reSee.it Podcast Summary
Megyn Kelly and her panel discuss new reporting on intelligence leaks aimed at undermining President Trump, focusing on declassified material that points to James Comey leaking through a Columbia University professor friend and shaping narratives about Russia and Trump. The guests explain that FBI inspector general findings show Comey and two aides discussed leaks to the New York Times, with Richmond, a Columbia law professor placed on the payroll, given access to top secret information to burnish Comey’s image and set future narratives. The reporter involved, Michael Schmidt of the Times, later won Pulitzers for Russia Gate coverage. The panel notes that the FBI traced six code-named leak investigations and, in every case, the Justice Department declined prosecution, they point out a double standard that appears to treat Democrats more leniently, while Donald Trump faced a raid and indictment over classified material at Mar-a-Lago. Solomon walks through an episode where Richmond met Comey, used the special government employee arrangement to bypass the FBI press office, and told investigators he didn’t “leak” with a discount denial. The discussion includes the implication that Comey’s team and the Obama Justice Department may have interfered in investigations into Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation, and that this would be part of a larger pattern of political interference.
The hosts turn to broader media dynamics, noting how outlets like the New York Times and Washington Post have handled Russia Gate coverage, including interviews with reporters and critics, and the way some correspondents are portrayed as sympathetic to official narratives. They reference CrowdStrike’s assessment of the DNC hack and underscore the distinction between intrusion into systems and evidence of exfiltration, arguing that some coverage overstated conclusions. The conversation touches on Tulsi Gabbard’s declassification efforts and the response from Daniel Richmond’s circle, including a note about Ellen Nakashiska’s reporting.
In a separate segment, Rich Lowry and Charles C.W. Cook discuss the politics of California. Steve Hilton, a candidate for governor, describes a top-two primary dynamic that currently pairs him with Katie Porter. Hilton criticizes Gavin Newsom’s redistricting efforts and argues that California’s one-party rule has produced high costs, ineffective homelessness policies, and a climate policy regime that has driven up housing and energy costs. He describes his plan to reverse this trajectory, addressing education, safety, immigration, and the state’s regulatory environment, and argues that federal policy alone cannot fix California.
The program then shifts to cultural commentary, including a lengthy discussion of Monica Lewinsky’s reflections on immigration and of John Oliver’s satirical framing, followed by Christine Baranski weighing in on billionaire space travel and publicity. The conversation closes with reflections on the national mood around crime, policing, border control, and the role of the media in reporting controversial topics, along with a brisk nod to the ongoing coverage of Tulsi Gabbard’s disclosures and Steve Hilton’s campaign in California. That’s the show’s update.