Meet the Press NOW — May 22

Summary

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Meet the Press NOW — May 22, 2026

Host: Kristen Welker, NBC News
Episode Theme:
This episode delivers a high-stakes look at a turbulent week in Washington, spotlighting deepening Republican divisions over President Trump’s policies, cabinet shakeups amid international crises, economic anxiety on Main Street, and how these factors may shape the coming midterms. Grounded in breaking news—like the resignation of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and DHS’s shift in green card policy—the show traverses Capitol Hill’s political calculus, U.S.-Iran tensions, voter sentiment, and dynamics in key swing districts.

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Key Topics & Discussions

1. Cabinet Shakeup: Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as DNI

[01:26–06:22]

• Breaking news: Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump’s Director of National Intelligence, resigns due to her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
• Gabbard was not a core insider in the Trump administration and often dissenting on foreign policy, particularly Iran.
• Implications: The host and NBC correspondents interpret the departure as emblematic of growing fractures and instability within the Trump White House, especially amid ongoing foreign policy crises (Iran, Cuba).

"She was not present... for a number of the big decision points around Iran and Venezuela. And... her as an outspoken critic of wars in the Middle East made her a less than ideal public defender of the President's ongoing on again, off again war with Iran."
— Garrett Haake [05:32]

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2. GOP Rebellion Over the “Anti-Weaponization Fund”

[02:00–13:07]

• The controversy: President Trump pushes for a $1.8B “anti-weaponization fund” to compensate allies allegedly targeted by the Biden administration. Capitol Hill Republicans lash out, calling it a “slush fund” and objecting to its lack of transparency and self-dealing aspects.
• Notably, Senate GOP leaders like Mitch McConnell break ranks, describing the move as "morally wrong".
• Senators’ tensions escalate in a fiery closed-door meeting; many are now airing their frustrations more publicly, a shift from prior reticence.

“So the nation's top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops. Utterly stupid, morally wrong—take your pick.”
— Mitch McConnell, cited by Ryan Nobles [09:21]

• Significance: The panel frames these events as a potential turning point—marking possibly the most public, deep-seated resistance from Congressional Republicans during Trump’s presidency.

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3. Iran War Stalemate & Faint Hopes for Diplomacy

[20:11–27:46]

• Six weeks into a U.S.-Iran ceasefire, talks show “some slight progress,” per Secretary of State Marco Rubio—but the nuclear issue remains an intractable obstacle.
• Both U.S. and Iran claim success in Strait of Hormuz maneuvering; real impacts include throttled oil exports and strategic anxieties across the Gulf.
• NBC correspondents report the region is “at a make or break moment”; renewed fighting could imperil critical infrastructure and worsen global energy shocks.

“There is a feeling this status quo is not sustainable... Either there's going to be a deal or there is going to be a resumption of fighting.”
— Raf Sanchez [24:53]

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4. U.S. Economic Outlook: Pressure from War & Inflation

[15:03–18:41]

• New Fed Chair: President Trump swears in Kevin Warsh, calls for independence but faces skepticism due to past attacks on prior Fed chairs.
• Rising inflation: Energy price shocks linked to Iran war drive up costs (gas +50%), hitting consumer sentiment, especially among lower-income Americans.
• Concern: Some Fed governors, including a Trump appointee, hint at possible rate hikes if inflation persists.

“If Americans think prices are going to keep going up and up, they're going to pull back spending... and that could eventually hit economic growth.”
— Ali Kanal [18:01]

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5. Panel Analysis: GOP Turmoil & Democratic Aftershocks

[29:22–37:59]

• GOP dynamics: Republicans are caught between political survival and Trump loyalty, with resentment brewing over perceived interference in Senate races and unpopular policy demands.
• Democratic scene: The DNC’s flawed “After Action” autopsy report triggers calls for leadership changes but is largely dismissed by party strategists as a distraction from more pressing challenges (affordability crisis, voter rights, redistricting).
• Texas focus: Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton defies D.C. wisdom, raising Democratic hopes and uncertainty among GOP strategists.

“President Trump’s approval ratings are in the tank... This is a president who not only continues to refuse to acknowledge that the affordability crisis is real, this is also a president who's doing everything to showcase where he wants to put taxpayer dollars in ways that the American public doesn't want to see...”
— Amisha Cross [32:08]

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6. Immigration Shifts & Alarming ICE Detention Data

[39:07–45:33]

• DHS green card reversal: Applicants for permanent residency now required to return to their home country, affecting about 500,000 people yearly. Major concern for those from countries with restricted U.S. admissions.
• ICE detention crisis: Suicide and death rates among ICE detainees spike to two-decade highs, with mental health emergencies documented via chilling 911 calls. Government deems the trend “tragic and rare,” but independent medical experts and advocates cite policy failures and prolonged detention as root causes.

“Five presumed suicides so far this year, the highest in at least two decades... and it's only May. There were only two reported suicides over four years of President Biden's term.”
— Julia Ainsley [41:12]

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7. Battleground Spotlight: Nebraska’s 2nd District

[47:13–53:12]

• Meet the Candidate: Denise Powell, Democratic nominee, outlines a pragmatic, grassroots-driven platform focused on affordability and health care to win an open seat in a true swing district.
• Powell emphasizes winning coalitions beyond party lines and calls for “common sense” policy approaches.
• She notes the critical role of Latino outreach and paints the D.C. political class as detached from local struggles.

“I’m not a politician. I am a fired up mom... Nebraskans need us to address this affordability crisis. They need us to address this health care crisis. They need to know that someone in D.C. is showing up for them and not playing political party games.”
— Denise Powell [48:50]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On GOP Resistance:
  “[This] is the worst possible place for Donald Trump to be... It's really the President's decision as to whether or not this is going to move forward.”
  — Ryan Nobles [10:49]

• On Ceasefire & Diplomacy:
  “The US is in a better spot right now militarily than they were back in February... They’ve restocked, they've rearmed...”
  — Courtney Kuby [22:56]

• On Consumer Sentiment:
  “Lower income Americans and those without a college degree, they're seeing sentiment levels plunge and they're more susceptible to higher gas prices and higher grocery prices.”
  — Ali Kanal [18:01]

• On DNC After-Action Report:
  "Democratic voters honestly don't care about the 2024 election when more and more people are losing voting rights..."
  — Amisha Cross [35:23]

• On ICE Detention Deaths:
  “Suicides are the tip of the iceberg and usually indicates that there are much greater mental health issues going on.”
  — Dr. Sanjay Basu, via Julia Ainsley [42:25]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:26] — Kristen Welker headlines: Gabbard resignation, anti-weaponization fund controversy.
• [05:05] — Garrett Haake: Assessment of Gabbard’s resignation.
• [09:21] — Ryan Nobles: Capitol Hill GOP reaction, Mitch McConnell’s statement.
• [13:07] — Sahil Kapoor: On-the-ground reporting from Rockland County.
• [15:44] — Ali Kanal: Economic update, Fed chair transition, inflation fallout.
• [20:11] — Kristen Welker: US-Iran diplomacy update.
• [21:29] — Courtney Kuby: DNI implications, Iran/Cuba intelligence.
• [24:53] — Raf Sanchez: Gulf region’s mood, stakes of ceasefire.
• [29:22] — Kristen Welker: Panel intro, GOP rift analysis.
• [32:08] — Amisha Cross: Democratic perspective on GOP struggles.
• [34:36] — DNC infighting, autopsy report discussion.
• [39:07] — Julia Ainsley: Green card rule change; ICE suicide spike report.
• [47:13] — Denise Powell: Nebraska’s 2nd “Meet the Candidate.”

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Takeaways & Closing Thoughts

This episode paints a vivid portrait of a Washington beset by crisis fatigue, political infighting, and public discontent. As President Trump faces an emboldened opposition from within his own party, Cabinet flux, and war-driven economic pain, Democrats grapple with internal discord and shifting electoral maps. On immigration, abrupt policy changes and distressing data from detention centers raise urgent humanitarian and legal questions.

Throughout, the tone is frank, urgent, and at times surprisingly candid—offering listeners a valuable primer on the unresolved battles sure to shape the summer’s headlines and November’s outcomes.

Transcript

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[Kat / Courtney Kuby]

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[Kristen Welker]

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[Kristen Welker]

Ask a room about Cosentyx. Welcome to Meet THE press. Now I'm Kristen Welker in Washington. On a day where President Trump is facing mounting pressure from all sides as he navigates tumbling poll numbers, rising prices, new and unusual dissent from members of his own party, a state stagnant war against Iran, and now breaking news that Tulsi Gabbard, his top intelligence official, is resigning. Gabbard informed the president today that she will be stepping down as the director of National Intelligence following her husband's diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer. President Trump saying on social media Gabbard has done a great job and she will be missed. Gabbard has long been an opponent of foreign wars and notably broke with the Trump administration with the Iran war, citing intelligence contradicting his claim that Iran posed an imminent threat to the US this latest Cabinet shakeup comes as the president faces growing backlash from Republicans to The administration's controversial $1.8 billion anti weaponization fund, which would compensate Trump allies who say they were targeted under the last administration. Republicans on Capitol Hill speaking out, making their frustrations with the White House and the fund clear. I still am supportive of a focused bill, funds ICE and cbp and that's it. Yeah. Why? Why we did anything else is beyond me.

[Raf Sanchez]

Do you really think that the American

[Kristen Welker]

people like the president suing himself basically,

[Raf Sanchez]

then making a deal that benefits himself

[Kristen Welker]

with a broad immunity for not just IRS dealings but anything else and along

[Raf Sanchez]

the way setting up this fund which is out appropriated dollars, how does that

[Narrator/Commercial Voiceover]

appear to the American, American people?

[Kristen Welker]

Frankly, by self dealing.

[Narrator/Commercial Voiceover]

Well, I'm going to go listen with

[Raf Sanchez]

an open mind, but I'm just telling

[Kristen Welker]

you I have some serious concerns. What are your concerns? What are my concerns? An executive branch being able to at

[Narrator/Commercial Voiceover]

their will send money to people without

[Raf Sanchez]

the proper judicial rule.

[Kristen Welker]

Those are my concerns. The president today doubling down, posting on social media, quote, I gave up a lot of money in allowing the just announced anti weaponization fund to go forward while claiming he is helping others who were so badly abused by an evil, corrupt and weaponized Biden administration receive at long last justice? The words of the president. Republican anxiety over the fund comes amid intensifying voter backlash against the president, with his approval rating falling to new lows according to recent polling, his handling of inflation and the cost of living, both more than 50 points underwater. And right now, President Trump is looking to tout his economic agenda in a key swing district spending. Speaking in Rockland County, New York, in Republican Congressman Mike Lawler's district, NBC News chief White House correspondent Garrett Hake kicks things off for us today. Also with me is NBC News chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles, NBC News senior national political reporter Sahil Kapoor in Suffern, New York, where the president just spoke, and NBC News business and economy reporter Ali Kanal. Thanks to all of you for starting us off. Garrett, let me start with you, and I want to begin with today's Cabinet news. Was this departure of Tulsi Gabbard unexpected? And what are the implications given the war in Iran and all of these fresh tensions with Cuba?

[Garrett Haake]

Yeah, I would say not entirely unexpected, although the immediate cause of it, her husband's illness, was news to me and I think to most people who cover this administration. But the idea that Gabbard, who was never fully embraced as a member of the president's inner circle, would be among the earlier cabinet secretaries to depart isn't terribly shocking. And in hindsight, the Friday of a holiday weekend is as good of a time as any to do it as to what effect it might have inside the administration. My initial read on this is not much. And I think that speaks to at least perhaps part of the reason why she's leaving. She was not seen as a pivotal, you know, someone who is sort of her advice was pivotal to the president critical to his decision making. She was not present, whether by, you know, intentionally or not, for a number of the big decision points around Iran and Venezuela. And you know, her as an outspoken critic of wars in the Middle east made her a less than ideal public defender of the President's ongoing on again, off again war with Iran. So I think this is a situation where the job was bigger on paper than her role in filling it was in this White House. And you know, the president sending her off nicely with a truth social today in keeping with the way that he's handled many of these recent resignations or departures from his Cabinet.

[Kristen Welker]

Yeah, it'll be interesting to see who her ultimate replacement will be. Garrett, let me turn to this broader theme that we've been reporting on, this pressure that the President has been facing from all sides, quite frankly. What are your sources telling you about how that's being felt inside the administration? Is President Trump looking to change course at all? Because today he was pretty defiant when it came to that anti weaponization fund.

[Garrett Haake]

Yeah, and I have to answer it this way, which I don't love, because I think a lot of the sources that I was talking to within the administration who were people who had either counseled against or understood the reasons why not to go after like a Bill Cassidy or a John Cornyn so as not to antagonize them, are now people who are having a harder time getting on the phone. You know, these decisions from the president were decisions that the President himself made, sometimes against the advice of the political team that has been with him at least through this last election. And so he's now in a situation where getting through this mess is going to have to be something that he muddles through on instinct and on the backs of his team now is sort of starting to spread out across the country or at least sort of in the way that they think about it as they focus on the midterms. The President has, has broken this relationship to a certain extent, particularly with Senate Republicans. How he fixes it may fall to him personally.

[Kristen Welker]

Yeah, well, it's a really interesting data point there. Garrett, before I let you go, I do have to ask you about this. Donald Trump Jr. Getting married this weekend. The President says he will not attend. Why is that? And could that give us any tea leaves into what might happen with Iran or Cuba potentially?

[Garrett Haake]

Well, look, we know what the President has said publicly and that is really in the form of an answer to a question from our colleague Gabe Gutierrez yesterday and in a truth social post this morning suggesting that, you know, he's got big, big job to do essentially, and that, you know, he needs to remain in Washington, D.C. during what he called an important period of time. Yesterday, he suggested that, you know, the war with Iran is a factor. It's a tough one to parse, Kristen, because he's ordered plenty of strikes and made other big decision decisions from Mar a Lago, for example, perhaps he didn't want to be out of the country if there's something going on. Perhaps it was just something where the presidential retinue is too big of a footprint at what has been described as a relatively small wedding. We don't know the answer yet. I suspect by Monday we'll have a better view and hopefully he sends a gift.

[Kristen Welker]

Don Jr undoubtedly hoping that as well. All right, Garrett Haig, thanks for starting us off. Really appreciate it. Ryan, let me turn to you because you and I were on the air yesterday, really just moments after, after Republicans had broken for recess without voting on this reconciliation bill which would have included funding not just for the ballroom, but also this so called anti weaponization fund which so many Republicans have referred to as a slush fund. You said something really important. You said you thought it could potentially be a turning point, a sign that things were shifting on Capitol Hill. How are you viewing it today? Do you think this could last when they get back from recess?

[Ryan Nobles]

If anything, I think that that meeting was even worse than what we thought yesterday in the moments after. You remember, Kristen, what I told you yesterday was and nobody wanted to talk about it, uncharacteristically so almost everyone saying no comment. Well, now some of these senators are either talking to us off the record or on background or some are just volunteering the information on their own. Ted Cruz on his own podcast described it as fireworks at an epic level. He said he's never been in a meeting that was as fiery as this one. He says fiery didn't even cut it. He said that they were screaming at the acting attorney general over it. And Ted Cruz also said that if Democrats had put amendments up around this weaponization bill, if it had gone to a vote of Rama and the reconciliation, that many as as many as 26 Republicans would have voted for it. So that gives you an indication of how many Republicans were willing to break with the president as a result of it. Among them, Mitch McConnell, who put out this statement afterwards. We don't really hear that much from Mitch McConnell anymore. He said. So the nation's top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who Assault cops, utterly stupid, morally wrong, take your pick. So, yeah, this very much appears to be a turning point. The question is, how much of a turn are we going to make and will it last?

[Kristen Welker]

Well, and to your point, Mitch McConnell chooses his words very carefully. So those words carry an immense amount of weight. Ryan, what do you anticipate happening when lawmakers come back from recess? Are we still going to see these tensions around?

[Ryan Nobles]

Well, this is the worst possible place for Donald Trump to be. As Garrett rightfully points out, this is his mess to clean up. And what he never does is ask for an apology or say that he made a mistake or try and fix it. So he's gonna have to find some sort of graceful exit ramp. That is something that Senate Republicans are willing to go along with. That at the same time doesn't make it look like he's giving something up. And his posture today seemed to be doubling down on this weaponization fund, claiming that it was necessary. It's to the point point now where Senate Republicans are not going to budge on this and I can't imagine even a seven day recess away from Washington is going to change that at all. So they're at a major impasse here and it's really the President's decision as to whether or not this is going to move forward. Because the thing to keep in mind what's at issue right now is this DHS and CBP funding. Most of that has been taken care of in the big beautiful bill. This is to extend the funding through the balance of the Trump administration. That's not an urgent need for Senate Republicans. It's an urgent need for Donald Trump. So if he wants to fix this, he needs to fix the weaponization fund first.

[Kristen Welker]

It's going to be fascinating to see how it plays out, not to mention what they hear from their constituents when they're back at home. We know Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, Democrat Tom Suozzi, co authoring a bill that would effectively ban any funds from going to this anti weaponization fund. Do you see that going anywhere, Ryan?

[Ryan Nobles]

So this is the wild card, right? Because I'm sure that House Republican leadership has no interest in bringing a bill like this to the floor. But what we have seen is that the discharge petition, which was kind of a West Wing TV show fantasy procedural move that never really existed in Washington up until this year, has been a pretty effective procedural step that rank and file members of Congress have used. That's how the Epstein Files Transparency act came to be. So is there the possibility that Brian Fitzpatrick, who's Already, a Republican can get a couple more Republicans on board with a discharge petition and there's real momentum behind this. I think that's something to watch for when they come back.

[Kristen Welker]

All right. Well, we will indeed. Ryan Noble. Well, thank you so much. Great to have you here. All right, so let me turn to you. You were at the event with Mike Lawler. You spoke with Congressman Mike Lawler a short time ago. What did he tell you were his key takeaways so far from the president's visit?

[Sahil Kapoor]

Yeah, that's right, Kristen. President Trump is still speaking right behind me, so bear with me if it's a little bit loud. But yes, I did speak with Congressman Mike Lawler, who's facing quite a high wire act, a difficult challenge to win re election here in this very hotly competitive swing district. He will be dragged down by President Trump's declining approval ratings like every other Republican. But he recognizes that there is no path to victory without winning over solid Trump voters, without winning over MAGA voters like those in this room who are still very supportive of Trump. He needs to turn them out. I asked him what he makes of the president's support rallying here with him. Take a listen to what Congressman Lawler said.

[Julia Ainsley]

What are you doing right now?

[Garrett Haake]

Look, I think, as I was just saying, having the president United States come to your district is a wonderful opportunity for the community, no matter who the president is. Just like when Joe Biden showed up three years ago. I was there. And when Donald Trump's coming, I'm here because that is the job.

[Kristen Welker]

You are expected to engage on these

[Garrett Haake]

issues and talk to the president and your colleagues in government. If you can't do that, if you

[Raf Sanchez]

can't engage constructively, then how do you

[Garrett Haake]

expect to get anything done on behalf of your constituents?

[Sahil Kapoor]

Now on stage behind me, when Mike Lawler spoke just a little bit ago, he joked that he got, he gets called MAGA Mike by Democrats and he gets called a traitorous rhino by some Republicans trying to position himself as a Trump supporter who's occasionally willing to break with Trump. The national environment person. A new a New York Times Sienna poll found that Trump's approval rating nationally is 37%, but among Republicans it's 82%. So he still needs to turn them out or there's no reelection path for him. Now, lastly, I'm here in Rockland County. This is the red part of the district that Mike Lawler won by double digits. It's the reason he's a congressman. Across the Hudson river from me is Westchester county, the Blue part of the district that he lost by double digits. So that's the balance he's got to strike if he's, if he is to win reelection here.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, Sahil, thank you so much for bringing us those statements from Mike Lawler and that great reporting. We really appreciate it. Ali, let me turn to you now. Let's talk about the big news in the world of the economy today. President Trump swore on his new Fed chair, Kevin Warsh and encouraged him to be independent. Take a look. I want Kevin to be totally independent. I want him to be independent and just do a great job. Don't look at me, don't look at anybody. Just do your own thing and do a great job. Okay. What was the reaction to the President's remarks, given his previous attacks, quite frankly, on Fed Chair Jerome Powell?

[Ali Kanal]

Powell, yeah. There's clearly a lot of tension there considering President Trump's relationship to the Fed and Jerome Powell, like you said, over the fact that he did not cut interest rates fast enough, at least to the President's liking here. But the timing here is important because Wash is entering a very different economy than many expected even a few months ago. Inflation has reaccelerated due to a lot of these energy shocks tied to the Iran war. And even some Trump appointed Fed officials are now saying that rate cuts might not come anytime soon. So this felt like Trump trying to thread the needle a little bit publicly, acknowledging the need for Fed independence, which we know is important to the general public, while also distancing himself a little bit when it comes to any potential changes we could see down the line, whether it's interest rate hikes or interest rates staying higher for longer, which we know from an affordability standpoint would be an issue for many Americans out there, Kristen.

[Kristen Welker]

So let me ask you and follow up with you on that exact point, because Fed Governor Christopher Waller, who President Trump did nominate to the Board of Governors during his first term, actually hinted at a rate hike in the near future. This is what he said, Ali. He said, quote, I can no longer rule out rate hikes further down the road if inflation does not abate soon. Should people be bracing for a potential hike?

[Ali Kanal]

Well, it's too soon to say whether rate hikes are coming in the imminent future. However, the fact that Chris Waller even brought this up really sticks out to me because inflation right now is hovering at 3.8%. Remember, the Fed's target is closer to 2%. So if we don't see this straight of hormones reopen, if we don't see inflation come down over the next few months, there will be a real need to keep interest rates higher for longer or perhaps see some of those rate hikes. And we're starting to see those energy shocks ripple through the entire economy. You look at gas prices, for example, they're up over 50%. And of course, it's not just contained to gas prices. Also airline costs, fuel, fertilizer, really across the board here, you're seeing a lot of these pricing pressures.

[Kristen Welker]

And Ali, before I let you go, we know consumer sentiment has actually fallen to a new low. That's according to a University of Michigan study. What exactly is fueling Americans concerns and what does that new low mean?

[Ali Kanal]

Broadly speaking, it's all about that cost of living, particularly around gas prices. And what stood out to me is that lower income Americans and those without a college degree, they're seeing sentiment levels plunge and they're more susceptible to higher gas prices and higher grocery prices. Thing that stood out, inflation expectations are moving higher. That's important because if Americans think prices are going to keep going up and up, they're going to pull back spending, they're going to delay those big purchases and they're going to feel more anxiety around their current financial situation and that could eventually hit economic growth. So just a lot of things for the consumers to look out for here.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, Ali Canal, thank you so much for all the great information. We really appreciate it. Hope you have a really wonderful holiday weekend. Thank you for being here. Still ahead, meet the candidate. We'll speak with the Democrat running in a key swing district in Nebraska as her party looks to flip the seat in its quest to retake the House. But first, the latest on the impasse between the US And Iran and where talks currently stand as the conflict approaches the three month mark. Stay with us. You're watching MEET THE press. Now. Looking for a gift to make Dad's day. Shop Betsy for all his favorites like personalized golf accessories or a handmade leather camping bag. Celebrate dad with classic gifts.

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[Kristen Welker]

Welcome back. There are new signs today that negotiations between the US And Iran to end the war may be making some progress. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO foreign minister meeting in Sweden, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said some progress on peace talks has been made while also trying to temper expectations. We await word on those conversations that are ongoing.

[Ryan Nobles]

There's been some slight progress.

[Kristen Welker]

I don't want to exaggerate it, but there's been a little bit of movement and that's good. The fundamentals remain the same. Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.

[Sahil Kapoor]

It just cannot.

[Kristen Welker]

It comes after Iran's foreign minister said the U.S. and Iran continue to exchange messages through their Pakistani meteor based on Tehran's 14 point peace proposal. The foreign minister also saying Iran is ready to fight or negotiate, depending on what is required. Joining me now is NBC News senior national security correspondent Courtney Kuby and NBC News international correspondent Raf Sanchez, who's in Doha for us. Courtney, let me start with, with you here at the table. I have to start with this news that the director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard is departing this very sad news, she says, because her husband was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. Broadly speaking, though, what are the implications of her departure given the current status in Iran? And obviously we keep our eyes on Cuba as well.

[Kat / Courtney Kuby]

Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest thing is the DNI is who produces the President's daily intelligence briefing. So that right there is something that could potentially touch the President's world every single day here. And not just that the PDB is something that ultimately the information from that can be disseminated out and there can be decisions that are made from it. So that's a real direct impact. Now as far as what's happening with the potential for some kind of a conflict in Cuba, US Military action, Cuba, whatever it is, it's the same issue. The information, the intelligence about what's happening in Cuba, turmoil on the ground among the civilian population, how the leadership is doing, how the civilians see them. All of that information would be aggregated and put together by the dni, provided to the White House. So it will have a very, it could have a very direct daily impact on the President. The one caveat is, you know, reports have been that Tulsi Gabbard has been somewhat sidelined for months now. So that might be the caveat to how this might not have as big of an impact on the day to

[Kristen Welker]

day she Just her messaging has been so disparate on Iran as compared to the other administration officials as well. Court, let me ask you about what you and I have been tracking now for weeks. Is the president going to resume military action? You heard Secretary of State Marco Rubio there try to signal that some progress had been made. But we know that he has not taken military action off the table. Where does that stand? Has any decision been made?

[Kat / Courtney Kuby]

So we don't believe there's been a decision. But everyone has to remember how quickly this can be, this turn, because even, you know, we talked about this even before the war started back in February, the possibility of the president could make a decision. The military would call it a go, no go meeting, where they would say, yes, go, and it's a matter of hours. The US Is in a better spot right now militarily than they were back in February in that they now have two carrier strike groups. They're there in the region. They have a fresh carrier air wing that's there. They've been enforcing this blockade. They have more than 200 fighter aircraft that are, excuse me, afloat right now, plus everything they have ashore. They've restocked, they've rearmed. So if President Trump were to make a decision, it could be a matter of hours before we could see something happen. But again, at this point, we don't have any indication that he's made that decision.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, it's really important context. Court, you mentioned the blockade. Is the US Blockade actually working? What's the status right now in the Strait of Hormuz?

[Kat / Courtney Kuby]

The military says that it is. They continue to turn a handful of ships around every single day that are either coming, coming from Iranian ports that they say are in violation of the blockade. But we also get these sort of anecdotal reports of other ships that are getting through because of Iran. So according to the US Military, yes, the blockade is working. According to Iran, no, it's not working. They control the strait. The reality is traffic remains so far down from where it was before this war started, just a tiny fraction of where it was then. And the US still has a military presence there that is stopping some ships from going through. So the Strait is far. The traffic there and the commerce that's going through there remains far down from where it should. It should be.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, Courtney Kuby, thank you so much for being here. Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend. Really appreciate it. Good to see you as always. Ralph, let me turn to you. You're obviously in the region there. What is the mood like there is the region bracing for the possibility that the US could resume strikes.

[Raf Sanchez]

So, Chris, and I can tell you there is a feeling here in the Middle east that we are at a make or break moment. We've been in a cease fire for now, for six weeks. The shooting has stopped, but the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Oil prices are going up for major energy exporters like Qatar. They cannot get their oil out, they cannot get their gas out. And there is a feeling that this status quo is not sustainable, that either there's going to be a deal or there is going to be a resumption of fighting. And there is a lot of concern, especially here in the Gulf, about a return to fighting. It's bad enough the Strait is blocked, that they can't get their exports out. They can't get their exports in. But these are countries that were hit very, very hard by the Iranians during those weeks of fighting. A lot of concern about energy infrastructure being targeted, oil facilities, liquefied natural gas facilities. But Kristen, especially desalination plants, which are those plants that turn salt water into drinking water. Qatar reliance on those for about 99% of its drinking water. And there is real, real concern that if the US Were to hit Iran again, start hitting Iranian power plants, the Iranians could retaliate by striking desalination plants here in the Gulf.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, I have to ask you about what we heard from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He seemed to, to signal there had been some slight progress. He said, I don't want to oversell it, but that there has been some reason to think they're moving forward. Does that match what your sources are telling you in the region? Raf yeah.

[Raf Sanchez]

So, Kristen, it's actually, it's nearly midnight here, but there is still shuttle diplomacy underway. As far as we can tell, there is a Pakistani team of mediators who are in Tehran right now now speaking to senior Iranian officials. That's not a surprise. They have been playing that role throughout this. But what is interesting is there is now a team from here in Qatar, also in Tehran. The Qataris, of course, have played a major role in mediation efforts in the past, going back and forth between Israel and Hamas trying to end the Gaza war, get the hostages out. They have largely stayed out of these negotiations between the United States States and Iran until now, which may possibly be an indication that the Qataris feel that they are the ones who could potentially bridge the gap here, could try to get an agreement in place. What that agreement would look like remains very unclear. This has been kind of a zero sum situation between Iran and the US For a long time. Now, just to give you one example on the nuclear issue, the US Saying that Iran would need to give up its stock stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The Iranians are saying we are not going to let it out of the country. It is just not clear how you reach a deal that accommodates both sides. One possibility, something the Iranians have talked about, Kristen, is that there could be some sort of narrow agreement that ends the war, reopens the Strait of Hormuz and leaves the nuclear issue for another day.

[Kristen Welker]

Kristen. All right. Well, we will continue to track it closely as I know you are. Raf Sanchez, please stay safe. Thank you for being with us. US we appreciate it. Coming up next, under pressure, the White House faces new resistance from Republicans as the party braces for a potentially rough November at the ballot box. The panel's next. You're watching MEET THE PRESS now. Want to make your home everyone's favorite summer destination?

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[Kristen Welker]

Welcome back on this busy Friday before Memorial Day here in Washington. Joining me now is our panel, NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Melanie Zenona Amisha Cross, Democratic strategist and former Obama campaign advisor and Republican strategist and former communications director to Senator Cory Gardner, Ann Elise Keller. Thank you so much to all of you for being here. Mel, I have to start with you. Let's start with what is really kind of a remarkable moment on Capitol Hill. We saw Republicans push back against President Trump in a firmer way than we have in the past, refusing to vote on a measure that would have funded this fund to anti weaponization fund, as he calls it, to help allies who feel as though they were mistreated under the Biden administration. That's how he's describing it. Talk about this moment of public pushback do you think it's a turning point or do you think they're going to get back from recess and go back to falling in line?

[Melanie Zanona]

That remains to be seen. But it is fascinating to watch. And I think there are a few reasons that are really fueling this dynamic, this newfound rebellion on Capitol Hill. First of all, some of the stuff is just really beyond the pale for Republicans. There's also a lot of resentment right now that Donald Trump moved to end Bill Cassidy's career, trying to end John Cornyn's career. I was in the Senate the day after the endorsement of Ken Paxton and just Republicans were furious. But Kristen, I think the biggest reason is that we are now moving from primary season to general election season. During primary season, there was this constant threat hanging over Republicans about potentially drawing a Trump backed challenger. Now they're looking to November and they're being asked to do things, defend things that are just really, really unpopular. So I think at the end of the day, it's political survival.

[Kristen Welker]

How do you see it, analyze it? Just that what Mel is talking about, the reaction, the gut reaction to the fact that President Trump endorsed Ken Paxton despite the fact that Republicans on Capitol Hill in the Senate were begging him to do exactly the opposite.

[Guest/Panelist]

I think Mel's spot on, I mean, Majority Leader Thune, this is a real low point in my view for Senate Republicans right now in terms of how they're engaging with the administration. I really saw President Trump's influence, endorsement of Ken Paxton is a direct rebuke on Majority Leader Thune decision not to rebuke the parliamentarian first for the ballroom funding and then secondarily for, you know, not moving forward with getting rid of the filibuster, for example. I mean, this is really coming to a head, I think, in a way that we haven't seen. So I'm really curious to see if cooler heads prevail when they come back or if this continues to ramp up.

[Kristen Welker]

How are Democrats watching all of this unfold? And is it a moment where Democrats feel like they can capitalize on it? Obviously, in Texas, it has given Democrats new momentum.

[Amisha Cross]

Yeah, I think Democrats are enjoying the cluster that happens to be Senate Republicans right now. And the fact that, you know, Donald Trump's approval ratings are in the tank that, you know, we're out of primary season, general election season, is an entirely different electorate. It's a lot more diverse from various different backgrounds. And this is a president who not only continues to refuse to acknowledge that the affordability crisis is real, this is also a president who's doing everything to showcase where he wants to put taxpayer dollars in ways that the American public doesn't want to see, whether it's the war in Iran, whether it is the ballroom, you name it, the slush fund that he recently created, all of these things are things that Americans don't want to see anything. For Texas in general, which has always been seen as kind of fool's goal for the Democratic Party right now, it seemed that it could be extremely competitive, especially looking at the fact that Cornyn's not going to be the guy.

[Kristen Welker]

Do you think Annalise, Texas is going to be competitive if Paxton wins? By the way, some folks in Texas are saying, hey, wait a minute, let's let this runoff play out. Maybe Cornyn can close strong. He is a closer. But if Paxton wins, do you think Texas is in play?

[Guest/Panelist]

I mean, the polling right now suggests that Paxton and Thune perform very similarly. And that's one of the reasons that President Trump has said it doesn't matter who runs against Talarico. And he, he hasn't really been feeling super strongly of buying this argument that a lot of folks in D.C. are making that Cornyn is that, you know, candidate who can is the only one who can win in Texas. Now, I think there will be down ballot challenges that can, Paxton will have that John Cornyn wouldn't. But the polling right now suggests that they both have about the same opportunity to win.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, let's talk about the big headline for Democrats this week, Mel, and I'll let know you set the stage. This After Action report, the autopsy report that was released this week continues to make waves for a number of reasons. In part because it was incomplete and in part because it was riddled with errors. Now, Ken Martin, the chairman of the dnc, said, look, that's exactly why he didn't want to release it in the first place. He's urging Democrats to, as he has said, move forward with him. But this is the reaction from some lawmakers. Seth Moulton saying of Ken Martin he should resign. Mark Pocan saying having what we have right now is not doing it. Mark Vesey of Texas told Semaphore, quote, I believe it's time for him to move on. Mel, do you think that this pressure campaign is going to work against Ken Martin or do you think he's going to be able to stick it out?

[Ali Kanal]

I mean, we'll see.

[Melanie Zanona]

Part of the reason why he ultimately decided to release this report was because he was facing that pressure to do so, trying to save his job. We also reported at NBC News that there was a call with Governor Josh Shapiro last week where he expressed his disappointment that the report hadn't been released yet. But look, in talking to Democrats on Capitol Hill, not only are they unhappy with how little the report addresses, but they're also really disappointed with how late it came. And they say it's too late. We're already thinking about November. We could have used this six months

[Kristen Welker]

ago, a year ago.

[Melanie Zanona]

A lot of these campaigns have already moved on and are already making plans currently. So if there was anything to be gleaned from this report, it may have been too late.

[Kristen Welker]

Misha, how are Democrats viewing this moment? Does this feel like a crisis inside the Democratic Party? And does it feel like a moment where Ken Martin is going to have to step down?

[Amisha Cross]

Democrats want to move on with the assumption that, you know, initially this report was something that a lot of Democrats did want to see the first, you know, four or five months out of the 2024 election when it was actually created. But now to hear that it was a draft and that then they saw it, they thought that it was horrible then. So they kind of want to keep it on the back burner. I think that Kim Martin made a bad decision. It was initially, we're going to release it. Then it was we're not going to release it. Then it was the worst rollout I've ever seen of basically denying everything that was in it and saying how crappy it was but still dropping it. Anyway, Democrats want to move on because right now it looks like a lot of weird infighting. The DNC is having a fundraising issue. They were having that issue long before this got released, and they'll probably have it a few years afterwards, unfortunately for them. But the bigger issue right now is where Americans are. Democratic voters do not care about this report. Democratic voters honestly don't care about the 2024 election when more and more people are losing voting rights or losing access to people who represent them, who look like them in their districts. We're seeing these, you know, redistricting maps all over the place when we're watching time and time again, Americans say that they can't afford rent, that they can't afford food, that they can't afford child care, that they can't afford health care. That's where they are. And because Donald Trump's approval ratings are in the tank, we'd be better served by focusing on the American public than on this report. That looks like really bad chatgpt that was commissioned by the dnc. But clearly they got the wrong consultant who didn't actually interview anyone of substance in the Democratic Party or in either the Biden or the Harris campaigns.

[Kristen Welker]

Annalise, how are Republicans responding to this moment? Are there any lessons here for Republicans either in terms of what is in the report or what's not in the report? Maybe more aptly, I think Republicans are

[Guest/Panelist]

similarly enjoying the way, that, you know, Democrats are are struggling with how to move passes. But I think you're right. You know, Republicans are looking at this and saying if, if Democrats want to move past this, they actually have to have a plan to reach voters. And there wasn't a whole lot of how do we turn the page on reaching these, you know, working class voters? And how do we, you know, navigate some of these challenges like crime, immigration, things like that that a lot of Americans voted for Donald Trump for that really weren't litigated.

[Kristen Welker]

Amisha, before we go, there's an interesting little data point in there which says that Kamala Harris probably did better for down ballot races than Joe Biden would have. Does that give her, do you think, when she looks at this momentum to say, hey, maybe I should run again? How's that playing?

[Amisha Cross]

I think that may be the only bright spot for her in that entire report. But we also saw the down ballot races for Democrats have been consequentially successful since that election debacle. So I don't necessarily think that that is a go button for her. I think Kamala Harris is gonna run regardless. She's just going to have a much more competitive go round.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, guys, great Friday conversation. I'm wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing holiday weekend. Thank you so much for being here on the this very busy Friday. Coming up after the break, the major change coming to the US Immigration system that could force half a million immigrants living in the US to return to their home countries. Will explain. You're watching MEET THE PRESS now. Welcome back. Turning now to a major policy shift today from the Department of Homeland Security regarding green card applicants. In a new memo, DHS says immigrants seeking permanent residency or a green card will be required to return to their home countries in order to apply. The agency says the memo reiterates long standing immigration law and immigration court decisions. An estimated 1 million people apply for green card status every year. Roughly half of them apply from within the United States. United States. Joining me now is NBC News senior Homeland Security correspondent Julia Ainsley. Julia, thanks for being here. So what's the latest on this announcement?

[Julia Ainsley]

Well, it set off a firestorm throughout the immigration and legal community because this is going to affect at least half a million people a year who are in the country and are applying for a green card. These are people who legally enter the United States and they're adjusting their status so they can take one more step towards citizenship. They might be getting married, they might be coming off a work authorization and they want to make their status us more secure here in the United States, often while they're still working. But now they're going to have to go back to their home countries unless it's under an extraordinary circumstance, maybe if their country isn't safe enough to go to. But there are also over 30 countries that are on a list that Trump won't allow people to come into the United States from. So if they're from those countries or others where it's hard to get in, they could find themselves leaving the country and then having a hard time getting back. So we will probably see some kind of challenge, if not legally, that certainly rhetorically on this.

[Kristen Welker]

Yeah, it would be a significant shift. Julia, let me ask you about your exclusive reporting on a rise in suicides inside ICE detention facilities.

[Julia Ainsley]

Yeah. This is shocking. You know, we have known that the rate of deaths inside ICE detention facilities was climbing for some time, but we hadn't quite quantified to see if it was just because they had more people inside. Now we're also learning about suicides and a lot of this came from listening to over a thousand 911 calls that our producers here were to able able to obtain and go through those. Take a listen to what we learned. The call came from an ICE detention center just south of San Antonio, Texas, four days before Christmas.

[Kristen Welker]

We have a 33 year old pregnant female banging their head on the wall. She's refusing.

[Julia Ainsley]

Two months earlier, this call from the same facility. We need an ambulance. Over here we have a 28 year

[Kristen Welker]

old that tried to

[Julia Ainsley]

hang himself and another late last year.

[Kristen Welker]

Yes, ma', am, I'm calling from Southeast and Vice Hospital in regards to a 20 year old with a neck laceration. You said neck? Yes. Okay. Is it bleeding pretty bad? You know, it's self harm. We've been on this all day.

[Julia Ainsley]

These just a few of more than 1,911 calls from six ICE immigration centers across the country over the past year obtained by NBC News through open records requests. 28 of those calls involved serious incidents of self harm. One man swallowed a razor blade. Another drank cleaning chemicals. At least three cut their wrists. Self harm and suicide and ICE detention appear to be on the rise. Five presumed Suicides so far this year, the highest in at least two decades, according to ICE data. And it's only May. There were only two reported suicides over four years of President Biden's term. Experts say it's all part of a larger rise in deaths at ICE detention facilities.

[Kristen Welker]

We saw the highest mortality rates in two decades.

[Julia Ainsley]

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical association by Dr. Sanjay Basu looks at how the death rate is increasing.

[Kristen Welker]

Is it just a matter of there

[Julia Ainsley]

are more people in detention, so therefore you're going to have more deaths, or is there something different going on here?

[Raf Sanchez]

There's something different going on here because it's not just the overall number of deaths deaths, but also the rate of deaths per person or per number of people.

[Julia Ainsley]

And he says suicides have spiked.

[Raf Sanchez]

Suicides are the tip of the iceberg and usually indicates that there are much greater mental health issues going on.

[Julia Ainsley]

Immigration attorneys say a new policy causes extra distress. ICE data shows they're being held longer under this administration and detainees don't get much information about whether they'll be released or deported. ICE pushing back. Outgoing director Todd Lyons responded to questions about the rise in deaths in a congressional hearing last month.

[Garrett Haake]

It is the highest because we do

[Raf Sanchez]

have the highest amount in detention that

[Kristen Welker]

ICE has ever had since its inception in 2003.

[Julia Ainsley]

And in a statement, a DHS spokesperson telling NBC News, consistent with data over the last decade, death rates in custody under the Trump administration are.009% of the detained population. As bed space has rapidly expanded, we have maintained a higher standard of care than most prisons that hold US Citizens, including providing access to proper medical care. DHS said they could not respond to the 911 calls without knowing the names of each individual, which were redacted from the calls we obtained. ICE told us that there's no spike in deaths, at least from a rate perspective.

[Kat / Courtney Kuby]

What would you say to that?

[Raf Sanchez]

We need to check our ability to multiply and divide.

[Kristen Welker]

Okay.

[Kat / Courtney Kuby]

Okay.

[Julia Ainsley]

So it's pretty obvious to you?

[Raf Sanchez]

Yeah.

[Kristen Welker]

Okay. I'll go ahead and answer an email, see what happens.

[Julia Ainsley]

As experts say emergencies like these are preventable. The government says they're tragic and rare, and the problem isn't new.

[Kristen Welker]

So, Julia, have you spoken to ICE about this spike in suicides at ICE detention facilities? What's being done about it?

[Julia Ainsley]

Well, you know, on the record, they said that there's no rate increase in deaths. Of course, the Journal of American Medicine does contradict that. But when I spoke to my sources at ice, they said they are aware that there's been an increase in deaths and incidence of self harm and that they have protocols in place to try to prevent this. But nothing nationally has gone out in light of this new data. Now, I will say, though, there is some good news and that DHS Inspector Jim has been given $20 million in order to increase their unannounced inspections so that they can be sure people are giving proper access to medical care and that they're following the proper procedures when it comes to preventing self harm.

[Guest/Panelist]

Wow.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, it's just an extraordinary report, Julia. Let me shift gears here a little bit because apparently there's also a development with the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. What can you tell me about that?

[Julia Ainsley]

Yeah, big news today. As you know, when Kilmar Abrego Garcia was brought back from that prison in El Salvador, they were doing so because the Justice Department said he would be tried for criminal charges in Tennessee based on a traffic stop that happened in 2019. Now, the judge in that case has dismissed those charges and said that the government was acting in a punitive way, retaliatory way against him, that they would have never brought that case if he hadn't become the subject of that media blitz when he was sent to El Salvador. So she's dismissed the case. And now the next thing to watch watch is will the government now move even more quickly to try to deport him to a third country, like an African country, as they've been trying to do in a Maryland suit? That will be ongoing.

[Sahil Kapoor]

All right.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, I know you'll continue to track it. Thanks for all of your great reporting. Really appreciate it, Julia. And if someone you you know or you someone you know needs help, you can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or go to 988lifeline.com Coming up next, it's the latest in our Meet THE Candidate series. We'll talk to Denise Powell, the Democratic candidate in one of the most hotly contested House races this cycle. You're watching MEET THE PRESS now. Welcome back. With less than six months to go to the midterms today we've got a new installment in our Meet THE Canvas series. We want to zoom into what will be one of the most closely watched races this November. It's in Nebraska's 2nd congressional district, and it could be key to deciding which party controls the House next year. The district, which has become known as Nebraska's blue dot, voted for both Kamala Harris and Joe Biden for president, but is represented in Congress by a Republican Retiring Congressman Don Bacon. It's one of only three districts in the country where a Republican reelection in 2024, while also going for Harris. And Democrats are eyeing it as one of their top pickup opportunities. Political organizer and business owner Denise Powell won a crowded Democratic primary earlier this month, narrowly beating out State Senator John Kavanaugh, who was backed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. And joining me now is Denise Powell, the Democratic candidate in Nebraska, too. Thank you so much for being, being here. We really appreciate it.

[Denise Powell]

Oh, I'm so excited to be here. Thanks for having me.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, we are excited to have you here. And I want to talk to you about how you view this path to victory in November. You have said your focus on affordability and, quote, pissed off mom ads helped you win the Democratic primary. What is your strategy for winning in November?

[Denise Powell]

You know, we have such an incredible opportunity here in Nebraska, too. This is a district that have we, we know can be won. It is now a lean Democrat seat. Don Bacon is retiring. It's an open seat. And the key to a district like ours is that we don't win with just Democrats. We need all of our Democrats, but we need all of our independents. We need those Republicans who are not happy with what is happening right now. And I hear from them every day, hearing from people all across this district, whether it's veterans or families or farmers or seniors who are really struggling. And they don't see any help, help coming down from D.C. they don't think politicians are showing up for them in this moment. And that's why I'm excited to be in this race. I, you know, tell people I'm not a politician. I am a fired up mom. I hear it every day. And I want to serve this community. I love Nebraska. We have such a great opportunity to do big things in this state this cycle. And I think this is our year.

[Kristen Welker]

Well, I want to follow up with you on something that you said because the district has been represented by Don Bacon. He's of course shown a, a real willingness at times to disagree with or break with President Trump. How do you win over his voters in order to flip this seat? If you think that's what's necessary.

[Kat / Courtney Kuby]

Yeah.

[Denise Powell]

People in this district appreciate common sense. I mean, Nebraskans are pragmatic people. And I think that's one of the things that Congressman Bacon got right. He we don't agree on many things, but he was willing to push back on Trump when he needed to be pushed back on. And I hear from House Democrats that he was somebody who often was willing to come to the table and meet. And that's the same kind of approach that I want to take. Not just as I'm out campaigning and talking to people, you know, of all stars and stripes about what matters to them, but that's how I want to show up in D.C. this state and this district in particular are really diverse. We have the most urban population in the state here. We have rural communities. We have suburban communities. And it takes being really intentional and making sure that we're seeing singing from the same song sheet here. Nebraskans need us to address this affordability crisis. They need us to address this health care crisis. They need to know that someone in D.C. is showing up for them and not playing political party games.

[Kristen Welker]

Let me ask you, broadly speaking, about the number one issue for voters, which is the economy. As you've been referencing, polling suggests the president and Republicans are losing ground with voters on the economy. But if you take a look at this poll, you can see, see the Democrats aren't doing much better. What do you think Democrats need to do to convince voters that they have the better plan on the economy?

[Denise Powell]

I think we need to get some wins on the board. And I think this is absolutely right. I mean, I've spent the last 10 years, you know, going all over the state and knocking on doors, thousands and thousands of doors all over. And I've been talking to people for a long time who've been struggling. And again, they don't necessarily believe that the government is doing anything to make their lives easier. So I think there really has to be a focus on serving the community. Right now we know that some of these issues, like solving this health care crisis, they're going to take time. Time and a lot of bipartisan support and a willingness to understand that the system hasn't always worked for everybody. But we need to serve people in the immediate, because right now I'm talking to families who don't know that they're going to make it to the end of the month. I'm talking to farmers who don't know if they're going to make it to the end of the season, veterans who don't have a place to go right now for health care, seniors who are bagging groceries to pay for their prescription drugs, and they don't have time to wait. So I think we really need to put our money where our mouth is. We need to win these seats, and then we need to get in there and we need to start making some good change for people really quickly.

[Kristen Welker]

And you have said that you would be the first Latina to serve in the federal delegation in Nebraska. We saw Latino voters shift toward President Trump, Trump in the last election. Do you think that Democrats across the country are doing enough to win back Latino voters? And what is your message there about that?

[Denise Powell]

Yeah, I can speak to Nebraska. I think that we're doing a lot here in Nebraska. I'm also really proud to be endorsed by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Bulk pac, the Latino Victory Fund. These are organizations that are investing a lot of time and resources in getting Latinos to come out to vote. I'm endorsed by the Nebraska Latino Caucus and, and boy, those guys are working so, so hard to make sure that everybody in our community knows how critical this election is. You just talked in your earlier segment about immigration and I think that's an issue that's really important to a lot of our families here and one that's really going to be driving people to the polls come November.

[Kristen Welker]

You know, you won your primary over a more progressive candidate who was backed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. And I wonder if you think a more moderate message, message is going to be the key to winning back the House and the Senate in 2026 and the White House in 2028 for Democrats.

[Denise Powell]

You know, I don't know if it's a more moderate message or just this idea that, you know, some of the ideas that we have that some might label progressive are really just common sense ideas. I mean, the idea that you should be able to go see a doctor when you're sick and that shouldn't put you into bankruptcy is not a crazy idea. And I think most people will agree with that. I think the idea that be able to afford your groceries, that if you're working a full time job, you should be able to make ends meet, these are not wild ideas. And I think the key is just listening, listening to folks and showing them that we are invested in the right things, the things that really, really matter.

[Kristen Welker]

All right, Denise Powell, thank you so much for being here. Best of luck to you. We will be back Monday with more MEET the PRESS now. And if it's Sunday, it's MEET the Press Press on your local NBC News stations. I'll be joined exclusively by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, and the founder of Girls who Code, Reshma Sujani. Don't miss it. There's more ahead on NBC News. Now.

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