HERE’S THE SCOOP (NBC News)
Episode: President Trump’s Influence Campaigns from Havana to Indiana
Release Date: April 10, 2026

Overview

In this episode, guest host Ryan Nobles explores President Trump’s efforts to wield political influence, from applying pressure on Cuba’s government to orchestrating local election outcomes in the U.S. The show features two major exclusives:

• A groundbreaking interview by Kristen Welker with Cuban President Miguel Diaz Canel during a period of rising U.S.-Cuban tensions.
• An exposé by Jane C. Timm examining how the Trump administration attempted to sway a state legislative race in Indiana by pressuring a local candidate to withdraw.

The tone is urgent, informative, and peppered with direct quotes and insider details, offering listeners a rare look at behind-the-scenes maneuvers at both international and local levels.

Segment 1: U.S. and Cuba – Tense Diplomacy Under Trump

Key Discussion Points

• An Exclusive Interview in Havana
  Kristen Welker returns from Havana after interviewing Cuban President Miguel Diaz Canel—the first Cuban leader outside the Castro family in 40 years to appear on U.S. broadcast television.

• Current U.S.-Cuba Dynamics
  President Trump has heightened pressure on Cuba, threatening the possibility of a U.S.-led change in government and casting Cuba as a “failing nation.” This context sets the stage for Welker’s probing interview.

• Defiance and Preparation in Cuba

  • President Diaz Canel insists “No, this country is not failing. Yes, there are problems, but yes, we are preparing militarily, if that's what's necessary. […] he is willing to give his life for Cuba.” (Kristen Welker quoting Diaz Canel, 00:00, 03:20)
  • Diaz Canel maintains talks with the U.S. are ongoing but says he has never spoken directly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

• Challenging U.S. Assumptions

  • Welker presses Diaz Canel on whether he would step down for the sake of Cuba. He retorts:
    • "You are a very important journalist. Have you ever asked that question to any other president in the world?" (Miguel Diaz Canel, 04:55)
    • “In Cuba, the people who are in leadership position is not elected by the U.S. government and they don't have a mandate from the U.S. government.” (05:42)

• Sovereignty and Sensitivities

  • Welker reflects on how this question hits at the “very heart of Cuba’s sovereignty.” She notes that Diaz Canel “bristled at all of those questions, but none more than that question about whether he should step down. Because that's a question that really challenges, I think, from his perspective, the very heart of Cuba's sovereignty.” (Kristen Welker, 07:13)

• Barriers to a U.S.-Cuba Deal

  • The Trump administration demands include freeing political prisoners, holding multiparty elections, and allowing a free press.
  • Diaz Canel, though publicly willing to talk, pivots away from concrete concessions. “When I pressed him, what of that list … what do you think you can comply with? He very quickly pivoted and changed the subject.” (Kristen Welker, 08:46)

Notable Quotes

• “This is a country on edge. They acknowledge that they're bracing for the possibility of a military attack by the United States.” (Kristen Welker, 01:54)
• “Nothing gets under their skin more than this notion that the United States can tell the Cuban government who should lead it.” (Kristen Welker, 07:05)

Timestamps

• 00:00 — Opening and Welker’s recap of tone in Cuba
• 01:54 — Welker on Cuba’s current outlook and U.S. pressures
• 04:44 — Welker’s direct questioning of Diaz Canel
• 07:13 — Reflections on sovereignty, the embargo, and U.S. demands
• 08:46 — Can a U.S.-Cuba deal be made?

Segment 2: Trump Administration’s Pressure Campaign in Indiana

Key Discussion Points

• Local Race, National Stakes
  Jane C. Timm exposes how the Trump White House intervened in a state legislative race in Indiana, targeting Alexandra Wilson, a local candidate, to clear the field for a Trump-endorsed opponent.

• Background on the Indiana Context

  • GOP internal conflict emerged over redistricting; some state Republicans sided with Democrats, blocking a map that could have added two Republican seats in Congress.
  • Trump promised to “primary all of you” after the rebellion, leading to intense White House involvement in local races.

• Targeting Alexandra Wilson

  • Wilson, a 34-year-old conservative network engineer (not related to fellow candidate Brenda Wilson), decided to run due to concerns about a local school renovation.
  • Upon announcing her candidacy, she was bombarded with calls and voicemails:
    • “Alexandra, this is Matt Brass, a White House political director.” (15:01)
    • “The White House, the lieutenant governor, the Club for Growth […] The governor's office, the White House again.” (Jane C. Timm, 15:13, 15:21)

• Intimidation and Enticement

  • She was asked directly if she’d accept a job in the administration instead of running:
    • “Is there a pathway to where you would put some thought into another route to making an impact in your community?” (Alexandra Wilson, quoting White House, 16:44)
  • The pressure escalates, with James Blair (Deputy White House Chief of Staff) warning, “If we go the three way and there is no change, you know, I think this is going to be a really nasty race, candidly.” (James Blair, 17:33)

• Veiled Threats

  • Blair references her and her husband's past arrests, warning: “Do you know how dirty and ugly politics can get? He said, do you know how much money they're going to spend to defeat you?” (Jane C. Timm paraphrasing, 17:57)

• Wilson’s Response

  • Instead of backing down, Wilson is more determined: “A weaker candidate might have folded, but it's not right that someone else should get to decide who gets to go on the ballot. … I shouldn't get told to step down, simply because someone in Washington has decided how this goes.” (Jane C. Timm recounting, 18:59)

• White House Justifies Engagement

  • “They said this is what the political office does. They said this president is intimately involved in races up and down the ballot.” (Jane C. Timm, 19:47)
  • This type of intervention is “not a Trump thing,” but Trump’s focus on “political revenge” and punishment for noncompliance is distinctive (Jane C. Timm, 20:50–21:30).

• Implications for the GOP

  • These local fights are costly and risk Republican unity: “Some $6 million is being spent on unseating seven Republican candidates at a state level race … why aren’t we spending money to try and preserve our House majority, which is at risk? Why are we fighting amongst ourselves essentially?” (Jane C. Timm paraphrasing interviews, 22:01)

Notable Quotes

• “This is someone that wasn't even involved in the redistricting fight. … The idea is essentially that it's going to split the vote … the incumbent Republican might survive his primary simply because he has two challengers instead of one.” (Jane C. Timm, 15:35)
• “He says, you know, I'm on a plane with the Secretary of State. I'm flying to Germany right now. But I wanted to talk to you about this race.” (Jane C. Timm quoting James Blair, 17:25)

Memorable Moments

• The reading of voicemails and text messages from White House officials, giving an unfiltered window into political pressure tactics.
• Jane C. Timm’s underscore: “I have been accused of dirty tricks, political dirty tricks. This is exactly what is a political dirty trick.” (Alexandra Wilson via Jane C. Timm, 18:59)

Timestamps

• 13:10 — Jane C. Timm introduces the Indiana case
• 14:32 — Alexandra Wilson’s candidacy
• 15:01 — Start of pressure campaign, voicemails
• 16:11 — Enticement to take a job instead
• 17:20 — Escalation, threats from James Blair
• 18:59 — Wilson stands firm; impact on her campaign
• 19:47 — White House’s explanation
• 21:30 — Broader implications for GOP and the midterms

Context and Tone

• Language: The episode uses direct, pointed language, often quoting directly from interviews and voicemails to enhance immediacy.
• Tone: The hosts and reporters are professional but candid about the unusual nature and intensity of administration influence in both foreign and local U.S. politics.

Conclusion

This episode of “Here’s the Scoop” offers a fascinating, on-the-ground look at how President Trump and his administration wield influence, from challenging foreign governments with historic interviews to using both enticement and intimidation at the local level to try to shape Republican primaries. With exclusive interviews and firsthand reporting, it reveals the intensity and range of the current administration’s hands-on approach to power—both abroad and at home.