June 14 — Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Sen. James Lankford and Sen. Raphael Warnock

Summary

Meet the Press – June 14, 2026

Host: Kristen Welker, NBC News

Main Guests: House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY), Senator James Lankford (OK), Senator Raphael Warnock (GA)
Panel: Monica Alba (NBC), Jonathan Martin (Politico), Mike Dubke (former Trump official), Steve Richetti (former Biden adviser)

---

Overview

This episode centers on three major, interwoven themes:

1. U.S.-Iran War Negotiations – The apparent movement toward a deal to end the war with Iran, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and questions about Iran’s nuclear program.
2. Midterm Elections & Political Climate – Rising inflation, voter sentiment, party strategies, and key Senate and House races.
3. Crisis of Trust in Institutions – Diminishing national confidence across key American institutions and debate over character and accountability in political life.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-Iran Deal Prospects and Fallout

Polling & Policy Context

• Steve Kornacki’s Analysis (03:47–07:41):
  • Trump approval at 42%—a second-term low.
  • Democrats hold a 5-point edge in the generic congressional ballot.
  • National pride is at a 21st-century low; only the military retains majority institutional trust.

Trump on Inflation and War

• Donald Trump (08:01):
  • “I love the inflation. Because as soon as this war is over... it’s coming down. I know. It’s going to come down like a rock.”

Hakeem Jeffries on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

• Jeffries (09:05–11:30):

  • Deep skepticism about Trump’s repeated but unfulfilled claims of an imminent deal.
  • Criticizes Trump for undoing Obama's nuclear deal, leading to “a reckless and costly war of choice.”
  • Blames Trump for higher gas prices and a stronger Iran.

• Key Quote:

  “Donald Trump has now said 38 or 39 different times during the course of this war that it was about to come to an end … all we can conclude is that this reckless and costly war of choice has been a disaster…” —Hakeem Jeffries (09:05)

• Supports congressional review of any new Iran deal, referencing the process used for the Obama-era agreement.

James Lankford on Red Lines and Iran Funding

• Lankford (21:57–24:33):

  • Supports a total ban on Iranian nuclear capability, more absolute than Obama’s approach.
  • Deep skepticism about giving Iran access to frozen funds; any money should “fix what they broke” and only follow clear behavioral change.
  • Stresses necessity of congressional ratification of any deal for durability.

• Key Quote:

  “President’s been very, very clear. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, cannot have a nuclear weapons program, and cannot keep that highly enriched uranium in the country. That is dramatically different than what President Barack Obama was negotiating years ago…” —James Lankford (21:57)

Raphael Warnock on Geopolitics, Race, & the Court

• Warnock’s segment focuses more on domestic issues, but he underscores erosion of democracy and trust in institutions—contextualizing the stakes of global and local policy choices.

---

2. Election 2026: Strategies, Challenges, & Character Debates

Democrats’ Approach

• Jeffries (13:01–14:20):
  • House Dems’ 2024 overperformance was due to economic focus; similar messaging expected in 2026.
  • Top priorities if Dems retake House: Lowering cost of living, health care, ending war, fighting corruption.
  • Won’t commit to or rule out impeachment if Dems regain majority.
  • Ducks direct questions about controversial Senate nominee Graham Platner in Maine, shifts focus to House races.

Republicans’ Approach

• Lankford (24:54–29:31):

  • Frames midterms as potential Republican gains, despite some GOP pessimism.
  • Blames current Democratic opposition for lapses in national security (notably failure to reauthorize FISA during global conflict).
  • Supports Ken Paxton in Texas despite controversy, emphasizing policy over character.

• Key Quote:

  “When I look at the side by side between Telo Rico and Ken Paxton, I think the policies do matter… Yes.” —James Lankford on whether he’d campaign with Paxton (30:14)

Candidates Under Fire

• Maine’s Graham Platner: Both Jeffries and Warnock refuse to distance themselves from Platner (accused of past abusive behavior, Nazi-related tattoo) but defer to Maine voters’ will.

  • Warnock: “Character matters … I think that the voters of Maine have an opportunity to see who they want to represent them in the United States Senate. They will decide that.” (36:26)

• Texas’ Ken Paxton: Lankford supports him despite allegations, again citing voters’ prerogative and policy difference.

Panel Takeaway

• Candidates with character questions (Platner, Paxton) remain party nominees; both parties’ leaders largely defer to “will of the voters,” drawing panelist criticism for “defining deviancy down.”

---

3. American Institutions, Democracy, and Reform

Waning Trust in National Life

• Steve Kornacki’s data (03:47–07:41):
  • Pride and trust in institutions (military, colleges) are at historic lows, with confidence deeply split down partisan lines.
  • Pervasive pessimism: Nearly 60% believe America's best days are behind.

Warnock on Supreme Court & Democracy

• Warnock (33:32–35:51):
  • Decries Supreme Court’s “partisan” decision rolling back Voting Rights Act protections.
  • Open to court reform, including expanding seats and term limits.
  • Advocates for a code of ethics for the Court.
  • Primary focus: Defending democracy, protecting voting rights.

On Character in Politics

• Warnock (38:14):
  • Quotes from his book: “To get more equity in the land, we desperately need more integrity. Integrity. More leaders committed to truth, regardless of party politics.”
  • A call for personal and institutional accountability, targeted at both parties.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (w/ Timestamps)

• Trump on inflation and oil:

  “I love the inflation. Because as soon as this war is over … it’s coming down. … It’s going to come down like a rock.” — Donald Trump (08:01–08:22)

• Kornacki on public mood:

  “Republicans are almost universally … extremely or very proud [to be American]. Look at that number for Democrats … This number is in decline.” — Steve Kornacki (04:37–07:41)

• Jeffries on Trump’s war track record:

  “Donald Trump promised not to start wars in the Middle East, but to stop them … he’s turned around and done the exact opposite…” — Hakeem Jeffries (11:13)

• Lankford on war’s stakes:

  “Iran has been at war with the United States for 47 years. What President Trump is trying to do is to be able to end Iran’s constant attack…” — James Lankford (24:54)

• Warnock on democracy:

  “We could lose our democracy. We could lose our planet. We could lose our souls… Democracy is precious. It is the political enactment of a spiritual idea that each of us has within ourselves a spark of the divine.” — Raphael Warnock (39:18–40:37)

• Panel, Jonathan Martin:

  “The two parties are now scared of their own voters. The leaders of the two parties are constantly petrified about angering their parties. … And if that means sucking it up and supporting somebody who is sort of morally questionable, we’re gonna do it. And we’re gonna do it because our voters don’t care and we defer to our voters.” (49:40)

---

Panel Recap (45:01–51:42)

Main Takeaways:

• Monica Alba: White House arguing it's not “rushing” the Iran deal, but internal urgency is clear.
• Jonathan Martin: Trump’s off-message handling of inflation and focus on the war could hamper GOP midterm prospects unless the Iran deal comes through.
• Mike Dubke: “Chaos is a ladder”—Trump’s chaos hurts Americans at the kitchen table.
• Steve Richetti: Democrats’ edge is partial—unease persists, kitchen-table issues (housing, health care, gas) dominate.
• Overall: Both parties allow morally flawed nominees to stand; leaders defer to partisan pressures.

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Polls & Voter Mood: 03:47–07:41
• Trump on Inflation, Iran Deal: 08:01–08:25
• Jeffries (Iran, War, Dem priorities): 09:05–15:52
• Lankford (Iran, FISA, Paxton): 21:27–30:21
• Warnock (Voting rights, Supreme Court, character): 32:38–43:22
• Panel Discussion: 45:01–51:42

---

Conclusion

Major Themes

• The Biden-to-Trump years are marked by deepening distrust in institutions and leadership, relentless partisan warfare, and an electorate soured by inflation and scandal.
• The Iran war’s outcome is poised to dramatically affect the political and economic landscape. Both parties are clinging to modest poll advantages, with messaging focused on the economy, corruption, and “restoring” the middle class.
• Across the board, a reluctance to hold controversial candidates to account signals a political culture more beholden to tribal loyalty than character—a point hammered home by both the interviewers and panelists.

---

For listeners seeking clarity on the week’s biggest issues—U.S.-Iran policy, the state of American democracy, and the stakes of the looming midterm elections—this episode of Meet the Press offers a comprehensive, sometimes contentious, but always relevant snapshot of American politics at a crossroads.

Transcript

[Dish Commercial Announcer]

Celebrate America's 250th with Dish. For a limited time. Get an extra $250 off when you sign up. Call 888-add-direct or visit dish.com today and use code DISH250 to claim your $250 savings. That's 888 add Dish offer ends August 12th. Terms apply.

[Muscle Milk Commercial Announcer]

Everyone's talking about protein lately, but how do you actually get enough of it? Muscle Milk Muscle Milk has a great tasting new formula with no artificial sweeteners, flavors or added colors. It's high quality complete protein designed to support healthy muscles with fewer ingredients than the previous formula and 2642 grams of protein for when you're stuck in meetings or need a post workout recovery. Available in chocolate, vanilla, cream, cookies and cream, and strawberries and cream. Try the new great tasting Muscle Milk today, available in stores nationwide. Muscle Protein for all this Sunday, ending

[Kristen Welker]

the war, the US And Iran move closer to a deal to end the conflict.

[Donald Trump]

We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran.

[Kristen Welker]

Is this the path to peace? And with the midterms approaching and inflation rising, is the president delivering a message to help his party?

[Donald Trump]

I love the inflation. When the war is over, it's coming down.

[Kristen Welker]

Steve Kornacki reveals the results of our latest NBC News pollution. Plus slow count. As California takes weeks to count ballots, Republicans renew their attacks on the state's mail in voting system and the integrity of its elections.

[Steve Kornacki]

I think everybody knows instinctively something is wrong here.

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

Republicans are peddling conspiracy theories and Maine fight.

[Steve Kornacki]

Thank you, Maine.

[Kristen Welker]

Despite the controversy surrounding his campaign, Graham Platner wins the Democratic nomination in Maine.

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

If you believe as I do that we can change our politics and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change.

[Kristen Welker]

Will he help Democrats retake the Senate or cost them one of their best pickup opportunities? My guest this morning, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma and Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia. Joining me for insight and analysis are NBC News White House correspondent Monica Alba, Jonathan Martin of Politico, Mike Dubke, former Trump White House communications director and former Biden White House senior advisor Steve Richetti. Welcome to Sunday It's Meet the PRESS

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

from NBC News in Washington, the longest running show in television history. This is MEET THE PRESS with Kristen Welker.

[Kristen Welker]

Good Sunday morning. After more than 100 days of war. This weekend President Trump said the US and Iran would sign a deal. Today. Mr. Trump saying that deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. It would also set a timeline to dismantle Iran's nuclear program, according to the president. But no final agreement is final until President Trump and Iranian leadership sign on the dotted line. Against that backdrop today, President Trump celebrates his 80th birthday, marking the milestone with an elaborate UFC fight on the White House South Lawn. Meanwhile, inflation rocketed above 4% this week, marking a new three year high with the midterms less than five months away. Our chief data analyst Steve Kornacki joins me now with the results of our latest NBC News poll. So we are within five months of the midterms. What are the big headlines?

[Steve Kornacki]

Yeah, Kristen, start just the bottom line on Trump standing with the voters right now. His approval rating sits at 42% in our NBC poll. Now this is with registered voters and that is down a tick. You can see the last time we checked in early in the spring, he was at 44%.

[Kristen Welker]

Is that a new low, Steve?

[Steve Kornacki]

This is the second term low in our poll for Donald Trump falling to 42% right now. And the other thing that this dovetails with, of course, is the generic congressional ball with the Democrats. Now, as you said, inside of five months to the midterm, a five point lead for the Democrats here. Now obviously that's a strong number for them. What the Republicans would say on this is if you think back to Trump's first term, that blue wave of 2018, this number was more at like 8 to 10 points. So Republicans hoping to contain the damage at least looking at a number like that.

[Kristen Welker]

And as the country prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, you're also looking at how Americans feel overall.

[Steve Kornacki]

Yes. Some big picture numbers on how folks feel about the country where it is. Some sobering numbers. Maybe take a look at this one. How proud are you to be an American? We asked as we celebrate 250 years. So you see the different options here. Look extremely proud, very proud. Those numbers together get you 56%. At the other end of it, only a little. We're not proud at all. 21%. The significance of this, this number is in decline, a steady 21st century decline. the turn of the century, three quarters of Americans were extremely or very proud. That number's fallen to 56%. What's behind this? It's familiar. For fault lines, Kristen, political demographic, check this out here. First, it's partisan. Look at this. Republicans are almost universally going to tell you extremely or very proud. Look at that number for Democrats. And meanwhile, only a little or not at all. 12 times as many Democrats say That compared to Republicans. We have talked about age here so many times. Older Americans more likely to have that extremely proud feeling. Younger Americans much more ambivalent on this question. That's the state of the country. How about the major institutions that sort of undergird the country? Two ways to look at this. First of all, just take a look at these words. Great deal or quite a bit of trust and confidence in institutions. This is a very small list right here. Military is the only major institution that a majority of Americans have a great deal or quite a bit of confidence. You're probably looking at colleges and universities and say, why are you putting a number with only 36% on there? It's because of that divide we were just talking about. Check this out, that partisan divide. Look at this. A majority of Democrats have a great deal or quite a bit of trust in colleges and universities. Significance. This is the only major institution that a majority of Democrats feel that way about. They don't feel that way about the military or any other institution. Meanwhile, Republicans, you can see 86% in the military, only 17% colleges and universities. And then the flip side, look at this. Very little or no confidence at all. Long list here in these institutions, the news media, Congress, federal government, religious organizations, Supreme Court over the last 20 years, these numbers are 20 or 30 points higher than they've been. Just deteriorating confidence. You could see a partisan divide a little bit on these two. Republicans much more distrustful of the media. Democrats extremely negative on the Supreme Court. And then, Kristen, just again, big picture here, asking folks about where we are going. Do our best days lie ahead of us or are they behind us? Look at that number, almost 60% behind us. There is a bit of a partizan gap here. One thing to note, when Joe Biden was president a few years ago, it was the Democrats who were a little bit more optimistic than the Republicans. So there is a partisan aspect. That's where we're going. Maybe we end on a positive note where we've been. How about this question, how much has America achieved its founding ideals? 70% say a great deal or fair amount, only 29%, not all. And by the way, 50 years ago, the bicentennial, same question was asked. Numbers weren't too different. So big picture. Looking back, we do feel good about

[Kristen Welker]

where we've come and yet a lot of pessimism about where the country is, according to this poll. Steve Kornacki, thank you so much. Great to have you here as always. And of course, the number one issue for voters continues to be the economy. Part of what's driving the urgency to end the war in Iran.

[Donald Trump]

The numbers were great.

[Kristen Welker]

You know what I really love?

[Donald Trump]

I love the inflation.

[Kristen Welker]

You know why?

[Donald Trump]

Because as soon as this war is over, you know, I can say it now, something you didn't know. Do you know we've been taking out millions of barrels of oil? Nobody knows it. You know who doesn't know about it? Iran until right now when the war is over. Yes, it's coming down. I know.

[Kristen Welker]

You can't.

[Donald Trump]

It's going to come down like a rock.

[Kristen Welker]

And joining me now is House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Leader Jeffries, welcome back to MEET THE press.

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

Good morning. Great to be with you.

[Kristen Welker]

It's great to have you back. I want to start right there on Iran with President Trump saying a memorandum of understanding could be signed as early as today, which, based on all of the public information, based on what he has posted, would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Set a timeline for dismantling Iran's nuclear program. What based on what you know so far, Leader Jeffries, do you support this memorandum of understanding?

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

Well, we'd have to take a look at what the ultimate resolution is, if there is one. Donald Trump has now said 38 or 39 different times during the course of this war that it was about to come to an end and an agreement was about to be reached. And that has never happened. In fact, Donald Trump told us that Iran's nuclear program had been completely and totally decimated. He said that last year. It was not true. Donald Trump told us that the Iranian regime was on the brink of collapse in the aftermath of the ayatollah being killed. That, of course, has not happened. And so at this point in time, all we can conclude is that this reckless and costly war of choice has been a disaster as it relates to strengthening the national security of the American people. Things aren't better for us. They're worse. In fact, Iran is stronger right now. What we have seen is gas prices skyrocket through the roof, and that has had an adverse impact on hardworking American taxpayers.

[Kristen Welker]

Leader Jeffries, though, if President Trump is able to strike a deal with Iran that ultimately leads to Iran getting rid of its nuclear enrichment program, will it have been worth it? And would you support that?

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

We actually had an agreement that was executed and led by President Barack Obama to constrain Iran's nuclear program. It was Donald Trump who made the decision to actually rip that agreement up because apparently he suffers from Obama derangement syndrome. That agreement that had been reached by President Obama actually resulted in Great Britain, France, Germany, South Korea, India, Japan. And thanks to the leadership from President Obama and his administration, China and Russia all engaged with Iran to limit their nuclear aspirations. Donald Trump then enters us into this reckless and costly war of choice. And the question that the American people are understandably asking is, how has this in any way made things better? Gas prices are through the roof. Iran is stronger now, not weaker, and the American people are less safe.

[Kristen Welker]

The Iran nuclear deal that was struck during the Obama administration was not signed into law by Congress. Should it have been? And should any new deal be signed into law by Congress?

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

Well, there was a process by which Congress could either accept or reject the agreement. And I, of course, along with the overwhelming majority of Democrats in the House and the Senate, supported the Iranian nuclear agreement. And it clearly was the right decision at the time. And what we've seen is that Donald Trump promised not to start wars in the Middle east, but to stop them from. But he's turned around and done the exact opposite, as opposed to actually focusing on the problems that the American people need to see resolved, which is driving down the high cost of living. The economy is broken. The American people know it. And as Democrats, we're committed to actually doing something about it.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, well, let's look ahead to the midterms. We are, of course, in the middle of the primary season. You just heard my conversation with Steve Kornacki, which shows Democrats have a five point lead on the generic congressional ballot. Early voting has, of course, already started in New York. Democrats failed to win the House majority back in 2024 by running largely campaigns against President Trump. Do you believe that candidates should replicate that same strategy in this election cycle?

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

Well, actually, House Democrats fell just three seats short of taking back the majority in 2024, outrunning the national political environment. When Donald Trump won in 2016, he lost the popular vote, but he came to Congress with 241 Republicans and only 194 Democrats. Of course, in Donald Trump's first midterm election, we flipped 40 seats this time around because of our overperformance in 2024 with candidates who were focused on the economy. We only need to flip a handful of seats, and we will, with a focus on driving down the high cost of living, fixing our broken health care system, getting ice under control, ending this reckless and costly war of choice in the Middle east, and cleaning up corruption. Fundamentally, we believe that America is far too expensive. The cost of living is way too high. There are far too many people who are working hard, they're playing by the rules, but they can't thrive and can barely survive. That's an unacceptable situation in America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world. And we're going to focus like a laser beam on actually making life better for working class Americans, everyday Americans, middle class Americans, and all those who aspire to be part of the middle class.

[Kristen Welker]

Leader Jeffries, I do want to ask you if Democrats do, in fact take back the House, I want to get an understanding of what your top priorities would be. Representative Alexandria Ocasio. Corrector Cortez, your colleague said this back in April, quote, president Trump has launched a massive war of enormous risk and of catastrophic consequence without reason, rationale or congressional authorization, which is as clear a violation of the Constitution as any. All of these incidents and plenty more have clearly driven our country past the threshold for impeachment.

[Donald Trump]

Do you agree?

[Kristen Welker]

If Democrats take back the House, will you move to impeachment? President Trump,

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

we haven't ruled anything in or ruled anything out in terms of accountability. What we have said is that our focus is going to be to make life more affordable for the American people. We have to drive down the high cost of living. We have to restore the American dream, which a lot of people understandably have concluded is broken right now. When you work hard and play by the rules in this country, when we believe that you should live an affordable life, a comfortable life and a good life, that means a good paying job, good housing, good health care, a good education for your children, and when it's all said and done, a good retirement. That's what brings Democrats together in the House, in the Senate, governors all across the country. And that's what we'll focus on when the American people give us an opportunity to govern on their behalf in the majority.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, I want to ask you the big news this week out of the Senate, Graham Platner winning his primary in Maine. Of course, he has faced allegations of being physically threatening to ex girlfriends, which he denies, among other controversies which have followed him. Here's a campaign ad being run by Senate Republicans. Take a look.

[Steve Kornacki]

Susan Collins doesn't have a Nazi tattoo and she doesn't have an account on

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

a notorious predator's paradise. Apparently, Graham Platner did for years and

[Steve Kornacki]

this was his profile picture. Oh, gosh, please, please get that off the screen. Anyway, Susan Collins, a senator we can be proud of.

[Kristen Welker]

Does Graham Plattner have the character to be a U.S. senator? Leader Jeffries,

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

first of all, I thought you were going to say the big news of the week is the Knicks winning the NBA championship.

[Kristen Welker]

We're going to get to that, too,

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

for the first time in 53 years. I appreciate that. In terms of the Maine Senate race, listen, the voters of Maine are ultimately going to be the ones to decide what's in the best interests of the people of Maine at this period of time. I'm just focused on making sure we take back control of the House of Representatives. So we actually have Congress that is a check and balance on an out of control executive branch consistent with who we were meant to be according to the framers of the Constitution, as opposed to what we've seen House Republicans do, which is to serve as nothing more than a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump's extreme agenda.

[Kristen Welker]

Let me ask you, though, Leader Jeffries, because under Maine's election laws, Democrats still have enough time to replace Graham Platner. Given all of the controversies that he has faced, do you think they should replace Graham Platner or stick with him?

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

Well, the voters of Bain elevated him in the primary, and ultimately senators are going to have to make that collective decision, I assume, in terms of what happens. And again, I think I have a responsibility. We have a hard enough job pushing back against Donald Trump's extremism and the sycophantic behavior of my Republican colleagues in the House. We need to focus on that job and we need to make sure we're doing everything possible to win back control of the United States House of Representatives in November.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, now let's talk about the Knicks. Congratulations. They won for the first time their first title in 53 years. Last night, Mayor Mamdani is planning a ticker tape parade. Are you planning to be there, Leader Jeffries?

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

I certainly hope to be there. Trying to work out some logistical things in terms of previously committed travel, but it's an ongoing celebration. For New York City fans, basketball is a city game. The Knicks are the city team. It's a team that showed a lot of heart and soul and grit. The resilience of New York City shone through in terms of how this team launched this incredible playoff run. And we're all thankful that it ended in a championship.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, well, congrats to the Knicks and Knicks nation. Leader Jeffries. Thanks so much for being here. We appreciate it.

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

Thanks so much.

[Kristen Welker]

When we come back, Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma joins me next. Hey there. I'm Kat. I'm a college athlete.

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, which

[Republican Senator James Lankford]

caused back pain and stiffness.

[Kristen Welker]

Every day with Cosentyx I'm able to stay active.

[Cosentyx Commercial Announcer]

Cosentyx Secukinumab is prescribed for adults with active psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or non radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Available in both IV infusion and self injection. Don't use if allergic to Cosentyx. Get checked for TB before starting. Increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur like TB or other serious bacterial, fungal or viral infections. Some were fatal. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms like fevers, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough, had a vaccine or plan to or if IBD symptoms develop or worsen. Serious allergic reactions and severe eczema like skin reactions may occur. Learn more at 1-844-cosentyx or cosentyx.com Move and feel better.

[Kristen Welker]

Ask a rheumatologist about cosentyx.

[Dish Commercial Announcer]

Celebrate America's 250th with Dish. For a limited time. Get an extra $250 off when you sign up. Call 888Add Dish or visit dish.com today and use code DISH250 to claim your $250 savings. That's 888Add Dish. Offer ends August 12th. Terms apply.

[Muscle Milk Commercial Announcer]

Everyone's talking about protein lately, but how do you actually get enough of it? Muscle Milk Muscle Milk has a great tasting new formula with no artificial sweeteners, flavors or added colors. It's high quality complete protein designed to support healthy muscles with fewer ingredients than the previous formula and 26 to 42 grams of protein for when you're stuck in meetings or need a post workout recovery. Available in chocolate, vanilla, cream, cookies and cream and strawberries and cream. Try the new great tasting Muscle Milk today available in stores nationwide. Muscle Milk Protein for All.

[Kristen Welker]

Welcome back. Joining me now is Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma. Senator Lankford, welcome back to Meet the press.

[Republican Senator James Lankford]

Glad to be back with you again.

[Kristen Welker]

It's great to have you back. I want to start with you on Iran as well. President Trump says that Iran has agreed to never have a nuclear weapon. It's worth noting they have agreed to that in the past. Of course, the more complicated issue is what to do about its nuclear program. How do you dismantle its nuclear stockpile? Is a deal that leaves those issues unresolved a good deal in your mind, Senator?

[Republican Senator James Lankford]

Well, let's wait and see what the deal actually is. As part of the challenge we have right now is we have not seen the details of the actually agreement yet on this, but president's been very, very clear. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, cannot have a nuclear weapons program, and cannot keep that highly enriched uranium in the country. That is dramatically different than what President Barack Obama was negotiating years ago. When Barack Obama was negotiating you have to delay your nuclear program. For President Trump is no, you can never have a nuclear program. You can have the stockpiles, you can have a program there that makes an incredible difference for us. So not having a nuclear program, not having a close straight of Hormuz and not having a terrorist nation actually terrorize the rest of its neighbors and the United States would be a huge gain for us.

[Kristen Welker]

And of course you're right. We don't know the specifics, we haven't seen the text. There has been public discussion and questions surrounding whether part of this deal might give Iran $300 billion in a reconstruction fund. Your colleague Senator Lindsey Graham had this to say about that possibility. Quote, the idea of a $300 billion reconstruction fund, given who is in charge of Iran, seems to be tone deaf. It would be akin to a Marshall Plan for Germany with the Nazis still in charge. Now, again, the final terms of the deal have not been made public. But do you agree with Senator Lindsey Graham that effectively with this same regime in charge, there should be no economic rewards? That that would be a mistake.

[Republican Senator James Lankford]

What's been interesting is I haven't heard anyone for the administration floating like that. That's what's floating around social media to be able to have this giant fund for Iran. What has actually been stated by the administration is folks like Treasury Secretary Bessant saying that the Iranian frozen funds should actually be used to help rebuild Kuwait, rebuild Jordan, rebuild the areas that Iran has attacked, and that any funds that would be unfrozen that are Iranian funds that are being held by countries all in the region where Iran and its regime has hidden its money off. Any of those funds could only be released if there was a change in behavior, not a change in a signature or words. They've got to be able to drop their terrorism, they've got to release all these nuclear ambitions that they have, and they've got to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the dollars that are out there are Iranian dollars frozen in other banks. But those need to be first used to be able to fix what they broke. And that also needs to be used only or returned back to them or get access back to them if they actually have action that actually brings peace.

[Kristen Welker]

One of the criticisms of the nuclear deal struck during the Obama administration. I was just talking about this with Leader Jeffries. The fact that it wasn't codified by Congress, it did enable President Trump to rip it up. Do you think that any deal that President Trump strikes should in fact be voted on and ratified by Congress?

[Republican Senator James Lankford]

Yeah, it is best if it is ratified by Congress as a more lasting effect on it. Barack Obama's nuclear deal was so bad, when Joe Biden came in the White House, he did not reinstitute it. He had four years that he looks at it and said, no, we're not going to try to do the same deal that Barack Obama did on it. So President Trump was right to be able to tear that up. It opened a pathway towards a nuclear weapon and just delayed it. Outside of the Obama presidency, that doesn't help the American people long term. I think people forget Iran has been at war with the United States for 47 years. What President Trump is trying to do is to be able to end Iran's constant attack of Americans and American assets and American allies in that region and coming at us. So to get an end to that is very, very significant. We have military bases all in that region because Iran is constantly attacking us. So to try to end that forever helps us in this generation and future generations.

[Kristen Welker]

A key surveillance tool, Senator, lapsed on Friday after Congress failed to renew it in time. Fisa. The country is in the middle, of course, as you know of the World Cup. This war with Iran. Has this lapse made the country less safe?

[Republican Senator James Lankford]

100%. It's made the country less safe. And this has been a frustrating thing for me. Democrats are mad at the president again. And so that to stick the president, they're actually putting American national security at risk. This is the same thing that we face on them shutting down the government over and over again. They don't want to pay federal workers because they're mad at President Trump. They want to try to block everything and to be able to reopen a closed border because they're mad at President Trump. Now it's literally during the World cup, during this ongoing conflict in Iran, with all the things that are happening around the world, with Al Qaeda continuing to try to find ways to be able to attack the United States, we have literally notified the entire world. We're no longer watching. That is incredibly irresponsible. So this needs to be turned back on again to say, no, we are watching. We have One lesson from 9 11. We need to pay attention to people around the world when they mean to do us harm. They have the ability to be able to do us harm. And they've shown that clearly. Now, to be able to say we're not going to watch, I think is very irresponsible. So let's get that back on again. The president's announced Jay Clayton to be able to come on, to be able to lead the Director of National Intelligence. He has one wide bipartisan support. He's gone through confirmation process before with wide bipartisan support. Already Democrat leaders on both the House and the Senate have expressed their support for him. This is absurd to be able to just close down FISA and to say we're mad at the President and so we're just going to shut things down and not listen worldwide.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, couple more. And of course, their argument is he had initially picked Bill Pulte to serve as acting director, who doesn't have experience and intelligence. But let's keep moving because we're almost out of time. Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who lost his primary last month to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, had a pretty blunt prediction, Senator, for Republicans, telling the New York Times this week, quote, I think November is going to be a disaster. Do you agree with Senator Cornyn that the midterms are going to be a disaster for Republicans?

[Republican Senator James Lankford]

I don't actually, and I didn't see that exact quote. I don't know if he was talking about Texas or if he's talking about across the entire country because we could continue to see more and more Republicans showing stronger and stronger polling numbers. I saw Carnacki at the very beginning of this and saw and heard his comments saying that, hey, the separation between Democrats and Republicans is actually pretty close to compared to what it would be. We also see in multiple states where there's not a Democrat running at all or there's an Independent running and Democrats are saying, vote for the independent here because the Democrat brand has been so damaged, their open borders. What happened with inflation? We're talking about 4% inflation now, which is too high. But under the Biden administration, it was 9% inflation. With the open borders and what was happening with the crime that was happening, I think Americans, when they look side by side, they will see the dramatic difference.

[Kristen Welker]

Nine was the peak. It did then come down to about three as he was leaving office. But let me, let me go back to Ken Paxton for a second. He's faced allegations of bribery, Frank fraud, abuse of power, retaliating against whistleblowers, and more. Last year, his wife sued for divorce on what she said were, quote, biblical grounds. Do you think Ken Paxton has the character to serve as a U.S. senator.

[Republican Senator James Lankford]

I think the people of Texas will make a decision on that, just like the people in Maine will make a decision about Graham Platner on this. Everybody makes their own decision for their own reasons. I look the policy areas, there's a lot of personal things and I look at personal things and I think that matters. I think it matters for leaders, but I also look at the policy areas. What Talarico is bringing is an open border. He's bringing a very different economic model on this. So I think all those things matter for Graham Platner and his statements about health care and about open borders and about crime and all those things I look at, I think the people of Maine, the people of Texas are going to have to make their own decision.

[Kristen Welker]

But, Senator, very quickly, would you campaign with Ken Paxton?

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

Yeah.

[Republican Senator James Lankford]

When I look at the side by side between Telo Rico and Ken Paxton, I think the policies do matter on that, significantly. Yes.

[Kristen Welker]

Okay. Senator Lankford, thank you so much for being here. We really appreciate it.

[Republican Senator James Lankford]

You bet. Glad to be able to visit with you again.

[Kristen Welker]

And you, too. Thank you. When we come back, Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock joins me next.

[Muscle Milk Commercial Announcer]

Next,

[Kristen Welker]

I'm Cyndi Lauper with fellow Kosentix advocate chef Michelle Bernstein. We'll share our experiences with plaque psoriasis

[Muscle Milk Commercial Announcer]

with psoriatic arthritis and Dr. Panico will talk about the possible connection.

[Cosentyx Commercial Announcer]

Cosentic Secukinumab is prescribed for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, 300 milligram dose, and adults with active psoriatic arthritis, 150 milligram dose. Don't use if you're allergic to Cosentyx. Before starting, get checked for tuberculosis. An increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur. Like tuberculosis or other serious bacterial, fungal or viral infections, some are fatal. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms like fevers, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough, had a vaccine or planned to, or if inflammatory bowel disease symptoms develop or worsen, serious allergic reactions and severe eczema like skin reactions may occur. Learn more at 1-844-COSENTIX or cosentix.com Cindy.

[Dish Commercial Announcer]

Celebrate America's 250th with Dish for a limited time. Get an extra $250 off when you sign up. Call 888Add Dish or visit dish.com today and use code DISH250 to claim your $250 savings. That's 888Add Dish. Offer ends August 12th. Terms apply.

[Kristen Welker]

This message is brought to you by Apple Card.

[Steve Kornacki]

For a limited time, when you get a new Apple card and purchase AirPods Pro 3 at Apple, you can earn back the cost up to 250 daily cash.

[House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries]

New AirPods Pro and up to $250

[Steve Kornacki]

bonus daily cash back. Now that's music to my ears.

[Kristen Welker]

Subject to credit approval, limitations and spend requirements apply.

[Steve Kornacki]

Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City branch terms and more at Apple CoAirPods.

[Kristen Welker]

Welcome back. And joining me now is Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia. He's the author of the new book the Crooked Places Made Straight. Senator Warnock, welcome back to MEET THE press.

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

Great to be here with you.

[Kristen Welker]

It's great to have you back. We are going to talk about your new book. I have it right here, the Crooked Places Made Straight, in just a moment. I do want to start off, though, Senator, by asking you about the Voting Rights Act. As you know, it was weakened with the Supreme Court's recent ruling that a Louisiana map designed to protect minority representation amounted to a, quote, unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The decision opened the door to redistricting all across the country. Do you think race should be used as a factor to draw a congressional line? Senator?

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

Well, I think that's exactly what the Supreme Court is doing. The Supreme Court that we're witnessing right now is packed, sadly, with partisans, and they made a decidedly partisan decision by pretending that you can disaggregate racial gerrymandering from partisan gerrymandering. And as a result of that, look at the results. We're seeing Southern states with a vengeance move to diminish and mute the voices of their black citizens. And so we should be asking these state governors, these state legislatures, do they think it makes sense to take the whole country back to a Jim Crow era so that the Congress will look more like 1954 than 2024?

[Kristen Welker]

Well, and that takes me to my next question because some of your colleagues and fellow Democrats are calling for adding additional seats to the Supreme Court. Would you support that? Would you vote to add additional seats to the Supreme Court? Senator

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

I think we have to look at what's happening in our country because it's very serious. Donald Trump, in this most recent iteration, began this terrible race to the bottom that we're seeing with gerrymandering by calling into Texas and saying, I need five more seats. The Supreme Court then poured fuel on that fire, and with a vengeance. While people are literally casting their votes, we're seeing state legislatures led by craven politicians, race to try to play with the lines to Jimmy rig the outcome in order to make it impossible for ordinary American citizens to hold their elected officials accountable at a time where this economy is not working for us and the Supreme Court continues to undermine his own credibility. I think that all options have to be on the table. We definitely need reform to this court. We need a code of ethics. And all options at this point have to be on the table.

[Kristen Welker]

So that includes adding seats and or term limits.

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

All options have to be on the table.

[Kristen Welker]

Okay, Senator, let me talk to you about the midterms. One of the big headlines this week, Democrats officially nominating Graham Platner as their Senate candidate in May despite a swirl of controversies from allegations of abusive behavior, from ex girlfriends, which he firmly denies, to a tattoo associated with a Nazi symbol. He says he obtained that without understanding its meaning. He has since covered it up. Do you believe Graham Platner has the character to serve in the United States Senate?

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

Well, here's what I'll say. Character matters. And that's what I'm saying in this new book that I've written, the Crooked Place is Made Straight. And I think that the voters of Maine, of Maine have an opportunity to see who they want to represent them in the United States Senate. They will decide that.

[Kristen Welker]

You know, you are considered a leader within the Democratic Party. Do you plan to campaign for Graham Plattner? Senator?

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

I intend to focus on the people of Georgia. You know, I'm very proud of the fact that Georgia elected its first black senator and its first Jewish senator in one fell swoop in 2021. My brother, Jon Ossoff is in a real fight. I think, you know, people are feeling positive about that outcome. But I would remind people that it's still Georgia. It's a very purple state. And so I'll be focused on that race. I will be working and do everything I can to make sure that we have the majority come November because, quite frankly, the future of our democracy depends on it.

[Muscle Milk Commercial Announcer]

Okay.

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

And so I will be moving all over, all over the country, doing whatever I can, but I think at the end of the day, the voters in these states will clearly make their decision about who they want to support.

[Kristen Welker]

Okay. I don't hear you saying you're going to Maine. Let me ask you about your book, and I want to read a quote. You talk about your central argument about character in politics. You say, quote, to get more equity in the land, we desperately need more integrity. Integrity. More leaders committed to truth, regardless of party politics. So just to be clear, are you calling for Your own party to examine its character and politics as well, Senator?

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

Oh, absolutely. Listen, I often say that I'm not a senator who used to be a pastor. I'm a pastor in the Senate. And I wrote this book, which began as a sermon, actually, that I preached before my own congregation. And then I found myself preaching it in Jewish temples and churches and small storefronts at the National Cathedral. And this is a pastor who's serving in the Senate speaking to my country in a moment where our shouting matches between the left and the right are getting louder and louder and the vision is getting smaller and smaller. And we have way too many politicians who are so focused on the next election that they're not thinking about the next generation. We need integrity. We need people who love democracy more than they love power. And when you, when we don't have that, we're seeing what happens. You have a lawless president who's being enabled by politicians who will do anything to stay in power. I think that's bad for the democracy. And I would hold all of us accountable.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, well, let me ask you about another key section in your book. You reflect on the politics of the moment. You write, quote, the stakes could not be higher. We could lose our democracy. We could lose our planet. We could lose our souls. This does come as you're joining other Democratic senators in basically what's a simulation examining what might happen if Republicans interfered in the midterm elections. How seriously do you take interference in the midterm elections? Is this a hypothetical, Senator? Is this something you're really worried about?

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

Sadly, no, it's not a hypothetical at all. We've seen more than enough evidence to know that this president will do anything to stay in power. I represent the people of Fulton County, Georgia, where he recently sent the FBI in to raid the Board of Elections to snatch elections records from an election back in 2020. We have seen his harassment of election workers. Everyday election workers subpoenaed, asking for more information, subpoenas being offered, the effort to pass the so called SAVE act, which really ought to be called the Save Donald Trump's Power Act. We've seen more than enough evidence and an unchecked paramilitary force that Washington Republicans just gave 70 billion more dollars to the other night, even though they're already larger than the Marines. And so I take this very seriously. Democracy is precious. It is the political enactment of a spiritual idea that each of us has within ourselves a spark of the divine. And so we ought to have a vote. We ought to have a voice in the direction of our country and our destiny within it. It is not just one issue alongside other issues. The democracy is the house in which we get to fight for what matters. And so we have to remain vigilant and take this very seriously.

[Kristen Welker]

I want to ask you about one more aspect of your book. You write about how the members of Ebenezer Baptist Church were initially a little uneasy when you said you wanted to run for the U.S. senate. You say, quote, a few hundred people showed up. And it immediately became apparent that not everyone supported the idea of their pastor running for public office. The meeting was tense. Many were nervous. Politics is an ugly game. What would be the implications of their pastor entering the fray during such a fraught and divided time? Senator, how do you think they would feel if you decided to run for president in 2028? And is that something you're consider.

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

I got to give you some points. That's the most creative way I've heard that question yet. Let me just say Ebenezer is a great church. I'm proud to lead this congregation. I've been there now 21 years, and I preached there most Sundays. I'm doing some guest preaching this morning. And I'm glad that they love this country enough that they were willing to extend themselves and say, yes, the man who leads our congregation, we'll let him represent the people of Georgia in the United States Senate. It's the high honor of my life. And at every juncture, I'm continuing to try to make the best use of my gifts and opportunities to serve.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, you know what?

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

And my work in politics is really an extension of that ministry.

[Kristen Welker]

I have to try one more time. You're not ruling out a run for President in 2028, Senator?

[Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock]

Oh, I am firmly focused on 2026. I hope we can have an election where the people's voices actually matter in 2028. In order for that to happen, we have to be very, very focused on 2026. We need some guardrails on this president. We need to win the House and the Senate. And that is my total focus right now.

[Kristen Welker]

All right. Well, congratulations on the book, the Crooked Places Made Straight. Senator Warnock, thank you so very much. When we come back, a judge orders President Trump's name removed from the Kennedy Center. What does it say about the challenges facing the president's agenda? The panel is next. Welcome back. I want to take a moment to remind you about our first ever Meet the Moment Live event later this month in New York City on June 29th. I'll sit down with award winning actress, producer and mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson for what promises to be a candid and inspiring conversation. And right now, we have a very special offer for our viewers. If you use the promo code Moment50 to get $50 off your ticket while supplies last, just scan the QR code on your screen or head to meetthepress.com for tickets and details. We do hope you'll join us. And we will be right back with the panel next. Welcome back. The panel is here, NBC News White House correspondent Monica Alba Jonathan Martin, politics bureau chief and senior political columnist at Politico Steve Ruschetti, counselor to former President Biden and former Trump White House communications director Mike Dubke. Thanks to all of you for being here. Monica, great minds with the suit if it's Sunday. We're also both working this Iran story, trying to get a sense of how close the president actually is to getting a deal. What are your sources telling you, man?

[Monica Alba]

Well, look, Kristen, the president has said repeatedly more than 35 times that he might be very close to a framework here, only for there to be more hurdles that needed to be cleared. So he's also said that his vice president might be on the way to play a key role in these peace talks, only for that note to materialize. So is this really different? Well, in my conversations with senior White House officials, they believe that they are closer than they have ever been. They continue to say that and to stress that. But there has also been so much whiplash just in the last couple of days around what the president told you, which is that he wants to argue that he's in no rush to complete this, that he doesn't want to be pressured into what he would call a bad deal. But in my conversations, I definitely, definitely sense that there is an internal pressure to stabilize the situation and potentially move on from this as quickly as possible.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, Jaymar, pick up on that point. The pressure the president is feeling, it comes against the backdrop of a judge ordering his name to come down from the Kennedy Center. He has his big UFC celebration at the White House today as he turns 80 years old. What are the optics and what is this moment for him?

[Jonathan Martin]

Well, looking at the midterms, if he was trying to hurt his party, I'm not sure what he would do differently right now from, you know, the constant comments that are off message about inflation, about the midterms, going to Wisconsin for a farmer's roundtable and regaling them with stories about what he's doing on the reflecting pool and then these constant endorsements in his own party that are causing a lot of heartburn among GOP strategists and making them spend a lot more money. He's making an already difficult midterm wars for his own party. Now, I will say the caveat is Iran. Can he get to some kind of a deal? Look, he could sign a cocktail napkin today. And as long as they reopen the straits, that's what triggers the markets and that's the key here. But it's got to get done in the next couple of weeks. Otherwise oil is not going to come down for the midterms.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, and it's taking a toll on his poll numbers. You heard Steve Kornacki say he's at a new low for this second term in our.

[Dish Commercial Announcer]

Yeah, well, there was a line in Game of Thrones, chaos is a ladder. And I think that's how Donald Trump through his career has engineered success, by creating chaos, which is great at the negotiating table and not so great for Americans at their kitchen table where they make most of their financial decisions. And I think what you saw in the Kornacki poll and you've seen in other polls is that there is this unease and this unease is created with high gas prices and, and talking, as you, as you put it, talking about issues that don't help the American people decide how they want this government to move forward. So it's unease right now.

[Kristen Welker]

Yeah. Steve, how do you see these numbers, including the fact Democrats have a slight edge in that congressional ballot? It's not a yawning gap.

[Donald Trump]

It's not. But I do think there's momentum in the direction of Democrats. And there are a couple of really important pieces that came out this week that described really building what Jonathan said, just the president's inability to focus on the things that Americans care about every day. Number one was that the inflation rate, which went up this week, was also seen to be exceeding the rate of growth in wages. So people are losing ground and they feel that they understand that they're kitchen table issues, the cost of housing, the cost of health care, groceries and gas. He's just incapable of paying attention or devoting time and resource. And by the way, it's not just the president, but Republicans in Congress to those things that people care about. And secondly, that he's losing support. Two thirds, white working class voters, two thirds now disapprove of the president's handling of the economy.

[Dish Commercial Announcer]

But the Democrats aren't running, getting away with it at all. I mean, you see this with, with Platner and Paxton and all these other Candidates that I, I'm sure we're going to get to. There is this angst amongst the American people that we just want to blow the whole thing up. And I think that's what you're seeing in these primaries.

[Kristen Welker]

Let's get to it, Steve. I mean, how do you think Graham Platner is going to play, particularly against the backdrop of all of these polls we're talking about? And you heard how much the senators, the rep Leader Jeffries kind of struggled talking about that.

[Donald Trump]

The reason he's succeeding is because he said, I'm going to confront the policies of the Trump administration and we're going to focus our attention on things that matter to working class people, to middle class people. And that has resonated a dramatic, you know, change of direction and confronting this president and what he's been doing.

[Jonathan Martin]

But what's so striking about Lankford and Jefferies and Warnock today, they all said the same thing, which is we defer to the voters. The two parties are now scared of their own voters. The leaders of the two parties are constantly petrified about angering their parties. And we're now in a moment to borrow the great quote from Pat Moynihan, a frequent guest on this show, the late, great senator from New York, Ducky. Defining deviancy down. We're defining deviancy down. The two parties to sort of affirm their tribal instincts, are constantly rationalizing the aberrant conduct of each of their candidates and saying, you know what the means justifies the ants. We gotta get the majority, we gotta keep the majority. And if that means sucking it up and supporting somebody who is sort of morally questionable, we're gonna do it. And we're gonna do it because our voters don't care and we defer to our voters.

[Kristen Welker]

Monica, the big question I think, about all of this is how President Trump plays. He did finally endorse Ken Paxton in the end. How, omnipresent or not, do you anticipate he will be on the trail?

[Monica Alba]

I'm told they have stops planned. He's going to be heading to Pennsylvania. There's going to be a West coast swing in the coming weeks and months over the summer. But all of that is going to be sandwiched in between some of these other trips overseas.

[Kristen Welker]

He's going to be heading to the

[Monica Alba]

GC tonight in France. I'm told he is expected to go to the NATO summit in Turkey next month. Of course, the wild car there is whatever happens with Iran. But that's also the complicating part of going out on the campaign trail right now for the President. Because if the message is supposed to be affordability, if that's what the White House wants it to be, it is very rarely focused just on that president.

[Dish Commercial Announcer]

He's the least reliable narrator in the rift. He's never driven by living in the always on presidency. And it's really hard to program when you're always on right and inflation over 4%.

[Donald Trump]

It was at 2.6% in October of 2024. It's at 4% today. That's just not sustainable.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, well guys, great conversation. Thank you so very much. Great to be with all of you. That is all for today. Thank you so much for watching. We'll be back next week because if it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press. Sam.

[Zepbound Commercial Announcer]

Snoring, gasping during sleep? Feeling fatigued? Ask your doctor about Zepbound Tirzepatide, the first and only FDA approved prescription medicine for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. Zepbound is a prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to help adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, OSA and obesity to improve their OSA. Zepbound is approved as a 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 or 15mg injection. Zepbound contains Tirzepatide and should not be used with other Tirzepatide containing products or any GLP1 receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective for use in children. Don't share needles or pins or reuse needles. Don't take if allergic to it or if you or someone in your family had medullary thyroid cancer or if you've had multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. Tell your doctor if you get a lump or swelling in your neck. Stop Zepbound and call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain or a serious allergic reaction. Severe side effects may include inflamed pancreas or gallbladder problems. Tell your doctor if you experience vision changes before scheduled procedures with anesthesia. If you're nursing pregnant, plan to be or taking birth control pills. Taking Zepbound with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and worsen kidney problems. Talk to your doctor, call 1-800-545-5979 or visit zepbound.lilly.com.