SBA Fraud Probed, RFK Jr and Hegseth Targeted for Impeachment, In-N-Out Bans “6-7”: AM Update 12/11

0:02Good morning, everyone. I'm Emily Jashinsky, host of After Party and the Megyn Kelly wrap up show on Sirius XM channel 111. It's Thursday, December 11th, 2025, and this is your AM Update. Unfortunately, the SBA's 8A program has been a magnet for fraudsters since its inception. Another federal program under multiple investigations following accusations of rampant fraud and abuse. Customs and Border Protection considers screening social media histories for some travelers seeking entry into the U.S. I introduced articles to impeach Secretary Pete Hexet. RFP Jr. has got to go. Two Democrat lawmakers filing performative articles of impeachment against two top Trump cabinet officials.

0:50And a fast food chain takes a stand against a viral meme craze. You know the one. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

1:05When customers are walking through the aisles of their local Walmart, they are not just picking up groceries or supplies. They are supporting American businesses and their communities. The real story is what's behind the label. With over two-thirds of the products Walmart buys made, grown, or assembled right here in the U.S., buying local is not just stocking shelves. It's about strengthening communities. Because of that commitment, Walmart invested$350 billion in U.S. manufacturing, helping American companies like Fisher & Weezer Specialty Foods, that's a local Texas business, expand their operations in Fredericksburg, Texas to hire more people and bring their Texas-grown peach jam to a national market.

1:46Their story is just one example of how Walmart's U.S. manufacturing investment is supporting over 750 ,000 American jobs. Businesses across the country are empowered to sell more, hire more, and help their communities grow. From farms to factories to final shopping carts, learn how Walmart is fueling the future of U.S. manufacturing at walmart.com slash americaatwork. A federal contracting program intended for, quote, experienced small business owners who are socially and economically disadvantaged, including Black, Hispanic, Native, and other groups, now the target of investigations by the Small Business Administration, or SBA, the Treasury Department, and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, amid accusations of rampant fraud.

2:36Historically, about 5 % of government contracts were set aside under what is known as the 8A program, the Biden administration tripling the goal to 15 % of total government contracts. In fiscal year 2024, the program handing out$40 billion in awards. In June, one government official and three executives pleading guilty to a decade-long bribery scheme involving at least 14 contracts totaling more than$550 million. Prosecutors saying the government officials sidestepped the competitive bidding process to steer lucrative contracts under the 8A program to executives who were paying him kickbacks. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler ordering a review of the program to identify similar examples of misconduct.

3:26In October, investigative journalist James O 'Keefe releasing a video further exposing alleged fraud within the program. The director of contracts for an 8A company explaining to O 'Keefe how businesses in the program are able to win the contracts, then pass off the majority of the work through subcontractors. And I tell you, pass-throughs are a great thing as well. Tell me about those. Well, so pass-throughs, because you're Native American, right? If you have, there's a big bid out, and there's a company that wants to bid on it, that's not Native American. All they do is partner with you. They use their people.

4:04You subcontract to them, right? They're your subs. So a lot of our subcontractors bid on contracts that were perfect in their industry, but because they weren't Native American, they wouldn't win it. So we bid on it for them. They became our sub. And it's an automatic win because of the government set aside. You automatically will win that contract because of your Native American status. There's no bidding. There's no bidding war. The director telling O 'Keefe their company completes about 20 % of the work. passing off the remaining 80 % to other contractors in violation of rules regarding subcontracting.

4:45That company is now under investigation by the SBA. O 'Keefe's reporting triggering an additional wave of investigations. The Treasury Department in November announcing its own probe into the program, covering about$9 billion worth of contracts. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, head of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, sending letters to 22 agency heads, including the Department of War, Interior, DOJ, and more, requesting that they pause 8A contracting and conduct internal reviews of those contracts within their agencies. Yesterday, Senator Ernst's committee holding a hearing on the matter, the senator outlining inherent issues that result from issuing contracts based on skin color rather than merit.

5:33Unfortunately, the SBA's 8A program has been a magnet for fraudsters since its inception. When 8A programs divert government contracts to businesses committing fraud, legitimate small businesses pay the price, losing jobs, revenue, and growth opportunities. Government contracting should be based on eligibility and merit, not skin color. I promise to make Washington squeal, and it is clear that this pigpen of a swamp needs a thorough mucking out. Democrats, led by Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, largely belittling the need for the hearing. Today's hearing is called Running Government Like a Small Business, Cut Waste, Crush Fraud.

6:18A more accurate title, however, would be Running Government Like a Trump Family business, cutting deals with billionaires and crushing small businesses. As we're focusing on waste, fraud and abuse, you know, there's just so much of that rampant in this regime that I hardly know where to begin. The administration's most recent fixation, SBA's 8A program, which is a program that gives small disadvantaged businesses training, technical assistance and federal contracting opportunities for nine years. Now, those businesses are principally Black and Brown owned in our country. That's who they're focusing on.

7:00Investigative reporter Luke Rosiak, who has extensively covered fraud within the program, testifying that it no longer serves its original purpose. The program was created in 1978, mostly to help Black Americans start businesses since they'd been discriminated against by the government. But I don't believe any member of this committee would support the program if you see how it works a half century later. At least 5 % of all federal contracting dollars are diverted through set-asides. But these billions don't go to poor minorities in your states. They go to insiders in the suburbs of D.C., which are already the wealthiest counties in the country.

7:34Earlier this week, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler issuing letters requiring all 4 ,300 8A firms to submit financial records covering the last three years, as Senator Ernst has introduced legislation to halt all awards under the program until an audit is complete. The Trump administration is preparing to require foreign travelers from more than three dozen countries to submit their last five years of social media history before being allowed into the U.S. U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Tuesday filing notice of the proposal in the Federal Register, the government's official public notice system.

8:15The proposal applying to visitors seeking electronic travel authorization, a visa waiver program for certain countries, to enter the U.S. for up to 90 days. The current guidelines requiring travelers from countries like Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Qatar, Spain, and the U.K. to pay$40 and provide a home address, phone number, email address, and emergency contact. The proposal calling for a more thorough vetting, including all of the traveler's personal and business phone numbers from the last five years, email addresses from the last 10 years, plus names, birthdays, places of birth, and addresses of family members.

8:54The rule now subject to a 60-day public comments period where people can weigh in with questions, comments, and concerns before it can officially take effect. The new vetting procedure is set to take effect early next year in advance of the World Cup set to begin in June. 11 U.S. cities set to host matches, with Reuters reporting over a million tourists expected to travel to the States to watch the five-week tournament. Foreign students and H-1B visa holders are subject to similar online presence reviews, critics of the proposal calling it an attack on free speech, though full constitutional protections do not generally apply to foreign travelers seeking entry into the U.S.

9:35A CBP spokesperson telling AM Update, quote, nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States. This is not a final rule. It is simply the first step to starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe. The department is constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, especially after the terrorist attack in Washington, D.C., against our National Guard right before Thanksgiving. Coming up, articles of impeachment filed against two cabinet officials this week. Will they go anywhere? And one fast food chain taking steps to protect itself from a viral meme craze.

10:15You know, 6 '7".

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11:01To Trump cabinet officials now the subjects of newly filed articles of impeachment. To Democrat lawmakers filing separate articles this week, Congressman Sri Tanidar of Michigan on Tuesday seeking to oust Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. I introduced articles to impeach Secretary Pete Hegseth for murder and conspiracy to murder and reckless and unlawful mishandling of classified information. Since day one, Secretary Hexert has disgraced that once proud office that he holds. From issuing orders to kill everybody on board a small boat with no evidence of any wrongdoing to launching a follow-up strike to finish off survivors who barely clinging onto their life.

11:56He also put the lives of our own troops in danger by leaking classified war plans in an unauthorized signal group chat, which included a random journalist with no role anywhere in the administration. The second strike on a suspected drug vessel in September becoming a media controversy since the Washington Post reported that Secretary Hegseth allegedly ordered the military to, quote, kill everybody on board. The Post noting the directive could have constituted an illegal order, prompting inquiries in the House and Senate. Secretary Hegseth offering additional clarity, telling reporters at a recent cabinet meeting that the second strike was ordered by commanding officer Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley after Mr.

12:45Hegseth had left the room, but that the admiral had his full support to make the call. Admiral Bradley appearing on Capitol Hill last week to brief lawmakers in a closed session. Days later, NBC News exclusively reporting that Bradley told members of Congress the 11 people on the boat were on a list of narco-terrorists whom U.S. officials had determined could legally be targeted. Bradley reportedly telling lawmakers the two survivors managed to climb back onto the boat and did not appear injured, nor did they appear to surrender. The military spotting a larger vessel nearby, concluding it was set to link up with the initial target.

13:24On Monday, President Trump touting to Politico the success of the sea strike operations, which have to date sunken at least 20 vessels, killing dozens. Have you watched the video? You were stopping. I watch everything, yeah. I watch everything. I see a lot of things. And do you believe that that second strike was necessary? Well, it looked like they were trying to turn back over the boat, but I don't get involved in that. That's up to them. The admiral that did that is a highly respected, as you know, a highly respected man. And we save 25 ,000 people every time we knock out a boat. On average, they kill 25 ,000 Americans.

14:03So, you know, I don't like doing that. But the drugs coming in through the sea are down to, they're down by 92 percent. And I'm trying to figure out the 8 percent. Who are they? Nobody wants to drive boats to America loaded up with drugs anymore. Well, I do want to ask because... And we're going to hit them on land very soon, too. As far as Signalgate, an inspector general report released last week finding, quote, the secretary's actions created a risk to operational security, but as CNN reports, quote, did not assess whether Hegseth had shared classified information or properly declassified it, citing Hegseth's authorities as secretary to unilaterally dictate what is protected information.

14:46Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell calling the report a, quote, total exoneration of the secretary. And in another political stunt, yesterday, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, also of Michigan, introducing articles of impeachment against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. RFK Jr. has got to go. Today, I introduced articles of impeachment to remove him from office. RFK Jr. has turned his back on science, on public health, and on the American people. I cannot and I will not stand by while one man dismantles decades of medical progress. Enough is enough. And that is why I'm pushing to impeach RFK Jr. The impeachment resolution accusing Secretary Kennedy of abusing his authority and undermining of the public health.

15:34The 13-page document laying out a list of grievances, including eliminating research programs, canceling grants, and firing all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which sets vaccine policy. Congresswoman Stevens, currently seeking a Senate seat, telling the New York Times this impeachment bid is no political stunt, quote, I am not one for political theater. I am standing up for the health and safety of the people I represent. Not one for political theater, a claim possibly undermined by this floor speech from March 2020, in which the congresswoman appeared wearing pink latex gloves, arguing in an unhinged speech in support of a COVID stimulus package.

16:20Cause of their servitude, sharing in the profession with those who have not come before you, Similar times of trying medical need. Wars and flus pass. You will see darkness. You will be pushed. And our society needs you to stand together at this time. Our country loves you. To our doctors and our nurses, I wear these laces. The gentlelady's time has expired. The gentleman from Maryland is reserved. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon telling The Hill on Wednesday, quote, Secretary Kennedy remains focused on improving Americans' health and lowering costs, not on partisan theatrics designed to elevate standing in a failing third-rate Senate bid.

17:01Neither one of these efforts are expected to go anywhere as they lack support from Democrat leadership, and Republicans control the House. Trigger warning. If you have children listening, this next story could cause an outburst in In-N-Out fast food burger chain officially retiring order number 6-7 following the viral 6-7 meme craze. People Magazine confirming the number removed from the order lineup following incidents of chaos. Young customers flocking to the counter, eagerly awaiting the order number to be called, and then, pandemonium. Guess 6-7! Guess number 6-7! An employee confirming to the outlet the number was removed about a month ago.

17:54The viral 6-7 memes origins may feel impossible to trace if you are over the age of 12. But CNN reporting an early driver, a viral song by Philly rapper Skrilla called Doot Doot 6-7, featuring the rapper repeating the numbers as part of the chorus. From there, high school basketball superstar and social media influencer, Taylin Kinney, posting a video rating a Starbucks drink as a 6-7, while making the now infamous hand gesture, each palm face-up bobbing up and down in a weighing motion. Kinney then posting more videos with the song and gesture to his TikTok account, boasting one million followers.

18:37The rest is history. the viral meme taking off like wildfire, popularized on the mega hit video game Roblox, perplexing parents feeling left out of the joke, much to the delight of Gen Alpha. Even Vice President J.D. Vance, afflicted by the humor, posting Tuesday to X, quote, yesterday at church, the Bible reading started on page 66 to 67 of the missile, and my five-year-old went absolutely nuts, repeating six, seven, like 10 times. And now I think we need to make this narrow exception to the First Amendment and ban these numbers forever.

19:19That'll do it for your AM update. I'm Emily Jashinski, host of After Party. Catch the Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM's The Megyn Kelly Channel, 111 at noon east on youtube.com slash megynkelly and all podcast platforms.