Talarico's Mystery "Flu" Absence, NYC ICE Shooting, New White House Press Secretary: AM Update 10/12

Good morning, everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Monday, October 12th, 2026, and this is your AM update. I just had the flu, and I feel much better. New audio raising questions about whether Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, James Tallarico, really spent more than a week away from the campaign trail recovering from the flu. He's the one that decided to accelerate and ram into another vehicle with his five-year-old in the vehicle. An ice shooting in New York City sparking a political firestorm after a wanted suspect allegedly tried to run down federal agents. President Trump announcing his pick for White House press secretary following a nearly two-month vacancy. And a deadly tiger attack at a wildlife park in England after a man climbs into the animal's enclosure. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update. AM Update It's no wonder so many people are scared of AI, because it is changing everything, including how criminals steal. 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Just use the promo code MEGAN30 at HomeTitleLock.com to find out today if you're already a victim. The AI threat is real. Do not let scammers have the upper hand. That's HomeTitleLock.com, promo code MEGAN30 to get peace of mind today. A newly released audio recording further inflaming controversy over Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, James Tallarico's extended absence from the campaign trail. As an Ohio mental health facility. Seems to confirm Tallarico was there right before they deny it. Tallarico resurfacing Friday at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, nine days after his last public appearance. The Democrat participating virtually in a September 30th forum hosted by the U.S. Hispanic Business Council, telling attendees he had been diagnosed with the flu the previous evening after visiting an urgent care clinic in Dallas. Tallarico remaining out of the public view for more than a week. His campaign. Telling the Dallas Morning News last Tuesday that the Democrat had fallen ill after an especially busy stretch of campaigning, but would return to the trail soon. That explanation doing little to quiet growing questions about his whereabouts. Outside speculation taking a more serious turn on Saturday when conservative commentator Caroline Wren posted flight tracking information she suggested could connect Tallarico to a mental health facility in Ohio. Wren pointing to flight tracking. Which landed in Austin Friday morning, just hours before Tallarico then appeared at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. However, the flight records provide no indication of who was actually aboard the aircraft or whether it had anything to do with James Tallarico whatsoever. Independent journalist Nick Sorter escalating the allegations yesterday afternoon, publishing an audio recording he claimed confirmed Tallarico had been receiving psychiatric treatment at the Lindner Center of Hope. Which landed in Austin Friday morning, publishing an audio recording he claimed confirmed Tallarico had been receiving psychiatric treatment at the Lindner Center of Hope. Recording purportedly capturing conservative influencer Ryan Amaker speaking over the phone to a woman identifying herself as an employee of the facility. Amaker posing as Tallarico's cousin, claiming he was trying to arrange delivery of a care package. During the exchange, the woman appearing to indicate that someone named James Tallarico had recently been discharged. Okay, so nothing for James Tallarico? Yes, it looks, well, this is what it said. It looks like he was just discharged this evening. That's why I don't have it. Oh, he was discharged then? Mm-hmm. Okay. And this is the Hope? They should be. Okay. I'm sorry. And let me make sure I have it right. This is Hope Lindner? Yes, uh-huh. Okay. And you're in Hamilton, Ohio? No, we're not in Hamilton. Oh. We're in Mason. Okay. So that's why he's not on the system. He's in recent. Okay. All right. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Bye-bye. Texas reporter Tony Ortiz of conservative outlet Current Revolt subsequently publishing the full six-minute, 41-second recording, along with additional details about how Amaker obtained the audio. Amaker telling Ortiz he made three calls in all to the facility, explaining that during his first attempt, an employee requested a verification code he did not have. During his third call, Amaker providing the four-digit number 2244, which he later admitted to Ortiz was entirely made up. The recording pointing to a potentially significant inconsistency involving the date of Tallarico's purported discharge. The woman on the call referring to a discharge occurring that evening. Amaker telling reporter Ortiz the conversation took place Saturday, which would mean that evening was Saturday evening, which is one day after Tallarico had already returned to the campaign trail in Austin. The Lindner Center of Hope said that the call was made on Saturday, which is one day after Talarico had already returned to the campaign trail in Austin. The Lindner Center of Hope now rejecting the allegation, writing on X, quote, Representative James Tallarico has never received treatment from Lindner Center of Hope. Tallarico later responding to that post with, quote, I've never even been to Ohio, end quote, with the crying slash laughing emoji added. He also addressed the controversy yesterday in an interview with NBC5 Dallas-Fort Worth. How bad was it for somebody who wants to know, is this just like in bed rest or did you ever have to go to a doctor or hospital? I don't know. I don't know. I just went to my primary care physician, but it wasn't anything worse than a nasty case of the flu. Well, so conservative folks on Twitter and some of Paxton's ally were pushing the idea that you had a stress-induced episode and we're getting treatment for it. What are your thoughts? Did that happen? That's not true. I just had the flu and I feel much better. But it's a good reminder that you can't believe everything you read on the Internet. Talarico's next major moment on the campaign trail comes Wednesday for a CNN town hall. Federal immigration agents shooting a wanted illegal immigrant in New York City Thursday afternoon after authorities say he rammed government vehicles and attempted to run down officers while trying to evade arrest. The confrontation unfolding in broad daylight in the Marble Hill neighborhood of Manhattan, while the suspect's five-year-old son was sitting in the backseat of his car. According to the Associated Press, federal agents approaching 28-year-old Dominican national Oscar Belgal, as he pulled into a parking spot shortly after 4 p.m. NYPD surveillance footage showing plainclothes agents rushing toward Belgal's vehicle with guns drawn, one wearing what appears to be a construction vest. Belgal then reversing and pulling forward, an agent appearing to strike the driver's side window as the vehicle moves away. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Executive Associate Director Marcos Charles saying agents had attempted to block Belgal in, but he refused. to exit the vehicle. According to Charles, Belgal accelerating into two government vehicles before driving toward other officers, prompting an agent, who said he feared for his life, to open fire. The actual shooting occurring outside the surveillance camera's view, the NYPD confirming one federal agent discharged seven rounds striking Belgal in the neck. Two agents also reportedly injured during the confrontation, both subsequently treated and released from the hospital. A separate body cam footage released by the NYPD showing city police officers arriving after the shooting, finding Belgal handcuffed and bleeding on the pavement. The officers then carrying him to a patrol car and rushing him to a nearby hospital. Belgal sustaining what officials describe as a "superficial neck wound." His five-year-old son, uninjured, and now reportedly in the care of his mother. The operation targeting a man authorities say had spent years cycling through New York's criminal justice system. According to the New York Post, Belgal entering the U.S. illegally around 2022 before accumulating a lengthy record involving robbery, assault, weapons offenses, and alleged drug dealing. Court records showing Belgal pleaded guilty to grand larceny following a 2023 robbery arrest, receiving five years probation in April 2025. Just months later, authorities arresting him again on charges involving the alleged sale of cocaine and fentanyl, A case that remains pending. officials also identifying Belgaal as an alleged associate of the violent Trinitarios street gang, with DHS chief Mark Wayne Mullen telling CNN that investigators believe Belgaal has knowledge of the shooting of a Customs and Border Protection officer by the gang last year. ICE already attempted to arrest him in September, only for Belgaal to evade authorities. Here's Mullen yesterday on CBS. Who did know who was in the vehicle was Oscar. Now, as a father of six individuals, or six kids, I mean, there's no way would I ever put my kids in danger. If I was giving lawful commands, and he knew he was being sought after, he knew the police was looking for him, because like I said, he just evaded a month ago, I would have immediately got out of my vehicle to protect my child. He's the one that decided to accelerate and ram into another vehicle with his five-year-old in the vehicle, and then tried to accelerate towards other police officers. The shooting setting off a confrontation between the Trump administration and DHS. New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, who condemned the operation at a Thursday evening press conference. ICE agents surrounded the man's vehicle before opening fire. They wore construction vests and masks that concealed their faces. There was no reasonable way to identify them as ICE agents. School had just gotten out. The street was crowded with families and children. When ICE agents opened fire, a five-year-old child, a five-year-old child, was in the backseat of the car. For the past two hours, I have been on the phone with President Trump and Secretary Mullen, negotiating the release of the man ICE agents shot. Those negotiations were unsuccessful. Just moments ago, ICE put the man in an unmarked vehicle and whisked him away. Let me say this plainly. What happened today was an outrage. Secretary Mullen responding Friday, offering his own account of the conversation with the mayor. I spoke to the mayor several times last night. He was wanting us to release this individual back onto the streets. President Trump actually got involved and said that we would release him to New York's finest. If NYPD wants to take the charges and pursue the charges, we'll be happy to release him into the custody of NYPD. I shared that with the mayor. The mayor once again said, we will not be detaining him. Wanted us to walk away and allow this decision to be taken. I said, we will not be detaining him. I said, dangerous criminal back onto the streets. Belgaal remains in federal custody as his attorneys fight to prevent his deportation. According to CBS New York, Belgaal is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after initially being transferred to an immigration facility in New Jersey. A federal judge Friday temporarily blocking his deportation while attorneys challenge his detention. Belgaal's attorney is now facing a deadline of tomorrow to address whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the case, according to inner city press. Federal authorities reiterating their intention to pursue his removal from the United States. Coming up, President Trump choosing his next White House press secretary, turning to a longtime supporter of his administration. And a man killed by a tiger at a wildlife park in England after climbing into the animal's enclosure. Feeling sluggish? Bloated? Not quite like yourself? Life constantly bombards us with silent threats, processed foods, artificial light, nonstop stress, all of which can disrupt gut health, drain energy, and weaken immune health. When that happens, it's not that your body is broken, it's that it might be missing the right inputs. That is why I want to tell you about Armra Cholestrum. It's packed with more than 400 bioactive nutrients that they say can work at a foundational level to fortify gut health. And it's not just about the body, it's about the gut health, support immune health, fuel recovery, and promote whole body vitality. Strong gut integrity can support metabolism, skin and hair health, and even performance and recovery, which is why Cholestrum has long been valued by some elite athletes as well. If you're looking to take back control of your health from the inside out, consider Armra. And they have a special deal for you. Go to armra.com slash Megan, or just enter my name, Megan, to get 30% off when you're checking out of your first subscription order. That's A-R-M-R-A dot com slash Megan. President Trump naming conservative commentator Katie Zachariah as his new White House press secretary, tapping a longtime supporter to become the administration's chief spokesperson. The president announcing his selection Friday on Truth Social, praising Zachariah for what he described as, quote, an unblemished record of support. Mr. Trump also describing Zachariah as a devoted member of MAGA and expressed in confidence she will work well alongside the press and his administration. Zachariah replacing Caroline Leavitt, who stepped down in August following the birth of her second child. The incoming press secretary currently serving as a senior communications advisor for Trump Media and Technology Group. That's the company behind Truth Social. Zachariah previously spending roughly two months at the DHS under then-Secretary Kristi Noem and becoming a familiar face on conservative television through appearances on Fox News and Newsweek. The search reportedly complicated by the discovery that several potential candidates had previously criticized President Trump. A White House official telling CNN the admin repeatedly identified promising contenders, only to then find past comments critical of the president. Zachariah reportedly emerging as a contender last week, Zachariah appearing on Fox News Friday evening for her first TV interview since the announcement. Katie, congrats. How'd you get the gig? Well, Jesse, I got a wonderful phone call from the chief talent recruiter, the president himself. And it turns out that being a huge supporter of all of his policies actually works. And he loved what a fighter I was for him, Jesse. So I just get to continue doing what I've been doing, which is promote all of the things that President Trump is doing on behalf of the American people to win. Zachariah posting to X on Friday, pledging to work with the White House press corps and reporters across the country. To highlight the administration's accomplishments. President Trump on Saturday expressing confidence in his new pick while speaking to reporters. I think Katie is going to do a great job. I've known Katie a little bit, but I've watched her a lot on television and she does a very good job and she believes in us and she believes in what we're doing, which is making America great again. She really does. Thank you for that question. Zachariah set to begin her new role today with her first briefing set to take place on Wednesday, June 12th. Take place tomorrow morning. A man mauled to death by a Siberian tiger at a wildlife park in northern England on Saturday. The incident unfolding at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, where police say the man entered the park's Land of the Tigers exhibit shortly before 135 p.m. According to the New York Post, the man appearing to be in good spirits in the moments leading up to the attack, even asking another visitor to take his picture with the massive tiger behind him. Outside the enclosure, another park visitor, Marie Miller, describing the man's unusual behavior in a Facebook post, writing, quote, The man who I saw on the bridge with his air pods in dancing was happily enjoying seeing the tiger, which was calmly sitting in the sunshine. Eyewitnesses describing the man as climbing over barriers along the elevated visitor walkway before making his way down into the tiger's enclosure. Miller suggesting he may not have understood the danger. Writing, quote, I'm not sure if he was with a carer or family member, but I honestly do think he just wanted to play with the tiger. Other witnesses raising questions about whether the man may have had a disability. The Daily Express reporting park visitor Richard White described the man as appearing deaf and autistic, though neither condition has been confirmed. Meanwhile, The Sun reporting the man appeared to make gestures resembling Makatan signs during the attack. That's a communication sign. The man appeared to have had a disability. you