Meet the Press NOW — July 15

Summary

Meet the Press NOW — July 15, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Meet the Press NOW (July 15, 2026), hosted by Gabe Gutierrez, centers on a packed news day in Washington, D.C. Key topics include high-profile Senate confirmation hearings for President Trump’s nominees—specifically Todd Blanche for Attorney General and Jay Clayton for Director of National Intelligence. The show also covers dramatic shifts in executive branch policy (notably concerning ICE vehicle stops), the ongoing war with Iran and its political and humanitarian ramifications, the fallout from a major foodborne illness outbreak, and the surprising bipartisan passage of a historic affordable housing bill.

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Key Segments & Discussion Highlights

1. Senate Confirmation Hearings for Trump Administration Nominees

Todd Blanche's Attorney General Hearing

[01:11–14:02]

• Democratic Concerns:

  • Reluctance to firmly commit to meeting Epstein survivors (“I have never said I will not meet with survivors.” – Blanche, [02:41]) and deflection regarding direct meetings ([02:19-02:53]).
  • Questions around potential use of DOJ resources to influence elections, especially deploying federal agents to polling locations ([03:05–03:25]).
  • Clear stance against unconstitutional third Trump term:

    “President Trump, just as a simple matter of constitutional law, eligible to run for another term as president in 2028?”
    “I don't believe he is.” – Blanche, [03:40]

  • Vague responses about the now-canceled “weaponization fund” that had bipartisan opposition.

• Republican Responses:

  • Generally supportive, with lingering concerns about Blanche’s closeness to Trump and integrity on contentious issues ([04:05–05:24]).
  • Senator Thom Tillis: “I'm a lean yes, but I’ve still got understandings they’re working on and they’re working in good faith, so I’m optimistic we can get there.” ([07:00])
  • Senator John Cornyn signals indecision, focusing on the weaponization fund, but seems unlikely to block the nomination:

    “That doesn't bother me. I mean, I'm just going to make a decision based on the merits, and the consequences… will flow from there.” – Cornyn, [08:59]

• Analysis by Ryan Nobles and Kelly O’Donnell:

  • Suggests theatrical questioning may not affect Blanche's confirmation outcome as party lines harden ([05:24–06:13]).
  • Ongoing questions about scrapped anti-weaponization fund: its possible revival, and its intended use:

    “What Senator Cornyn and others point to is that the document … leaves open the possibility that the parties involved could renegotiate. That is not sufficient to either … because they want to be certain that this will stop.” – O’Donnell, [10:10]

  • Blanche admits mistakes in the “hurried” release of Epstein files and issues an apology, but survivors remain dissatisfied ([11:30–12:16]).

• Memorable Exchange:

  Senator: “Are you and President Trump friends?”
  Blanche: “I'm his lawyer. Was his lawyer and now I'm the deputy Attorney General, so I met him as his criminal defense attorney. I'm not sure there's very many people who have ever had a criminal defense attorney who calls that person their friend.” – Blanche, [04:19]

Jay Clayton’s DNI Nomination Hearing

[14:02–17:29]

• Contentious Q&A on 2020 Election Legitimacy:

  • Clayton repeatedly dodges direct acknowledgment that Biden won in 2020:

    “I’m not an election denier, Joe Biden was certified as the president of the United States.” – Clayton, [14:59]

  • Senators criticize his evasiveness:

    “You refuse to answer a basic question about who won a presidential election, but you asked to lead America’s intelligence community. Isn’t it humiliating…?” – Senator, [16:37]

  • Eventually, Clayton says:

    “I’ve acknowledged, Senator, that Joe Biden was the president. I've acknowledged that… and fairly and duly elected under our process.” – Clayton, [17:25]

• Broader Election Security Discussion:

  • Clayton admits election security could improve but is vague about specifics, especially regarding voter fraud ([17:41–18:03]).
  • Dan DeLouse clarifies: US intelligence has seen no evidence of ongoing foreign tampering, though influence campaigns from Russia and China continue ([19:08–20:13]).

---

2. Trump Administration Policy & Capitol Hill Agendas

Immigration Enforcement Controversy

[31:29–35:58]

• Sudden Reversal on ICE Traffic Stops:

  • After two fatal ICE vehicle stop shootings, DHS intended a pause for policy review. Trump overrides this via Truth Social, demanding continuation:

    “We cannot give up one of ICE's most important and effective crime fighting tools. . . keep those crime stat records coming.” – Trump (paraphrased by Gutierrez, [32:00])

  • Julia Ainslie: “By post, the policy changed. . . This was a real change for the plan that ICE had carved out, thinking that they needed a pause…” ([32:46])
  • Result: Confusion among officers regarding chain of command, and breakdown in DHS-White House communication ([34:00]).

• Body Cameras:

  • After shootings, ICE promises all enforcement agents will have bodycams within 60 days—though mandates have been inconsistent ([35:06]).

Trump’s Congressional Agenda: Iran & the “SAVE America Act”

[20:23–23:44], [26:06–30:01]

• Vice President JD Vance rallies House GOP for third reconciliation bill, covering $60B for the Iran war and the president’s election bill (“SAVE America Act”). Senate hurdles noted. ([21:05–23:44])

• War with Iran:

  • Pentagon conducts another round of strikes as US-Iran hostilities escalate.
  • Trump threatens civilian infrastructure:

    "I'll save the energy targets for last... we're going to hit him very hard tonight... next week comes the power plants. . . unless they get to the table and negotiate." – President Trump, [26:06]

  • Keir Simmons highlights the controversy, legal and historical risks of targeting civilian infrastructure, citing possible Geneva Convention violations ([27:04–28:40]).

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3. Public Health Crisis: Cyclospora Food Outbreak

[35:58–43:16]

• Cyclospora Parasite Outbreak:
  • Over 7,000 cases nationwide, worst outbreak in Michigan.
    • Kelly O’Donnell: “Based on more than a thousand interviews... lettuce and salad greens have emerged as a possible source for this outbreak, at least in that state…” ([37:28])
    • Dr. Kavita Patel flags underfunded public health as a root cause for delays in tracing and containing the outbreak:

      "Just the investigative services of the CDC alone have been taken down to bare bones." – Dr. Patel, [41:16]

    • Symptoms and prevention: thorough washing, cooking produce; no recalled products yet ([38:03]).

---

4. Bipartisan Breakthrough: Historic Affordable Housing Law

[43:16–52:39]

• Landmark Legislation:

  • The first comprehensive housing bill in 36 years passes by bipartisan supermajority, becoming law without Trump’s signature (he dismissed it publicly over unrelated legislative frustrations).
  • Major points: lowering costs via new construction methods, relaxing regulatory hurdles for developers, capping Wall Street ownership of housing ([44:50–45:47]).
  • Congressman Mike Flood (R) and Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver (D) discuss how consensus was reached, rewarding compromise:

    “I think people now… are already asking, so what are you and Flood doing next?” – Cleaver, [48:56] “There's things I needed, there's things he needed. I didn't get everything I wanted. He didn't get everything he wanted. But isn't that the way America is supposed to work…” – Flood, [49:21]

• On Bipartisanship:

  Congressman Cleaver: “Democracy demands dialogue and debate and that’s what we’ve had.” ([51:28])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On DOJ & Presidential Loyalty:

  “I’m not sure there’s very many people who have ever had a criminal defense attorney who calls that person their friend.” – Todd Blanche, [04:19]

• On Evasive Answers—DNI Nominee Jay Clayton:

  “You refuse to answer a basic question about who won a presidential election, but you ask to lead America’s intelligence community. Isn’t it humiliating to be unable to answer this question…?” – Senator to Clayton, [16:37]

• On Bipartisanship:

  “We sat down and started talking. I don’t think we even had an agenda. We just, we had dinner and just started talking. We talked ourselves into [working together].” – Congressman Cleaver, [45:53]

• On ICE Policy Flip-Flop:

  “By post, the policy changed. This was a real change for the plan that ICE had carved out…” – Julia Ainslie, [32:46]

• On Funding Cuts and Disease Tracing:

  “Just the investigative services of the CDC alone have been taken down to bare bones. . . this is a multitude of [funding] deficiencies.” – Dr. Kavita Patel, [41:16], [42:39]

• On Congressional Divide:

  “Housing affordability is the top issue, I think in a lot of our campaigns and a lot of our efforts. And more importantly, it's important to Americans.” – Congressman Flood, [46:28]

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Timestamps for Key Topics

• 01:11 – Show opens with top headlines & Blanche's hearing overview
• 02:09 – Durbin presses Blanche on Epstein survivors
• 03:05 – Election law, DOJ weaponization, and third Trump term discussion
• 05:24 – Ryan Nobles analyzes confirmation hearing dynamics
• 07:00 – Tillis & Cornyn weigh their confirmation votes
• 10:10 – Weaponization fund debate explained
• 11:30 – Discussion around DOJ handling of Epstein files
• 14:02 – DNI nominee Jay Clayton dodges 2020 election question
• 17:41 – Election security analysis
• 20:23 – J.D. Vance rallies House Republicans for Iran/Save America Act
• 26:06 – Trump threatens to hit Iranian civilian infrastructure
• 27:04 – Geneva Convention, escalation risk, Keir Simmons analysis
• 31:29 – Trump reverses ICE traffic stop pause; Julia Ainslie on ICE confusion
• 35:58 – Cyclospora outbreak and CDC funding cuts
• 43:16 – Common Ground: Flood & Cleaver on bipartisan housing bill
• 46:54 – Housing as a unifying voter concern
• 49:21 – Advice for bipartisan dealmaking in Congress
• 51:28 – Reflections on bipartisanship and democracy

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Summary

This episode offers a brisk, candid, and at times contentious snapshot of American politics at a moment of significant institutional stress: high-profile confirmation battles, security state controversy, an administration at odds with its own agencies, a major overseas conflict, and a public health crisis. The program also highlights a rare moment of legislative cooperation, delivering hope that even in polarized times, policy progress is possible.

Listeners leave with a nuanced sense of Capitol Hill drama, the stakes of ongoing national debates (on law, security, health, and housing), and the peculiar and persistent obstacles to honest dialogue at the highest levels of government.

Transcript

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[Gabe Gutierrez]

I really love the Start Today.

[Todd Blanche]

They care about how I feel.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

It's the staff on the app. It's the connections you make.

[Todd Blanche]

Without good mental and physical health, you have nothing.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

It tells me how to cook to keep myself healthy.

[Todd Blanche]

I look at my app and I'm like, wow, I didn't know I did 7,000 steps today.

[Start Today Wellness App Announcer]

Start today meets you where you are. Download the Start Today wellness app now on your Apple or Android device. Terms apply C App for details.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Welcome to Meet the Press Now. I'm Gabe Gutierrez. On a busy day here in Washington and on Capitol Hill, where the Senate held confirmation hearings for three of President Trump's nominees for attorney general, director of National Intelligence, and CDC director, and where Vice President Vance met with House Republicans to encourage them to advance the Trump administration's agenda. We will get to all of that throughout the hour, but we begin with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch's confirmation hearing as he seeks to become the permanent ag. Blanch, who used to be President Trump's personal attorney, was grilled mainly by Democrats about his respect for the rule of law, the president's push to weaponize the DOJ against his political rivals, the scrapped payout fund for Trump's allies, and the department's release of the Epstein files. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressing blanche on a number of topics, including whether he would meet with Epstein's survivors.

[Senator Dick Durbin]

So can I get your word under oath that within the next 30 days, you will personally sit down with these 10 victims and hear their case in terms of what needs to be done

[Todd Blanche]

by the Department of Justice chairman? I appreciate them being here today. I also have somebody from my office who's spent her entire career working on cases like Mr. Epstein's. She's in charge of our task force investigating human trafficking. She's available to talk to them.

[Senator Dick Durbin]

She can sit right next to you. She can sit right next to you when you meet with these survivors?

[Todd Blanche]

I am. I have never said I will not meet with survivors.

[Senator Dick Durbin]

Will you meet with these 10 survivors? I'm asking you on the record, they have lawyers.

[Todd Blanche]

As you know, I'm prohibited from meeting directly with them.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Democrats are also zeroing in on concerns about the president's push to overhaul elections, including whether Blanch as Attorney General, would send federal agents to polling locations during upcoming elections.

[Senator Questioning Attorney General]

Will you commit to following clear federal law and not deploying federal agents to polling locations?

[Todd Blanche]

I will commit to following the Law center, of course.

[Senator Questioning Attorney General]

Does that include not deploying federal agents to polling places?

[Todd Blanche]

I will absolutely follow the law no matter what it includes.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Blanche Also responding to questions tied to the president repeatedly floating an unconstitutional third

[Senator Questioning Attorney General]

term, President Trump, just as a simple matter of constitutional law, eligible to run for another term as president in 2028.

[Todd Blanche]

I don't believe he is.

[Senator Questioning Attorney General]

No, that is a correct, in my view, reading of the plain language of the 22nd Amendment. Why do you think several of the judicial nominees of this admin have refused repeatedly to answer that question simply and clearly, as you just did when I put it to them, I have no

[Todd Blanche]

idea why they answered questions.

[Ryan Nobles]

Me neither.

[Todd Blanche]

I mean, you're asking me to speculate about something I don't know.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Republicans largely defended Blanche, giving him the opportunity to try and defend his ties to the president, although Blanche appeared to misspeak when answering this question.

[Senator Thom Tillis]

Are you and President Trump friends?

[Todd Blanche]

I'm his lawyer. Was his lawyer and now I'm the deputy Attorney General, so I met him as his criminal defense attorney. I'm not sure there's very many people who have ever had a criminal defense attorney who calls that person their friend.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Today's hearing also featured questions from two Republicans who have become occasional critics of the administration and who are not on the ballot this November. Thom Tillis, who's retiring, and John Cornyn, who lost his reelection primary to Trump's pick, Ken Paxton. Senator Cornyn pressing Blanche about the so called anti weaponization fund. It was part of the Trump administration's settlement with the irs. It was scrapped by the DOJ amid a wave of bipartisan condemnation. But Blanche seemingly conceding that the fund might not totally be dead after all. NBC News chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles joins me now. And also with me here in studio is NBC News Chief justice and national affairs correspondent Kelly o'. Donnell. Ryan, I want to start with you. What stood out to you about today's hearing?

[Ryan Nobles]

I think what was most striking, Gabe, is that there are a whole host of issues connected to Todd Blanche, things that you could even describe as controversies, such as his close ties, his close personal ties to President Trump and his former representation, his handling of the Epstein files the questions around whether or not he would continue to go after Trump's political opponents, using the power of the Department of Justice as a result of that, and then, of course, this weaponization fund. But most of them, if not all of them, probably have little to do with whether or not he will ultimately be confirmed. Republicans seem to be willing to accept his answers to many of these controversial questions, his explanations as a result. And there's really only two Republicans right now that appear to have his fate in their hands. And based on what we heard in the questioning today, it seems as though they're pretty much ready to fall in line and vote yes on the Blanche confirmation.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

You know, Ryan, you know, we heard from Tillis that, yeah, he's leaning towards doing it. With regards to Cornyn, have we heard from him either after the hearing or during the break? That indicates where he's falling on this one. You said that he'll likely end up doing it, but is that for sure?

[Ryan Nobles]

At this point, it is still an open question. And one of the things that's interesting about these hearings is that it's not unlike a Supreme Court case where you try and glean which way a judge will end up voting on a particular case by the questions that they ask. That's not always a guarantee, and sometimes it can be misleading. But if you go by the way both Tillis and Cornyn conducted themselves, it seems as though they're working their way to a yes. This is what Tillis said during the hearing, and then shortly after. Take a listen to that.

[Senator Thom Tillis (continued)]

I didn't need this hearing. I mean, I've met with Mr. Blanche and others, so it's not like we're not having ongoing discussions. The hearing that I really wanted to focus on the matter today was really, are we all in agreement that 1776 should have a spork stuck in it? And the acknowledgement I got from Mr. Blanche was exactly the one I hoped I'd get from him. Yeah, let's work on it, figure out how to get it expeditiously done. We can erase this and then see if the Democrats are really serious about this. When I go to the floor and you see it, are you a yes and no, undecided on Blanche? I'm a lean, yes, but I've still got understandings and they're working on and they're working in good faith, so I'm optimistic we can get there.

[Ryan Nobles]

So you can tell there from Tillis, he's leaning yes. He wants to vote yes. He seems to be giving Blanche every Opportunity to get him to a yes. Cornyn is a little squishier. Listen to how he responded when pressed on a similar question afterwards.

[Mel Zanona]

You're still undecided at this point, Correct. But what are your concerns?

[Gabe Gutierrez]

What's your biggest concern and why are you undecided?

[Senator John Cornyn]

Well, it's been concerned all along. You know, he's, he's the president's private lawyer. He's now taken on a new role. I want to make sure he understands the difference. And, you know, the tax settlement was, I think, very much leaned in favor of the president and his son and

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the Trump,

[Senator John Cornyn]

whether they call it the Trump empire or whatever it is. And I was pointing out that the weaponization fund, which people were concerned about, is not really dead. He says it is, but he admitted that it could be enforced because this is a. Essentially because this is a contract.

[Senator Thom Tillis (continued)]

The margins are really tight in the Judiciary Committee. If you were to vote no, he would be stuck in committee. Are you prepared to do something like that?

[Senator John Cornyn]

That doesn't bother me. I mean, I'm just going to make a decision based on the merits, and the consequences of that is it will flow from there.

[Ryan Nobles]

And I think that question you heard our producer Frank Thorpe ask Senator Cornyn at the end there is the key one. Is he willing, even after everything he's gone through with President Trump, to stick his neck out in a way where he would be the deciding vote preventing Todd Blanche from being confirmed? I tend to believe that he's probably not willing to go that far, that he doesn't feel passionately enough about Blanche's issues to stand in the way. But he's got probably two weeks to think about this before it actually gets a vote in the committee. And Cordon has that power in his hands right now. So anything could happen.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Gabe, very interesting drama considering President Trump coming out for his opponent in that primary in Pakistan. I want to bring in Kelly o' Donnell right now. Kelly, the anti weaponization fund in the IRS settlement that we mentioned, bipartisan backlash here. You just heard in that answer from Senator Cornyn, though, you know, Blanche said it was a moot point, that it wasn't going to move forward. However, some senators are interpreting it to mean that it's not completely dead. Walk us through why that is.

[Kelly O'Donnell]

Well, Blanche is saying, I'm saying under oath, it's not going forward. What Senator Cornyn and others point to is that the document that was a part of the official record leaves open the possibility that the parties involved could renegotiate. That is not sufficient to either Senate Senator Tillis or Senator Cornyn, as we hear them today, because they want to be certain that this will stop.

[Interviewer]

Why?

[Kelly O'Donnell]

Because they believe it was an inappropriate choice for taxpayers to pay out claims filed against the federal government by people who could include January 6 rioters, others who believe they were somehow weaponized. The Justice Department was weaponized against them. That's the issue. Now, there's still a whole separate method that exists in the federal code where people can file claims if they feel they've been wronged by the federal government. So there's still a pathway. But this was so high profile and viewed by many as an inappropriate use of the president who runs the government, getting an agreement from the government.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Now, certainly there were a lot of issues that came up during today's hearing, including the administration's handling of the Epstein files and the release of the Epstein files. Certainly that's been looming over the second Trump term. In the hearing today, did Blanche offer or acknowledge any mistakes when it came to the release of the Epstein files or the investigation?

[Kelly O'Donnell]

Well, he did acknowledge that there were some mistakes made, as he did at the time in terms of the release of things that was hurried. He said he takes responsibility for those. He offered an apology that the women, many of the survivors who were there today, have been through a terrible ordeal. He did that sort of a little bit of an arm's length that he is saddened that they went through it. He did not apologize explicitly for how they've been treated in this process, and that will likely not be satisfact to those in that community. And he was a little unwilling in repeated questioning to provide a guarantee that they will get to meet with people at the high level of the Department of Justice.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

His responses to the Epstein questions, were they notably different than what we heard from Pam Bondi during her tenure?

[Kelly O'Donnell]

Well, Pam Bondi, I think, was at a different time, and so she had had some significant missteps. I think he has been able to benefit from being immersed in this since the release of the files. There were problems with that, but he's also saying that there there are additional files that do not merit being made public. And there's still a contentious argument about that, that there are those who want to see more of those files released. And ultimately only two people, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, were ever prosecuted in this whole elaborate scheme. And there are many who believe there is more information they should pursue.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

And Ryan, I know one of the more contentious exchanges today was with Senator Dick Durbin before the hearing Today he had detailed what he had said. It was a private conversation that he had with Tom Blanche ahead of today's confirmation hearing. He, he had told reporters that Blanche told them that he made a mistake on the anti weaponization fund. But what did Blanche say about that today while testifying? Did he acknowledge a mistake? Did he, you know, what he told Senator Durbin or what Durbin says he had told him during a private conversation? And did he acknowledge that in under oath today?

[Ryan Nobles]

It's clear that Todd Blanche has a different recollection of what that conversation entailed and what could be gleaned from that conversation. You know, he does not acknowledge that there was some sort of mistake made with that, but does acknowledge that they want to try and get rid of the weaponization fund. The process in which the weaponization fund gets undone obviously is still a point of contention for all Democrats and a certain amount of Republicans. But the idea that they agreed on the way that that conversation came together I think was clear today that there's certainly a difference of opinion as to what happened in that conversation.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Ryan Nobles for us on Capitol Hill. Kayla o' Donnell here in the studio, both watching this hearing throughout the day. We thank you so much for kicking us off. And as we mentioned, there was another high stakes confirmation hearing today on Capitol Hill. Jay Clayton, the president's pick to be the national the director of National Intelligence, also testified before the Senate today. Clayton's confirmation hearing was originally scheduled for last month but was abruptly canceled by the president hours before it was set to begin today. Multiple Democratic senators pressing Clayton on issues tied to election security and the president's baseless claims of foreign interference and fraud in the 2020 election. It led to some heated exchanges as Clayton repeatedly dodged and danced around acknowledging that Joe Biden the 2020 election over Donald Trump.

[Senator Questioning Attorney General]

Do you deny that Joe Biden won the 2020 election, Senator?

[Jay Clayton]

I'm not an election denier, Joe. Joe Biden was certified as the president of the United States.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton]

So I want to ask a follow up question to the vice chairman who won the 2020 election?

[Jay Clayton]

I've answered that question. I'm not going to get into that.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton]

You have not answered that question. Could you answer the question who won the 2020 election? Pretty simple question.

[Jay Clayton]

Yeah, I said my answer. No, I'm going to give you the same answer.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton]

Can you tell me why Joe Biden was certified as the winner of the 2020 election?

[Jay Clayton]

I really, I'm going back to my constitutional law here, but I don't want to continue to have debate about this, but I believe he had the most electoral votes.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton]

So he won the election.

[Jay Clayton]

He followed our process, had the most electoral votes, was declared the winner, and.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton]

And who has the most electoral votes? Is it the person that wins or the person that loses?

[Jay Clayton]

I think that's your characterization. I really.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton]

I'm not going to continue the reason why we.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton (continued)]

Who won the 2020 election?

[Jay Clayton]

Like I said, I'm not. I'm not going to get into that

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton (continued)]

with you, but you do have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee.

[Jay Clayton]

Is anything that I just said not honest or forthright?

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton (continued)]

Yes. You're not being honest or forthright. Who won the 2020 election?

[Jay Clayton]

I asked the question. We can keep doing this.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton (continued)]

Well, we're going to keep doing it because you're not being honest and forthright.

[Jay Clayton]

I'm not going to engage in the theater.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton (continued)]

You refuse to answer a simple matter of fact about the 2020 election. Is that right?

[Jay Clayton]

No, that's not right.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton (continued)]

Then answer the question. Who won the 2020 election?

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton]

I have answered the question.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton (continued)]

Answer it. What is your answer?

[Jay Clayton]

I've given you my answer.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton (continued)]

What is your answer? You refuse to answer a basic question about who won a presidential election, but you asked to lead America's intelligence community. Isn't it humiliating to be unable to answer this question, to have to indulge the president's delusions? We know, you know, everybody in this room knows the truthful answer to that question. Why can you not give it?

[Jay Clayton]

I think I gave you the answer.

[Senator Questioning Attorney General]

We've tried umpteen different ways to give to. The ability to just acknowledge that Joe Biden was the president was fairly intuitive.

[Jay Clayton]

I've acknowledged, Senator, that Joe Biden was the president. I've acknowledged that.

[Senator Questioning Attorney General]

And fairly and duly elected.

[Jay Clayton]

And fairly and duly elected under our process.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Joining me now is NBC News intelligence reporter Dan Delouse. So, Dan, we just heard what Jay Clayton had to say or not say about the 2020 election. What else did he have to say about election security more broadly?

[Dan DeLouse]

Well, he didn't say a lot. He was hedging. But he said that he thought election security could be improved. But then when he was pressed about exactly, you know, what was the problem, he was vague and he was asked, is there a problem with voter fraud? And he said, well, it's hard to answer that until we get better data.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Even though many election experts and even cabinet officials from President Trump's first term have repeatedly said that there was no widespread voter fraud. This also comes as President Trump is preparing to deliver a speech tomorrow night. In prime time. It's expected to be about election security. Clayton was asked about that today. Let's listen to what degree have any of you been involved in the process for what may be discussed by the President tomorrow night?

[Jay Clayton]

I'm not involved in that.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Because you're not currently the Director of National Intelligence.

[Jay Clayton]

I'm currently not Director of National Intelligence.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton]

Just to follow up briefly, you've had no involvement whatsoever with this proposed speech tomorrow night by the President. You haven't been consulted, discussed any involvement, is that correct?

[Jay Clayton]

That is correct.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Now, Dan, the president is expected to use that speech to raise allegations of interference in the 2020 election. What do we know about any attempts potentially to interfere in that election, particularly by foreign adversaries?

[Dan DeLouse]

So at this point, Gabe, there has been no report assessment issued by the intelligence community that a foreign adversary is at this moment interfering or trying to interfere with the election. But we know from past elections that Russia and China in particular do try to influence our elections through propaganda.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

And that's at. That's a very key distinction, right? Difference between interfering and influencing, right?

[Dan DeLouse]

That's right. So ballots have not been tampered with in the past. Ballot counting was not affected in the past. And in past elections, though, Russia, through online propaganda and disinformation, tries to skew the results to their liking. China has not shown a preference for either party. They will focus on down ballot races usually, and they'll be generally try to undermine Americans confidence in democracy.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

And so far as we know, the administration has not provided any new evidence or, you know, we await to hear what the president has to say tomorrow night. But to your knowledge and your sources, there hasn't been any new evidence provided, correct?

[Dan DeLouse]

That's right, exactly. And one thing to point out that about the 2020 election, there's no evidence that China tried to undermine Trump's candidacy, which some of his allies have alleged.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Dan Delouse, we thank you so much. And as the Senate focused on President Trump's picks today, the House has been focusing on President Trump's agenda with Vice President J.D. vance on the Hill to meet with House Republicans. He spoke to reporters just moments ago after the meeting wrapped up, saying that the Republican conference is focused on passing a third reconciliation package, which would include funding for the war with Iran and also parts of the president's bill to overhaul elections, known as the SAVE Act. NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Mel Zanona joins me now. And Mel, the vice president's meeting with House Republicans, it lasted just a few minutes. What did he say was accomplished there?

[Mel Zanona]

So JD Dan said he came to deliver a message of unity and he really wanted to rally Republicans around this third reconciliation reconciliation package, which, which is not going to be an easy feat, gave on Capitol Hill, especially in the Senate, where there are a lot more hurdles to overcome. But he says he really wanted to emphasize the point that President Trump's top priority is the Save America act, which is one of several pieces in this reconciliation bill. But the heart of the bill is really defense spending, around $60 billion for the war in Iran. Interestingly, Vance did not mention it, at least to us, in those remarks, remarks when he came out after the meeting. But it was discussed internally in the meeting with some lawmakers saying they want more information about exactly what that money is going to be used for on the war in Iran. But Most of what J.D. vance was doing up here was a rallying session trying to get everyone on the same page, trying to get people excited about passing this reconciliation bill. But there are going to be really serious hurdles in the Senate. That's really where the focus is. And energy is going to be needed because the Save America act can't necessarily be passed with this special reconciliation budget line process. They tried doing that in the last round of reconciliation. It was knocked out by the Senate parliamentarian, who's essentially the referee of the Senate. So there's going to be some really, really difficult hurdles here. But all of this, of course, coming ahead of Trump's speech tomorrow. J.D. vance was asked about that speech and he said he's not going to give away too many details, but he said to expect Trump to talk about a litany of different topics tomorrow.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Yeah, you know, when it comes to the Save America act, you mentioned this, that didn't have the votes, you know, a couple of days or weeks ago, as far as I know, doesn't have the votes now. Did the vice president give any acknowledgment to what might change the twist in the arms in there? Is there a possibility that, you know, some Republicans, Republicans that were skeptical on this might actually go along with it this time so as not to upset the president?

[Mel Zanona]

It's a great, it is a great question, Gabe. I will tell you that the problems with the Save America act are not here in the House. It's really over in the Senate, as I mentioned. I think for the vice president, this was also an opportunity to really get some face time with some of these House Republican members. He initially was supposed to address them earlier this week. He had a cancel, he said, because he had to appear on the Joe Rogan podcast. Of course, there's a lot of questions about 2028 and sort of the behind the scenes maneuvering that some of these potential contenders are doing right now on Capitol Hill and elsewhere. But for J.D. vance, this really was about reminding Republicans that for Trump, it's all about the Save America act right now.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Now, Zanona Live for us on Capitol Hill with the breaking news of the vice president's visit. Mel, thank you. And coming up, the very latest in the war against Iran as the US Intensifies military operations and President Trump threatens to take out the country's civilian infrastructure. We've also got exclusive new reporting on the skyrocketing price tag of the conflict. Plus, President Trump overturns ISIS order that agents pause vehicle chases despite a string of deadly accidents, including Monday's deadly incident incident in Maine. You're watching Meet THE Press now. Stay with us. This is Telemundo de Portes in Luiso Martabia.

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[Gabe Gutierrez]

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[Ed Conway]

trigger a CIA backed coup? Do AirPods herald the arrival of a new global order? What do LED lights say about the future of humanity? I'm Ed Conway and in each episode of my new podcast, Stuff Matters, I take an object, crack it open and reveal the world shaping forces hidden inside. This is economics told through the things we think we understand. Search Stuff Matters on your podcast app to listen and follow.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Welcome back. The Pentagon announced in the last hour that it's launching another round of strikes on Iran right now. This is the second round of strikes today and the fifth day in a row that the US And Iran are exchanging fire as the US Looks to degrade Tehran's ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with Fox News, President Trump is threatening to expand that target list to include civilian infrastructure.

[President Donald Trump]

I'll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we'll hit energy targets. Yeah, but we're going to hit them very hard tonight. We're going to hit him very hard tomorrow night. We're going to hit him very hard the night after. And then next week it gets really bad for them because next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges. We're going to knock out all their power plants. We're going to knock out all their bridges, unless they get to the table and negotiate.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

It all comes as the cost of the war with Iran appears to be skyrocketing. Multiple sources telling NBC News that the Defense Department's internal overall cost estimate is now up to 80 to $100 billion. Joining me now is NBC News chief international correspondent Keir Simmons. Keir, earlier this week the president said that he expects the US Military operations against Iran to go very fast. But are there any signs of de escalation between the two countries?

[Keir Simmons]

No, no signs at all. And we should just mention you having just played that sound bite, that it is against the Geneva Convention to target infrastructure that is considered essential for civilians. But there's another point here, too, which is that effectively what President Trump appears to be doing is going back to an attempt, as Steve Wyckoff put it weeks, months ago, to get Iran to capitulate. It hasn't capitulated so far. And of course, as you know, well, there's a good deal of history that suggests that targeting civilian populations doesn't get countries to capitulate. In fact, it encourages them to rally around the flag. Now, whether or not that's what's going to happen and people will be listening and noting that, of course, all this began with protests in Iran and the Trump administration saying that it was moving in support of those protests. Whether what exactly? How that will happen. What will happen? Look, I think we don't know. We had this week President Trump suggest that he would impose 20% tariffs at the Strait of Hormuz, which you could take a ship from here in Doha to the Strait of Hormuz, although you'd be brave to at this point. He suggests that and then back down from that. Having said, he had phone calls from people like the leaders of leader of this country, Qatar. So will he go through with that threat? He's made the threat before and then not gone through with it. Where's the off ramp for the US For Iran? I mean, these are huge questions. And the issue really is bigger questions now because we thought we had a deal, right? We thought there was an agreement. And now Iran and the US don't appear to be able to agree on what they agreed upon.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

You know, and here speaking, both countries don't seem to be able to agree at this point. The president said in that sound bite that we played from the, from the interview that he's going to keep bombing them and he's threatening to target the bridges and power plants unless they come back to the negotiating table. Is there a negotiating table at this point? You know, is anybody actually talking?

[Keir Simmons]

Yeah, that's, yeah, yeah. Very good question. And who are they negotiating with? I think is another question that's worth asking. And okay, on the US side, it's the Vice President, J.D. vance, Steve Wyckoff, President Trump's envoy, his, his son in law, Jared Kushner. They certainly the two of them, Kushner and Wyckoff have been trying to do a deal with Russia and around Russia and Ukraine for a long time. So far haven't managed to achieve that, of course. And then on the Iranian side, the people who are negotiating are civilian politicians, not the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or some of the more extreme politicians within Iran. So I think it's right. I think President Trump is not necessarily wrong when he suggests that the leadership of Iran is divided. But how do you negotiate with that country? And will it help to attack the country more particularly its civilian infrastructure, maybe even more of the leaders?

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Kier Simmons reporting live for us in Doha. Kir, thank you. And up next, the Department of Homeland Security under scrutiny for back to back fatal shootings in Maine and Texas. And it's also under pressure from President Trump to make more arrests. We have the latest on that. Stay with us here on MEET THE PRESS now.

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[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton]

Welcome back.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

We're following breaking news on the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. The Department of Homeland Security now reversing its decision to pause traffic stops by agents after two men were shot and killed by ICE officers within the last week. The department announced just yesterday that it would halt vehicle stops after those two fatal incidents in Texas and Maine. Both men were in their vehicles when the officers opened fire on them. But President Trump posted this morning on social media, we cannot give up one of ice's most important and effective crime fighting tools and traffic stops, adding keep those crime stat records coming. Senators from Maine, where one of those men who were killed are now reacting to the abrupt reversal.

[Senator Questioning Jay Clayton]

It was a mistake. He made a mistake.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

I believe that the DHS position of

[Senator Thom Tillis]

having a halt in these traffic stops

[Gabe Gutierrez]

until we know more answers is the right way to go. And joining me now is senior Homeland Security correspondent Julia Ainslie. Julia, what are you hearing from officials about what led to this abrupt reversal?

[Julia Ainslie]

Well, it was a surprise to many inside DHS this morning. Just yesterday, they had rolled out a policy telling people in the 25 ICE field offices across the country that they needed to pause all non emergency vehicles stops so that they could review these two incidents in Maine and Houston and decide if this was an issue of training and they needed to better train the men and women of ICE about what to do when they're pursuing someone who is in a vehicle because of these two fatal incidents occurring in vehicles. Instead, what they woke up to was the same thing we woke up to, Gabe, which was a post from the president on Truth Social saying that he wanted traffic stops, meaning those vehicle stops to continue to be a tool by which they could arrest people who are in the country illegally. And so really, by post, the policy changed. This was a real change for the plan that ICE had carved out, thinking that they needed a pause in order to get to the bottom of what's going on here and prevent future deaths.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

You know, Julia, I spoke with one White House official today who tried to argue that this wasn't a policy change, that it was just, you know, overturning an internal DHS message. But certainly. And if you're an officer getting these mixed messages, does this complicate an already complicated job?

[Julia Ainslie]

Certainly confusing for officers. Certainly confusing about who they answer to. Are they answering to Mark Wayne Mullen? Are they answering to the. Or are they answering to the White House? Because in this case, it seems that this really came as a surprise to the bosses of these men and women who are on the street. And I think what you and I were both getting as I'm talking to people at DHS and you're talking to people inside the White House shows the real breakdown in communication here. And perhaps what the White House is really saying there is that it wasn't a policy because they didn't bless it. We're still trying to get to the bottom of exactly how this policy was implemented. Who signed off and what were the reasons why the president felt that he needed to weigh in and cancel this today. Mark Wayne Mullen, though, taking the side of the president putting out another post just after him, saying that they would use every tool available and that they would use anything they could to arrest and deport people in the country illegally. Of course not ruling out traffic stops.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Well, certainly it wouldn't be the first time there would be a miscommunication between the White House and the Department of Homeland Security. Julia, in the wake of these shootings, DHS said that body cameras would be sent to all ICE agents. What more do we know about that policy?

[Julia Ainslie]

That's right. It's really been a history of fits and starts with body cameras when it comes to ICE under the Biden administration. I remember sitting in a press conference where they showed us the new model that was going to go out to all of the ICE officers. They started a pilot program where about 20% of the officers around the country got those body worn cameras. But then when President Trump came into office, he put a pause on a mandate that would require ICE or any federal agents to wear those body cameras. Then after the fatal shooting in Houston last week, ICE put out a statement that they would be sending body worn cameras out to the men and women of ice. Everyone in ero, that's Immigration Enforcement and Removal Operation, people who are making most of the arrests that everyone in that part of ice would have these within 60 days. So now we're down to about 52 days until everyone should have them. So we'll be marking our calendars and watching the progress. It still hasn't been baked in as a federal mandate though.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Julian, our senior, our senior Homeland Security correspondent, Julia, thank you. And after the break, what health officials are now saying about the potential source of the the foodborne parasite that's wreaking havoc in Michigan and other parts of the US Keep it right here on MEET THE Press now. Welcome back. Health officials are racing to find the cause of a multi state outbreak of a Parasitic foodborne illness that's already sick in thousands of people across the country. The parasite is called cyclospiriasis, and it can cause weeks of severe diarrhea. The outbreak now spans 34 states, with the CDC investigating nearly 7,000 cases. The worst of the outbreak appears to be in Michigan, which has confirmed more than 3,700 cases. 141 people have been hospitalized since this outbreak began in May. Officials are urgently searching for the source and are investigating lettuce and salad greens as a potential cause. But as of yet, no single product or distributor has been singled out and no recalls have been issued. Joining me now is NBC News medical reporter Erica Edwards and medical contributor Dr. Kavita Patel. Thank you both so much for joining me. Erica, I want to start with you. What more do we know about what officials are saying could be the source of this outbreak?

[Senator Questioning Attorney General]

Hi, Gabe.

[Interviewer]

You know, Michigan's top doctor told me that based on more than a thousand interviews with people infected with this parasite, lettuce and salad greens have emerged as a possible source for this outbreak, at least in that state and surrounding areas. But it's unclear whether what's causing illness in Michigan is the same problem in states like North Carolina, New York. It's very likely that we have multiple outbreaks going on, and the CDC says it expects cases to continue through August.

[Kelly O'Donnell]

Gabe.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

So, Erica, what more can people do to reduce their risk of illness? Is there anything consumers should be avoiding right now?

[Interviewer]

Well, we know that past outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce like raspberries, snow peas, green onions, herbs as well as lettuce. When in doubt, rinse fruits and vegetables really, really well, scrubbing and peeling those outer layers where the parasites really like to stick and cook produce when you can, because that's the only way really to kill the parasite. Gabe.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Dr. Patel, if you can walk us through the process of trying to identify the source of this outbreak, why has it been so difficult to pin this down?

[Senator Thom Tillis]

Yeah, Gabe, under normal circumstances this can be difficult because the time from exposure to having initial symptoms can be anywhere from one to two weeks. And then you have to go through a process called a trace back. That's what the fda, cdc, local and state health officials are doing right now, where they're doing, as Erica described, interviewing people, asking them to think about what they ate over the last week. And Gabe, as you know, that can be a puzzle in and of itself. From that point, they then need to identify a source. It could be a distribution plant, it could a farm or a processing, distribution center where the farms then get put into salad bags, for example, and then you can imagine that if it's a water source, because we've been talking about this as if we're assuming what it is, but it could be water sources for these farms. So as you trace those chains back, it takes a lot of coordination, a lot of leadership and candidly, a lot of funding.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

So doctor, is one of the issues here that unlike many other foodborne pathogens, cyclospirasis, it can take weeks to make someone sick. So how exactly does that complicate how cases are logged and counted? And does it have a huge impact on the tracing process?

[Senator Thom Tillis]

It can just the weeks alone because of people's memories, recollection, and then also you're trying to identify sources of food from points in time. Think about those lots and batches that we see on the bags of produce. We often ignore them. But think about any food recall. By the way, food recalls and some of these safety issues are very common. What's unusual about this multi state outbreak is that we are weeks into this and we still don't really have not pinpointed these sources. And I think as you're pointing out, we're just kind of sitting here saying, should we not eat lettuce, should we stop eating salads entirely? That can wreak havoc across the country as people are trying to think about what to do. And then on top of that, this isn't something people are used to having a little bit of a GI bug, but it's days of illness. So most people are not presenting to clinics like mine on the initial hours of symptoms. They're waiting for days and days. And then we have to do a test, Gabe. Then we have to get the test results back. All of that takes time and coordination. That frankly just is going to last us probably well into August, as erica said.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

And Dr. So let's talk about how decisions here in Washington or Atlanta could affect people across the country. The CDC scaled back its food surveillance program last year. That program tracks foodborne illnesses. Has that impacted the agency's current ability to track and trace outbreaks like the one we're seeing right now?

[Senator Thom Tillis]

Yeah, that's the Foodnet program and it's certainly not helpful. But that's not necessarily an active surveillance program. It is an important piece of the arsenal that we have in public health, but it is probably not the most important piece. What's really devastated, the lack of federal and state kind of official response time has been over $16 billion that have been cut to public health. Agencies for a lot of things, including monitoring and being able to respond and investigate these kinds of outbreaks. Gave just the investigative services of the CDC alone have been taken down to bare bones. So this is not necessarily one program. It's a multitude of deficiencies. And I'll just make I don't want the country to remember the worst days of COVID But a lot of this has to do with leadership. We don't even really have that kind of leadership inside of the cdc. We need these voices of leadership. The cdc, the fda, where you have acting directors right now, that's actually where state and local officials and just regular people like you and me try to get advice from.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

So you mentioned the CDC and, you know, other public health agencies. You alluded to this. HHS has moved to cut billions of dollars in health funding from states and local health offices. So do we have any evidence, though, that that's contributed to a slowdown in being able to get this under control?

[Senator Thom Tillis]

We do have evidence that that decrease in funding and particularly in not just the states that have been the most affected, but in all parts of the country, have taken down officials that would have been responsible for being the front line of at least the investigation and the surveillance. Conducting thousands of interviews takes many people hours. Those people hours are exactly where these funding cuts have hit the hardest gave. So, yes, you can make a direct line. It's not one program, it's not two programs, but it's a multitude of these cuts, largely in staffing, largely in being able to investigate these exact type of outbreaks and coordinate with other officials.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Dr. Kavita Patel and Erica Edwards, thank you both so much. And still to come, building bridges and homes, a pair of bipartisan lawmakers joined me to discuss the landmark affordable housing bill that became law over the weekend without the president. The latest installment of our Common Ground series is next. This is MEET THE PRESS Now. Welcome back. A landmark bipartisan housing bill became law last week despite President Trump's refusal to sign it. The president dismissed the bill as, quote, a yawn and canceled a signing ceremony to express his anger at Congress for not passing an unrelated bill to overhaul elections. The law, which aims to make housing more affordable at a time when rising prices are a top concern for voters heading into November, passed both the House and Senate with huge bipartisan majorities. I recently spoke with two of the key lawmakers behind the bill as part of our Common Ground series. And joining me now, Republican Congressman Mike Flood of Nebraska, chairman of the Housing subcommittee, and Democratic Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver of Missouri. Ranking member of the Housing Subcommittee. Congressman, thank you so much for joining us here on Meets Press now. We really appreciate it.

[Congressman Mike Flood]

Thanks for having us.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

And so, Congressman Flood, I want to start with you. Lay out what this legislation does. We've been hearing about it now for quite some time. It's been in the news quite a bit over the last two weeks or so. What do you see as the highlight of this legislation?

[Congressman Mike Flood]

First time in 36 years that we have comprehensive housing legislation. The biggest thing I'd like to point to is manufactured housing, 3D printed housing. I mean, all of this has changed so much in the last 10 years. These are not the trailers of yesteryear. For the first time in a long time, you don't have to have a chassis which makes those homes 30% cheaper. In 1905 you could buy a home, a two story home, pre made in the Sears Roebuck catalog. And a lot of those homes still stand today across the American cities. The other thing that I think the bill really does, it lets cities use money in the CDBG program, community development block program for the first time. And it says to affordable housing developers, you don't have to do an environmental study in some developments, you don't have to abide by the Section 3 requirements, Build America, Buy America, more waivers for cities and affordable housing developers.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Congressman Cleaver, just how significant is this legislation for you and why was it so important for you to reach across the aisle?

[Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver]

Well, I think we both reached about the same time and it was one of the best reaches I think that we've seen in Congress in quite a while. That's why everybody is moving around and talking about this. We sat down and started talking. I don't think we even had an agenda. We just, we had dinner and just started talking. We talked ourselves into.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

You had dinner? A Democrat and Republican having dinner these days?

[Congressman Mike Flood]

We went to the prime rib. We both like prime ribs.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

But to that point is finding common ground rewarded in Congress these days?

[Congressman Mike Flood]

I think so. Look at the vote totals. I mean, 370 votes out of 435 on an issue that is important to everybody in America. Housing affordability is the top issue, I think in a lot of our campaigns and a lot of our efforts. And more importantly, it's important to Americans. This is the biggest check they write every month, whether it's rent or their mortgage with the property taxes and the home insurance premiums. So I think it's a big deal.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Well, look, you think it's a big deal. The president, however, let this sit for 10 days before he signed it. Did he deny Republicans a victory lap, the ability to have a victory lap heading into the midterm elections by doing that?

[Congressman Mike Flood]

Well, here's the deal. He wanted to make his point on the SAVE Act. That should surprise no one. I voted for the SAVE act three times. I'm probably going to get a chance to vote on it again. This is a message to the Senate.

[President Donald Trump]

Senate.

[Congressman Mike Flood]

But his administration had been working with us all the way through the process, including capping institutional investment in housing at 350 units. So wall Street's out of the housing business. Wall Street's out of the single family housing business. That was a key plank of his platform, and he brought it up at the State of the Union.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Congressman Cleaver, do you think that Democrats are still incentivized to reach across the aisle, given what happened with the housing bill with the president refusing to sign it? And then also. So look, your district is going through some changes when it comes to redistricting. I asked a question earlier. Is reaching across the aisles finding common ground rewarded in Congress these days? Why should Democrats be incentivized to do what you're doing here and try and strike these compromises?

[Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver]

Because it's the right thing to do. And one of the things I think we might be getting from this effort is the inspiration to the nation and to our colleagues that it is possible, even now in our perceived to be dysfunctional Congress for us to get together and do big things. I mean, this is not some piece of legislation that you can throw around and do just about any time. We've not had anything like this in the last couple of decades. And so I think it's a big deal. We made it a big deal. And I think people now, I mean, as I said to a group the other night, people are already asking, so what are you and Flood doing next?

[President Donald Trump]

Right.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

You know, well, to that point, what are you and Flood doing next? A lot of the conversation now in Washington is on the Save America Act. We were just talking about it in this interview. You, you of course, are on opposite sides of that issue, given your political parties. But how do you come together on housing? And then when you're so far apart on other issues, how do you come together on an issue, other issues in Congress to be able to break this deadline?

[Congressman Mike Flood]

My advice to any committee or to any member of Congress that wants to get something across the finish line is start the process understanding you've got to get 60 votes. If you start the process on an issue and it's like, well, this is going to either be a messaging bill or it's going to go to reconciliation or it's going nowhere. We wanted a bill that crossed the finish line in the Senate. And so we started from that premise. I said, hey, Manuel, you and I do this, we're going to have to figure out a way to make it happen. There's things I needed, there's things he needed. I didn't get everything I wanted. He didn't get everything he wanted. But isn't that the way America is supposed to work when you solve a problem, there's compromise somewhere in the process.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Well, Congressman Cleaver, do you share your concerns, voiced by some of your Democratic colleagues that, you know, a group of insurgent Democratic candidates who won their primaries could similarly paralyze the Democrats agenda should you retake the House later this year?

[Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver]

Well, I think it's one thing to say a lot of things during the election, during one's election, but I think when we are sworn in and you sit in a the room day after day after day, you become interested in getting things done, making something happen. No one wants to go home at the end of their two years with no accomplishments. And I think that's going to happen. And I think we may be overstating the number of individuals who are getting elected as if they are going to change the entire, you know, agenda. They will have an impact, there's no question about it. But I think that the success that we've had is the success that we've all had. And I tell all the young people aspiring to be in Congress this one thing, that we all are not set for this job. Democracy demands dialogue and debate and that's what we've had.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Well, quickly, before I let you go, speaking of dialogue in the spirit of bipartisanship, Senator Lindsey Graham was known for reaching across the aisle. What do both of you take away from his politics?

[Congressman Mike Flood]

I had an opportunity to fly with him to Lincoln, Nebraska from Washington several years ago, about two years ago. And I was struck by his he just loved, he loved the process. He loved America. He liked being in Congress. And I think he gave every waking hour of every day, seven days a week to it. When he was engaged with me on the issue, I Bet I got 40 texts in a three day period. And I haven't talked to him really since. I mean, that's the intensity he brought to it. And I think when you love your job, you love what you're doing and you're about getting results, that service to the nation should be celebrated.

[Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver]

Whether we agree with him on all of the issues or not is unimportant when compared to the fact that he represented a willingness to sit down with people on both sides of the aisle to get something done. And I think without knowing it, we did pretty much what I think the senator, the good senator would have wanted us to do, working together.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

Congressman Cleaver, Congressman Flood, thank you both so much for your time.

[Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver]

Good to be with you.

[Congressman Mike Flood]

Thanks for having us, Gabe.

[Gabe Gutierrez]

I'm Gabe Gutierrez, and we're back tomorrow with more Meet the Press now. Thanks for watching. There's more ahead on NBC News now.

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[Xfinity Advertiser]

Zepbound is a prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to help adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and obesity to improve their OSA. Zepbound is approved as a 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 or 15 milligram injection. Zepbound contains Tirzepatide and should not be used with other Tirzepatide containing products or any GLP1 receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective for use in children. Don't share needles or pens or reuse needles. Don't take if allergic to it or if you or someone in your family had medullary thyroid cancer or if you've had multiple endocrine neoplasia Syndrome Type 2. Tell your doctor if you get a lump or swelling in your neck. Stop, step bound and call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain or a serious allergic reaction. Severe side effects may include inflamed pancreas or gallbladder problems. Tell your doctor if you experience vision changes before scheduled procedures with anesthesia. If you're nursing pregnant, plan to be or taking birth control pills. Taking Zepbound with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and worsen kidney problems.

[Shaquille O'Neal]

Talk to your doctor, call 1-800-545-5979 or visit zepbound.lilly.com.