Meet the Press NOW — April 29, 2026

Host: Kristen Welker, NBC News
Date: April 29, 2026

Overview

This episode dives into the mounting domestic and geopolitical tensions shaping U.S. and global politics in April 2026. Host Kristen Welker leads coverage of the economic fallout from the conflict with Iran, contentious congressional hearings, Federal Reserve uncertainty, the sensational indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, and a Supreme Court ruling with sweeping electoral implications. The episode features prominent voices from the White House, Congress, the Federal Reserve, the field in Doha, and more.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Economic Fallout from the Iran War

• Stock Market Dip & Oil Price Surge (01:00–02:05)
  • Wall Street closed lower due to the war in Iran, soaring oil prices, and market unrest.
  • Domestic gasoline hit a four-year high at $4.23/gallon. U.S. oil broke $100/barrel. International benchmarks neared $120.
• Federal Reserve’s Response (01:44–07:39)
  • Jerome Powell (Fed Chair) expresses uncertainty:

    "The economic outlook remains highly uncertain and the conflict in the Middle East has added to this uncertainty. In the near term, higher energy prices will push up overall inflation." — Jerome Powell (01:44)

  • The Fed leaves interest rates unchanged.
  • Powell’s last press conference as Chair – notes internal dissent with four FOMC board members disagreeing on rates, the most since 1992.
  • Powell announces he’ll remain as governor “for a period of time” to defend the Fed’s independence amid “unprecedented” legal attacks from the Trump administration.

    "It's historic. I mean, this hasn't happened in like 80 years... There is a tradition that if you're the Fed chief, then you leave, even if there's more time left..." — Christine Romans (06:49)

2. Trump Policy & War in Iran

• Naval Blockade & Congressional Scrutiny (02:05–04:41)

  • Trump doubles down on the Iranian port blockade:

    "The blockade is genius, okay? The blockade has been 100% foolproof... There will never be a deal unless they agree that there will be no nuclear weapons." — Donald Trump (02:40)

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies on Capitol Hill, branding congressional Democrats as the war’s "biggest adversary."

    "The biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless, and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans." — Pete Hegseth (03:31)

  • $25bn spent on the war to date; uncertainty remains about what that includes (e.g., naval deployments, munitions, blockade costs).

• Questions about Military Success and Goals (04:23–09:28)

  • Lawmakers repeatedly press Hegseth for an exit strategy and success metrics.

    "They still have not told us what their overall goal is. They have not told us what the off ramp and the end game is, which is exactly why Americans don't support it." — Rep. Jason Crow (32:38)

• White House Internal Debate (12:19–15:27)

  • Monica Alba reports from the White House: Trump has not decided to reopen the closed Strait of Hormuz; he prefers the blockade to further bombing.
  • With a May 1 deadline for congressional authorization, debate intensifies regarding the application of the War Powers Act.

• Regional Implications & Blockade Impact (16:01–18:47)

  • Raf Sanchez (Doha): Gulf nations are anxious and economically pressured by the blockade.

    "There is a real feeling among America's Arab allies here in the Gulf that they are just not in control of their own destiny. They are kind of at the mercy of the United States and Iran." — Raf Sanchez (16:18)

  • Qatari Foreign Ministry calls for "all parties to open the strait immediately" and is open to incremental deals to reopen Hormuz.

3. DOJ & Political Prosecutions: The Comey Indictment

• Details on the Case (20:39–26:09)

  • Former FBI Director James Comey indicted for a social media post featuring seashells spelling "86 47."

    "86 is a mob term for kill them... People think of it as something having to do with disappearing, but the mob uses that term to say when they want to kill somebody." — Donald Trump (21:26)

  • Trump calls it a threat; legal experts are skeptical of the case, expecting dismissal on First Amendment or retaliation grounds.

    "Every legal expert I've talked to... just don't see this case having any chance of success." — Ryan Reilly (25:03)

• Political Commentary and Reaction

  • Rep. Jason Crow:

    "This is another example of the Trump administration weaponizing Americans Department of Justice against Donald Trump's political enemies..." (26:50)

  • Sen. Thom Tillis (R):

    "Hopefully there's more to it than just the picture in the sand. Otherwise, I just think it's another example of where we're going to regret this because we're setting a fairly low bar." (28:59)

  • Crow counters that Democrats will "pursue accountability" but not mirror such prosecutions. (29:52)

4. Supreme Court Ruling: Voting Rights Act & Gerrymandering

• Ruling Overview (35:16–41:51)

  • In a 6–3 decision, the conservative majority ruled that Louisiana’s congressional map—drawn to boost minority representation per VRA—constituted "unconstitutional racial gerrymandering."
  • The ruling undermines VRA Section 2 and opens the door for widespread redistricting in favor of Republicans.

    "The court... made Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act a dead letter, effectively." — Lawrence Hurley (36:49)

• Election & Political Fallout

  • Jane Timm: Big impacts could show up in both this year's midterms (where possible) and, more broadly, from next year onward:

    "This ruling will have far, far-fetching effects both on these midterms... as well as in next year when you'll see just sort of an all-out new era of redistricting with very few rules and guardrails." (39:33)

5. Congressional Dysfunction: FISA, DHS, GOP Leadership

• FISA Section 702 Debate (43:29–48:54)

  • Ongoing challenge to reauthorize critical surveillance powers due to GOP infighting and civil liberties concerns.
  • Symbolic reforms were added (not the demanded warrant requirement) to collect enough votes; losing some Republican support but gaining moderate Democratic votes.

• Dysfunction and Speaker Johnson’s Struggles (45:01–49:56)

  • Speaker Johnson’s leadership tested by repeated gridlock and slim majorities; inherited a divided Rules Committee from McCarthy.

    "I think the speaker has done a really good job with the cards he's been dealt." — Ashley Davis (49:59)

  • Growing concern among panelists that rising gas prices and Capitol Hill stalemates are eroding public confidence.

• Panel Discussion: Public Frustration & Election Impact (50:11–56:07)

  • Voters are "frustrated that they don't feel their lives getting any better."
  • High gas prices and pocketbook issues may dominate the midterm mood more than headline-grabbing indictments.

    "The American people feel... none of that... has anything to do with gas prices or... what the American people feel." — Chuck Rocha (50:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Iran Blockade's Impact

  "The blockade has been 100% foolproof... There will never be a deal unless they agree that there will be no nuclear weapons."
  — Donald Trump (02:40)

• On Federal Reserve Independence

  "These legal actions by the administration are unprecedented in our 113 year history. And there are ongoing threats of additional such actions... putting at risk the thing that really matters... the ability to conduct monetary policy without... political factors."
  — Jerome Powell (07:08)

• On Congressional Oversight of War

  "He's also saying that we don't have the right as members of Congress to actually question wars and conflict. We just, you know, get in line... That's not our role."
  — Rep. Jason Crow (31:11)

• On the DOJ & Political Persecution

  "Americans should be upset about this more than anybody else because it's their money and it's their prosecutors who are being used and abused for purposes that Donald Trump sees fit in any given day."
  — Rep. Jason Crow (27:17)

• On Erosion of Trust

  "The Justice Department has been politicized for way too long, too long on both sides."
  — Ashley Davis (54:21)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Economic Roundup, Wall Street Reaction, & Fed Announcement: 01:00–07:39
• Trump, War with Iran, and Capitol Hill Hearings: 02:05–12:17
• White House & Gulf Region Negotiations: 12:41–18:47
• DOJ: Comey Indictment & White House Correspondents’ Dinner Investigation: 20:39–26:09
• Rep. Jason Crow Interview & Capitol Testimony: 26:25–35:14
• Supreme Court Ruling & Redistricting Analysis: 35:16–41:51
• Capitol Hill Dysfunction, FISA, GOP Struggles: 43:29–56:07

Conclusion

This episode underscores a time of acute national strain:

• The U.S. stares down a potentially escalating Middle East war with severe economic and political costs.
• Democratic institutions strain under allegations of politicized justice, internal dissent, and high-profile prosecutions.
• Supreme Court rulings roll back federal voting rights protections, setting the stage for partisan redistricting.
• Congressional gridlock frustrates the public, heightening anxieties ahead of the midterms.
• The 2026 election landscape is taking shape amidst unresolved conflicts at home and abroad.

For listeners seeking clarity on a turbulent moment in U.S. politics, this episode of Meet the Press NOW provides a comprehensive, on-the-ground snapshot — from the halls of power to the war zone, the Supreme Court, and the streets where Americans feel the crisis most deeply.