Sen. Lindsey Graham Dead at 71 as Replacement Scramble Begins, Missouri Camp Rescue: AM Update 7/13

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0:34It's Monday, July 13th, 2026, and this is your AM Update. He sounded a little tired, but perfect, but a little bit tired. Soon we thought we might even meet today, and then that was it. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina unexpectedly passing away on Saturday night. Mr. Graham's death narrowing the Republican majority in the Senate as South Carolina readies for the fast-moving process to fill his seat. When the waters came up, campers, cars, they just got swept away. More than 200 children and counselors airlifted from a Missouri summer camp as historic flooding triggers hundreds of rescues across the state.

1:15and former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly planning to divorce her cross-dressing husband, according to her mom. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

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2:30U.S. Senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, dying Saturday evening after what his office describes as, quote, a brief and sudden illness. The longtime Republican politician was just 71 years old. Emergency crews responding shortly before 8.30 p.m. Saturday night to a report of chest pains at Senator Graham's Washington, D.C., home, a few blocks south of the U.S. Capitol. Dispatch audio indicating crews initially found the door locked, receiving no answer, forcing their way inside before reporting a cardiac arrest and beginning CPR. Mr. Graham's office releasing a statement last night indicating the senator suffered an aortic dissection caused by underlying cardiovascular disease.

3:14In other words, the senator suffering a tear in the inner layer of his heart's main artery. Town Hall reporter Dustin Grage citing a South Carolina source who claims Graham struggled with blood pressure problems dating back to his 40s and noting the senator's father died from cardiac arrest at 69. Senator Graham returning to Washington Saturday after meeting one day earlier with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during Graham's 10th visit to Ukraine since the war with Russia began in February 2022. He was scheduled to appear yesterday morning on NBC's Meet the Press, President Trump calling into the program instead.

3:54What makes it even stranger is that I got a call last night sometime in, you know, the early evening, maybe in the 7s, and he called and he said, we're all set for the Save America Act. He was pushing the Save America Act like crazy. He got back, said he just landed from Ukraine. I said, that's a long trip to make. He said he sounded a little tired, but perfect, but a little bit tired. I had a right to be. He was a worker. He was really a worker. But he sounded great, actually. But he actually said he was tired, but he wanted to pass the Save America Act. And I said, well, we're going to get it done, Lindsay.

4:33We're going to get it done. I'll see you, like, soon. We thought we might even meet today. And then that was it. The two recently becoming close political allies after beginning as bitter rivals. Senator Graham turning into one of the president's most enthusiastic defenders, frequently playing golf with him and earning a reputation on Capitol Hill as the Trump whisperer. Their alliance reaching a defining moment during Brett Kavanaugh's 2018 Supreme Court confirmation fight. Christine Blasey Ford accusing Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a gathering when the two were teenagers. Kavanaugh categorically denying the allegation, Ford unable to identify the precise date or location, while the people she placed at the gathering did not corroborate her account.

5:18Kavanaugh's nomination appearing to hang in the balance as several Republican senators remained undecided. Senator Graham then unleashing a furious attack on Senate Democrats during Kavanaugh's hearing. If you wanted an FBI investigation, you could have come to us. What you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold this seat open and hope you win in 2020. This is the most unethical sham since I've been in politics. And if you really wanted to know the truth, you sure as hell wouldn't have done what you've done to this guy. Are you a gang rapist? No. I cannot imagine what you and your family have gone through.

6:01Boy, y 'all want power. God, I hope you never get it. I hope the American people can see through this sham. God, I hate to say it because these have been my friends. But let me tell you, when it comes to this, you're looking for a fair process. You came to the wrong town at the wrong time, my friend. To my Republican colleagues, if you vote no, you're legitimizing the most despicable thing I have seen in my time in politics. The fiery defense helping change the political momentum, rallying Republicans around Kavanaugh as the confirmation fight reached its final stage. Kavanaugh ultimately confirmed by a vote of 50 to 48.

6:42The senator's foreign policy views creating a much deeper divide between him and the MAGA movement. Senator Graham, remaining one of Washington's most committed interventionists, repeatedly urging President Trump toward greater American involvement in the Middle East, that push becoming especially aggressive over Iran. The senator spending months pressing President Trump to authorize military strikes, dismissing advisers who favored restraint as the, quote, non-entanglement crowd in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. The senator continuing to call for military escalation, even as many Trump supporters warned against dragging the U.S.

7:21into another open-ended conflict in the Middle East. Senator Graham serving more than three decades in Congress, tributes pouring in from around the world and across the aisle. Senator Cory Booker, Democrat from New Jersey, posting a video to social media. One of the White House negotiators during that first negotiation told me that Lindsey Graham was like an unguided missile. That God, he never knew which way he was going to go. whether he would come back and hit you, but when he was aligned, when he would be in the right place at the right time, man, he could get things done that other people couldn't and bring a lot of light and new possibilities to the efforts.

8:01I am stunned at Lindsey Graham's death, but I pray that he is reunited with his friend, John McCain, that they both are experiencing God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. My prayers are with his family and all those who loved and cherished him. I will miss my perhaps most unexpected friend in the Senate and someone with whom I got some good things done. A former Air Force lawyer, Senator Graham remained in the Air Force Reserve while holding office before retiring as a colonel in 2015. South Carolina voters first electing him to the U.S. House in 1994, then sending him to the Senate in 2002.

8:43Mr. Graham winning the Republican nomination for a fifth Senate term just last month, defeating five primary challengers. The death of Senator Graham leaving South Carolina with an open Senate seat, further narrowing the already tight Republican majority in Washington. Republicans now hold 52 seats in the Senate. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announcing last night that doctors have not yet cleared him to return to the Senate floor following his hospitalization last month, although he does intend to return as soon as he's able. His continued absence, leaving Republicans with only 51 senators expected to vote when the chamber returns from recess this week.

9:25The reduced ranks, creating an immediate challenge for several parts of President Trump's agenda. Among the first major tests, the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the DOJ. Blanche's confirmation hearing set for Wednesday, with Democrats expected to fiercely oppose him. Senator Graham has been one of Blanche's strongest supporters on the Judiciary Committee, making his absence especially significant just days before the hearing. Meantime, in South Carolina, Senator Graham had recently won the Republican primary and was seeking another full term as senator in November.

10:00His death now triggering two separate processes, appointing a temporary replacement to his seat and selecting a new GOP nominee for the general election. State law allows Republican Governor Henry McMaster to appoint an interim senator to serve through the end of Senator Graham's current term, which ends in January 2027. Governor McMaster offering no immediate timeline for that decision. The race for the next full six-year term moving on a much faster track. Republicans interested in replacing Senator Graham will have one week to enter the race beginning July 21st. A special Republican primary scheduled for August 11th, followed by an August 25th runoff if no candidate reaches 50 % of the vote.

10:47The eventual nominee advancing to the November general election as the heavy favorite to keep the seat in GOP hands. Several prominent South Carolina Republicans already emerging as possible candidates, including Congressman Russell Frye and Congressman Ralph Norman, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evitt, and Congresswoman Nancy Mace, according to The Wall Street Journal. The congresswoman appearing on CBS yesterday, leaving the door open to a run. I would be remiss if I didn't at least consider it. But right now, my focus is going to be on South Carolina and mourning the loss of, I think, one of the greatest sinners we're going to have in our history.

11:24And then I'll make some considerations to what I do going forward. There may be a lot of people in this. There may not be. But we're talking about a three week race for the United States Senate if we're talking about July 21st to August 11th. It's a very short period of time. Ms. Mace considering a Senate bid only weeks after finishing fifth in South Carolina's Republican primary for governor. Congressman Joe Wilson also emerging early as a possible contender before appearing to take himself out of consideration, posting to X, quote, quote, I was grateful to speak with President Trump today, reminiscing about our mutual friend, Senator Lindsey Graham.

12:01I assured him my goal is to remain in the House to keep his two-vote majority for the American people. President Trump likely to carry significant influence over both the interim appointment and the coming election, given his close relationship with Governor McMaster. The president speaking with NBC News yesterday, hinting that he already has a preferred successor in mind. Yet the governor of the great state of South Carolina is going to need to appoint someone on an interim basis. There will also be a special election call. Do you have, I know it's only hours, but is there someone you think he should appoint?

12:37Is there someone you think he will appoint? I have somebody that I think would be great, but I don't want to say it now because it just, you know, it's too soon with Lindsay. I don't want to even talk about anybody, but I do have somebody that I think is really good. The governor is a good friend of mine, but ultimately it's going to be an election pretty soon. As I understand the rules, every state is different, but ultimately they'll have an election. They'll have some people joining. Some are good, some are bad, but I have somebody that I like, but I'm not going to tell you who now because it's too soon.

13:11Coming up, more than 200 children and counselors rescued from a Missouri summer camp as historic flooding leaves one person dead and hundreds more in need of help. And Kristi Noem's mother revealing the former DHS secretary's reported divorce plans after a truly bizarre year for the couple.

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14:54That's armra.com slash MEGYN. More than 200 children and counselors safely airlifted from a Missouri summer camp after historic flooding swallowed roads, cutting off every route out of the camp. The dramatic rescue unfolding Friday at Camp Tom Sauk in Lesterville, roughly 125 miles south of St. Louis. Fox News reporting torrential storms dumping between 6 and 12 inches of rain across central, south-central, and southeastern Missouri. The National Weather Service issuing flash flood warnings as thunderstorms repeatedly moved over the same areas, producing what officials describe as a one-in-1 ,000-year rainfall event in some locations.

15:39Floodwaters washing out the roads surrounding the camp, trapping children and staff on the property. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, a Republican, mobilizing the National Guard, including eight Black Hawk helicopters and roughly 35 National Guard members to evacuate all 202 campers and counselors. The helicopters carrying the group to a nearby elementary school where families waited to unite with them. Anne DeField telling NPR she and her husband spent Friday panicking after learning floodwaters had forced their 9 - and 11-year-old sons to higher ground. Her boys, however, viewing the ordeal as one big adventure.

16:19Nine-year-old Teddy calling the Blackhawk flight, quote, really, really fun, describing it as, quote, very loud and very cool and fast. The successful evacuation only won part of a massive rescue effort across Missouri over the weekend. Fox News reporting emergency crews conducted at least 351 swiftwater rescues across the region, the conditions so dangerous that one of the rescue boats even capsizing during the response. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reporting the boat's motor became tangled in a submerged line, throwing two troopers into the water, who then swam to safety without injury.

16:58Amid hundreds of successful rescues, the flooding claiming at least one life. The Crawford County Sheriff's Office identifying the victim as 23-year-old Faith Gregory. St. Louis Public Radio reporting floodwaters swept Gregory away on Friday morning. Searchers finding her body Saturday in a creek nearly two miles from her home. The Black River rising to a record 28.73 feet Friday afternoon as floodwaters tore through nearby communities. By Sunday, crews turning from emergency rescues to the enormous task of searching flood-damaged homes, campgrounds, and also vehicles. Missouri Task Force One leader Ryan Benedict with FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue Team telling local outlet KSDK that crews still have a long way to go.

17:48When the waters came up, campers, cars, they just got swept away, and those have to be checked. We have checked over 100 structures. We've checked like over 100 campers. We've checked over 90 vehicles. And there's still a lot to do. So that's why our crews are going out. We're not really sure at what point that's going to end, but we're not going to stop until it's all done. Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly planning to divorce her husband of 34 years, at least according to her mom. Corinne Arnold telling the Daily Mail last week that Noem informed her during a family gathering in late spring that she and Brian Noem intended to end their marriage.

18:30No divorce filing publicly surfacing, however, leaving it unclear whether Noem followed through with those plans or plans to. The apparent slip following the Daily Mail's bizarre March report detailing Brian Noem's alleged involvement in an online fetish community centered around women with dramatically enlarged breasts. The outlet reporting that Ryan exchanged hundreds of messages with at least three adult performers over an extended period, allegedly spending more than 25 ,000 bucks on the interactions and making comments about his marriage that were not so great. Ryan reportedly praising what he called, quote, huge, huge, ridiculous boobs and sending pictures of himself posing with balloons stuffed beneath his own clothing to imitate dramatically oversized breasts, not to mention the super short biker shorts.

19:23Noam's representatives responding at the time that she was, quote, devastated, adding that the family had been blindsided and wanted privacy and prayers. Arnold, telling the Daily Mail that the revelations appeared to mark the end of a marriage already under strain, quote, it has been difficult, but we knew this was coming, that they were going to get divorced. The Daily Mail reports Brian moved out of the couple's home after its original story exposed his alleged extracurricular activities and that he now lives roughly 20 miles away, both Christy and Brian declining to comment to the mail. The revelations about her husband coming just weeks after a turbulent end to Noam's tenure at the Department of Homeland Security, President Trump removing her from the department in early March after a pair of damaging congressional hearings, including questions over a 220 million DHS advertising campaign starring Noem that she claimed the president had approved, something the White House disputed.

20:22Administration sources telling the New York Post the final straw came when Noem refused to directly deny allegations that she was having a long-term affair with special government employee at DHS, Corey Lewandowski. Noam's mother rejecting those allegations, telling the Daily Mail, quote, Christy would never do that. That's not how I brought my kids up. And Corey's got his own wonderful family and little kids. The alleged relationship, however, has been an open secret in Washington political circles for years, with rumors surrounding the pair going back to at least 2021. And that'll do it for your AM update.

21:01I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK Show, live on SiriusXM's The Megan Kelly Channel, 111 at noon east, on youtube.com slash megankelly, and on all podcast platforms.

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