Sep 16, 2026 · 21 min

Patel clashes with senators as FBI oversight turns personal

Kash Patel Spars on the Hill, New Crooks Files, Nick Reiner Won't Face Death Penalty: AM Update 9/16

The episode connects a volatile congressional hearing to fresh assassination-attempt records, AI policy disputes, fentanyl prosecutions, and a consequential murder case.

3 key takeaways

1Kash Patel defends FBI hiring standards and election-security work while senators challenge the bureau’s record and political conduct.
2New records on Thomas Crooks include interviews, evidence logs, and internal communications from the early assassination-attempt investigation.
3Federal prosecutors debate AI regulation and fentanyl murder charges as Los Angeles prosecutors reject the death penalty for Nick Reiner.

Don't miss

Patel and Cory Booker exchange personal attacks after Booker’s questioning time expires, forcing the committee chair to restore order.

The brief

Megyn Kelly opens with an unusually crowded news agenda: Kash Patel’s Senate hearing, new records on the Trump assassination attempt, AI regulation, fentanyl prosecutions, and the Nick Reiner case.

Patel defends the FBI’s record on violent crime, gangs, trafficking, and fentanyl while senators press him on revised hiring guidance involving applicants who survived abuse or trafficking.

The hearing’s election-security dispute escalates into a confrontation between Patel and Cory Booker, with personal attacks continuing after Booker’s allotted questioning time expires.

New FBI files on Thomas Crooks include interview summaries, evidence records, and internal communications that may clarify his contacts and the early investigation into the Butler shooting.

The episode then weighs calls to regulate AI, federal murder prosecutions in fentanyl deaths, and Los Angeles prosecutors’ decision not to seek death for Nick Reiner.

What was said on this episode

5 statements · 2 positive · 3 negative

Attorney General Blancheon AI regulation by the Department of JusticeNegative14:13
The Justice Department should prosecute AI-related crimes, not regulate AI.
“I do not think it's the job of the Department of Justice to regulate. We're prosecutors, not regulators. So we're not going to try to regulate AI.”
Listen at 14:13
Attorney General Blancheon Artificial IntelligencePositive14:22
AI is extraordinarily beneficial to society.
“AI is extraordinarily beneficial to our society.”
Listen at 14:22
Attorney General Blancheon U.S.-China AI competitionNegative15:37
The United States must not lose the AI race to China.
“We can't lose the AI race to China”
Listen at 15:37
Attorney General Blancheon Federal prosecution of fentanyl dealersPositive16:02
Federal law allows prosecutors to charge fentanyl dealers with murder when responsibility is proven.
“there's a federal statute that allows us to go after, assuming we can prove who the dealer is, to go after them and put them in prison for murder.”
Listen at 16:02
Phil Hollowayon California death-penalty moratoriumNegative20:14
California's death-penalty moratorium is unlikely to end soon.
“And in California, the answer is almost certainly no. There's been a moratorium in place in California since March 13th, 2019, and it's not going anywhere anytime soon.”
Listen at 20:14

Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.