May 10 — Sec. Chris Wright, Sen. Cory Booker, Gov. Wes Moore and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Summary

Meet the Press – May 10, 2026

Hosted by Kristen Welker, NBC News

---

Episode Overview

This episode tackles several of the most urgent topics facing the U.S. and the world, including the escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, record-high gas prices, shifting redistricting battles impacting Congressional control, the state of the Supreme Court and voting rights, and a bipartisan look at America's maternal health crisis. Guests include Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Governor Wes Moore (D-MD), Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR), and panelists from across the political spectrum.

---

Key Segments & Discussions

1. U.S.–Iran Tensions and Gas Prices

• Guests: Energy Secretary Chris Wright ([04:02]–[15:35])

State of Negotiations and Security

• Fragile ceasefire in the Middle East despite recent exchanges of fire between the U.S. and Iran.
• President Trump announced but then paused “Operation Freedom,” a plan to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz ([03:08]).
• Saudi Arabia expressed concerns that this plan might provoke further escalation.

Main Priorities in Negotiations

• The administration’s top priority is ending Iran’s nuclear program, but reopening the Strait is also vital for energy markets.
• On the possibility of a short-term deal with Iran:
  • Chris Wright ([05:16]): “Certainly that's got to be possible,” acknowledging that a deal might not address all nuclear concerns.
  • Chris Wright ([05:33]): “The world simply cannot have a nuclear armed Iran... There's no commercial or peaceful use of nuclear weapons.”

Gas Prices and Economic Impact

• Gas prices have shot to $4.55/gallon with spikes possibly reaching $5, according to JPMorgan Chase ([08:46]).
• Chris Wright repeatedly declines to predict exact prices, emphasizes that prices will drop when the Strait is reopened and Iran’s threat is neutralized.
• Chris Wright ([10:03]): “United States is in a tremendous position. We're by far the world's largest producer of oil... Prices are up and they will remain up while this conflict's in place, and then they will come back down.”

U.S. Control in the Strait of Hormuz

• Currently, the U.S. is blockading the Strait, not letting Iranian ships pass ([13:03]).
• Chris Wright ([13:31]): “We are today, we are controlling no flow of Iranian ships. ... If we don't get to a deal with Iran, we will use military force to open the Strait to everyone.”

Oil Market Recovery

• Damage to Gulf energy infrastructure could take up to two years to fully repair, but Wright is optimistic about increased production elsewhere: Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil, Gulf of Mexico, Alaska ([10:56]).

Policy Options for Relief

• Open to suspending the federal gas tax while the conflict lasts ([11:43]).
• Working with refiners, adjusting EPA rules, and tapping strategic reserves.

---

2. Interview with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)

([17:18]–[28:46])

Iran Conflict and Negotiations

• Booker is strongly critical of Trump’s handling:
  • ([17:46]) “This conflict has been a massive disaster and Donald Trump himself is an embarrassment on the world stage.”
  • Believes U.S. is caught in a “stalemate,” with Americans paying the price both militarily and economically.
• On supporting a short-term deal with Iran that does not address nuclear issues: focus is on ending the conflict, with Senate Democrats pushing for its resolution ([18:33]).

Policy on U.S. Arms to Israel

• Recently voted against sending more arms to Israel ([19:45]).
• Supports Israel’s security, but not “a reckless war that has made the United States and Israel less safe... I cannot support this war effort” ([20:36]).

Supreme Court and Voting Rights

• Condemns Supreme Court decision limiting the Voting Rights Act:
  • ([21:37]) “This is about stripping political power from millions of people.”
  • “[Decision] will go down as one of the most wrong-headed decisions ... effectively undercut our democracy.”
• Supports ethics reforms and term limits for the Supreme Court ([24:07]), but is ambiguous on “court packing,” suggesting legislative changes are needed first ([24:50]).

Redistricting, Political Implications

• Sees the recent court decisions and red state redistricting as attacks on American democracy.
• Confident that “the people of America can take back the House” despite obstacles ([26:49]).

Democratic Party “Autopsy”

• Agrees the DNC should release the post-2024 election “autopsy,” but insists focus now should be on voter mobilization ([27:44]).

---

3. Panel Analysis: Redistricting and Party Strategy

([30:31]–[38:56])

Redistricting Advantage

• Jonathan Martin (Politico) ([31:05]): GOP currently has an edge in redistricting, but environment still gives Democrats a strong chance in the fall.
• Tyler Pager (NYT): White House Republicans feel confident after this week’s legal victories.
• Matt Gorman (GOP strategist): Cautiously optimistic; big legal week for Trump and the party, but admits “gas prices need to come way down. President's job approval needs to go up” ([33:07]).
• Ashley Etienne (Dem strategist): Democrats respond with “overwhelming optimism,” see plenty of opportunity to mobilize protest and turnout against GOP and Court actions ([34:05]).

DNC Autopsy Report

• Ashley Etienne: DNC expected to release report within weeks, citing pressure for transparency—especially concerning campaign leadership’s decisions ([35:57]).
• Martin/Gorman/Pager: Consensus that releasing the report sooner prevents speculation and in-fighting.

Republican VP Speculation

• Matt Gorman: Weighs pros/cons of possible Trump running mates (Rubio vs. JD Vance).

---

4. U.S.–China Relations Preview

([39:39]–[40:59])

• Tom Yamas previews President Trump’s upcoming high-stakes trip to China, contextualizing it with the ongoing war in Iran, U.S.–China competition in AI and technology, and tensions over Taiwan.

---

5. Common Ground: Maternal Health Crisis

([42:15]–[50:25])

Special Guests:

• Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR)
• Governor Wes Moore (D-MD)
• Olivia Walton, philanthropist/Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies founder

State of Maternal Health

• U.S. maternal mortality rate has doubled in 20 years.
• CDC says 80% of deaths are preventable ([42:15]).
• “We really do know how to fix it... cut the maternal mortality rate in half in five years” – Olivia Walton ([42:57]).

State & Local Initiatives

• Gov. Sanders (AR): Arkansas at the bottom of maternal health rankings; state investing $45 million; all counties now have access points for care ([43:18]).
• Gov. Moore (MD): Announces new “Bridge Project” offering cash assistance to mothers in concentrated poverty ([44:19]).

Black Maternal Health Crisis

• Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes ([45:39]).
• Walton: “Awareness lowest where outcomes are the worst… visibility, leadership, proximity” ([45:56]).
• Moore: Focused on anti-bias training, increasing number of Black providers, addressing systemic racism ([46:08]).
• Sanders: Emphasizes value of doulas, community and faith-based support ([47:07]).

Personal Connection

• All guests share how being parents influences their passion and policy-making in maternal health.
  • Sanders: “I'm a better governor because I'm a parent” ([47:56]).
  • Moore: Importance of representing impacted communities and mentorship across gender ([48:37], [49:46]).

Memorable Quote

• Olivia Walton ([49:56]): “Just seeing how much help I needed when I had all that privilege was just a rude awakening in how hard this is for millions of Americans... we really count on to raise the next generation.”

---

Notable Quotes by Segment & Timestamp

• Chris Wright ([05:33]): “The world simply cannot have a nuclear armed Iran.”
• Sen. Cory Booker ([17:46]): “This conflict has been a massive disaster and Donald Trump himself is an embarrassment on the world stage.”
• Sen. Cory Booker ([21:37]): "This is about stripping political power from millions of people."
• Amanda Etienne ([34:05]): "The biggest loser over the last two weeks has been American democracy."
• Jonathan Martin ([37:09]): "Put the thing out, talk about what happened in 24, and then move on to 2026."
• Olivia Walton ([42:57]): “[Our goal is] to cut the US Maternal mortality rate in half in five years.”

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Iran/Wright Interview: [02:24]–[15:35]
• Booker Interview: [17:18]–[28:46]
• Redistricting Panel: [30:31]–[38:56]
• China Preview: [39:39]–[40:59]
• Maternal Health Roundtable: [42:15]–[50:25]

---

Episode Tone and Takeaways

The tone is urgent, combative at times, and deeply engaged, reflecting the seriousness of global conflict, economic distress, and political infighting. Yet, the episode concludes on a hopeful and collaborative note with the maternal health roundtable, uniting perspectives from both sides of the aisle to propose pragmatic solutions.

For more details and full interviews, visit MeetThePress.com.

Transcript

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

You said this place was steps from the water.

[Kristen Welker]

We just haven't found the steps yet.

[Jonathan Martin]

How much did we save?

[Kristen Welker]

Enough.

[Matt Gorman]

Enough to get lost?

[Kristen Welker]

Or you could book a stay with Hilton.

[Senator Cory Booker]

Welcome to your oceanfront room just steps from the water.

[Hilton Advertiser]

The Hilton sale is on now.

[Kristen Welker]

Book on Hilton.com or the Hilton app

[Hilton Advertiser]

and save up to 20% to get the stay you expected.

[Kristen Welker]

When you want savings, not surprises, it

[Hilton Advertiser]

matters where you stay. Hilton.

[Kristen Welker]

For the stay.

[Love's Rewards Advertiser]

Out on the road, it's nice to have a partner who can help you make the most of your journey. A partner like the Love's Rewards app. With Love's Rewards along for the ride, you can earn points and get great deals like a free coffee or fountain drink. Just buy any four, any size and get the fifth one free. How refreshing is that? Download the app today and let the points roll in mile after mile. Love's Rewards save and earn at every turn. Terms apply. See website for details.

[Kristen Welker]

This Sunday waiting game. The U.S. and Iran exchange fire in the Strait of Hormuz as peace talks drag on and Americans feel the squeeze from rising gas prices.

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

Only stupid countries don't shoot back when you're shot at, and we're not a stupid country.

[President Trump]

And they better sign their agreement fast.

[Kristen Welker]

Could a deal be within reach? I'll talk to Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. Plus, shifting battlegrounds shut it down. Democrats lose ground in the redistricting fight after Virginia's new map is rejected by the state Supreme Court, and Republicans in red states move quickly to redraw their lines. What will it mean for control of Congress in the midterms and delivering solutions on this Mother's Day, our bipartisan common ground conversation on the maternal health crisis with Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Democratic Governor Wes Moore. Joining me for insight and analysis are Jonathan Martin of Politico, Ashley Etienne, former communications director to Vice President Harris, Republican strategist Matt Gorman, and New York Times White House correspondent Tyler Pager. Welcome to Sunday. It's Meet the PRESS from NBC News

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

in Washington, the longest running show in television history.

[Kristen Welker]

This is MEET THE With Kristen Welker. Good Sunday morning. A fragile ceasefire is holding in the Middle east this morning as negotiations continue between the United States and Iran, despite the two sides exchanging fire earlier in the week. After these strikes, is the ceasefire with Iran still on?

[President Trump]

Yeah, it is. They trifled with us today. We blew them away. They trifled. I call that a trifle.

[Kristen Welker]

Could you give us an update on what is the latest in those talks no, it's going.

[President Trump]

The talks are going very well, but they have to understand if it doesn't get signed, they're going to have a lot of pain.

[Kristen Welker]

This after a volatile week with President Trump announcing Operation Freedom, a plan to escort international ships through the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway vital to the world's energy supply, before abruptly walking back the plan just 36 hours later. NBC News learning exclusively. Saudi Arabia feared the Trump administration's plan could provoke Iran to attack Gulf allies and risk reigniting the conflict. Meanwhile, uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz is already hitting Americans at the pump. Gas prices topped $4.55 a gallon this week, the highest prices since the conflict began. But President Trump saying those price spikes are temporary.

[President Trump]

When the war is over, gas will fall down at levels that you've never seen before. You'll be down to where you were, maybe even lower.

[Kristen Welker]

And joining me now is Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Secretary Wright, welcome back to MEET THE press.

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

Thanks for having me and happy Mother's Day.

[Kristen Welker]

Thank you so much. Thank you for being here on Mother's Day. A lot to discuss. I do want to start on these negotiations between the United States and Iran. President Trump saying that the United States was anticipating a response from Iran to its latest proposal. Has Iran, in fact responded to the United States?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

I don't think we've heard a clear resolution from Iran yet. Given the state of the government in Iran, things just move slowly. Communications are difficult. There are multiple factions. This is a regime under serious stress.

[Kristen Welker]

Would the United States ever agree to a deal with Iran that does not address its nuclear program, even if it's a short term deal?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

I mean, I don't know about interim deals or whatever, but we know where the end point is going to be. The end point is going to be free flow of traffic through the international waters that are the Straits of Hormuz and an end to the Iranian nuclear program. That's where we're going to end the pathway from here to there. We're going to find out. But that's the end point.

[Kristen Welker]

So it's possible an interim deal might not address all of the concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program.

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

Certainly that's got to be possible.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, I guess. And just to clarify, in terms of the Strait of Hormuz, what is the administration's top priority, dealing with Iran's nuclear program or reopening the Strait of Hormuz?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

Well, the top priority is ending Iran's nuclear program. The world simply cannot have a nuclear armed Iran. They've got nearly 1,000 pounds of 60% enriched uranium. You know, this is close to weapons grade uranium. There's no commercial or peaceful use of nuclear weapons. They always lie and say they're doing this for their nuclear power industry. Just total nonsense. They have been, you know, in a dash to build a bomb and they have enriched material, almost fully enriched to make 10 nuclear bombs. We cannot have that for the world. We cannot have that in the Middle East. We cannot have that in the United States of America.

[Kristen Welker]

I do want to talk about the big issue for Americans, gas prices. Of course, you just heard me discuss how high they went this week. Here is what you said in this program in March about gas prices. Take a look. Are you confident that gas will be back under $3 a gallon by the busy summer travel season?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

Mr. Secretary, there's a very good chance that'll be true. You know, there's no guarantees in war. The timeframe still not entirely clear. But, but I think that's, that's certainly a goal of the administration and very, and, and very possible.

[Kristen Welker]

Do you think it's still very possible that gas prices will dip below $3 a gallon in time for summer, which is about six weeks?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

I can't make any predictions about, you know, oil prices or gasoline prices. The military part of the conflict took about what we expected. I think the president was guiding four to six weeks, took five. And after the military, main military operations have ceased. Now we're in a negotiating period. We're using economic leverage against Iran and this regime is trying to cling on to their nuclear program. So obviously this part of the conflict has gone a little longer.

[Kristen Welker]

President Trump hasn't ruled out still using a military option. Are you saying military options have ceased, have officially come to an end?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

No, no, there's, I mean, yeah, again, we're not going to take any options off the table going forward. But as far as our goals to destroy their industrial capability, to build, to build missiles, to build missile launchers, to build drones, to completely degrade their, their air defense system, to sink their navy and their, in their air force, all of that went well and that was a critical part of this mission.

[Kristen Welker]

Just to go back to this central question though, do you anticipate gas prices will drop below doll gallon this year?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

I can't make predictions about that. I can say that when this, we start to get free flow of traffic through the Straits of Hormuz, energy prices will come down. And by ending Iran's ability to get a nuclear weapon, they are the biggest threat in the world to the flow of global energy. They've killed more American soldiers over the last two decades than any other power. They're the giant force of destabilization. They're the largest sponsor of terrorism around the planet. So ending Iran's nuclear program, that is massively positive for the flow of energy, meaning more energy will flow in the future, meaning lower energy prices for Americans and the rest of the world. Long term this is a great move. Short term, it's causing some discomfort.

[Kristen Welker]

So you're saying that ultimately gas prices will start to come down once the strait is reopened. Here's what analysts are saying about how high gas prices could ultimately go. US gasoline prices have a legitimate chance of rising to $5 a gallon as refiners prioritize jet fuel production at the expense of other products, according to analysts at JPMorgan Chase. Should Americans be prepared for the possibility of paying $5 a gallon for gas?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

Look again. I can't predict the price of energy in the short term or even the medium term. But what we're doing is ending a 47 year conflict. Iran has fought death to the United States for 47 years, death to Israel. And as we the conflict broke out, they attacked all of their neighbors in the Middle east that had no involvement in the conflict whatsoever. If you have a hostile unstable power like that, you simply cannot allow them to have nuclear weapons. That was a consensus opinion all my adult life. I'm shocked to see Democrats come out of the woodwork now somehow not worried about Iran getting nuclear weapons.

[Kristen Welker]

I know you're saying you can't predict how high gas prices price will go, but I don't hear you ruling out the possibility that they could in fact go to $5 a gallon.

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

Well, I'm just avoiding price predictions. But I will say United States is in a tremendous position. We're by far the world's largest producer of oil. We're by far the world's largest producer of natural gas. There's been no rise in the price of natural gas. That's the largest primary energy source for the United States. That's for home heating. That's for electricity, gasoline, diesel. Prices are up and they will remain up while this conflict's in place. And then they will come back down. And ultimately they'll come back down lower than they were before.

[Kristen Welker]

You're saying they're going to come back down. The head of the International Energy Agency says more than 80 Persian Gulf energy facilities have been damaged, about a third of them severely and it could take up to two years to fully restore production. Why should Americans believe that prices will fall quickly when experts say it could take up to two years even once this war ends.

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

That's to bring all of those, those facilities back on. That's one region of the world. Oil production in Venezuela today is growing rapidly. Venezuela's neighbor Guyana has rapid oil production growth, rapid growth in Brazil. We're bringing on new oil in the Gulf of America. And in Alaska and the United States, there's an incredibly bright outlook for growing global energy production, which allows the economy to grow and prices to remain low.

[Kristen Welker]

Let's talk about this debate over the gas tax. States like Georgia, Indiana, Utah have suspended their gas taxes. And there's a bill in Congress, actually that would temporarily suspend the federal gas tax, which is 18 cents a gallon currently. Would you support suspending the federal gas tax to give families relief right now?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

Yeah. All measures that can be taken to lower the price at the pump and lower the prices for Americans. This administration is in support of. We are constantly looking for different ideas. We've taken a number of actions receiving, releasing oil from our strategic petroleum reserves, getting 30 other nations to do that. In coordination with us, we revised the EPA regulations on summer gasoline blend to make it easier for American refineries to produce more gasoline. We've been in contact with all American refiners asking them to do shorter maintenance work this spring so they can keep pumping out more products. So we are working every day to, to offset this rise in prices because of a critical conflict in Iran to drive prices down. And we're open to all such ideas.

[Kristen Welker]

This is significant, what you're saying. You're saying that you, that President Trump would be open to suspending the federal gas tax.

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

We're open to all ideas. Everything has trade offs all ideas to lower prices for American consumers and American businesses.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, let me ask you about what we've been discussing at the top. The Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, more than 100 ships transited the strait every single day. This week, just seven ships transited the Strait of Hormuz. Who is in control of the Strait of Hormuz right now, Mr. Secretary?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

Well, the United States has a blockade. We are not allowing any ships to come out from Iranian ports or to go into Iranian ports. Iran, after decades of spending a large percent of their entire economy building a giant weapons arsenal, all to shield their nuclear program. So ultimately they would be untouchable. They have an ability to cause trouble in the Straits of Hormuz, and they are doing it.

[Kristen Welker]

Is the US in control of the Strait of Hormuz?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

We are today, we are controlling no flow of Iranian ships. We have escorted out several American ships and if need be, if we don't get to a deal with Iran, we will use military force to open the Strait to everyone. Today, traffic through the Straits of Hormuz is challenged.

[Kristen Welker]

Why didn't the US Secure the Strait of Hormuz when the war first began in February?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

It's about focus. It's about focus. We want to do as quickly as possible take away Iran's military capabilities to defend their airspace and to destroy their industrial complex. We challenged the long term things first. We needed to degrade their infrastructure to project terror around the Middle east to threaten oil supplies in the long run. And we'll deal with this in the middle of the conflict. The thing was about getting the war aims done. Now as we move back out, the other side is to establish the free flow of commerce.

[Kristen Welker]

Let me ask you this. This week the president announced Project Freedom, as you know, an operation to escort ships trapped in the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. NBC News reported this week that he canceled the operation just 36 hours later over Saudi Arabia's concerns that the plan would trigger potentially cat catastrophic attacks from Iran. Did the US Back away from Project Freedom because of risks of further military action?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

The US Backed away or just suspended, briefly, Project Freedom because of Iran's concerns. Iran has one card. They can cause trouble in the Straits of Hormuz. They are keen to get a negotiated deal. If we open that militarily without Iran, they have no cards left. They can cause trouble. In the meantime, they said, wait, wait, wait, let's talk, let's get a deal. We're going to open this more quickly in a simpler fashion and we're given that chance to have a negotiated settlement, which is the best end here.

[Kristen Welker]

All right. Well, we will continue to track whether that negotiated settlement happens. Thank you so much, Secretary Wright. We really appreciate your being here.

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

Thank you, Kristen. Great to be with you.

[Kristen Welker]

Great to have you here. When we come back, Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey joins me next.

[Comcast Business Advertiser]

The world of business is constantly evolving. And Comcast business keeps you totally in step with secure AI backed networking in more than 100 countries. They're powering over 90% of the Fortune 500 and millions of small businesses. That's a lot of muscle. And behind it all, thousands of experts answering your call at 2am like it's 2pm One partner powering how business gets done for companies around the globe. When you add it all up, no one does business like Comcast Business out

[Love's Rewards Advertiser]

on the road, it's nice to have a partner who can help you make the most of your journey. A partner like the Love's Rewards app. With Love's Rewards along for the ride, you earn points on food, fuel, drinks and more every time you scan. Then you can spend those points at Love's just like cash. So every stop is even more rewarding. Download the app today and watch the points roll in mile after mile. Love's Rewards save and earn at every turn. Terms apply. See website for details.

[Hannah (ROE Partner)]

I'm Hannah. I've lost 75 pounds in 20 months with GLP1s/ diet and exercise on ROE. I've gone from struggling to run a mile to running farther every day. You can access FDA approved GLP1s online. Get the support you need to reach your weight loss goals. Go to Roe Co Weight to see if you qualify. I'm a paid ROE partner. 20% average weight loss in one year in non diabetics with obesity or overweight with a weight related medical condition versus 3.1 and placebo arm Rx only. To stay informed about serious side effects, go to Roe Co Safety.

[Kristen Welker]

Welcome back. And joining me now is Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. Senator Booker, welcome back to Meet the press.

[Senator Cory Booker]

It's really good to be here in studio. Thank you.

[Kristen Welker]

Thank you so much for being here in person. We really appreciate it. Let's start with Iran. I wonder, for the sake of bringing these hostilities to an end, would you support a short term deal with Iran? That leaves the broader issue of Iran's nuclear program to be solved in later negotiations.

[Senator Cory Booker]

So remember, the Strait of Hormuz was not closed at the beginning of this conflict. This conflict has been a massive disaster and Donald Trump himself is an embarrassment on the world stage. I hear it from allies all around the world. He has got us into a trap and we're effectively in a stalemate with Iran and the people that are paying the price is American military, hundreds injured, 14 lives lost. And the American people collectively were spending billions of dollars more in the price spikes that we've seen as a result of this. This President has no way out. This is going to go on for months and that pain is going to continue to be felt by people he promised to lower prices for and keep us out of foreign entanglements.

[Kristen Welker]

If that weigh out included a short term deal that punted. Dealing with the nuclear program, is that something you would back?

[Senator Cory Booker]

Well, remember I've been lead the Senate with a handful of my other colleagues to end this conflict that's what we are demanding. I am sorry that the United States Senate Republicans who are leading that have done nothing truly to hold President Trump accountable, to provide sufficient oversight or any checks and balances. My work is to end this conflict. And again, unfortunately, Donald Trump has made us less safe. He has created more chaos in that region. He has given more long term strength and leverage to Iran, a more radical regime. There is still fissile material, highly enriched that was not there at the beginning of his first term. He has dug us deeper and deeper into a quagmire hold. And he is a danger, as many of his first term national security advisers said to us, he would be a danger to national security. Sadly, that's playing out.

[Kristen Welker]

I do want to talk about the Senate. The U.S. of course, is partnering with Israel with this war. You joined a record number of Democrats, 40 senators who recently voted against sending more arms to Israel. Similar effort a year ago, only got 15 Democratic votes, for example. Are you now opposed to the US Sending arms to Israel going forward?

[Senator Cory Booker]

Let's be clear. I'm opposed to a reckless war that has made the United States and Israel less safe, as well as our other Arab allies. I will not support arms to the United States or any of our allies, including Israel, in the context of a war that is endangering our national security and Israel's. I continue to support our US Military being the strongest in the world. I continue to support Israel having a qualitative military edge, the ability to defend themselves and offer deterrence. But in the context of this war, I will not support more military armaments to conduct what I think is a disaster that's endangering American lives, Israeli lives, and as we see in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, our regional allies as well.

[Kristen Welker]

So just to be very clear, you would vote to approve arms sales for Israel in a future entanglement if you thought that was necessary.

[Senator Cory Booker]

Again, we have a longstanding commitment to Israel having a qualitative military edge. I will continue to support that. I will not support this kind of war. And we have a nation now that is looking at our disastrous president, a disastrous leader of Israel, who in this war are hurting our nation, their nation and that region. I cannot support this war effort.

[Kristen Welker]

Let's turn to the battle over redistricting. One of the big headlines this week, a recent U.S. supreme Court rule placed new limits on the Voting Rights act, as you know, which has prompted states across the south to start redrawing their maps. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the majority opinion. I'm going to read some of what he said and get your reaction, quote, allowing race to play any part in government decision making represents a departure from the constitutional rule that applies in almost every other context. Do you think race should be used as a factor to draw congressional lines?

[Senator Cory Booker]

So first of all, this court is profoundly hypocritical. They said we can do, you can use race in immigration stops. So this is not about race. This is about stripping political power from millions of people. And obviously this decision would result, and they knew this, in stripping political power and representation from African Americans. The Voting Rights act was perhaps one of the most important acts in the history of our country in securing our democratic ideals. All are created equal. All are imbued with certain unalienable rights. And what they have done right now is sent us backwards in time back to the 1870s and 80s where the south and Southern legislators, through terrorism, intimidation and worse, were able to stop African Americans from having representation in Congress. This is wrong. It's as wrong as Plessy versus Ferguson. It's as wrong as Korematsu. And I'm telling you right now, this will go down as history as one of the most wrong headed decisions the Supreme Court has ever made and effectively undercut our democracy.

[Kristen Welker]

I wonder what you make of some of the messaging we've heard. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries had very strong words for the Supreme Court, calling it, quote, illegitimate and accusing the court of trying to suppress the vote and rig the midterm elections and beyond. Do you agree that the Supreme Court is illegitimate in actually trying to rig US Elections, or do you think that language goes too far?

[Senator Cory Booker]

I think the Supreme Court is wrong. I think they've been making decisions to strip rights from Americans, whether it's stripping rights for reproductive rights from Americans, whether it's stripping voting rights for Americans. This court is setting us back. And we have to understand that this is one of those moments where what the Supreme Court is doing is making a decision, but the people have the last word. This is not the end of this story. We have seen setbacks before. The question is, is this the time for people to understand that this is not left or right. It is right or wrong. Is it going to spark another movement? And so most important right now is people to understand we are not helpless. Six people cannot determine 300 plus million. We have to fight. We have to mobilize and organize.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, you take me to my next question because this decision has revived the debate within the Democratic Party about potentially adding more seats to the Supreme Court. Would you Senator, support an effort to add more seats to the Supreme Court to expand the court.

[Senator Cory Booker]

Well, remember, there's a corrupt shadow hanging over the Supreme Court. Some of these same members that are voting on decisions like this are accepting gifts from billionaires. We have RVs, lavish vacations. It's a corrupt court. The highest court in their land has a low income, ethics laws. Number two is that the Supreme Court clearly within our power. I lead one of these pieces of legislation with Senator Whitehouse and others to give term limits to Supreme Court members. That could go a long way in curing this. The Supreme Court desperately needs reform. It is a corrupt court, and in my opinion, it is a court that needs reform. And I will continue to lead on those things.

[Kristen Welker]

Do you support, though, adding additional seats? Is that something you would back again?

[Senator Cory Booker]

Again? I want this court reformed from its ethics to having people stay on there well into their 80s or 90s is very problematic. There are ways we can reform this court, but as a precursor to that, it means changing Congress. Because this Congress, even when the Supreme Court said in Rucho v. Common Cause that partisan gerrymandering was anti Democratic, the vote in the Senate and the House was along party lines. Republicans supporting partisan gerrymandering and every Democrat saying we should end this. If we want change to what the Supreme Court is doing, we have to change Congress.

[Kristen Welker]

I want to ask you, big picture, Senator, the implications of this for the midterms. Do you believe that Democrats have lost their advantage heading into the midterms?

[Senator Cory Booker]

Again, I know this is seen through a political lens, but there are many of us. I was just down in Birmingham. This goes a lot deeper than partisan politics. This is Mother's Day. And that word, mother is an honorific in the black community often given to great women of stature, the mothers of the movement. People like Fannie Lou Hamer, beat nearly to death in a Mississippi prison for voting rights. Amelia Boynton, beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge marching for voting rights. Ella Baker, Septima Clark. These are extraordinary women who today the Supreme Court has dishonored their legacy and their sacrifices. On this Mother's Day, when so many people are hurting, let us refocus on the urgency. This is not left or right. This is a moment where what will we stand for in America? Ultimately, this nation stands for fairness at the polls, representation. We're a representative government. And most importantly, making sure our democracy in its very most important act of voting is security.

[Kristen Welker]

But just very quickly, before I move to my last question, are you confident that Democrats can take back the House?

[Senator Cory Booker]

I am Democrat. Confident that the people of America can take back the House. There are so many dissatisfied Trumps.

[Kristen Welker]

Win the House.

[Senator Cory Booker]

Yes, absolutely. And it means appealing to all of America. I think there's 75, 80% of Americans that just don't agree with this president. Raising their prices, involving us in disastrous wars. This is a chance for America to reject a president that is making their lives more difficult and betraying the people. We need to take back the House and the Senate and begin to hold him accountable and begin to restore the pillars of our democracy.

[Kristen Welker]

Before I let you go, Senator, NBC News is reporting that former Vice President Kamala Harris has been telling donors she believes the Democratic National Committee should release its autopsy. Autopsy of her failed 2024 campaign. Something the DNC chair had initially promised to do. Seems to have walked that back. Do you think the DNC should release that autopsy?

[Senator Cory Booker]

Yeah, release the autopsy. But we're six months before an election. If there's not enough reason to vote. President stripping away our health care for millions of Americans, seeing rural hospitals close. If there's not enough reason to vote, your price is skyrocketing. Interest rates, rates up. If there's not enough reason to vote. Prioritizing ballrooms over people's childcare and health care. This is six months before an election. We need to be mobilizing and organizing in this election. Fine. DNC release it. They should do that. But the most important thing is for people to get out and vote in record numbers.

[Kristen Welker]

As you have heard, former Vice President Harris has said she's thinking about running again in 2028. Do you think that Vice President Harris is the strongest person to represent Democrats in 2028?

[Senator Cory Booker]

It was a disservice to Kamala Harris that we did not have a primary in the last election. I hope we have the most robust 28 primary there is with a lot of great leaders involved in that primary so that the Democratic Party can choose who's going to be their standard bearer.

[Kristen Welker]

Senator Cory Booker, thank you so much for being here. Weighing in on a lot of topics this morning. Really appreciate it.

[Senator Cory Booker]

Thank you very much.

[Kristen Welker]

When we come back, do Republicans now have the edge in the redistricting fund? The panel is next.

[VRBO Advertiser]

Whether it's a birthday trip, a family reunion, or just a fun getaway, booking a VRBO vacation rental means no worrying about surprises. VRBoCare and 24.7Life Support have your back if something's off. The Loved by Guest filter helps you find top rated homes. And verified reviews mean real feedback from real VRBO guests. So you know exactly what you're booking.

[Kristen Welker]

Honestly, I just booked my VRBO because there was a sweet wine fridge.

[VRBO Advertiser]

Hey, we all have our reason. Don't walk into a surprise if you know you VRBO terms apply. See vrbo.com trust for details.

[Love's Rewards Advertiser]

Out on the road, it's nice to have a partner who can help you make the most of your journey. A partner like the Love's Rewards app. With Love's Rewards along for the ride, you earn points on food, fuel, drinks and more every time you scan. Then you can spend those points at Love's just like cash, so every stop is even more rewarding. Download the app today and watch the points roll in mile after mile. Love's Rewards save and earn at every turn. Terms apply. See website for details.

[Hilton Advertiser]

The GLP1 pill you've been waiting for is now on ROE. Yep, it's finally here with the same clinically proven ingredient now in a pill and now on Roe. It's the first FDA approved GLP1 pill for weight loss at the lowest price available. That's one daily GLP1 pill. For big results now on Roe go to Roe Co. Listen to see if you qualify Rx only go to Roe Co Safety for serious side effects and boxed warning associated with GLP1s.

[Kristen Welker]

Welcome back. The panel is here. Jonathan Martin, senior political columnist and politics bureau chief for Politico, New York Times White House correspondent Tyler Pager, Republican strategist Matt Gorman and Ashley Etienne, former communications director for Vice President Harris and Speaker Pelosi. And our newest Meet the Press contributor, Ashley. Congratulations. Welcome to all of you. J Mart, I have to start with you. We have to talk about redistricting. You heard my conversation with Senator Booker, who has the edge right now heading into the midterms.

[Jonathan Martin]

Well, on the topic of reapportionment, clearly it's the GOP on the broader question of who is, I think, better for this fall in terms of the political environment, Democrats still have an advantage. I think you have an environment right now in which a sitting president is in the 30s in terms of his approval rating. That bodes well for the party out of power. That said, I think this climb got a little steeper this past week for the Democratic Party because of the combination of what happened in Virginia and obviously the Supreme Court ruling on the vra. It's going to be harder for them to get back the majority. I still think the odds are that it happens. But make no mistake, this was the best week Donald Trump has had in months and I think it's now going to be More of a challenge for Democrats this fall. I just think that the environment is unlikely to get better for the GOP this fall. Unless gas prices come down significantly by Labor Day. It's hard to see how Democrats wouldn't still take back the House and still have a chance to take back the Senate.

[Kristen Welker]

Tyler, given those headwinds, given what J Mart lays out, what are your sources inside the White House telling you about how they feel about this moment?

[Jonathan Martin]

They feel vindicated and validated in a strategy that drew a lot of criticism from Republicans around the country. This was an ambitious gambit led by Donald Trump and his top advisers to redraw the maps nationwide. And there was a lot of Sunday morning quarterbacking after Democrats won that race referendum in Virginia. Republicans inside the White House, Donald Trump's top aides, top aides and allies, were confident in their strategy that this was going to give them a fighting chance to recapture or to to maintain the majority in the House. I think they still recognize the political realities that Jamar just laid out, just how difficult this environment is, but they feel a lot more confident in this strategy. After the latest developments.

[Kristen Welker]

Not take us inside your conversations in Republican circles, what are folks saying about the prospects of holding on to the House, the Senate, in the wake of this week, which was by all accounts a very strong week legally for the gop?

[Matt Gorman]

Yeah. The words I keep hearing are measured optimism. Exactly right. This is the best week President Trump in our party's had, I think probably all year. Indiana, Virginia, the jobs numbers, even the NRCC had some pretty good battleground polling coming out. I mean, look, I'm not naive. History is not on our side on this. Gas prices need to come way down. President's job approval needs to go up. That's going to take real work. I think also Virginia changed the psychology around redistricting a little bit. You know, the conduct of Louise Lucas and Democrats breaking their own constitution. It was the release valve in many respects. So expect in the weeks ahead, Southern legislatures may have gone one or two or waited till 2028 to change their districts. They're all systems go, no, all gas, no break for this year.

[Kristen Welker]

Ashley, what strategy should Democrats employ? You heard the language from Hakeem Jeffries accusing the Supreme Court of trying to rig the election. Really strong language there. Is that the right tactic? Do you think Democrats can still win?

[Ashley Etienne]

I absolutely think that's the right tactic. And I think Democrats feel very optimistic about not measured, overwhelmingly optimistic about the chances crisis come November. And that's because you cannot gerrymander out the reality of what's happening on the ground in the American people's lives. You've got skyrocketing gas prices. You've got the president who's underwater on everything from the war in Iran to the economy. So Democrats are going to continue to weaponize and capitalize on that. You know. And so if we say that the Republican Party had an incredible week, the biggest lose over the last two weeks has been American democracy. We've seen an undermining of the Voting Rights act and a systematic attempt, as the senator said, on the part of this administration to undermine the economic and political power of black Americans. They're not going to stand by and take that. I'm hearing now that there's going to be protests all over the country starting in Selma, Alabama next weekend on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. And they're going to continue to make this point that not only do we need a voter, high voter turnout, but it's going to be necessary if we want, want to reverse these maps at some point.

[Kristen Welker]

Ashley, I'm going to stick on you because I want to ask you about this big debate roiling inside the Democratic Party. Should the DNC release its autopsy report? You just heard Senator Cory Booker say yes, Chair Kevin Martin was asked about this this week. Here's what he had to say. I'm going to get your reaction on the other side.

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

Why not release the full report? What's in the report that you wouldn't want? Well, first off, the publicize.

[Kristen Welker]

Yeah, there's no smoking gun in the report. And I know that's, that's what everyone's

[Jonathan Martin]

so eager to learn, the smoking gun.

[Love's Rewards Advertiser]

Guess what, John?

[Energy Secretary Chris Wright]

But if there's no smoking gun, why

[Senator Cory Booker]

wouldn't you just release it then?

[Kristen Welker]

Because we want to keep the focus on the lessons. No smoking gun, but we want to keep the focus on the lessons. A really extraordinary exchange there, Ashley. Do you think Ken Martin and the DNC will be pressured into releasing this report?

[Ashley Etienne]

Absolutely. I said on the show about a month ago that the DNC should release the autopsy. The vice president, Vice President Harris has amplified that call. Here's what I'm being told, Kristen. I'm being told that the Democratic Party is going to release the autopsy in a matter of weeks. And it's going to include four things. It's going to include one, an assessment of the organizing infrastructure of the party, an assessment of messaging and media strategy as well as fundraising and how and where the money was spent. And that's going to be the most explosive part because there are speculations that decisions were made by campaign leadership to line their pockets rather than actually advance a strategy to win the election. That is really the question that's on the table here that I think is causing a lot of people to want to discard and brush this under the rug. And I'm also hearing that Ken Martin is suffering a lot of pressure. He wants transparency, but there's pressure from within the party, the DNC and campaign leadership to bury this report.

[Kristen Welker]

J Mart, weigh in on that. That would be explosive.

[Jonathan Martin]

There's no reason to keep hiding this thing because the stories are going to keep coming out, speculating what's in there. Memorial Day weekend can come on Friday afternoon. Man, you can do this.

[Kristen Welker]

It's prime time, baby.

[Matt Gorman]

Let's get it out.

[Jonathan Martin]

It's a. It's an easy call. You're on the verge of having a fantastic cycle. And by the way, I've covered past midterms in which there was unhappiness with party chairs. Howard Dean in 2006, Michael Steele in 2010, and guess what? It didn't matter because the political environment matters a lot more than who the DNC or the RNC chair is. Put the thing out, talk about what happened in 24, and then move on to 2026. I don't know for the life of me why they're keeping this debate going because it's only going to cause more and more stories. So the moment here, Tyler.

Yeah, I mean, I think there is just now become this cycle of are they going to do it or are they not going to do it? And it's just a way for Democrats to express their anxiety about the political moment and the opportunity that they see ahead. And there's not a whole lot of upside to continuing this cycle. And so as J Mart said, the pressure valve is Cory Booker is calling, Kamala Harris is calling. There's very few Democrats saying, don't release this. And so at a certain point, Democrats.

Is that a thing?

[Ashley Etienne]

They're not saying it publicly, but they're definitely saying it behind the scenes because there's a lot of people who are going to be implicated in what actually happened.

[Kristen Welker]

Matt, let me just get you weigh in on the buzz within the Republican Party, which is will it be Rubio or J.D. vance?

[Jonathan Martin]

Here we go.

[Matt Gorman]

There are some. There are some structural differences people haven't pointed out yet. Two people can't be affected by the Hatch Act. One of them can't run. The other is JD Van so JD can fly around campaign, raise money and stay vp Rubio would have to resign and all of that stuff be paid for by hard campaign dollars, dollars that would be disclosed within 100 days to who? The White House political operation and the sitting vice president. So everybody should keep that in mind as well. We should talk about this drama which I think is large part manufactured.

[Jonathan Martin]

Matt knows who the stronger nominee would be for his party in 2020, but he won't say it on the air. Come on, Boardman.

[Matt Gorman]

The sitting vice president always has an advantage.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, look, we are going to continue to track all of this very carefully. What a great Mother's Day conversation. Thanks, everyone. Thank you. And still ahead, our Common Ground conversation on maternal health with Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Democratic Governor West Moore. Stay with us. Welcome back. This week, President Trump travels to China for a high stakes meeting with President Xi Jinping. While the war in Iran remains unresolved in the Middle east, my colleague and anchor of NBC Nightly News, Tom Yamas will be heading to China to cover the president's trip. Tom, what exactly will you be watching for on this historic trip?

[Tom Yamas]

So many things, Christine. And we're so excited about this assignment because the stakes could not be higher. You have two super global powers racing for dominance across this planet and there are so many issues, namely the war with Iran and China's vested interest there. The AI race, the race for chips, along with the military buildup and what exactly China wants and what they're doing. These two leaders will come together in Beijing. We will be right there taking our viewers every step of the way, talking about the most important issues facing Americans at home, but also people all across the world. Because this meeting and what is decided here could affect not only this term for the president but also his legacy, legacy as an American president. So we're going to be watching all of that. And then along the way, we will take our viewers to really give them a slice of life of what China is like right now, the technology there, the way they are surveilled by their own government. What is happening with AI, how it's changing everything in their life and how in some ways they are maybe more advanced than we may think back here in the United States. And of course, the big issue of Taiwan there. The US has some treaties and some big promises with Taiwan. What does that mean? And what will President Trump have to do if he wants to negotiate with Xi Jinping? All of these things will come together hopefully in that week. And we're going to be there for the entire week. Nightly News and Top Story live from Beijing. We're so excited, Tom.

[Kristen Welker]

Just extraordinary. We will be watching all of your coverage. We really appreciate your joining us. And you can watch NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas live from Beijing this week. And when we come back, this Mother's Day, finding common ground on maternal health. Health. That conversation is next. Welcome back. This Mother's Day, a common ground conversation on the maternal health crisis in America with two governors of different parties, Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas and Democrat Wes Moore of Maryland, along with philanthropist Olivia Walton, founder of Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America. Olivia, I want to start with you because you lead organizations that focus on the health of mothers and children. So I want you to really set the stage for us. Some of the statistics are staggering. In the United States, the reported maternal death rate has doubled in just the last 20 years. The CDC says 80% of these deaths are preventable. What more can be done to prevent these deaths? How do we as a society come together to achieve that?

[Olivia Walton]

It is shocking, but the good news is we really do know how to fix it. As you said, the CDC consistently finds that over 80% of these deaths could have been prevented if these mothers could have gotten care. So what we're launching is Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America. We are a nonpartisan national campaign uniting a broad coalition of business leaders of faith, leaders of employers, of policymakers and health care providers with one clear goal, which is to cut the US Maternal mortality rate in half in five years. It sounds audacious, but I'm confident, in large part thanks to the incredible leadership here at this table, that we really can get this done.

[Kristen Welker]

Governor Moore and Governor Sanders, I want to bring you both in. You've both worked on this issue. You've enhanced funding to maternal health, which has led to more access to doulas, healthcare, ultrasounds, for example. Governor Sanders, what is the hardest part about making progress in this area and what more needs to be done?

[Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders]

I think that one of the hardest parts for us is that Arkansas has consistently ranked at the bottom. And so bringing about the kind of change and awareness that is needed is a heavy lift. We started Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Arkansas, and we have put $45 million towards addressing maternal health in our state. We have about 35,000 pregnancies in Arkansas every year. 10,000 of those women are not seeing a doctor until after their first trimester, and over 1100 never see a doctor until they go into labor. We're already seeing the positive impact by raising that awareness and opening up a lot of access. We have 75 counties in Arkansas. Every single county has a Arkansas health unit. And we've started an ad campaign where all women can go and receive services there for free in order to help change the trajectory of our state.

[Kristen Welker]

Governor Moore, how do you see this issue and what do you see as the biggest challenges?

[Governor Wes Moore]

You know, I think I really want to both thank and congratulate the work that's happening. And also what it does is it highlights the reality that oftentimes these discrepancies, they are generational, they are concentrated, and oftentimes intentional. And so the way we have to address it has to be just as intentional in addressing it in the way that these problems have been created. And it has to be bipartisan and it has to be something that brings in other sectors. And in fact, we're just now announcing something called the Bridge Project, where it is something that's going to focus on providing cash assistance to mothers who are both prenatal and then postnatal mothers to be able to provide cash assistance for them, to be able to have additional measurements of support. It's going to happen for 150 families in the most areas of Maryland that you've had. Concentrated poverty being a long term challenge.

[Kristen Welker]

Yeah. And that takes me to the next section of this conversation. We have to talk about black maternal health, black women in the United States. Olivia, again, I mean, you talk about the statistics, they're three times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than white women. This impacts Republicans, it impacts Democrats, it impacts non voters, independents, everyone. What solutions do you think exist to address this crisis in black maternal health?

[Olivia Walton]

Well, a lot of it is about visibility. So first of all, awareness of the problem is lowest, where outcomes are the worst. So talking about it, having leaders of color actually going out there, leaders who have proximity to these issues, getting on board goes a long way.

[Kristen Welker]

Governor Moore, what are you doing to address this staggering surge in black maternal deaths due to pregnancy?

[Governor Wes Moore]

I mean, and then this is also, it's a very personal issue, you know, for us, where, you know, I watched my father die in front of me when I was three years old because he didn't get the health care that he needed. You know, we know that this is both about how are we, you know, really focusing on bias training, understanding that that when people are coming in with specific needs, that there is an implicit bias that oftentimes does happen. And so we need to make sure that our physicians and our nurses are trained up. But also what we've got to do is we've got to strengthen the pipeline to get more physicians and nurses of color who are actually in there to increase the probability that when a person comes in, they're going to have someone who's going to be treating them and supporting them, who looks like them, who represents them. And so we do think that type of training and those type of pipelines are crucial in this conversation about being able to deal with the black maternal health challenge that we have within this country.

[Kristen Welker]

Governor Sanders, how do you see it?

[Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders]

You know, I think one of the points Olivia made was the coverage of doulas and community workers and having somebody that helps support throughout the process. That's been one of the things that we opened up coverage for. But I think one of the biggest, big pieces that so often gets left out of the conversation, especially when it comes to government, is the faith community. And this is a place where there is an implied trust and there's a relationship that already exists.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, I do want to talk about the fact that for all of you, this is personal because as you've all alluded to, you are all parents. This is an issue you all care very deeply about. And I'm just curious how that experience of being parents has changed, has impacted how you see maternal health. Governor Sanders, why don't you start it off?

[Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders]

Certainly, being a mom, I think, influences everything I do. I firmly believe I'm a better governor because I'm a parent. Every decision I make, I know will have a direct impact on the life of my kids, as well as every kid growing up in my state. That's not something I take lightly, and I am living a lot of the decisions, as are you. I mean, we were talking just before our kids are the same age. So when we're, you know, working on getting phones out of the classrooms, we're fighting that at home, too. When we're working on, you know, trying to do certain things, we're living that in real time.

[Kristen Welker]

Governor Moore, how has being a dad impacted how you see this critical issue of maternal health?

[Governor Wes Moore]

Being a dad has impacted everything about my life. It's given a sense of perspective, but, you know, it's. Especially when it comes to maternal health. It's also reminding me of the importance of making sure that we have representative voices in there. You know, I, I think about it in context of, of my own mom, right. Where who's an immigrant, single mom who is an angel. There are also just certain nuances of being a man that she couldn't teach me because she didn't know it. Right. So I had to learn it from other people. I think the same thing with my daughter who I love with with all of my heart, my 14 year old daughter and there is nothing that I won't do for her. I also know that there's certain nuances of being a woman that I can't teach her. And that's part of the takeaway from the policy making conversation where there is so much that we can do. But if we're not making sure that impacted communities aren't just the subject of the conversation but are actively part of the conversation, we're going to miss things.

[Kristen Welker]

Olivia, I'm going to give you the final word. How has being a mom impacted and informed your passion for addressing this issue of maternal health?

[Olivia Walton]

So our kids are 8, 5 and 3. I'm thrilled to say we're sleeping through the night now. It's a little more fresh. And I have so much privilege, right? I am healthy. Thank goodness. I have resources. I have family. And it was still so hard. But just seeing how much help I needed when I had all that privilege was just a rude awakening in how hard this is for millions of Americans who we really count on to raise the next generation of Americans.

[Kristen Welker]

And our thanks to them for that incredible conversation. You can watch my full Common ground conversation with Governor Sanders, Governor Moore and Olivia [e-mail] that is all for today. Thank you so much for watching. Happy Mother's Day to my my mom, my mother in law and all the moms out there will be back next week because if it's Sunday, it's MEET the press. Want to make your home everyone's favorite summer destination? Shop Etsy for hosting essentials like outdoor furniture for your backyard guests. Celebrate summer.