(upbeat music) - Good morning, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Wednesday, August 26th, 2026, and this is your AM update. South Carolina Republicans choosing their nominee to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham following a hard fought runoff between his sister, Darlene Graham and Congressman Ralph Norman. - My clinical opinion is that she was criminally responsible on January 24th. - As testimony mirrors its conclusion in the Lindsey Clancy murder trial, a prosecution expert delivering his bottom line about her state of mind when she killed her three young children. - I need the money, it's amazing how much it comes to make personal loops to cheap. - Remembering the extraordinary life unmistakable talent and legendary humor of country music queen, Dolly Pardon. And President Trump floating another change to the map, this time replacing Lake Ontario. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update. - We are still a couple months out, but the midterms are fast approaching and make no mistake if the house flips, it's a big deal for our economy. That uncertainty is one of the reasons to consider diversifying now with gold from Birch Gold Group. In the three months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, the price of gold jumped over 12%. Why? It's a hedge against uncertainty. If you do not own gold, consider talking with Birch Gold. They will discuss your goals and explain how precious metals can fit into your savings. They could even help you convert an existing IRA or 401K into an IRA in gold for no additional money out of pocket. Text the letters MK to the number 989898 and get a free Info Kit and some solid information. The midterms will be here before you know it. Don't wait, text MK to 989898 now. South Carolina Republicans voting yesterday in a special runoff to decide which Republican will replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham on the November ballot. In the end, they wanted another Graham. Interim Senator Darlene Graham, Lindsey's sister, squaring off against Congressman Ralph Norman to take on Democrat nominee and pediatrician, Annie Andrews, with the eventual Republican nominee heavily favored in a state where Democrats have not one statewide office in two decades. Governor Henry McMaster appointing Miss Graham to serve the remaining months of her brother's term following his sudden death in July. President Trump reportedly urging McMaster to make the appointment, then encouraging Darlene Graham to run for a full six year term. Graham finishing first in the initial special primary earlier this month, taking nearly 33% of the vote compared to Norman's roughly 25%. The appointment marking her debut in public office, this campaign becoming the first time she has ever sought the support of voters. Congressman Norman, with a far longer political resume, representing South Carolina in Congress since 2017, a member of the House Freedom Caucus. The Congressman running for Governor earlier this year, but finishing third, failing to advance to the runoff. Much of South Carolina's Republican establishment, rallying behind Graham, once she reached the final round. Senator Tim Scott endorsing her on the first day of the runoff followed by Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evett and then Governor McMaster. President Trump pouring considerable political capital into Graham's campaign, endorsing her and traveling to Myrtle Beach for a rally on Friday. A Graham victory proof of his ability to propel a largely unknown first-time candidate who suffered a significant gap at the candidate's recent debate when she said she, quote, wasn't that informed on national security, calling it, quote, not my thing, passed an experience to conservative congressman. A Norman victory would deal the president one of his most conspicuous endorsement losses of the election cycle after Mr. Trump personally invested so much in Graham's campaign. At the end of the night, South Carolina Republicans choosing political newcomer, Darlene Graham, giving the sister of a beloved former senator a chance to build a legacy of her own. Graham delivering remarks after the win. So South Carolina Republicans, I humbly accept your nomination to serve as the Republican nominee for the United States Senate from the great state of South Carolina. Thank you, thank you, thank you. First, I want to thank the good lord who got us through these past few weeks and gave me my family the strength to keep going. I continue to miss Lindsay every day, and there is still a big hole in my heart. But I know he's looking down right now, very proud of everyone in this room. Congressman Norman acknowledging his loss. The public, the South Carolina made the decision. It is, it is what it is, and I'll accept it. We will something good, and I've always said, something good will come out of this. I don't know what it is, but something good will come out of it. The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy entering its final days more than three years after she strangled her three young children inside of their Massachusetts home and then tried to take her own life. Yesterday, two prosecution experts cast doubt on Clancy's account of a male voice in her head directing her to kill the children and herself. Forensic psychologist Dr. Kirk Hyalburn, continuing his testimony from Monday, testifying that Clancy appeared to suffer from bipolar two symptoms, depression, hopelessness, insomnia, and adverse reactions to medication in the months before the killings. Hyalburn also acknowledging Clancy repeatedly did seek help describing her as a very good and attentive mother who appeared to be trying to get well. Psychologist rejecting the defense's contention that Clancy was psychotic or incapable of controlling her actions, however. Hyalburn testifying that Clancy continued making decisions throughout the roughly 20 minutes in which the children were killed, including where to take them and the order in which she killed them. Hyalburn ultimately acknowledging the mental illness he says influenced Clancy's decisions, but maintaining she had the ability to control what she did. Her capacity to conform a conduct to the requirements of the law is, again, best understood by considering the seriousness of her suicide attempt and her strong desire not to leave her children. She demonstrated such self-control throughout the day on January 24th, and her actions between 5.15 and 6.00 pm that afternoon were influenced by her depression and her hopelessness about her life and the desire to end the pain she had experienced since October. Although this depression and hopelessness influenced her decisions, she retained control over whether, when, and how she carried it out, and the inclusion of her children. And Dr. Did you form an opinion to a reasonable degree of psychological certainty as to whether or not the defendant was criminally responsible when she killed her children? Yes, but my clinical opinion is that she was criminally responsible on January 24th. Defense Attorney Kevin Reddington challenging that conclusion by emphasizing that Hyalburn did not interview Clancy until more than three years after the killings. The psychologist agreeing that an evaluation conducted closer to the crime would generally be preferable. Reddington also walking Hyalburn through records, documenting Clancy's worsening condition, emotional numbness, intrusive thoughts, insomnia, and poor reactions to psychiatric medication. Hyalburn agreeing that Clancy tried hard to get help. Prosecutors then calling forensic psychiatrist Dr. Gregory Sadoff, a senior psychiatrist with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, who interviewed Clancy twice by Zoom for a total of roughly 11 hours. Sadoff focusing on Clancy's account that a male voice allegedly began speaking immediately in her head after a phone call with her then husband, repeated the ordering her to kill the children and herself, then falling silent once the children were dead. The psychiatrist testifying that several features of that account would be unusual for someone experiencing psychosis. Is it typical for someone in psychosis to hear a voice only one time never before, never after? No. And again, based on your training experience, is it typical for someone in psychosis to hear a voice that's constant rather than intermittent? No, that is not typical. And is it typical based on your training experience for someone to hear command hallucinations and then for them to stop abruptly? No, committing the act is not curative of the voice. I've not ever seen that. And doctor, based on your training experience, someone in psychosis hearing a voice without accompanying delusions, is that typical? That is, that would be pretty rare. It's absolutely not typical. Sadoff then identifying several inconsistencies he said caused concern during his evaluation. Clancy telling the psychiatrist she first heard the voice, telling her to kill the children while taking chicken nuggets from the refrigerator.
After her husband had left the house, whereas Patrick Clancy reportedly said his three-year-old was already eating the nuggets while Patrick was still home, calling into question Lindsay's claim that the voice did not materialize until Patrick was gone, telling her to act while she could. Sadoff then turned to the take-out order that brought Patrick to a restaurant farther from the house than places the family reportedly used more often. Lindsay telling Sadoff, she asked Patrick whether he wanted take-out and then researched the restaurant. While her phone records reportedly showed, she had already searched for the restaurant and the distance from the house. The psychiatrist also addressing Clancy's suicide attempt. Clancy telling him she took pills after strangling the children, without mentioning that she had allegedly crushed the medication into a powder and mixed it with lemonade. Sadoff describing the process of crushing and preparing the pills as laborious and characterizing the steps involved in the suicide attempt as sequential decision-making. Sadoff expected to return to the stand later today, and closing arguments could start tomorrow. Coming up, remembering country music legend and beloved American icon, Dolly Parton. And Lake Ontario becoming the latest target in President Trump's trade war with Canada as he floats renaming it will tell you what it might now be called. Everyone's talking about weight loss injections because the results can be so dramatic. They work by lowering blood sugar and reducing appetite. But what if you are looking to lose weight but are not interested in painful weekly injections, especially when you hear about some of the intense side effects? This is why doctors created a weight loss supplement called lean and the results could be remarkable. Lean says the studied ingredients in their product have been shown to lower your blood sugar, burn fat by converting it into energy and to curb your appetite and cravings so that you are not as hungry. But listen, lean is not for the casual diet or who only has a few pounds to lose. The doctors at Brickhouse Nutrition created lean for frustrated dieters with 10 or more pounds to lose. You could get started with 20% off and free rush shipping, adding lean to your healthy diet and exercise plan. Visit TakeLean.com and enter mk4yourdiscount, that's promo code
[email protected]. Dolly Parton, the country music legend, actress, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and beloved American icon, dying yesterday at the age of 80. TMZ reporting Dolly admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville early Friday while dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues. People magazine confirming she was hospitalized four days before her death. Dolly's reps announcing yesterday she died after a brief battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones. Her nephew and longtime head of security Brian Seever announcing her passing in a video shared through Dolly's social media accounts. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus Shirley, met by Carl, her parents, and countless others who have watched her and longed for her to meet them in the heavens. Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest. Dolly facing a series of health problems during the final months of her life, canceling a planned Las Vegas residency and earlier this month pulling out of a Dolly would appearance on her doctor's orders. The singer telling people magazine just days before her death that she was still healing but working. Her health struggles following the death of her husband Carl Dean in March of last year. The famously private couple were married for nearly 59 years and never had children. Born in a one-room cabin in the mountains of East Tennessee, Dolly was the fourth of 12 children raised by a sharecropper father and homemaker mother. That childhood remaining at the heart of Dolly's life and music throughout her more than six decades in entertainment, inspiring songs including "Code of Many Colors" as she went on to write classics like "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You". Her talents eventually carrying her to the silver screen with unforgettable roles in 9-5 and "Steel Magnolias". Dolly selling more than 100 million records worldwide, winning 11 Grammys and placing 25 songs at number 1 on Billboard's Country Chart, according to the Recording Academy. One of the best-selling artists of all time, Dolly was inducted into both the country music and rock and roll halls of fame. Also a shrewd businesswoman, Dolly retained control of her music, famously refusing to surrender half the publishing rights to "I Will Always Love You" when Elvis Presley wanted to record it. That decision later earning Dolly millions when Whitney Houston's version of the song became a worldwide pop phenomenon. Dolly's entertainment empire extending to the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon forage Tennessee, through it all Dolly never taking herself too seriously, winning over generations with her warmth, quick wit, and willingness to make herself the punchline. "If you could tell teenagers of America today, one thing, whether it be advice or something of support, what would it be?" President Trump honoring Dolly as one of the greatest country singers ever, ordering flags lowered to half-staff nationwide for one week. The President writing on true social quote, "There has never been anyone like her and never will." Dolly's legacy stretching well beyond music and entertainment, inspired by her dad, who never learned to read or write, Dolly founded the Imagination Library in 1995 to mail children free books of their own. In a letter to children graduating from the program, Dolly encouraging them to carry forward the same optimism that defined her life, quote, "dream big dreams, learn everything you can learn and care for all those who care for you. You do all of those things and you can be anyone you want to be." The legendary Dolly Parton, she will be missed. President Trump now floating another change to the map of the United States. How does Lake America grab you? The President writing on true social yesterday quote, "The United States is giving serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America in that we don't expect to be doing much business with Ontario any longer." Mr. Trump following that post with a map of the Great Lakes crossing out Lake Ontario and replacing it with Lake America in large gold letters. The focus on Ontario following a public clash between the President and the province's premiere Doug Ford. Ford responding on Monday to Mr. Trump's threat of 50% tariffs on Canadian vehicles, auto parts, and steel by saying during a radio interview that the president could quote "kiss my ass." The Ontario premiere, which is like a governor there, later raising the possibility of cutting off electricity and critical mineral exports to the U.S. if the dispute worsens. Mr. Trump firing back by calling him a quote "flunky," referring to the premiere as the less charismatic and less intelligent brother of the late Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, while warning Canadian leaders to quote "fall in line" or "face quote far worse consequences." The dispute with Ford unfolding within the larger trade fight between the two countries. The Trump admin imposing 50% tariffs on roughly 20 billion in Canadian goods over the weekend after negotiations collapsed, then threatening the same rate on Canadian vehicles and auto parts beginning in January. Canada announcing yesterday retaliatory tariffs on roughly 20 billion in American goods set to take effect September 8th. As for what Lake America would mean in practice, any new name would likely remain an American designation. The lake straddles Ontario and New York, meaning Mr. Trump could direct the federal government to adopt the name, but could not force Canada to recognize it. The president taking a similar approach last year when he signed an executive order changing the federal government's designation for the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The Lake America proposal following more than a year of Mr. Trump suggesting Canada should become our 51st state. Ford brushing aside the proposed Lake Ontario name change yesterday on CBS. What about this suggestion from the president to rename Lake Ontario Lake America? Well, you know, something I have to laugh when he comes up with these ideas. It's always going to be Lake Ontario here in Canada and you know, that's up to the president. If he wants to name it Lake America, Lake Trump, whatever he wants to do.
do. That's, uh, that's his prerogative. Mr. Trump offering his own blunt assessment of the relationship, writing, quote, "ideal with many countries, and Canada is easily the most difficult and unreasonable." The War of Words with America's Evil Top Hat, as Michael Knowles calls it, continues. And that'll do it for your AM update on Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show. Live on serious sex ends, the Megan Kelly channel 111 at New East on youtube.com/megankelly and on all podcast platforms. Today's episode was brought to you by SuperShore.
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