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Meet the Press NOW — May 12
00:49:45
As the war with Iran drives up prices, President Trump says Americans’ financial situation is “not even a little bit” motivating him to end the war. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D) reacts to the latest in the redistricting fight in Virginia. Planned Parenthood President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson talks maternal health in America after the Supreme Court temporarily extends access to the abortion pill mifepristone.
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- [00:00]
President Donald Trump
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Ryan Nobles
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Ryan Nobles
CT&CS21. Hi there and welcome to Meet the Press Now. I'm Ryan Nobles in Washington where the Trump administration is facing increased political and economic pressure to end the war against Iran amid a new stunning admission by the President this afternoon that he's not considering the financial impact to Americans as the war drives up prices. Right now, President Trump is on his way to Beijing where he is set to meet with the Chinese President Xi. While departing the White House, the President was asked about the economic impact the war is having here at home as energy prices soar and inflation ticks up. He was defiant in his answer and was even given an opportunity to clean up his comments, but he doubled down.
- [01:49]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
Take a look when you're negotiating with Iran, Mr. President, to what extent are American financial situations motivating you to make a deal?
- [01:59]
President Donald Trump
Not even a little bit. The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about America's financial situation. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing. We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That's all.
- [02:15]
Ryan Nobles
Did you say earlier that the only
- [02:17]
Alexis McGill Johnson
thing that matters to you when it
- [02:18]
Camilla Bernal
comes to Iran is a nuclear weapon?
- [02:20]
Melanie Zinona
Not considering the financial impact of this war on Americans.
- [02:24]
President Donald Trump
The the most important thing by far, including whether our stock market, which by the way is at an all time high, but including whether or not our stock market goes up or down a little bit, the most important thing by far is Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
- [02:44]
Ryan Nobles
Now this all comes amid more evidence that the war is adding to voters economic anxieties with a new report from the labor showing that consumer prices are up 3.8% compared to last year and it's largely driven by rising energy prices. President Trump was asked about that report today. Take a look.
- [03:04]
Melanie Zinona
Mr. President, you promised to bring inflation
- [03:06]
Camilla Bernal
down is now at its highest level in three years. Are your policies not working?
- [03:10]
President Donald Trump
What's happening? Policies are working. Incredibly, if you go back to just before the war, for the last three months, inflation was at 1.7%. Now, we had a choice. Let these lunatics have a nuclear weapon. If you want to do that, then you're a stupid person. It's a very simple message. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and they won't have a nuclear weapon. And that's 100%.
- [03:35]
Ryan Nobles
It comes as new polling shows the president significantly underwater with the public on several key issues, including gas prices, inflation and the economy. And a majority of Americans across the political spectrum saying his policies have increased the cost of living in their communities. Meanwhile, there are a few signs that the conflict with Iran will there are few signs, I should say, that the conflict with Iran will be over anytime soon. And the president today offered little in the way of clarity about the path ahead. At what point are you done negotiating with Iran?
- [04:08]
President Donald Trump
Well, we're going to see what happens. We're only making a good deal. We have their military's gone, it's wiped out. And we're only going to make a good deal and we'll see what happens.
- [04:20]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
Mr. President, what is going to be your red line to end, to end
- [04:24]
Ryan Nobles
the ceasefire for you?
- [04:26]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
What will it take to pull the plug?
- [04:27]
President Donald Trump
Well, we're going to see and we'll be thinking about it on the flight and we'll be thinking about it for the next little while. But we've beaten their military very soundly. That's over with. The blockade is very effective. It's been 100% effective. And one way or the other, it's going to work out very well.
- [04:49]
Ryan Nobles
All right, let's talk about it. Joining me now, NBC News White House correspondent Monica Elba and NBC News senior national Security correspondent Courtney Kuby, as well as NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Mel Zinona. Let's start with you, Monica. You were there on the South Lawn where the president made that comment about the economic concerns of Americans. Is the White House trying to clean this comment up at all? What's the reaction, Ben, about the president's comments about inflation and the economy in general?
- [05:16]
Monica Elba
Yeah, not cleaning it up at all, Ryan, if anything, maybe leaning into it and trying to emphasize what the president was. And he was, as you pointed out, given an opportunity kind of in real time a few moments later to clarify, because that sentence really stood out in real time, the president of the United States saying that he doesn't think about Americans financial situations when he's talking about whether to make a deal with Iran is something that you're going to be probably hearing a lot about from critics from Democrats in this midterm season. So setting that aside, the President was asked again, is that exactly what you meant? And he completely doubled down on that. And then when I went to the White House and asked them if they wanted to clarify or add some more context to that answer, Stephen Cheung, a White House spokesman here, did tell me that the President's ultimate responsibility, he says, is the safety and security of Americans. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if action wasn't taken, they'd have one which threatens all Americans. So, again, trying to really put this on a national security framework in terms of the conversation. But Ryan, remember that for weeks and weeks, the President, when he has been asked overall about the pain that Americans are feeling not just at the pump, but on some of these overall rising prices, he has said that it is basically a worthy price to pay for Iran not to have a nuclear weapon. And he has even gone on to say that Americans should be more grateful to him for the work he says he is doing to try to ensure that.
- [06:43]
Ryan Nobles
Monica, maybe the President isn't thinking about the financial toll that this war is taking on the average American, but the American public certainly is. I mean, when you look at these latest poll numbers, they show the President underwater on his handling of several issues, that includes gas prices, the inflation and the economy. We're also seeing the war drive up inflation. I mean, and these aren't, this isn't a small margin. These are huge numbers in terms of the react that people are having to this. How is the White House reacting to these latest data points?
- [07:15]
Monica Elba
Yeah, they are pretty dismissive of the idea that it is the President's own policies that are making these issues worse. Remember that just a couple of days ago, there was a pretty good jobs report that came out and the White House was definitely touting that and leaning into that. And so you do have a little bit of a selective decision from the White House when there are economic indicators that, that they feel are very positive. They want to talk about those nonstop. But you can't ignore the context in the backdrop to all of that. But they dismiss and sort of set that aside. And that is what the President did today, specifically on these very sticky inflation numbers that you're continuing to see. The President says it's not his policies, when, of course, we know and we are seeing a lot more evidence of the specific prices of oil and gas that have contributed to this, the energy costs overall. But the president says that that is worthy. He says Americans should really absorb that. He says in the short term. But that's the real question here too, Ryan, is that it's unclear how long this is going to last. And even if this war were to come to an official end and the hostilities were completely over in the Strait of Hormuz was all set, it would still take a lot of time potentially for consumers to start to feel those prices easing.
- [08:27]
Ryan Nobles
All right, Monica Alba, thank you for that and thank you for your dogged reporting there on the South Lawn. That opens up the opportunity to bring Courtney into the conversation. Because what the president says over and over again, Courtney, is as soon as this war is over, all these concerns we have about the economy are going to go away. The price of oil is going to collapse. He's described it. Inflation will go away. But there's little evidence that we're anywhere near the end of this war. And you have some new reporting about how the administration would resume combat operations if the cease fire collapses, which we should remind our viewers the president said yesterday is on as a 1% chance of survival. He described it as being on life support. So what can you tell us about that?
- [09:02]
Courtney Kuby
Yeah, and we don't have any indication at this point that in fact the president has made the decision to restart some sort of major combat operations. But should he do so? The US Military still has a huge presence there in the Middle East. In fact, they've even shorn brought in additional capabilities since the cease fire began. And we've learned, according to two U.S. officials, that in fact there is some planning that would involve renaming it from Operation Epic Fury to Operation Sledgehammer if in fact they were to restart it. And part of the reason for that is because then they could restart in a whole new mission. It would restart the 60 day clock for the War Powers act and give the President a little bit more breathing room if he were to decide to really go forward with an extended combat operation again against Iran.
- [09:48]
Ryan Nobles
There might be some members of Congress that would quibble with this idea that the clock restarts. But regardless, that is something that the White House.
- [09:53]
Courtney Kuby
It's been a question all along whether the ceasefire actually represented that as well.
- [09:57]
Ryan Nobles
Exactly. But let's talk more about the cost of this war. We now have a new adjusted price. It's now up to $29 billion. That's up $4 billion from just a few weeks ago. Do we know why it's costing so
- [10:08]
Courtney Kuby
much more, especially since it's been during a cease fire that that cost has gone up by $4 billion. So according to the acting comptroller for the Pentagon, he testified on the Hill today, he said that it's a combination of figuring out exactly how much it's going to cost to replace certain things. The cost has gone up in the meantime, as they've done additional calculations. There's also the continuing US Military presence in the region. So that's costing money. I mean, what's really unclear here, we did not get an answer in the hearings today is does the blockade factor into that? Is that one thing that's costing additional money? One thing we did learn, though, and this is very critical, that number is absolutely going to increase because not only has it increased $4 billion in these last two weeks, but that $29 billion does not include the cost to fix bases throughout the region that were damaged by Iranian strikes throughout the course of the war. We know that, in fact, there was extensive damage to several different bases in the region that could cost in the neighborhood of millions and probably billions of dollars.
- [11:05]
Ryan Nobles
Okay, Courtney qb, thanks for that. Let's turn now to Capitol Hill. And that's where Melanie's not standing by. I have to imagine, Melanie, there were a lot of Democrats that heard those comments and probably called up their political consultants and told them to cut ads as soon as possible to be run in the upcoming midterms. What's the reaction going to be like on the Hill to the president's comments when we hear these members of Congress say over and over and over again that the economy is going to be the dominating issue in the upcoming midterms?
- [11:32]
Melanie Zinona
Yeah, you're absolutely right, Ryan. You can already imagine the ads that are being cut on behalf of Democrats with those comments. But for Republicans, especially moderate Republicans, Republicans in vulnerable races, they have been begging the president to focus on affordability issues. And this is the opposite of that. Not only is it not focusing on affordability issues, it is downright dismissing those very real concerns of so many consumers, constituents around the country. And so the White House, their view is that there is still time to turn things around, that this is only temporary. But comments like these are offering very little assurance to these already very nervous Republicans on Capitol Hill. So certainly behind the scenes, we're already hearing some grumbling from Republicans. We'll see whether any of them come out publicly against the president or if they try to put some more affordability issues actually on the floor in the House and Senate. That's something that's been an ongoing conversation, but no doubt comments like these not helpful for Republicans.
- [12:28]
Ryan Nobles
And let's get back to this issue that we were talking to Courtney about, about the 60 day clock that the White House assumingly thinks that they can just restart. We saw the secretary on the Hill again today. Where are lawmakers right now when it comes to the war? Is there an appetite for it to continue, especially given the economic fallout? And do we anticipate at any point that Republicans in particular will force this issue issue of getting congressional approval around this 60 day limit?
- [12:56]
Melanie Zinona
Well, I will say broadly Republicans are still supportive of the war and of the president. But it's pretty clear both from the hearing today and in my conversations with Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill that it is going to be a difficult task trying to get a supplemental war funding package through the House. They're going to need votes in the Senate from Democrats. Democrats very opposed to this, but even Republicans, Republicans in the hearing today had a lot of questions about that price tag which the Pentagon comptroller said today was now nearing $29 billion. Meanwhile, Secretary Hegseth he was quite combative when he was pressed on this question, repeatedly refusing to say what he would request or if he would request it, when he would request it on an emergency basis. And so they concluded the hearing, both the top Democrat and Republican on this key appropriations committee urging him to to submit his request as soon as possible, saying the sooner we get it, the sooner we can start working on it and getting through Congress. A real acknowledgment that it's not necessarily going to be an easy feat. And then to your question of whether they're going to force this issue, Democrats have repeatedly forced these resolutions to try to rein in Trump's war powers. Those have failed repeatedly. But in talking to some senior House GOP sources, they say they cannot beat back those efforts forever, especially if the war drags out on Ryan.
- [14:10]
Monica Elba
Okay.
- [14:10]
Ryan Nobles
Melanie's Anona great reporting on Capitol Hill. We appreciate it. And as we mentioned, prices for consumers keep ticking up, rising 3.8% in April compared to last year according to the latest CPI report. The increase driven largely by a spike in energy prices due to the war. Overall inflation was in line with expectations, but it still marks the highest rate in three years. Joining me now is NBC News business and data correspondent Brian Chung. So, Brian, take us through this latest inflation report. What does it say about the health of the economy and which categories are seeing the highest rise in inflation?
- [14:42]
Brian Chung
Yeah, well, these numbers, Ryan, confirm what we've been reporting on the last few months, which is that this is an inflationary environment that is due in part to the war with Iran. So again, as you mentioned, 3.8%, that's how much prices rose in April this year compared to April of last year. That's a faster pace than the 3.3%. And it's also the highest number and highest reading we've seen on inflation since May of three years ago. Now, when we take a look again at the overall picture of these yearly rates over time, you can see that uptick that's certainly concerning not just for the President, but also for the Federal Reserve that's trying to balance not just this, but also a slowing jobs market. But I think that, again, you have to remember that the big reason for why that headline number was so high is, of course, because of the spiking cost of gasoline. The current average right now $4.50. At a national level, in many states, it's already higher than that. Fuel oil up over 50% in the last year, and airline fares up over 20%. Again, the idea here is that inflation could get even worse for things like food as well as plastic packaging because of the fact that polyethylene comes from the Strait of Hormuz as well. So it's just kind of a reminder that what we're seeing as a gas and fuel bump could become an overall inflationary story for other categories in the months to come as well.
- [15:50]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
Ryan.
- [15:51]
Ryan Nobles
And then, Brian, there's also just the feeling Americans have. Right. And what we saw again was that inflation outpaced wage growth. So it's one thing for prices to, to go up, but if your pocketbook doesn't match that, what does that mean for workers and consumers?
- [16:05]
Brian Chung
Yeah, and that was something where even despite the fact that the inflationary numbers have been ticking up as of the last few months, that. All right, we were saying the good news, though, is that wages were still outpacing inflation. If your wallet is growing at a faster pace than the price tags at the store, that's still relatively okay. What you're worried about is when that flips. And it just flipped in this report, as we mentioned, 3.8%, that's how much prices rose in this country. But the jobs report which you got last week showed average hourly earnings only up by 3.6%. So this is negative for the first time in about three years. And that is of major concern because that real feel affordability was already an issue before we started to get these statistics. This is going to be worse because, again, if inflation is higher than wages. That is eroding from your savings. Things at the store are getting more expensive than you're getting pay raises at work. That is very much of concern and we'll see if this trend holds in the months to come.
- [16:53]
Ryan Nobles
Ryan okay, that's pretty bottom line for most Americans. Brian Chung, thank you so much. We appreciate it. We'll have much more on President Trump's latest comments about the economy and Americans finances. But first, the very latest on the hantavirus outbreak and the status of the 18Americans currently under supervised quarantine as health officials warn the number of cases could rise. We're live outside the quarantine facility in Nebraska where more than a dozen Americans are being monitored. Plus misconduct, obstruction and conspiracy. Those are just some of the charges included in a sweeping 18 count criminal indictment unveiled today against the ship operators involved in that deadly Francis Scott Key bridge collapse in 2024. They'll have the details. You're watching Meet THE Press now. The Genesis GV70 with all its award winning tech and performance is built to thrill. So you can have hit the road, hit the turns and hit Sport plus mode for serious acceleration and handling. Inside you'll find intuitive tech that elevates every driving experience. And wherever you go, the GV70 will have you on the edge of your seat. It's luxury that's built to thrill. Learn more@genesis.com and feel the GV70.
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President Donald Trump
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Ryan Nobles
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Ryan Nobles
prohibited by law CTNC's 21/. Welcome back. And we turn now to some breaking news that the FDA Commissioner, Dr. Marty Makary is out at the agency. It makes him the fourth high profile departure from the Trump administration this year. The President today refused to say whether he fired Makary or only saying that he was a terrific guy but was having some difficulty and that adding a replacement would be found soon. Now for the latest on the deadly Hantavirus outbreak that started on a cruise ship. All the passengers have now disembarked the ship and have been evacuated to their home countries. That includes 18Americans who are now quarantining in two specialized medical units in Nebraska and Georgia. The head of the World Health organization says that 11 cases of the hantavirus have now been reported, including one American who tested mildly positive. He added more hantavirus cases could be expected in the next few weeks. Joining me now is NBC News correspondent Camilla Bernal. She's outside the National Quarantine center in omaha, Nebraska, where 16 of the American passengers are staying. Camilla, what more are we learning about the health of the American passengers today in and the conditions of their quarantine?
- [20:19]
Camilla Bernal
So I do want to start, Ryan, with the two people that are now in Atlanta. One of them had mild symptoms, and we learned today that that person actually is testing negative for the Andy strain of the virus. So good news there. In terms of the 16 people that are here in Nebraska, we hear all of them are asymptomatic. That includes that one person that tested mildly positive. The other 15, they're in this building here behind me in the National Quarantine Unit, and some of them even sharing their experience. Jake Rosemary has been posting on social media about what it's like to have this entire journey. And he posted about what's it like to be inside of that unit. Take a listen.
- [21:00]
Ryan Nobles
It is my second day here at the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha, Nebraska, and I just wanted to give you a little, little tour of my room. I have a stationary bike for exercise, a recliner, my bed and a desk. The room is very spacious and comfortable.
- [21:24]
Camilla Bernal
And I talked to one of the medical directors who's actually working with these passengers. She says they go up to the rooms essentially to the door and make sure that they, these passengers are taking their temperatures. They watch them do it. They're assessing them and asking them a ton of questions, but saying they're taking every step needed to keep both the passengers and the medical staff healthy and making sure that everything is safe and secure for everyone.
- [21:49]
Ryan Nobles
Ryan, Camille, we're now learning that Spain and France will require passengers evacuated from the ship to quarantine for 42 days, which is what is recommended by the WHO. But that's not the case for the American passengers. What are officials saying about when these passengers could leave the facilities?
- [22:08]
Camilla Bernal
It's a really different approach here in the United States. But when I talked to the medical director today, what she said was that for right now, passengers cannot leave, at least they're recommending that they do not leave. And when I asked her, is there anyone that is actually asking to leave? She said no. Everyone essentially is cooperating and taking their advice because she says they need to do this assessment first and figure out when their exposure was. Making sure that they know the exact date and how that exposure was is going to give them a better idea of when these passengers are going to be allowed to go home. Because at some point officials here say, yes, it is ultimately their choice and they will be able to go home, but they're wanting to make sure that they do it in a way where they're not coming out in a way that is unsafe for the general public. Ryan okay.
- [22:57]
Ryan Nobles
Camila Bernal in Omaha, Nebraska. Camila, thank you for that reporting. We're going to turn now to new charges relating to that deadly Baltimore bridge collapse from two years ago. The Department of Justice announced 18 charges today against the ship's operators and a superintendent of the 900 foot cargo ship Dolly. You'll remember the ship lost power twice before slamming into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the early morning hours, causing it to collapse and killing six construction workers. The charges against the companies and the manager include conspiracy to defraud the U.S. misconduct or neglect, obstruction and false statements, among others. Federal prosecutors telling reporters today that the operators of the ship broke the law by using improper equipment. Take a listen.
- [23:44]
Melanie Zinona
The indictment alleges that if the Dali
- [23:46]
Ryan Nobles
had been using the proper fuel supply
- [23:49]
Melanie Zinona
pumps, then the vessel would have regained power in time to safely navigate under the Key Bridge.
- [23:57]
Ashley Etienne
But because the ship was using the
- [24:00]
Melanie Zinona
flushing pumps, which did not have the redundancies, the ship did not regain power in time as alleged in the indictment. The use of the flushing pump, a non redundant fuel supply pump, was a hat hazardous condition under U.S. coast Guard regulation and a violation of international law.
- [24:24]
Ryan Nobles
Synergy Marine Group, one of the operators, responded in a statement saying DOJ is using a criminal is criminalizing, I should say, a tragic accident. The allegations in the indictment are baseless and have nothing to do with the Dali's elision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The DOJ's reference to the vessel's use of the flushing pump is wholly irrelevant to the cause of the elision. Elision is a term to describe when a ship strikes a stationary object. Joining me now is legal affairs reporter Gary Grumbach, who's all over this story. So Gary, officials today pointing to this pump is causing the ship to crash into the bridge. What more did we learn from this indictment about the lead up to the collapse and why they think laws were broken.
- [25:08]
Gary Grumbach
So we've known, Ryan, that there were two power outages in the minutes and before the crash happened here at the Francis Scott Key Bridge right behind me. And it's because the first one was because of a loose wire. The second one, they say, as the U.S. attorney was explaining there in that sound bite, was because of this flushing pump system and because they were using this instead of the proper fuel supply system, they weren't able to get back on on power and they weren't able to sort of have the redundancy to get back online. They say if they did have that redundancy, if they were using the proper fuel supply, they would wouldn't have had this issue. They would have been able to recon get recontrol of the dolly and that the crash never would have happened and the Francesco Bridge would be standing here today. One thing they did say though was that this was entirely predictable on behalf of the operators of this ship from Synergy Marine Group, because they have it in other ships. They've been doing it in two or three other ships other than the dali, they have the same system. So there are some serious liability, some serious criminal charges that have been levied against these operators today by the U.S. attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.
- [26:08]
President Donald Trump
Ryan.
- [26:09]
Ryan Nobles
But it is a bit of a novel idea by the DOJ to to use a criminal penalty here, a criminal accusation against what is a company, not an individual. What kind of penalties or sentences could be faced as a result, given that we're talking about a company here and not a person.
- [26:26]
Gary Grumbach
Yeah, this does actually go back to the times of the Titanic in terms of the marine law that they're using in this. But I won't get into in the weeds on that. In terms of what they're talking about with sentences. The conspiracy to defraud the US Carries with it a five year sentence maximum. So several other years, some of the other charges. The big deal here though is the fine. We're talking anywhere between 5 and $10 billion that could be levied against not only the two companies, but also the individual, the shoreside superintendent that was named in this indictment, should they be found guilty. Ryan.
- [26:56]
Ryan Nobles
Okay, Gary Grumbach, thank you for that, we appreciate it. Up next, mapping and remapping the midterms. A House Democrat from Virginia responds to the legal and political turmoil over redistricting efforts in her state and beyond as the race for control of Congress ramps up. That interview is next right here on Meet the press.
- [27:13]
Ashley Etienne
Now,
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Laura Jarrett
Who gets to be a citizen of the United States at birth? When it comes to sports in school, who gets to compete with the girls? And how much power does the president actually have to hire and fire at independent agencies? These are some of the key questions before the U.S. supreme Court this term. And as any good lawyer knows, whether you win or lose in the highest court depends on the facts, the evidence and how you frame your arguments. But that's not the only thing that matters. I'm Laura Jarrett, senior legal correspondent at NBC News. And this month in a new series for our here's the Scoop podcast, I'm talking to legal experts and lawyers whose past legal victories are now the building blocks for the biggest cases still left to be decided. I want to know how they convinced the court they were right when the stakes were high, what special sauce locked it in? And what could be different this time around? Join us for here's the Scoop Support Supreme Court Edition new episodes every Saturday. You can find Here's a scoop from NBC News on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Ryan Nobles
Hey guys, Willie Geist here reminding you to check out the Sunday Sit down podcast. On this week's episode, I get together with two time Oscar winner Sally Field to talk about a career that has
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President Donald Trump
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Ryan Nobles
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President Donald Trump
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Ryan Nobles
Welcome back. We are following developments in redistricting efforts in several states today resulting from last month's Supreme Court decision limiting the Voting Rights Act. South Carolina lawmakers are considering a proposal to change the Palmetto state's congressional map less than a month before its scheduled primaries. It comes as Alabama Governor Kay Ivey calls for a special primary election in August after the Supreme Court late yesterday allowed the state to use a congressional map that was redrawn in 2023 that includes just one district with an African American majority. Virginia Democrats, meanwhile, are asking the US Supreme Court to restore the state's recently redrawn map. Virginia voters approved that map, which could net Democrats as many as four congressional seats. But last month, the state Supreme Court struck it down, saying that the ruling, or ruling I should say, that it violated the state's constitution. Joining me now is Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, a Democrat from Virginia and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. So, Congresswoman, thank you for being here. Let's first talk about the situation in Virginia. Do you think it is realistic for the Supreme Court to overrule the ruling of the state level Supreme Court that these maps were invalid and violated the Virginia Constitution?
- [30:34]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
Well, I don't trust the Roberts Court to do the right thing on anything having to do with redistricting after they gutted what's left of the Voting Rights Act. So I'm not holding out hope that they'll, they'll be the calvary coming in to save the day.
- [30:47]
Ryan Nobles
Let's talk about the decision that Democrats made to move forward with this map. Looking back on it, do you wish that the process had gone differently? I mean, one of the things that the state Supreme Court quibbled with was the timing of the election. When the election opened versus election day, do you think that you dotted all your I's and crossed all your t's to make sure that you were in line with the Constitution, to make sure that this passed if the voters approved it?
- [31:10]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
You know, hindsight is 2020 and I can't control the past. All I can control is the future. And I think we need to move forward and organize and mobilize. We can still win at least two, if not three in this climate, maybe even four of those seats under the current ma. And that's where we need to put our energy rather than second guessing the past, which we can't change.
- [31:29]
Ryan Nobles
So what I'm hearing you say then is that you're more interested in fighting this battle at the ballot box than necessarily at the courtroom. Have you kind of given up on the idea that these maps are going to change, that you're going to have to work off the maps that were there before the referendum?
- [31:43]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
You know, I wouldn't say I've given up, but I would say that I am a political actor. I am focused on the election. As a practical matter, if we're going to change maps in time for the upcoming election, it would have to happen this week. And I can't wait for that. I've got to mobilize not only to win my district, but to make sure that we can win as many seats regardless of the what, what the map looks like. And more importantly, we need to mobilize to counter what the Deep south is doing now that the Voting Rights act has been gutted.
- [32:12]
Ryan Nobles
Yeah. And let's talk about that. You're a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. There's a possibility that as many as a third of the CBC members are in jeopardy of losing their seats as a result of these nationwide redistricting efforts. What is the CBC going to do to try and protect its members? And how concerned are you about this Supreme Court decision and how it could impact minority voters?
- [32:32]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
I'm very concerned because the Supreme Court has ignored over 100 years of history. The Voting Rights act was put in place because the former Confederate states used tactics including redistricting, including poll taxes and literacy tests that on their face were race neutral but implemented in a discriminatory way. And now the Supreme Court has given those same states carte blanche to do that, and they are doing so with deliberate speed. So the Congressional Black Caucus, we knew this was a possibility. It is an all a full court press. We are working with civil rights organizations to fight this through the courts. We are working on the ground to mobilize and organize and fight this at the ballot box. People are livid. People. You know, we have not seen this level of attack on black voting strength since the backlash to Reconstruction, which saw, you know, we went from 20 some members of Congress being black men to zero for nearly 100 years. We are not going back to those days. We are going to fight this tooth and nail everywhere we can.
- [33:37]
Ryan Nobles
I've been covering redistricting for a long time. I've never seen an era like this that we've seen over the past year with so many states changing their maps in the midst of a decade. You know, usually this happens after a century, but there could be more now. Do you support Democrats efforts to look into states like New York, Illinois and Maryland to perhaps change their maps again? After everything that's already happened, I don't
- [34:00]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
think we have a choice. Look, Republicans know they cannot win at the ballot box based on the merits of their ideas or the actions they've taken since being in control. They know they were going to lose the midterms. That's why the President ordered these states to go down this path. And you cannot fight with one hand tied behind your back while your opponent is fighting with two fists and brass knuckles on each hand. We have got to do everything we can to level the playing field. This nobody, none of us want to be here. But this is the battleground that Donald Trump laid before us. And we had the opportunity to eliminate partisan gerrymandering. Republicans didn't want to do it because they knew, I think they knew the Supreme Court was going to do what it did, and they're taking advantage of it.
- [34:43]
Ryan Nobles
So you say you're willing to do anything to put everything on the table. The minority leader is about maximum warfare. One of the ideas there's reporting out there being floated in Virginia is perhaps lowering the age of the state Supreme Court justices to try and push most of them out so that you could reconsider this case. Is that something that you support? Do you think that would be appropriate given what's happened?
- [35:04]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
You know, I don't think we need to. I think we can let the process work. At least one of them is up for reappointment next year. And even if you completely change the Supreme Court, they're not going to revisit this case. But I can't control that. I can control organizing and mobilizing people to come out and vote this November because they need to vote like their lives depend on it, because in a lot of ways they do. When we see the cuts to health care, when we see this cost of living crisis that Republicans and the Trump administration are doing nothing to address, there's too much at stake for us to just sit back and throw up our hands.
- [35:41]
Ryan Nobles
Okay, I want to play now for you an exchange between a Republican colleague of yours, the Virginia congresswoman, Jen Kiggins, and a radio host out of Richmond yesterday. Take a listen.
- [35:51]
Brian Chung
If Hakeem Jeffries wants to be involved in Virginia politics, then I suggest he does what a bunch of New Yorkers are doing. Leave New York, move down here to Virginia, run for office. Down here.
- [36:00]
President Donald Trump
You can represent us.
- [36:01]
Brian Chung
If not, get your cotton picking hands off of Virginia.
- [36:06]
Ryan Nobles
That's right. Ditto.
- [36:08]
President Donald Trump
Yes. Yes to that.
- [36:10]
Ryan Nobles
Now, Congresswoman Higgins responded to that. She responded to some of the reaction that people have had. She said, this is precisely what's wrong with Democrats. Every lie and distortion is intended to distract from getting their hats handed to them. In the Virginia Supreme Court's clear message, stop trying to rig our elections. This is the important part. She said the radio host should not have used that language. I do not and did not condone it. It was obvious to anyone listening that I was agreeing that Hakeem Jeffries should stay out of Virginia politics. Is that how you interpreted that when you heard it? Do you think that she went out of her way not to condone the language used by the radio host?
- [36:45]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
She giggled and said, ditto. That means she agreed with everything that he said. And those words, cotton picking hands evoke a dark time in Virginia history and in American history where black people were treated as property and forced to pick cotton. And they weren't even considered a full person. They were considered three fifths of a person for the purposes of seeing who is going to serve in Congress. Jen Higgins represents a significant black population. She owes them an apology. She owes Hakeem Jeffries an apology. And I think she needs to understand, representing the Commonwealth of Virginia, the birthplace of American democracy, the birthplace of American slavery, that has been trying to reconcile that dichotomy for now 200 over 200 over 400 years. She knows better. She knows better and she should apologize.
- [37:36]
Ryan Nobles
Should she resign?
- [37:38]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
Look, she's not going to. Whether she should or not, she won't. And so we just need to defend her. We need to defeat her at the ballot box this November.
- [37:45]
Ryan Nobles
Congresswoman McClellan, thank you for being here. I appreciate it.
- [37:47]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
Thank you.
- [37:48]
Ryan Nobles
After the break. I don't think about America's financial situation. As we mentioned, that's what President Trump told reporters today when talking about the war and his goal to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. We'll get the panel's reaction. Stay with us on MEET THE PRESS now. Welcome back. As we mentioned, new polling today shows the president's approval rating underwater across a number of major issues, including the economy. And a majority of Americans across the political spectrum saying his policies have increased the cost of living in their communities. But the president says he isn't thinking about Americans financial concerns when it comes to the impact of the war against Iran.
- [38:34]
President Donald Trump
The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about America's financial situation. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing. We could not let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That's all.
- [38:50]
Ryan Nobles
Joining me now to talk about this. I'm sure they were so surprised we were going to talk about this. Our panel, Shelby Talcott, the White House correspondent for Semaphore Ashley Etienne, a Meet the Press contributor and a former communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris and Mark Bednar, the Republican strategist and former adviser to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. So, Shelby, let's start with that. What we heard from the president, he went on to say once the war ends, the prices are going to drop. But given the fact that there's really no clear sign that the war is ending anytime soon, how much tolerance is the average voter gonna have for this response?
- [39:21]
Shelby Talcott
Yeah, I think voters are having less and less tolerance for comments like this. And what I will say also is I think a lot of Republicans took this comment and sort of sighed heavily. Right. This is not the answer that you want necessarily coming out of the President when Republicans are so focused on the midterms. But I think that this comment perfectly kind of encapsulates the struggle that some inside the White House have had with making sure that the President is focused on the midterms and focused on Republicans maintaining control, while also giving him the room to focus on what he views as sort of his legacy, building foreign policy efforts.
- [40:02]
Ryan Nobles
Ashley, how many of your fellow Democratic strategists have run to the edit room to start turning ads around this?
- [40:09]
Ashley Etienne
You took the words right out of my mouth. I mean, it's the perfect ad. You know, and I believe the president, that he's not focused on the economic suffering that the American people are focused on. He's too busy not just, you know, creating this problem and his billion dollar ballroom and $30 million painting of the reflective pool. I mean, all of these things that have nothing to do and no relationship to the economic suffering that the American people are facing right now. What I find very interesting in the CNN poll that recently came out about this issue of economy is that 77% of the American people are blaming Donald Trump's policies for their economic suffering. They're blaming Donald Trump's policies for the increased cost of living. So typically, what Republicans will do, somehow they introduce the problem as it's Joe Biden or it's Barack Obama, it's someone else's fault. It's always someone else's fault. But the reality is the plurality of the American people across the political spectrum are blaming the president at this moment and blaming his policy. This is a crisis of his own making. And the concern is that he nor House Republic have figured out how to get out of this.
- [41:18]
Ryan Nobles
So let's show that poll, Mark. And President Trump's policies have increased the cost of living in your community. Do you agree with that? 70% of Americans agree with that across the board, 90% of Democrats, 81% of independents, and 55% of Republicans. I know you care most about Congress. This is your expertise. How nervous are House Republicans in particular worried about this impact that voters seem to think the war is having on?
- [41:46]
Mark Bednar
Well, it's very clear that the most salient of all prices, it's not health care, it's not higher education, it's gas prices. And if there's anyone who understands the power of the visibility of salient symbols of economic symbols. That's President Trump. And so he, of course, is very aware where gas prices are going. And that underscores the need for this war to end on a positive note with a W that he declares as soon as possible. Of course, this requires delivering both in Iran and then also how this gets swept into negotiations with China. They are the world's largest importer of oil. So what's happening in the Strait of Hormuz that impacts them directly, too. So these are all tied together. But to your point, the fact that these prices are where they are, they need to come down. And.
- [42:32]
Ryan Nobles
But are you concerned that you're running out of time? If they open the Strait of Hormuz tomorrow, is that soon enough to get those prices down to a level where a House Republican can feel comfortable they can win reelection?
- [42:43]
Mark Bednar
Well, energy markets require certainty and they require a Runway for planning. So if in fact, they do have that certainty, and if they get that opportunity to say, look, the strait is back open, we know how we can hit our benchmark for production, that's an important step to go. And the fact that the generic ballot has actually been cut in half since the last time CNN conducted this poll, it's still a jump ball, even with gas prices where they are. So if they go down and there's a Runway for these gas prices to go down, that's only a good sign for House Republicans.
- [43:13]
Ashley Etienne
Can I just say that we cannot. Republicans would be foolish to think that their stakes are gonna change if gas prices go down. The reality is that 70 plus percent of Republicans believe that inflation is too high. So there are a lot of metrics that are involved in whether or not
- [43:28]
Mark Bednar
people, gas prices being part of that,
- [43:31]
Ashley Etienne
but also cost of groceries. I mean, these things have persisted over time where you can't blame Biden. And so the reality is the difference between any crises, like a foreign policy issue, is that people live every this economic crisis. So even if gas prices were to go down, you still got a plurality of Republicans that think that inflation is way too high.
- [43:50]
Ryan Nobles
Okay, let's, let's talk now more about the midterms in a different way. Shelby, the president was asked today about whether or not he would send ICE or National Guard to the polls. I want you to listen to his response.
- [44:00]
Melanie Zinona
Would you send the National Guard or ICE to voting locations in November? Would you do that?
- [44:06]
President Donald Trump
Well, you know what? I'd do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections. We have to have honest elections.
- [44:14]
Ryan Nobles
Give us a reality check here. Is the White House really considering this? Is this something that could happen?
- [44:19]
Shelby Talcott
You know, the White House will tell you on the record, on background, off the record, that when the President proposes something, ultimately he is oftentimes the decider and they sort of follow his lead. So when the president says something like this, if he continues to bring it up in meetings with privately, it is certainly going to be something that's on the table. And case in point, I think whenever the president talks about the 2020 election, when I was on the campaign trail covering him, there was a point in time where a lot of people on his team and a lot of Republicans who wanted him to win were kind of tired of that talk. They were telling him, move on. We've got to move past this. But as he has become sort of maintained his focus on that, you have seen how his allies have just sort of accepted it. And I think a lot of ways, when the President proposes things, if he continues to push them, it becomes a reality.
- [45:14]
Ryan Nobles
Mark, would that. What could cbp, ice, or the National Guard, what would they do to protect the integrity of the election?
- [45:20]
Mark Bednar
Well, there's broader questions. That, too. Does that actually repel Republican voters in Republican districts? You know, like the. The actual electoral ramifications of that, you know, are unclear. Of course, President Trump wants and, you know, has advocated for secure elections for a long time. What is an actual ICE person going to do standing there on the ground? You know, I think that would require some further explanation, but obviously, election integrity is important to him. Let's see where this actually ends up going.
- [45:47]
Ryan Nobles
So how does this impact Democrats? Ashley, last month, Senator Schumer announced that the Democrats are going to have a task force to try and protect elections. What does that mean in terms of the interaction with the president? And what did Democrats do in response to something like this?
- [46:00]
Ashley Etienne
Can I just say, this notion that the president's into the integrity of the election is kind of laughable. I mean, the. This is the same guy who called down to Georgia and asked for them to fine him 11,000 votes. I mean, that's completely ludicrous that the president is into secure elections. But nevertheless, I mean, I think, you know, Democrats would be smart, and I think they're preparing for this. Based on what you said from Leader Schumer, preparing for any level of shenanigans. I mean, you know, what goes on on the ground in terms of elections is rarely covered on national news. I mean, we've seen all different types of shenanigans. I've done four presidentials at this point. So they're preparing for anything to happen from the National Guard to them. You know, what we saw in Texas most recently during the primary, where they told people to go to the wrong polling to the wrong polling location, all different types of things. So the Democrats are sort of mounting a big effort, not just from a legal perspective. They're trying to recruit a record number of lawyers to be on the ground in some of these states. They're going to do a lot of education ahead of the election to let people know, don't be intimidated by ICS or dhs, et cetera, et cetera. So I think they're preparing for all levels of shenanigans.
- [47:08]
Ryan Nobles
Okay. All right. We're going to have to leave it there. Shelby, Mark Ashley, thank you all for being here. Still to come, the state of maternal health and reproductive rights in America as the Supreme Court takes action in a key state that could reshape abortion pill access nationwide. The CEO of Planned Parenthood joins me in studio with her response. This is MEET THE PRESS now. Welcome back. Yesterday, the Supreme Court again extended its block on a lower court ruling that would limit access to a commonly used abortion drug nationwide. The court's decision maintains full access to the abortion pill mifepristone through at least 5pm on Thursday. Access to the drug was put in jeopardy after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals granted Louisiana's request to void a Biden era rule that allowed the drug to be dispensed through the mail, which effectively allowed it to be sent to states with strict abortion bans. Joining me on set now is the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood and the Planned Parenthood action fund, Alexis McGill Johnson. Alexis, thank you so much for being here. Let's start with the Supreme Court extending a stand till Thursday. How is your organization and providers preparing if the court ultimately lifts the stay as the case plays out? What would it mean if there were a ban on mailing mifepristone and if that were to go into effect?
- [48:31]
Alexis McGill Johnson
I mean, look, first of all, medication, abortion, mifepristone is safe and effective. It has been FDA approved for 25 years. Seven and a half million patients have used this, you know, over that time. And I think it's kind of ridiculous that Louisiana is trying to use the Supreme Court to enact a backdoor abortion ban. You know, Planned Parenthood health centers across the country are preparing for, you know, to ensure that patients continue to get the care that they need coming into health centers or also, you know, identifying alternatives for them to support their care there's no question that women will continue to need mifepristone. More than half of patients who seek access to abortion use this medication. And so it's just kind of ridiculous that we are here again, once again, in this political football when people actually just need health care.
- [49:18]
Ryan Nobles
You mentioned that more than half, maybe 60%, of abortions in the United States are through medication abortion. How much of that is the access that these patients have through telehealth, particularly in places where there aren't necessarily providers that are easily available.
- [49:33]
Alexis McGill Johnson
Look, telehealth has actually been tremendous. I mean, we've all kind of had a new experience with telehealth since COVID Right. Six years ago. And what it has done for the abortion care infrastructure, it has allowed actually patients in city to be able to get care through telehealth in their city, creating appointments for those patients who are traveling into states because of the abortion bans and the restrictions that exist in the states where they are coming from. So imagine somebody coming from Texas to New York, right? It's great for us for a Planned Parenthood health center to be able to open up an appointment for that patient and serve telehealth to the patients in New York City. And I think that's one of the things that they are shifting. When we look at how Louisiana is essentially trying to use this Supreme Court, we are looking at the impact on care on patients and understanding that, like, you know, there is no way that, you know, a patient who is in need in this moment can't get the access to the telehealth care that they need.
- [50:31]
Ryan Nobles
There's been a lot that's happened since the Dobbs decision in terms of abortion access across the country. But the thought process was that abortions would actually drop across the US after the Dobbs decision, but it's actually increased according to the health research group kff. What do you attribute that to?
- [50:49]
Alexis McGill Johnson
I mean, look, I think because people are getting access to telehealth care because mifepristone is, you know, is certainly become much more available for folks. But the reality is people who need access to abortion will seek access to abortion. And I will tell you that stat is killing the opposition. That's why they are doing everything they can to come for, you know, ways to enact, you know, further restrictions after
- [51:12]
Ryan Nobles
Dobbs, you know, yeah, the President's one big beautiful bill act, as it's called last year, included a provision that defunded planned parenthood for one year, but that expires on July 4th. The president was asked about this yesterday whether or not it would be renewed. And I want you to hear his response and then hear his answer, and then respond.
- [51:32]
President Donald Trump
Congress is now negotiating. We've been very good for the people that want it, for the people that are here, and we'll see how that goes. It's been a very thorny, to put it, to put it mildly, it's been a very thorny issue issue. It's all under negotiation right now.
- [51:50]
Ryan Nobles
How do you expect this to play out? The president says it's thorny. I imagine there are some Republicans that aren't necessarily comfortable with Planned Parenthood funding still going away. Do you anticipate that the funding will come back? Where do you think things stand?
- [52:03]
Alexis McGill Johnson
Look, we have made it politically toxic for Republicans to vote on defunding Planned Parenthood again. We know that by and large, people support Planned Parenthood. 70% of Americans do not want to see Planned Parenthood defunded in the same way. They do not want to see mifepristone be taken away. They know that in the midterms that continuing to attack Planned Parenthood, continuing to take away access to abortion is going to mean that they are going to be at risk. So we're going to do everything we can to keep the pressure on them, and we're going to make sure that we get back into the budget.
- [52:34]
Ryan Nobles
But have you had any specific talks with members of Congress? Has this come up in these conversations?
- [52:38]
Melanie Zinona
Absolutely.
- [52:38]
Alexis McGill Johnson
I'm on the Hill every week having these conversations. And we believe, you know, when this expires that we will have a path back into the Medicaid program. And we expect that our providers deserve to be reimbursed fairly for the, for the provision of care, just like every other provider.
- [52:55]
Ryan Nobles
I mean, I think that's. I think people need to understand it's not that there was a line item for Planned Parenthood. There's no line item access to funds
- [53:01]
Alexis McGill Johnson
for services, just like every other provider.
- [53:03]
Ryan Nobles
I do want to get your reaction. Yesterday, the Trump administration did a big rollout of a maternal health care initiative. They launched a government site with information and resources for moms. Do you support that in any ways? Is any part of that good that they're focusing on this as an issue and providing these resources to moms?
- [53:21]
Alexis McGill Johnson
You know, look, I believe that it is the responsibility of the federal government in these United States to address a maternal health care crisis.
- [53:27]
NBC News Correspondent / Interviewer
Right.
- [53:28]
Alexis McGill Johnson
We see that particularly for black women who are experiencing three times the harm and mortality rate as white women in this country, taking that on is important how this administration is doing. It should be actually funding Planned Parenthood. It should be funding the organizations that are in the communities, addressing everything from wellness exams to access to contraception, ensuring that people are getting the care that they need. What they have on that website is anything but okay.
- [53:52]
Ryan Nobles
Alexis McGill Johnson, thank you so much for being here. We appreciate it.
- [53:56]
Alexis McGill Johnson
Thank you for having me.
- [53:57]
Ryan Nobles
And we're gonna be back tomorrow with more MEET THE PRESS now, but don't go anywhere. My colleague Hallie Jackson will interview former FBI Director James Comey. That's coming up on Hallie Jackson now, right here on NBC News. Now have a great night. I'm Craig Melvin. Cheers. Cheers.
- [54:11]
Mark Bednar
Cheers.
- [54:12]
President Donald Trump
I've always been a glass half full kind of guy, and now I'm talking
- [54:16]
Laura Jarrett
to some people who look at the
- [54:17]
Ryan Nobles
world that way, too. Some really fascinating folks who share their defining moments, their triumphs, their challenges. Their stories are funny and vicarious.
- [54:28]
President Donald Trump
So I hope you'll join me each week.
- [54:29]
Ryan Nobles
And who knows, you might just come away with your own glass Half Full.
- [54:33]
President Donald Trump
Search Glass Half Full with Craig Melton
- [54:35]
Ryan Nobles
From Today on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.