Who Will Be Next Attorney General, Diddy Appeals Sentence, New Dog Longevity Drug: AM Update 4/10

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0:39As the ceasefire in Iran enters day three, oil traffic still barely moving, and Israel is still striking Lebanon. If President Trump chooses to keep me as acting, that's an honor. If he chooses to nominate me, that's an honor. A fight for control of the Justice Department as President Trump considers his pick for the next attorney general, and allies reportedly jockey for a position behind the scenes. A high-stakes appeal for Sean Diddy Combs, his lawyers arguing the sentence went too far and raising a novel theory involving the First Amendment. Oh, by the way, this also unlocks the possibility of us working on human longevity one day.

1:19And a new daily pill designed to extend your dog's life. Now nearing FDA approval. What might this mean for humans? All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update.

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2:12These viral PJs are so good, they sold out during the holidays, but now they're back. with an exclusive deal only available April 6th through the 12th. Okay? That's like, you got to get on it. Today's already, we're past that. We're past the 6th. Head to CozyEarth.com today. Use my code Megan to get these PJs for you and someone you love. That's code Megan to get these PJs for you and a loved one because home starts with mom. And if you get a post-purchase survey, please be sure to mention that you heard about Cozy Earth right here on The Megan Kelly show. As the U.S.-Iran ceasefire technically enters its third day, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a trickle, and Israel continues striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, underscoring how fragile and contested the agreement remains.

3:03CNN reporting as of yesterday evening, shipping executives and analysts say uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire makes transit too risky for most shippers. Adding to the uncertainty, some reports indicate that Iran may be charging certain vessels tolls for safe passage. Despite originally floating a tolling system as a U.S.-Iranian joint venture earlier this week, President Trump posting to Truth Social yesterday, quote, there are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait. They better not be, and if they are, they better stop now. On the water, hundreds of ships on either side of the narrow waterway waiting to cross, based on vessel tracking data.

3:45Overall traffic through the strait yesterday at well below 10 % of normal volume, according to Reuters. Meantime, Israel continuing its intense bombing campaign last night against reported Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. This despite President Trump asking the prime minister on a Wednesday phone call to pull back on strikes. Mr. Trump telling NBC News yesterday afternoon, quote, I spoke with Bibi and he's going to low-key it. I think we just have to be sort of a little more low-key. Shortly after that, Netanyahu maintaining publicly that there is, quote, no ceasefire in Lebanon, promising to continue firing at, quote, full force.

4:23Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammed Bagheer Galibuf, in a social media post yesterday, warning that Lebanon is a part of the ceasefire and promising violations will incur, quote, explicit costs and strong responses. And with talks set to begin tomorrow morning in Pakistan between U.S. negotiators and the Iranians, the ex-account of Ayatollah Moshtaba Khamenei posting yesterday, quote, all must know that by almighty God's will, we definitely won't allow the criminal aggressors who attacked our country to go unpunished. So the ceasefire is going great. A fierce internal battle now underway for control of President Donald Trump's Justice Department following the ouster of former AG Pam Bondi.

5:08A new deep dive from Politico detailing the power struggle playing out behind the scenes. At stake, which faction of the president's party will ultimately control the direction of the DOJ, as it faces staffing losses and internal disagreements over legal strategy in some of the administration's most closely watched cases? One of the names reportedly in consideration, head of the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon, a staunch ally of President Trump's, and a prominent voice in the conservative legal movement for years. In private practice, Dillon sued Democrat Governor of California Gavin Newsom multiple times over COVID-era restrictions, including successfully challenging the governor's ban on indoor religious services.

5:51Critics say she wasn't sufficiently outraged at the treatment of the January 6th defendants, but she did just file a probe into January 6th hearing star Cassidy Hutchinson for allegedly lying under oath, not to mention she's pursuing the protesters who stormed that St. Paul, Minnesota church, including, yes, Don Lamont. In nominating her to her current role, President Trump writing on True Social, quote, Harmeet will be a tireless defender of our constitutional rights and will enforce our civil rights and election laws fairly and firmly. Also under consideration, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who before joining the administration served as President Trump's personal attorney, defending him in the Mar-a-Lago documents case, the election interference case, and the New York business records case.

6:39The knock on Blanche is that he was once a Democrat, and some fear may be insufficiently dedicated to the president's agenda. Doesn't sound like a problem here. As to whether or not I want this job, I did not ask for this job. I love working for President Trump, it's the greatest honor of a lifetime. And if President Trump chooses to keep me as acting, that's an honor. If he chooses to nominate me, that's an honor. If he chooses to nominate somebody else and I go back to being the DAG, that's an honor. If he chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say thank you very much.

7:13I love you, sir. So I don't have any goals or aspirations beyond that. Another familiar name in the mix, U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., Janine Pirro. Pirro working closely with DOJ leadership on the high-profile crime crackdown in the Capitol, but facing some setbacks in more politically sensitive cases, including a failed attempt to secure grand jury indictments against the so-called Seditious Six, the group of Democrats who filmed a video urging the military to ignore hypothetical unlawful orders. She also previously served as a Fox News host, just like current Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Secretary of War Pete Hexeth and the former Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino.

7:54Asked Wednesday about the possibility of becoming Attorney General, Pirro not directly ruling it out. First of all, I am here because the president asked me to be here. I am here as I think the only double hatter in the United States Attorney's offices. I came here not only for the federal crime, but for the street crime. I'm back at my roots. I'm doing what I know best and I'm doing what I love. And that's why I left a very nice life. That's what the president has asked me to do. And that's what I'm doing. And one of the earliest names floated, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who has already reportedly discussed the role with President Trump.

8:35Politico describing Zeldin as, quote, one of Trump's most reliable loyalists and a key facilitator of the president's American energy dominance agenda. I don't know what the knock is on Lee Zeldin, but I can tell you what a pro is about him. He graduated from Albany Law School. Some say it's the best law school in Albany, New York. It's the Harvard of Albany, you might say. Some of the best lawyers in the country have graduated from this institution. So go Lee. It's not yet clear when President Trump will make a decision. Coming up, Sean Diddy Combs' legal team in court yesterday challenging the rap mogul's sentence and testing the limits of the First Amendment.

9:17Incredible news for dog lovers. A daily pill aimed at helping your pup live longer, now one step closer to reality.

9:31Let's talk about what's really happening right now. New data shows that financial stress is at an all-time high for some. Many Americans are at a breaking point. Debt maxed out, no extra dough, no room to breathe. And some people are running out of options. Listen, if debt has been weighing on you, you're not alone. And when it comes to debt, waiting usually makes it worse. Interest piles up, minimum payments keep you stuck, but you don't need another loan or bankruptcy. What you need is a strategy. That's why I wanna tell you about Done With Debt. They build a smart, personalized plan around you.

10:05They know what it takes to get you the biggest reductions possible, whether you owe$10 ,000 or much, much more. Done With Debt has one clear goal, lower what you owe so you keep more of your paycheck every month. Start with a free consultation. It takes minutes. You share your situation, and find out what's possible for you. You don't have to stay stuck. Go to donewithdebt.com. That's donewithdebt.com. Sean Diddy Combs' legal team in federal court yesterday appealing his conviction in front of a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Combs sentenced in October 2025 to 50 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release and a$500 ,000 fine.

10:49A jury last July convicting the hip-hop mogul on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution after a seven-week trial, while acquitting him on more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Throughout that trial, jurors hearing graphic testimony from multiple accusers, including ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, a woman identified as Jane, along with several former employees and associates. Ventura and Jane alleging they were coerced into so-called freak-offs, prolonged drug-fueled sexual encounters involving hired escorts orchestrated by Combs lasting for days and sometimes including physical violence by Combs or threats against the women if they wanted these events to end.

11:32At yesterday's hearing, the judge is appearing skeptical of Combs' arguments, which were limited to alleged legal errors rather than new evidence. His legal team arguing the trial judge imposed an excessive sentence, effectively punishing Combs for conduct tied to charges the jury rejected. Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro telling the court Combs received a sentence roughly four times higher than typical penalties under the Mann Act. That's the law that makes it illegal to transport someone across state lines for unlawful sexual activity. Combs' team also raising a First Amendment argument in written filings, claiming the freak-offs were highly choreographed sexual performances involving the use of costumes, role-play, and staged lighting, which were filmed so that Combs and his girlfriends could watch this amateur pornography later, end quote.

12:21The filing continuing, quote, pornography production and viewing of this sort is protected by the First Amendment and thus cannot constitutionally be prosecuted. Prosecutors describing that argument in response filings as meritless. According to reports, that argument, notably not raised during oral arguments yesterday, Combs' team yesterday seeking Diddy's release and either a full acquittal or resentencing. The panel offering no immediate ruling, with Trump-appointed circuit court judge William J. Nardini calling it a, quote, exceptionally difficult case, one that raises legal questions federal courts have not had to confront before.

12:58It's unclear when a decision will be issued. Combs, who is currently being held at a low-security federal prison in New Jersey, did not attend the hearing. He is scheduled for release in April 2028, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. We spoke with MK True Crime contributor Phil Holloway, who tells us the defense's First Amendment argument is likely not going to fly. Well, I think the arguments raised by Diddy's lawyers are based on pretty thin tea. Look, the trial judge has already rejected this exact First Amendment defense prior to the sentencing. Considering that this did not come up very much, if at all, in the oral arguments, I think speaks to the fact that everyone, the lawyers, and I'm sure the judges understand that this is probably the weaker of the argument.

13:44So the limited time on oral argument would be better spent from the defense perspective on the arguments that may be stronger. But it's important to remember that even if these encounters were filmed, the trial evidence, including the testimony, described them as part of a pattern involving control, drugs and pressure on these women. And you can't use the First Amendment as a shield to get away with underlying conduct that is in and of itself a crime. Holloway says the defense's main argument that Combs was over-sentenced is not looking good either. The defense would like the court to make some kind of finding that the judge considered specific conduct in his sentencing for which Diddy was acquitted.

14:30He was not convicted, of course of all of the charges. He was convicted of these Mann Act violations, but the judge, just like the jurors, sat through every day of the trial, and the judge is not required, nor is he expected, to ignore the totality of the evidence in the case when it comes to how he exercises his sentencing discretion. And on the question of whether Combs could win early release, don't bet on it. The argument that the sentence is excessive is not going to fly either because the trial judge is vested with broad discretion here. And as long as the sentence that was handed down by the judge fits within the statutory sentencing scheme authorized by Congress, the judge is on very solid ground.

15:14In the absence of some strong, compelling evidence of abuse of that discretion, the sentence will not be overturned. Some exciting news for dog lovers everywhere, a company is now closer than ever to FDA approval of a pill designed to extend the canine lifespan, with hopes of hitting the market as early as this year. Loyal, a San Francisco-based startup founded in 2019 by Celine Haliwa, is developing a drug called Loy-2, aimed at helping senior dogs live longer, healthier lives. If approved, Loy-2 would become the first FDA-approved drug for lifespan extension in any species. Haliwa describing her vision on 60 Minutes.

16:00My vision is that this is, you know, it's a daily beef flavored pill that are given preventatively to keep them healthier longer, similar to a statin, you know, for older Americans. And you think it will actually help extend a dog's life? Yeah. How long? Approximately one healthier year of life. Maybe it'll be more, maybe it'll be less. An aging drug is about delaying and slowing the rate of decline that a dog or a human has over time to give them more healthier years. It's not something that you would give to a dog or a human on their deathbed to give them another year. It doesn't work like that.

16:33The drug, which comes in the form of a beef-flavored pill, works by changing the metabolism of senior dogs to mimic the benefits of a low-calorie diet, which has been shown to extend their lives, reports Forbes. According to tech magazine Fast Company, Loyal already surpassing two critical milestones on the road to FDA approval. The final step? Demonstrating that the drug can be consistently manufactured at scale. Loyal raising more than$250 million since its founding, betting big on a market that includes nearly 90 million dogs in the U.S. alone. If successful, two additional drugs are already in development geared toward younger, larger dogs.

17:13As for cost, the company has yet to set a price. But the average dog owner could expect to pay less than$100 per month, says Haliwa. And the obvious next question, if scientists can extend the lives of dogs with a pill, what about humans? Haliwa on CBS already looking ahead to that possibility. If we can achieve this, this is a massive, multi-billion dollar company. If we only do that, we're all happy. But oh, by the way, this also unlocks the possibility of us working on human longevity one day. I think going dogs first is the fastest way to work on and understand the biology of human aging. And now we're faced with the question, do we actually get this for Strudwick?

17:54I mean, thunder, obviously, yes. But, and if you don't know why I'm asking, go to megankelly.com, sign up for our once a week email, and you will get to know the stories about my precious, precious boy, Strudwick. So very naughty, but so incredibly sweet. Okay, I'll do it. I'll do it. Make it two. 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 Megan Kelly Channel, 111 at noon east, on youtube.com slash megankelly, and on all podcast platforms.

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