Meet the Press NOW — May 5

Summary

Podcast Summary: Meet the Press NOW — May 5, 2026

---

Main Theme and Purpose

The May 5, 2026 episode of NBC’s Meet the Press NOW, hosted by Monica Alba, explored escalating tensions in the Middle East—specifically the fraught ceasefire between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz — and the sharp domestic political battles over redistricting as the 2026 midterm elections approach. The episode included on-the-ground reporting, in-depth panel analysis, and updates on the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon amid continued Israel-Hezbollah fighting.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US-Iran Tensions and the Strait of Hormuz

a. Mixed Messaging and Escalation

• The Trump administration insists the ceasefire with Iran holds despite renewed aggression.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio describes the ongoing operation in the strait as “defensive,” admitting Iran effectively controls transit through this vital waterway:
  • “These guys have shut down the Straits of Hormuz…That’s crazy.” (Rubio, 02:25)
• General Dan Kaine (Joint Chiefs) confirmed at least ten Iranian attacks on US forces since the ceasefire began, but called them “below the threshold of restarting major combat.” (03:20)
• President Trump, when pressed to define what would violate the ceasefire, refused specifics:
  • “You'll find out, because I'll let you know. They know what to do and they know what to do. They know what not to do.” (Trump, 03:51)

b. Status on the Ground

• Only one vessel navigated the strait on the day of broadcast. Gas prices hit a new high ($4.48/gal), reflecting skyrocketing oil prices due to restricted transit.
• The UAE reported new missile and drone attacks from Iran, which Tehran denies.

c. Political and Diplomatic Ramifications

• Rubio distanced himself from direct negotiations with Iran, delegating diplomatic talks to Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and called Iran’s leadership “insane in the brain.” (Rubio, 01:32; recapped 06:48)

d. Military Posture and Operations

• Pentagon distinctions:
  • Operation Epic Fury: Described as “terminated” by officials, but military says it is “on pause.”
  • Naval Blockade: Ongoing, with multiple US ships and aircraft enforcing restrictions.
  • Project Freedom: Effort to open a safe passage through the Strait, with mixed success and skepticism from global shipping companies.

e. Analyst Perspectives

• Colonel Steve Warren on the ambiguous threshold for renewed conflict:
  • “If something gets through and does damage to an American warship, I think that'll probably flip the switch.” (Warren, 13:25)
• Shipping reluctance persists due to perceived risk—military reassurances have not yet changed industry assessments.

2. Election Season: Indiana & Michigan in Focus

a. The Indiana “Revenge Tour”

• Trump is actively campaigning to oust seven Republican state senators who opposed his favored redistricting plan.
• Massive spending in state legislative races: $12M this cycle vs. $500k last cycle.
  • Voter attitudes are split; some view it as “inside baseball,” while others are mobilized due to redistricting.

b. Open Primaries and Cross-Party Voting

• Indiana primaries allow voters to choose either party’s ballot at the polls, leading to Democrats picking up Republican ballots to oppose Trump-backed challengers.

c. Voter Concerns

• Republican base is “concerned about the economy, gas prices”—but some say these issues aren’t overriding their primary votes. (21:06)
• Steve Kornacki notes that turnout in swing districts and the willingness of Democratic voters to participate in GOP primaries could determine outcomes, especially in areas where Trump’s popularity is weak.

d. Michigan State Senate Special Election

• A special election in Bay City/Saginaw could flip the chamber to a Republican tie, but trends suggest Democratic overperformance in “odd date” races since Trump’s return.

3. Redistricting Wars — Florida, Virginia, California, New York

a. Florida’s New Congressional Map

• Governor Ron DeSantis signs a pro-GOP map into law; civil rights groups file suit, citing constitutional prohibitions against partisan gerrymandering.
• Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL14) criticizes the map as “rigged,” noting Florida’s constitutional standards against gerrymandering:
  • “No matter how they draw lines on a map, I’m going to stand up for my Tampa Bay area neighbors.” (Castor, 28:29)
• She contrasts Florida’s constitutional process versus voter-approved reforms in California and Virginia.

b. National Implications & Democratic Reactions

• Calls for nationwide redistricting reform and campaign finance overhaul.
• Hakeem Jeffries (D, House Minority Leader) issues a warning to Florida GOP:
  • “Our message to Florida Republicans is f around and find out... They started this war and we’re going to finish it.” (Jeffries, 33:24)

4. White House Ballroom Controversy

• GOP reconciliation package includes $1B for security upgrades and the new White House ballroom, despite Trump's repeated promises that it would be privately funded.
• Nicholas Wu (Semaphore): Republicans see security as a “must pass” add-on post assassination attempt, but it risks negative optics and public backlash since the ballroom is unpopular even if privately funded. (40:04+)
• Joel Payne (Dem strategist): “The American people did not elect Donald Trump to cosplay as Bob Vila or Martha Stewart...” (Payne, 42:59)
• Tiffany Smiley (Endeavor Pack): Frames it as a legitimate security upgrade for current and future presidents. (41:13)

5. Congressional Ethics Scandals

• Recent resignations over sexual misconduct (Tony Gonzalez, Eric Swalwell). Former Rep. Jackie Speier calls for urgent reform:
  • “Maybe we need to put padlocks on their zippers when they first get to Congress…” (Quoted by Speier, 37:06)
• Castor: Ethics Committee is “a black hole” and calls for speedier, more transparent processes.

6. Lebanon — Humanitarian Crisis amid Ceasefire “Farce”

a. On the Ground: Food Insecurity

• Chef Aline Kamakian (World Central Kitchen, Beirut):
  • “Recent reports speak about 24% of the population…in a state of acute food insecurity... 1,240,000 people…” (Kamakian, 49:32)
• 43% in need of humanitarian aid; costs for food and basic ingredients soaring due to inflation and conflict.

b. Agriculture & Displacement

• 65% of Lebanon’s agricultural land is in southern regions currently bombarded; 80-90% of food now imported.
• “The ceasefire is a complete joke. …Unfortunately, the bombardment restarted.” (Kamakian, 53:30)

c. International Response

• NGOs and World Central Kitchen are active, but needs far exceed available aid.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rubio on Iran’s Control: “The top people in that government are, to say the least, you know, they're insane in the brain.” (01:32)
• Trump on Violations: “You'll find out, because I'll let you know. They know what to do and they know what not to do.” (03:56)
• Colonel Warren on Attack Threshold: “If something gets through and does damage to an American warship, I think that'll probably flip the switch.” (13:25)
• Rep. Kathy Castor: “No matter how they draw lines on a map, I'm going to stand up for my Tampa Bay area neighbors.” (28:29)
• Chef Kamakian: “The ceasefire is a complete joke. …Unfortunately, the bombardment restarted.” (53:30)
• Jeffries’ Warning: “Our message to Florida Republicans is f around and find out… They started this war and we’re going to finish it.” (33:24)
• Joel Payne: “The American people did not elect Donald Trump to cosplay as Bob Vila or Martha Stewart...” (42:59)
• Jackie Speier (as quoted): “Maybe we need to put padlocks on their zippers when they first get to Congress…” (37:06)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Speaker(s) | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|------------| | US-Iran conflict, Strait of Hormuz, gas prices | Alba, Rubio, Trump, Hake | 00:27–07:26| | Pentagon/Military Analysis | Kuby, Warren | 08:45–15:48| | Indiana/Primary Elections, Redistricting | Brewster, Kornacki | 18:17–26:20| | Florida Redistricting, Castor Interview | Castor, Alba | 27:32–37:45| | White House Ballroom/Panel Discussion | Wu, Smiley, Payne | 39:36–47:50| | Lebanon Humanitarian Crisis | Kamakian, Alba | 49:32–55:08|

---

Episode Flow & Tone

The episode mixed urgent foreign policy developments and heated domestic politics, with a tone alternating between newsy urgency (Middle East tension, elections) and bracing skepticism about political priorities (ballroom debate, redistricting “revenge tour”). Humanitarian voices offered sober, emotional appeals, contrasting with sharper political exchanges.

---

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode delivered deep dives into the precarious US-Iran ceasefire and its economic fallout, the fierce redistricting battles setting the stage for 2026, and powerful testimony from Lebanon on a looming humanitarian disaster. Key political and military figures clarified (and sometimes muddled) US intentions abroad, while panelists debated the true stakes of current political showdowns in Congress and on the campaign trail.

Transcript

[Willie Geist]

Managing healthcare payments shouldn't get in the way of patient care, but fragmented systems create costly delays and add unnecessary friction. Zealous is here to help we simplify healthcare's financial complexity by connecting every step of the financial journey for payers, providers, and members. That way, everyone can focus on what matters most. Because when the financial experience works, care doesn't just happen, it flows. Learn [e-mail] looking for a gift that

[Monica Alba]

was made to make Mom's Day? Shop Etsy for all her favorites, like personalized jewelry or even custom stained glass artwork. Celebrate the heart of the family with Mother's Day gifts on Etsy. Shop the Etsy app. Welcome to Meet the press. Now. I'm Monica Alba in Washington, where the Trump administration is downplaying concerns that the cease fire between the US And Iran is unraveling despite Iran's renewed aggression in the Strait of Horizon Hormuz, armed clashes with US Forces and strikes in the region as gas prices continue to rise and the price of oil remains above $100 a barrel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is wrapping up a briefing at the White House with reporters, where he was pressed about the status of the war in Iran and the current US Operations to guide vessels through the strait. He told reporters that the war was, quote, over, but the turmoil in the strait was not.

[Secretary of State Marco Rubio]

This is not an offensive operation. This is a defensive operation. And what that means is very simple. There's no shooting unless we're shot at first. Okay, we're not attacking them. We're not. But if they're attacking us or they're attacking a ship, you need to respond to that. Look, the time's come for Iran to make a sensible choice. And it's not easy for them to do that, obviously, because they have a fracture in their own leadership system. And apart from that, I mean, the top people in that government are, to say the least, you know, they're insane in the brain. And so we need to address that. Operation is over. Epic fury as the president notified Congress, we're done with that stage of it.

[Monica Alba]

Secretary Rubio was adamant that Iran cannot be allowed to normalize control of the strait, tacitly acknowledging that Iran does, in fact have control of the vital waterway. In direct contrast to what the president has said in recent weeks about the US Controlling the strait.

[Secretary of State Marco Rubio]

These guys have shut down the Straits of Hormuz. This is what Iran is saying. We will shut down the straits. No one can go through, no country in the world can go through unless we allow you to go through. And you have to pay us, but our ships can go through, meaning the Iranian ships as much as they want. That's crazy.

[Monica Alba]

This comes after we saw in this briefing today with the president and incredibly high gas prices, all of the news from the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kaine, who also held a briefing today. General Kaine telling reporters that since the ceasefire began, Iran has attacked US forces more than 10 times, but saying those attacks are below the threshold of restarting major combat operations. Here's more from the Pentagon briefing. You said that the attacks by Iran so far are below the threshold of restarting major combat operations. What is that threshold?

[Garrett Hake]

The threshold of restarting is a political decision above my pay grade. What I'll say is it's low harassing fire right now, last 24 hours or

[Monica Alba]

so, Iran's fired at us.

[President Donald Trump]

We fired at Iran. Just going to ask you more directly, is the ceasefire over?

[Garrett Hake]

No, the ceasefire is not over. Ultimately, the president's going to make a decision whether anything were to escalate into a violation of a ceasefire.

[Monica Alba]

And today, President Trump would not say what would constitute a violation of that cease fire.

[President Donald Trump]

What do they need to do to violate the cease fire?

[Tiffany Smiley]

Well, you'll find out, because I'll let you know. They know what to do and they know what to do. They know what not to do. More importantly, actually, as you know, the blockade has been amazing. It's like a piece of steel. Nobody's going to challenge the blockade, and I think it's working out very well. They play games, but let me just tell you, they want to make a deal. And who wouldn't when your military is totally gone? We could do anything we want to them.

[Monica Alba]

And despite the president's optimism about the US Naval blockade, transit through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a near standstill, with only one vessel making it through the channel today, according to analysts. And with so much of the world's oil supply frozen, gas prices continue to climb, reaching a new high during the war. Average prices now hitting $4.48 a gallon, up 50%. Meanwhile, in the Middle east for the second consecutive day, the United Arab Emirates says it came under attack by missiles and drones from Iran. Tehran denies it carried out the attack. But yesterday, Iran's foreign minister warned in a post on social media that the UAE should be wary of, quote, being dragged back into quagmire by il wishers. And joining me now is NBC News senior White House correspondent Garrett Hake, who was just in that briefing With Secretary Rubio, we have NBC News senior national security correspondent Courtney Kuby and NBC News military analyst, retired Army Colonel Steve Warren. Thank you all for starting us off. Garrett, I want to go to you on what we just heard from the secretary there. What stood out to you?

[Garrett Hake]

Well, I think the main thing was the effort to reframe this Project Freedom as a benevolent action of the United States, the idea that the US Is trying to help out allies, allies and partners all over the world, and as a humanitarian action for sailors who've been trapped in the Persian Gulf since this war started, not as military exercise as a consequence of Iran shutting the strait because of the war that the US has been engaged on in Iran. I mean, it was a reframing around this new goal of opening the strait, and the secretary trying to link that to, you know, what if Iran had a nuclear weapon and this desire to keep the strait closed, what a disaster that would be. To me, it was just sort of a telling marker of how far we've come in the almost 10 weeks since this conflict began. It was all about preventing Iran from having a nuclear weapon in a time where the strait was not even something that most Americans could find on a map. To now, on this day, the Secretary of State spending almost an hour talking about the importance of reopening a global waterway that was before this conflict open.

[Monica Alba]

Yeah. Having no issue at all compared to what we're seeing now. And, Garrett, there was some mixed messaging that we've even seen just over the course of today from the Trump administration insisting that the cease fire does remain in place. What is the status of negotiations right now between the US And Iran, according to Secretary Rubio?

[Garrett Hake]

It's a great question. Country's top diplomat, the Secretary of State, put some distance between himself and those negotiations, saying that this was something that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have been heading up. He criticized Iran's leaders at one point as being insane. He called them radical clerics. And he talked about the idea of a diplomatic solution as a conditional. He said if. If there could be a diplomatic outcome. None of that suggests a great deal of confidence in negotiations that haven't taken place in person in almost a month. And, you know, with the Secretary of state basically keeping an arm's length from something that, you know, perhaps would not have heard that same kind of tone if he were optimistic that a deal could be reached.

[Courtney Kuby]

Yeah.

[Monica Alba]

Secretary Rubio not participating in any of those negotiations coming up. He has another big trip coming up, though. He is set to travel to Italy and The Vatican. He was asked about that. And of course, it comes as President Trump and the Pope have been feuding back and forth, including specifically over the war in Iran. So how much of the Trump administration's foreign policy might loom over that expected meeting?

[Garrett Hake]

It'll certainly be an element. I mean, the secretary took some pains to say that this was a trip that was scheduled before that recent back and forth between the Pope and the president. This wasn't about that directly. He is himself a practicing Roman Catholic and I think provided a little bit of a different tone in his comments about the Pope, certainly, than what we've heard from President Trump and said there's things he wants to work with the Vatican on, like aid to Cuba, like religious freedom in Africa. So I think you certainly saw a degree of smoothing over of what had been somewhat of a strained relationship between the Vatican and the White House. That's something that certainly the Secretary is in a good position to continue to do while he's there. But again, the Pope is unlikely to back off his message of peace. It's core to his message as pope. It's core to the last pope's message. This is not like anything new from the Vatican here. So I wouldn't expect to hear Pope Leo change his tune in opposition to this and all wars just because the Secretary of State's visiting him in the Vatican.

[Monica Alba]

Garrett Hake kicking us off from the White House briefing room. Thank you, Garrett. And Courtney, I do want to turn to you now because the Pentagon did also have a briefing today. So what more did we learn about US Military operations and the status of the cease fire from their perspective?

[Courtney Kuby]

Yeah, I mean, despite the fact that President Trump, in a radio interview late yesterday, declined to say whether the cease fire had been broken or not by the US And Iran exchanging fire near the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was adamant about it and said, no, the cease fire has not been broken. So interesting for him to sort of take a. A step ahead of where the President was willing to go on the same issue. We learned a little bit more about exactly how this Project Freedom is going to operate. So far, we're still only aware of the two US Flagships that have transited through the strait through that US Passageway they transited through yesterday. Both were U. S. Flagged as of now. I just, I've just checked. Again, we're not aware of any additional that have gone through, despite the fact that both the military and the Secretary of Defense himself said that there are dozens of countries and shipping companies that have come forward saying that they're interested in using this passageway. Iran did try to attack both of those ships using drones, missiles and small boats, these small fast boats. The US Military was able to intercept the drones and the missiles and fire on those fast boats, blowing them up from attack helicopters in the air. So at this point, the big question is, what's going to happen going forward? Will additional ships come forward and use that passageway? And what will happen? Will they go through, go through without any kind of provocations?

[Monica Alba]

And as we noted in the open, only one vessel was even able to transit the Strait of Hormuz today. So how is the Pentagon justifying its claim that this operation to guide vessels through the passageway is working?

[Courtney Kuby]

So they did get through two of them through yesterday. So they're looking at that as a success. And I've been asking officials today, you know, what's the latest, what's happening with more ships going through? And they say we're to going, working through. There's all these people who are coming forward, but we've not gotten any specifics, despite asking many times reporters in the briefing just there were also trying to press Secretary of State Marco Rubio about what countries have come forward and expressed any kind of interest in this as well. But he also declined to provide any kind of specifics or give any sort of scope or scale of what that might look like.

[Monica Alba]

And court, we ask you this all the time, but it's so helpful to remind viewers because as we're talking about the cease fire still holding, just remind us, what is the current US Military posture right now in the region?

[Courtney Kuby]

So there's three separate operations there right now or missions really. But many of the forces there are overlapping and in some cases are really assigned to all three of them. So there's Operation Epic Fury, despite the fact that we are hearing from Trump administration officials that that is over or terminated. In fact, the military component of that continues. The military sees that operation as being on pause right now. Next we have this ongoing naval blockade that's been going on for several weeks. There are a number of different ship, dozens of US Military aircraft assigned to that. And then now we have this Project Freedom. What's confusing about this is these are the Pentagon has made it very clear that they see these as three completely separate and distinct missions or operations. But again, the ships, the aircraft, the personnel, many of them are simultaneously assigned to multiple, multiple missions at the same time. It's just a matter of which one they are actively engaging in at any given moment. That's why the situation is very confusing right now.

[Monica Alba]

Thank you, Courtney Kuby, for breaking down the complexities of all of that. Appreciate it. And I want to continue that conversation specifically with Colonel Steve Warren, who is here on set with me. And as we did mention, General Kaine said today that Iran has attacked U.S. forces 10 times, but that that is below the threshold of what they would use to potentially start combat operations again. So what kind of message does that send to Iran about what it would take to violate the cease fire? Does this mean that they can kind of test and take it further and further each time to see how far they can get?

[Colonel Steve Warren]

It's interesting the President added on top of that, didn't he, when he said the Iranians will know when it happens. Right. So I think they will. The Iranians will continue to probe, they'll continue to press to try to find out where those lines are. And this is common, right. In cease fires. Often what you see is this sort of jockeying back and forth. A violation here, a violation there, but nothing that will cause the entire thing. Thing to blow up.

[Monica Alba]

Is it clear to you what an actual violation would look like? What do you think that threshold would be?

[Colonel Steve Warren]

Well, I think the threshold would be if something gets through, Right. So, you know, they fired several missiles, some drones. We managed to shoot those all down. If something gets through and does damage to an American warship, I think that'll probably flip the switch.

[Monica Alba]

And the Trump administration has continued to be to say and tout that this operation of Project Freedom has been successful so far. But one global shipping giant told NBC News that its risk assessment remains unchanged and the strait remains, as they view it, closed for transit. So is there a limit to what the military can do to reassure these shipping companies that it could be safe to go through?

[Colonel Steve Warren]

Yeah, I think so. What's going to happen? And this happens in every operation, it will take a little bit of time to generate the combat power to get the systems in place to get things sort of rocking and rolling, so to speak. Right. And once that happens, I think we'll start to see confidence build. What the military has done is create this lane of sort of safe passage. Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of centcom, Tom, called it a thick layer of defense. So it's aircraft, it's ships, it's subsurface, it's everything creating this barrier, this umbrella over the lane. Once ship captains, mariners start to feel comfortable with that, I think you'll see increased traffic through there.

[Monica Alba]

So, Colonel Warren, what you're describing does that make it seem like what we're seeing now could become the status quo in the Strait of Hormuz. Is this something that US Military operations could continue to support for how long?

[Colonel Steve Warren]

It could be. And in fact, you know, it's a strategic move. Right. If we can open that straight, if this works, then the United States military can continue that blockade on Iran pretty much forever. So if this works, it'll go on until the Iranians finally collapse. I believe it will take time, it will take energy, it will take effort. The Navy can do it. We just have to be patient.

[Monica Alba]

And the way that the US Military has been talking about Operation Epic Fury as sort of one thing that has, quote, terminated for legal purposes. But the naval blockade and what we're talking about with Project Freedom, those are happening on different tracks. Right. How should people understand and separate the two?

[Colonel Steve Warren]

It's tricky. It's really hard sometimes to separate them out. A lot of the separation that the military and the Pentagon and the White House are doing really are for legal purposes. I think to the common bystander, looking at all of this as one big operation is perfectly reasonable. What we're trying to do is get Iran to do something. And once that happens, the whole thing will end.

[Monica Alba]

Colonel Warren, thank you so much for your time today. We appreciate it. And before we go to break, we have some news that just broke in the last few moments. The suspect in the assassination attempt against the president at the White House Correspondent's Dinner has just been hit with an additional charge, assault on an officer of the United States. That new charge comes after the Justice Department says it confirmed that Allen shot a U.S. secret Service officer as he was making his way through the security checkpoint. And coming up, revenge is a dish best served at the polls. We're live in Indiana, where voters are voting and President Trump is trying to oust seven members of his own party in what will be a critical test of the president's power. You're watching MEET THE Press now.

[Willie Geist]

And I'll tell you what I'm looking for tonight in these key races.

[Tiffany Smiley]

Get the best of NBC News with a subscription, fewer ads, deeper access and exclusive content. And now, during the Xfinity Member celebration, members can get an exclusive 50% off an annual subscription. Head to xfinity.com membership to learn more. Xfinity. Imagine that subscription automatically renews each year at $65.99, plus taxes and fees until canceled Auver ends May 20, 2026. Price is subject to change. Visit NF nbcnews.com Xfinity for full offer terms and details.

[Monica Alba]

Stay informed with the NBC News app.

[Willie Geist]

Breaking news just coming in moments ago.

[Monica Alba]

Watch, read and listen throughout your day. And now unlock even more with a subscription. It's the best of NBC News with fewer ad interruptions, including ad free articles, podcasts and full NBC News shows, plus deeper access and exclusive content. Let's just take a step back. It's more context and clarity from the reporters you trust. Download the NBC News app now and subscribe for more.

[Willie Geist]

Hey guys, Willie Geist here reminding you to check out the Sunday Sit down podcast. On this week's episode, I get together with Red hot stand up comedian Nikki Glaser to talk about the long career grind that has brought her to this starring moment. Hosting the Golden Globes killing at the Tom Brady roast. And now with another hit special on Hulu. You can get our conversation now for free wherever you download your podcasts.

[Monica Alba]

Welcome back. If it's Tuesday, voters are voting somewhere. And today Vice President JD Vance is among those voters casting a ballot in his home state of Ohio, where primaries for governor and Senate are expected to set up key races for November as Democrats look to flip Vance's former Senate seat. Meanwhile, voting is also underway in Indiana, where state legislative races are taking center stage as President Trump and his allies have devoted serious political capital in an attempt to oust seven of the eight Republican state senators running for reelection who defied the president by voting against a redistricting effort in the state late last year. Joining me now from St. John, Indiana, is NBC correspondent Shaquille Brewster and breaking things down at the big board, chief data analyst Steve Kornacki. Shaq, I'll start with you on the ground there talking to voters. What are they telling you? And is there any concern from Republicans about spending so much time trying to oust certain other Republicans?

[Shaquille Brewster]

You know, Monica, it's really a mixed bag based on the conversations that I've been having here. Some people have described it as essentially inside baseball to see this Republican on Republican fight. But for others, this is the reason the redistricting effort is the reason why they came to the polls today. And you talk about that political capital that the president and his allies have exerted on this race. We're talking about $12 million in state senate races across across the state that have been spent on television ads. You compare that to last cycle, it was $500,000. So a lot of capital there that's turning into people coming out to vote on both sides of this issue. Listen to what some of them told me.

[Monica Alba]

I already knew that there was going to be a candidate that would come

[Willie Geist]

out that would probably be supported by

[Monica Alba]

Trump because of the redistricting effort. And specifically because of that, I chose to vote against that candidate.

[Shaquille Brewster]

You wanted to see the state redistrict its congressional lines.

[Willie Geist]

That's right.

[Colonel Steve Warren]

And my representative didn't think so.

[Willie Geist]

And I just came out here to

[Colonel Steve Warren]

show my disapproval and hopefully adjust it going forward.

[Shaquille Brewster]

Now, one thing to watch is that Indiana is effectively an open primary race. You don't declare a party until you go into the ballot box. So I did talk to two more liberal voters who picked up Republican ballots today to support the incumbent senator who helped block those new maps.

[Monica Alba]

Monica, I know there has to be

[Colonel Steve Warren]

a method or something going on behind the lines that cannot be discussed because of the war.

[Willie Geist]

I have a truck over there. It's a diesel. It used to cost me $97 to fill it up. It cost me 217 now.

[Shaquille Brewster]

Oh my God.

[Willie Geist]

I'm paying 555, 60 a gallon, which is ridiculous. But I can't blame any particular party for that.

[Shaquille Brewster]

And let's clarify this here. What you just heard from those folks are people telling me the top issues that were on their mind as they were coming to the polls. They were Republican voters. They told me that they're concerned about the economy, they're concerned about gas prices. But the interesting thing, and you heard it, that sound there, is that they did not say they're concerned about gas prices even though they know how much more they're paying is swaying their votes. These are folks who are voting in a Republican primary. They're part of that base. The big question will be what that does and how those more moderate swing voters, what they end up doing once we get closer to November.

[Monica Alba]

Monica, really interesting. Shaq Brewster, thank you so much. I do want to turn to Steve Kornacki now. And so, okay, we just heard the view from voters. What are you watching for tonight in Indiana, Steve?

[Willie Geist]

Yeah, well, I mean, you see them right here. You actually got eight districts on the map that we've highlighted. Seven of them are the districts Shaq is talking about. Republican state senators who voted against that mid decade redistricting plan. The 8th is an open seat where there is a Trump backed candidate. But I think Shaq said it there. One of the things that I'm looking at here tonight as these results start coming in, and by the way, they're going to start coming in in most of these districts at 6 o' clock Eastern. Early Poll closing in Indiana. But it is that Question of an open primary, no party registration in Indiana. And are you going to see Democrats coming into these Republican primaries for the chance to vote against Trump's candidate? This is a story that we have been telling since Trump came back to the White House. In special elections, in lower turnout elections like this, Democratic voters, a segment of the Democratic base at least, has been extremely motivated by the idea of going out to vote and registering its objection, its disapproval with Trump. They have those opportunities here in a lot of these districts tonight. This is where Shaq was. This is the district where he was just reporting from, the first district here. This is essentially the suburbs of Chicago right here. It's a swing district. Trump won it, but he won it narrowly in 2024. Meaning there's a lot of Democrats in this district. If they turn out, if they take Republican ballots, that could help the incumbent here, Dan Durnell is his name Also right here. This is just north of South Bend, sort of the Granger Elkhart area here. Again, again, Trump won the district not overwhelmingly, especially close to South Bend here, there are a lot of Democratic voters there. Again, is that going to be a factor in this primary, another district where that could loom large? How about this right here? Jim Buck, Jim Buck here is the Republican incumbent. He voted against that redistricting plan. This stretches from Kokomo all the way down to the fast growing higher income Indianapolis suburbs of Hamilton County. And again, this portion of the district here has been trending away from Trump and the Republicans since Trump came on the scene. You know, again, are you going to see Democrats getting involved there? By the way, this district, Mike Pence, the former vice president, obviously estranged from Donald Trump, got involved here. He publicly endorsed Buck in this district. You also got a district right here, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. Again, you know, this at least corner of the district I've got right here, there's a lot of Democrats there. So that's something we're going to be looking for. Are the Democrats in a factor in this? The Democrats have certainly had no hesitation to vote in other special elections and primaries that we've been tracking for the last year. Plus, is it going to be a story in this race tonight? And also is that that Trump base? I'm highlighting areas where there's Democrats here. You know, a lot of rural small town areas here where Trump was winning by 30, 40, 50 points in the general election in 2024. Something we haven't seen since Trump came back to the White House. Is that core Trump base turning out in big numbers when Trump's not on the ballot in the elections that have taken place since he came back to the White House. Does his involvement, though his direct unusual involvement in these races lead to much bigger turnout in those areas? So it's sort of looking for where's the turnout coming from here? Are we seeing it surprisingly high from Democratic areas? Are we seeing it surprisingly high from rural, small town Trump areas? Is it about the same in both? That's going to be what we're looking at as these votes start to come in.

[Monica Alba]

It's going to be such an interesting test of the so called revenge tour. And Steve, I know we're also watching a Michigan state legislature race, right, to replace now Democratic Congresswoman Kristen McDonald rivet seat. What could the outcome there? Tell us about that?

[Willie Geist]

Yeah, let's head over here sort of to the Mitten of Michigan here, Bay City, Saginaw. Look, this is one where if the Republicans were to win this, it would flip it. This is a state Senate seat in Michigan. It would actually move the Republicans into a tie in that chamber. Now, the Democrats would break the tie with the lieutenant governor. But this is one of those races what I was just talking about here. This is a, as you said, this was a seat held by Democrats. Now, a special election. This is the recipe where Democrats have been running up the score since Trump came back to the White House. A special election on an odd date in the spring, not a high turnout affair. We have seen in elections like this since Trump came back to the White House. Just, just a much more motivated Democratic base than a Republican base. The Democrats have been really overperforming in elections like this. So I would certainly say you'd make the Democrat the big favorite in this just based on everything since Trump came back to the White House. Republicans would love to have to be able to get this wind to crow about that, but they would have to do something here in this race tonight that they really haven't done since Trump came back to the White House.

[Monica Alba]

Steve Kornacki, thank you for all of that. And of course, tune in tonight for the latest edition of Steve Kornacki. Cam breaking down the latest election results as they come in. It all kicks off at 6pm Eastern on nbcnews.com, a little earlier today. So mark that down. Up next, we'll turn to Florida's redistricting war after Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new map into law that could give Republicans a boost in the battle for control of Congress. A Florida House Democrat whose district is among those being targeted joins us next. Keep it here on Meet the Press. Now.

[Willie Geist]

Let's kickstart your wellness journey with the Dark Today app. Workouts, meal plans. It's your fast track to a healthier you. And now, during the Xfinity Member Celebration, members can get an exclusive 50% off an annual subscription. Head to xfinity.com membership to learn more. Xfinity Imagine that subscription automatically renews each year at $65.99 plus taxes and fees until canceled. Offer ends May 20, 2026. Prices subject to change. Visit today.comxfinity for full offer terms and details.

[Monica Alba]

Welcome back. Florida Republicans redistricting effort is already facing a legal challenge. Governor Ron DeSantis signing the state's new congressional map into law yesterday. Tweeting, signed, sealed and delivered. Hours later, a civil rights group and group of Florida voters filed a lawsuit asking a state judge to block the new, arguing that the redistricting effort violated the state's constitution. Florida is one of at least eight states, both red and blue, that have redrawn their congressional maps ahead of this year's midterms, with additional states threatening to redraw their maps as well. Joining me now is Congresswoman Kathy Castor, Democrat from Florida, whose district in the Tampa area just became redder with this newly redrawn map. Congresswoman, thank you so much for joining us. You say you are going to run in your current district, right? Florida's 14th congressional district. So how much more challenging have Republicans just made it for your reelection effort?

[President Donald Trump]

Well, no matter how they draw lines on a map, I'm going to stand up for my Tampa Bay area neighbors. I have a long record of delivering for them. And right now they're being crushed by the high cost of living that's driven by GOP policies out of the Trump administration and out of the DeSantis administration. So they felt like, like they've got to rig this election, change the rules of the game. But what's important to know, Monica, is Florida is different from many of the other states that have gone through this partisan gerrymandering. The Florida voters in 2010 added explicit information into our state constitution that prohibits gerrymandering or drawing congressional boundaries for a partisan purpose. You're not allowed to benefit an incumbent or favor a political party. The standards also require that districts are compact and contiguous. They respect community boundaries, like city, county boundaries. And this is an intentional way to try to avoid what voters are feeling right now. They are very angry. They're being crushed by the high cost of groceries and electric bill. The Big ugly bill ripped health care away. It impacted Florida families more than any other state. So there people are outraged by it and they're ready to take this on in the courts and ultimately in the ballot box.

[Monica Alba]

So, Congresswoman, you disagree with what Governor DeSantis is doing. You just called it rigged a moment ago. So how do you justify what Democrats did in Virginia and California and what they're now talking about doing even in New York?

[President Donald Trump]

Well, this is why Florida is a little bit different. That we had those fair district standards already in our constitution that disallowed partisan gerrymandering, at least in California and Virginia. Those states went back to the voters and asked, can we change a state constitution? Can we change the law? That was a respectful way to do it. The voters of California, Virginia said, yes, go ahead. Florida did not do that. And now this court case was filed just over the past couple of days, a couple of different groups, clearly on our state constitution. And the ultimately, it will be up to the Florida Supreme Court. Are they simply puppets of Ron DeSantis or are they independent jurists that respect our the plain language in the Florida constitution? And like I said, no matter how they draw these district boundaries, we've got to stand up to the policies that they're passing that makes life so unaffordable, whether it was the illegal tariffs taking health care away or making it so expensive. High cost of groceries and now taking us into a war without any public debate. That is just gouging people when they drive up to the gas pump. Think about what it means to someone who drives for a living. The cost of diesel gas right now, that's. Those are the calls to the office right now. How can we help address this affordability squeeze? And they're angry that they're not going to get to vote on fair districts in their congressional elections.

[Monica Alba]

Well, I want to drill down on that because Democrats also said that the new Virginia map would be temporary. So after the midterms, do you think that Democrats should undo their partisan drawn maps in places like Virginia in the name of fairness that you're invoking?

[President Donald Trump]

I think all across the country. We've got to move towards greater reforms across our electoral system. We've got to get huge, big dark money back out of campaigns. We should end this kind of gerrymandering nationwide. We need to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights act to restore voting rights to people. This is, we're living through a time that is not normal. This is not normal to undermine the foundations of democracy. There are very powerful special interests that are pulling the strings in Washington D.C. and they're doing it in Florida too. They're trying to rig the game. They're trying to rig our democracy. And it is up to independently minded Americans all across the country. It really at this point doesn't matter how you register to vote Democrat, Republican or Independent. Our democracy is at stake. Are we going to let these powerful special interests pull the strings and call the shots through the current GOP and Trump aligned forces or are we going to stand up for fair elections so that everyone's voice matters?

[Monica Alba]

I want to play what House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had to say last month the day after Democrats redistricting victory in Virginia. Let's play that.

[Willie Geist]

Our message to Florida Republicans is f around and find out now if they go down the road of a DeSantis dummy mander, the Florida Republicans are going to find themselves in the same situation as Texas Republicans who are on the run right now. And under no circumstances are Texas Republicans picking up five seats. They'll be fortunate if they get two or three while in California we are going to get all five. The Republicans are dummy mandering their way into the minority before single vote is cast because they started this war and we're going to finish it.

[Monica Alba]

So your district is now much less Democratic than it was before this new map. So do you feel that same level of confidence as Leader Jeffries that this is going to backfire on Republicans?

[President Donald Trump]

I do think it will, yes. Because like I said, it doesn't matter how you're registered to vote right now.

[Monica Alba]

Should we move to bond?

[President Donald Trump]

People are angry. They're angry. They feel betrayed by the Trump administration, by the President. He said he was going to lower prices. He said he wasn't going to get us into foreign wars. And life is so soul crushingly expensive and people are going to vote their pocketbooks. And if you look at recent special elections, including a state Senate race right here in the Tampa Bay area, in a shocker, a Democrat was elected to the Florida Senate. He was outspent 10 to 1. More Republicans voted than Democrats in that election. But people want change and they want people who are focused on their pocketbooks.

[Monica Alba]

And Congresswoman, on another topic, I want to get your reaction to this reconciliation bill that Senate Republicans unveiled late yesterday. In addition to funding for ICE and CBP, it has an extra $1 billion for security related measures for the White House ballroom project. Realistically, is there anything that you and your fellow House Democrats can do to fight that?

[President Donald Trump]

When I explained to my neighbors about what's going on in Washington, D.C. they can't believe it, that there are banners with the president's face on it hanging from the Department of Justice and the Department of Labor. He wants to mint gold coins with his face. He wants to build an Arc de Trump. He's closed the Kennedy center, put his name on it and now the ballroom and now on our passports. This is a country where the president is out of touch and the gop, they are out of touch. People want them solving problems, lowering the cost of living, not spending money on self aggrandizement projects. For Trump, that is not the way. We do not live in a monarchy. Listen to what King Charles said last week. So it's up to the people, ultimately the power of the people to take back, to do a course correction so that they send to Washington, D.C. people who are going to look out for them and their bottom line.

[Monica Alba]

And before I let you go, I do just want to ask you about the conduct of some of your fellow House lawmakers. In the last month, we've seen two congressmen, Republican Tony Gonzalez and Democrat Eric Swalwell, resign amid sexual misconduct allegations. And other sitting members of Congress are facing similar misconduct claims as well. Former Congressional Democrat Jackie Speier, a victim of assault while a staffer herself is demanding bold action, telling Politico, quote, maybe we need to put padlocks on their zippers when they first get to Congress. I don't know. But it's gotta be fixed and we've gotta do something bold. Do you agree with her and if so, what should be done?

[President Donald Trump]

Yes, I have great respect for my former colleague Jackie Spear, and she already led in great reform. But I served on the Ethics Committee in the past. It is broken. It is a black hole. It takes entirely too long. So yes, there needs to be significant reform and accountability. That Ethics Committee works entirely too slow. It's not as transparent as it needs to be. And so I encourage everyone to demand from their elected officials first, better behavior, honest behavior, but swift recourse for those who break the law.

[Monica Alba]

Congresswoman Kathy Castor, thank you so much for your time today. We appreciate it. And as we mentioned last night, Senate Republicans unveiled their $71 billion reconciliation package, primarily aimed at funding ICE and Border Patrol without needing support from Democrats after those agencies were left out of a deal to end the Homeland Security shutdown last week. Notably, the GOP package also includes $1 billion for security related construction for the White House ballroom, despite the president's repeated promises that the project would be entirely funded by private Donations.

[Tiffany Smiley]

This is being financed privately. It's a donation that's being given by companies, very rich companies, very rich people. We did this. No charge to the tax taxpayer whatsoever that one penny is being used from the federal government.

[Monica Alba]

It comes, as recent polling showed, the ballroom is unpopular with the public, even if it's privately funded. Still, the president keeps finding ways to bring up the topic, even at events that have nothing to do with the ballroom.

[Tiffany Smiley]

I didn't want to say this, but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we're planning at the White House. It's actually a larger room and it's much more secure. It's got, it's drone proof. It's bulletproof glass. We need the ballroom. I love construction. You see all those nice caterpillars and John Deere's. We have a lot of John Deere's. That's a big, that's a big dig. And we're building a ballroom. We have a lot of great service members here with us too, in this beautiful building. Isn't it beautiful? We're adding on to the building a little bit. This is a nice full room. You know, we have a, we have a ballroom being built right now. So in about a year and a half, we'll be able to have about, I'd say, 10 times the number.

[Monica Alba]

Joining me now is our panel for the day, Nicholas Wu, congressional reporter for Semaphore, Democratic strategist Joel Payne, and Tiffany Smiley, founder of the Endeavor Pack. Thank you all for being here. A lot to discuss. Nicholas, I will start with you. So how significant is it that Republicans decided to include this potential money for the ballroom in their reconciliation package? And how much do you think the shooting at the White house Correspondent's dinner 10 days ago had to do with that decision?

[Nicholas Wu]

The addition of the ballroom money in this budget proposal came as somewhat of a surprise addition. I mean, this was something that Republicans have been talking about finding some way to do a standalone bill for the ballroom. But, you know, this is the must pass legislative vehicle that's moving through the House and the Senate. And so, so this is the kind of thing where Republicans might try to attach that kind of funding. Now, the question is whether or not this might lose them any votes among folks who might think that this is not something Congress should be spending money on.

[Monica Alba]

And do you think the dinner did sort of factor into this very moment, trying to push it ahead now?

[Nicholas Wu]

Very possibly. The dinner prompted a lot of calls from Republicans in the House and Senate to, you know, pass Some kind of legislation to build a ballroom, to allocate money for it to in some other way provide Congress a seal of approval on it, which is what the courts have asked for. And so this might be their way of doing, trying to do so.

[Monica Alba]

And Tiffany, the president, as we just played there, I mean, he likes to bring up the ballroom and all of his other renovation projects as often as he can. But does it risk making him look kind of distracted with when there's so much else happening in the world and here domestically when he is that focused on things like that?

[Tiffany Smiley]

Well, I think it's important to remember that we have a president who's not a career politician. He's a builder, he's a developer, he built New York City high rise towers. This is who he is in a sense. And I appreciate that he is moving this forward. You look at all of the imminent threats on our president, multiple assassination attempts, one almost took him out when he was campaigning. This is very problematic. And it's problematic when you look into the future. So adding in that funding, it's for protection for our country, for our future presidents down the road. We need to be smart and innovative and look at the threats that are imminent and posed direct threats to our president and our cabinet members, not just today and now, what we're facing, but in the future. So it's like a bunker system. They need safety, they need security. And you look at all of the threats from drones and all these new technologies that are now coming in and threatening our country, I see it as a good move for the future, for protection of future presidents in the Cabinet.

[Monica Alba]

So you can make that national security argument. But setting that aside, is it a bad look to then put taxpayers on the hook for this? I mean, $1 billion, especially when the polling that we've been talking about, he's so underwater specifically on this issue. Well, if it's going to protect our

[Tiffany Smiley]

president and cabinet members and provide a safe place for them to have access to events and public appearances, I think it's a very smart move and something that, again, it's not just for President Trump, it's for the future of this country. And that's what the taxpayers would be funding.

[Monica Alba]

And Joel, what do you think about how Democrats should be engaging on these kinds of projects? Because if they do that, do they then risk looking like they're unfocused on some of these more cost of living issues or broader affordability concerns, if they're drilling down on the ballroom specifically, for instance?

[Joel Payne]

At its core, this is about priorities Right. The American people did not elect Donald Trump to cosplay as Bob Villa or Martha Stewart. They elected him to lower their costs, to make things easier for them to, to keep the peace throughout the world. He's delivering on none of those things. He's more interested in telling college students what to study on campus, what to watch, what you can watch on late night tv. He's more interested in telling you what to think about pop culture. He is not focused on the things he was elected to do. And that's not only a problem for him, but it's a problem for Republicans all up and down the ballot coming this November. Because I can guarantee you I have a deep amount of respect for Tiffany. She'd much rather be talking about, about other issues than defending Donald Trump asking for a billion dollars for a ballroom. And she and the Republicans who are on the ballot this November, that's what they have to do. They have to defend this president because he does not allow them the space to make smart political arguments. And that's the problem that Republicans are dealing with.

[Monica Alba]

But if Republicans do pass this package and this is going to kind of maybe remove some of the legal hurdles that could potentially stop this, Right? So isn't that kind of going to make the Democratic effort to oppose it more complicated? If those arguments are out the window and the construction can proceed, what happens then?

[Joel Payne]

If Republicans want to exert the remainder of their political capital on these vanity projects, on these surface projects that do not make the American people's lives better, be my guest. And if they want to go and they want to spend the next six months spending all their money at the NRCC defending this and sitting on panels like this and defending this, I'd be happy to serve a valuable with them.

[Monica Alba]

Nicholas, the other big story today that we talked about on the show is this effort from the President. He's devoted a lot of resources and political capital to ousting these Republicans who were not on the same page with him when it comes to redistricting. We specifically talked about Indiana where he is going against these state lawmakers who voted against the plan. But how big of a test do you think it's going to be for whether that is an actual test of the President's base and his influence on all of this?

[Nicholas Wu]

This is very much a proxy in a lot of ways for the President's influence down ballot. And what I'm watching tonight is the degree to which this changes voting patterns that we might already see in what are generally low turnout, kind of, you know, less Engaged elections than you normally see on a national level. And these are local races. Voters might be tuning in a little bit later. And there's been a huge influx of money in Indiana as part of this effort by the president to oust these lawmakers who oppose his redistricting effort. And so the question for me is not necessarily whether so much voters were swayed by the redistricting argument, but more whether or not voters were swayed by the president putting his stamp on people.

[Monica Alba]

And Tiffany, jump in on that. I mean, how does this help devoting all this money and time to this, specifically the state legislature race? How does that help Republicans keep the House in the Senate?

[Tiffany Smiley]

Yeah, well, I think this is definitely a test. And you know, our voters motivated, are they turned out because of this? I think we have, obviously, you know, the midterms are six months away. That's the real litmus test. We will know how this really all plays out. But Donald Trump is going to do what Donald Trump does and he's made a commitment that he will campaign and be out there in the fight in every regard, just as if he is running for president now. He's not on the top of the ticket. So how does that play down in races? I think these candidates, these Republican candidates in these districts are going to have to be able to also stand on their own two feet and they're going to have to make their case to the American people that they understand where they're at and that we are the party that will lead them into the future to a better economy, lower prices and a better future. Something I like about Donald Trump is he's not always political like a career politician. And he's in a position now where he's able. He's making moves for our country that are longstanding. Very rarely do you get a president who's willing to do that. Usually it's short term, little gain campaigns to maintain power and to maintain a reelection. So I think this will be really interesting to watch how it all plays out.

[Monica Alba]

And Joel, if these voters do end up backing the Trump endorsed candidates in this, I mean, do you see that as a tougher or easier fight for Democrats in the election in November? Kind of. What would be the more ideal outcome that Democrats are actually hoping for here?

[Joel Payne]

Yeah, it's a good question. I mean, look, it's very clear that Donald Trump, Susie Wiles, his political operations view their strength as holding their base. Holding their base, politicians and elected and showing strength and showing the facade of strength. I think that also says they have a lot weighing on what happens in Indiana tonight. Just like they have a lot weighing on what happens in Kentucky with Thomas Massie. They have a lot weighing with other Republicans that they are trying to influence around the country. If they cannot hold those folks in line, that starts to crumble at the core of Donald Trump's political project. And I'd imagine that's what's concerning the folks in the White House right now.

[Monica Alba]

And we're going to hear more from Vice President Vance, who's out campaigning in Iowa today. So that'll be interesting as well. Joel, Tiffany and Nicholas, thank you all so much for this discussion. And still to come, humanitarian aid groups sound the alarm in Lebanon as Israel and Hezbollah ratchet up their attacks. With more than a million people now facing a hunger crisis, a World Central Kitchen chef joins us from on the ground in Beirut. You're watching MEET THE PRESS now. Welcome back. Fighting is intensifying between the Israeli military and Iran's proxy group Hezbollah in Lebanon despite a ceasefire. The IDF issuing new evacuation orders for several towns and villages this week in southern Lebanon, Lebanon, amid a recent barrage of strikes. It comes as a humanitarian group is issuing a new warning about a deepening crisis in Lebanon as people continue to be forced from their homes by the conflict. A new report from the United nations and Lebanon's Ministry of Agriculture says more than 1.2 million people in Lebanon could face acute hunger between now and August, which is about a quarter of the people living in the country. Joining me now is World Central Kitchen chef Aline Kamakian in Beirut. Aline, thank you so much for making time to speak with us today. And you were on this show just a few weeks ago telling us about your work trying to feed families in Lebanon. Since then, this report has come out warning of a food crisis. How concerning is this assessment to.

[Aline Kamakian]

Well, it's very concerning because the amount of the people that are in the state of acute food insecurity is huge. Recent reports speak about 24% of the population. This is one out of four. And it's around 1,240,000 people that are without food entire. I mean, like 43% of the population of the Lebanese population are in need of humanitarian aid with Central Kitchen is doing an enormous job. We're preparing more and distributing more than 25,000 meal per day. But again, the need is going much faster now. The internally displaced people has risen up to 1.3 million people and only few hundred thousand of them are in shelters, primitive shelter. So things are getting every day worsened. You have daily still from 50 to 70 airstrike. You have new warnings, new areas that is being evacuated. Nothing is stopping them. Nothing is stopping the war of continuing. And people are getting more and more desperate.

[Monica Alba]

Such difficult conditions. Can you tell me more about what you have seen there on the ground? Are you noticing shortages of food and has it been harder to access the ingredients you would need to make a basic meal?

[Aline Kamakian]

It is getting still we can access, but it's getting much more expensive. It's getting really expensive. You have the international inflation that is affecting and you have the Lebanese war that is affecting. So you have prices has risen up very fast. And what is the situation is that people cannot afford anymore, whether they are affected from the war or from poverty. You have both. That is being, it's. It's creating a huge crisis.

[Monica Alba]

And the UN report did talk about displacement, which you also mentioned of people as one of the factors that's obviously contributing to this crisis. But it also mentions the conflict which is disrupting farming and supply chain. So how much of an impact is that having?

[Aline Kamakian]

You have to know that 65% of the agricultural land in Lebanon are located in the south. And the beqah, both of them are being, are heavily bombarded right now. And white phosphorus and whatever you want. So you don't have an agriculture right now, pure agriculture in Lebanon. You have major. Most of the farmers became internally displaced people. So the agriculture is very weak. You have also the infrastructure, so there is no irrigation, there is no water. So you have this also that is affecting. So Lebanon is depending most of it 80 to 90% on importation. So this is what makes everything much more difficult and much more heavy to continue. You have more than 49,000 olive trees that are deliberately derouted. And so you have all the trees and everything that is being burned. So this is also affecting a lot in the south only you have 40% of the farmers that they cannot arrive to their lands.

[Monica Alba]

And officially there is a ceasefire in place for now between Israel and Hezbollah. But as we've mentioned and noted, the fighting does continue. So has the ceasefire helped to alleviate the humanitarian situation at all in your view these last few weeks?

[Aline Kamakian]

Well, the ceasefire is a complete joke. Okay, so I don't know how to explain, but the ceasefire made things worse, I guess because people thought that they can go back to their. Try to find their houses, try to find their homes, but unfortunately is a complete force. So the ceasefire people started to go back to the south trying to find their houses, whatever left of it. Unfortunately the bombardment restarted. So we as humanitarian we were like a bit. It's very difficult to arrive every place to distribute food because of the road, because of the people that are on the road and the war that the roads got bombarded. You cannot ride every place. So. So the ceasefire, I'm sorry, but it's a complete farce, Aline.

[Monica Alba]

And in the short time that we have left, what do you make of the response from the international community? And do you think enough is being done to help Lebanon right now?

[Aline Kamakian]

Well, there's world central kitchen is here. There's a lot of NGOs that working, but unfortunately the need is so big that all of us together were not able to cover it. It's a huge. The need is huge. International is acting as if there is no war, but here on the ground there is a huge. We are getting hit every day. So the need is huge. I don't know if we can, if we continue like this is a catastrophe.

[Monica Alba]

Chef Aline Kamakian, thank you so much for your time today and for your important efforts. We really appreciate it.

[Aline Kamakian]

Thank you.

[Monica Alba]

We will be back tomorrow with more Meet the Press now. And there is much more ahead on NBC News.

[President Donald Trump]

Now.

[Tiffany Smiley]

On Etsy, you can find your favorite person a gift as special as they are. Like a custom leather camera strap to celebrate your photography obsessed friend. For special birthday gifts that say I get you shop the Etsy app.