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WH Media War Goes to Court, Kamala 2028 Doubts, UFO Whistleblowers Want Out of NDAs: AM Update 9/22

17m 46s

WH Media War Goes to Court, Kamala 2028 Doubts, UFO Whistleblowers Want Out of NDAs: AM Update 9/22

A major media dispute has erupted as CNN, MSNOW, and Politico sue the White House over the abrupt suspension of their journalists’ access, claiming the move violates due process and the First Amendment. The ban, framed by the administration as retaliation for critical reporting, has disrupted live television coverage of the president, with no pool cameras and no replacement by other networks. Meanwhile, former aides of Kamala Harris are expressing doubts about her 2028 presidential run, citing limited campaign activity and donor disengagement. A high-level U.S. Embassy official in Israel is under investigation after reportedly soliciting cash wedding gifts, raising alarm over security clearances and potential breaches. In parallel, three former government employees—UAP whistleblowers—have formally requested President Trump to waive non-disclosure agreements to reveal claims of extraterrestrial activity and secret government programs, while the Pentagon has created an internal reporting system to safely receive such disclosures. Amid growing political and economic uncertainty, financial advisors emphasize gold as a protective asset, urging consumers to consider diversifying their portfolios. These interconnected developments highlight tensions in media freedom, national security, political strategy, and financial preparedness in the current climate.

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Good morning, everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026, and this is your AM Update. There is abundant case law that says you cannot arbitrarily bar reporters from the White House once you've decided to let them in. A White House media war heading to court over the suspension of three outlets' access as major networks band together and halt pooled TV coverage of the president's movements. Former Kamala Harris aides reportedly predicting their old boss will skip another White House run amid growing doubts about her ability to win in 2028. A U.S. embassy official in Israel holding a top-secret security clearance reportedly in hot water after soliciting money as wedding gifts from Israelis. Bring any improperly concealed activities back under lawful presidential and congressional oversight. And alleged evidence of recovered spacecraft and non-human occupiers. Locked behind government secrecy agreements as three UFO whistleblowers ask President Trump for permission to go public. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update. We are still a couple of months out, but the midterms are fast approaching. And make no mistake, if the House flips, and it's likely to, it is a big deal for our economy. That uncertainty is one of the many reasons to consider diversifying with gold from Birch Gold Group. The question really, if you're not in gold, is why not at this point? In the three months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, the price of gold jumped over 12%. Why? Because it's a hedge against uncertainty. If you don't own gold, consider talking with Birch Gold. Just talk to them. They're going to discuss your goals around gold and explain how precious metals can fit into your savings. They can even help you convert an existing IRA or 401k. In whole or even in part into an IRA in gold for no additional money out of pocket. When the machines take over, we're going to need some hardcore currency buried in the backyard. I'm not sure it should be the dollar. Gold could be a very good option. Text the letters MK to the number 989898 and get a free info kit, as well as some very solid information. The midterms are going to be here before you know it, so don't wait. Text MK to 989898. CNN, MSNOW, and Politico taking President Trump to court, challenging his decision to ban their journalists from the White House. The three news organizations filing a federal lawsuit yesterday morning after their reporters were denied entry to the White House Saturday and had their credentials confiscated by the Secret Service. The president announcing the ban one day earlier, accusing the outlets of repeatedly publishing what he described as fiction and lies. The organizations arguing the White House is not going to be able to ban journalists from the White House. The White House retaliated against them because of their fact-based, sometimes unflattering reporting, while revoking their access without warning or an opportunity to appeal. MSNOW legal affairs reporter Fallon Gallagher breaking down those two claims. So we filed this lawsuit on two big grounds. The first is due process, saying that our reporters were not given appropriate due process before the president implemented this ban. There was no notice. There was no hearing period. The other part of this is, of course, the First Amendment argument. This is saying that the White House is not going to be able to ban journalists from the White House. This is saying our lawyers are arguing that this is viewpoint discrimination and it is retaliatory because the president doesn't like our coverage. You cannot do that under the First Amendment. The White House arguing the First Amendment protects the outlet's right to publish, but does not guarantee a White House credential, briefing room seat or place in the press pool. The case landing before U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee who ordered the White House to restore CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's credential during a similar dispute back in 2018. The admin's response due today, ahead of a hearing on the outlet's request for an emergency order tomorrow at 3.30 p.m. Meantime, the ban immediately disrupting television coverage of the president. CNN had been scheduled to handle yesterday's White House television pool duties, part of a rotation involving CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News. The networks take turns covering events where space is limited, then share their footage with other news organizations. After the White House prevented CNN from taking its turn, the remaining networks declining to replace it, suspending TV pool coverage of the president. The effect already apparent yesterday as Mr. Trump marked the opening of a new granite helicopter pad on the White House lawn, the White House carrying the ceremony on its own social media channels, but the sound of Marine One drowning out the president's remarks without broadcasting. Newsmax noting the problem in real time. OK, so there is no microphone because there's no microphone because the pool cameras aren't there. So maybe, Tim, this is one example of it backfiring just a little bit. Pick up on some of the things Michael was saying. And obviously the ramifications are right here. Can't hear what the president's saying. The absence of the White House pool not preventing every appearance from receiving live TV coverage. Local New York affiliates, which are not part of the White House pool, later carrying a news conference outside of Gracie Mansion following a meeting between Mr. Trump and sometimes friends, sometimes foe, New York City Mayor Zoram Mamdani. The two responding when asked about the White House ban. I told the president that we're going to have all of the members of the press here on the lawn. And that is something that I believe in is is everyone, no matter the opinion or the critique that we engage. And I don't know, Mr. President. It's interesting because they said they were going to boycott me, but they never boycott me. So I wasn't very worried about that. Look at all that press. I never get anything positive. It's always negative. If you look at CNN, it's fake news. If you look at MS Now, I don't even know what MS Now is. I guess it's the MSNBC, what it used to be, or MSDNC, as some people call it. But it's just biased news. And I think that these outlets have an obligation to be fair. And if they're fake news, I really think I have an obligation. Not to allow them into another very special house. This is a special house, Gracie Mansion. Well, the White House is the most special of all houses. The White House announcing last night the creation of its own round-the-clock streaming channel, calling it Trump TV. The admin describing the channel as a continuously updated collection of the president's major remarks, videos, and other White House highlights. A new Axios report finding many of former Vice President Kamala Harris's closest former aides advisors and donors do not believe she will run for president again in 2028. The decision potentially reshaping the Democrat primary field. Ms. Harris currently leading the RealClearPolitics polling average of 24.1%, more than 10 points ahead of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sitting just behind Governor Newsom, followed by Congresswoman AOC of New York and Senator John Ossoff of Georgia. Axios surveying. Eight former Harris aides and advisors, including several who served in senior positions. Five reportedly predicting Harris will not run. Two describing her chances as a coin flip. Only one expects her to enter the race. Former staffers point to what they describe as a relatively limited political operation. Ms. Harris doing some campaigning for midterm candidates, appearing on podcasts and promoting her memoir. The sources view those moves as an effort to preserve her influence, however, rather than the early stages of another presidential campaign. One former aide arguing a candidate determined to run would already be hiring more staff, traveling more extensively, and taking a larger role in the party's policy debates. Money presents another potential obstacle. Axios reporting several major donors remain angry over the 2024 loss, while some former Harris backers are already gravitating toward political rivals, including Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Governor Newsom. Top Democrat donor Reid Hoffman recently predicting Ms. Harris would face what he called a, quote, Ms. Harris earlier this month on washed-up, soccer-star-turned-progressive-activist Megan Rapinoe's podcast, describing how she plans to remain politically engaged. What's brought you back out into this here life? I don't know how to live and not serve. I honestly don't. I just don't. It's something I've come to terms with. I don't know how to. I just don't know a life without figuring out how I can help move the needle. So right now, midterms, midterms, midterms, full-time, occupying my thoughts, my mind, and my work. We have to win these midterms. These folks are cheating. They're redrawing lines. They're trying to make it more difficult for people to vote, so they won't vote because they are afraid of the power of the people. So I'm spending full-time working on doing everything I can to help people restore some balance in our government, which is through the midterms, winning back Congress, the House, and the Senate, so that we can stop the madness. Asked point-blank if she is going to run in 2028, Ms. Harris again responding that she has not yet decided. The suspense. Coming up, Politico reporting a senior. U.S. Embassy Advisor holding a top-secret clearance Solicited cash gifts from Americans and Israelis ahead of his wedding. And UFO whistleblowers asking President Trump for permission to go public with claims of non-human intelligence. 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 make everyday purchases more affordable. The Electronic Payments Coalition says the Durbin-Marshall mandates would let corporate megastores cut corners on credit card processing, on routing transactions. Actions over cheaper, untested networks with weaker security and fewer protections. Find out more at GuardYourCard.com and consider telling Congress to guard your card. A senior advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem solicited cash gifts from Israeli citizens ahead of his wedding, raising questions about his top-secret security clearance. Politico was the first to report this story. U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Mike Huckabee's senior advisor, David Milstein, sending the invitation through paperless post last Wednesday, asking guests to RSVP for his October nuptials. The invitation also directing recipients to a QR code where they could send the couple monetary gifts in either U.S. dollars or Israeli shekels. Politico publishing screenshots of the message, although it remains unclear whether any money actually changed hands. Hours after Politico reportedly asked Milstein. The White House and State Department had approved this solicitation. Milstein then sending guests a new message, claiming the gift information had been intended only for family and close family friends, asking about a registry. Milstein telling the broader group he could not accept gifts of any kind while taking the QR code down. Milstein reportedly holding a top-secret security clearance that gives him access to sensitive intel routed through the embassy. One intelligence community member. Who reportedly reviewed the screenshots telling Politico Milstein is quote a giant walking counterintelligence red flag. The same source claiming concerns about the advisor had already reached officials inside the CIA. While another person familiar with the controversy telling Politico the wedding solicitation could be the quote final straw. Milstein and Ambassador Huckabee also facing scrutiny last year over a previously undisclosed meeting inside the U.S. embassy with convicted Israeli spies. with convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard. The New York Times reporting in November 2025, the meeting was kept off of Ambassador Huckabee's official schedule and took place without the White House's advanced knowledge. Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, served 30 years in prison for passing our classified information to Israel. The Times reporting Milstein attended the July meeting. Milstein has not been accused of a crime or of improperly accessing classified material. Two people familiar with the situation telling Politico, Milstein invokes his relationship with stepfather Mark Levin of Fox News to shield himself from consequences. Levin responding in a lengthy ex-post, attacking Politico and denying his stepson solicited gifts from Israeli citizens. Levin's response, however, confirming the central sequence reported by Politico, that Milstein provided a cash gift option and sent the information to the U.S. information to the broader wedding list before withdrawing it after Politico contacted him. Levin adding, quote, if David wasn't my stepson, I've no doubt he wouldn't be treated like this. Ambassador Huckabee also defending Milstein on X and appearing to take responsibility for the idea, saying friends wanted guidance on buying the couple something more useful than, quote, 13 can openers or a blender that they will never use. Mr. Huckabee dismissing the suggestion that the episode created a security risk while the State Department declined. To comment three high profile UFO or now they're called UAP whistleblowers joining forces to ask President Trump for permission to reveal what they claim is classified evidence that humanity is not alone. Former Intel officer David Grush, Air Force veteran Dylan Borland and former defense contractor Matthew Brown telling the New York Post they remain bound by government non-disclosure agreements. The group asking the president to waive those restrictions and to protect them from punishment if they share what they know publicly. Brown previously disclosing the alleged existence of a classified government program called Immaculate Constellation, which he claims collects UAP information from across federal agencies. The former defense contractor saying his secrecy obligations remain in effect for life unless the government gives him written authorization to speak. Former intelligence officer David Grush taking the appeal, directly to President Trump in a video released last month by filmmaker and disclosure advocate James Fox. I've already provided classified testimony and evidence to the Intelligence Community Inspector General and Congress about what I learned about unidentified anomalous phenomenon and the involvement of the United States, allied nations and adversary governments in the retrieval of technology of unknown origin. This included photographs and videos of these operations, including the craft and the non-human occupants. And I've seen this evidence with my own eyes and I've had these discussions with my own eyes. And I've had these discussions with my own eyes. And I've had these discussions with our nation's and I've had these discussions with our nation's and I've had these discussions with our nation's most senior leaders in a classified environment. I am prepared to provide a full historical accounting to the National Security Council principals and the White House Chief of Staff and make any supporting public statements that are authorized to help this administration move disclosure forward. Ready to support Stephen Miller, Vice President Vance of the administration immediately to identify the records, programs and people involved and bring any improperly concealed activities back under lawful presidential and congressional oversight. Mr. President, give us the authorization and we're ready to go. As the coalition pushes for permission to reveal more information publicly, the Trump administration taking a more limited step to help insiders report what they know within the government. The Pentagon last week issuing a waiver allowing current and former defense personnel and contractors to share classified UAP information through the government's new internal disclosure program known as PURSUE. The program creates a single authorized pipeline for those reports so information coming from different insiders can be systematically reviewed, evaluated for security concerns and considered for declassification. The waiver protecting those insiders from punishment or retaliation for violating certain secrecy agreements. The new protection addressing how insiders can report safely within the government, not whether their claims should be released publicly. For that, we await President Trump's answer to the three UAP whistleblowers who it seems have a few stories they'd like to share with the general public. And that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megyn Kelly. Join me back here for the MK Show live on Sirius XM's The Megyn Kelly Channel 111 at New East on youtube.com slash Megyn Kelly and on all podcast platforms. ♪ ♪

Podcast Summary

Key Points:

  1. CNN, MSNOW, and Politico have filed a federal lawsuit against the White House, arguing that the suspension of their reporters’ access violates due process and the First Amendment.
  2. The White House banned the outlets after accusing them of spreading false information, claiming retaliatory action against fact-based, critical reporting.
  3. The media blackout disrupted live TV coverage of President Trump’s events, as the pool cameras were missing and remaining networks refused to replace CNN’s scheduled coverage.
  4. Former Kamala Harris aides report growing doubts about her 2028 presidential bid, citing lack of campaign activity and donor frustration after the 2024 loss.
  5. A senior U.S. Embassy advisor in Israel solicited cash wedding gifts, raising serious security concerns given his top-secret clearance.
  6. Three UFO/UAP whistleblowers are seeking President Trump’s permission to disclose classified evidence of non-human intelligence and government programs.
  7. The Pentagon launched a secure internal reporting program (PURSUE) allowing insiders to share UAP-related information without fear of retaliation.
  8. Amid political uncertainty, financial experts recommend diversifying holdings with gold as a hedge against economic instability.

Summary:

A major media dispute has erupted as CNN, MSNOW, and Politico sue the White House over the abrupt suspension of their journalists’ access, claiming the move violates due process and the First Amendment. The ban, framed by the administration as retaliation for critical reporting, has disrupted live television coverage of the president, with no pool cameras and no replacement by other networks. Meanwhile, former aides of Kamala Harris are expressing doubts about her 2028 presidential run, citing limited campaign activity and donor disengagement.

S. Embassy official in Israel is under investigation after reportedly soliciting cash wedding gifts, raising alarm over security clearances and potential breaches. In parallel, three former government employees—UAP whistleblowers—have formally requested President Trump to waive non-disclosure agreements to reveal claims of extraterrestrial activity and secret government programs, while the Pentagon has created an internal reporting system to safely receive such disclosures.

Amid growing political and economic uncertainty, financial advisors emphasize gold as a protective asset, urging consumers to consider diversifying their portfolios. These interconnected developments highlight tensions in media freedom, national security, political strategy, and financial preparedness in the current climate.

FAQs

They are suing after their reporters were denied access to the White House and had their credentials confiscated, claiming this violates due process and the First Amendment.

The lawsuit argues that the White House denied due process by providing no notice or hearing, and that the ban constitutes viewpoint discrimination against fact-based reporting.

The White House claims it can restrict access to credentials and briefing rooms, but the lawsuit argues this violates the First Amendment, which protects journalistic access.

The ban disrupted the scheduled TV pool coverage, and when CNN was excluded, other networks declined to replace it, suspending live broadcasts of the president's appearances.

Yes, a senior U.S. embassy advisor in Jerusalem reportedly solicited cash gifts from Israeli citizens ahead of his wedding, raising concerns about a breach of top-secret security clearance.

They are asking for permission to waive government secrecy agreements and go public with claims of classified evidence of non-human intelligence and extraterrestrial activity.

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