May 3 — Acting AG Todd Blanche and Sen. Adam Schiff

Summary

Meet the Press – May 3, 2026

Host: Kristen Welker (NBC News)
Guests: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), analysis panel

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Episode Overview

This episode of Meet the Press centers on major flashpoints in U.S. law and politics: the ongoing war with Iran amid its legal and political controversy, the unprecedented indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, and the aftermath of a Supreme Court decision curtailing the Voting Rights Act. The discussion also tackles high gas prices, executive power, and redistricting battles likely to reshape the midterm elections. Key interviews with Acting AG Todd Blanche and Senator Adam Schiff provide direct insight from both the Trump administration and its critics.

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Main Topics and Key Discussion Points

1. The War with Iran: Legality, Politics, and National Impact

The 60-Day War Powers Clock and Ceasefire Loophole

• Kristen Welker opens with the 60+ day mark of the Iran conflict, highlighting skyrocketing gas prices and President Trump’s refusal to seek congressional authorization under the War Powers Act ([01:01], [03:46]).
• President Trump claims a ceasefire resets the War Powers clock, as there’s been "no exchange of fire" since April 7 ([03:46]).

Administration’s Justification

• Todd Blanche insists the U.S. is not "actively at war":

  “As we said to Congress last week, there has been nothing going on, no hostilities, no exchange of fire since. In almost a month... you have a ceasefire. And that's exactly what we have.” ([05:31])

• On avoiding Congressional approval:

  “We have kept Congress updated at step of the way, consistent with what other Presidents have done.” ([06:38])

• Legal constraints? Blanche asserts there are limits, but:

  “He's acting within his duty to the American people to keep us safe. He's not engaged in a popularity contest...” ([07:58])

War Powers Constitutionality Debate

• Blanche:

  “The Department of Justice advises... we are acting completely within the law with what we're doing.” ([08:26])

• President Trump:

  “They don't like the word war, and they call it a military operation because that way you don't have a war, you don't have legal problems.” ([06:23, 04:30])

Adam Schiff’s Critique

• Senator Schiff flatly rejects the administration’s legal rationale:

  “No, absolutely not. And it's important to recognize this war was unlawful and unconstitutional from the start... The Navy is still deployed. It is still blockading Iranian ports. There is no exception for the US Navy to the War Powers Act. So what Mr. Blanche said is absolutely wrong.” ([23:36])

• On prior precedent:

  “George W. Bush, of course, did both in Afghanistan and with the Iraq war.” ([25:22])

• Schiff admits Democratic failures to enforce the Act in the past but calls Trump’s case “the clearest violation” ever ([25:56]).

High Gas Prices and Political Fallout

• War-driven gas price hike is a key driver of public discontent ([01:01], [27:18]).
• Schiff:

  “…the best remedy to bring down gas prices is to bring this illegal war to an end… it would very quickly eat up any savings from suspending the gas tax.” ([27:18])

2. The James Comey “Seashells” Case – Prosecution or Political Retribution?

Details of the Indictment

• Comey indicted for an Instagram photo of arranged seashells ("86:47 in sea shore") alleged to be a coded threat. Indictment claims "a reasonable recipient" would find it a serious threat ([08:39], [09:11]).
• Blanche:

  “Rest assured that… the career FBI agents… Secret Service… didn't just look at the Instagram post and walk away… it's not just the Instagram post that leads somebody to get indicted.” ([09:11]) “This is about a body of evidence… over 11 months…” ([10:15])

Skepticism and Civil Liberties

• Welker presses Blanche on intent and overreach. Legal scholar Jonathan Turley calls the indictment “facially unconstitutional” without additional facts ([10:57]).
• Blanche reiterates:

  “If the only facts that existed was the posting of the Instagram, obviously that wouldn't have taken 11 months.” ([11:18])

Political Retribution Concerns

• Welker challenges the appearance of retribution given President Trump’s prior public call to prosecute Comey:

  “Why should the public believe… any case brought against the individuals listed there is an independent law enforcement decision and not retribution?” ([14:00])

• Blanche:

  “I don't operate based upon concern or fear. The American people will know exactly what we're doing and why we're doing it.” ([15:01])

Schiff’s Take

• Schiff derides the prosecution as thinly veiled revenge:

  “A skilled prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich… if anyone ever suggests bringing a case this weak, there’ll be a new name for it. They'll be called ‘Seashells cases.’… they're not focused on violent crime cases. …they're focused on James Comey and seashells. …the American public suffer.” ([29:31])

3. Voting Rights Act Ruling and Redistricting: The Next Electoral Battlefield

Supreme Court Decision

• SCOTUS strikes down a core provision of the Voting Rights Act, curtailing federal oversight of race-based districting ([18:19]).
• Blanche’s administration position:

  “There is no doubt that the Supreme Court got this decision, right… there is also no doubt that the existing system was not consistent with our Constitution.” ([18:41])

Public Opinion Gap

• Welker:

  “83% of black Americans and 61% of white Americans believe that racism is widespread. Does that challenge the idea that there is racial equality?” ([19:15])

• Blanche:

  “The Supreme Court doesn't make decisions based upon a Gallup poll… Keeping our elections fair… is what President Trump has been fighting for for 10 years…” ([19:33])

Schiff’s and Panel’s View

• Schiff: “The Supreme Court… is merely a partisan court… their agenda is so deeply unpopular, they feel they're going to lose their majority unless they can gerrymander the districts… I hope Congress will pass… a national redistricting reform.” ([33:06])
• Panelists (Amna Nawaz, Val Demings) highlight rapid redistricting fights and concern over minority disenfranchisement ([47:43 – 50:10]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Presidential War Powers

• Blanche:

  “How do you end a conflict? How do you end this? You have a ceasefire. And that's exactly what we have.” ([05:31])

• Schiff:

  “We've never had a full-fledged war like this that the President himself acknowledges is war.” ([25:56])

• Trump (clip):

  “They don't like the word war and they call it a military operation because that way you don't have a war, you don't have legal problems.” ([06:23])

On Comey Indictment

• Blanche:

  “It's not Todd Blanche that returned an indictment against James Comey. It's a grand jury, part of the judicial process.” ([10:15])

• Schiff:

  “If anyone ever suggests bringing a case this weak, there’ll be a new name for it. They'll be called ‘Seashells cases.’” ([29:31])

On Voting Rights and Redistricting

• Blanche:

  “There is no doubt that the Supreme Court got this decision, right? …we argued the case. And so, yes, there is also no doubt that the existing system was not consistent with our Constitution.” ([18:41])

• Schiff:

  “Their agenda is so deeply unpopular, they feel they're going to lose their majority unless they can gerrymander the districts…” ([33:06])

Panel Insights

• Val Demings:

  “The original architects of Jim Crow may be dead and gone, but their ghosts live on in a new generation.” ([48:44])

• Mark Short:

  “The best way to end discrimination is to stop discriminating based on race.” ([50:15])

• Amna Nawaz:

  “This is a game clock. Essentially, the ceasefire doesn't stop it. The War Powers Resolution is what it is. That clock ran out last week.” ([38:22])

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Key Segments and Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Summary | |-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:01 | Intro and overview: The cost of war, high gas prices, escalation with Iran | | 04:52 | Kristen Welker interviews AG Todd Blanche (Iran war, War Powers, legalities) | | 08:39 | Comey indictment: Explanation and defense, legal standards and process | | 14:00 | Investigations as retribution? Blanche on Trump’s statements and justice | | 17:05 | White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting update | | 18:19 | Voting Rights Act: SCOTUS rationale and impact | | 20:41 | Blanche on ambitions for permanent AG role | | 23:03 | Interview: Sen. Adam Schiff (War Powers, war legality, gas prices) | | 29:02 | Schiff on Comey indictment ("Seashells case"), chilling DOJ, threats to democracy | | 33:06 | Schiff and redistricting, national reform, Supreme Court's role | | 38:22 | Panel analysis: War legality, partisanship, gas prices, political messaging | | 46:41 | Panel on government shutdown’s effect, DHS, and TSA red staffing | | 47:43 | Voting Rights panel: How SCOTUS decision upends redistricting for 2026/2028 | | 48:44 | Redistricting: Partisan warfare, ghost of Jim Crow, Florida’s legal battles |

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Tone and Style

• The tone throughout was assertive and combative, reflecting high pre-election political tension, but balanced by detailed legal and policy analysis.
• Both Blanche and Schiff sharply challenged each other's constitutional interpretations while expressing deep concerns about the direction of American justice and democracy.
• The panel brought in a range of perspectives, mixing policy critique with lived political realities and emphasizing the immediate impact on voters.

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Conclusion

This Meet the Press episode frames the deep fracture lines in U.S. governance—between executive ambition and legislative oversight, between law enforcement and political loyalty, and between the promise of civil rights and rolling judicial retrenchment. The debates over war power and the justice system are no longer distant abstractions; they are shaping daily political life, pocketbook issues like gas prices, and the very ground rules of American democracy ahead of a heated midterm season.

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Transcript

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[Kristen Welker]

This Sunday, the price of war. Gas prices hit a four year high. As the war with Iran passes the 60 day mark, the gas will go

[President Donald Trump]

down as soon as the war is over. It'll drop like a rock.

[Kristen Welker]

And as President Trump weighs his next military move, the Pentagon reveals the growing price tag for the conflict. And the political fight here at home is heating up.

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

The biggest adversary we face at this

[Senator Adam Schiff]

point are the reckless, feckless and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans. The president must terminate this use of force until Congress says otherwise.

[Kristen Welker]

Plus, targeted former FBI Director James Comey is indicted for a second time for posting a photo of seashells arranged on a beach that prosecutors say amounted to a threat against police.

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

President Trump threatening the life of the president of the United States will never be tolerated.

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I'm still innocent. I'm still not afraid.

[Kristen Welker]

And lines drawn, states move to redraw congressional maps after the Supreme Court decision limits the Voting Rights Act.

[Congresswoman Val Demings]

That this is obviously the right result.

[Senator Adam Schiff]

But we're not here to step back.

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

We're here to fight back.

[Kristen Welker]

What will it mean for the midterms and beyond? My guests this morning, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California. Joining me for insight and analysis are NBC News senior Homeland Security correspondent Julia Ainslie, Amna Nawaz, co anchor of PBS NewsHour, Mark Short, former director of legislative affairs for President Trump, and former Democratic Congresswoman Val Demings. Welcome to Sunday, it's Meet the Press from NBC News in Washington, the longest

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

running show in television history.

[Kristen Welker]

This is MEET the Press with Kristen Welker. Good Sunday morning. As the war with Iran surges past the critical 60 day mark, gas prices are at their highest point since the conflict began. The average price of gas is up 47% since late February, from $2.98 per gallon to now $4 $4.39 per gallon. President Trump, who campaigned on a promise to lower prices, is facing growing pressure over the price spike as the war becomes as unpopular as the Iraq and Vietnam wars at their peaks, gasoline's high.

[President Donald Trump]

Other prices are way down, but gasoline's high. But when this is over, you'll have a world without a nuclear weapon. With Iran.

[Kristen Welker]

When the war will end remains an open question. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a president must seek congressional authorization for continued military action after 60 days. But the Trump administration now argues it does not need approval, saying a ceasefire declared on April 7th resets the clock. President Trump writing to Congress, quote, there has been no exchange of fire between the United States forces and Iran since April 7, 2020. Hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated the president on Friday. Why are you not seeking congressional approval to extend it?

[President Donald Trump]

Because it's never been sought before. There's been numerous, many, many times, and nobody's ever gotten it before. They consider it totally unconstitutional. But we're always in touch with Congress. But nobody's ever sought it before. They don't like the word war, and they call it a military operation because that way you don't have a war, you don't have legal problems.

[Kristen Welker]

And joining me now is Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Mr. Blanche, welcome back to Meet the Press.

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

Good morning.

[Kristen Welker]

Good morning. Thank you for being here in person. We really appreciate it. Let's start right there with the war. As you know, the War Powers act requires Congress to authorize military action beyond 60 days, which the US passed on Friday. The president did send a letter to Congress to recap, saying that hostilities have been terminated, given the ceasefire that was put in place on April 7th. And yet the US is actively engaged in a naval blockade of Iranian ports as part of this conflict. Is the United States at war with Iran?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

No. I mean, what President Trump said this weekend is absolutely true. My job as the acting attorney general is to make sure that the president, that we all are doing the right thing legally, and we absolutely are. As we said to Congress last week, there has been nothing going on, no hostilities, no exchange of fire since. In almost a month. In almost a month. And how do you end a conflict? How do you end this? You have a ceasefire. And that's exactly what we have. And Congress knows that, and the leadership knows that. And there's a lot of drama. I'm sure that Senator Schiff will come on here and say something different. This has been done repeatedly for many, many years with many, many presidents. And there's nothing inconsistent about what we're doing and what's been done in the past.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, you say that you're not actively at war. Here is what President Trump had to say on Friday. I wanna play it for you, get your reaction on the other side.

[President Donald Trump]

They don't like the word war and they call it a military operation because that way you don't have a war, you don't have legal problems.

[Kristen Welker]

Is the President effectively arguing that he can avoid congressional approval by avoiding using the word war?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

He's not effectively arguing anything except that he is trying to keep this country safe. We have kept Congress updated at step of the way, consistent with what other Presidents have done. President Trump is doing something that the past five presidents did not do. They promised to do it. They promised, oh, we'll stop Iran. Oh, Iran can never have a nuclear, a nuclear weapon. President Trump is doing what others have promised but failed to do. And as far as what we're doing with Congress, keeping them updated, we are doing so.

[Kristen Welker]

As you know, Democrats and even some Republicans say that the ceasefire is not enough to override this 60 day benchmark. Republican Senator Susan Collins posted, quote, the President's authority as Commander in Chief is not without limits. That deadline is not a suggestion, it is a requirement. Are there any legal limits on the President's powers to carry out the war with Iran?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

We suggesting that President Trump or this administration or the Department of War is violating the law is just completely wrong. It's not appropriate to say that we are not, we are complying with the law. I can tell you that as the Acting Attorney General, we are doing exactly what we're supposed to do legally, and President Trump will continue to do that.

[Kristen Welker]

But are there any, to this point, do you see any limits on how he has to carry out this war?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

Yes, of course there's limits to what President Trump can do, and he's never said there aren't limits. He's acting within his duty to the American people to keep us safe. He's not engaged in a popularity contest when it comes to what we're doing in Iran. He is doing something that will save us for generations. And so he's doing something again that every president since Reagan has said that we should do. And he's the only one willing to do it.

[Kristen Welker]

The President Trump said that the War Powers act is unconstitutional. Do you agree with that?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

I'm not talking about the constitutionality of the War Powers act. Isn't. Doesn't do anything. I will tell you. The Department of Justice advises. The President, advises the Department of War. And we are acting completely within the law with what we're doing.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, let's move on to former FBI Director James Comey. A grand jury has indicted the former FBI director for this Instagram post. I wanna put it up. I think a lot of folks have seen it at this point. 86:47 in sea shore, which the indictment says, quote, a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States. How does that image of seashells amount to a serious threat against the President's life?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

Well, every case requires an investigation. And what you just showed is one part of that investigation. What you just showed is the Instagram post. Rest assured that the career assistant United States attorneys in North Carolina, the career effort FBI agents, the career Secret Service agents that investigated this case didn't just look at the Instagram post and walk away. That's why you saw an indictment last week, notwithstanding the fact that it was last May that the post was made. So I am not permitted to get into the details of what the grand jury heard or found, as you know. But rest assured that it's not just the Instagram post that leads somebody to get indicted.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, part of what the government would have to prove is intent. James Comey deleted the post the same day, and he wrote, quote, I didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me. But I oppose violence of any kind. So I took the post down. How do you prove intent, Mr. Blanch, when Mr. Comey himself said he didn't understand that some people would look at that and think about violence.

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

You prove intent like you always prove intent. You prove intent with witnesses, you prove intent with documents, with materials. So again, this is not just about a single Instagram post. This is about a body of evidence that the grand jury collected over the a series of about 11 months that evidence was presented to the grand jury. And it's not the government, it's not the Department of Justice. It's not Todd Blanche that returned an indictment against James Comey. It's a grand jury, part of the judicial process, and that this process has to be allowed to play out in the courts. It's not fair to Mr. Comey. It's certainly not fair to the prosecutors. For us to be airing your view or my view of this indictment. It's something that will present it in court at the time set by the judge.

[Kristen Welker]

Let's delve a little deeper. Conservative legal scholar Jonath Turley said, quote, this indictment is facially unconstitutional absent some unknown new facts. Are there. Are you in fact saying that there are facts beyond this Instagram post that clearly establish an intent to threaten the President's life?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

I've said repeatedly this was an investigation that lasted 11 months. If the only facts that existed was the posting of the Instagram, obviously that wouldn't have taken 11 months. And so when Mr. Turley talks about whether it's facially unconstitutional absent unknown facts or circumstances, we will necessarily have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial every element of this crime, which we're prepared to do.

[Kristen Welker]

Can you. And will you let the public know what any of those other facts are?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

Absolutely. It's called a trial. That's what happens in every single case. We indict thousands of cases every year. Every one of those cases, there's an indictment, and then eventually there is a trial or some sort of disposition at the trial, a public trial that will be open to the public. Everybody in this country will know exactly what. What evidence the government has against Mr. Comey.

[Kristen Welker]

I know you can't give me specifics, but can you give me any insight? Are you talking about writings? Are you talking about conversations? What does this other evidence consist of?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

We are talking about evidence of all sorts, and that means documents, that means witnesses, and that means the whole array of what we did. And again, we are not talking about some political guy in D.C. running out and getting an indictment. We are talking about career prosecutors in North Carolina systematically investing a case with the FBI working with them, with the Secret Service working with them. And now we have an indictment.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, the image, excuse me, is part of what led to this indictment. It is worth noting that on Amazon.com, we looked this up, there are dozens of products with the same terminology. We're showing it right here. 8647 being sold and purchased. Right now, should individuals selling or buying 8647 merchandise be concerned that they're going to be Prosecuted by the DoD?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

This isn't about a single incident, okay? This isn't. I mean, of course not. That's posted constantly. That phrase is used constantly. There are constantly men and women who choose to make threatening statements against President Trump. Every one of those statements do not result in indictments. Of course, there are facts. There are circumstances. There are investigations that have to take place. And we have charged dozens and dozens of men and women this, this year with threatening President Trump and others. So this isn't a new charge we're bringing.

[Kristen Welker]

Just to be very clear, you are suggesting the seashells themselves are not at the root of this indictment?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

No, I am suggesting that every single case depends on the investigation that's done. And, of course, the seashells are part of that case. I mean, that's what the public sees. But without a doubt. And it should be evident by the fact that it's been 11 months since the posting and the indictment. There is an investigation that takes place, and that's the result. The result of that investigation is the indictment that was returned last week.

[Kristen Welker]

Let's talk big picture. Back on September 20th, President Trump publicly posted a private message to then Attorney General General Pam Bondi, pressuring her to prosecute Senator Adam Schiff, James Comey and Letitia James writing, quote, they're all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done. They impeached me twice. They indicted me five times over. Nothing. Justice must be served. Now, why should the public believe that any case brought against the individuals listed there is an independent law enforcement decision and not retribution?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

Well, because you have investigations and you have indictments and you have the result. I mean, listen, if years later, you're judged by a simple note from President Trump. By the way, that wasn't a private message. That was a message delivered to the entire world.

[Kristen Welker]

Right.

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

So this is not being done behind closed doors.

[Kristen Welker]

It was meant to be private initially, based on my conversations.

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

How do you know it was meant

[Kristen Welker]

to be private based on my conversations? It was meant to be with top administration officials. It was meant to be private and posted by mistake.

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

President Trump is very clear with the American people what he expects as President of the United States. That is not something he hides from the American people. He wants justice. He wants full investigations where appropriate. And by the way, that's a good thing, that's not a bad thing. Everybody in this country should want that. And so, no, I don't operate based upon concern or fear. The American people will know exactly what we're doing and why we're doing it.

[Kristen Welker]

And yet, Mr. Acting Attorney General, the Justice Department has already indicted former FBI Director James Comey, as you know, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, and a federal judge dismissed both of those cases. Why should people have confidence that this case will actually move forward and is rooted in facts.

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

Well, let's, let's, let's be accurate. Okay? The judge dismissed those cases not based on a factual finding that President Trump did something wrong or that there was something wrong with the underlying facts leading to that indictment. The federal judge dismissed that case because he found that the U.S. attorney was not properly appointed. That's not that there was no final finding on the facts or anything like that. So, look, those cases are on appeal. We will see what happens. But again, you're comparing apples to oranges when you say just because that indictment was dismissed, there's something wrong with the underlying investigation.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, again, he did directly push to have those people indicted. Charges were brought, and then they were dropped. Does that not undercut potentially the trust that people have in the justice?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

Absolutely not. And by the way, do you think, or do the American people think that nothing was done on those cases until President Trump posted that truth in September? Now, these are ongoing investigations. Investigations take time. Investigations take effort. And so, no, I am not concerned what we do, what we do at the Department of Justice. The American people can judge us, and they will. And I'm ready to be judged because we're doing the right thing. We're restoring justice, which nobody saw for four years. There weren't guests on your show for four years during the last administration being overly critical of what the Department of Justice is doing. And that was a problem, and we fixed it.

[Kristen Welker]

I want to turn now to the shooting at the White House Correspondent's dinner. Since we last spoke, it has been deemed an assassination attempt against President Trump. We are all so thankful he is okay and everyone at that dinner, including yourself, is okay. His lawyers say that the suspect in this case is now on a suicide watch. Are there any new updates you can share on the investigation or new charges that the suspect might be facing?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

Well, look, the investigation is ongoing and it happened just over a week ago. And I expect that the U.S. attorney Piro, that she and her team are continuing to work on understanding why this man allegedly did what he did. Any other information that they can learn from the devices and from the search warrants that were executed? I don't have an update to provide you beyond the fact that we are working hard. I expect in the next week or so there will be more information coming out. Obviously, assuming the investigation moves forward, there will be an indictment forthcoming. And all that is typical of what happens.

[Kristen Welker]

You say more information, more charges. Potentially, too.

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

Potentially. I mean, look, I think that's what happens, right? There's initial charges and there's an investigation, and to the extent that the government learns more things, I assure you, they will become charges.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, let's turn to the Supreme Court's decision to remove a major pillar of the Voting Rights act, which protected minority voters. In his majority decision, Justice Aligo argued this, quote, the nation had made, quote, great strides in ending entrenched racial discrimination. Do you believe that minority voters are represented equally in this country?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

Yes. There is no doubt that the Supreme Court got this decision, right? It's the position of the Department of Justice. It's the position of this administration. We argued the case. And so, yes, there is also no doubt that the existing system was not consistent with our Constitution. And that's what the Supreme Court found. And there's going to be a lot of criticism, I expect, even in the coming moments on this show about that decision. But the reality is, what people cannot say is that, is that the provision that was struck down by the Supreme Court is consistent with our Constitution. And that's the Supreme Court's job, is to interpret the Constitution.

[Kristen Welker]

But the voters see this country differently. According to the latest Gallup poll, 83% of black Americans and 61% of white Americans believe that racism is widespread. Does that. That challenge the idea that there is racial equality?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

The Supreme Court doesn't make decisions based upon a Gallup poll. The Supreme Court is not allowed to make decisions because there's some poll that says some percentage of Americans feel, one way or another, they interpret the Constitution. And keeping our elections fair, keeping our elections exactly what they're supposed to be consistent with the Constitution is what President Trump has been fighting for for 10 years. And so this was a great win for the American people.

[Kristen Welker]

But the root of the Voting Rights act was to make sure, sure that people were treated equally, that they had equal rights when it came to voting and representation. Does it not weaken that ultimate goal?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

The fact that we're talking about this when Democrats in Congress, for example, refuse to support basic structures to guarantee free and fair elections is laughable. I mean, the fact that we are talking about this decision from the Supreme Court, which is just a constitutional decision, when what we should be talking about is that there's a lot of things that we can be doing like. Like voter id. Like, every time you walk into a restaurant or a club, you have to show your id. How about you have to show your ID to vote? That's not anything. That's crazy. And that's what we should be talking about.

[Kristen Welker]

Certainly one of the votes on Capitol Hill right now quickly before I let you go. The position of attorney general remains open. You still have an acting in front of your title. Are you hoping to drop that acting title and become the attorney general?

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

I am happy to do my job, no matter. President Trump can ask me to do whatever he chooses, and I'll be happy to do my job. The Department of Justice, all of our employees, are working hard every day to restore justice, and we will continue to do that. I love my job no matter what it is.

[Kristen Welker]

All right. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch, thank you very much for being here to cover a range of topics this morning. We really appreciate it. When we come back, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff joins me next.

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[Kristen Welker]

Welcome back. And joining me now is Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California. Senator Schiff, welcome back to MEET THE press.

[Senator Adam Schiff]

Thank you.

[Kristen Welker]

Thanks so much for being here. Let's start with the war where I started with the acting attorney general now past its 60 day mark. President Trump, as you know, sent a letter to Congress arguing he does not need congressional approval because this ceasefire paused the clock effectively. Do you think the administration is following the law?

[Senator Adam Schiff]

No, absolutely not. And it's important to recognize this war was unlawful and unconstitutional from the start.

[President Donald Trump]

Start.

[Senator Adam Schiff]

We didn't have to wait 60 days to reach that conclusion because under the Constitution, only Congress can initiate a war or authorize a war or declare war. The only exceptions are if the United States is attacked or there's an imminent threat of attack, then the President can take action in the near term. That's when the 60 day clock begins. If there's a legitimate reason to begin the war at the start and there wasn't here, this is a war of choice which is now now brought a terrible cost in. Thirteen service members who lost their lives, scores of others injured, many seriously injured. Highest gas prices now in years. It's pushed inflation up to a high in several years. And of course the opportunity cost is that we can't invest in hospitals and healthcare, in things that would improve the quality of life for Americans. But this war was plagued from the start. It's also important in terms of the War Powers Act. That act, as that Susan Collins quote illustrates, she's accurate about that, dictates that U.S. forces have to be removed after 60 days unless Congress has intervened to authorize action. We haven't. The Navy is still deployed. It is still blockading Iranian ports. It is still interdicting ships. There is no exception for the US Navy to the War Powers Act. So what Mr. Blanche said said is absolutely wrong. I think they understand that. And what's more, the President's claim at the outset of your segment that no president has sought an authorization to use force is also simply wrong. George W. Bush, of course, did both in Afghanistan and with the Iraq war.

[Kristen Welker]

Let me ask you, because back in 2007, you called on then President Obama. In 2011, I should say, you called on then President Obama to seek congressional authorization for military force force in Libya. After exceeding the 60 day mark. The Obama administration argued that because there was no sustained fighting, the War Powers act did not apply then. If Congress didn't enforce the law then why should Americans have confidence that it will be enforced now?

[Senator Adam Schiff]

Well, I think that was a mistake then. I think it's even bigger mistake now. The Obama administration at the time claimed that that hostilities had never begun. So they didn't make the acknowledgement that President Trump has here that he began a war two months ago. They claim because of the limited nature of our engagement, the limited risk of escalation, that hostilities as defined in the act never began. Now I think that's wrong. And That's a mistake. And you're right, both parties have fallen down on the job in terms of asserting Congress's war power. But we've never had a full fledged war like this that the President himself acknowledges is war. And what's more, as we talked about, the ceasefire of some of the bombing does not toll. There is no tolling provision in the War Powers Act. So that's just plain wrong. But you're right, both parties have been at fault here. But I don't think we've ever had such a clear violation of the act as we have right now.

[Kristen Welker]

Let me ask you about the impact here at home. Obviously the center of it, those high gas prices, they rose to a four year high this week. Democratic Senate Nomin James Talarico has called to suspend the federal gas tax of 18 cents per gallon until prices start to fall. Is that something that you would support in the Senate, suspending the federal gas tax?

[Senator Adam Schiff]

You know, I've argued in the past under circumstances much less egregious than this that we could suspend the gas tax, but we needed to pay for it with a windfall profits tax on the oil companies that are making money hand over fist. So I would support a proposal like that that won't deplete us of revenue to fix our roads. But really the best remedy to bring down gas prices is to bring this illegal war to an end. And I don't think anything short of that is really going to make a demonstrable impact on price at the pump. The way prices are going up and the speed they're going up, it would very quickly eat up any savings from suspending the gas tax. But I'd be willing to entertain that if the oil companies who are making such big profits have to pay for it.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, let me follow up with you and ask about your state specifically. California has the highest tax on gasoline, ranging between 60 cents to 70 cents per gallon. Would you call on Governor Gavin Newsom to suspend the gas tax in your state?

[Senator Adam Schiff]

Well, again, I'd be open to that as long as we place that windfall profits tax on the oil companies. But look, in California, we have some of the dirtiest air in the country. We've made a lot of progress in trying to address it. Some of these revenues go to helping us do that as well as maintain and improve our roads, our bridges and a lot of the deferred maintenance, which is very much a need. So we have to continue to invest in infrastructure. Again, I think the way to try to reduce prices as well as make sure. We have the resources to invest in our cities is by making sure oil companies are paying their fair share, not gouging people. And that's in addition to ending this war. I think the kind of steps we need to take.

[Kristen Welker]

Let me ask you about former FBI Director James Comey, indicted, of course, over that social media post which federal prosecutors say was a threat to harm President Trump. You just heard my conversation with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch about this. You have called the case, quote, a vindictive prosecution, but a grand jury did sign off on the case. Are you saying that you do not have faith in that grand jury?

[Senator Adam Schiff]

Look, as one judge notably said, a skilled prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich. The prosecutor gets to show the grand jury what it wants to show the grand jury. It is not, you know, the grand jury doesn't get to see a lot of the exculpatory evidence, doesn't have independent legal experts to tell. Talk about how frivolous this case is. I'm sure none of that was done here. And look, the only facts that distinguish this case from those people buying things on Amazon or posting things on Amazon is not any particular facts that are not visible to the public. It's the fact that James Comey is a political opponent of the President's. It's the fact the President has called upon him for prosecution. It's the fact that Todd Blanche wants to keep this job. It's the fact that Pam Bondi didn't successfully bring a case against one of the president enemies. All of that is deeply illegitimate. I was a prosecutor for almost six years. I never saw such a weak case. And I think, Kristen, in the future in the Department of Justice, if anyone ever suggests bringing a case this week, there'll be a new name for it. They'll be called Seychelles cases. Are you telling me we should bring another Seashells case? I think this case is likely to be thrown out even before it goes to a jury. It will absolutely be thrown out by the jury. Jury. But the fact that we're spending time on a Seychelles case and the top leadership of the Justice Department is so focused on it means they're not focused on violent crime cases. They're not focused on rape cases and child trafficking. They're focused, no, on James Comey and Seashells. And it's the American public that suffers.

[Kristen Welker]

As you know, and as I just read, your name was on that list. Are you concerned, Senator, that you could be next?

[Senator Adam Schiff]

I'm not concerned in the sense that if they bring a case against Me, it'll suffer the same fate as this one is likely to suffer. But what I am concerned about is all that is lost in the Justice Department, a department that I loved and venerated my time there. We now have scores of seasoned prosecutors who are leaving by the hundreds, by the thousands, who are asked to do unethical things and properly are saying no. Know we're seeing indictments, as we saw in New York, dismissed against a corrupt mayor or a mayor facing corruption cases or allegations because he's willing to help the president on an unrelated issue like immigration. I'm talking about the former mayor of New York here. These kind of abuses mean that the department isn't going after oil companies that are price gouging. It's not going after companies that are abusing consumers. It's not protecting us from monopolistic conduct in the market. It is instead focused on the president's agenda of retribution. And that's a terrible use of resources and a terrible precedent to set.

[Kristen Welker]

Let me turn to redistricting. Of course, the Supreme Court. There are concerns that this latest ruling could limit the use of race in redistricting and could grant Republicans a handful of seats, concerns among some Democrats. Let me get your reaction, because Democrats promised that some of these redistricting efforts were going to be temporary. But leader Hakeem Jeffries said, quote, we are in an era of maximum warfare everywhere. All this time, should Democrats break their promise not to redistrict and continue with these redistricting fights, Senator?

[Senator Adam Schiff]

Well, first of all, I think it's important to understand what's behind all of this. Why did President Trump begin the redistricting war? Why is the Supreme Court, which is no longer a conservative court, it's merely a partisan court, a conservative court would have some respect for precedent. They don't. Why did they bring that voting rights case to begin with? And it's because their agenda is so deeply unpopular, they feel they're going to lose their majority unless they can gerrymander the districts, unless they can affirmatively use race to disenfranchise people. So this is why this whole redistricting war began. And yes, Democrats made the decision, we're going to fight this fight, if that's the task at hand, if we need to do it, to make sure that voters actually have a choice in the policies of this country whether that will be temporary or permanent. I hope it is temporary. I hope that Congress will pass a bill that I've sponsored and co sponsored for years which would outlaw the gerrymander nationwide. I Hope the country gets so sick of this, of politicians writing their own maps and choosing their own voters instead of voters choosing their own elected officials, that they insist on a national redistricting reform. But I suspect if the Republicans continue to do this, Democrats are going to find the necessity and feel the necessity of fighting fire with fire. But this is really a poor trend, an anti Democratic trend for the country. And I hope that when Democrats take power in both houses and once again take power in the White House, that we will insist on a national redistricting reform and end these gerrymanders for good.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, quickly, I want to ask you about the gubernatorial race in California. The primary just about a month away. You endorsed a former representative, Eric Swalwell, who withdrew, and you withdrew your support amid allegations of sexual misconduct. The primary again, right around the corner. Will you endorse a new candidate? And who is that?

[Senator Adam Schiff]

You know, I haven't. I haven't decided myself who I'm gonna support in the governor's race. The field is a different field and it is changing every day. But I will say this. What would get me to be involved is if I felt that the concern that, the risk that with this jungle primary system, which I think is a terrible system, if it produced two Republicans in the runoff and democr. Democrats didn't even have a choice in November, if I felt that the odds of that had increased to the point where really we must act, then I would. Barring that, I first wanted to decide who I'm supporting myself, and I'm reluctant to get involved again.

[Kristen Welker]

All right. Well, when you make that decision, please come back. Let us know. Senator Adam Schiff, thank you so very much for being here.

[Senator Adam Schiff]

Thank you.

[Kristen Welker]

When we come back, gas prices hit a four year high. How will it impact the middle terms? The panel is next.

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[Kristen Welker]

Let's just take a step back.

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[Kristen Welker]

Welcome back. The panel is here. Julia Ainslie, NBC News senior Homeland Security correspondent and author of the new book undue process, PBS NewsHour Co anchor Amna Nawaz, former Democratic Congress Congresswoman Val Demings, and Mark Short, former Trump director of legislative Affairs. Thanks to all of you. Welcome. Let me start with you, Abna. Let's talk about what we heard from the acting attorney general about the war in Iran. I asked him point blank, is the US at war? He said no and argued that there is a ceasefire, therefore the clock's been halted on that 60 day deadline. What are you hearing? We know President Trump was briefed about a range of potential options, including military options.

[Amna Nawaz]

Well, we know President Trump has not taken military options off the table since the start of these actions. He never has. I doubt he ever will because this is a president who likes to keep his options open. I found it interesting the legal argument he was making there, because we should also point out this is not the first president to argue about the unconstitutionality of the War Powers Act. I'm old enough to remember Obama and the signature drone strikes, George W. Bush and enhanced interrogation techniques. Nixon tried to vetro the War Powers Resolution. Right. But we had Howard Harold Koh on the show Last week on NewsHour, who made the argument that this is not this is a game clock. Essentially, the ceasefire doesn't stop it. The War Powers Resolution is what it is. That clock ran out last week. This now comes down to a legal argument, and it also comes down to whether or not Republicans in Congress choose to enforce it. We know privately they've had some concerns about that. You shared what Susan Collins has had to say publicly.

[Kristen Welker]

But there have been six votes before

[Amna Nawaz]

lawmakers when they've had the chance to be able to exercise their authority and oversight and have chosen not to. So whether or not there's a deal, whether there's military action, the legal argument is a separate issue.

[Kristen Welker]

Mark, do you see any more Republicans getting on board and how much concern is there that while the war, the ceasefires dragging out, gas prices continue to go up and the midterms are around the corner?

[Congresswoman Val Demings]

Well, let's separate those. I really don't think you'll see too many more Republicans. Susan Collins is obviously in a competitive race and so I think for her to show her independence, she wants to break with Trump on something. But look, the War Powers Resolution was passed in 1973 at the height of the Vietnam War. It has not been contested by the Supreme Court. And I think that there's a lot of Democrats who want to call on it today. But you know, when President Obama was president, we had military troops in Libya starting in March of 2011. They went until October 2011. Democrats were not calling for contesting War Powers Resolution and what the executive power was there. So this is a partisan game that gets played every time the executive branch uses military action. The reality is that this president has a chance to make historic changes in the Middle east. And if he's successful, the risk premium that we pay on energy prices will go down, down. But I think his challenge is that that has not been well articulated to the American people. It's been explained that one time we're doing this to take make sure they have no nuclear weapons. Another time for regime change, another time to basically debase their military capability. And when Chris Wright comes on your show and says gas prices may not get below $4 next year, he gets hand slapped. And I think it would be helpful to explain the American people. Here's what would happen if there was actually freedom in the Middle east and what would happen if in no longer this regime for 47 years has been murdering and killing innocent people was rem what would happen to energy prices long term? That is an argument they should be making to the American people today.

[Kristen Welker]

Congresswoman, pick up on that. And how should Democrats navigate that in the midterms given the long term argument that Mark and quite frankly President Trump are making? This is about the long term safety of security of the United States and the whole world, quite frankly. And gas prices, the President argues will start to come down once the war.

[Mark Short]

Well, look, the safety and security of our nation should be our number one concern concern. But Democrats message has to be rooted and grounded in reality. The reality is gas prices are high. Matter of fact, everything's going up. Groceries are high. Gas. I filled up my husband's Ford truck last week. I was doing him a favor. It was $146. I won't be doing that favor again anytime soon. But fertilizer farmers are feeling it. Democrats are hearing every day from their constituents, look, what are y' all doing to make my life better and lower prices? So I think that Democrats, while safety and security is the number one concern, that's not what they are hearing about every day from people on the ground. People want to know, when are my costs of living going down? The president is the one who said that on day one he would lower price and not get in any forever wars. Just the opposite has happened.

[Kristen Welker]

Yet he's getting very low marks on his handling of the economy, higher marks of his handling on immigration and deportation. Julia, that takes me to your book. Let me just hold it up. Undue Process Inside the Inside Story of Trump's Mass Deportation Program. You explore the president's mass deportation program. You also explore his use of executive authority. Talk about why this book in this moment and what you think the implications are as we look ahead to the midterms.

[N]

Yeah. You know, Kristen, I really think that this book will walk people through why what an issue was that started as Trump's biggest political asset turned into his biggest political liability, perhaps going into the midterms. I've covered immigration since 2014. You and I talk about it a lot. But 2025, I realized what I was covering was unlike anything I had seen before. And I started to document every change in policy, whether it was using the Alien Enemies act to deport people without due process, or a number of changes that they were making throughout. And what I found was a vast expansion of executive power. And what I tell people is no matter how you feel about immigration, whether you're for deporting every illegal immig who's living in the United States, anyone who crossed the border illegally, or you think everyone who crossed the border should have asylum. This is a vast expansion of executive power. In fact, one of the things that I reveal in the book was a program that they wanted to expand that would allow technology to scan social media of foreign students who were legally in the United States and find anything that they were posting that was just anti Trump priorities. And then to take that list and find underlying crimes so they could revoke their visas and deport them. This is coming from a president who also said, after sending people to seek out prison in El Salvador, what if we did that for Americans? So I think even if people even if people are picking up this book and immigration isn't their top issue, it's not something that brings them to the polls. They're going to learn just how far things could have gone. And all of the moments that led up to the flashbangs that we saw throughout the summer really leading to Minneapolis.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, Julia, thank you for being here to talk about an undue process. It's a great book. I've started reading it and as you say, has big implications for the midterms. We're gonna have much more on the midterms, so please stick around. Gu. When we come back, an historic visit from King Charles. How the British monarchy has endured in our MEET THE PRESS minute. Next. Welcome back. King Charles arrived in Washington this week for an historic state visit, meeting with President Trump and addressing a joint session of Congress in a speech filled with humor. He's only the second British monarch ever to address Congress after his mother, Queen Elizabeth, 35 years ago. And it marks the first official UK state visit to Washington since 2007, when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were hosted by President George W. Bush. Prince Philip joined MEET THE press back in 1969 at a time when monarchies across Europe were in decline following World War II.

[Mark Short]

Why do you think the British monarchy

[Kristen Welker]

is so strong despite the fact that

[O]

so many monarchies in Europe have die? Well, I think, I think the British are more liberal in their outlook and I think instead of most of the monarchies in Europe were really destroyed by their greatest and most arbus of h. It was the most reactionary people who somehow rather tried to hold on to something without letting it develop into change. I think in, in, in the United Kingdom, the monarchy I think for a long time has been much closer to the population, the whole and therefore has responded to has been more in touch and responded to different attitudes, whereas I think the monarchies of Europe are much more stylized, they're much more rigid in their concept and this has eventually destroyed them.

[Kristen Welker]

When we come back, a Supreme Court ruling on voting rights upends the political map ahead of the midterms. The panel is back with us next. Welcome back. The panel is still with us. Julia, let me start with you because this week Congress finally voted to end the longest partial government shutdown. DHS shutdown, but still not funding ICE and cbp. And you've been reporting it could take some time actually to get DHS back online.

[N]

Yeah, especially in the way TSA workers are hired. 1100 quit. It takes some time to onboard people and to convince them to come work for an agency that could lose funding again in September. That's why we saw Delta this week say they wanna see a separate package to make sure that FAA workers and TSA workers keep getting funded during a shutdown. But, you know, as I explain in my book, this is a behemoth agency that started in 9, 11. And now you have some very practical agencies that everyone needs, like FEMA that have been tied to these controversial policies. So it could happen again. There are problems for Congress as well as for the American people who could continue to see long lines at airports this summer.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, I know you and we will all be watching it very closely. Amna, let me talk to you. Huge headline this week. I was talking about it with our guest. The Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act. Louisiana has already postponed its primary elections as it looks to potentially redraw its max. How do you see this playing out in the midterms, but also 2028?

[Amna Nawaz]

I mean, I think what we saw within the first 24 to 48 hours after the decision gives us some indication. We saw a number of states where there was litigation related to potentially racially gerrymandered maps that had already been decided. That is now up for play again, cases where maps were being disputed and this court decision now comes into play. We've seen calls in Georgia for Republican lawmakers to try to redrop their maps, too, in Alabama as well. And you mentioned Louisiana, where we should point out voting was already underway in those primaries that have now been suspended. So look, in states where there were potentially racially gerrymandered maps, it's now much more difficult to challenge that. That is just the new lay of the land for these maps and for the legal landscape. What I've heard from experts, though, it's less about 2026 because a lot of those rules are already in place, candidate filings are in place. It will be more about 2028.

[Kristen Welker]

Val, how do you see it and are we now going to see a prolonged tit for tat over redistricting nationwide?

[Mark Short]

Well, I think we should definitely deal with redistricting nationwide. And let us not forget, forget that the president started this redistricting war and I believe because he did not want to be held accountable if Democrats took back the House. And so in Florida, as you well know, we have just gone, the governor just presented maps, hopefully trying to give Republicans three or four additional seats. The fact that states Louisiana, Texas, Florida and others are so willing to deny black and brown voters equal representation and also so willing to engage, continue to engage in Voter suppression just shows me that the original architects of Jim Crow may be dead and gone, but their ghosts live on in a new generation. Florida has a problem, though. In 2010, 63% of the voters voted in favor of the law saying that you cannot draw districts to favor a political party. Yet the governor clearly indicated that the maps would help Republicans in the House. And also the maps were color coded to show just that. And so we have a problem. Gotta respect the law, Mark.

[Kristen Welker]

Congresswoman Demings is saying that the ghosts of Jim Crow live on in this. How do you see it?

[Congresswoman Val Demings]

Look, Congressman knows how much respect to have her service not just in Congress, but also as a police chief. But I think I agree with John Roberts. The best way to end discrimination is to stop discriminating based on race. The reality is that thankfully this is not the 1960s. It's not the Jim Crow era when it comes to race relations in America anymore. A federal court ordered Louisiana to draw a specific African American majority district. That's what the Supreme Court overturned. They did not gut the Voting Rights Act. They said you can't do that. You have to have evidence of current discrimination, not something from 19, 1960. I think that, you know, when it comes to redistricting, I've been on your show and said that I think this will be a wash at the end of the day. I, I don't think this has been helpful. But I do think there's a little bit of selective memory here. In 2022, in the, in the right after Biden, in the first midterms, Democrats voted to redraw New York until the courts threw it out. In Virginia, the governor ran one of those dishonest, disingenuous campaigns in modern history on redistricting.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, guys.

[Mark Short]

Black people are discriminated every day in the United States of America.

[Kristen Welker]

We will continue this debate offline. Unfortunately, we're out of time. Thank you so much for a great discussion. That is all for today. Thank you for watching. We'll be back next week because if it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.

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