President Trump’s Influence Campaigns from Havana to Indiana

Summary

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

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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.

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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?

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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

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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.

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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.

Transcript

[Kristen Welker]

The tone from the Cuban president is one of absolute defiance. No, this country is not failing. Yes, there are problems, but yes, we are preparing militarily, if that's what's necessary. President Diaz Canel telling me he is willing to give his life for Cuba.

[Ryan Nobles]

Hey, everybody, and welcome to here's the scoop from NBC News. I'm Ryan Nobles filling in for Yasmin Vesugian. Today on the show, NBC News Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker sat down for a network network exclusive interview with Cuban President Miguel Diaz Canel amid mounting pressure from the Trump administration to implement change. Is a deal between the US And Cuba in reach? Plus, another NBC News exclusive. The Trump administration is attempting to wield influence in local elections across the US and we've got the voicemails to back it up. Up first, though, Cuba's president Miguel Diaz Canal has been running the country since 2018. The first leader not named Castro in more than 40. And this week, he gave his first ever US broadcast interview to NBC News. As we've spoken about before, the Trump administration has been ramping up pressure on Cuba and calling for a change in its government. So how did the Cuban leader respond when confronted with the possibility of the country's future without him? NBC News Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker is just back from Havana, and she joins me now. Hi, Kristen.

[Kristen Welker]

Hi, Ryan. It's great to be with you. Thank you so much for having me to discuss this interview.

[Alexandra Wilson]

Thank you.

[Ryan Nobles]

It was such an impressive get by you and your team at such an important time. And NBC News has gotten rare access into Cuba this year. NBC News correspondent George Solis sat down exclusively with Cuba's economic czar. Now you get this interview with Cuba's leader. Should we interpret this as a change in the way that Cuba is communicating with the rest of the world?

[Kristen Welker]

I think that Cuba sees this moment as a potential turning point, in part because of all of the pressure that President Trump has put on Cuba, the fact that President Trump has said Cuba could be next. Of course, we've seen the president depose Venezuela's leader, take out the supreme leader of Iran. And so this is an incredibly tense moment in Cuba. I think they see a potential opening at the same time. That is why I believe the president of Cuba decided to grant his first American television interview to discuss some of these pressing issues. And it is clear, Ryan, this is a country on edge. They are. And they acknowledge that they're bracing for the possibility of a military attack by the United States. They do not know what is going to come next. So I think there is a sense of uncertainty and yet at the same time, a sense and an awareness that, yes, sensitive, something does need to change. But the question is just how much and what specific changes is Cuba willing to make.

[Ryan Nobles]

You point out the rhetoric from the White House and from President Trump himself. He's called Cuba a failing nation. He even said last month that there may be a friendly takeover or it may not be a friendly takeover. How does the Cuban leader describe his relationship with the United States? Is there a relationship with the United States?

[Kristen Welker]

Well, he does say that talks are underway. And I pressed him on those very points that you're raising, Ryan. And I asked him if he felt as though President Trump was right in casting Cuba as a failing nation. And what I got, the sense that I got the tone from the Cuban president is one of absolute defiance. No, this country is not failing. Yes, there are problems, but yes, we are preparing militarily, if that's what's necessary. President Diaz Canel telling me he is willing to give his life for Cuba if that's what it takes. Ryan gives you a sense of just how defiant they are. Now, at the same time, you ask about the relationship, President Diaz Canal says that there are talks between the United States and Cuba that are underway and at the same time acknowledged he has not spoken directly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who's, of course, the one who's leading these talks.

[Ryan Nobles]

Yeah. And that's been a theme with the Trump administration. Right. They say there are talks, but we don't often know who those talks are with, which is certainly the situation that were dealing with in Iran. The Trump administration, though, has called for a change in the administration. And you asked the Cuban leader about that directly because he'd be the person that would be most impacted by that. So let's just play a little bit of that clip.

[Kristen Welker]

Would you be willing to step down if it meant saving Cuba? Esta despuesto a dimitier contal de salvar a Cuba.

[Miguel Diaz Canel]

You are a very important journalists. Have you ever asked that question to any other president in the world?

[Kristen Welker]

Because it's one of the conditions the United States is asking for. Would you ever consider that?

[Miguel Diaz Canel]

Let me explain. Have you asked that question to any other president?

[Kristen Welker]

I asked very question to any other

[Miguel Diaz Canel]

president in the world. Could you ask that question to Trump?

[Kristen Welker]

Very hard question to President Trump.

[Miguel Diaz Canel]

Is that a question from you or is that coming from the State Department

[Kristen Welker]

of the U.S. my question is because it's one of the things that we've heard the US Government talk about that they want political change here in Cuba. So my question for you, if they asked you, if they said this is

[Jane C. Timm]

one condition, would you say because of

[Miguel Diaz Canel]

your honesty, I want to assume that you're asking that question because of those reasons. 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.

[Ryan Nobles]

Kristen, that was fascinating, the way he responded to you. He certainly seemed annoyed by it. He wasn't annoyed with you, but he was annoyed with the premise, I think. But it was a completely legitimate question. And to your credit, you ask questions like this of American leaders and leaders all around the world on a regular basis. What do you glean from that? Why do you think he responded the way he did? And were you surprised by that?

[Kristen Welker]

I was surprised in part, Ryan, because to put this into context, this came at the end of a 50 minute interview. I had been rapped multiple times at the point that we were having this exchange. And I kept pressing for more time. I said, please, we've traveled all the way to Havana. Just a few more questions, just a few more questions. And this was sort of my final rap. This was like the entire room's trying to wrap me at this point. So I said, okay, final, final question. I assumed he would answer it and that would be that. And the fact that he challenged me and bristled to that extent was something that I was not expecting. But I do think it underscores that nothing gets under their skin more than this notion that the United States can tell the Cuban government who should lead it or who should, what it should be doing, how it should be governing, because that challenges the very idea of the sovereignty of the country. And of course, this is a country that has been living under an embargo from the United States for decades. And of course, the Trump administration since January just put an oil blockade on the country, which is exacerbating the desperation in Cuba, the poverty in Cuba that exists now. What is also exacerbating it, of course the United States would say, is the communist government of Cuba. And so a lot of our conversation focused on that. Is it time for Cuba to change and to embrace capitalist measures, to free its political prisoners, to have a free press? And he 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.

[Ryan Nobles]

I mean, you mentioned this list of Demands the US has the release of political prisoners, holding multi party elections. A free press. That seems to be the bare standard that the Trump administration is looking for before they make a deal. But at the same time, President Trump keeps saying that a deal could be easily made. From your sense being on the ground there, talking to these leaders, does that seem like an accurate assessment of what's happening here? Could a deal be easily made?

[Kristen Welker]

It doesn't seem like a deal could be easily made. Now, I asked President Diaz Canel, do you think you can make a deal with the Trump administration? He said, yes, if the conditions are right. But it gets very complicated when you drill down on the details of this. Ryan. Then when I pressed him, what of that list that I just read to you, what do you think you can comply with? He very quickly pivoted and changed the subject and made it clear that they were not going to, at least based on this conversation, they were not willing to even engage in that.

[Ryan Nobles]

Yeah, well, that was incredible. Really, really terrific interview. Thank you, Ryan. Very illuminating. But I can't just let you go. You're too much of an expert on all things that are happening in this world. And there's another huge deal being negotiated this weekend. We know the vice president leading the US Delegation to Pakistan to discuss the ceasefire in Iran. The vice president seemed optimistic. He said things are going to be positive. Where do we know about where things stand with these negotiations? How fragile is this ceasefire? And how are countries like Cuba gonna be watching what happens in Islamabad?

[Kristen Welker]

Well, Cuba's watching every minute of this incredibly closely. And they want to see is this a distraction to President Trump or does President Trump decide to refocus on Cuba? If Iran continues to be the complicated war, if it continues to pose challenges in terms of an exit strategy, as you point out, the stakes could not be higher for the talks this weekend. I think there's a lot of confusion about whether the ceasefire is holding. Israel has continued to bombard, of course, Lebanon. The White House is saying, well, that was never a part of the ceasefire in the first place. But Iran is saying it was our understanding that it was a part of the ceasefire. So there's this big back and forth over what the ceasefire should actually look like, what the terms are. It gives you a sense of how challenging it is going to be for these two sides to get into a room and to try to negotiate some type of prolonged ceasefire.

[Ryan Nobles]

Kristen, you are the absolute best. Thank you so much for joining us.

[Kristen Welker]

Thanks so much for having me. This was a great conversation.

[Ryan Nobles]

You can Catch Meet the Press on Sunday for her extended exclusive interview with the Cuban president. Or you can watch it on meetthepress.com all right, we're gonna take a very quick break. When we're back, how the White House tried to upend a local election via text message. That's next. And hey, while you're waiting, why not take a second to subscribe to our podcast wherever you're listening. And if you already subscribed, thank you. And don't forget to rate and review us. It really helps the algorithm. Be right back.

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And we're back with here's the scoop from NBC News. So picture this. You decide to run for office, just a state office. And then all of a sudden, you're getting messages from your state's political party, the governor's office, and the White House. And they're not wishing you luck. In fact, they're telling you to back off. That's what happened in Indiana earlier this year when the Trump administration tried to convince a state candidate to drop out of the race. Our senior reporter, Jane C. Timm has the story and some of those messages, and she's joining me now. Hi, Jane.

[Jane C. Timm]

Hey, Ryan.

[Ryan Nobles]

I love state politics, but not everybody loves state politics. And it's weird to think that the White House would be this invested in state politics on this granular level. How did you first get wind of this story?

[Jane C. Timm]

So I've been covering Indiana's redistricting, which was a huge story last year. State lawmakers chose to reject the White House's calls to redraw their state congressional map. It's a map that could have given Republicans two more seats In Congress. Congress, the House wanted to do it and the Senate said, no, we don't support that. Our voters don't support that. We're not gonna vote for it. It came down in this dramatic floor vote where they said, no, we're just not gonna do it. And the Republicans who voted against, who joined with Democrats to vote against redistricting, Trump said, we're gonna primary all of you. So Senator Greg Good is one of those Republicans who voted against redistricting. And he has a challenger, Brenda Wilson, that Trump has endorsed. And thr they have picture behind, you know, behind Resolute desk. He's, his face is on every mailer. There's TV ads that have been cut in her support. But the White House is really worried about a different Wilson, Alexandra Wilson, who is a third candidate in that primary. Alexandra Wilson's a 34 year old network engineer. She's not related to Brenda Wilson. And she decided to run because she's worried about a renovation project that's happening to her local schools.

[Ryan Nobles]

It's gonna cost, which is why most people run for state office, right?

[Jane C. Timm]

Absolutely. And people say it's hard to get people to run for office. These, because politics is something no one likes. But this is a person who said, you know, I'm really worried about that and you know, hey, I'm going to get involved. She contacted her local Republicans, said I'd like to, I'd like to run. They said you'd be a great candidate. She's a very conservative woman, pro Trump, 100% as she says. And then her phone blew up in a really big way.

[Alexandra Wilson]

Alexandra, this is Matt Brass, a White House political director.

[Jane C. Timm]

You know, the White House, the lieutenant governor.

[Alexandra Wilson]

Hey, would you give me a buzz whenever you have a chance. I know filed to run for office.

[Jane C. Timm]

The Club for Growth.

[Matt Brass]

If you have a minute, give me a call back.

[Ryan Nobles]

Would appreciate it. Thanks.

[Jane C. Timm]

The governor's office, the White House again.

[Ryan Nobles]

This is Marshall Road, White House office of Political Affairs. And to be clear, this is not the person that voted against redistricting. This is someone that wasn't even involved in the redistricting fight. Right.

[Jane C. Timm]

But the White House and Brenda Wilson's allies, Brenda Wilson being the Trump endorsed candidate, they're worried about Alexandra Wilson who by alphabetical order will come first on the ballot. That she might confuse voters who remember the name Wilson but maybe don't remember which Wilson it was there was. The idea is essentially that it's going to split the vote. And Greg Good, the incumbent Republican might survive his primary simply because he has two challengers instead of one.

[Ryan Nobles]

So you talked about her seeing the voicemail, the voicemail coming up, the. It's coming from the White House. She's reading the transcription. Talk to me a little bit about what these phone calls were like, how much pressure was put on her.

[Jane C. Timm]

Yeah, so Alexander Wilson shared these phone calls with us exclusively. And she, you know, she didn't call back initially. She was a little bit concerned. She didn't know why all these people were calling her. So she finally gets on the phone with one of these people from the White House, and they ask her a little bit about herself, and they say, you know, would you consider actually taking a job in the administration instead of running for office? Do you want to work for the Trump administration in Indiana will find you a job, and, you know, that's how you could serve your community instead of running.

[Alexandra Wilson]

I'm going to ask the point blank question here. Is there a pathway to where you would put some thought into another route to making an impact in your community?

[Jane C. Timm]

And she makes it clear. She's like, I have a career, I like my job. She says, you know, I'm pregnant. I don't really want to change jobs. And then the calls keep coming, and they come fast and furious. I mean, there's one morning where she just gets like call after call, like three or four in a morning. Later that night, she gets on the phone with James Blair, Deputy White House Chief of staff.

[Ryan Nobles]

For our listeners that aren't familiar, one of the most powerful people in the White House, James Blair, absolutely.

[Jane C. Timm]

And 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.

[James Blair]

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.

[Jane C. Timm]

And while maybe the first call had been a little bit more sort of enticing or encouraging to do something else with her time, this call gets a little bit more, as she put it, threatening. This call is about, you know, you

[James Blair]

have a record, and so you've been arrested once. Your husband was arrested a few years ago. Yours was a long time ago. How do you explain those to the public? How do you sort of deal with that? Because, of course, you'll get attacked on that.

[Jane C. Timm]

She was arrested when she was 19. He said, you know, your husband has a DUI. Do you know that they're gonna, they're gonna run ads on this, they're gonna send mailers on this. 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? Do you know what this is going to be like? And I think we should be clear. This isn't federal politics, this isn't Washington D.C. this is a part time state legislature. You make $33,000 as a base salary in this job. You know, when you go to this legislature, it's normal people who are just serving their communities.

[Ryan Nobles]

And it seems as though, by the way you're telling this, that this pressure campaign, both the carrot and the stick that they offered her, backfired. It actually made her more encouraged to run. Is that fair to say?

[Jane C. Timm]

Yeah, you know, I think it's been difficult for her campaign because, you know, there's also been a challenge against her, the eligibility for her to run. But she basically said, you know, 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. She said, I'm a good candidate, I'm just as qualified as anybody else to run for office. And I shouldn't get told to step down, to step back, simply because someone in Washington has decided how this goes. I have been accused of dirty tricks, political dirty tricks. This is exactly what is a political dirty trick.

[Ryan Nobles]

So did you talk to the White House about this? Did they explain why they were so invested in this particular race and this particular candidate?

[Jane C. Timm]

Yeah, you know, I called the White House cuz I was sort of fascinated by what's going on and I was really curious what they were gonna say. And they said this is what the political office does. They said this president is intimately involved in races up and down the ballot. You know, no matter how small or how big, he's really invested in it, that he's aware of all these races. And they said, you know, he's the decision maker in these races. So it's really important that he knows all of these things. You know, Trump's endorsement means a lot in Republican politics and it's very important for him to know all these races is what they said. Which was fascinating to me because I've been reporting politics a really long time and I don't think I've ever heard about a local office being this important to the White House.

[Ryan Nobles]

Yeah, but there are examples of him and not him specifically, but his office carrying out similar pressure campaigns. Right. I mean, we've seen how he's tried to put his thumb on the scale, particularly in other congressional races. This seems to be a practice of this political office, not an exception.

[Jane C. Timm]

Yeah, it's definitely, and we should say this happens in politics. This is, it's not a Trump thing. But it's clear that the President's interest in getting political revenge in Indiana means that he is pulling all the stops out, that he is really focused on affecting how this incumbent, how he fares in this midterm.

[Ryan Nobles]

But I guess what's interesting about it, though, is that sometimes presidents or governors or executives at any level will get involved because of a specific policy goal they have in mind. It seems sometimes these pressure campaigns on behalf of the Trump White House are more vendetta camp campaigns to punish people for not making the choices that they wanted them to make.

[Jane C. Timm]

Yeah, yeah. I think that you can look at how the President is campaigning this year, how he is where he is not campaigning this year. I'm not hearing as much about open seats as I am hearing about Republican primaries where he believes that his agenda has been compromised by another Republican.

[Ryan Nobles]

So what does that mean for the midterms then? I mean, that could hurt Republicans in a midterm where they need to win every seat and they really don't need competitive contests in seats that they would assume to be safe. Right.

[Jane C. Timm]

I mean, also simply, these primaries are raking in big, huge bucks in Indiana. Some $6 million is being spent on unseating seven Republican candidates at a state level race in the state, a state primary for the legislature in a deep red state. And you know, when I talk to Republicans there, they say, how does the president have time to think about this, to even care about this? And why aren't we spending money to try and preserve our House majority, which is at risk? Why are we fighting amongst ourselves essentially, and these races? And what happened with redistricting in December has caused kind of like a civil war in Republican politics in Indiana. This is enormous and the President is driving that.

[Ryan Nobles]

Yeah. Jane, Tim, thanks for joining us.

[Jane C. Timm]

Thank you.

[Ryan Nobles]

Coming up, new details about how the war in Iran is affecting your wallet and why coming home could be the riskiest moment of the Artemis 2 mission. Stay with us for the headlines.

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Hey, everyone, it's me, Morgan Stewart, and I have a new podcast called the Morgan Stewart Show. Join me each week as I talk about pop culture, fashion, my personal life, and just a warning, I'm gonna giving my opinion on everything. I'll also have some really fun guests to join in on the fun. The Morgan Stewart show is out now. Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts or watch full video on YouTube.

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[Ryan Nobles]

And we're back with here's the scoop from NBC News. Let's get to some headlines. Surging gas prices pushed inflation to its highest level in two years in March as the war with Iran sent oil prices is spiraling. The annual rate of inflation hit 3.3%, led by a 21.2% increase for gas, the largest one month increase at the pump since 1967. Between February and March, overall inflation climbed 0.9%. And despite a two week ceasefire announced Tuesday, gas prices have yet to meaningfully decline, averaging $4.15 a gallon, according to AAA. But the full economic impact of the Iran war might still be coming. Companies from Amazon to airlines have announced fuel surcharges to deal with the soaring costs, and many of those fees are unlikely to revert to pre war levels. Meanwhile, global markets are also grappling with shortages of key commodities out of the Middle East. We report exclusively that the Trump administration is finalizing report that casts the Biden Justice Department as anti Christian, citing its enforcement of laws that protected abortion clinics and carried out Covid regulations, among other issues. The report stems from a DOJ led task force formed after a 2025 Trump executive order that says it aims to, quote, eradicate anti Christian bias. A spokesperson said A final version of the report is expected in the coming weeks. It won't carry any legal weight, but it's an opportunity for the Trump administration to take a political swing at the Biden administration. An analysis by the Interfaith alliance found no evidence of widespread anti Christian bias in the U.S. openAI says that the San Francisco police have arrested a person who allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at CEO Sam Altman's home and made threats outside OpenAI headquarters. In a statement released today, the tech giant thanked the police and said that no one was hurt. The San Francisco police have released a statement which did not mention Altman or OpenAI by name. Altman has not publicly addressed the arrest. In other AI news, OpenAI competitor Anthropic has decided to hold back the wide release of its latest model Claude Mythos Preview, warning that it is capable of advanced reasoning and could identify and exploit software bugs. Instead of a public release, anthropic is giving 50 tech companies access, including Microsoft, Nvidia and Cisco, to give them time to shore up cyber defenses. Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a 32 hour ceasefire in the Ukraine war in observance of Orthodox Easter. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would abide by the measure. A 30 hour ceasefire was ordered last year as well, which each side accused the other of violating. A spokesman for the Kremlin told state media that the ceasefire was not linked to any interest in resuming three way talks on an end to the war in Ukraine. And finally, after 10 days in space, the Artemis II moon mission is set to draw to a close with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean tonight. But despite having gone further into space than any human has ever gone, coming back home could present the riskiest moment of the mission. When the capsule re enters the Earth's atmosphere, plummeting at 24,000 miles per hour, it's going to get hot around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That's particularly dangerous for Artemis 2 because the spacecraft's heat shield, the critical layer of thermal protection that protects the astronauts from those extreme temperatures, has known flaws in its design. But they didn't have time to modify the heat shield for this flight. Instead, NASA came up with another solution. They modified the path for the capsule's re entry, making it descend faster and at a steeper angle than usual to reduce the time it's exposed to extreme temperatures. It will be a flash in the sky and hopefully a safe landing. That's going to do it for us here at here's the scoop from NBC News. I'm Ryan Nobles filling in for Yasmin Vasugian. We'll be back on Monday with whatever the day may bring. If you like what you heard. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and you can also subscribe to our daily newsletter, the Inside Scoop. It's a deeper dive on the main stories of the day that comes out every weeknight straight to your inbox. You can sign up for the Inside Scoop as part of our paid [e-mail].

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