← Meet the Press
Meet the Press
Meet the Press NOW — June 2
00:49:59
President Trump names housing finance director Bill Pulte as the new acting director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard. NBC News Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki previews key primary races in New Jersey, California and Iowa. Steve Hilton (R-Calif.) discusses his campaign for governor. Connie Chan (D-Calif.) talks about her bid to succeed Rep. Nancy Pelosi after receiving the speaker emerita’s endorsement.
Loading summary
Transcript139 lines
- [00:00]
Gabe Gutierrez
Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes so you don't have to don't know the difference between matte paint, finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the app. Download today.
- [00:21]
Dylan Dreyer
Hey everyone.
- [00:21]
Gabe Gutierrez
I'm Dylan Dreyer, co host of the third hour of TODAY and mom to three wild boys.
- [00:26]
Dylan Dreyer
I've learned a lot in my years as a parent, mostly that I don't
- [00:30]
Gabe Gutierrez
have it all figured out yet. And I'm not the only one. This is my new podcast, the Parent Chat.
- [00:35]
Dylan Dreyer
Each week I sit down with someone new for honest conversation and real world advice about parenting.
- [00:41]
Gabe Gutierrez
I am over here just like winging it. Hey, I'm just trying not to screw my own kids up. I'm not giving you advice on how not to screw yours up. Search the parent chat on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Meet the Press now. I'm Gabe Gutierre in Washington, and we begin with the latest turmoil around the Trump administration with several Cabinet secretaries appearing on Capitol Hill today defending the president's stalled agenda during what has become a politically tenuous moment for the White House amid bipartisan blowback over a major Cabinet shakeup with the fierce Trump loyalists getting elevated to the country's top intelligence position despite having no prior intelligence experience. This morning, President Trump posting on social media that he's appointing a top housing official, Bill Pulte, to serve as acting director of National Intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard, who announced last month she's stepping down to care for her husband as he battles cancer. Polti currently serves as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and in that role has targeted many of the president's perceived political enemies, making criminal referrals against New York Attorney General Letitia James, California Senator Adam Schiff, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, and then Congressman Eric Swalwell, all of them Democrats or in Lisa Cook's case, someone who was appointed by a Democrat. Pulte's promotion was met with swift condemnation by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle due to concerns about his lack of qualifications. See no, no evidence of any qualifications for that job.
- [02:26]
Ryan Reilly
Qualified to be dni. I don't know of any national security experience he has.
- [02:30]
Steve Kornacki
Mr. Pulte has absolutely intelligence background. He has no national security background. The law was written to prevent this kind of appointment.
- [02:42]
Ryan Reilly
I think it is stunning that President Trump has chosen someone with literally zero national security or intelligence experience to be the Director of National Intelligence and someone who has shown not just a willingness but an enthusiasm to use inappropriately gotten mortgage information to go after President Trump's opponents. That is a really chilling sign.
- [03:06]
Gabe Gutierrez
It comes of a new pushback on Capitol Hill to the president's so called anti weaponization fund. And right now, the president's acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche is getting set to testify before lawmakers. A day after the Department of Justice said it would abide by a court ruling that temporarily blocked the fund, the president was already facing fierce bipartisan backlash over the idea, with some Republicans still not convinced the DOJ will completely abandon the $1.8 billion fund. The way the statement's worded, I think it's clear they're, they're not, they're not proceeding with the fund. But, you know, obviously, whether or not that's sufficient to satisfy a number of our members is something we're still sorting through. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is also trying to defend its negotiating strategy when it comes to the war with Iran. The president posting on social media today that reports that talks with Iran have stalled are, quote, false and erroneous, despite Iranian negotiators previously saying they were suspended. During a hearing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he defended the administration's strategy on Iran as Democrats slammed it. There is the prospect before us which could happen today, it could happen tomorrow, it could happen next week, that for the first time, certainly in my memory, they have agreed to negotiate aspects of their nuclear program that just a month ago or just a year ago, they were refusing to even mention, much less enter into discussions about, told us 91
- [04:38]
Steve Kornacki
days ago that we had, quote, won the war in Iran last year. He told the country Iran's key enrichment
- [04:45]
Gabe Gutierrez
facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Was that false? Let's face it, Mr. Secretary, the Trump foreign policy has become a dumpster fire. And joining me now is NBC News White House correspondent Monica Alba, NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Melanie Zenona, and NBC News senior national security correspondent Courtney Kuby. Monica, I want to start with you. Let's start with a poll. The appointment, what is behind the president's thinking here?
- [05:16]
Monica Alba
No, this was a surprise, Gabe. This was not something that the administration had really telegraphed. But it does fit a bit of a pattern that we have seen from the president where when a top official leaves, instead of looking to potentially get somebody else from the outside or from a different department in the lower ranks. He's sort of pulling from the head of something else to fill in the gaps and giving somebody dual duties. Right. As you see, as we had with Secretary Rubio for sure, who's wearing multiple hats. But Bill Pulte is remaining in his role, but now going to be the acting director of National Intelligence. And we should just stress that he has absolutely no national security or intelligence background to speak of, which is what is prompting all of these valid questions about his qualifications. But the White House really isn't sharing whether this is going to be a potentially permanent pick or whether he is just going to stay in this role in the acting capacity for the next 200 or 10 days or so, which is something, again, that we've seen with acting Attorney General Blanche as well. And the White House really has just continued to point to the fact that these are people who are close allies of the president, who the president enjoys working with and wants to continue working closely with. Gabe.
- [06:23]
Gabe Gutierrez
And I want to turn on to Courtney Kuby. Courtney, what's been the reaction in the national security community and what would his appointment mean from a national security perspective?
- [06:32]
Courtney Kuby
Yeah, I think there's a couple of concerns here. So and we heard some of them from, from some of the senators in the beginning of this, of this segment. One is the potential for someone who has really no national security experience, as Monica just pointed out, to potentially impact how the intelligence is reported and conveyed to the president. So he would be responsible for providing the presidential daily briefing to the president. The concern is that he could politicize some of the information that is making its way to the president and that that could have a direct impact on some of the decisions that the president is making every single day. And I think that it's not just the potential for the information getting to President Trump, but how could that then be implemented? We have already seen in the first year pl of President Trump information in the intelligence community being steered in one way or another with somebody who has no experience in intelligence. That's a real concern, even more so than we've seen already in the last year.
- [07:29]
Gabe Gutierrez
So, Mel, I want to turn to you on Capitol Hill. We don't often see bipartisan pushback to the president's actions, but we do seem to be seeing more of it recently. What is the mood like on Capitol Hill to this latest development?
- [07:40]
Melanie Zanona
Yeah, there has been a steady and rare stream of Republican pushback to Trump's agenda, from the ballroom funding to Iran war powers, now this web weaponization fund, some of that is driven by the fact that we are shifting from primary season to general election season. So Republicans are more willing to push back. They're looking out for their own political survival, their own self interest. But it's also driven by the fact that Trump has now moved to end the careers of multiple Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill, which is really soured the mood among Republicans. I asked GOP leaders John Thune about this very dynamic earlier today. Here's what he had to say.
- [08:17]
Gabe Gutierrez
Obviously, we've got some tough issues in front of us and this week is no exception. And trying to find that sweet spot that enables us to get 50 votes or in some cases we need to with Democrats, 60 votes to get legislation across the finish line is never an easy process.
- [08:34]
Melanie Zanona
And we're also seeing Republicans push back against the selection of Pulte as an acting dni. Luckily for Trump, though, he has some time before he needs to make that position permanent with a formal confirmation process.
- [08:45]
Gabe Gutierrez
And Mel, you mentioned the anti weaponization fund. Right now Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch is on the Hill as we mentioned. We expect he will get questions about that fund. What will you be watching for?
- [08:56]
Melanie Zanona
Well, Republicans are certainly looking for more clarity from the acting attorney general. I will be looking out for that as well because that will be key to solving the impasse over immigration funding. Senate GOP Leader John Thune did say he spoke to Todd Blanch a few hours ago that his ex expectation is that Blanche is walking away from the fund, that he's going to make that more clear in this hearing. But that still remains to be seen. And until Republicans get that clarity, until they get that more ironclad commitment from the Trump administration, that they are actually walking away from this fund, that they are not going to change their minds, that they're not going to resurrect it, that means that this immigration bill, which is completely unrelated, is going to remain in limbo. So there is a lot riding on Ted Blanche's testimony today.
- [09:38]
Gabe Gutierrez
And Monica, as we just heard Mel mention there, Republicans have made clear they want more answers on whether or not the fund is dead. And we were just looking at those live pictures of opening statements in that hearing. We're waiting for Todd Blanche to testify. Is the White House providing any more clarity here?
- [09:55]
Monica Alba
No, they're really referring us to the Department of Justice and likely these comments that we expect from the acting attorney general. The White House has not said for its part whether this is completely, completely going away altogether. The president sort of left it a little bit open, but did defer to the court process saying, what can you do when the courts have a ruling like we saw on Friday with that federal judge? But I think what is interesting, Gabe, is that this is a bit of a rare reversal, as we've been pointing out, where the president is being forced to kind of back down and step away from something that was a priority for the president just in the last couple of weeks or so, where he was really touting this, where they had a pretty large rollout for it, only to now have to potentially shell velvet altogether.
- [10:37]
Gabe Gutierrez
And Monica, a lot to watch on the Hill today. Secretary Rubio was also there facing questions about the president's Iran strategy. What more do we know about where things stand on that issue?
- [10:46]
Monica Alba
Yeah, and there's been a little bit of confusion here as well, because for days the administration has tried to project optimism like we have seen over the course of the last many weeks, that there could be some progress toward a diplomatic breakthrough, only for that to really still be an open question. It's unclear exactly where the status of the tentative agreement, this thing that basically if the Iranian senior leadership and the president ultimately sign off on, could lead to the actual intensive negotiations on some of the stickiest issues that remain at large. But the president is saying that the US can wait Iran out on this front. We know he had a pretty testy call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the larger also Lebanon aspect to this conflict that is certainly complicating things. But just a week ago when we thought there could be some kind of major significant breakthrough here, it does not appear to be the case quite yet.
- [11:39]
Gabe Gutierrez
And Monica, I want to turn now to Courtney and picking up on that point, that testy exchange between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump yesterday, I understand you have new reporting on that. What exactly happened there? And could that would that call be enough to de escalate things between Israel and Hezbollah? It doesn't seem like it.
- [11:57]
Courtney Kuby
It doesn't seem like it at this point. So we know there were actually two calls between them on Monday, and one of them, as you said, was pretty testy. It got very tense according to a number of different officials who we spoke to about it, including specifically the issue of Beirut and how Prime Minister Netanyahu has been saying that he's going to continue to push into southern Lebanon and that ultimately as long as Hezbollah is inside Beirut and operating out of there and as long as they continue to target Israel, that he will continue to send the Israeli Defense Forces in to go after Hezbollah, including into Beirut. What's not really clear here is how this will ultimately factor into this potential for some sort of a peace deal with Iran, because Iran has made it very clear that they will not sign any kind of a peace agreement or enter into even a temporary agreement with longer term discussions. I hesitate to call them discussions or negotiations here because we don't even really know. It almost seems more like passing notes at this point. But it seems as if Iran won't even factor unless Lebanon, the firing stops with Lebanon and Hezbollah stops being attacked by Israel. They're not even going to go into a preliminary agreement with the United States.
- [13:05]
Gabe Gutierrez
And on the point of the longer term implications of this war, I do want to play some more of what we heard from Senator Rubio on the Hill today. Let's listen. Mr. Rubio, you keep telling us how we're winning this war. The president keeps saying, well, the war is over, completely annihilated. The war is not over. And yet the American people see how we're losing at the pump and with their costs, and yet this thing still hasn't been resolved. Courtney, is the war over?
- [13:31]
Courtney Kuby
The, the competing narratives that we hear every single day out of the administration on what's happening with Iran is just, it's just beyond head spinning. No. So at this point, if you look at it, just look at what we can see happening right now, and that is the U.S. military presence. It has not been drawn down during the course of the ceasefire. Keep in mind, the ceasefire has now lasted way longer than the actual major combat operations have. I think what we need to start doing is talking about this, exactly what it is, and that is a pause in the major combat operations that occurred for 35, 37 days, whatever it was. And in the meantime, now we have the US Military and the Iranian military operating in close proximity to one another right now. And there are these repeated clashes back and forth. There is really no ceasefire unless you're specifically talking about major combat operations inside Iran. What Secretary Rubio may have been signaling there is what seems pretty apparent that President Trump is not interested right now in restarting those major combat operations. But there is still absolutely clashes between the US And Iran right now.
- [14:33]
Gabe Gutierrez
Courtney Kuby, our senior national security correspondent, and Monica Alba at the White House. Mel Zanona on Capitol Hill, thank you for a robust panel to start the show. We really appreciate it. And as we noted earlier, it is primary day in six states, with millions of voters from New Jersey to Iowa to California casting their ballots today. Some of the most closely watched contests are in the Golden State the crowded field of candidates running to succeed Gavin Newsom as governor. The top two candidates, regardless of party, will move on to November's general election. That race was roiled by sexual assault allegations against one of the frontrunners, former Congressman Eric Swalwell, who dropped out of the race in April. In Iowa, meanwhile, Democrats will decide between moderate Josh Turek and progressive Zach Walz as they try to flip retiring Senator Joni Ertz. On the Republican side, President Trump has endorsed Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, who is facing former state Senator Jim Carlin. So for more on how to watch tonight's results in California and elsewhere, I'm joined now by NBC News chief data analyst Steve Kornacki at the big board. Well, where he'll be spending much of tonight. Steve, thank you so much for joining us here. Let's start in New Jersey, where a congressman who's been out of sight for months will be on the ballot tonight. Why don't you walk us through what to expect tonight?
- [16:00]
Steve Kornacki
Yeah. This is the 7th district here in New Jersey. And on the Republican side here you mentioned it, is Tom Kaine Jr. Unopposed for the Republican nomination here. But of course, Kaine has not been seen now in some time, publicly questions about his health. He has promised to have some disclosure here in the near future. We'll see what awaits after this primary. But meanwhile, on the Democratic side, this is the race in that district, Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, actually a biography there on the surface, similar a bit to Mikey Sherrill, the governor of New Jersey now who previously was a congresswoman from the nearby 11th district. You see the opponents here for Bennett, the polling has put Bennett in the lead right here. The county organizations in this district, the Democratic organizations in New Jersey, they've been weakened in recent years. They used to have a ton of clout in these primaries. They still have some clout. And most of them have endorsed Bennett here. So Bennett, I think, goes into tonight as the favorite. If she does emerge or whoever emerges. This obviously a very closely watched race in November. This is a district. Take a look at this. Donald Trump carried the district by a single point in 2024. And in that governor's race last November, Mikey Sherrill running as the Democratic candidate, she won this district. She won it narrowly only by two points. So Trump won it by one, Cheryl won it by two. Kane, there's the question surrounding him as the Republican candidate. It's going to be very closely watched after tonight. Certainly tonight. And after tonight all the way to November.
- [17:24]
Gabe Gutierrez
Well, Steve is a lot to watch really across the country. Let's turn out to California, several key races we'll be following there. Everybody seems to be looking at what's happening out West.
- [17:32]
Steve Kornacki
Yeah. Start there with the governor's here. So a couple, I think, two main questions tonight as we await the results here in California. 11 o' clock Eastern polls close. These are the three candidates, Tom Steyer, a Democrat, Javier Becerra, a Democrat and Steve Hilton, a Republican, who tend to be 1, 2, 3 in the polling here. Excuse me, I'm sorry for that. A little bit of water here. They tend to be 1, 2, 3. But the question is what order if they do finish 1, 2, 3, will it be because remember, California, top two primary, so the top two advanced the general election. But Sarah Stier, if they go one, two Republicans would be locked out here. And the second piece of suspense here, Gabe, pardon me, with this race is again, I apologize here, second piece of suspense with this race is will we even know tonight because California can be a slow vote counting state. The initial vote, the first half will come in very quickly. But after that, if this is not resolved tonight, could be days, could be, could be even up to a week.
- [18:27]
Gabe Gutierrez
Somebody get that man some water. Steve Kornacki, it's going to be a busy night for you. If you got enough juice in you, we can turn to Iowa. But if you need us to let you go to grab a drink of water, all good.
- [18:38]
Steve Kornacki
Happy to do. Iowa, the cough just helped. So here in Iowa, look, if Democrats, the backdrop for this is if Democrats are going to get control of the Senate, it's a very uphill fight, but they're going to have to do it, among other things, winning at least two states that Trump carried by double digits. Iowa is one of those states that Democrats would like to put in play. But it's a tall order. Trump carried it, as you can see here, by 13 points in 2024, nearly 10 back in 2020 as he lost nationally. Here's the dynamic. Josh Turek, he's a state legislator from the western part of the state, Potawatomi county, out by Council Bluffs. His district that he represents actually voted for Trump. National Democrats, Chuck Schumer, for instance, want Turek as their candidate here. They feel he gives them a chance in a very, you know, pro Trump state. Zach Walls is his opponent, is running against Chuck Schumer, it seems sometimes as much as Turek saying he doesn't want Chuck Schumer to continue as the Senate leader. Now he represents, he is a state senator who represents part of Johnson County. It's where the University of Iowa is. It's actually literally the most liberal, most Democratic state Senate district in Iowa. So quite a contrast there in terms of the districts these candidates come from. Again, national Democrats. They think a candidate like Turk puts it more in play. But Walz has been pitching his message at that Democratic base. If he wins, the question after tonight would be, can he win a statewide kind of. He has not won in a district like that. We'll put it that way.
- [20:04]
Gabe Gutierrez
Steve Kornacki, thank you for breaking it all down for us and for that long night tonight with those west coast results. Please hydrate, sir. Thank you. And Steve is just getting started. Tune in at 8pm Eastern for the latest edition of the Kornacki camp, tracking tonight's election results as they come in, followed by even more special midterm coverage at 10pm Eastern right here on NBC News. Now don't miss it. And coming up, we'll dive deeper into one of the marquee races in tonight's primaries, the battle for California governor. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is standing by, fresh off the president re upping his endorsement heading into primary night. That interview is next. You're watching MEET THE PRESS now.
- [20:51]
Kristen Welker
Hi, I'm Kristen Welker, moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. On our broadcast, I sit down with
- [20:57]
Monica Alba
people who make an impact in their communities.
- [20:59]
Kristen Welker
From actors to activists, they all Meet the moment. Now. We're bringing the conversation to you in a live event. Join me June 29th in New York City for Meet the Moment Live with special guest Taraji P. Henson. We'll discuss her journey from single mom to to actress to mental health advocate.
- [21:16]
Gabe Gutierrez
Hope to see you there. Get your tickets now@meetthepress.com
- [21:22]
Steve Kornacki
hey, guys, Willie Geist here reminding you to check out the Sunday Sit down podcast. On this week's episode, I get together with the one and Only Sir Paul McCartney to talk about his latest album, the full circle moment of closing out Stephen Colbert's show in the same theater where the Beatles made their American debut 62 years ago. And so much more with Paul. You can get our conversation for free, free wherever you download your podcasts.
- [21:49]
Melanie Zanona
Stay informed with the NBC News app
- [21:52]
Steve Kornacki
Breaking news just coming in moments ago.
- [21:54]
Gabe Gutierrez
Watch, read and listen throughout your day. And now unlock even more with a subscription. It's the best of NBC News with
- [22:02]
Melanie Zanona
fewer ad interruptions, including ad free articles,
- [22:05]
Gabe Gutierrez
podcasts and full NBC News shows, plus
- [22:08]
Melanie Zanona
deeper access and exclusive content.
- [22:10]
Kristen Welker
Let's just take a step back.
- [22:12]
Melanie Zanona
More context and clarity from the reporters you trust.
- [22:15]
Gabe Gutierrez
Download the NBC News app now and subscribe for more. And welcome back. As we noted, it's a big night for midterm primaries, including some marquee races in California we mentioned, like the battle for governor. Joining me right now is Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate endorsed by President Trump in that contest. Mr. Hilton, thank you so much for joining us. You're billing yourself as a change candidate. You've been endorsed by the current president, as we mentioned. How will Donald Trump's support help you in a state he lost by more than 20 percentage points in 2024?
- [22:50]
Steve Hilton
Well, Gabe, it's great to be with you. And I just have to say you've really made my day, perhaps my year, with the fact that Steve there, the great Steve Kornacki, actually talked about my race. I've been a fan for many, many years, so it's wonderful to be with you. Look, I understand that people will look at the endorsement of the president and look at the politics in California and say, well, that doesn't really help. Let me try and lay out how I see it. First of all, it is a primary. And of course, a big part of the primary is to get a big turnout among Republican voters. It's a top two primary. So it's not just Republican voters that we've been speaking to. We speak to everyone in this campaign. And my entire campaign is built in a pretty nonpartisan way. It's just common sense, pragmatic things to cut people's costs, help businesses, fix our schools. But the second thing I think is really important about the president's endorsement, and this will really come to the fore in the general election, which I plan to be one of the two participants in, is that I think it's helpful for Californians to have a candidate and then a governor who actually has a constructive relationship with the president, who can then work together, as the president said in his post today, to deliver good things for Californians. There are so many things we can do. For example, opening up energy production in California so we can lower gas prices prices, fighting fraud in our budgets so we can return money to taxpayers, managing our forests so we can reduce the risk of massive wildfires. On all these things, you've actually got a governor today, Gavin Newsom, who's fighting the president and his team when they're trying to do common sense things to help California. I'll be very different.
- [24:26]
Gabe Gutierrez
And Mr. Hilton, you mentioned energy. That's a huge issue. Of course, in California, you've actually focused a lot of your campaign on cost of living issues. So on that point, do you support the president's handling of the in Iran, given the impact it has had on energy prices and inflation?
- [24:43]
Steve Hilton
Well, my focus is on what we do in California, on energy prices. And even with the war, of course the war has increased oil prices across the board. But even on top of that increase, you've got a $2 elevated gas price in California today, over and above what's going on in the rest of the country. In fact, the gas prices you're seeing in the rest of the country that are causing an outcry in terms of how high they are, that would actually be low for California prior to the war because it's the policies of the Democrats in California that have given us the highest gas prices in the country, even though we have abundant oil reserves. One of the most incoherent parts of their policy is the fact that actually we are now importing nearly 80% of the oil that we use in California, even though we have abundant reserves here that actually increases carbon emissions. So it's not even helping the environmental agenda. That is all being done in the name of. So I think we just need some common sense here. While we're using oil and gas, let's use California oil and gas. That'll help us bring the costs down.
- [25:49]
Gabe Gutierrez
And Mr. Hilton, here's what the president posted on social media about you this morning. He said, california vote today for Steve Hilton for governor. He'll work with me in the federal government. The money will flow because I have confidence in him. Do you read that as the President threatening to withhold federal funding from California unless you are elected?
- [26:11]
Steve Kornacki
No.
- [26:12]
Steve Hilton
I see it as a positive statement of how we can work constructively together. I think that the main point is actually that what we need to do in California is fix the problems that we've created here. Most of the things that are driving Californians crazy, the fact that we have the highest housing costs in the country, we don't build enough houses, the fact that we've got homelessness that really hasn't been had a dent put in it despite billions of dollars being spent over the years, the fact that our school results are among the worst in the country, even though we spend among the highest. $28,000 per student per year. All of these things are the result of things that we control in California. And I really think we need to, as Californians, understand that we have our destiny in our hands. It's what we do here in California that affects the daily lives of Californians more than anything else. And we've now got 56% of Californians in the latest poll saying that the state's going in the wrong direction and needs change. That's why I'm confident that if I get into the general election, as I plan to do in November, despite what people may think, we will vote for change in California because people just can't take it anymore.
- [27:27]
Gabe Gutierrez
So California redrew its congressional map earlier this year. You oppose that effort. So do you also oppose redistricting efforts taken by Republican controlled states in other parts of the country?
- [27:39]
Connie Chan
Yeah.
- [27:39]
Steve Hilton
These redistricting wars I don't think were what we needed to have been focused on for the past year or so, because I think the way to win elections is to persuade people you've got the best ideas and the best plans to execute. And that's certainly what I'm doing in California. Of course, it's important to remember that even before the redistricting that Gavin Newsom initiated this year in response, he claims to what was going on elsewhere in the country, California was already heavily gerrymandered in terms of the House seats, Republicans regularly get 40% of the vote in California in statewide elections, yet we only had 17% of the congressional seats. Now it's down to six. So it's gone even more extreme. But generally speaking, I think we want to focus on our plans to make people's lives better.
- [28:28]
Gabe Gutierrez
Steve Hilton running for governor of California. We thank you so much for your time. Thank you. And good luck tonight.
- [28:35]
Steve Hilton
Great to be with you, Gabe. Thank you.
- [28:37]
Gabe Gutierrez
And up next, we're spotlighting the contentious Democratic primary tonight to replace longtime Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. The candidate backed by the speaker emeritus joins us next right here on MEET THE press. Now stay with us. And welcome back. As we mentioned, voters in California today are choosing which two candidates will head to the general election in November, including who will face off to replace retiring speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi as she steps down after nearly four decades in Congress. Polling currently indicates a heated race among three democrats in the 11th congressional district, with Pelosi giving San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan her endorsement in the final weeks of this race after originally saying she would not back a candidate.
- [29:31]
Choika Chakrabarti
She's a mom who knows her power and knows her why. I am confident Connie is ready to bring clarity and purpose to the work ahead for the children.
- [29:41]
Gabe Gutierrez
And joining me now is Connie Chan. Thank you so much for joining us. Nancy Pelosi endorsed you two weeks ago. What has her endorsement meant to your campaign?
- [29:52]
Kristen Welker
Well, happy Election Day, Gabe. Her endorsement, it's absolutely an honor and definitely is also changing tide for us in San Francisco. She has been representing San Francisco very well for the last almost four decade. And we have elected her time and again. So it is time for her to say that San Franciscans get ready to vote for the next phase for San Francisco's future.
- [30:21]
Gabe Gutierrez
Now, you've said that you want to build on Speaker Pelosi's legacy, but is there anything you do differently from her if you were elected to Congress?
- [30:32]
Kristen Welker
Well, look, she has done tremendous for the nation, really, passing the Affordable Care act, making sure that people, even with preexisting medical condition can have health care. But it is time for us to move forward to make sure that we not only reverse Trump's cuts to health care, we expand those care, we got to lower the medication prices, we have to break the insurance monopoly, and we have to make sure that every American can actually afford health care.
- [31:04]
Gabe Gutierrez
And you're running on a progressive platform, Medicare, Medicare for all, defunding ice, taxing billionaires. What would your day one priority be if elected?
- [31:15]
Kristen Welker
Absolutely. Is health care, to expand Medicare for all. And really also making sure that every family have affordable child care fully funded throughout classroom. And what we have in San Francisco, a free city college that we should meet that nationwide. We want to see a meaningful pathway to citizenship. And those will be our priority Day one.
- [31:39]
Gabe Gutierrez
And San Francisco is known as a bastion of progressive politics. But a recent poll showed that Democrats nationwide are wanting the party to move toward the center rather than the left. The candidate leading in your primary, Scott Weiner, has boasted that his, quote, left rather than lefter agenda. Now, what do you say to Democrats who would like to see the party take a more moderate approach to politics?
- [32:05]
Kristen Welker
I think what it actually really means is not just the politics. What it actually means is people want to see Democratic Party delivering for the working people to say that this is a moment that we see Trump is putting $1.5 trillion in our war. It is time to actually put that oversight's power on the Trump administration and making sure that money actually goes back to the American people. That is what I believe is what American people and working families would like to see the Democratic Party to move towards.
- [32:36]
Gabe Gutierrez
So we did speak with one of your opponents yesterday, Choika Chakrabarti, who you're neck and neck with in the polls here for second place in this primary. He says that the Democratic Party is in deep need of reform and that Democrats need to root out corruption within the party. Do you think that the Democratic Party needs to be Fixed?
- [32:58]
Kristen Welker
Well, I have to say, I much rather be in a party where there's diverse school of thoughts and spectrum of blues than looking at the Republican Party. Let's not give them a pass right now. This is a party that is a one man party with one direction. I would say that while we definitely have room for improvements, we should not give the Democrat to give the Republicans the party a pass.
- [33:24]
Gabe Gutierrez
But do you think the Democratic Party needs to be fixed?
- [33:29]
Kristen Welker
Oh, I mean, we definitely need to do better. Because what Americans people want to see is that we can actually deliver for them. When the gas prices is high, when Trump actually pushed forward with these unreasonable tariffs in the illegal war in Iran, what people want to see is that that Democratic Party actually has the backbone to be able to reign, to bring in the Trump administration and deliver for them. And so that is what they to see. And absolutely, we got to move towards that direction. And that is what this primary is about. That is what this midterm is about. We've got to take back the House.
- [34:03]
Gabe Gutierrez
Now, speaking of the House, your opponent says that Democrats need new leadership in the House and that he would not back Hakeem Jeffries as leader. Would you support Hakeem Jeffries to continue leading House Democrats, especially if Democrats win back the majority?
- [34:18]
Kristen Welker
Well, I have to say, you know, for San Francisco and for San Franciscans, what we deserve is a leader that will actually understand who we are and about our values and be able to help us to deliver for San Franciscans. And no one should really be able to just have and own that entitled leadership role. Everybody needs to be able to earn that vote. And I think that Congressman Hakim Jeffries is no exception. But I absolutely am open to have that conversation with him and look forward to seeing what that would look like even when we land in Congress.
- [34:57]
Gabe Gutierrez
So in your mind, Hakeem Jeffries has not earned that role yet, even though he was a handpicked successor of Nancy Pelosi?
- [35:05]
Kristen Welker
Well, in my mind, that, like, I think that he has been leading the party and he has been leading that fight. He absolutely have. It's in the position to earn that role and earn that leadership. And I'm absolutely open to that conversation.
- [35:20]
Gabe Gutierrez
And final question. California Congressman Ro Khanna is continuing to back Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, holding a rally with him later this week. This, of course, comes amid a slew of controversy in that race. Platner sending sexually explicit text messages to questions over that Nazi tattoo that he once had that he said he didn't realize was a Nazi tattoo or resembled it. Do you think Graham Platner should remain in the race in Maine?
- [35:49]
Kristen Welker
I mean, he is now by default that he is in that race. And I would say this again for Democrats across the nation is that we have to identify candidates that actually deliver for the working people and that this is absolutely the decisions by Democrats that within Maine and within the district. And I really will support any Democrat that in Maine, should this be their candidate. It's what they want to push. And it seems like that is the direction. And so as part of the party, we have to make sure we get and take back the House this fall and at the same time and understand that we have to be inclusive. And there's a spectrum of blues across the nation. And so this is the direction we're going.
- [36:37]
Gabe Gutierrez
Connie Chan, running for Nancy Pelosi seat in Congress. Thank you so much. And after the break, you're looking at live pictures from Capitol Hill where Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is in the hot seat. We'll turn back to that hearing and bring you the biggest takeaways so far. Stay with us. You're watching MEET THE PRESS now. And welcome back. As we mentioned, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is testifying before the House Appropriations Committee at this hour. You're looking at live pictures right there. There. This all comes as the Justice Department and the Trump administration face continued blowback over their so called anti weaponization fund. Yesterday, the DOJ sang it will comply with a court order that temporarily blocked the fund. But some Senate Republicans are not sold signaling they will continue to hold up legislation to fund ICE and Border Patrol unless they get assurances from the White House that the anti weaponization fund is dead for good.
- [37:43]
Steve Kornacki
The only thing that's going to solve
- [37:44]
Gabe Gutierrez
this problem to get immigration funded and law enforced is for the president to do away with the weaponization fund. We shouldn't play games here.
- [37:57]
Ryan Reilly
If the administration has changed its position
- [38:00]
Gabe Gutierrez
on the weaponization fund, it should say so definitively. Definitively. It doesn't pass the smell test. Until it passes the smell test, I can't support it. Was this a miscalculation?
- [38:12]
Ryan Reilly
The president?
- [38:15]
Gabe Gutierrez
Yes, I guess I'd call it that. And moments ago, Blanche telling the House Appropriations Committee, quote, we're not moving forward with the fund, period. Well, joining me now, senior justice reporter Ryan Reilly. And Ryan, what else have we heard from the acting AG at this hour?
- [38:33]
Steve Kornacki
Hour?
- [38:33]
Ryan Reilly
Yeah. I mean that I think is the headline is that he says that they are not moving it away from the fund, period. I think that the question is going to be how they're going to respond to this. Actually in a court of law. They have this pending deadline on Friday where they have to respond to this, this motion that basically has temporarily paused this fund from being distributed. And they that's supposed to be their opposition to this motion to, to put a pause on all of this spending. And so I think what they put before the court is going to be really the really important thing to watch here. And there is a hearing schedul the Friday after this Friday on the 12th for the judge to examine all this altogether. It has been a sort of extraordinary sequence of events because normally, as you well know, we have the administration forcefully push back against anything that comes out of the courts that they disagree with. But in this instance, you sort of have had Trump say, you know, okay, we're going to concede to this. Well, what can you do? The courts have ruled and that's really not the end of the line here for this case because the courts haven't definitively ruled on this. There are now five separate cases pending on this. But this was just a temporary measure to sort of hold up and say put a pause on it until they can look at the facts in the law.
- [39:41]
Gabe Gutierrez
Yeah, Ryan. And there are the legal questions about this, but also the political ones. Democrats have been backing this legislation to officially ban this fund. No, it's breaking news. We're just getting these comments from the acting AG but any idea whether the Democrats in Congress will still move forward with their push to try and officially ban this through legislation?
- [40:00]
Ryan Reilly
Well, obviously he just said that. But I think, you know, given what we've seen from Democrats in the past, they've been skeptical of what's coming out of the Justice Department. You know, yesterday it was really tough to nail. Nail down exactly get them to say anything beyond what was in that statement from doj, which just basically said we'll comply with the law. You know, I and you and our colleagues all pressed to sort of get more definitive answers on that. And they weren't extremely forthcoming with exactly what the plan was here. So now we do have the acting attorney general on the record before Congress saying, you know, that they are not moving forward with the fund, but there are other ways to potentially give money out to January 6th riders that wouldn't require a separate fund here. And so I think that that' sort of the broader question that you might see members of Congress pushing on and trying to make sure that there's some sort of backstop against in legislation because also it's just such a great political issue for Democrats and one that is going to, I think, backfire on Republicans generally. If Democrats are allowed to roll all these ads of, you know, cops getting bashed over the head and then say your taxpayer dollars could be going out to them after these individuals were pardoned by the president, I mean, that's a really effective political ad. So I think that that's going to be in the back of lawmakers heads and minds forward on this.
- [41:13]
Gabe Gutierrez
And Ryan, you also have new reporting about former DOJ prosecutors suing over this fund. What more do we know?
- [41:20]
Steve Hilton
That's right.
- [41:20]
Ryan Reilly
So these two additional DOJ prosecutors, one of whom was fired allegedly because of his work on January, six cases and another one who was demoted, both filed this lawsuit. The lawsuit that ended up putting a pause on this for now was in the Eastern District of Virginia. That was also filed by a January 6th prosecutor. And then you actually had two other officers who were assaulted or who protected the Capitol in one instance during January 6actually file another lawsuit. So five lawsuits altogether, two in three different jurisdictions, all challenging this on various constitutional and legal means. And so there were there's going to be a lot if this does play out, if they don't, if they don't actually say we're done here, we're no longer moving forward with this fund at all. There's going to be a lot of these challenges on the horizon. So I think a lot of questions remain about whether or not there will ultimately be any money going to January 6th defendants.
- [42:17]
Gabe Gutierrez
Ryan Reilly, our senior justice reporter. Ryan, thank you. And we'll dig deeper into today's testimony, the political fallout and the fate of President Trump's agenda mid growing pushback on Capitol Hill heading into the midterms. The panel's next right here on MEET THE PRESS now. And welcome back. Joining me now is our panel, Carrie Dan, managing editor of the Cook Political Report and a familiar face here at NBC News, John McCarthy, former senior advisor to President Biden and Daniel Pletka, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Thank you all so much for joining us here on the panel. Kerry, I want to start with you and I want to play a sound bite that we just got a few moments ago from Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, what he just told lawmakers about that so called anti weaponization fund. Let's listen.
- [43:11]
Steve Hilton
We are not moving forward with the fund, period.
- [43:16]
Gabe Gutierrez
The reasons for the fund is something that President Trump talked about for a
- [43:19]
Steve Hilton
long time, which is the fact that
- [43:21]
Ryan Reilly
there were a lot of people in
- [43:22]
Steve Hilton
this country who had their government weaponized against them. The reasons for the fund, I think, remain as important as they were before, but we are not moving forward with the fund.
- [43:35]
Gabe Gutierrez
So, Kerry, do you think that that will be enough to soothe skeptical Republicans?
- [43:39]
Dylan Dreyer
Well, that was what you were hearing being telegraphed by Republican leaders yesterday and today as well. Look, Top Lunch is going to talk about this and going to put a very fine point on it. It sounds like he certainly did. What I do wonder, though, is politically, how much damage has already been done just by this being floated out there and being yet another story that voters are hearing about five months before a midterm, a huge price tag on something that that is related solely to Donald Trump and his agenda, not to what voters are looking for in terms of the economy, in terms of the Iran war, this, a ballroom, the Beautification of Washington, D.C. i think those taken as a whole and the way that the president has addressed Republican leaders and sort of dismissed their concerns about all of those issues, you wonder how much political damage was already done before today.
- [44:23]
Gabe Gutierrez
Yeah. Talk about political damage, Danny, you know, the narrative used to be that President Trump got everything he wanted out of Congress. Does this put a little dent in that? And as John Cornyn said in our introduction, did the president make a miscalculation here?
- [44:38]
Choika Chakrabarti
Well, so I think what Kerry said is right, that, you know, that I felt it was a turning point last week in Congress, right, where the president decided not to endorse a senior member of the Republican leadership in Texas and put that seat at risk. Although I guess I'll hear from you how much it's at risk. But second of all, this weaponization, I think they're just sick and tired of the fact that the president really doesn't care about the fate of the Republicans in the midterms.
- [45:10]
Gabe Gutierrez
And John, you know, how do Democrats leverage this?
- [45:13]
Ryan Reilly
Does
- [45:16]
Gabe Gutierrez
can they use now these Republicans, the YOLO caucus, as it's been called, do they now have more leverage with these Republicans, or does it show how little leverage the Democrats had to begin with that they needed these disaffected Republicans?
- [45:33]
Connie Chan
You know, I'm all for the YOLO caucus. I think, you know, some of these senators feeling comfortable to say publicly what they've been saying privately for years is going to be very helpful for the country. I actually don't think that this is a big tell for Democrats at the moment. To me, it's really an important shift for Republicans. And I think it's because all of these Republicans are now starting to realize, realize, you know, gas prices are going up Trump's numbers are going down and they need to think about their party's future after Trump. So, I mean, I think I'd like to believe that it's because they found religion and suddenly, you know, want to do the right thing. But really, this is about politicians looking for self preservation. They know that, you know, Donald Trump and his policy proposals are losers and they're going to kill them on the ballots in the fall. So this is their chance to break away.
- [46:12]
Choika Chakrabarti
Okay, but isn't there more than that? Isn't this maybe, she said hopefully about Congress also waking up? The D's covered for Joe Biden and it hurt them in the House and in the Senate. The Republicans are covering for Donald Trump and it's going to hurt them in the House and probably in the Senate. Isn't now the time that Congress decides, hey, we're a bunch of government, too?
- [46:33]
Gabe Gutierrez
Well, speaking of that decision, something else they might have to decide on. You know, this Republican opposition. We're starting to see Kerry to Bill Pulte as acting dni. Now, he was in acting capacity, so may not need, you know, confirmation here and he had been confirmed for his previous post. But what are you hearing from your sources on the reaction on the Hill with regards to, you know, this election?
- [46:54]
Dylan Dreyer
I think there's a lot of skepticism and you can see that from some senior Republicans saying things like, oh, I wasn't aware that he had an intelligence background. He does not have an intelligence background. So you're certainly seeing, I think, some, some seriousness here. And intelligence and foreign policy is something where maybe there's, there's a lot of partisanship on Capitol Hill for a lot of different parts reasons. But this is an area where there are very serious people who are very concerned about the future of the country saying, shouldn't we have somebody in this role who, one is exclusively doing this role and not keeping his old job as the mortgage guy. And secondly, should we have somebody who has, you know, intense understanding of security clearances and all of the dynamics here instead of somebody whose primary qualification for this job appears to be, you know, being an ally of the president who has been willing to go after his political enemies by using a federal agency to do so? And you're seeing senior Republicans talking about this in a very, you know, barbed way in some cases saying, don't. Isn't there anybody better for this job?
- [47:51]
Gabe Gutierrez
Isn't that kind of the point, Danny, from Trump's perspective, doesn't he like testing the party in this way?
- [47:59]
Choika Chakrabarti
I mean, I think he enjoys being A provocateur for sure. But this isn't being a provocateur. This is putting somebody who is manifesting not suited to a job into a job, replacing somebody who frankly was manifestly not suited to the job as well. You know, the right thing for Congress to do is not to make a fuss about Pulte. The right thing for Congress to do is to get rid of the DNI position entirely because no one likes it.
- [48:23]
Gabe Gutierrez
Well, John, Senator Warner, the vice chair of the Intel Committee, warns that Pulte is going to continue to use his position to go after the president's enemies. Do Democrats have any recourse if he does?
- [48:36]
Connie Chan
Well, I mean, I would start with the fact that, you know, there's already a massive trust deficit between Democrats and Republicans. Broadly. The issues that go before the Director of National Intelligence are ones that life or death is on the line very often. And I think that, you know, if you're trying to get surveillance legislation through the Congress right now, I think that with this appointment, you know, they're not looking over and seeing someone that they can trust as a serious professional in a serious role. So I think you're going to see the Democratic Party try and stall a lot of the things that will be going before this position just because, you know, I don't think that there's a way that they think they could seriously work with someone whose sole qualification is loyalty to Trump.
- [49:09]
Gabe Gutierrez
And John, I want to switch gears a bit and talk about Maine and the continued fallout to Graham Platner's latest controversy. Democrats on the Hill are still largely sticking by him. Let's listen to some of their comments. Maybe as a nation we focus on issues more important than the platinum marriage. Do you wish that you would have
- [49:30]
Ryan Reilly
known him little bit more about this earlier on?
- [49:32]
Kristen Welker
I'm confident we are going to flip the Senate, including me.
- [49:35]
Steve Kornacki
I met with Graham Platler today. We're going to beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate.
- [49:41]
Gabe Gutierrez
So you're saying that Janet Mills, your
- [49:43]
Steve Kornacki
preferred candidate, has been rattling that she
- [49:46]
Gabe Gutierrez
should get back in.
- [49:46]
Steve Kornacki
You're standing behind Graham Platter here. We're going to beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate.
- [49:53]
Ryan Reilly
Yes, the does behind Grant Platner, does that hurt the credibility in attacking 10 Paxtons?
- [50:00]
Steve Kornacki
We're going to take back. We're going to beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate. Any other subject you got?
- [50:06]
Gabe Gutierrez
So, John, take back the Senate.
- [50:08]
Connie Chan
Take back the Senate and beat Susan Collins. It's officially the party line.
- [50:11]
Gabe Gutierrez
I clearly. What do you make of this doubling down and should the party be concerned that there could be more controversy ahead?
- [50:18]
Connie Chan
I mean, I am certainly glad I am not a main primary voter. I would probably vote for Governor Mills if she's still on the ballot. Look, I mean, this has been, you know, problematic from the get go. I mean, and his race has been plagued with this from the very beginning. So, you know, he would not be my cup of tea as a candidate. I think there's two things for Democrats here that we need to pay attention to, the first of which is I still think how you win matters. We can't become the thing that we have been criticizing for all this time. So I think the Democrats really need to be brave and not just become the thing that we've been advocating against. But secondarily, our voters are so fed up with how things are going, both Trump and our own party, that they're willing to look past someone who is eminently qualified and well known in their state for this candidate instead. So I think the people who are really going to be paying close attention to this are the 2028ers who are looking for what is the mood of the Democratic primary voter?
- [51:03]
Gabe Gutierrez
Gary, as Senator Schumer said, Platner's on the Hill today, meeting with Democrats. What is the goal here for the Platner campaign?
- [51:09]
Dylan Dreyer
Well, I think Schumer has no choice but to double down here because there is no, there's virtually very little path for Democrats to win the Senate without Maine. There's, you know, maybe some scenarios, but things really have to go right for them. But this is, is a must, must win race. There's really no other choice. So for Platner, I think to address these things head on and assure them that there is nothing else that is going to come, I think is one of those things. I think also the Democratic Party, to your point, John, is learning is there a part of Trumpism that is transferable? Right. If you are expressing the anger that I'm feeling as a disaffected voter in a way that speaks to me, am I willing to overlook personal things about you that I otherwise wouldn't like?
- [51:48]
Gabe Gutierrez
Well, we'll have to leave it there. We're running out of time. Danny, I was going to ask you if this put more pressure on Texas or pressure on Susan Collins to hold onto the seat, do the Texas campaign. But we'll continue that conversation after this. Thank you all for watching. I'm Gabe Gutierrez and we're back tomorrow with more MEET THE Press. Now there is more ahead right here on NBC News. Now.
- [52:14]
Ryan Reilly
Foreign.
- [52:19]
Kristen Welker
I'm Cyndi Lauper with fellow Cosentyx advocate Chef Michelle Bernstein.
- [52:24]
Dylan Dreyer
We'll share our experiences with plaque psoriasis
- [52:27]
Gabe Gutierrez
with psoriatic arthritis, and Dr. Paniko will talk about the possible connection.
- [52:32]
Connie Chan
Cosentic Secukinumab is prescribed for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis 300 milligram dose and adults with active psoriatic arthritis 150 milligram dose dose. Don't use if you're allergic to Cosentyx before starting, get checked for tuberculosis. An increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur. Like tuberculosis or other serious bacterial, fungal or viral infections, some are fatal. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms like fevers, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough had a vaccine or planned to, or if inflammatory bowel disease symptoms develop or worsen, serious allergic reactions and severe eczema like skin reactions may occur. Her Learn more at 1-844-COSENTIX or cosentix.com cindy.