Overview of "Trump's 2026 Cabinet Kickoff, Man Rams Car Into Jewish Center, Social Media on Trial: AM Update 1/30"
This AM Update (hosted by Megyn Kelly on SiriusXM) covers three main newslines from Jan. 30, 2026: President Trump’s first cabinet meeting of the year and administration policy claims; a vehicle attack on the Chabad World Headquarters in New York City and ensuing hate-crime investigation; and a high-profile California bellwether trial alleging social media platforms are designed to be addictive to children. The show also reviews early 2028 primary polling and political moves by several potential candidates.
Key segments
Trump’s cabinet meeting and administration highlights
- Meeting summary: Trump held his first cabinet meeting of the year (just under 90 minutes) and declined to take press questions. He urged officials to keep remarks short.
- Administration talking points emphasized by Trump and cabinet members:
- Economy: Cited an Atlanta Fed projection of 5.4% Q4 GDP growth, S&P 500 hitting 7,000, and repeated claims of large market gains added to retirement savings.
- Energy: Administration claims U.S. oil production exceeds Saudi Arabia + Russia combined; natural gas production exceeds Russia + China + Iran combined; renewed coal leases and increased coal production credited with saving lives during a cold snap.
- Pharmaceuticals: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (serving in the administration) touted agreements with 16–17 drug companies and push for “most favored nation” (MFN) pricing and a “Trump Rx” rollout within about 10 days; companies purportedly building U.S. production capacity.
- Personnel notes: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem attended but did not speak amid criticism over the Alex Preddy shooting; Trump skipped remarks from several cabinet officials. VP J.D. Vance joked he was “here for the free coffee.”
Early 2028 primary polling and political moves
- Big Data Poll of ~3,000 likely voters (hypothetical 2028 primary matchups):
- Republicans: J.D. Vance 46%, Ron DeSantis 9.5%, RFK Jr. & Marco Rubio ~6.8%, Ted Cruz ~4%.
- Democrats: Kamala Harris 31%, Gavin Newsom 22%, Pete Buttigieg 11.7%, AOC 6.4%, Josh Shapiro 6.1%.
- Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro: launched re-election bid, media blitz, criticized Vance as a “sycophant” and attacked the Biden-Harris administration for not delivering tangible outcomes (example: claimed zero Pennsylvanians connected to high-speed affordable internet under Biden’s infrastructure bill).
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced a run for Minnesota governor, focusing on opposing ICE tactics and promising to address crime, fraud, and other state turmoil.
NYC car attack at Chabad World Headquarters
- Incident: 36-year-old Dan Sohail (NJ resident) repeatedly rammed a gray sedan into the wooden doors of the Chabad World Headquarters in Crown Heights, NYC; captured on video — at least five strikes; no reported injuries.
- Arrest and investigation: Sohail arrested without resistance; bomb squad cleared the vehicle; NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force investigating; charges include attempted assault, criminal mischief, and aggravated harassment upgraded to hate-crime counts.
- Context and reactions: Mayor and NYPD officials called it alarming; Assistant AG Harmeet Dillon opened a civil rights probe. Sohail’s father said his son struggles with mental illness and was trying to convert to Judaism; a resurfaced video showed Sohail dancing in the center two weeks earlier.
California social media bellwether trial
- Case focus: A Los Angeles jury is hearing one of several bellwether trials alleging platforms (Instagram/Meta, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat) were deliberately designed to be addictive to children — features cited include infinite scroll, autoplay, and push notifications.
- Plaintiff example: “KGM,” a 19-year-old from Chico, alleges she joined social platforms at ages 8–11 and suffered sexual grooming, exposure to explicit material, and sextortion; her suit argues negligence and failure to warn.
- Settlements and defendants: TikTok and Snap (parent of Snapchat) reached undisclosed settlements with KGM and were removed from this trial; Meta remains a central defendant (Mark Zuckerberg expected to testify).
- Evidence and stakes: Plaintiffs point to internal documents showing companies knew certain features drove engagement and risked harm (example: Instagram beauty-filter deliberations). Analysts compare the litigation’s potential impact to 1990s tobacco trials; plaintiffs seek damages and design changes. The legal argument focuses on product design rather than third‑party content, potentially sidestepping Section 230 protections.
Main takeaways
- The Trump administration is emphasizing strong economic and energy metrics, drug-pricing initiatives, and domestic production expansion as major wins; meetings are being shortened and controlled.
- Early 2028 polling shows a consolidated lead for J.D. Vance on the GOP side and a fragmented Democratic field—implications for primary dynamics remain fluid.
- The NYC incident is being treated as a potential hate crime with both local and federal civil-rights attention; no physical injuries were reported.
- The California bellwether trial could set a legal precedent forcing social platforms to change product designs or face large liabilities if juries accept claims that platforms intentionally engineered addiction in children.
Notable quotes
- Trump on past long meetings: “I didn’t sleep. I just closed them because I wanted to get the hell out of here.”
- HHS Secretary RFK Jr. on drug deals: “We now have agreements with 16 to 17 drug companies… we are going to be releasing Trump Rx… every American can get the lowest prices in the developed world.”
- Josh Shapiro about Vance: “Such a sycophant, such a suck up. He embarrasses himself daily as he seeks the affirmation of Donald Trump.”
- NY Mayor (on attack): “Any threat to a Jewish institution or place of worship must be taken seriously. Anti-Semitism has no place in our city.”
- Plaintiff attorney on social media suits: Companies “are going to have to explain to a jury why their profits were more important than the lives of our young people.”
What to watch next
- Official rollout and details of the announced “Trump Rx” program and whether MFN-style pricing is implemented and upheld in practice.
- Developments in Kristi Noem’s standing and any fallout from the Alex Preddy shooting.
- Continued legal outcomes from the California bellwether trials (Meta testimony, possible further settlements, and any mandated product-design changes).
- Prosecutorial and civil investigations following the Chabad HQ attack, including whether charges advance to arraignment and outcomes of the civil-rights probe.
- How early 2028 polling evolves as more candidates enter or clarify campaigns and as voters react to real-world events and policy results.
Bottom line
This AM Update ties together political messaging (Trump administration economic and energy claims; 2028 polling and candidate activity), a violent incident in New York under hate-crime investigation, and a potentially landmark legal test that could force major changes in how social media platforms are designed and regulated — all stories to monitor for immediate policy, legal, and political consequences.