Meet the Press – March 1, 2026

Special Episode: U.S.–Israel Strike on Iran, Regime Change, and American Politics

Host: Kristen Welker, NBC News

Featured Guests:

• Sen. Lindsey Graham (R–SC)
• Sen. Mark Kelly (D–AZ)
• Rep. Ro Khanna (D–CA)
• NBC News Panel: Carol Lee, Jonathan Martin, Jeh Johnson, Stephen Hayes
• Richard Engel (reporting live from Israel)

Episode Overview

This urgent, high-stakes episode aired the morning after the United States and Israel launched major military strikes against Iran, targeting military and nuclear sites, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and reportedly decimating much of the Iranian leadership. As President Trump warns Iran against retaliating, the episode features back-to-back interviews with key lawmakers, detailed on-the-ground reporting, and a panel dissecting the strategic, legal, and political fallout. The focus: Is the region—and the world—safer? What happens next? And how will this shape American policy and politics at home?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

I. Breaking News Recap & Context ([01:21–03:31])

• Kristen Welker sets the stage: U.S. and Israeli offensive strikes have killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and much of the regime’s leadership.
• President Trump warning: “If Iran strikes back today, ‘we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before.’”
• Regional consequences: Iran has retaliated with strikes in Bahrain, Dubai, and Qatar—regions home to U.S. military bases.

II. Interview: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R–SC) ([03:31–16:51])

Is the U.S. at war with Iran?

• “I think the Ayatollah would say, yeah, I don't know if this is technically a war, but… ‘the mothership of terrorism is sinking. The captain is dead.’” (Graham, [03:48])
• “Well done, President Trump. It's been the policy of this country for decades to eliminate this regime. President Trump did it.” ([05:03])

On Regime Change & U.S. Objectives

• Graham insists the goal is to eliminate Iran’s terror capabilities, “not the regime”—but praises regime collapse as historic and as the path to broader Middle East peace.
• “No American boots on the ground. This is not Iraq, this is not Germany. This is not Japan.” ([05:39])
• On who leads Iran next: “The people will pick. As to the people, choose wisely. We want to be your friend.” ([06:43])

Strategy and Planning

• Graham emphasizes the operation’s limited objectives: “No matter who takes over in Iran… they will not have ballistic missiles to hurt us, Israel, or the region.” ([04:24])
• When pressed for a plan, Graham says repeatedly: “It’s not [Trump’s] job or my job… Our job is to make sure Iran is no longer the largest state sponsor of terrorism.” ([09:36])

On Imminent Threats

• Graham cites ongoing ballistic missile development and Iran’s proxies: “They were building ballistic missiles that could eventually reach the United States… The Ayatollah is a religious Nazi.” ([10:43])
• “[Trump] eliminated one of the largest threats to the United States by taking this regime down. We're not there yet, but we're close.” ([11:31])

On War Authorization & Precedent

• When asked whether Congress should authorize war: “No, I have no desire. I think the War Powers act is unconstitutional. What are we doing?” ([15:48])
• “This is a military operation designed to eliminate threats that have existed against our country.” ([16:01])

Notable Quotes

• “The mothership of terrorism is sinking. The captain is dead.” ([03:48], Graham)
• “No boots on the ground. We don’t own… you break it, you own it—I don’t buy that one bit.” ([09:36], Graham)
• “America first is to kill people who wish us ill… Celebrate today, please, my Democratic colleagues, that the most evil man on the planet is no more.” ([12:46], Graham)

III. Interview: Sen. Mark Kelly (D–AZ) ([18:27–26:49])

General Assessment

• “It’s a good thing that the supreme leader is gone… but what I also heard… is they're talking about hope. Hope is not a strategy. We gotta have a plan here.” ([18:59])
• “My job … is to make sure that this administration has a plan and doesn't put Americans, especially U.S. service members, at further risk.” ([19:22])

U.S. Military Operation

• “Khamenei being dead is a good thing. But what is this about? … What was the imminent threat? Or is this about getting rid of the entire regime, which is really challenging? There's not an armed opposition in Iran.” ([20:09])
• Kelly expresses deep concern that strikes could require boots on the ground for lasting success: “Eliminating things and fully taking out a capability is really challenging without putting people there on the ground.” ([21:34])

Possibility of Prolonged Conflict

• “Absolutely, it could be [drawn out]. And that's the concern here. That's why we need to … have a vote.” ([22:32])
• Raises risks of economic disruption and casualties if Iran retaliates—specifically by shutting down the Straits of Hormuz. ([22:50])

On Congressional Authorization

• “I want to hear from the White House what their strategy is going forward. … I would say at this point it's rather unlikely that I would be [a ‘yes’ on war authorization]. They went into this without any discussion with us ahead of time.” ([25:35])

Lacking Confidence in Trump’s Defense Secretary

• “I have previously said and I maintain that he's the least qualified Secretary of Defense we've ever had in our country's history.” ([26:23])

Notable Quotes

• “Hope is not a strategy. We gotta have a plan here.” ([18:59], Kelly)
• “What was the imminent threat? Or is this about getting rid of the entire regime, which is really challenging? There's not an armed opposition in Iran.” ([20:09], Kelly)

IV. Interview: Rep. Ro Khanna (D–CA) ([27:52–35:37])

Security & Political Assessment

• “Khamenei was a brutal dictator, but Americans are not safer today.” ([28:21])
• “Senator Graham cheerlead us into the Iraq war. He cheerlead us into the effort with Libya. … And Trump ran against him in 2016. He said regime change wars are absolute, absolute failures.” ([28:21])

Legal & Congressional Response

• “Is going to be very close, but I believe we will have every Democrat. I can't believe that there's going to be a Democrat who wants to vote for another war in the Middle East.” ([29:36])
• On War Powers: “If the President launches an attack, the Congress can say, no, you need to stop unless you have Congress's authority. … This is exactly when you need the War Powers Resolution.” ([32:35])

Fractures in Republican & Democratic Ranks

• “This is a betrayal of a decent chunk of the MAGA base.” ([30:01])
• “Either you’re on the side of no more Middle East wars, or you’re on the side of Lindsey Graham." ([31:33])

On Subpoenaing Trump re: Epstein Files (briefly in closing)

• “The Clinton rule means that Donald Trump and his family members should testify. By the way, he should do it voluntarily.” ([34:37])

Notable Quotes

• “Americans are not safer today.” ([28:21], Khanna)
• “This is exactly when you need the War Powers Resolution.” ([32:35], Khanna)

V. Live Report: Richard Engel in Israel ([35:38–38:07])

• Reporting from Beit Shemesh, Israel, at site of an Iranian missile strike:
  • “At least nine people were killed here. … The bodies were that disfigured.”
  • Confirms Israeli (and possibly U.S.) air superiority over Iranian territory, significant Iranian casualties, including approx. 40 commanders.
• On Israeli popular sentiment:
  • “They still support this effort. They say that they want Israel and the United States to do more, to stop Haram and topple the regime.” ([37:31])

VI. Panel Analysis: Political, Strategic, and Legal Repercussions ([38:57–49:19])

Was There a Justified Imminent Threat?

• Carol Lee: “The first time we heard the president say that U.S. troops could die as a result of this decision was when the bombs were falling. … There are real questions about the justification for this, how long it will go on and what happens next.” ([38:57], Lee)

Was Proper Authorization Sought?

• Jonathan Martin: “Last time we had a major war … President Bush did that, there was a public campaign … a vote in Congress… There was none of that this time. … That's vital.” ([40:34])

The ‘America First’ Paradox & Political Fallout

• Stephen Hayes: “When you look at what President Trump has said, the lack of case that was made, the lack of strategy … suggests a level of naivete that should have people worried.” ([42:11])
• Jonathan Martin: “If this war does spiral… if you don’t have the buy-in up front from the American people … it creates profound political challenges down the road if this becomes a protracted war.” ([40:34])

Legality & War Powers

• Jeh Johnson: “What we did was an act of war, plain and simple. … Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution assigns to Congress the authority to declare war. That basically is now a nullity. The War Powers Resolution is close to being a nullity.” ([43:18])

Political Implications for 2026 Elections

• The Iran war could fracture the GOP base—with isolationist MAGA voters alienated—placing midterm elections in play. ([45:07])

Uncertainty and Strategic Risk

• Carol Lee: “The problem is there's a lot of risk, a lot of uncertainty. … Iran retaliated very quickly and broadly in the region.” ([46:15])
• Jeh Johnson: “Saying to the 93 million people in Iran, okay, I've decapitated your leadership. Take your country back. Sounds an awful lot to me like we will be greeted as liberators. That was the prediction in Iraq.” ([48:01])

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “The mothership of terrorism is sinking. The captain is dead.” – Sen. Graham ([03:48])
• “Hope is not a strategy. We gotta have a plan here.” – Sen. Kelly ([18:59])
• “Americans are not safer today.” – Rep. Khanna ([28:21])
• “This is a betrayal of a decent chunk of the MAGA base.” – Rep. Khanna ([30:01])
• “What we did was an act of war, plain and simple.” – Jeh Johnson ([43:18])
• “If this war becomes a matter of weeks and months … does it create fissures among the Republican base, the MAGA base?” – Jonathan Martin ([45:07])
• “Sounds an awful lot to me like we will be greeted as liberators. That was the prediction in Iraq.” – Jeh Johnson ([48:01])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:31] Lindsey Graham: U.S. and Iran—“Mothership of terrorism is sinking”
• [05:39] U.S. goals post-strikes and regime change
• [09:36] No clear postwar plan—“Not our job”
• [12:46] “America First” doctrine disputed; regime change debate
• [15:48] Congressional war authorization not sought
• [18:59] Mark Kelly: “Hope is not a strategy”
• [21:34] Kelly: Air strikes vs. boots on ground debate
• [22:32] Possibility of prolonged engagement
• [25:35] Kelly: Skeptical of war powers approval
• [28:21] Ro Khanna: “Americans are not safer today”
• [29:36] War Powers Resolution—vote could be close
• [31:33] Khanna: “No more Middle East wars” vs. “Lindsey Graham's view”
• [32:35] Post-strikes, limits of War Powers
• [35:38] Richard Engel reports from Israel
• [38:57] Panel: Questions on justification and strategy
• [43:18] Jeh Johnson: legality and act of war
• [45:07] Political implications for midterms
• [48:01] History repeating? “Greeted as liberators” analogy

Conclusion

This extraordinary episode captured the immediate political, legal, and strategic cross-currents of America’s most significant Middle East conflict since Iraq. Senator Graham vocalized unflinching support for Trump’s strikes, insisting the campaign was not about occupation but about “erasing the mothership of terrorism.” Senators Kelly and Khanna, while both denouncing the Iranian regime, blasted the administration for lack of clear planning, fearing a protracted quagmire and warning that unilateral action set dangerous precedents. The expert panel highlighted the missing “buy-in” from Congress and the public, the questionable legal footing, and the deep uncertainty about what comes next—at home and abroad. Throughout, the specter of Iraq, Libya, and America’s history of foreign interventions loomed large in each exchange.