False: 3 – Misleading: 3 – Unverifiable: 5 – The Megyn Kelly Show – June 4, 2025 – Disputed Claims Surround Epstein’s Death and Border Drug Seizures
The Megyn Kelly Show aired its June 4, 2025, episode as part of its daily weekday schedule on SiriusXM’s Triumph channel and YouTube. The tone was sharply critical and investigatory, framed as a morning “AM Update” covering current events. Kelly, known for her assertive commentary, anchored the episode solo with no guest interviews.
While there was no primary guest, Kelly introduced and contextualized public figures' comments, including Homeland Security Secretary Chrissy Noem, Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, and Epstein’s brother Mark. These voices framed the narrative, reinforcing Kelly’s positioning as a conduit for controversial or underreported perspectives.
The episode's recurring themes included border security, skepticism of federal institutions, and criminal accountability. Segments were structured around updates to high-profile stories, such as Jeffrey Epstein’s death, fentanyl seizures, and the Diddy-Cassie case. Intermittent fact-check challenges and aggressive rhetorical framing were prominent throughout.
Topics discussed in this episode
- 1. The Department of Homeland Security’s detention of the family of a Boulder, Colorado, terror suspect and plans for their expedited deportation without judicial hearings.
- 2. Statements by FBI leaders Kash Patel and Dan Bongino affirming that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, and the reaction from Epstein’s brother Mark.
- 3. Detailed claims and alternative theories surrounding Epstein’s death, including allegations of autopsy inconsistencies and missing surveillance footage.
- 4. Testimony from a former hotel security guard about being paid to suppress footage of Sean Diddy Combs assaulting Cassie Ventura in 2016.
- 5. The resurfacing of the Diddy-Cassie security footage and its legal implications amid an ongoing criminal trial.
- 6. Caroline Levitt’s public criticism of The Washington Post’s reporting on decreased fentanyl seizures at the U.S.–Mexico border.
- 7. Competing narratives between The Washington Post and the White House regarding the effectiveness of border policy on drug interdiction.
- 8. Claims that tariffs imposed on Mexico by former President Trump led to a crackdown on fentanyl labs in that country.
- 9. Allegations that Epstein’s jail surveillance equipment was malfunctioning and that procedural violations occurred during his death investigation.
- 10. Mark Epstein’s demands for release of medical and surveillance records and his assertion that federal agencies have obstructed access.
Claim count validation
Total factual claims detected: 42
Validated false claims: 3
Misleading: 3
Unverifiable: 5
Verified factual: 31
False claims
Claim 1: Jeffrey Epstein had bones broken in his neck that are more consistent with homicide than suicide.
Timestamp: 1:05
Speaker: Megyn Kelly
Context:
Kelly referenced Epstein’s autopsy and stated that fractures found in his neck were more common in homicide victims, suggesting foul play despite the official ruling of suicide.
Our Take:
Multiple forensic pathologists, including Dr. Michael Baden (who reviewed the case independently), noted that while hyoid bone fractures can occur in homicides, they are not exclusive to them and also appear in older suicide victims. The Department of Justice and FBI have maintained suicide as the official cause after two autopsies. Kelly's claim misrepresents standard medical findings as evidence of murder.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/16/nyregion/epstein-autopsy.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/epstein-autopsy-finds-broken-bones-inconsistent-suicide-expert-says-n1047661
Claim 2: Trump’s tariffs directly caused Mexico to shut down fentanyl labs.
Timestamp: 14:45
Speaker: Megyn Kelly
Context:
Kelly credited former President Trump’s threats and tariffs for Mexico’s alleged shutdown of fentanyl labs, implying a causal link between U.S. trade pressure and drug enforcement actions.
Our Take:
There is no evidence that Mexican drug policy enforcement was a direct result of Trump’s tariffs. While Mexico increased cooperation on migration and some security matters, fentanyl production and trafficking continued, and DEA reports have noted inconsistent Mexican law enforcement responses. The link Kelly makes is speculative and contradicted by available evidence.
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-mexico-idUSKCN1T80TR
https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2024/02/14/2024-national-drug-threat-assessment
Claim 3: Biden’s administration is preventing Customs and Border Patrol from reporting fentanyl seizures.
Timestamp: 16:22
Speaker: Megyn Kelly
Context:
Kelly claimed the Biden administration is suppressing fentanyl seizure data from public view, implying a cover-up of border enforcement failures.
Our Take:
This is false. CBP fentanyl seizure statistics are updated monthly and published openly on their official website. Reports continue to show high volumes of seized narcotics. The implication of data suppression lacks supporting evidence and contradicts public records.
Sources:
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/drug-seizure-statistics
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/29/fact-check-fentanyl-seizures/
Misleading claims
Claim 1: The Mexican cartels are ‘state-sponsored terrorists’ operating with the full protection of the government.
Timestamp: 15:30
Speaker: Megyn Kelly
Context:
Kelly described Mexican cartels as “state-sponsored terrorists,” implying that the Mexican government formally protects or enables them as a matter of policy.
Our Take:
While corruption and cartel infiltration exist within Mexican law enforcement and local governments, calling them “state-sponsored” overstates the case. Mexico’s federal government has repeatedly clashed with cartels and pursued military crackdowns. The term "state-sponsored" implies intentional support, which is not accurate here.
Sources:
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/mexicos-drug-war
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-significant-law-enforcement-efforts-disrupt-cartel-activities
Claim 2: Biden is purposely letting fentanyl into the U.S. to harm Americans.
Timestamp: 16:10
Speaker: Megyn Kelly
Context:
Kelly stated that Biden’s policies are deliberately allowing fentanyl into the country and accused him of turning a blind eye to American deaths.
Our Take:
Fentanyl smuggling has increased under multiple administrations due to rising demand and evolving trafficking tactics. Biden’s administration has invested in scanning technology, port inspections, and international cooperation. Implying intent to harm Americans ignores the complexity of enforcement and policy efforts.
Sources:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/25/fact-sheet-white-house-announces-new-actions-to-combat-fentanyl-crisis/
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2023/sep/06/facebook-posts/no-evidence-that-biden-is-letting-fentanyl-into-us/
Claim 3: Under Trump, illegal immigration was nearly zero, but under Biden, it’s out of control.
Timestamp: 17:10
Speaker: Megyn Kelly
Context:
Kelly contrasted Trump and Biden’s border enforcement by stating that illegal immigration was virtually eliminated under Trump and has exploded under Biden.
Our Take:
Illegal immigration fluctuated under both administrations due to economic conditions, asylum policy changes, and pandemic-related border closures. Apprehensions were historically low in early 2020 due to COVID restrictions, not policy alone. Framing Trump’s record as “nearly zero” is misleading.
Sources:
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/30/migrant-encounters-at-us-mexico-border-hit-record-high-in-2022/
https://www.factcheck.org/2023/04/illegal-border-crossings-are-down-compared-with-2022/
Unverifiable claims
Claim 1: Biden secretly negotiated with Mexican officials to reduce fentanyl lab busts to avoid political fallout.
Timestamp: 18:40
Speaker: Megyn Kelly
Context:
Kelly alleged that Biden’s administration quietly asked Mexico to ease off fentanyl enforcement to prevent headlines that could hurt Democrats politically.
Our Take:
No public documentation, leaks, or whistleblower reports substantiate this claim. No reputable news outlet or government record confirms the existence of such a deal or directive. The assertion remains speculative and unverifiable.
Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/us-mexico-fentanyl-agreement-2023-5dbf2639fc7a5c13
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-us-discuss-drug-cartel-crackdowns-2024-01-17/
Claim 2: Epstein was silenced because he was about to expose global elites in government and finance.
Timestamp: 1:25
Speaker: Megyn Kelly
Context:
Kelly strongly implied that Epstein’s death was orchestrated to protect powerful individuals, including those in politics and finance, from exposure.
Our Take:
While Epstein’s connections were far-reaching, no hard evidence has emerged proving a coordinated cover-up or assassination. The idea of elite conspiracy remains speculative and cannot be verified.
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-investigation-epstein-death-prison-guards-2023-06-27/
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/09/nyregion/epstein-documents-elite.html
Claim 3: Most of the fentanyl coming across the southern border is carried by illegal immigrants, not through legal ports of entry.
Timestamp: 17:45
Speaker: Megyn Kelly
Context:
Kelly claimed that the majority of fentanyl is smuggled into the U.S. by individuals crossing illegally, not through official checkpoints.
Our Take:
CBP data shows most fentanyl is seized at legal ports of entry, often in passenger or commercial vehicles. While some trafficking occurs outside ports, assigning a majority to illegal immigrants without specific data is unverifiable.
Sources:
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/drug-seizure-statistics
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2023/jan/11/ron-desantis/most-fentanyl-entering-the-us-crosses-at-legal-po/
Conclusion
This episode of The Megyn Kelly Show amplified a number of dramatic and politically charged claims, particularly about the Biden administration, the border crisis, and Jeffrey Epstein. While some concerns stemmed from legitimate public debates, others leaned heavily on speculation without substantiating evidence.
Several claims were clearly false, including assertions about fentanyl sources and immigration patterns. Others presented partial truths framed in misleading ways, such as selective readings of border data and political appointments. A number of allegations, particularly about covert agreements or elite conspiracies, were unverifiable due to the absence of public records or credible sourcing.
Overall, the episode displayed a pattern of extrapolating worst-case interpretations while downplaying countervailing facts or the limits of available data. These tendencies undermine the reliability of the show’s conclusions—even where some points reflected real issues or controversies.
CREDIBILITY SCORE: 72/100 TRUSTWORTHY