America Seizes Iranian Ship, Pope-Trump Détente, Trump Backs Psychedelic Research: AM Update 4/20
Megyn Kelly hosts an April 20, 2026 AM Update detailing the U.S. seizure of an Iranian ship in the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump threatened to destroy Iran's power plants over after Iran denied reopening the strait. While Pope Leo XIV clarified he wouldn't debate Trump following mutual criticism, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar revised her net worth from $6 million to under $95,000 amid scrutiny. The episode concludes with Trump signing an executive order for psychedelic addiction research and a $50 million investment, supported by Joe Rogan's claim that ibogaine could free 80% of opiate users. [Automatically generated summary]
Transcriber: CohereLabs/cohere-transcribe-03-2026, sat-12l-sm, and large-v3-turbo
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Pope Trump Diplomatic Clash00:10:04
Good morning, everyone.
I'm Megyn Kelly.
It's Monday, April 20th, 2026, and this is your AM Update.
A weekend of whiplash in America's war with Iran, the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut down again as ships are fired on and seized with diplomacy on the rocks.
It was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not my interest at all.
Pope Leo XIV seeking to cool tensions with President Trump.
Congresswoman Ilan Omar revising her financial disclosures downwards.
Saying an accountant's mistake inflated her net worth by tens of millions.
I sent him that information.
The text message came back.
Sounds great.
Do you want FDA approval?
Let's do it.
A new push on psychedelics with help from Joe Rogan.
President Trump fast tracking FDA review for drugs aimed at addiction and PTSD.
All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.
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A whirlwind weekend of mixed signals, escalating threats, and conflicting claims between the U.S. and Iran with no clear deal in sight.
Friday, beginning with what appeared to be a short lived positive development, President Trump announcing on Truth Social that the Iranians had, quote, agreed to everything, writing that the Strait of Hormuz had been completely reopened, while also claiming the parties had agreed that the U.S. would retrieve what he described as the nuclear dust, referring to Iran's enriched uranium, a key sticking point throughout the negotiations so far.
The president adding that the U.S. naval blockade would remain in effect until a final agreement is reached.
By later that same day, Friday, the situation's shifting dramatically.
Iran's foreign ministry denying President Trump's claim, insisting the country's stockpile of enriched uranium, quote, is not going to be transferred anywhere.
Shortly after, Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagheer Ghali Buff, posting to X, quote, with the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open.
adding that passage would be restricted to a designated route and would require Iranian authorization.
By Saturday morning, Iran firing on at least two vessels, according to maritime tracking groups.
The Wall Street Journal reporting approximately 20 ships then turning around rather than attempting to cross.
President Trump posting to Truth Social again, this time accusing Iran of violating the ceasefire, writing, Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz, a total violation of our ceasefire agreement.
We are offering a very fair and reasonable deal, and I hope they take it, because if they don't, the U.S. is going to knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran.
No more Mr. Nice Guy.
By Sunday morning, the rhetoric escalating further.
President Trump telling Fox News this was Iran's last chance, warning, quote, the whole country is getting blown up unless they agree to a deal.
The White House announcing plans to dispatch Vice President JD Vance, as well as Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Wyckoff today to Islamabad.
For a second round of peace talks, the delegation set to arrive tonight ahead of Wednesday's ceasefire expiration.
However, Reuters reporting hours later, the Iranians are refusing a second round of talks, citing, quote, excessive demands.
Last night, Al Jazeera, citing a wellinformed source, adding that Iranian participation in talks is contingent upon the U.S. lifting the naval blockade.
As of last night, it remained unclear whether either side still planned to attend.
Sunday afternoon, President Trump announcing in a true social post, that an Iranian flagged cargo ship had attempted to get past the U.S. naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, which connects to the Strait of Hormuz.
The president writing that, quote, The U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Tuska and gave them fair warning to stop.
The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room.
The president indicating that U.S. Marines had taken custody of the vessel.
A telegram messaging channel operated by the Iranian military vowing to, quote, respond and retaliate against the U.S. armed piracy.
Amid the back and forth, former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent floated a different approach as a possibility for President Trump, suggesting in a lengthy ex post that the U.S. should consider disengagement altogether, pointing to the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing and President Ronald Reagan's subsequent withdrawal from Lebanon, when it became clear, Kent writes, That the mission's objectives could not be achieved.
Kent further arguing, quote, a negotiated settlement is unlikely to work or be taken seriously by the Iranians unless we make concessions on the enrichment issue.
Then continuing, quote, if POTUS chooses brute force and targets civilian infrastructure, we will create another generation of radicalized Iranians who will rally around the regime and escalate the war by any means possible.
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday clarifying recent remarks widely perceived to be thinly veiled criticism of the Trump administration.
Telling reporters he has no interest in debating President Trump.
In recent weeks, the Pope and President Trump publicly trading barbs, the conflict apparently spurred by a 60 Minutes piece airing last Sunday, featuring a group of Catholic cardinals highlighting criticism from the Pope of the administration's mass deportations and its war against Iran.
President Trump, in a lengthy True Social Post that night, slamming Pope Leo as, quote, weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy, adding, quote, Leo should get his act together as Pope.
Use common sense, stop catering to the radical left, and focus on being a great pope, not a politician.
The post drawing widespread condemnation from many Catholics, Bishop Robert Barron, who is a member of the White House Religious Liberty Commission, calling on President Trump to apologize.
Mr. Trump instead doubling down on the remarks the following day.
Pope Leo kicking off an 11 day trip across multiple African nations, responding to Mr. Trump's criticism.
I have no fear of neither the Trump administration nor speaking out loudly about the message of the gospel.
And that's what I believe I am called to do, what the church is called to do.
We're not politicians.
We're not looking to make foreign policy, as he calls it, with the same perspective that he might understand it.
But I do believe that the message of the gospel, blessed are the peacemakers, is the message that the world needs to hear.
On Thursday, the Pope delivering remarks in war-torn Cameroon, a portion here.
The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants.
Woe to those who manipulate religion in the very name of God for their own military, economic, or political gain.
Dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.
Many interpreting the remark to be a condemnation of the Trump administration, Pope Leo then clarifying on Saturday.
There's been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects, but because of the political situation created when, on the first day of the trip, the President of the United States made some comments about myself.
Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary, trying to interpret what has been said.
Just one little example.
The talk that I gave at the prayer meeting for peace a couple days ago was prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting.
And yet, as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not my interest at all.
Vice President Vance, a convert to Catholicism, replying on X, thanking the Pope for his comments, writing, quote, While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict, and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen, the reality is often much more complicated.
Pope Leo preaches the gospel as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the day.
The president and the entire administration work to apply those moral principles in a messy world.
Coming up, Congresswoman Ilan Omar refiling her financial disclosures to claim she is not actually a multimillionaire after all.
Blaming her accountant for the error.
And a major shift on psychedelics.
President Trump orders expedited FDA review for drugs targeting mental health and addiction.
Congresswoman Omar Disclosure Error00:05:13
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Democrat Congresswoman Ilan Omar of Minnesota filing an amended financial disclosure form indicating she actually is not a multimillionaire after all.
The Washington Free Beacon reporting in September that Congresswoman Omar's 2024 forms show she and her husband, former political consultant Tim Minette, Accumulated a net worth ranging from at least $6 million up to $30 million, a combined 3,500% over the previous year.
Most of that wealth reportedly coming from two companies in which MyNet shares a stake venture capital firm Rose Lake Capital, valued somewhere between $5 million and $25 million, and a California based winery, ranging from $1 million to $5 million.
These disclosures clashing with Ms. Omar's carefully curated political image as a far left progressive.
not a member of the one percent elite, and raising questions over the speed of that financial growth.
The scrutiny unfolding amid a growing fraud scandal in Omar's Minnesota Somali community, with President Trump and some Republicans suggesting Omar's millionaire status may be related to that controversy.
In February, Republican Congressman James Comer, chairman of the Oversight Committee, requesting in a letter to Minet all documents and communications relating to the finances of the two companies.
Minet did not comply with the request, leading the Oversight Committee to refer the matter to the House Ethics Committee.
The Wall Street Journal, which reviewed the Congresswoman's updated disclosures, reporting the new filings were made in response to a letter from the Office of Congressional Conduct, or OCC, the House office tasked with performing the initial review.
of allegations of congressional misconduct.
So, Omar got a letter from the OCC investigating her.
She and her husband refused to hand over their documents, and suddenly they revised her financial disclosures downward.
Got it.
Congresswoman Omar's lawyer writing to the OCC, quote, As the busiest of people, it is very common for members and their spouses to rely on learned professionals like accountants to make calculations and determinations that appear on public filings.
While the error is, of course, unfortunate.
There is nothing untoward and nothing illegal has occurred.
According to the journal, the amended filing factors in Minette's business liabilities, effectively reducing the company's value to zero.
The couple's assets now listed between $18,000 and $95,000, income from the assets reportedly between about $100,000 and $1 million.
The Wall Street Journal reporting the couple taking $213,000 in distributions from the venture capital firm and $3,000 from the winery.
Omar's aides say the Congresswoman did look at the form before filing it in 2025, but the $6 to $30 million error quote didn't jump off the page for her because she isn't involved with her husband's businesses and she trusted the accuracy of the accountant who provided her husband's figures.
Fellow Congressman from Minnesota, Republican Tom Emmer, Saturday on Fox News.
Ilhan Omar is a complete fraud.
It's amazing what kind of a con artist this woman is.
She went from $65,000.
Thousand net worth that she was reporting on her congressional disclosures to reporting over 30 million in net worth in just a few years.
And guess what?
Now she comes out and says, Oh, that was a mistake on our disclosures.
I just took a quick look at it and missed it.
You know, not only should her accountant be fired, but that girl should be fired and she does not deserve to be in Congress.
Quite frankly, if she is discovered to be involved in any of this fraud personally, that she benefited from it, even by her actions of promoting it and trying to resist investigations.
she should be held accountable to the fullest extent.
Ibogaine Addiction Breakthroughs00:03:40
President Trump on Saturday signing an executive order that fast tracks research and FDA review of certain psychedelic drugs as treatments for mental health issues like PTSD and addiction.
The president, surrounded by a number of public officials and research advocates, including top podcast host Joe Rogan, HHS Secretary RFKJ, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty McCary, and retired Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell.
Mr. Trump elaborating on the scope of the order from the Oval.
It directs the FDA to expedite their review of certain.
Psychedelics already designated as breakthrough therapy drugs are very much being discussed.
If these turn out to be as good as people are saying, it's going to have a tremendous impact on this country and other countries too.
These treatments are currently in the advanced stages of clinical trials to ensure that they're both safe and effective for the American patients.
Research has been going on for quite some time, but usually with things like this, nothing ever happens, no matter how the research ends up.
But we're changing that.
This order will clear away unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, improve data sharing among the FDA and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and facilitate fast rescheduling of any psychedelic drugs that become FDA approved.
Hallucinogens are currently classified by the DEA as Schedule I substances, meaning they have, quote, no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
This executive order potentially paving the way for reclassification of psychedelic drugs that succeed in clinical trials.
Mr. Trump also announcing a $50 million investment into researching the psychedelic drug ibogaine.
In other countries where it is legal, ibogaine centers are becoming a draw for veterans with PTSD and others with long term conditions.
More from President Trump on the early success of the drug.
In a 2024 study from Stanford University, 30 special operation veterans with traumatic brain injuries underwent it's called ibogaine treatment.
Remember the name, and experienced an 80 to 90 percent reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety within one month.
Can I have some, please?
Okay.
I'll take whatever it takes.
FDA Commissioner Marty McCary in the Oval Office stressing these are not take home medications, but treatments administered in controlled clinical settings.
To be clear, the FDA will also have criteria and circumstances that have to be used to administer these drugs.
These drugs can have side effects, and so it's not like you go to the pharmacy and pick it up.
It's like medications that are administered in an ICU or an operating room.
There are criteria for doing it in a controlled setting.
Rogan, a vocal advocate for psychedelic treatments, especially for veterans, sharing the incredible way this order came together.
I want to tell everybody how this happened.
I sent President Trump some information.
We have a gigantic opiate problem in this country, obviously.
In 2024, more than 80,000 people died of overdoses.
It's a horrible number.
And there are more than 5 million people that are addicted to opiates right now in this country.
With one dose of Ibogaine, more than 80% of people are free of that addiction.
With two doses, it's more than 90%.
I sent him that information.
The text message came back.
FDA Approval for Psychedelics00:00:57
Sounds great.
Do you want FDA approval?
Let's do it.
It was literally that quick.
These drugs are illegal not because they're harmful, they're illegal because of the 1970 Controlled Substances Act that was passed by the Richard Nixon administration.
We're free of that now.
We're free of that now.
Thanks to all these people that we see next to me, and thanks to President Trump.
Remarkable.
And 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 Megan Kelly, and on all podcast platforms.