The Megyn Kelly Show

Episode: Tucker Accuses CIA of Spying on Him, Megyn Responds to Mark Levin, & Oscars Lowlights and Highlights (Ep. 1273)
Date: March 16, 2026
Host: Megyn Kelly | SiriusXM Channel 111

Episode Overview

In this episode, Megyn Kelly returns briefly from spring break to tackle several headline controversies:

• Tucker Carlson’s explosive claim that the CIA is trying to criminally investigate him for speaking to sources in Iran.
• Megyn’s fierce public feud with Mark Levin, which has brought President Trump into the drama.
• A rundown of the 2026 Oscars: political jabs, notable acceptance speeches, and moments that stood apart from Hollywood’s usual fare.

The tone is fiery, personal, and unfiltered—with Megyn balancing candid insider observations, analysis of the politicized media landscape, and her signature willingness to address attacks against her head-on.

1. Iran Conflict Update & Trump’s War Policy

[03:41–07:00]

• Megyn recounts rapidly evolving Middle East events:
  • President Trump claims “Iran has essentially been defeated” but remains unwilling to negotiate an end to the war. Oil prices hover around $100/barrel as Iran asserts the Strait of Hormuz is “closed to our enemies.”
  • “We don’t really use the Strait for a bunch of our oil, but we did create the problem. And I think many of these other countries… don’t understand why we’re not doing the Pottery Barn rule here of ‘we broke it, we bought it.’” (Megyn Kelly, 04:50)
  • The war has splintered U.S. politics, with ~20% of Republicans opposing Trump on the conflict—highly unusual in an election year.

2. Tucker Carlson’s Claim: The CIA Is Targeting Him

[07:02–20:10]

Tucker’s Revelation

• [08:04] Tucker Carlson posted a video over the weekend claiming the CIA prepared a criminal referral against him, accusing him of acting as a foreign agent (“the Foreign Agent Act or something like that”) for contacting sources in Iran before the U.S. attack.
  • Quote:
    “The CIA is preparing some kind of criminal referral against me… a crime report to the Department of Justice. …The crime under consideration, apparently, would be the Foreign Agent act or something like that, acting as an agent of a foreign power. …It’s my job to talk to everybody all the time and try and figure out what’s happening around the world… I’m not going to stop doing that, nor should I.” (Tucker Carlson, 08:04–09:20)
  • Tucker asserts he is not—and never has been—an agent for any foreign power: “I have only one loyalty, and that’s the United States.”

Megyn’s Take & Media Reaction

• [10:20] Megyn affirms Tucker’s credibility and blasts the “authoritarian move” of investigating a journalist for basic reporting.
  • Quote:
    “This is stunning and deeply wrong. And I believe Tucker… Why… go after private citizens, a journalist, in Tucker’s case, for investigating the war?” (Megyn Kelly, 10:20)
• She explains that contacting sources in Iran is routine journalistic practice and that FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) requires demonstrable foreign control or financial incentives, which are not present here.
  • She points to others—like journalists and politicians with close Israeli contacts—who are not facing similar scrutiny.
• Megyn voices concern about growing governmental overreach in times of war:
  • “Countries tend to become more authoritarian in wartime. …Threatening a journalist like Tucker with prosecution …because he apparently called sources inside of Iran prior to the war starting, that’s outrageous.” (Megyn Kelly, 20:00)

The Political Echo Chamber

• Megyn lambasts critics branding Tucker as a traitor and references social media calls for prosecution and even treason charges.
  • “The nerve! …We’ve got now, the former Deputy mayor of Jerusalem… tweeting out Tucker Carlson should be arrested and tried for treason. You know what the penalty is for treason? It's death. This is crazy.” (Megyn Kelly, 25:23)

3. MAGA Rift: Trump, Tucker, and Israel

[16:00–34:00]

• Megyn dissects the fracturing among Trump loyalists, many of whom—herself and Tucker included—oppose the Iran war and have been branded as “not MAGA.”
  • “I’ve described myself as MAGA adjacent, but I speak fluent MAGA. …I don’t really get sucked into partisan labels. I don’t want anyone’s jersey on my front.” (Megyn Kelly, 17:23)
• She describes coordinated efforts by some conservatives and pro-Israel figures (Mark Levin, Ben Shapiro, Miriam Adelson) to push for war, but also reminds listeners this is ultimately Trump’s call.
• Megyn voices her support for American Jews while distinguishing between criticism of Israel’s policy and antisemitism:
  • “Let’s not conflate that with anti-Semitism. …I called for them to stop on the bombing… because as I said, time’s up. …Suddenly I’m an antisemite. No one can name anything antisemitic I’ve said.” (Megyn Kelly, 13:45)
• She reflects on how opposition among former Trump supporters, especially the “podcast bro battalion,” is shaking up the political map.
  • “The whole podcast bro battalion that helped get Trump elected has turned on him over this war. I don’t know that they’re turning on Trump entirely—I can speak for myself and I’m sure, Tucker, when I say that’s not where we are.” (Megyn Kelly, 32:35)

4. Mark Levin Feud & Trump Gets Involved

[37:00–47:40]

Mark Levin’s Attacks

• Mark Levin has tweeted about Megyn more than 111 times, according to her.
  • She accuses Levin of lobbing personal vulgarities, calling her “the queen of the Klan, Grandma Groiper, …neo Nazi, grifter…”
  • Quote:
    “He’s called me the queen of the Klan, Grandma Groiper… a neo Nazi. …A disgusting fraud, hateful propagandist, low life, sleezy, mentally unhinged lunatic, pathetic, flailing, disgraced. I mean, I could keep going.” (Megyn Kelly, 38:15)
• After months of restraint, Megyn hits back with a viral tweet mocking Levin’s “micro penis,” triggering further escalation.
  • “After 111 tweets, increasing the security profile in my own life and attacking me in the most vile terms, I think anybody could see that I was entitled to one below-the-belt punch. Right? When they go low, we go micropenis.” (Megyn Kelly, 42:33)

Trump’s Response

• Levin appeals to Trump, who posts a statement hailing Levin as a patriot besieged by “other people with far less intellect,” which Megyn interprets as a veiled reference to her and Tucker.
  • Quote (Trump via Megyn):
    “[Levin is] a truly great American patriot. …Mark is tough, strong and brilliant. …Those who speak ill of Mark will quickly fall by the wayside… they are not MAGA.” (Megyn Kelly quoting Trump, 44:07)
• Megyn shrugs off the slight: “That doesn’t hurt me at all. I’ve not been part of the MAGA movement. Again, I will stay MAGA adjacent, which is where I am, happily.”
• She accuses Levin of cowardice for seeking presidential backup—and contrasts Trump’s typical “fighter” persona with this apparent attempt to police discourse within MAGA ranks.

5. Oscars 2026: Lowlights and Highlights

[49:50–55:49]

Host Political Snipes

• Jimmy Kimmel and Conan O’Brien take repeated jabs at the First Lady, President Trump, and conservative figures during the broadcast.
  • Quote (Kimmel):
    “There are some countries whose leaders don’t support free speech. I’m not at liberty to say which. Just leave it at North Korea and CBS.” (Jimmy Kimmel, 49:57)
• Megyn criticizes Hollywood groupthink: “He cannot help himself. And [Kimmel] got a big laugh from the audience who cannot stand the President or the First Lady. It’s disgusting.” (Megyn Kelly, 50:35)

Memorable Speeches & Positive Moments

• Praises Nicole Kidman for sharing her faith openly:
  • “[Kidman] talked about how she went to church, that it was Sunday and she goes to church on Sunday… good for Nicole Kidman.” (Megyn Kelly, 52:40)
• Highlights Jessie Buckley’s moving Best Actress speech:
  • Quote (Buckley):
    “Mother’s love is the greatest collision of my life. It’s Mother’s Day in the UK today, so I would like to dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart.” (Jessie Buckley, 53:29)
  • Megyn’s reaction: “You just don’t see that kind of thing at the Oscars… Talk about the joy of having a baby—talking about how much she loved her spouse and family. That was extraordinary.” (Megyn Kelly, 54:31)
• Commends Michael B. Jordan’s humility in his acceptance speech:
  • Quote (Jordan):
    “Y’all know how I feel about my mother and my father’s here… My dad came in from Ghana to be here… I want to do well because you guys bet on me. So thank you for keep betting on me.” (Michael B. Jordan, 55:11)
  • Megyn: “Humble. Thanking his family. Thanking God. Shout out to his parents. Perfect spot on.” (Megyn Kelly, 55:49)

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tucker Carlson, on government overreach:
  “The main reason they [intelligence agencies] do it is to leak the existence of the investigation… and then humiliate and terrify the subjects of this op.” (08:50)
• Megyn Kelly, on political rifts:
  “No one thought Trump was promising a war in the Middle East. He said exactly the opposite. So now Tucker comes out and says… he’s got very good sources inside the government that he’s been told the CIA has referred a criminal investigation to the DOJ about him.” (17:50)
• On media smear campaigns:
  “I have had stalkers pay me less attention than Mark Levin pays me, and I’ve had enough.” (Megyn Kelly, 46:27)
• On standing up to bullies:
  “Eventually you do have to punch your bully in the face just to be able to look at yourself in the mirror. Just for self-respect. Never mind whether it works.” (Megyn Kelly, 45:57)

7. Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:41] Iran conflict, oil prices, Trump’s policy
• [08:04–10:20] Tucker’s CIA criminal referral allegation
• [10:20–20:10] Megyn’s analysis of FARA; media campaigns; danger of criminalizing dissent
• [16:00–17:50] MAGA divisions; Megyn on her political identity
• [32:35–34:00] The “podcast bro” revolt and wider ramifications
• [37:00–43:00] Mark Levin attacks Megyn; her eventual retort
• [44:07–47:40] Trump’s statement supporting Levin; Megyn’s response
• [49:50–55:49] Oscars recap: Kimmel, Conan, Nicole Kidman, Jessie Buckley, Michael B. Jordan

8. Summary

This episode zeroes in on multiple high-temperature debates on the American right. Tucker Carlson’s allegations of a CIA attempt to prosecute him for speaking with Iranian sources highlights concerns about domestic political intimidation and the limits of press freedom in wartime. Megyn Kelly, outspoken and personal, details the intense backlash she’s faced, especially from Mark Levin, and is unsparing in her analysis of how pro-Israel factions and Trump loyalists are managing internal dissent.

The cultural segment, reviewing the Oscars, lampoons Hollywood’s political antics but finds inspiration in rare moments—open references to faith, motherhood, and family.

For listeners, the episode is a whirlwind tour of current political and media fissures, delivered in Megyn’s forthright, sometimes combative style—underlining the threats, absurdities, and human costs of fighting for one’s convictions in the public arena.