The Megyn Kelly Show

Nancy Guthrie Ransom Deadline Passes, Maxwell Takes Fifth, Musk Pivots to Moon City: AM Update 2/10

17 min
Feb 10, 20262 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

This AM update covers the ongoing search for missing NBC host Savannah Guthrie's mother with a passed ransom deadline, Ghislaine Maxwell's Fifth Amendment refusal at a House Oversight Committee deposition, the Trump administration's pushback on immigration enforcement statistics, and Elon Musk's strategic pivot from Mars colonization to prioritizing a lunar city.

Insights
  • Veteran investigators question the legitimacy of Nancy Guthrie kidnapping claims, citing lack of proof-of-life communications typical in real ransom negotiations
  • Ghislaine Maxwell's clemency strategy is creating political friction, with Democrats pressuring Trump to rule out pardons while her attorney conditions cooperation on presidential clemency
  • Trump administration disputes CBS reporting on ICE arrests, claiming 70% have criminal charges versus CBS's 14% violent crime figure, revealing definitional disagreements on 'worst of the worst'
  • SpaceX's strategic shift from Mars to lunar city development reflects pragmatic timeline advantages: moon missions every 10 days versus Mars alignment windows every 26 months
  • Border czar Tom Homan's Minnesota replacement signals administrative recalibration toward softer enforcement messaging while maintaining criminal deportation focus
Trends
Clemency negotiations becoming public political leverage in high-profile casesDefinitional disputes over criminal classification in immigration enforcement metricsSpace industry competition intensifying between SpaceX and Blue Origin for NASA lunar contractsStrategic timeline optimization driving space exploration priorities over long-term colonization goalsLocal law enforcement cooperation becoming critical to federal immigration enforcement successMedia-government statistical disagreements driving public narrative battles on policy effectivenessRapid iteration cycles favoring near-term achievable goals over ambitious long-term missions
Topics
Missing persons investigation and ransom negotiationsGhislaine Maxwell clemency petition and DOJ oversightICE immigration enforcement statistics and criminal classificationTrump administration border enforcement strategySpaceX lunar colonization versus Mars mission prioritizationNASA lunar landing timeline and commercial space competitionFederal-local law enforcement cooperation on deportationsProof-of-life protocols in kidnapping casesHouse Oversight Committee Epstein investigationDHS immigration metrics and reporting accuracy
Companies
SpaceX
Founder Elon Musk announced strategic pivot from Mars colonization to prioritizing lunar city development within 10 y...
Blue Origin
Jeff Bezos' company competing with SpaceX for NASA lunar landing contracts as NASA targets 2028 human moon landing
NASA
Encouraging competition between SpaceX and Blue Origin to support lunar landing goals and eventual Mars missions
People
Savannah Guthrie
NBC News host whose 84-year-old mother Nancy Guthrie is missing; issued public plea for help on day 10 of search
Elon Musk
SpaceX founder reversing prior Mars-first strategy to prioritize lunar city development as primary near-term goal
Ghislaine Maxwell
Convicted Epstein associate pleading Fifth Amendment at House Oversight Committee deposition; seeking Trump clemency
Tom Homan
Trump administration border czar replacing Greg Bavino; emphasizing criminal deportation focus with softer enforcemen...
Paul Cielino
Veteran homicide investigator questioning legitimacy of Nancy Guthrie ransom notes due to lack of proof-of-life evidence
Donald Trump
President whose clemency decision is central to Ghislaine Maxwell's cooperation strategy; previously noncommittal on ...
Trisha McLachlan
DHS assistant secretary defending immigration enforcement statistics, claiming 70% of arrests had criminal charges or...
Camilo Montoya Galvez
CBS News immigration correspondent reporting that only 14% of ICE arrests involved violent criminal records
Quotes
"We believe our mom is still out there. We need your help. She was taken and we don't know where and we need your help."
Savannah GuthrieOpening segment
"I don't think she was kidnapped. We would have heard. Listen, they would have been a video, they would have been a photograph, they would have been something, a lock of hair, a drop of blood, something mailed to somebody so they could verify yes."
Paul Cielino, veteran homicide investigatorNancy Guthrie segment
"Ms. Maxwell is prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump. Only she can provide the complete account."
David Oscar Marcus, Maxwell's attorneyMaxwell deposition segment
"It is only possible to travel to Mars when the planets align every 26 months, six month trip time, whereas we can launch to the moon every 10 days, two day trip time."
Elon MuskSpaceX pivot segment
"I learned that maybe we can use a little bit of a soft touch, but you still have to be tough. These are criminals. We're dealing with really hard criminals."
Donald TrumpImmigration enforcement segment
Full Transcript
Good morning everyone, I'm Megan Kelly. It's Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 and this is your AM update. We believe our mom is still out there. We need your help. The search for missing 84 year old Nancy Guthrie enters its 10th day as the ransom deadline passes with no proof of life and Savannah Guthrie issues a new plea. On the advice of council, I respectfully decline to answer this question and any related questions. Galein Maxwell pleads the fifth in an oversight committee deposition. The Trump administration pushing back on a new report suggesting its immigration crackdown is missing the worst of the worst. An Elon Musk hitting pause on his mission to Mars, shifting SpaceX toward building a lunar city. All that more coming up in just a moment on your AM update. If you are looking to make smarter choices for your health this year, consider Riverbend Ranch. Their steaks are not only delicious, they contain real high quality protein that helps fuel your body. 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The search for missing 84 year old Nancy Guthrie entering its 10th day with no sign of the missing mother of NBC news host Savannah Guthrie. As a 5 p.m. mountain time last night, the alleged kidnappers deadline to pay $6 million in Bitcoin ransom came and went. Just hours before that deadline, Savannah Guthrie posting a new video on her Instagram account. This one addressing the public instead of the abductor or abductors. I wanted to come on and just share a few thoughts as we enter into another week of this nightmare. I just want to say first of all, thank you so much for all of the prayers and the love that we have felt my sister and brother and I and that our mom has felt because we believe that somehow, some way she is feeling these prayers and that God is lifting her even in this moment and in this darkest place. We believe our mom is still out there. We need your help. She was taken and we don't know where and we need your help. So I'm coming on just to ask you not just for your prayers, but no matter where you are, even if you're far from Tucson, if you see anything, you hear anything. If there's anything at all that seems strange to you that you report to law enforcement, we are in an hour of desperation. Many noting a markedly more natural cadence in her latest message, a shift from earlier. The Pima County Sheriff's Office yesterday issuing yet another update without much of an update at all journalist Brian N10 reporting the FBI says it is not aware of any continued communication between the Guthrie family and the suspected kidnappers, nor have they identified any suspects or persons of interest at this time veteran homicide investigator Paul Cielino telling the New York Post he does not think the ransom notes were legitimate. I don't think she was kidnapped. We would have heard. Listen, they would have been a video, they would have been a photograph, they would have been something, a lock of hair, a drop of blood, something mailed to somebody so they could verify yes. In fact, these people have my mother. Kidneyppers want to get paid quickly. They don't want this thing to linger. If you're negotiating with another drug dealer in South America somewhere, it could go on for a few weeks a month until they get bored and decide this is not worth it and it's either pay up or we're going to kill this person and it's always a negotiation right. The first figure they throw out is never what actually gets paid like any good business deal. There's going to be a negotiation but it's going to be a fast and hard one and there's been no negotiations. No one's called up and said hey where's my money? That hasn't happened. For a simple reason is nobody's kidnapped or I don't think. If you're a good kidnap you're going to grab the medication on the way out the door because you're going to have to take care of her. You're going to have to keep her alive and healthy right. So it shows a total lack of planning. Major questions still remain including what Nancy's full pacemaker data shows. What proof exists that Nancy did in fact return home on Saturday night and why investigators returned to daughter Annie's home over the weekend taking photographs for several hours in the dark of the evening. A location the local sheriff's office said they intended to return to again last night. MK True Crime host Phil Holloway is on the ground for us in Tucson. He'll bring exclusive reporting to the Megan Kelly show later this afternoon. Convicted Epstein associate Galein Maxwell appearing virtually before the House Oversight Committee yesterday for a deposition tied to the committee's bipartisan investigation into the DOJ's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case as expected Maxwell pleading the fifth declining to answer any questions. Maxwell currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse and her own misconduct as well. Here a moment from the taped deposition. John the Advising Council I respectfully decline to answer this question and any related questions. My habeas petition is pending in the southern district of New York. I therefore invoke my right silence under the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution. Maxwell filing a habeas petition challenging her conviction in December a last ditch long shot legal effort after the US Supreme Court declined to hear her appeal in October. Congressman Andy Biggs, Republican from Arizona and chairman James Comer yesterday, describing Maxwell's deposition to reporters. The attorney for for Ms. Maxwell said that she has no indication and would say that neither President Trump or Clinton are culpable for any wrongdoing and that's one thing they said in his opening statement to us today. Just to be clear what the what her attorney said, Maxwell did to her attorney said that she would answer questions if she would grant a claimancy by the President Trump. Maxwell's attorney David Oscar Marcus posting to ex quote, Ms. Maxwell is prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump. Only she can provide the complete account. Some may not like what they hear but the truth matters. Oversight committee Democrats now blaming President Trump for Maxwell's continued refusal to cooperate. Here Congressman James Wackensha of Virginia, Congressman Suhas Supermanian of Virginia and Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico. What we did get was another episode in her long running campaign for clemency from President Trump. And President Trump could end that today. He could rule out clemency for Galein Maxwell the monster. Galein Maxwell should have no hope of ever getting out of prison but so we will continue to call for this president to completely rule out a pardon for Galein Maxwell. She is not being released from jail and last of course Donald Trump buys what she's selling. She is exactly where she's supposed to be in terms of her conviction and she needs goat to go back to the prison where she belongs. President Trump aboard Air Force in November had this to say about a possible pardon. Maxwell transferred in August to a lower security federal prison camp in Texas an apparent concession for earlier cooperation in an interview with deputy attorney general Todd Blanche. The Oversight Committee's investigation continues many depositions set for the coming weeks including former Victoria Secret CEO Les Wexner on February 18th. That ought to be a good one and Hillary and Bill Clinton on February 26th and 27th respectively. Coming up, the Trump administration responding to a new report suggesting the admin is not as it claims targeting the worst of the worst in its immigration crackdown and Elon Musk's space expmission to Mars delayed as the team shifts its priorities to building a city on the moon. Relief factor loves hearing from pain free customers and they hope they can help you be one of them next. Let me tell you about Bill and his relief factor story. Bill says I've been crawling under sinks and working long hours for decades. My back and my knees took the punishment. I thought pain was just a part of the trade but relief factor surprised me. Within weeks he writes I was working without wincing. I could get down on the floor and get back up again without thinking twice. Yes, Bill knows hard work. He knows pipes, tools, and long days on the job. What he didn't know is how good life can feel when pain stops tagging along. Relief factor does not change bill's trade. It changed bill's future. Relief factor is 100% drug free and it targets the inflammation that causes pain so you can move better feel better and enjoy life again. Tried the three week quick start for just 1995. Go to reliefactor.com or call 800 for relief. Let's see if you're next getting out of pain. The Trump administration sparring with CBS News over the framing of a report on whether ice is in fact targeting the quote worst of the worst. CBS News reporting quote less than 14% of those arrested by ice and Trump's first year back in office had violent criminal records, basing its report on an internal DHS memo. The report stating quote the internal DHS figures undermine frequent assertions by the Trump administration that it's crackdown on illegal immigration is primarily targeting dangerous and violent criminals living in the US illegally. People Mr. Trump and his lieutenants have regularly called the worst of the worst. CBS's immigration correspondent Camilo Montoya Galvez digging deeper into the findings. The internal DHS document that we obtained here at CBS News shows that over the past year the second Trump administration specifically ice has arrested about 400,000 individuals who are suspected of being in the country illegally. About 40% of those 400,000 immigrants did not have any criminal record here in the US meaning that they were being held solely because of civil immigration violations like living in the country without permission. About 60% did have some kind of criminal charge or conviction, but the numbers show that most of those criminal offenses were non-violent in nature and only 14% included violent crimes like murder, homicide and sexual assault. According to CBS, 10.9% of those arrested by ice had assault charges or convictions with smaller percentages for crimes like homicide and robbery. The Trump administration pushing back hard on CBS's interpretation of those numbers. DHS assistant secretary Trisha McLachlan writing on X quote, drug trafficking, distribution of child pornography, burglary, fraud, DUI, embezzlement, solicitation of a minor, human smuggling are all categorized as non-violent crimes. McLachlan also writing that about 70% of illegal immigrants arrested under President Trump and Secretary Nome have pending criminal charges or prior convictions. We asked McLachlan about the discrepancy between her numbers and the alleged memo CBS has in its hands. She told us the department is not familiar with the specific document CBS is referencing saying it has not been shared with DHS by the news outlet. Fox News reporter Bill Mollusion adding further context on X posting quote, none of Lake and Riley, Jocelyn Nangare and Rachel Moran's illegal alien killers had any violent criminal history beforehand. President Trump getting reelected in 2024 while promising to conduct the largest mass deportation effort in human history following years of an open border under President Joe Biden. NBC News reporting yesterday on a June interview with President Trump's border czar Tom Homan featured in the forthcoming book, Undo Process the Inside Story of Trump's mass deportation program. In that interview, Homan stressing the importance of prioritizing criminal offenders saying quote, I think the vast majority of the American people think criminal illegal aliens need to leave. And if we stick to that prioritization, I think we keep the faith of the American people and we've got to do it in a humane manner. Homan arriving in Minnesota last month effectively replacing border patrol commander Greg Bavino, who's more aggressive public facing enforcement drew backlash and political fallout. Homan now working to increase cooperation with local authorities while emphasizing a continued focus on targeting criminal offenders. President Trump in an interview with NBC News last week, reflecting on how the fallout from Minnesota is influencing who the administration targets for deportation. I learned that maybe we can use a little bit of a soft touch, but you still have to be tough. These are criminals. We're dealing with really hard criminals. SpaceX founder Elon Musk delaying the rocket company's mission to colonize Mars, now focusing on quote, building a self-growing city on the moon. My goal is to walk more. Musk founding SpaceX back in 2002 with the goal of reducing the cost of space travel and ultimately enabling humans to live on Mars. Eight months ago, Musk announcing plans to launch five unmanned ships to Mars as early as this year. Musk previously describing the massive logistical challenge of building a self-sustaining civilization on the red planet, turning a SpaceX town hall. We need to get about a million tons as my guess to the surface of Mars to make a civilization on Mars self-sustaining. Again, to that critical point, if the resplitioce from Earth stopped coming for any reason, Mars still succeeds. Mars can still grow. So you can't be missing anything. You can't be missing even the equivalent of vitamin C or anything. You've got everything you need for Mars to grow. That's essential. My guess is that's about a million tons, but it might be 10 million tons. I hope it's not 100 million tons. That'd be a lot. But we want to try to get to that point and secure the future of civilization as quickly as possible. On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reporting SpaceX has now told investors, it is pivoting, aiming first to establish a city on the moon before we colonize Mars. The move marking a notable reversal, Musk last year calling the moon, quote, a distraction, writing on X-Quote, were going straight to Mars. But in a post Sunday night, Musk now arguing a self-growing moon city could be achieved in under 10 years, compared with more than 20 years for the Mars outpost. From Musk, quote, it is only possible to travel to Mars when the planets align every 26 months, six month, trip time, whereas we can launch to the moon every 10 days, two day, trip time. This means we can iterate much faster to complete a moon city than a Mars city. The post ending quote, SpaceX will also strive to build a Mars city and begin doing so in about five to seven years. But the overriding priority is securing the future of civilization, and the moon is faster. The announcement coming as NASA encourages increased competition between SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' blue origin to assist NASA as it races to land humans on the moon as early as 2028. Gail King, they need you! The last time man landed on the moon was in 1972. And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show, live on Series XM's The Megan Kelly Channel 111 at New East, on youtube.com slash Megan Kelly, and on all podcast platforms.