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Meet the Press
May 24 — Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, plus Reshma Saujani
00:47:27
Kristen Welker has exclusive interviews with Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) as President Trump says a deal with Iran has been “largely negotiated,” with final terms still being worked out. Former Sec. Jeh Johnson, Andrea Mitchell, Marc Short and Amy Walter join the roundtable. Girls who Code Founder Reshma Saujani joins for a Meet the Moment conversation.
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- [00:01]
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Congressman Thomas Massie
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- [00:28]
Congressman Thomas Massie
version of Ozempic hey there, I'm Kat. I'm a college athlete. I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis which caused back pain and stiffness. Every day with Cosentyx I'm able to stay active.
- [00:44]
Cosentyx Medical Disclaimer Voice
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 you're 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 planned to, or if IBD symptoms develop or worsen. Serious allergic reactions and severe eczema like skin reactions may occur. Learn more at 1-844-cosentix or cosentyx.com Move and feel better.
- [01:27]
Kristen Welker
Ask Aromat about Cosentyx this Sunday dealing with Iran President Trump says a deal with Iran has been largely negotiated, with final terms still being worked out. Is the war over? Plus primary payback President Trump tightens his grip on the Republican Party as his critics inside Congress are pushed out of the race and punished for breaking ranks.
- [01:55]
Congressman Thomas Massie
There is a yearning in this country for somebody who will vote for principles over party.
- [02:01]
Congressman Ro Khanna
We knocked out Massie.
- [02:03]
Kristen Welker
What does it mean for the future of the party and the midterm fight ahead? I'll talk exclusively to Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Funding backlash A growing revolt on Capitol Hill over President Trump's spending priorities, including a White House ballroom and a $1.8 billion so called weaponization fund.
- [02:26]
Cosentyx Commercial Voice
This is corruption that has never been more blatant.
- [02:28]
Congressman Thomas Massie
I mean this is just stupid on stilts.
- [02:30]
Kristen Welker
I'll talk to Democratic Con Ro Khanna of California and Gender Gap. Our Meet the Moment conversation with Reshma Sujani, the founder of Girls who Code and CEO of Moms first on the fight to empower women and girls.
- [02:48]
Reshma Sujani
American motherhood is broken by design. It's a feature, not a bug.
- [02:52]
Kristen Welker
Joining me for insight and analysis are NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell, Amy Walter and editor in chief of the Cook Political Report, former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Mark Short, former director of legislative affairs for President Trump. Welcome to Sunday. It's Meet the Press
- [03:15]
Congressman Thomas Massie
from NBC News
- [03:16]
Kristen Welker
in Washington, the longest running show in television history. This is MEET the PRESS with Kristen Welker. Good Sunday morning. President Trump is facing a number of pressure points this morning on the world stage and at home, including trying to find a way to end the conflict with Iran as his director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard resigned Friday, the fourth cabinet secretary to leave her post in less than three months. Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, fallout is growing over the president's so called anti weaponization fund with Republicans canceling votes on DHS funding and leaving Washington early. Plan launched through the Justice Department would open nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer money to claims of government weaponization, including from some January 6th defendants who were pardoned by the president.
- [04:13]
Congressman Thomas Massie
Under what circumstances would it ever make sense to provide restitution for people who were either pled guilty or were found guilty in a court of law? These people don't deserve restitution. Many of them deserve to be in prison. I think that there are and will
- [04:28]
Cosentyx Medical Disclaimer Voice
be continue to be a lot of
- [04:30]
Congressman Thomas Massie
question around that that the administration is going to have to answer.
- [04:35]
Congressman Ro Khanna
I got to tell you, the Republican senators were pissed. People were the entire meeting, they were
- [04:42]
Congressman Thomas Massie
screaming at the acting attorney general and
- [04:44]
Congressman Ro Khanna
he was trying to lay out the legal basis.
- [04:46]
Kristen Welker
The president reacting to senators who pushed back on his plans.
- [04:51]
Jeh Johnson
But are you losing control of the Senate, sir?
- [04:55]
Kristen Welker
Are you losing control of the Senate?
- [04:56]
Congressman Thomas Massie
Senate REPUBLICAN I don't know.
- [04:58]
Congressman Ro Khanna
I really don't know.
- [05:00]
Kristen Welker
The tensions on Capitol Hill building among Senate Republicans after the president's decision to endorse Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over longtime Senator John Cornyn in the Republican Senate runoff in Texas. Still, Mr. Trump feels emboldened politically tightening his grip on the party and celebrating the downfall of one of his Republican targets, Congressman Thomas Massie, who he saw as disloyal for breaking ranks over the Epstein. Massie lost his primary race to a Trump backed opponent Tuesday night. The president taking a victory lap on Friday.
- [05:36]
Congressman Ro Khanna
I had a good night the other night. Right. We knocked out a bad senator from Louisiana. We knocked out Massie, a horrible, one of the worst Republican congressmen out there. We knocked out somebody in Georgia, Rathenspot Burger. We knocked him out. We knocked out everybody.
- [05:59]
Kristen Welker
And joining me now is Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Congressman Massie, welcome back to MEET THE press.
- [06:08]
Congressman Thomas Massie
Thanks, Kristen.
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Kristen Welker
Thank you so much for being here. I do want to get to your race in just a moment, but I have to start with that developing news on Iran. President Trump posting on Saturday that an agreement with Iran has, quote, unquote, largely been negotiated. It's unclear what exactly has been agreed to, whether any deal would directly address the issue of the nuclear program, which of course is at the center of the war with Iran. So far, no final deal has been announced. But Congressman, would you support a short term deal with Iran?
- [06:46]
Congressman Thomas Massie
Well, I was the author of the first war powers resolution to get us out of Iran. My constituents are hurting. Gases almost $5 a gallon. Diesel's almost $6 a gallon. And the farmers here in Kentucky can't afford the fertilizer to put on their field. So, heck, yes, I would support it. We don't know what the terms of it are, but if Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz are crashing out last night, I'd say it's probably a pretty good deal.
- [07:11]
Kristen Welker
All right. Well, let's turn to the big news, the reason why you're here. You did lose your bid for reelection this past Tuesday after serving seven terms in Congress. Why do you think you lost this race, Congressman?
- [07:29]
Congressman Thomas Massie
Well, listen, since the day I got to Washington, D.C. i've been doing this job like I thought people wanted you to do it. I read the bills. I didn't give my voting card to the speaker. I've never given it to a president. I don't even give my voting card to the Freedom Caucus. I vote for people over party. And you know, that means 10% of the time I vote against the party. I've exposed a lot of things in Washington, D.C. the cronyism, I would say, you know, and also bankrupting our country, whether it's Republicans or Democrats. I point out how they're bankrupting our country and how these are all fake fights. They love to divide us. I think the biggest crime I committed against the Swamp Kristen was showing the American people that somebody on the right could join somebody on the left and get something done, which is releasing the Epstein files that everybody knew needed to be done. That's probably the Only bill that's passed Washington D.C. in the last 10 years that lobbyists haven't written. It was written by me and Ro Khanna and we used the pressure of the American people to cross the aisle and get things done. That's when they decided I had to be taken out, that I was becoming effective. So they wanted to eliminate me. And by the way, they couldn't buy my vote in 14 years, so they bought this seat. This was the most expensive race in congressional primary history. And at the end of this race, we were spending more per day. My side and the opposing side, we're spending more per day than most entire congressional races are spent for the entire cycle.
- [09:03]
Congressman Ro Khanna
Wow.
- [09:03]
Kristen Welker
It's just extraordinary. To put it into that context, you reference the Epstein files, the fact that you and Congressman o', Connor, who I'll be speaking to next, pushed to have those files released. You also broke with President Trump on other key issues, voting against the so called big beautiful bill. You're opposed to the Iran war, as you just stated. Congressman Massie, was it all worth,
- [09:30]
Congressman Thomas Massie
Was absolutely worth it for me. Now I don't think it's going to be worth it for the party. Look, the left, some people on the left have Trump Derangement Syndrome. They call it tds. But there's a growing number of people on the right who have a form of TDS called Trump Disappointment Syndrome. And I think what's going to happen to the party this fall is they've disenfranchised a large portion of that constituency that Trump assembled to get in the White House. In the Senate majority and in the House majority, they've alienated Maha by kowtowing to the pesticide manufacturers and the pharmaceutical manufacturers. They've alienated the fiscal hawks by running Doge out of town. They've alienated the people who are, who don't want to fight another war for other countries. And so I'm worried that in November this is going to cost the party a lot. But for me, it was completely worth it. And I've got seven more months to keep going against the grain, which means voting for principal and for people over party.
- [10:29]
Kristen Welker
Let me ask you, big picture, because you have said that you vote with Republicans more than 90% of the time. You split when you think it better serves your constituents. One of your constituents told a local reporter this, quote, I just got to the point where I couldn't support him anymore. I saw Massie as almost what they would popularly call a rhino Republican in name only. What do you say to that voter and and others of your constituents who might agree with him?
- [11:01]
Congressman Thomas Massie
Well, they spent at least 20 million, maybe 25 million against me. And what they did is they expanded the pool of voters, and there were a lot of misinformed, uninformed voters. In fact, my daughter, who lives outside of my congressional district, she heard somebody in the voting booth next to her trying to find my opponent's name on the ballot because he didn't even know I wasn't his congressman. That's how much they've bamboozled the people here in Kentucky. They used artificial intelligence to create a video, lifelike video, that showed me checking into a hotel room with AOC and Ilhan Omar and holding hands with them. It was actually very effective on the boomers. But here's the thing, Kristen, that's only going to work for a little bit longer. The boomers are going to, you know, leave this country to the Gen X and the Gen Z and the Gen Y and the millennials. And those folks are the ones that I won. Overwhelming. That makes me really hopeful for this country. They don't get fooled by artificial intelligence. And they check the news. They get news sources, like from podcasts and other sources. So they won this race by fooling my voters and expanding the base of people who vote to the uninformed voters. But look, I got 45% of the vote in spite of this tremendous headwind. That means 45% of the party still believe in the ideals that I believe in and have espoused in Washington, D.C.
- [12:27]
Kristen Welker
let me ask you about something that you said in your speech on Tuesday night. You said, quote, if the legislative branch always votes with the president, we do have a king. Do you believe there is still room in the Republican Party for Republicans who vote independently?
- [12:48]
Congressman Thomas Massie
You know what, Even the Freedom Caucus has caved at this point. They used to. Basically, the Freedom Caucus was formed so that 30 or 40 Republicans would have safety numbers. They have no safety in numbers now. The principal ones are running for statewide office. They're getting out of Congress. I think you there is room, though. You just got to go up there and vote your conscience. And you know what? I've inspired a whole generation of state representatives and city councilmen who are running for office. They, they send me direct messages. They send me emails. They've been inspired. I do believe there's room in the party, maybe not in Washington right now, but the next wave that's coming up, they're going to vot for people over parties.
- [13:31]
Kristen Welker
Well, I want to ask you about some of the issues now, Congressman as you know, this week we did see Republicans in Congress actually reject some of President Trump's priorities, refusing to vote on funding for both his ballroom and that $1.8 billion so called anti weaponization fund. Some of the strongest opposition, quite frankly, that we have seen from members of Congress, Republicans to President Trump to date. Do you think that the party is beginning to break with President Trump?
- [14:02]
Congressman Thomas Massie
Well, listen, they're worried about their own political mortality. It's true, you can take out Republicans in primaries, but Republicans are going to be very vulnerable this fall. The ballroom, I mean, that is such an egregious waste of money. We were told that would be funded with private money initially. I like to joke that Miriam Adelson spent so much money in my race they have to ask for taxpayer money for the ballroom now. And I think it's a slap in the face of Americans. The President was bragging on the Roman architecture when in fact we're operating like a Roman empire. We're overextended overseas with our foreign aid, with our foreign bases. We're spending money that we don't have and the gasoline and rent and groceries are so high that people can't afford it. I do think it's dangerous to indulge in these things like a gold plated ballroom in Washington D.C. while Americans are suffering.
- [14:59]
Kristen Welker
Let me ask you a little bit more deeply about the anti weaponization fund. The president is asking for $1.8 billion to support people who he says have been unfairly treated under the previous administration. This would include January 6th rioters. Congressman, do you support taxpayer dollars going to those who attacked police at the Capitol and attacked the Capitol on January 6th?
- [15:25]
Congressman Thomas Massie
Well, if you're going to create a fund, it has to be voted on by Congress. The President can't do this by executive authority. Our founders would say, no, no, you can't do that. Listen, though, people have been harmed on the left and the right, their first Amendment, second Amendment, fourth Amendment, fifth Amendment rights have been violated. And I do think that they should have some recourse.
- [15:46]
Kristen Welker
But would you rule out giving money? Would you rule out giving money to those who attacked or assaulted police officers?
- [15:55]
Congressman Thomas Massie
The solution isn't to hand out money. The solution is to change the laws of this country where if you have been harmed, that you go before court and you hear both sides of this and you could adjudicate those things about whether the person deserves the money or not. But that's what's so hard, is it's so hard to go against the federal government, whether you're on the left or the right? We need to change the laws when they infringe on your First Amendment, for instance, or your freedom to travel or freedom not to be vaccinated. That you put in laws where there's liability for the people that force that, whether it's private or government.
- [16:29]
Kristen Welker
Congressman, we're almost out of time. Couple more here. I want to ask about the Epstein files. As you've noted, the speech and debate clause actually protects you from being prosecuted for whatever you say on the floor of the House. You have named names in the Epstein files in the past. Can we expect you to name more names in the coming weeks and months?
- [16:50]
Congressman Thomas Massie
Yes. Todd Blanche is violating the law. There's still millions of files they haven't released. We know from talking to the victims lawyers that their own 302forms haven't been released. We know the files have been over redacted. I have released at least three names of billionaires who are implicated in this. I don't think it's possible to get to convictions with Todd Blanche at the top and with the FBI Director, Cash Patel at the top, because they've effectively both per themselves by saying that there's nobody else in the files. Even Melania doesn't believe that the first lady knows that Jeffrey Epstein didn't act alone. And here's the great thing, Kristen. Whether I'm in Congress or not, the Epstein Files Transparency act is a law and it goes on for years. So if we can't get this Attorney General and this FBI director to do the right thing, the next ones who take those seats are obligated by law to release the files that these individuals are not releasing.
- [17:45]
Kristen Welker
Now, Congressman, I want to ask about your political future. Some of your supporters were chanting, president, President. As you delivered your speech on Tuesday night. Are you considering a run for President in 2028?
- [18:00]
Congressman Thomas Massie
I will not rule out anything. And right now, I'm not going to rule in anything. Look, I've spent the last five days on my farm with my grandkids and my cattle and my peach trees, and it's a pretty nice life. I don't know if I want to screw that up again. I've been in Congress 14 years fighting. Every hour that passes, I get decompressed a little bit more. It's like coming up from the bottom of the ocean. And I'll take some time and decide what's next. But I think I will stay engaged in some way or shape. Maybe it's from the outside I've been exposing what's going on in Washington, D.C. for years. And I'll keep doing it.
- [18:38]
Kristen Welker
Congressman, I hear you not ruling a potential run for president out. Would you run as a Republican?
- [18:46]
Congressman Thomas Massie
I won't rule anything out. I won't rule out a run for county commissioner. I used to be the county judge executive here. That was probably the best job I ever had in politics. I would encourage people watching this show to act locally and to run for local offices. We can make a difference. There's 3,000 counties in this country run for one of those offices. We got to change it at the grassroots first.
- [19:09]
Kristen Welker
All right, well, when you make your decision, hopefully you'll come back and share it here. Congressman Massie, thank you very much for joining us this morning. We really appreciate it.
- [19:19]
Congressman Thomas Massie
Thanks, Kristen.
- [19:20]
Kristen Welker
And when we come back, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna joins me next.
- [19:34]
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- [20:26]
Congressman Thomas Massie
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- [20:43]
Cosentyx Medical Disclaimer Voice
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 planned 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.
- [21:26]
Congressman Thomas Massie
Ask a rheumatologist about Cosentyx.
- [21:30]
Kristen Welker
Welcome back. And joining me now is Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California. Congressman Khanna, welcome back to MEET THE press.
- [21:39]
Congressman Ro Khanna
Thank you for having me on.
- [21:40]
Kristen Welker
Kristen, thank you for coming back. I do want to start off by talking about Iran. As I was just discussing with Congressman Massie, President Trump has said that they may be close to reaching a short term deal on Iran. Would you be supportive of a short term deal that doesn't directly address the nuclear program but allows for more negotiations?
- [22:06]
Congressman Ro Khanna
Kristen, on this Memorial Day, let me just begin by paying tribute to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice and gratitude to their families. The answer to your question is yes, I do believe we need a negotiated deal. Thomas Massie and I, as he mentioned, actually had the Iran War Powers act two months ago, we would have avoided this war. Food prices wouldn't have gone up, gas prices wouldn't have gone up, and we could have done this negotiation. But I've always said that I would support negotiation and it's time for this war to end.
- [22:37]
Kristen Welker
Well, let me ask you about the War Powers act because House Republican leaders abruptly canceled a vote to limit President Trump's war powers in Iran. It came just days after the Senate voted for the first time to advance a similar measure. Do you believe there are now enough votes to pass the War Powers Act?
- [22:58]
Congressman Ro Khanna
Christian?
- [22:59]
Congressman Thomas Massie
I do.
- [22:59]
Congressman Ro Khanna
It was a bit surreal last week. I mean, first they delayed the vote by 45 minutes to 60 minutes, and then they just pulled the vote. And the reason is that now, unlike when Thomas and I introduced the resolution, there are a lot of Republicans who believe the war should end. They've talked to farmers who say the price of nitrogen, ammonia, urea are through the roof because of the blockades and control of the Strait of Formosa. They know that the price of gas is up, the price of diesel is up, and they're hearing it from their constituents. So this is putting pressure on Trump to get a negotiation. And it's why Congress matters. Even when we don't get a vote through, we do put pressure on the president. Hopefully this war ends. And I've always said I would support a negotiated end to the war.
- [23:45]
Andrea Mitchell
All right.
- [23:45]
Kristen Welker
Well, let's talk about Congressman Massie. You've worked closely with him, including to push for the release of the act Epstein files. Congressman Khanna, what was your reaction to his defeat this week?
- [23:59]
Congressman Ro Khanna
Sadness, disappointment. Thomas is a real friend. He's a good man. And he was taken out for two reasons. One, he had the courage to go after some very powerful people in working with me to get the Epstein Transparency act passed. As he mentioned, that's historic bipartisan legislation that finally got justice for the survivors. And he had people spend millions of dollars and had the President of the United States after him. And second, he worked with me to stop this war in Iran. So for taking on the Epstein class and taking on war, he basically lost his seat. And I admire his courage in taking those positions.
- [24:35]
Kristen Welker
All right, well, let's talk about some other issues. President Trump, as I just discussed, was facing Republican pushback this week over what the president referred to as an anti weaponization fund to pay people who claim to have been unfairly targeted, targeted by the government. Here's how Vice President J.D. vance defended the $1.8 billion fund this week. Take a listen.
- [24:58]
Congressman Ro Khanna
Anybody can apply for it. Republicans can apply for it. Democrats can apply for it. As you know, the President United States has pardoned a number of Democrats who he felt were actually subject to this lawfare. I mean, if Hunter Biden wants to apply for this particular fund, he is. Welcome to.
- [25:14]
Kristen Welker
The vice president says this should be bipartisan. What is your reaction to what the vice President had to say?
- [25:22]
Congressman Ro Khanna
You know, I feel sorry for J.D. vance. I mean, they're trotting him out to defend policies he knows are defiant of common sense. They're trotting him out to defend the Epstein class when he actually was one of the advocates for releasing the files. They're trotting him out to defend this war in Iran when his whole career he was against these wars. And now they're trotting him out to defend Donald Trump stealing taxpayer dollars to give to his political allies. I mean, I'm sure if, if J.D. vance was asked in honesty, he'd say, why aren't we giving this as a check to people whose gas prices are going up? But for his own ambition, he has been so convoluted that he's basically become the spokesperson for very unpopular policies.
- [26:05]
Kristen Welker
Well, let me ask you about one of the big headlines for Democrats this week, of course, the DNC autopsy report. It was commissioned by the dnc, it was shelved, and then it was finally released amidst a lot of pressure and pushback we're going to talk about what was not in the report in just a moment. But first I want to talk about what was in the report. The author writes, quote, at times it seems Democrats are trying to win arguments while Republicans are focused on winning elections. Democrats operate in an ecosystem defined by reason, even in cycles when the electorate is defined by rage. Do you believe Democrats need to completely overhaul how they think about running and winning elections? Congressman,
- [26:52]
Congressman Ro Khanna
I don't think we need to give up reason. I think more Americans probably want reasoned debate in this country. But we do need to recognize that the status quo has failed, that this is a system that has created massive inequality, that the economy is lopsided and unfair and it's not working for many working class and middle class Americans. And too often we've read run status quo establishment candidates who have been unwilling to call out an economic and political system that has failed.
- [27:21]
Kristen Welker
Well, the report also found, quote, the White House did not effectively support Vice President Harris over three and a half years to improve her standing before the candidate switch. You served, of course, on The Biden Harris 2024 National Advisory Board. Does that ring true to you?
- [27:41]
Congressman Ro Khanna
Well, look, I have great admiration for Vice President Harris. I campaigned my heart out for her. I do believe that in retrospect, had she been in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio talking about the economy and been the lead for the President's economic policies, the Inflation Reduction act, the American Rescue Plan, the CHIPS act, perhaps we would have done better. But we need to look forward now. And looking forward, we need to have an economic message that actually is talking to the working class folks who have been shafted and that's taking on a system that has been rigged.
- [28:14]
Kristen Welker
Congressman, as you know, a number of Democrats are now calling on DNC Chair Ken Martin to resign. Do you agree that he should resign, that it's time for new leadership for the dnc?
- [28:28]
Congressman Ro Khanna
No. Ken Martin is a Paul well Stone Democrat. There are two things he's done that I actually agree with. One, he said no super PACs in Democratic primaries. We shouldn't have what happened to Thomas Massie happening in our primaries where we have all this money coming in in Democratic fights. And two, Ken has said we shouldn't have superdelegates picking our nominee. So for those two reasons, I agree with him. Now, could he have handled this autopsy better? Absolutely. He has said he should have. Should he be working more with state parties to make sure they're funded into 26 and 28? Absolutely. But I don't believe he should resign.
- [29:03]
Kristen Welker
All right, let me ask you finally about the Supreme Court after its ruling limiting voting rights. You called for term limits for justices and for expanding the court from nine to 13 seats once Democrats regain full power of the government. But you have seen this redistricting back and forth play out. If Democrats expand the court, if they were to have control of both chambers, what's to stop Republicans from doing it once the tables turn again?
- [29:35]
Congressman Ro Khanna
Kristen, first we need to talk more about this Supreme Court decision. This is a Dred Scott court. They have engaged in the fastest rollback of black political rights since Rutherford Hayes ended reconstruction in 1877. 1/3, 1/3 of African Americans in the Congress seats are being threatened. They're doing it to Jim Clyburn in South Carolina, to Bennie Thompson in Mississippi and across Alabama and the South. And we are not speaking up loudly enough, strongly enough against a court that is really rolling back civil rights. I do believe if you combine term limits on the court and the expansion of the court where every president gets two appointees, you would depoliticize this. You would stand up for the Voting Rights act and you would stand up for basic American democracy. But this is an assault on John Lewis, Dr. King and the civil rights legacy. And the Democratic Party needs to run against this court and call this court out.
- [30:31]
Kristen Welker
All right. Congressman Ro Khanna, thank you as always for being here. We really appreciate it.
- [30:37]
Congressman Ro Khanna
Thank you, Kristen.
- [30:38]
Kristen Welker
And still ahead, growing GOP pushback on President Trump's agenda. The panel is coming up.
- [30:50]
Congressman Thomas Massie
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- [31:14]
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Congressman Thomas Massie
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Congressman Thomas Massie
Ask a rheumatologist about Cosentyx.
- [32:19]
Jeh Johnson
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- [32:50]
Kristen Welker
Welcome back. The panel is here, NBC News chief foreign affairs and chief Washington correspondent Andrea Mitchell Amy Walter, editor in chief of the Cook Political Report Jeh Johnson, secretary of Homeland Security under President Obama and Mark Short, former Trump director of legislative affairs. Thanks to all of you for being here today. Andrea, I have to start with you on Iran. President Trump posting on Saturday that it seemed like a deal was closed. We haven't heard anything, any update really since then. What are you hearing? Could there actually be a deal?
- [33:24]
Andrea Mitchell
There could be a deal, but it's not really a deal. It's a memorandum of understanding and it leaves so much still to be negotiated. So first of all, on the nuclear issue, which is so critical, what are they going to do about getting all of that enriched uranium out? These are volatile canisters of radioactive gas. Will they give up the stockpile? Will they give it up and let it be taken out? Will they agree to no further enrichment and for how long? I mean, the nuclear peace is so important. The president has made such a big deal out of the Strait of Hormuz that's critical to get that open. So are they going to charge fees for tankers that go through? And how do fees differ from tolls, which the president has ruled out? They certainly are not getting back to what existed before the war started. And when you talk about the Iranian assets being unfrozen, how does that differ from what the president has been so critical of the Obama administration for doing? You know, that's taking the maximum. I think that they underestimated the degree of pain that Iran was willing to withstand. They certainly underestimated in listening to Israel about going into this war, what the regime would look like at this stage because it's much more radical. As each layer got eliminated by assassination. You have worse people to deal with. Arguably inside Iran they got rid of the political leadership and what do they really have to show for it? And it's going to take months and months to get back to the prices. It is not. The prices will come down with a ceasefire. Plus, Israel is furious about this. Will they really stop attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon and go along with this ceasefire? That remains to be seen.
- [35:08]
Kristen Welker
It sure does, Andrea. And Israel's not the only one who's furious, Mark. There are a number of Republicans, hawks within the Republican Party who say they should short term deal would be disastrous for all the reasons Andrea is laying out. Let me read you one who posted online. This coming from Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who posted the rumored 60 day ceasefire with the belief that Iran will ever engage in good faith would be a disaster. Everything accomplished by Operation Epic Fury would be for naught. President has a lot of voices in his ears right now, Mark. Who's he listening to?
- [35:44]
Cosentyx Commercial Voice
Well, he listens to a lot of different voices. That's part of the challenge. But you know, Kristen, on this Memorial Day weekend when we honor the fallen, there's 241 servicemen killed by the Iranians, including 220 Marines in Beirut. There are hundreds more that were killed by and manufactured car bombs and roadside bombs in the war in Iraq that were manufactured in Iran. If we in this Memorial Day weekend are capitulating to Iran and basically sending multiple multiples of what Obama sent $1.7 billion in cash. The frozen assets are significantly greater than that for a vague promise that they'll one day you know, allow investigators to look at the uranium or get it out. The whole purpose, the president said many times, was to ensure they would never have that uranium capacity, I think there'll be a lot of Republicans who will be quite disappointed and quite unhappy. But there will also be a lot of Iranians, a lot of Iranians who have been looking for America to stand with them. And if we flee, then they're going to be in a position where they're going to be more slaughtered in Iran. And a lot of the people that we have relations with in the Middle east that have stood with us in recent years I think will be concerned because they'll think Iran is coming after them if America leaves.
- [36:55]
Kristen Welker
Secretary Johnson, what about that? How would this play on the world stage?
- [37:00]
Jeh Johnson
I regret to Say that. I think that whatever moral authority we had as leader of the free world may be lost and no deal, I think, can restore that. Let's not forget that on the first day of this war, one of our missiles hit a school, killed over 100 children. Our President threatened genocide on Easter Sunday, provoking the Pope. Mark, I'm going to disagree a little bit. I fear we've turned 93 million Iranians against us, the so called Great Satan. Gas prices globally are going up, not just here in the United States. And we're leading, I regret to say, by the example of our power, not the power of our example anymore.
- [37:47]
Kristen Welker
Amy, Talk about the politics of a potential deal. Here we have gas prices surging and I know you've been watching every single poll number they've been dropping, including on his handling, handling of the economy.
- [37:59]
Amy Walter
The number one, especially on the issue of inflation. Before, right before the attacks in Iran, the president's opinions of the president on how he was handling inflation were already Underwater by about 25 points. Today, it's close to 50 points underwater on his handling of inflation. So if you're a Republican up in 2026, you definitely are seeing Iran as an anvil on your chances in the midterm. The possibility of gas being more than $5 a gallon going into the election was a real stressor, potentially. This takes that off the table. And I think it was beyond just the numbers writ large. Remember, this was an unpopular war among the broad public, but it wasn't that popular among Republicans. Even as voters were sticking with the president. His, his strength with his base is there on the issue. But the enthusiasm for showing up to vote was dampened a lot by this war.
- [39:01]
Andrea Mitchell
Just very briefly, the Gulf leaders with whom the president spoke yesterday were, despite some of their internal rivalries, which we know about, they were united in saying get this over with. They are so worried because Iran has the capacity to retaliate against them. They did not want a resumption of bombing.
- [39:17]
Kristen Welker
Well, so striking that they want this deal. And as you point out, Andrea, Israel does not staying on this idea of divisions within the Republican Party. Republican senators also growing very frustrated with President Trump over this weaponization fund. In fact, Senator Ted Cruz weighed in on this. Let's take a listen to a little bit of what he had to say. I'll get your reaction on the other side.
- [39:39]
Congressman Ro Khanna
And I don't know exactly what will happen, but we will see the administration announcing at a minimum a modification of this, because if they don't, they've got a full on revolt in the Senate,
- [39:52]
Kristen Welker
Mark, this has been remarkable because we did see a break. Is it being overstated? How do you see this rift between President Trump and Republicans on the Hill right now on this issue?
- [40:02]
Cosentyx Commercial Voice
I have no doubt that there are people that have politically prosecuted Kristen on both sides. But we've talked about this number about 1.8 or more than 1.7. It's actually one point. Some idiot thought it'd be clever to say, well, harken back to the Nation's founding of 250 years ago. And to think that we're comparing people who assaulted police in the Capitol who were trying to ensure the certification of election and democracy to those who lost their lives, their treasures, their sacred honor in forging a country out of a wilderness 250 years ago against a monarchy to ensure the greatest democracy ever could live. This is so idiotic and so stupid that of course there's going to be a lot of Republicans upset about this. And what you've already seen is what should be a slam dunk for us in passing a bill to fund ICE and cbp. It puts us in comparison to Democrats who are weak on border security has already been derailed because of this. And there'll be more things derailed if they continue to pursue this stupid idea.
- [40:58]
Kristen Welker
Well, Jay, some lawmakers are saying, Republicans are saying, is this even legal? That's one of the critiques.
- [41:05]
Jeh Johnson
I'd say it's barely legal. The way it's structured. It draws upon the judgment fund, which is managed by the Department of Treasury. It's a standing fund, multi year money. You can fund things that are not lawsuits out of it under the proper circumstances. But Congress has the power of the purse. Congress with this one paragraph bill could easily undo it. But it's also rich in irony. The prime applicants for this would be Jim Comey, Tish James and the congressional six who the Trump Justice Department tried to prosecute and couldn't.
- [41:39]
Kristen Welker
Amy, one of the things that makes this rift so interesting, we really saw it start earlier in the week when President Trump decided to endorse Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas over Senator John Cornyn. They have a runoff on Tuesday. Republicans saying this could make Texas a toss up effectively.
- [41:57]
Amy Walter
We've everything that we're talking about right now, whether it's the fund or whether it is the ballroom which you highlighted earlier, or this decision. These are roadblocks that the president is putting in the way of Republicans. These are own goals. This did not have to be this way. And I think the biggest question in Texas, because there's no doubt Republicans and Democrats agree Ken Paxton is the weaker candidate. The big question is, will the president put his money where his mouth is? His super PAC has more than $300 million that right now is sitting there waiting to be spent. Texas sucks up money like nowhere else. And Ken Paxton is not a strong fundraiser. He's going to need a lot of outside help.
- [42:45]
Kristen Welker
All right, guys, great conversation. Thank you so very much. Ahead, our MEET the MOMENT conversation with Reshma Sujani on the fight to empower women and girls. Stay with us. Welcome back. Former Congressman Barney Frank died this week. During his more than three decades in Congress, Frank became one of the most influential and outspoken voices on Capitol Hill. He was a trailblazer for gay rights, becoming the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay. And he later helped lead the overhaul of Wall street regulations after the 2008 financial crisis. In 2015, Barney Frank joined MEET the PRESS to discuss his memoir and reflect on his years in public service.
- [43:36]
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- [44:12]
Kristen Welker
Congressman BARNEY Frank was 86 years old.
- [44:22]
Congressman Thomas Massie
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- [44:38]
Kristen Welker
Welcome back. Reshma Sujani has spent her career fighting for girls in the classroom and women in the workforce, founding nonprofits Girls who Code and Moms First. She was named one of Time's 2026 Women of the Year for her work on women's rights. And her upcoming documentary, no country for Mothers, advocates for paid leave and affordable child care. I sat down with Sujani for a Meet the Moment conversation about closing the gender gap in technology careers and why she's teaching girls to be brave, not perfect. When did you know that you wanted to really dedicate your life to fighting for women's rights?
- [45:20]
Reshma Sujani
Mm, probably from the time I was a little girl. You know, my parents came here as refugees. They were expelled From Uganda in 1973, 90 days to leave the country or they'd be shot on. And so I knew from the time I was a little girl that I wanted to give back, that I, you know, that this country had literally saved my parents life. And I loved it so much that I wanted to do something to make it good for everybody else. Girls who Code was really inspired by my father, you know, wanting to march into the middle class and saying, you can be a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer, because those were the jobs that gave you the opportunity to be able to do that.
- [45:58]
Kristen Welker
Well, let's talk more deeply about Girls who Code. You founded this nonprofit in 2011. You wanted to address, as you say, the gender gap in technology. Well, let's look at where it stands now. In 2026, women make up 35% of STEM employees in the U.S. women earn 26% of degrees in engineering, 23% in computer science. How is Girls who Code working to increase those numbers even more?
- [46:27]
Reshma Sujani
So when I started Girls who Code, there was, like, less than, you know, 1% of girls were interested in going into science, technology, engineering, math. And for me, it was not just about closing the gender gap for the sake of it. It was about giving girls an opportunity to get jobs into the future. We have taught 860,000 girls to code in the United States.
- [46:50]
Kristen Welker
We've reached millions across the world.
- [46:52]
Reshma Sujani
So these problems are solvable. Now the thing is, is we gotta protect the progress that we've made.
- [46:58]
Kristen Welker
How early should girls be starting? Is there too young of an age to get girls excited about coding?
- [47:06]
Reshma Sujani
It's so important to get them at the youngest of possible ages to tinker and to take things apart, to fail, to push themselves to not only, you know, move towards things that they think that they can ache, but to know what failure and risk taking feels like. We have to teach young women courage. And the thing about courage, it doesn't always feel good. It doesn't feel like you're Tom Cruise, you know what I mean? And you're getting flowers thrown at you. It feels like rejection. It feels hard. And that's what I love about STEM education, is that it's that annoying process of doing it over and over and over again until you get it right.
- [47:41]
Kristen Welker
Moms first, let's delve into that. That's your nonprofit that fights for paid leave and affordable childcare. The United States. And I think a lot of people would be surprised to know this is the only major industrialized country that does not guarantee paid leave. How is that possible? What are you doing to address that?
- [48:01]
Reshma Sujani
I Mean, it's unconscionable. You know, one out of four women go back to work two weeks after having a baby. We're also the wealthiest nation that puts the least amount of money into childcare. And mothers in America, quite frankly, have been getting conscious since the ink dried on the Constitution. And you know, what do I mean by that? Like, why does work end at 6 and school pickups at 3:30? You know, why do I pay more for my childcare than I pay for my mortgage? Why do one out of four women go back to work two weeks after having a baby? The reason why we don't have child care and paid leave is because we haven't built a mother's movement that's across all aisles, across every single divide, to say enough is enough and to demand it. And I think on childcare, we're really close.
- [48:45]
Kristen Welker
You do. You're optimistic.
- [48:47]
Reshma Sujani
I am optimistic because I've seen what's happened in Vermont, in New Mexico, I saw what we did with Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani. In New York, I was just speaking to, you know, Governor Moore. And we know that this has got to happen because child care is the linchpin of affordability. 55% of Americans are in debt because the cost of child families are drowning. And so that is the one thing that we can do as a country to reduce people's costs.
- [49:17]
Kristen Welker
You've said people are being priced out of parenthood because of the high costs of child care. What we're discussing is having a child now a financial decision as much as it is a personal decision about building one's family.
- [49:32]
Reshma Sujani
I mean, it's absolutely a financial decision. I mean, Look, I mean, 500,000 women left the workforce because they couldn't afford childcare. And I think young families see that, and they say we're pricing them out of parenthood. And that's happening also again. And we are the wealthiest nation that doesn't have paid leave and childcare. Think about that. We're spending billions for bombs and pennies for children and moms. And you know what? Parents see that and they're paying attention, and they're choosing not to have families.
- [50:01]
Kristen Welker
You talk about being a warrior, and you've spoken openly about how you struggled with fertility while you were building girls who code. How did you get through that period and what did you learn during that period?
- [50:16]
Reshma Sujani
You know, I wanted to be a mom more than anything, and it just wasn't easy for me. You know, I had more miscarriages than I could count. And, you know, I went through this kind of, I would say phase where I would get the bad news, you know, be in the doctor's office, not get the heartbeat. And I would just come on a TV show like this, stand in front of a group of children. Like, I just would perform. When I was trying to have my second, I just couldn't do it anymore. And I stopped and I asked for help, and I started, you know, sharing my story. But here's the thing. It's like, we make it so difficult for people who want to be parents in terms of the price of ivf, in terms of the ability to, like, live in a society in a country that will hold you. I'd rather tell someone I had cancer than just say I went through a miscarriage. Right. And then when you become a mother, we make it so damn hard.
- [51:13]
Kristen Welker
I want to look to the future a little bit and get you to talk about this idea that you have promoted. Brave, not perfect. What does that mean? What is that message that you are trying to send to little girls, women of all ages?
- [51:29]
Reshma Sujani
So the thing I learned in building girls who code was that, like, bravery is an anecdote to perfection. And the metaphor for bravery was coding. Like, so many girls came to our program, they had never coded before, and they're like, I can't do this. And then after a week, after two weeks, when they made the sprite dance and they built a website, they're like, I can do this. That is what we need right now. We need people to do brave things. Brave small things and brave big things.
- [51:54]
Kristen Welker
I learned my bravery muscle.
- [51:55]
Reshma Sujani
I ran for Congress. I've lost office twice. I'm like a serial failed politician. But that. That the fear of, like, going out there and losing and losing so spectacularly was such a gift because it didn't make. I'm, like, not afraid of anything anymore.
- [52:13]
Kristen Welker
And a note before we go this Memorial Day weekend, we want to extend a special thank you to those who have served and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. 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.
- [52:54]
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