Transcript

Homan Ends MN Surge, AG Ellison Grilled on the Hill, El Paso Airspace Laser Mystery: AM Update 2/13

From Megyn Kelly · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 18 min · 2,966 words · 44 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Homan Ends MN Surge, AG Ellison Grilled on the Hill, El Paso Airspace Laser Mystery: AM Update 2/13", an episode of Megyn Kelly published February 13, 2026 (18 min, about 2,966 words). It mentions 14 people, works and ideas, including Emily Jashinsky, Operation Metro Surge, Mandy & Ralph Ellison, Nancy Guthrie, Governor Tim Walls.

What this episode is about

Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities is concluding as federal resources are being withdrawn following new collaboration agreements with local authorities, while tensions rise as Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison faces tough questioning in the Senate. Additionally, the investigation into the recent airspace shutdown in El Paso uncovers a surprising link to laser technology.

Key takeaways

  • Operation Metro Surge ends: local cooperation may have improved, but facts say policies remain static.
  • Congressional tempers flare over ICE: when law meets emotion, even hearings can feel like a courtroom drama.
  • Lasers grounded El Paso air traffic—who knew high-tech toys could trigger such real-world chaos?
  • Pure Talk is the underdog of telecom—who knew cutting costs could come with a side of patriotism?
  • Minnesota's law enforcement shift: Cooperation is great, but it doesn't erase the challenges of public trust.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 3:00: Pure Talk, Operation Metro Surge, Governor Tim Walls, Emily Jashinsky
  2. – 6:00: Operation Metro Surge, Governor Tim Walls
  3. – 9:00: Mandy & Ralph Ellison, Operation Metro Surge, Governor Tim Walls, Todd Lions
  4. – 12:00: Mandy & Ralph Ellison, Josh Holly
  5. – 15:00: Nancy Guthrie, El Paso, Relief Factor
  6. – 18:00: El Paso, Emily Jashinsky, Fort Bliss, Santa Teresa

Notable quotes from "Homan Ends MN Surge, AG Ellison Grilled on the Hill, El Paso Airspace Laser Mystery: AM Update 2/13"

  • I should call you a prisoner cuz you ought to be in jail. Temperatures flaring on Capitol Hill as Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison appears before the Senate Homeland…
    about Mandy & Ralph Ellison · at
  • Homeman also making clear the draw down is not a full retreat saying ICE officers including quick response forces or QRFs will remain in Minnesota to respond to potential unrest.
    about Operation Metro Surge · at
  • Illegal aliens, including violent offenders, sex offenders, and gang members. Minnesota Governor, Democrat Tim Walls, reacting to the news yesterday. I'm certainly not going to…
    about Governor Tim Walls · at
  • Minnesota officials including state attorney general Keith Ellison. The second panel including acting ICE director Todd Lions, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney…
    about Todd Lions · at
  • Senator Josh Holly of Missouri grilling Ellison for nearly 7 minutes, accusing Ellison of enabling fraudsters in exchange for campaign donations. Are you the attorney general of the state of.
    about Josh Holly · at
  • 84y old Nancy Guthrie remains missing as investigators in Tucson intensify their search for answers, expanding efforts across her neighborhood and beyond. The Pima County Sheriff's Department now.
    about Nancy Guthrie · at
  • Actually triggered Wednesday's brief shutdown of airspace over El Paso, Texas. On Tuesday night, the FAA issuing a notice to airmen or NOTAM blocking flights in the airspace…
    about El Paso · at
  • That'll do it for your AM update. I'm Emily Jashinsky, host of Afterparty.
    about Emily Jashinsky · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Emily Jashinsky — Person · Host · 2 mentions · first at
    She anchors the AM update and frames the episode’s main stories (Operation Metro Surge, hearings, missing-person case, El Paso airspace incident).
  • Mandy & Ralph Ellison — Person · Referenced official / hearing witness · 3 mentions · first at
    As Minnesota Attorney General, he is a central figure in the Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing about Minnesota’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and is challenged by senators on deportation and fraud allegations.
  • Nancy Guthrie — Person · Missing person / subject of true-crime segment · 3 mentions · first at
    Her disappearance drives the Tucson investigation segment, including requests for surveillance footage and discussion of neighborhood leads.
  • Governor Tim Walls — Person · Referenced official / respondent to policy news · 4 mentions · first at
    Identified as Minnesota’s governor reacting critically to the end of Operation Metro Surge and disputing claims of changed state/local cooperation policies.
  • Todd Lions — Person · Referenced official / hearing witness · 1 mention · first at
    Presented as acting ICE director on the second hearing panel; questioned by Sen. Slotkin about hypothetical ICE deployment around polling places.
  • Josh Holly — Person · Referenced lawmaker / interrogator in hearing · 1 mention · first at
    He is described grilling Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, accusing him of enabling fraud and referencing campaign donations tied to a major Minnesota fraud case.
  • Alyssa Slotkin — Person · Referenced lawmaker / questioner in hearing · 1 mention · first at
    As a Democratic senator, she questions acting ICE director Todd Lyons about a hypothetical scenario involving ICE presence near polling locations.
    Director Todd Lions, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, and more. Democrat Senator Alyssa Slotkin of Michigan, former CIA officer, and participant in the…
  • Rodney Scott — Person · Referenced official / hearing witness · 1 mention · first at
    Named as Customs and Border Protection Commissioner appearing on the Senate Homeland Security Committee’s second panel.
    Attorney general Keith Ellison. The second panel including acting ICE director Todd Lions, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, and more. Democrat Senator…

Places & events

  • Operation Metro Surge — Event · Core topic · 5 mentions · first at
    Federal immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities, now ending with claims of improved local cooperation.
  • El Paso — Place · Setting · 5 mentions · first at
    Location of a recent airspace shutdown due to a suspected cartel drone incursion.
  • Fort Bliss — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at
    Military base near El Paso involved in counter-drone testing and operations.
    CBP officials believed they were firing at a cartel drone, but sources saying it turned out to be a party balloon. Fort Bliss near El Paso has for a long time been active in…
  • Santa Teresa — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at
    Location near El Paso affected by the temporary flight restrictions.
    Actually triggered Wednesday's brief shutdown of airspace over El Paso, Texas. On Tuesday night, the FAA issuing a notice to airmen or NOTAM blocking flights in the airspace…

Sponsors

  • Pure Talk — Company · Sponsor · 3 mentions · first at
    Wireless service provider promoting affordable plans with a focus on US customer service and veteran support.
    Believe wireless service should cost you only a couple of presidents. Just a Jackson and a Lincoln to be exact. For just 25 bucks a month, Pure Talk gives you unlimited talk, text, and plenty of data. Now compare that to Big Wireless.
  • Relief Factor — Product · Sponsor · 1 mention · first at
    Pain relief supplement promoted as a drug-free solution for inflammation and pain.
    Relief Actor is 100% drug-free, and it targets the inflammation that causes pain so you can move better, feel better, and enjoy life again. Try the 3-week quick start for just 1995. Go to.

Full transcript with timestamps

Good morning everyone. I'm Emily Jashinsky, host of Afterparty and the Megan Kelly wrap-up show on SiriusXM channel 111. It's Friday, February 13th, 2026, and this is your AM update.

Operation Metro Surge is ending. Borders are Tom Hman announcing the end of the federal surge into the Twin Cities, setting newly forged cooperation agreements with local authorities.

I should call you a prisoner cuz you ought to be in jail. Temperatures flaring on Capitol Hill as Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison appears before the Senate Homeland Security Committee. The search intensifies in Tucson. Investigators casting a wider net in the search for Nancy Guthrie. New reporting reveals what really triggered the El Paso airspace shutdown. And get ready, it involves lasers. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update. You know Pure Talk's favorite holiday? It's President's Day because they believe wireless service should cost you only a couple of presidents. Just a Jackson and a Lincoln to be exact. For just 25 bucks a month, Pure Talk gives you unlimited talk, text, and plenty of data. Now compare that to Big Wireless.

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Orders are Tom Hman yesterday announcing the end of Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities, marking the draw down of roughly 2,000 federal officers remaining in the field. Homeman crediting increased cooperation from Minnesota state and local officials, saying new coordination agreements now allow federal agents to safely take custody of criminal illegal aliens directly from local jails, eliminating the need for largecale surge operations. However, both Governor Tim Walls and the Sheriff's Office in Henipin County, which runs the largest jail in the state, telling the New York Times there had been no changes in their policies.

Hman yesterday, however, says coordination between the federal government and state and local officials has improved and outlined some of the changes. While I don't agree with Governor Walsh and Attorney General Ellis on everything, we I appreciate the support the governor gives to state agencies who coordinate with us in a manner intended to promote public safety. And I appreciate the AG have an open dialogue with me early on. The first meeting I had, acknowledging that county jails may notify ICE of the release date of an inmate just as long as they don't hold them past the time they would normally release him. We now have the ability to arrest criminal aliens in the safety and security of jails throughout the state at the time they're being released like we've done in other states. I've also directed the strategic placement of officers in certain areas throughout the states that can respond quickly to sheriffs that

want to release somebody and notify us. We need to be nearby so they don't hold them unnecessarily. So we worked on a strategic plan to reassign officers in those key locations.

Homeman also making clear the draw down is not a full retreat saying ICE officers including quick response forces or QRFs will remain in Minnesota to respond to potential unrest.

ICE has had an office here for decades before it's called INS, Immigration Naturalization Service. This footprint will remain here and they'll continue to do immigration enforcement here. But as President Trump has said from day one, we're going to prioritize the public safety threats. But we won't get back to the footprint here, the normal footprint here. But there will be some security teams staying here, the QRFs, until we're assured that those agitators uh incidents either stay low or or further decline. I'm not going to remove everybody out of the safety server officers, but like I said in and operation metro surge is ending.

Since the beginning of the surge, organized anti-ICE activist networks rapidly deploying to enforcement operations, sometimes warning suspects, disrupting arrests, and confronting federal agents. The trainings from these networks contributing to two fatal encounters with federal officials. The Trump administration previously citing the lack of local police support as the reason thousands of additional federal officers had to be deployed. Homeman now saying local law enforcement has committed to protecting federal officers and shutting down unlawful interference from agitators.

I have also received commitments from state and local law enforcement that they will respond if federal law enforcement is being impeded or assaulted. They will shut down unlawful agitator activity, including arresting agitators involved and and seeing them follow through. I want to thank Governor Walls for his messages focusing on peace and his support from the Minnesota State Troopers to respond to unlawful situations that put federal officers and the public at risk. I also want to thank Mayor Fry for taking a public stance against agitators setting up barricades that block streets and endanger public safety and for directing the police to take those roadblocks down.

Additionally, I want to thank police chief O'Hara, Sheriff Wit, and various other local law enforcement for their responsiveness and efforts to maintain law and order in the streets. We've seen a big change here in the last couple weeks, and it's all good changes. Homeman also reporting that during Operation Metro Surge, ICE locating 3,364 missing unaccompanied alien children and arresting more than 4,000 criminal illegal aliens, including violent offenders, sex offenders, and gang members. Minnesota Governor, Democrat Tim Walls, reacting to the news yesterday. I'm certainly not going to spike the football, but you're not going to hear me express any gratitude for the people who caused this unnecessary, unwarranted, and in many cases unconstitutional assault on our state.

In America, you cannot expect that the people are going to be okay with masked unidentified people running you off the road and coming to your vehicle at gunpoint like we saw in St. Peter, Minnesota. The Senate Homeland Security Committee yesterday holding backto back hearings focused on immigration enforcement in Minnesota. The first panel featuring Minnesota officials including state attorney general Keith Ellison. The second panel including acting ICE director Todd Lions, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, and more. Democrat Senator Alyssa Slotkin of Michigan, former CIA officer, and participant in the controversial video urging service members to disregard hypothetical illegal orders, veering off topic, pressing Lions on a Democratic claim that President Trump could deploy ICE agents to polling places. If the president of the United States gets Christy Gnome on the phone

and she gets you on the phone and she says, "We've heard there's a problem in Georgia or in Michigan or somewhere else. I need you to go and and physically deploy around polling locations." You will say no.

There's no reason for us to play now. Well, you say then you should say no, right? It's not it's not fantasy. It's not made up. These are things that the president and his cabinet have suggested. They've suggested invoking the insurrection act which would allow law which would allow active duty military to do the very same thing. So this isn't um you know uh someone who thinks the sky is falling. The president and his cabinet are suggesting. So you're going to be the guy standing in the breach.

There's no reason I got to take it. There's no reason for to use ICE officers in debt.

Right. Well, I hope that in the privacy of that meeting when that comes down and the president feels like he's going to lose the midterm elections that you don't buckle. um and uh uh because I think the our democracy literally is dependent on it.

But the most heated moments of the hearing coming during confrontations between Republican senators and Minnesota AG Ellison as lawmakers probed Minnesota's cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Head of the committee, Senator Rand Paul, attempting to clarify how cooperation between Minnesota and ICE actually works.

So what happens right now, Mr. Ellison, Attorney General Ellison, if I'm from ICE and I I call Minneapolis and I say John Smith is wanted and will you help us? What happens? Is the local police force going to give them help or do they have to bring in all ICE agents to do it?

Certainly targeted enforcement is not the problem as as has been said. But I think that's what what has been said of some of your policies and the interpretation is is that they don't have to and won't cooperate with ICE. A month ago, if if ICE called the local Minneapolis police and said, "We want to arrest this person." Will the Minneapolis police help ICE to arrest a person?

I think so. Yes. Now, we're at a question of facts. Mr. Chairman, most people are arguing that that's not true and that that's a reason for the surge. If it is true, then the local officials need to say they will.

AG Ellison sideststepping the core question in this exchange with Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio.

Do you think that uh people who are here in this country illegally, meaning they either entered illegally or overstay a visa should be deported? Yes. Simple yes or no.

If they have a pending asylum petition, I think it should be heard. You just a quick question. If you enter the country illegally or you overstay a visa, should you be deported?

My simple answer is sir, it depends. Okay. So, if somebody breaks into your home, should they be arrested for breaking entry or does it depend?

It's an entirely different scenario. How's that? Because uh immigration is essentially a civil and breaking into my home is a criminal matter.

Oh, okay. Gotcha. So, if there's So, there's laws that should be enforced. So, we shouldn't enforce civil violations. We absolutely should enforce them.

So, but but you just said that uh uh it's a civil matter, so it's different. So, if somebody civil matters,

so if somebody commits a civil infraction, it shouldn't be enforced. It should be.

Okay. So, they should be deported. No, they should have due process that is associated with their petition.

Senator Josh Holly of Missouri grilling Ellison for nearly 7 minutes, accusing Ellison of enabling fraudsters in exchange for campaign donations. Are you the attorney general of the state of Minnesota? Yes or no?

You know the answer. Let's try another question. Are you familiar with the $9 billion in historic fraud out of your state, including the $250 million in the Feeding Our Future program alone? You familiar with that? Don't turn to the pages in your book to eat your potted answers. Are you familiar with it? Yes or no?

Yes, I am familiar with it. Very familiar, aren't you? Because the people who ran the Feeding Our Futures program came to you in your official office in the state capital of December 11th, 2021. and ask for your help in getting investigators off their backs.

So, first of all, you're cherry-picking quotes out of there. They're money. Why did you help them?

I thought you were gonna let me answer. Why did you take their money? I didn't.

You took 10,000. That's a false statement. $10,000 9 days after the meeting. Don't talk over me. As early as 2019, it's my hearing pal.

As early as 2019, whistleblowers came. Well, I should call you a prisoner cuz you ought to be in jail.

Well, we'll see what you can find in 2019. Yikes. Coming up, still no sign of Nancy Guthrie as investigators widen the search and make a sweeping new request to the public. And what triggered the sudden El Paso airspace shutdown? New reporting points to a Pentagon anti- drone laser. 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." End quote. 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 Actor did not change Bill's trade. It changed Bill's future. Relief Actor is 100% drug-free, and it targets the inflammation that causes pain so you can move better, feel better, and enjoy life again. Try the 3-week quick start for just 1995. Go to reliefacctor.com or call 8004 relief. Let's see if you're next. Getting out of pain. 84y old Nancy Guthrie remains missing as investigators in Tucson intensify their search for answers, expanding efforts across her neighborhood and beyond. The Pima County Sheriff's Department now urging residents to turn over any surveillance or doorbell footage showing vehicles traffic pedestrians or anything unusual between January 1st and February 2nd. MK True Crime host Phil Holloway reporting from Tucson tells us what investigators may be looking for.

What I draw from the request for video from specific dates and even the most recent one I said the sheriff just said, "Give us everything you can find going back 30 days." I think they're following up on leads. They also might be checking to see what kind of delivery drivers have been in the area. It's not hard to find out what someone's Amazon purchase history is. For example, we saw that in the KBER case. And so, you know, when uh a person might have been expecting a delivery, so you might be wanting to get a bead on just who uh was in and out of that driveway dropping things off. Since arriving in Tucson, Holloway is speaking to several neighbors of NY's daughter, Annie, and son-in-law, Toamaso. He tells us they have theories of their own.

The the neighbors that I've spoke to were not closely acquainted with that family. Uh they tended to say that, you know, they they hadn't been there all that long. They didn't uh engage very socially with the others in the neighborhood. And you know they they did express some specific opinions about um the case and about the neighbors and uh in fact I think a lot of them believe that there is a direct connection between that house and the crime scene. Um but this is based on um their personal observations and and I guess their opinions based on those observations. But they are not surprised. The big takeaway is they are not surprised that the investigation is physically focusing more and more on that geographic location. Megan will have much more on this case later today on the Megan Kelly show. Anyone with information is urged to call 1 800 call FBI or submit tips at tips.fbi.gov.

New reporting shedding light on what actually triggered Wednesday's brief shutdown of airspace over El Paso, Texas. On Tuesday night, the FAA issuing a notice to airmen or NOTAM blocking flights in the airspace over El Paso and nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico from Wednesday through February 21st, citing quote temporary flight restrictions for special security reasons. Within hours of issuing the 10-day ground stop in unprecedented action quickly raising alarm, the FAA suddenly lifting the order. Secretary Duffy announcing the closure was caused by a cartel drone incursion, but the threat had been neutralized. According to the New York Times, the FAA ordered the abrupt closure after US Customs and Border Protection deployed a high energy laser weapon provided by the Pentagon, quote, without giving aviation officials enough time to assess the risks to commercial aircraft. The Times reporting multiple

people familiar with the situation say CBP officials believed they were firing at a cartel drone, but sources saying it turned out to be a party balloon. Fort Bliss near El Paso has for a long time been active in counter drone testing and operations, particularly along the southern border, where cartel drone activity remains an ongoing concern. Pentagon and FAA officials planning to meet on February 20th to discuss the safety implications of deploying laser weapons near commercial flight paths, reports the Times. As Trump administration officials remain tight-lipped in the fallout, Senate leaders now searching for answers.

Senators from Texas, Republicans Ted Cruz and John Cornin, both publicly calling for a classified briefing from the FAA and Department of War. That'll do it for your AM update. I'm Emily Jashinsky, host of Afterparty. Catch the Megan Kelly show live on SiriusXM's The Megan Kelly channel 111 at noon east on youtube.com/meanc kelly and all podcast platforms.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Homan Ends MN Surge, AG Ellison Grilled on the Hill, El Paso Airspace Laser Mystery: AM Update 2/13"?

Emily Jashinsky (Guest), Tom Homan (Guest), Keith Ellison (Guest), Phil Holloway (Guest).

What is "Homan Ends MN Surge, AG Ellison Grilled on the Hill, El Paso Airspace Laser Mystery: AM Update 2/13" about?

Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities is concluding as federal resources are being withdrawn following new collaboration agreements with local authorities, while tensions rise as Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison faces tough questioning in the Senate. Additionally, the investigation into the recent airspace shutdown in El Paso uncovers a surprising link to laser technology.

What is mentioned in this Megyn Kelly episode?

14 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Emily Jashinsky, Operation Metro Surge, Mandy & Ralph Ellison, Nancy Guthrie, Governor Tim Walls, El Paso. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Homan Ends MN Surge, AG Ellison Grilled on the Hill, El Paso Airspace Laser Mystery: AM Update 2/13"?

The episode runs 18 min; the transcript is about 2,966 words in 44 timestamped sections.

More from Megyn Kelly

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated February 14, 2026.