000 in campaign contributions in exchange for helping secure government contracts. However, Michael Tungor, a South Carolina lobbyist who attended the dinner, disputes Cow's account. Tungor confirms the meeting took place, and that campaign checks were delivered, but denies any agreement to exchange contributions for government contracts. Telling Pro-publica quote, "I would remember that forever." Federal authorities arresting Cow in September 2020 on loan fraud charges, with additional charges involving illegal campaign contributions following. After pleading guilty in 2022, Cow began cooperating with federal investigators, claiming his company's success in Washington was built on bribing public officials. Investigators examining hundreds of thousands of company records, including internal emails and spreadsheets, documenting Navatec's lobbying efforts, and communications with Congressional staff about Navy research funding. The FBI also interviewing Cow extensively about his dealings with lawmakers, including a September 2024 interview, examining his allegations against Senator Graham and Congressman Clyburn. By December 2024, the FBI expanding its examination of the alleged bribery scheme, identifying two former Navatec executives and their new company as "formal subjects" of the investigation. Agents also scrutinizing the dealings of Graham, Clyburn, and Wilson, although none of the three lawmakers was formally designated a subject. The investigation then encountering major disruptions following President Trump's return to the White House in January 2025. The new admins stripping the DOJ's public integrity section of its authority to initiate new cases, as FBI Director Cash Patel began removing personnel from the Bureau's Washington anti-corruption unit. The two FBI agents who pursued Cow's allegations subsequently leaving the Bureau. The DOJ prosecutor assigned to the case also resigning. The investigation ultimately producing no criminal charges against either of the former Navatec executives or any of the lawmakers. Cow himself receiving no sentencing leniency for cooperating with investigators, with a federal judge sentencing him to 87 months in prison in 2025. The FBI disputing pro-publica's characterization of Cow's allegations, spokesman Ben Williamson describing the claims as "half-baked and misleading." The offices of all three lawmakers also rejecting Cow's allegations. A spokesperson for the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham calling the accusations "ravings" of a convicted felon. An Indiana Democrat admitting she drank three beers before a now-viral television interview and doubling down on her bizarre anti-Republican rant. Fayette County Council candidate Jamie West, facing widespread ridicule over her now-viral October 9th appearance, on Connor'sville TV, here, a portion. Repetitian, what is the one decision that I would make that might not be popular? That may be unpopular with some voters, but is in the best interest of the county. Firing armor, Republicans. I wouldn't let them. I mean, I don't even talk to them. I don't like them. I mean, they voted against our stone state representative, voted against her own party. I mean, what do you want me to say? I don't like being around them. This ice coming into our communities, stealing people's jobs. I mean, you know, Sheriff's nephew threatened to blow my head off. But, you know, what are you going to do? Well, that brings us to your opportunity to say just a few last words to the voters. We have guns too. All right. As far as West's accusation that the sheriff's nephew threatened to shoot her, Fayette County Sheriff, Zach Jones, telling Fox 59, he has no nephews and does not know West. West addressing the moment during an interview on Pure's Morgan Uncensored. A lot of people assumed you might have had a drink before you did that interview. Did you? I had a course line. I had a beer. What? One beer? I mean, maybe a couple. How many beers did you have? I was nervous. Okay. I get it. I was going with the former publicans. All right. Three. Three beers. Okay. What is three? It's trebled in the last 30 seconds. So, do you say, man, I had three beers, okay? Okay. So, is there anything you said whilst under the influence of your beers that you now with the benefit of hindsight maybe wished you hadn't said? No. I said all the time. I'm not friends with them. I don't like them. Okay. They voted for all of this that's happening into our country. Are we of a constitutional crisis? We have an illegal war going on. For the record, West insisting she did not have anything to drink prior to the Pure's Morgan interview either. Nothing at all. Maybe a course light. A beer. One. All right. Three. No, she's denying any drinks before the Pure's interview. West facing Republican Gary R. Keener Jr. in the November 3rd election in a county where President Trump won more than 77% of the vote in 24 defeating Kamala Harris by roughly 56 points. And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show. Pierce actually joins me today live on series sixms the Megan Kelly channel 1111 at new east on youtube.com/megankelly and on all podcast platforms.