The Young Turks
The Young Turks
January 7, 2026

Megyn Kelly Compares Fox News To RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA Over Pro-Trump Coverage On Venezuela!

Quick Read

Megyn Kelly, a former Fox News anchor, publicly criticized her previous employer, comparing their pro-Trump coverage of US interventions to 'Russian propaganda,' highlighting how media outlets dictate narratives to their hosts.
US foreign policy in Venezuela and Iran is driven by Israeli and corporate interests, not drug trafficking.
Fox News dictates pro-intervention talking points to its hosts, functioning as propaganda.
Trump's foreign policy is impulsive and ego-driven, easily manipulated by war hawks and donors.

Summary

The Young Turks analyze US foreign policy, particularly interventions in Venezuela and potential actions against Iran, arguing these are driven by Israeli and corporate interests, not stated reasons like drug trafficking. They detail how the Trump administration's actions in Venezuela were motivated by ego and a desire for oil, despite the economic impracticality and the CIA's historical involvement in drug smuggling. The hosts critically examine media coverage, including Megyn Kelly's admission that Fox News dictates pro-war talking points, and expose the 'uni-party' consensus on foreign policy, where both Democrats and Republicans support interventions for similar underlying reasons. They also highlight public disillusionment with funding foreign aid to Israel and the transactional nature of political influence.
This analysis exposes the hidden drivers behind US foreign policy decisions, revealing how corporate, geopolitical, and personal interests often supersede official justifications. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for citizens to critically evaluate media narratives, hold politicians accountable, and recognize the true costs—both financial and human—of interventions framed as national security imperatives. The discussion on media manipulation and the 'deep state' provides a framework for discerning propaganda and advocating for policies that genuinely serve American interests.

Takeaways

  • US interventions in Venezuela and potential actions in Iran are primarily influenced by Israeli interests and corporate desire for oil, not drug trafficking.
  • The 'Cartel Delos Solles' claim against former Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro was a fabricated narrative, later revised by the DOJ, to justify intervention.
  • The CIA has a documented history of drug trafficking to fund foreign operations, undermining official 'war on drugs' narratives.
  • Fox News, according to former host Megyn Kelly, operates like 'Russian propaganda,' dictating pro-war talking points to its anchors.
  • Trump's foreign policy decisions are heavily influenced by his ego and perceived 'wins,' making him susceptible to manipulation by neocons and war hawks.
  • Oil companies are reluctant to invest in Venezuela's dilapidated oil infrastructure without US taxpayer subsidies, illustrating the 'privatize gains, socialize losses' model.
  • Public opinion, including among Republicans, is increasingly against renewing large-scale military aid to Israel, despite efforts by figures like Elliot Abrams to frame criticism as 'anti-Semitism.'

Insights

1US Foreign Policy Driven by Israeli and Corporate Interests

The hosts argue that US interventions in Venezuela and potential actions against Iran are not primarily about democracy or fighting drugs, but rather serve the geopolitical interests of Israel and the financial interests of oil and defense contractors. They cite Israeli media reports discussing intervention in Iran and Trump's explicit statements about 'taking their oil' in Venezuela.

Jenk notes Israeli media reports on potential US intervention in Iran amid protests (). Anna highlights Trump's direct quote: 'We're taking their oil. We're taking their oil. This is all about the oil.' ().

2Debunking the 'Cartel Delos Solles' Drug Trafficking Claim

The Trump administration's claim that Nicholas Maduro led a major drug trafficking operation called 'Cartel Delos Solles' was a fabricated justification for intervention. The DOJ later dropped this specific charge, acknowledging it was a slang term for corruption, not an actual organization.

Anna explains the 'Cartel Delos Solles' was a Venezuelan slang term from the 1990s for corrupt officials, not an organization, and the DOJ abandoned this claim in a revised indictment ().

3CIA's Historical Involvement in Drug Trafficking

The hosts reveal that the CIA has a history of facilitating drug trafficking to fund covert operations, such as supporting right-wing militias in Latin America. This historical context suggests a conflict of interest when the US claims to intervene in countries like Venezuela over drug concerns.

The hosts cite 'The Dissident' reporting that the CIA supported Venezuelan National Guard generals who smuggled cocaine into the US in the 1990s to gain traffickers' confidence and fund operations like the Contras in Nicaragua ().

4Fox News as Propaganda Machine

Former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly openly admitted that during her time at the network, hosts were expected to 'cheerlead' US military interventions and that Fox News's coverage felt like 'Russian propaganda.' This highlights how major media outlets dictate narratives to align with establishment interests.

Megyn Kelly states, 'When I was at Fox News... I would have known that I was supposed to cheerlead it... I turned on Fox News yesterday and I'm sorry, but it was like watching Russian propaganda.' ()

5Trump's Ego and Transactional Foreign Policy

Trump's foreign policy decisions are portrayed as impulsive, ego-driven, and transactional. He is easily manipulated by advisors who appeal to his desire for 'wins' and personal popularity, often at the expense of sound strategic planning or American interests.

Jenk notes Trump thinks he 'nailed' Venezuela and Iran, leading him to an 'epic disaster' due to his lack of understanding of ramifications (). Anna adds Trump is 'far more impulsive and easier to manipulate based on his ego' ().

6US Taxpayers Subsidize Corporate Oil Ventures

The US government, under Trump, offered to have American taxpayers fund the rebuilding of Venezuela's dilapidated oil infrastructure for the benefit of private oil companies, exemplifying the 'privatize gains, socialize losses' model.

Trump stated, 'A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent and the oil companies will spend it and then they'll be reimbursed by us or through revenue, meaning US taxpayers.' ().

Bottom Line

Oil companies are 'playing hard to get' with the US government regarding Venezuelan oil, strategically highlighting extraction difficulties and low oil prices to compel US taxpayers to subsidize their investments.

So What?

This tactic ensures private corporations minimize their risk and maximize profits, shifting the financial burden of resource acquisition onto the public, even for ventures that may not benefit American consumers.

Impact

Advocacy for transparent cost-benefit analysis of foreign interventions and resource extraction deals, requiring private companies to bear full financial risk, could prevent taxpayer exploitation.

The future may see AI used as a justification to dismantle public education, with elites arguing that advanced technology negates the need for widespread human education, thereby keeping the populace 'dumb.'

So What?

This could lead to a two-tiered society where education is a privilege for the wealthy, exacerbating inequality and limiting social mobility, while the majority are denied critical thinking skills.

Impact

Proactive policy-making to safeguard and expand public education, emphasizing critical thinking and digital literacy, to counter narratives that devalue human intellect in an AI-driven future.

Key Concepts

Uni-Party Consensus

The idea that despite superficial political divides, both major parties (Democrats and Republicans) often align on core issues like foreign policy and economic interests, driven by similar donor bases and institutional pressures.

Privatize Gains, Socialize Losses

A principle where private corporations reap the profits from ventures (e.g., oil extraction) while the costs and risks (e.g., military intervention, infrastructure rebuilding) are borne by the public/taxpayers.

Audience Capture

The phenomenon where media personalities or independent creators, even when free from corporate pressure, may tailor their opinions or content to align with the expectations of their audience to maintain popularity or avoid backlash.

Deep State

A concept referring to a clandestine network of unelected government officials and powerful actors who secretly manipulate or control government policy, often for their own interests or those of external entities, exemplified by the CIA's historical actions.

Lessons

  • Critically evaluate official justifications for foreign military interventions, recognizing that underlying motives often involve corporate profits, geopolitical influence, and political ego.
  • Be aware of media outlets, including major networks, that may function as propaganda by dictating specific talking points to their hosts, and seek diverse, independent news sources.
  • Advocate for greater transparency in government spending related to foreign aid and military operations, particularly when private corporations or foreign lobbies are beneficiaries.
  • Challenge the narrative that criticism of foreign governments or their lobbies is inherently 'anti-Semitic' or 'anti-American,' recognizing it as a tactic to silence dissent and maintain financial flows.
  • Support policies that prioritize domestic investment and public services over foreign military spending and corporate subsidies, especially when the latter do not demonstrably benefit American citizens.

Notable Moments

Megyn Kelly compares Fox News's coverage of US interventions to 'Russian propaganda,' revealing the network's practice of dictating narratives to its hosts.

This is a rare, direct admission from a former insider about the lack of independent journalistic integrity at a major news network, validating criticisms of media bias and propaganda.

Trump's statement that the US will 'keep the oil' from Venezuela and rebuild its facilities, with US taxpayers reimbursing oil companies.

This brazen admission exposes the true, transactional motive behind the Venezuelan intervention and highlights how corporate profits are prioritized over public funds and international law.

Quotes

"

"I turned on Fox News yesterday and I'm sorry, but it was like watching Russian propaganda."

Megyn Kelly
"

"If you're on the same side as Lindsey Graham, you're on the wrong side. Period. I've never seen him be on the right side."

Jenk Uygur
"

"There's no such thing as stolen land. There's no such thing as international law. There's only such thing as conquest. And if it serves Americans, then so be it. We rule the jungle. We are the lion."

Fox News Commentator
"

"A tremendous amount of money will have to be spent and the oil companies will spend it and then they'll be reimbursed by us or through revenue, meaning US taxpayers."

Donald Trump (quoted by Anna Kasparian)
"

"We do not live in a sovereign country. We live in a country that is ruled and controlled and manipulated by the nation state of Israel. And I think that's wrong."

Anna Kasparian

Q&A

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