Meghan McCain
Appearances
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
Oh my gosh. Thank you, Mark. I'm so excited to join you. Congratulations on this new show. And this is one of my favorite topics, but I feel like I've been living it with you in real time for like over a year and a half, two years now. Yeah.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
So I've known Jake Tapper since I was a little girl. He worked on my dad's first or he covered my dad's first campaign when he was a salon reporter to just like really date in 1999, 2000. So I have been around him a really long time. And I used to really think he was a straightforward journalist.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
And then in the past, I think beginning of Trump era, maybe even a little bit before that, I just really put him in the basket of being a really biased, quite frankly, hack journalist that my conservative friends not only wouldn't trust, but felt like he would intentionally go out of the way to paint a negative picture of conservatives.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
It's hard, as you know, when you like know people in this industry and you want to maintain friendships. But he's one of those people where for me, it took a point where I was like, I just can't really have a relationship. of any kind with this person, just because I don't feel like any of it is genuine or altruistic.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
And also, I don't like being a source for people that I'm not genuinely close with and feel like there's trust there. So when I found out he was writing this book, I really like Alex Thompson. I had interviewed Alex Thompson several times when he came out about his reporting about Joe Biden.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
When right before the debate and when everyone started really realizing how bad it was and I was really looking forward to Alex Thompson's book and I when I saw that Jake Tapper was involved or had written it or whatever is the co-writer. I literally I jokingly told my friend it's like O.J.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
Simpson's If I Did It book like I thought it was ridiculous and just quite frankly I think it's like journalistic malfeasance. And he's kind of, you know, dancing a little bit right now, saying that he should have had more humility in his reporting and that he should have, you know, known better.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
But there's hundreds, if not thousands of reporters who did cover the story the right way, including you. And there's millions and millions of Americans who saw what he was unable to see. And, you know, there's a video of him with Laura Trump, who I'm very friendly with, and she's a really lovely person, where he's just ripping her head off.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
talking about when she's bringing up Biden's cognitive decline. And he's basically saying that she's bigoted towards people with disabilities because President Biden has a stutter. And every few months, that video goes viral again. And I just think he's completely the wrong person to be doing this. I'm sure he got a big fat paycheck. I'm sure he got a million dollars.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
And I'm just really, I feel like actually like physically grossed out at the idea that he's benefiting off of what you and I and so many other people were called ghouls, called, you know, really ugly names and things for a long time for calling out what we all could see was Biden's clear decline.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
I don't understand any of it. I also don't understand what the publisher's reasoning was. I have heard through just like gossip and media circles that the publisher thought that Alex Thompson wasn't like a big enough name to sell this book. I disagree. I think he would have been more than big enough, just the content of the book.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
A hundred percent. And I would buy it if it were just his book. And I would be like happy to interview him because I do think, you know, he just won an award about his reporting. And I don't put him in the same category. But I do think, unfortunately for Alex, like this is tainting his career. I don't I just I don't I used to really appreciate CNN.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
And I still candidly have friends who work at CNN. Like I'm friends with Essie Cup and she's fantastic. You know, wonderful and I think very smart and very like a straight shooter in her commentary. But CNN became such resistance porn the past few years and their ratings reflected that.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
And, you know, they can't even say like if Trump cured cancer, they would come up with some reason why he didn't do it effectively or why it was bad. And I think when you get to a point where. Trump clouds your judgment and your life so much. You become a parody of yourself. And I think, unfortunately, they have.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
I was wondering if maybe Jay Taber and CNN didn't realize to the degree how much the outside world views him that way. And again, that's...
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
say like i have friends in real life like we all do and they hate him and it's not just people on the right it's people in the center people on the center left because they just don't think he's a reliable person who continues to get rewarded over and over again in media like he is some kind of edward r murrow figure and it's just a fallacy okay let's talk about another place nbc where you and i both worked let's say the head of nbc news yeah
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
They're they're in the same way that their scalps on our side were like any Republican who does the wrong thing is like, you know, banned from all polite society. There need to be some scalps on their side to some people need to get fired for the work they did during this time. And, you know, completely biased reporting.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
I would tell them that they need to hire some legitimately conservative Republicans.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
Leading people to write their opinion columns and then I would be like you need to really take a reflection on the journalists who work in your newsroom like what kind of biases they're bringing to the table and I would have to go through it with like a fine tooth cone but you know I have a list of people in my brain that I trust and people that I would say. I mean, you and I both have people.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
Maybe you don't, but I do. I have like people who work in politics and media who come to me and they're like, is this a safe person for me to talk to or is this person going to screw me? And I'll say they're good. They're bad. Stay away from them. I mean, like that to like spill too much tea.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
I recently the Atlantic approached me about doing a profile and I was like, I wouldn't do a profile with the Atlantic if there was like money.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
They want to do an interview with me. And I just am not. What's the point? Like to be called like Mrs. Waterford from The Handmaid's Tale. Like I'm just too awful.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
Yeah. I also think one of the things that when people ask me about newsrooms, people talk a lot about diversity. But I think diversity also means, like, what area of the country are you from? Did you not go to an Ivy League school? What kind of socioeconomic background do you come from? Like, it can't just be, like, respectful to myself.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
You know, rich nepo babies and went to Ivy League schools who are always, you know... A lot of times I work in newsrooms, like 50 percent of the time somebody is related to somebody famous or like their aunt is like a famous journalist or their person's like a famous politician. And I think that's and again, respectful to myself because a lot of my career benefited from that now.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
But if I were in a newsroom, I'd be like, you need to start getting people from the middle of the country, people that did not go to Ivy League schools, whatever, people that go to like. You know, Arizona State has an incredible journalism school like you need to branch out and like you can't cover America if you don't understand America. And 90 percent of the time.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
And again, respectful to you, too. I know you went tonight. Great. Like whatever. But I think that's part of the rot in this. It's like, yeah, never been to Iowa. How can you talk about the Iowa caucus?
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
He also put in Joe the Biden. I remember him like saying that, but they sort of like.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
We called him like Joe the Biden. Joe the Biden. He thought that was so funny. He'd be like, Joe the Biden. I don't know. But yeah, they were, my parents actually, when they met, the Bidens were, they met in Hawaii. Joe and Jill were there. And they had a very nice relationship, like, you know, couple-y for a long time, I think until politics, quite frankly, got involved.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
And then they sort of circled back around when my dad got sick. And I, it's tricky for me because President Biden was lovely to me when my dad was sick. Very kind, very, you know, like, answered tough questions about brain cancer. And then... And I've told this publicly. It's not something I'm secretive about. They asked me to endorse him.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
His campaign approached me and asked me to endorse him at the DNC in 2020. And I said no because I'm still a conservative Republican. And... I never spoke to Biden's again. And his staff made it very, very clear that I was dead to them and their administration and their team. And I was so shocked by the experience because it was so ugly and bizarre. And, you know, he's like, I love everybody.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
I love Republicans.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
I will tell you offline, but they are no longer a person that's worth. They have gotten there. I will say they have gotten their karmic retribution that has nothing to do with me.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
My mother, who I'm very close... And I should say, like, everyone in my family is liberal except me now. Like, they all, like... My mom hasn't officially switched parties like my brother Jimmy did. And we all... Like love each other and subsist together. My mother ended up ended up. I actually said call my mother and my mother ended up endorsing, which I support and appreciate.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
And then she worked in the Biden administration as the head of the World Food Program. And I think she still has a collegial relationship with them. I don't want to speak for her, but I don't believe it's the same relationship at once. Yes.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
It wasn't like they didn't say it to me directly, but their staff did. Yeah.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
I find the Biden's appearances in general just very discomforting because he, to me, doesn't look the way, you know, he still, to me, looks like there's some kind of cognitive issue. And he's, look, we all get old, God willing. I'm not an ageist person. I just think that, like, if I'm in that stage at some point in my life, I do not want to be in front of a camera.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
I think Jill is doing herself and her family a disservice by sort of, like, jumping in and answering questions. He was asked, you know, about Staff saying he had cognitive decline and he wasn't he shouldn't run for president again. And she jumped in to answer the question. And I didn't think that I didn't watch the entire view segment.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
But the clips I saw, it wasn't like it was softball, but it could have even been more softball. They did ask. I agree. So that that was good. But I don't know what they're doing other than I'm very curious about your reporting that they're out of money. Maybe they thought that this is a way to make money like the Obamas did. I don't know. But I don't understand why they won't go away and be quiet.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
I think it's really important in life. Sometimes after I left The View, I was very quiet for like a good two years. I think sometimes it's good for people to miss you. It's good to do reflection on where you are in life. And like they lost in a really catastrophic way and they're leading their party into slaughter. And I just don't understand what they're doing.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
But I don't want to I don't want to see any more interviews with them at all.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
Yeah, but that's never going to happen. I don't think Jay Capra would do it. Like, I just don't. And also, what's the, I was saying, I was talking to a friend about this yesterday, like, what is the point of this book now? Everyone knows that President Biden had these, you know, issues. They know that he wasn't fit to be president. The American public saw it with their own eyes.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
They didn't need journalists to tell them. They saw what they saw in the debate and made their decision. Like, I think the point now is trying to, like, whitewash their reputation and their experience not reporting on this. Like, that's my takeaway. Like, I don't know Jake Tapper anymore. Like, I haven't talked to him in an extremely long time. But my takeaway is, like, he is a smart man.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
He sees what's going on culturally. And he's probably like, oh, shit, I have to I have to be someone that that like, you know, I don't know, it helps my reputation. But I just I'm really sick of people who, again, could not pass more judgment, could not be more ugly, could not say more disgusting things about people like me, particularly during that time.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
Now making what I can only fathom is an enormous paycheck off of the backs of the good work of so many people, quite frankly, like you, Mark. So it's like, why don't you respectfully have a multimillion dollar book deal? Like, why is Jake Tapper the like?
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
the person that like the person i'm supposed to listen to in this experience i'm really like flabbergasted by this book and confused it in general and i maybe i shouldn't be but i can't remember having really tough conversations with you on camera that you and i got a lot of shit for saying that joe biden should be president he should drop out and his brain's clearly not functioning the way it should be and now jake tapper's taking all the credit
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
Monday and Wednesday.
Next Up with Mark Halperin
Journalistic Corruption Continues with "Original Sin" Tour, and Charlie Kirk on What MAGA Wants Next
Thank you. Thank you.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
Well, first of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity to come on and speak with you today, Charlie. It's really a pleasure. I've known Tulsi a really long time. I was even trying to remember how long, I think it's like eight years at this point. And we became friends through Van Jones of all people who said that we were a lot alike and he wanted us to become friends. And
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
We just had this lunch one day in New York after she came on The View and we like closed the restaurant down and we're like crying over like bonding over different things. And we've just maintained a really close friendship for years now. She's the godmother to my eldest daughter and she is one of the greatest patriots, humans. She's the bravest, most talented woman I've ever met.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
It's a privilege to be her friend. I don't talk to her that way that we're like normal friends. I don't. tell her this all the time, but she really loves America and she loves God. And the national security of this country is something she takes to heart with her every single night. It's like a burden she takes with her.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
And I just think we are so lucky as Americans to have her put in this position. And quite frankly, I'm horrified that she's having any trouble at all. I'm horrified that there are senators like Young and Lankford that are hesitating in any way. I think it's despicable. She's a combat veteran. She's more accomplished, in my opinion, than anyone who's being put up.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
In this segment of cabinet members, I'm a fan of RFKs and I like Kash Patel as well. This is not to denigrate them, but she is highly qualified and it is imperative to this country and to the administration that she gets over the line.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
Look, I'm not traditionally MAGA, as you know, even though I'm really happy with this moment. I was telling your producer, it's like a time of new hope for, I think, all Republicans. And I'm really, quite frankly, enjoying the cultural shift towards the right. I don't understand because I know that Senator Lankford and Senator Young come from states that are basically 100% MAGA.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
I think all counties in Oklahoma went for Trump. I didn't understand their line of questioning other than I think there's been a lot of really disgusting and abhorrent propaganda against, again, a current member of the military has put her life on the line multiple times for our freedom.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
I think there's been a lot of slander, sadly, from people like Hillary Clinton and Barry Weiss on Joe Rogan that took on a life of its own and, quite frankly, wasn't squandered enough. I know her so well. And again, I'm someone like my dad couldn't legally travel to Russia because we were sanctioned. Do you think I would be friends with someone who was compromised by Russia? It's absurdity.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
And I just find it disgusting left wing propaganda that for some reason there are some Republicans that have bought into. But I would I just want to tell you, Mr. Kirk, today, if anyone votes against her, I promise you I will do anything in my power to make sure there are consequences for this or RFK for that matter, because this is more it's about more than just Tulsi and RFK.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
This is about the new coalition in the Republican Party and particularly women and moms voting. who came out in droves, a lot of first-time Trump voters who came out and voted because they wanted this squad of people. They wanted the dream team, which includes RFK and Tulsi Gabbard. And they deserve to have their choices in the cabinet. It is not up to just these people.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
And you can't give me a real reason you don't like Tulsi other than you've listened to some propaganda on the internet. And I'm heartbroken by it, but I do think we're going to get her over the line. And if for some reason we don't, I promise you, I there will be hell to pay. And I hope that you will join me. Oh, I will.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
A lot of moms, and this is obviously anecdotal in my life, but every single woman in my life except for like two voted for Trump. And some of them were not traditional Trump supporters. And it was in no small part because of how radicalized they became during COVID with the lockdowns and the vaccines and all the things we already know.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
And RFK and Tulsi gave them a new hope for the future in lots of different ways. And also, you know, trans people in sports, like all the culture war things. And I think that they gave a safe space to vote for Trump for people that were maybe on the edge or independent or had been Democrats in the past.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
And I think when you look at people like Jessica Krause, who runs the Incredible House and Habit Instagram account, there is a momentous wave of women in this country who are supporting RFK and Tulsi Gabbard and Trump. as a result. And I don't want to lose these people. I don't want to lose the future. We have to start also looking at, you know, elections four years from now, eight years from now.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
I love this cultural moment right now. I've never felt more validated. I spent so many years of my life getting my you know what kicked because I was Republican. And to see everything I said come true. I love this moment. I don't want to lose it. And RFK and Tulsi Gabbard are integral in to making sure we don't lose these people.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
Look, I was just watching a video right before I came on here about this organic eggs that I personally buy that apparently is really bad for you. And if you look at the like subtext of the ingredients, it's not, they're not actually that organic.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
I think I became much more acutely aware of all of this during COVID like everybody else, because, you know, I have not given my children the COVID vaccine. They are vaccinated with other vaccines, but I'm very fearful of the COVID vaccine. And I started reading the way everybody else did about COVID you know, different things and the long-term consequences.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
And it just, I think, started opening up a lot of people's minds about how much the government lies to us. And to me, it was like, there's a group of people who will lie forever, who will lock down our children to make sure that their mental health deteriorates to holy hell. They do not care about moms. They do not care about kids. They do not care about their health.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
I mean, why do we have so many foods in this country that are illegal here? Skittles are banned in Europe. Why? Why am I allowed... here and not in Europe. There's a coffee creamer that I use that's banned everywhere else but here. I found that out. Why isn't that here? Why do I have to be doing this much homework?
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
And I think he's just showing a sign of new hope for those of us like, I'm genuinely worried about my children being poisoned by the food we're eating. And I am far from the minority. And again, one thing that I really took away because I sat with Tulsi at her hearing last week or this week, excuse me, was that The senators really don't understand this movement.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
That was my big takeaway, particularly from Senator Young and Senator Lankford. And then obviously the Democrats. It's like they obviously don't know any maha moms. They don't know this coalition of people, which is really, quite frankly, pathetic because it's such a huge swath of the American public. But they need to understand if they blow this somehow, there will be consequences to high health.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
I think moms of America never underestimate what they can do when they are angry and pissed off. I mean, my governor here in Virginia got elected because moms were told that they didn't have a right to send their kids to whatever school that they wanted. And they had to have, you know... biological men sharing bathrooms with young women. So I just, they need to understand.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk and a McCain Join Forces?
I don't know how to get people like Senator Lankford and Senator Young to understand, but this isn't just about them. It's about a mandate from the American people that President Trump is helping execute.