DSA Dominance on Sunday Shows, Graham’s Sister's Primary, WNBA Asks What is a Woman: AM Update 8/10

10 Aug 2026 · 20 min · 8 chapters

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In short

This AM political news episode covers: three prominent progressive Democrats on Sunday shows after Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate primary win; El-Sayed’s eagerness to campaign with Barack Obama while refusing to say whether he’ll campaign again with streamer Hassan Piker. It also discusses Wisconsin Democratic Socialist Rep. Francesca Hong’s governor primary amid scrutiny of her 2020 positions (defund/abolish police, cancel Thanksgiving) and AOC/Bernie Sanders distancing. Key claim: Democrats must build winning coalitions and engage young voters on mainstream platforms.

Notable examples

polls showing Hong leading David Crowley; South Carolina’s special GOP primary replacing Lindsey Graham, with Darlene Graham backed by Trump (“run, Darlene, run”).

Guests

none interviewed; the episode references public figures (El-Sayed, AOC, Bernie Sanders, Piker, Hong, Cantor Freedom, Royce White, Perez Hilton).

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

Tap a time to open that second in VO

Campaigning and Special Elections

0:39 to 1:35

Discussion about Michigan's Senate race and South Carolina's primary.

“I'm less concerned now with who I'm campaigning with, a lot more concerned about who I'm campaigning to.”

Campaigning and Special Elections

1:43 to 2:50

Discussion about Michigan's Senate race and South Carolina's primary.

“too dramatic if you've seen some of these actresses.”

Progressive Politics and Campaign Strategies

3:02 to 4:48

Analysis of progressives' strategies and their associations with controversial figures.

“shows yesterday as the party's left wing looks to build on Abdul El-Sayed's Democratic Senate primary victory in Michigan.”

Francesca Hong and COVID Politics

4:55 to 8:07

Discussion on Francesca Hong's past positions and their implications.

“And I'll tell you that the three million people who listen to Hassan are people I want to make sure understand that there's a pathway into our politics.”

Lindsey Graham's Replacement and Election Dynamics

8:09 to 12:34

Overview of the Republican primary in South Carolina following Graham's death.

“Oh, I will have much more to say about this on The Megyn Kelly Show later today.”

Lindsey Graham's Replacement and Election Dynamics

12:37 to 13:49

Overview of the Republican primary in South Carolina following Graham's death.

“And new details on Perez Hilton's condition, with his family now saying the celebrity blogger will need surgery as he begins what they describe as a long recovery.”

WNBA Eligibility Controversy and Transgender Inclusion

14:00 to 18:08

Discussion on the current controversy surrounding WNBA eligibility criteria and transgender participation in the league.

“Two former NBA first round draft picks now declaring themselves eligible for the 2027 WNBA draft.”

Perez Hilton's Health Crisis Update

18:08 to 20:31

Overview of Perez Hilton's hospitalization and the circumstances surrounding his mental health crisis.

“the WNBA's player eligibility rules are collectively bargained between the league and its union.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

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0:32Good morning, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Monday, August 10th, 2026, and this is your AM update. I'm less concerned now with who I'm campaigning with, a lot more concerned about who I'm campaigning to. Michigan's far-left Democratic Senate candidate eager to campaign with Barack Obama, while refusing to say whether he will hit the trail again with radical streamer Hassan Piker. South Carolina Republicans voting tomorrow in the special primary election to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham, with his sister trying to top a crowded field of candidates seeking his seat. If simply declaring who you are is all that's required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.

1:13Two former NBA first-round draft picks declaring themselves eligible for the WNBA draft as the league makes plans to determine what a woman is. and Perez Hilton's family revealing his injuries are serious enough to require surgery days after the celebrity blogger was hospitalized following an apparent self-harm incident. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

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2:56That's promo code MK at takelean.com. Three of the Democrat Party's most prominent progressives taking to the Sunday shows yesterday as the party's left wing looks to build on Abdul El-Sayed's Democratic Senate primary victory in Michigan. El-Sayed now moving into a general election against Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers with questions over his far-left allies already taking center stage. El-Sayed yesterday on NBC sounding eager to bring former President Barack Obama onto the campaign trail following a recent conversation between the two men. Is he going to campaign with you, Dr. El-Sayed?

3:36Look, I really hope so. And it was a really good conversation about what we need to do to be able to win. And obviously, this is somebody who knows a lot about winning Michigan. That enthusiasm proving harder to find when El-Sayed was asked about another figure who helped promote his primary campaign, radical far-left streamer Hassan Piker. Piker drawing repeated criticism over years of inflammatory commentary. America deserved 9-11, dude. Fuck it. I'm saying it. I don't support the state of Israel, and I don't support the state of the United States of America. Yeah, kill them. Kill those motherfuckers and murder those motherfuckers in the street.

4:11Let the streets let the streets soak in their fucking red capitalist bloods, dude. El-Sayed previously appearing alongside Piker during the primary, but declining yesterday to say whether he would campaign with the streamer again this fall. Do you plan to continue to campaign with Hassan Piker in the general election campaign? Look, I'm less concerned now with who I'm campaigning with, a lot more concerned about who I'm campaigning to. We've got a lot of work to do to continue to build the coalition that's going to be Mike Rogers. Would you welcome him, though? On the campaign trail with you? Like I said, I'm a lot more focused on who I'm campaigning to.

4:47So I think we have this notion sometimes on shows like this that we cannot or should not talk to certain groups of people. And I'll tell you that the three million people who listen to Hassan are people I want to make sure understand that there's a pathway into our politics. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York facing a similar question on ABC yesterday morning as Piker becomes an increasingly visible figure around the progressive movement. You know, I think when we look at our elections that have happened, we have lost young people. Much hay was made about the fact that we lost young men in the last election.

5:27And many of the same consultants that are wringing their hands today were the same ones talking about how we need to go on Joe Rogan and we need to be not not so willing to engage in cancel culture. And I think that the flip-flopping on this is a tactical debate that they may be having. I think the fact of the matter is, is that Democrats can go on Joe Rogan. Democrats can go on Fox News. Democrats have a responsibility to build a winning coalition. And young people are engaging in mediums and conversations that we have a responsibility to attend to and be responsive to. The questions over who progressives are willing to embrace extending beyond Michigan.

6:20In Wisconsin, Democrat Socialist State Representative Francesca Hong now seeking the Democratic nomination for governor while facing renewed scrutiny over positions she embraced during the COVID pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. Hong at the time calling to defund and ultimately abolish the police. She also urged Americans to cancel Thanksgiving, posting to X, quote, should have done this in 1621. If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original super spreader event that killed indigenous folks and women, so be it. By the way, folks is F-O-L-X.

7:00AOC pressed yesterday on Hong's past rhetoric, attempting to get out of responsibility for the madness of that time as follows. My understanding is that Francesca Hong has made clear her present stances to her electorate. Yeah, she's moved away from a lot of that. She's moved away from it. And I have a local city councilman that has this saying, woke one was crazy. During this time and during especially during covid, there was a huge opening of the Overton window. We were shut down. There was some of the highest unemployment rates that we have seen because of those shutdowns. And I think that the doors were really open in trying to entertain any and every policy that was going to get us to a better place.

7:46And I actually think that the discussions that had that were had in that time were quite fruitful. I think that, you know, during lockdown, of course, rhetoric in that time is not rhetoric that we would use today. And I'm grateful that these candidates have the opportunity to present who they are to their electorate and what they're campaigning on in this moment. Woke One was crazy? What? AOC pioneered Woke One. Oh, I will have much more to say about this on The Megyn Kelly Show later today. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont yesterday on CBS, like AOC, declining to go so far as to back Hong. We have a limited number of races that we can be involved in.

8:30Most of my focus on is getting people elected to the United States Senate, getting people elected to the House of Representatives. So with one exception, we have not been involved in a governor's race. That's somebody who I've known in Maine for many, many years. Hong's primary is set for tomorrow, with the most recent polls tracked by Real Clear Polling showing her leading the more moderate Milwaukee County executive David Crowley by double digits. South Carolina Republicans heading back to the polls tomorrow for a special primary to decide who will replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham as the party's nominee in November.

9:09Senator Graham securing the Republican nomination for a fifth term in early June, defeating businessman Mark Lynch by roughly 28 points, 56.8 percent to 28.9. The senator then dying unexpectedly on July 11th at the age of 71, leaving Republicans without a nominee for the November election. South Carolina Republican Governor Henry McMaster appointing Graham's sister, Darlene Graham, to temporarily fill his Senate seat, which she is doing now, with state law triggering a new Republican primary to determine who will take Mr. Graham's place on the general election ballot. President Trump quickly throwing his support behind Mrs.

9:49Graham, previously a state worker who has spent her career advocating for and helping the blind, with the president promising his, quote, complete and total endorsement if she sought the full six-year term, adding, quote, run, Darlene, run. Ms. Graham ultimately entering the race on July 20th. The first-time candidate addressing her lack of political experience directly during a Republican primary debate earlier this week. I'm different from most politicians. Obviously, I'm not a politician. I never saw myself being a politician. We all know why I'm here. I actually think it's part of God's plan.

10:25I know most of these guys have 30 or 40 years experience combined. And again, I'm not a politician. I'm not a millionaire. I understand the average struggles of the American family. I am pro-life. I don't believe in boys' and men's girls' sports. I don't believe they belong in the locker rooms. I think that's just dangerous. I believe in protecting the Second Amendment. I'm a bargain shopper because I have to be. And I'll do anything it takes to help pass the Save America Act because I think it's that important. Ms. Graham also breaking with her late brother on the filibuster, saying she would support eliminating this protection of Senate minority rights to help President Trump's signature voting reform legislation, the Save America Act.

11:14Ms. Graham entering primary election day as the frontrunner, though apparently still well short of the majority she would need to win the GOP nomination outright. A Qantas Insights poll released Friday, putting Ms. Graham at 30.4 percent, followed by Republican Congressman Ralph Norman at 17.5 percent, Congressman Russell Frye at 16.6 percent, former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford at 15.4, and businessman Mark Lynch at 7.1. Nearly 12 percent remain undecided. The Real Clear Politics polling average shows the race closer, with Graham up just six points on Norman. If no one clears 50 percent, the top two finishers advance to a runoff on August 25.

11:58Former Governor Sanford, whose extramarital affair as governor made headlines in 2009, went on to become a congressman, a seat he held for six years before losing a Republican primary following repeated clashes with President Trump during Mr. Trump's first term. Now, Sanford's seeking a political comeback, eyeing Senator Graham's seat. With such a crowded field, no candidate is expected to win an outright majority tomorrow. The eventual Republican nominee will face Democratic pediatrician Annie Andrews in the November 3rd general election in a race expected to heavily favor the Republican. Coming up, two former NBA players putting the WNBA's transgender eligibility rules to the test.

12:43And new details on Perez Hilton's condition, with his family now saying the celebrity blogger will need surgery as he begins what they describe as a long recovery.

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14:31The comments igniting a much broader fight across the league as coaches and players are increasingly pressed to say whether they believe men pretending to be women, should be allowed to compete in women's basketball. Then on Friday, former NBA center Ennis Cantor Freedom changing the conversation. The 6 '10 center selected third overall in the 2011 NBA draft, going on to play 11 seasons in the league, averaging more than 11 points and nearly eight rebounds per game over the course of his NBA career. Now at 34 years old, Cantor Freedom in a social media video declaring himself eligible for the 2027 WNBA draft, effectively daring the league to explain why he cannot play.

15:17If simply declaring who you are is all that's required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA. My team and I have carefully examined the WNBA's eligibility criteria and governing framework surrounding self-identification and inclusion. Based on the current guidelines, I can and am officially declaring my eligibility for the upcoming WNBA draft in May 2027. I am definitely not here to mock, make fun of, or to suspect any community or personal choices. I am simply asking that the current rules be applied equally to everyone, the rules that represent the very values many WNBA players and coaches have publicly advocated for.

15:56My team and I are prepared to ensure these guidelines are applied equally, consistently, and without exception. And I look forward to the WNBA honoring its stated principles. See you at training camp. The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement declaring, quote, only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA. The agreement not further defining the term women or establishing specific eligibility rules for transgender players. Although in the wake of Sophie Cunningham's statements, several coaches in the league and some players have come out as supporting trans athletes in their sport.

16:32This should put that to the test. Shortly after Cantor Freedom's announcement, former NBA first-round pick Royce White also announcing that he intends to enter the 2027 WNBA draft. Royce White is also currently running for the Republican nomination for Minnesota's Open U.S. Senate seat. The former NBA player speaking with Fox News yesterday. Right now, I'm just having a blast in my feminine era. I never thought that I was a woman. You know, I've always trusted the science and I thought I was a man my entire life. But, you know, after further review, I, you know, look, strong look at my personal preferences.

17:11It would appear that that I am indeed sometimes identifying as a transgender woman. And I think it's only fair I get a chance to play with some of my queens here in the twilight of my career, my athletic prime. WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert sending a memo, obtained by the Associated Press, to all WNBA teams on Friday, acknowledging that so-called transgender participation is attracting increasing attention around the league. Engelbert writing, quote, we recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, while telling teams that league officials will continue conversations with both team leaders and the Players Association.

17:49The commissioner also writing that trans eligibility will now be discussed by a task force of team presidents and general managers during a previously scheduled meeting this week, with the league planning additional discussions and listening sessions. Engelbert stressing that unlike some other sports organizations, the WNBA's player eligibility rules are collectively bargained between the league and its union. The WNBA Players Association also releasing a statement on Friday reaffirming its commitment to, quote, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion while condemning what it called hate and demonization targeting transgender people.

18:30Great. Let that inclusion include Cantor Freedom and Royce White. See how that goes. Celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton reportedly facing surgery as he remains hospitalized following an apparent self-harm incident at his Miami area home. Hilton's family revealing in an update Saturday that the 48-year-old remains in serious but stable condition after experiencing significant blood loss and suffering additional injuries that they say will require surgery in the coming days. The family warning, quote, his treatment and recovery will be a long process. Hilton, whose legal name is Mario Lavendera Jr., rising to fame in the early 2000s through his celebrity gossip website, PerezHilton.com.

19:17The blogger hospitalized Tuesday night after live-streaming on TikTok what appeared to be acts of self-harm from his home. Authorities safely taking Hilton into custody without incident before he was transported to the hospital. Hilton's family now confirming he remains hospitalized under Florida's Baker Act. The state law allows a person experiencing a mental health crisis to be taken for an involuntary psychiatric exam when officials believe that person poses a serious risk of harm to themselves or to others. The family statement adding that Hilton has had extremely limited communication, restricted largely to immediate relatives, medical providers, and others directly involved in his care.

19:59Hilton, a single father to three children, a 13-year-old son and daughters ages 11 and 8, all born via surrogacy. The children reportedly leaving the home with relatives shortly before the live stream began after family members recognized that Hilton was in crisis. Hilton's relatives pleading for privacy, specifically asking reporters and photographers to stop gathering outside the family home, following relatives, and taking pictures of his minor kids. And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK Show, live on SiriusXM's The Megyn Kelly Channel, 111 at noon east, on youtube.com slash Megyn Kelly, and on all podcast platforms.

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From the publisher

Abdul El-Sayed faces questions over his ties to far-left streamer Hasan Piker as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont confront scrutiny over the progressive movement’s candidates and rhetoric. South Carolina Republicans prepare for a special Senate primary tomorrow to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham, with his sister Darline Graham leading a crowded field. Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declare themselves eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft as the league begins new discussions over "transgender" eligibility rules. Perez Hilton remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition and faces surgery following an apparent self-harm incident, with his family warning that his recovery will be a long process.


 

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