Trump continues threat to send National Guard to Chicago

Summary

Morning Joe – Episode Summary

Date: August 26, 2025
Main Hosts: Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Willie Geist
Guests: Jonathan Lemire, Nicole Wallace, Katty Kay, David Ignatius, Frank Holland, Molly Hunter

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Overview

This fast-paced Morning Joe episode digs into President Trump's continued threats to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, his attempted firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, and the fallout from a deadly Israeli airstrike that killed several journalists in Gaza. The panel debates the constitutional and political implications of Trump’s actions, the shifting narrative on crime in American cities, and the challenges facing journalism in conflict zones. Other topics include U.S. diplomacy in Syria, Trump’s fascination with autocrats like Kim Jong Un, and lighter stories from the world of sports.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Threat to Deploy National Guard to Chicago

[00:53–01:59, 04:43–10:34]

• Trump frames Chicago as a "killing field" and floats deploying the National Guard, suggesting he may act without state permission. He uses this as a political wedge, targeting blue cities.
• Joe Scarborough and Jonathan Lemire highlight the political theater: Trump’s threats give blue-state leaders a platform to oppose him and frame themselves as defenders of local control while Trump enjoys the back-and-forth (“He gets a swing back and then he moves on to the next one” – Lemire, [01:59]).
• Constitutional stakes are discussed: Scarborough emphasizes, “For the pure politics of it, everybody’s a winner. You’re a winner, you’re a winner, you’re a winner” ([01:16]).
• Panel points out the cherry-picking of cities: Scarborough notes that “7, 8 of the top 10 deadliest cities…are usually in red states” ([06:38]), questioning why Trump focuses on Chicago and New York over more dangerous red-state cities.
• Crime statistics are contested territory: Scarborough: “Crime rates at a 60 year low. And you say that and suddenly the same people that are using crime rates to go ‘Biden sucks’ are saying, ‘Oh, I don’t trust the crime stats’” ([07:26]).
• Discussion of partnership vs. militarization: The anchors argue that mayors and governors want resources and “partnership” from Washington, not armed troops ([10:06]).
• Governor Pritzker’s strong response: Declares Trump’s approach “unprecedented and unwarranted. It is illegal. It is unconstitutional. It is un-American” ([10:48]).

Notable Quote:

“You can’t point to Chicago when there’s 17, 18, 19 cities more dangerous…and say we’re going to go to Chicago…New York, man, is the safest large city in America.”
— Joe Scarborough, [08:36]

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2. Trump Seeks to Oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook

[02:26, 15:38–21:21]

• Trump attempts to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, citing alleged mortgage fraud, but Cook pushes back, stating Trump lacks authority to remove her.
• Frank Holland reports on the market reaction: The impact is "muted" and investors are unconvinced this will succeed ([16:57]).
• Concern over Fed independence: Katty Kay emphasizes that Trump’s move, unlike previous presidents’ private pressure, is very public and politicizes the Fed ([19:53]).
• Racial implications raised, as Cook is the first Black female Federal Reserve governor, with Kay noting this fits a broader pattern of targeting Black leaders ([19:53]).

Notable Quote:

“If the president was able to remove Lisa Cook…that would leave…a majority for the President to have a majority when it comes to that Federal Board of Governors…The real question is about Fed independence.”
— Frank Holland, [16:57]

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3. Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Kills Journalists

[21:21–36:38]

• An Israeli strike on a Gaza hospital kills at least five journalists, spurring outrage from news outlets and international criticism.
• Lack of access for international journalists is emphasized: “We are not allowed into Gaza as international journalists. And it’s not for lack of trying…” — Molly Hunter, [31:34].
• Panel laments the cost to journalism and truth: Katty Kay questions, “What more pressure will… the international community be able to put… on Prime Minister Netanyahu to change his policies?” ([34:24]).
• David Ignatius calls for conscience: “What I’m seeing in Gaza, of all the tragic situations I’ve watched over those decades, is really the most painful…we owe them an enormous debt of gratitude,” ([35:06]).
• Political ramifications: Joe Scarborough warns of Israel losing support from a generation of Americans due to these actions ([29:47]).

Notable Quote:

“We wouldn’t know [these stories] otherwise. It’s because of work of people like her [Mariam Daga, AP journalist] who were killed yesterday.”
— Nicole Wallace, [30:48]

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4. Trump and Authoritarian Relationships: Kim Jong Un Meeting?

[03:04, 46:34–52:22]

• Trump flirts with meeting Kim Jong Un again, boasting about their “great relationship” and expressing admiration for the North Korean dictator, even as he meets with South Korea’s leader.
• Panel critiques Trump’s affinity for autocrats: “What is it about Kim Jong Un? What is it about Vladimir Putin? …Well, it’s their unchecked power that’s the through line.” — Jonathan Lemire, [51:41].
• Foreign leaders adapt to flatter Trump: Katty Kay notes that leaders have “read the…translation guidebook on how to speak Donald Trump” ([49:35]).

Notable Quote:

“He wants to astound us every day with a new part of the TV show. And coming soon to a screen near you, a visit with Rocket Man. Can’t wait.”
— David Ignatius, [50:16]

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5. Other Major News Segments

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict & Hostages

• “The reason the hostages are still hostages, the reason the war still continues is because Bibi Netanyahu knows the day the war ends, his trial begins in Tel Aviv.” — Mike Barnicle, [38:31]
• The panel discusses both the suffering in Gaza and how continued conflict also harms Israel’s global reputation.

U.S. Diplomacy in Syria

[41:01–42:16]

• First official U.S. delegation visits Syria in years, as the Trump administration works cautiously to bring Syria “closer to the community of nations.”

Crime Stats, Partisanship, & Urban Policy

• Revisited throughout the show, with particular focus on partisan misuse of crime data and the call for real partnership solutions rather than politicized military deployments.

Sports & Pop Culture

[44:53–45:45]

• Venus Williams returns to the U.S. Open at 45.
• Discussion of American tennis, unforced errors (“That’s just one show!” — Joe Scarborough, [45:33]), and lighter banter about T-bills and gambling.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Trump’s favoring blue cities for National Guard threats:
  “Why Chicago, why Baltimore, why Los Angeles? Why is he picking these states and not Louisiana?” — Jonathan Lemire, [08:55]
• Cook’s statement on her firing:
  “President Trump purported to fire me for cause when no Cause exists under the law and he has no authority to do so. I will not resign.” — Lisa Cook (read by Holland), [16:57]
• On Israeli airstrike and lack of accountability:
  “If that first strike was a mistake, why was there a second?” — Molly Hunter, [33:46]
• On generational loss of U.S. support for Israel:
  “You talk about losing an entire generation…American support is being lost.” — Joe Scarborough, [29:47]
• On Trump’s affinity for autocrats:
  “It’s their unchecked power that’s the through line.” — Jonathan Lemire, [51:41]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Trump/Chicago National Guard Threat: [00:53–01:59], [04:43–10:34]
• Lisa Cook/Federal Reserve Showdown: [15:38–21:21]
• Israeli Strike on Journalists: [21:21–36:38]
• Syria Diplomacy Coverage: [41:01–42:16]
• Trump’s Comments on Kim Jong Un: [46:34–52:22]
• Venus Williams/US Open: [44:53–45:45]

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Tone & Language

• Candid, sharp-witted, and sometimes sarcastic.
• Panelists respect the gravity of major events (e.g., loss of journalists, constitutional crises) but inject personality and humor into discussion—often at Trump’s expense.
• Quotes are cited verbatim to preserve the original tone.

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Conclusion

This episode of Morning Joe critically dissects the political and constitutional stakes around President Trump’s aggressive interventions—whether in American cities, federal agencies, or global hotspots. The roundtable weaves together analysis, fact-checking, and moral concern, particularly in the coverage of Gaza and media freedom, while not shying from lighter diversions for balance. Whether discussing crime stats or North Korea, the show emphasizes the real-world consequences beneath the political headlines.

Transcript

[Joe Scarborough]

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[Katty Kay]

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[Donald Trump]

That we love each other.

[Frank Holland]

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[Joe Scarborough]

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[Molly Hunter]

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[Joe Scarborough]

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[Molly Hunter]

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[Joe Scarborough]

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[Nicole Wallace]

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[Joe Scarborough]

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[Donald Trump]

This is about Donald Trump searching for.

[Nicole Wallace]

Any justification to deploy the military in.

[Donald Trump]

A blue city in a blue state to try and intimidate his political rivals.

[Willie Geist]

Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker calling out President Trump over threats to send National Guard troops to Chicago. We'll have more of yesterday's back and forth between Pritzker and the president.

[Joe Scarborough]

You know, Willie, it's seriously, it's like Donald Trump is helping everybody that wants to run. He's like, okay, we'll give Gavin Newsom his time. We'll give J.B. kritzky. And they can all say, I fought Trump and Wesley now, now. But it's, it's perfect. It's one of these things. It's, I think, Elton John saying, it's a circle of life, right? Donald Trump wins because the people are pissed off on the other side. The other side win just politically, of course, never mind the constitutional stakes at hand. But for the pure politics of it, everybody's a winner. You're a winner, you're a winner, you're a winner.

[Jonathan Lemire]

And there's something about him, you guys know him well, that enjoys, that is almost elevating these people taking a swing at him. He gets a swing back and then he moves on to the next one. But as you say, the consequences are very serious for these cities.

[Willie Geist]

It's good that people are standing up for what is well.

[Joe Scarborough]

And it's interesting in Chicago, we're going to talk about it in a second. He seemed to actually have second thoughts and basically say, not going into Chicago if they don't want me, but, boy, they need me.

[Willie Geist]

Meanwhile, President Trump says he is removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, but she's vowing to stay on the job, saying he has no cause to fire her. The question is, how will this play out in the courts? Plus, we'll bring you a live report from Jerusalem following yesterday's deadly Israeli strike on a hospital in Gaza, which killed several journalists. Also ahead, we'll take a look at President Trump's Oval Office meeting with South Korea's leader, including the president bragging about his relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

[Jonathan Lemire]

Just don't understand that the love letters last time. Now he's touting that relationship while he sits next to the president of South.

[Joe Scarborough]

Korea, sitting next to the people that North Korea has said they're going our allies gonna wipe off the map since the 1950s. And again, the most heinous dictator in the world and the most repressed people in the world.

[Willie Geist]

Also on a much lighter note, Venus Williams turned back the clock at least for a few hours last night. We'll show you the nice moment on the court in queens for the 45 year old superstar. Very nice and good morning and welcome to Morning Joe. It is Tuesday, August 26th. Along with Joe, Willie and me, we have us special correspondent for BBC News and the host of the Rest Is Politics podcast, Katty Kay and Colin, and associate editor for the Washington Post, David Ignatius.

[Joe Scarborough]

And for all of our guests this morning, we are going to be getting you the new branded Morning Joe.

[Willie Geist]

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[Jonathan Lemire]

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[Joe Scarborough]

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[Jonathan Lemire]

Can you give her a Sharpie?

[Joe Scarborough]

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[Jonathan Lemire]

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[Joe Scarborough]

This is high class rebranding. They said, Joe, Joe, it's better. Pull out all the stops. This one. Mika thinks this one's better over here.

[Willie Geist]

Yeah, my writing was a little.

[Joe Scarborough]

Yeah. So. Yeah, there you go. Oh, look at the excitement. It's like Jeb. Exclamation point.

[Willie Geist]

Yeah.

[Joe Scarborough]

Ms. Now exclamation point.

[Willie Geist]

I'm excited. I think it's a really good effort.

[Joe Scarborough]

But actually is a good company. It's actually a good name.

[Willie Geist]

Yeah.

[Jonathan Lemire]

Working on mine. Mika. I'll get back.

[Molly Hunter]

Thank you.

[Joe Scarborough]

Very excited.

[Willie Geist]

All the mugs. Bring all the mugs in. We can multitask. All right, let's get to the news. President Trump is continuing his threats to deploy the National Guard to Chicago. In the Oval Office yesterday, Trump called Chicago a killing field and criticized Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker and City officials for their leadership.

[Donald Trump]

I made the statement that next should be Chicago because as you all know, Chicago is a killing field right now. And they don't acknowledge it. And they say we don't need them. Freedom. Freedom. He's a dictator. He's a dictator. A lot of people are saying, maybe we like a dictator. I don't like a dictator. I'm not a dictator. I'm a man with great common sense. We want to go from here to other places. But I was. I was telling some of the people that in a certain way, you really want to be asked to go. You know, I hate to barge in on a city and then be treated horribly by corrupt politicians and bad politicians. Like a guy like Pritzker. He ought to spend more time in the gym, actually. This guy is a disaster. Gavin Newsom's a disaster.

[Frank Holland]

Am I prepared to order National Guard.

[Joe Scarborough]

Troops, though, into American cities if those.

[Nicole Wallace]

Governors don't request the federal deployment?

[Donald Trump]

I am. But I also think that looks Chicago, everybody knows how bad it is. Everybody standing there knows. We know you don't have to be doing any studies. They should be saying, please come in. Pritzker should be saying that we may wait. We may or may not. We may just go in and do it, which is probably what we should do. The problem is it's not nice when you go in and do it and somebody else is standing there saying, as we give great results, say, well, we don't want the military. They need. They need help badly. Chicago desperately needs help.

[Joe Scarborough]

Well, you know, Willie, there are a lot of cities, and we talked about this yesterday, that need help. A lot of red state cities. If you look at Most crime charts, 7, 8 of the top 10 deadliest cities in America, big cities are usually in red states. If you look at, you know, Gavin Newsom and the speaker sort of had a back and forth this weekend. Speaker Johnson's home state of Louisiana, 400 times more likely. You're 100 times more likely to be killed in Louisiana than you are in California. Certainly nothing you ever hear in the right wing sort of blogosphere. They still have blogs, right?

[Jonathan Lemire]

I think so.

[Joe Scarborough]

Are they newsletters or something? Sub in the substack sphere. They keep moving the lines. I'm getting old. Come on podcast now.

[Jonathan Lemire]

It's a talking podcast.

[Joe Scarborough]

Yeah, the podcast, exactly. But also specifically, the chances of being killed, of having violent crime don to you or your family member is so much higher. The percentages in Monroe, Louisiana, which is right by the speaker's district. Shreveport, Louisiana, which is in the speaker's district. New Orleans, Louisiana, which is in the speaker's home state. Little Rock, Arkansas, home of Course, Tom Cotton and some very conservative governor Bessa Morell, Alabama, right there in Birmingham again, you know, what's Tommy Tuberville doing? Why is crime so bad? Is crime going to get better? When Tommy. The fact is that first of all, crime rates at a 60 year low. And you say that and suddenly the same people that are using crime rates to go Biden sucks are saying, oh, I don't trust the crime, I don't trust the crime stats, which is just pure garbage. But the second thing is Chicago, while, yeah, there's violence there and they need.

[Donald Trump]

To take care of it.

[Joe Scarborough]

Right. But you can't point to Chicago when there's 17, 18, 19 cities more dangerous than Chicago and say we're going to go to Chicago or the big laugh or we're going to go to New York. When New York, man, is the safest large city in America.

[Jonathan Lemire]

Yeah. And you have people on television, Trump friendly people on television saying please, please come to New York City, Mr. President, why come save us? I don't think they're out walking the streets perhaps, but you don't want to minimize what's happening in Chicago. It is a generational problem with gun violence for generations. It is. But you're right, why Chicago, why Baltimore, why Los Angeles? Why is he picking these states and not Louisiana? We talk about New Orleans and all the cities through there and I think.

[Joe Scarborough]

Hey, by the way, Memphis, Tennessee and Memphis. Yeah, really dangerous city it is.

[Jonathan Lemire]

And what you're seeing with the National Guard right now is they been there, what, just over a week in Washington and the President there declaring victory. We've had no murders in a week. It's because I sent these troops in. There have been weeks this, this year, even when there haven't been murders. So it's a good thing that there are no murders. The point is you can't point to one week of the National Guard and say that's the answer. Let's go do that everywhere. I think what these cities would love to hear and actually would partner with the President on is what we've talked about is give us some more funding, let us hire more cops, let's put people in the streets. We want to do that. We just don't need the federal sending troops and military fatigues in our streets.

[Joe Scarborough]

Yeah, I mean, I mean that's the key. Partnership, Partnership. Partnership. Every one of these mayors, every one of these governors, all of them would love to have a partnership with Washington D.C. in making their streets safer. That's a win, win. I know it's not as combative. And people on X may not love it as much, but, man, a partnership would.

[Willie Geist]

That's not what this is.

[Joe Scarborough]

Would be great. I know, but I'm just saying if you want solutions, that's how you get solutions. And. Yeah, yeah.

[Jonathan Lemire]

So Governor Pritzker, speaking of Illinois and Chicago, he responded to those threats from the president saying there's no emergency that warrants federalizing the Illinois National Guard or sending active duty military into his state.

[Donald Trump]

This is exactly the type of overreach that our country's founders warned against. And it's the reason that they established a federal system with a separation of powers built on checks and balances. What President Trump is doing is unprecedented and unwarranted. It is illegal. It is unconstitutional. It is un American.

[Nicole Wallace]

In the Oval Office, Donald Trump looked.

[Donald Trump]

At the assembled cameras and asked for.

[Joe Scarborough]

Me personally to say, Mr. President, can.

[Nicole Wallace]

You do us the honor of protecting our city?

[Donald Trump]

Instead, I say, Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here.

[Jonathan Lemire]

That's Governor Pritzker of Illinois. And we were just talking about New York City. Our NBC reporters are reporting this morning. There was a meeting yesterday between New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Pam Bondi, I guess, dispatched by the president to ask questions. Commissioner Tisch saying, quote, we've got this. Our crime is at record lows. And kind of walked through, said it was a good and productive meeting.

[Joe Scarborough]

Right.

[Jonathan Lemire]

But made clear we don't want the troops here. We don't need the troops here in New York City.

[Joe Scarborough]

And the governor called out, what, a year ago, maybe called out National Guard.

[Jonathan Lemire]

Troops to go into subway. Yep.

[Joe Scarborough]

And that's the way the governor uses her National Guard. Go into the subway. So that works. David Ignatius. Of course, a key point here is when we're talking about the difference between New York and Washington. Are we talking about the difference? Yeah. New York and Washington, Chicago, Washington, you name it. Yesterday we had a former Justice Department official and constitutional scholar come on and say, hey, listen, Washington is a far different thing. It's a horse of a different color. My words, not hers. Than Chicago, than la, than New York, than any other city. Because there is constitutionally that partnership between the national government, Washington, D.C. but when you start talking about Chicago, you start talking about Los Angeles. That's where my constitutional law professors would start grimly warning of a slippery slope.

[David Ignatius]

It is a slippery slope. You know, Washington is the federal city. In the time I've lived in Washington, I've seen the waxing and waning of Federal power oversight. There have been years, decades, when home rule was essentially stripped away and then restored. So it is different. You know, I think the reasons for sending in the DEA chief as the temporary head of our police force were completely spurious. But it is different. You know, Trump said it right in the film clip that you showed earlier. It's nice to be asked, and he should wait until he's asked to intervene in this, in these ways to have JB Pritzker back him up. Governor Westmore in Maryland speaking strongly and humorously. Governor Newsom trolling him every day. You know, it's good to see people fighting back. My fear, Joe, is that he is setting the table for a kind of real confrontation along racial and ethnic lines, along political lines, you know, getting his order of battle set. He's described yesterday having strike forces in every National Guard prepared to move quickly to deal with threats that he sees. That's a very dangerous picture of where we're heading. People need to take it seriously and then resist it, just as some of these governors are doing well.

[Joe Scarborough]

And when they cross the line to the complete militarization of the National Guard as, quote, strike forces or whatever, the exact language that he said, that's when the courts, it is time for the courts to step in, and I suspect that they will. But it sure would be nice if you had the governor of Louisiana say, we have four or five cities and towns in Louisiana that have the highest crime per capita or close to the highest, hey, Mr. President, can you help us down here? Or the governor of Tennessee doing the same thing Because Memphis is constantly up there. Nashville having some crime moving up as well. I mean, yeah, why don't we, these red state governors, the governor of Arkansas step up and say we have some of the highest crime rates per capita of any cities and mid sized towns in America.

[Willie Geist]

All right, we're going to return to this. President Trump says he is removing Federal Reserve official Lisa Cook from her position on the board of governors effective immediately. In a letter addressed to Cook, which he shared on social media, Trump wrote he has the right to fire her under Article 2 of the Constitution and the Federal Reserve act of 1913. Trump also cited what he called a, quote, criminal referral from the Federal Housing Finance Agency director who accused Cook of mortgage fraud, writing in part, in light of your deceitful and potential criminal conduct in a financial matter, I do not have confidence in your integrity. Cook, who has denied the allegations, pushed back in a statement that reads, in part, president Trump purported to fire me for cause when no Cause exists under the law and he has no authority to do so. I will not resign. I will continue to carry out my duties to help the American economy as I have been doing since 2022. Joining us now, the anchor of CNBC's Worldwide Exchange, Frank Holland. Frank, how might the markets react to this standoff and what else do you know about it?

[Frank Holland]

All right. Good morning, Mika. Really a muted impact from the markets this morning. US Stock futures, they're lower, but it's very fractional. And just to put this in perspective, we've seen much bigger, much more dramatic moves following tariff announcements, the release of a Chinese technology called Deepseek, remember back on Friday, just the hopes of a rate cut, we saw dramatic moves, so really muted. The question is, what are investors thinking? Well, at least when it comes to the equity market, there seems to be some skepticism about if this is going to really happen. And also essentially that this is very politicized, that this isn't necessarily a firing if it does hold for actual cause. And Lisa Cook has made it clear that she plans to push back and she has no plans to resign. So right now, a bit of a stalemate, at least in the present time. The one area we have seen a reaction is in the bond market. And we do know that this administration does react to big moves in the bond market, but we haven't seen a big move. We look at the 10 year treasury, it's moved up about two or three basis points. The two year that the Fed has much more influence over, that's moved down a few basis points. A lot of people apparently seeing this as a potential, potential for a rate cut increasing with some of this pressure on the Fed. So going forward, I think the real question for investors and even for, you know, just the US Population is what does this potentially mean for Fed independence? When we look at this situation, if the president was able to remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Board of Governors, that would leave a potential majority or the setup for a majority for the President to have a majority when it comes to that Federal Board of Governors. Also with the idea that Fed Chair Jay Powell is going to not only step down from the chair next year, but he might leave the fomc, the group of Fed governors that votes on rate cuts overall. So really the question is about Fed independence. Right now it doesn't seem investors in the equity market or the bond market are taking this very seriously, but we are seeing a muted reaction, downside moves when it comes to equities and bond yields moving to the upside, which sometimes is a signal of nervousness when it comes to bond investors.

[Joe Scarborough]

All right, we will see in a couple of hours. CNBC's Frank Holland, thank you so much as always. We greatly appreciate it. And Willie, the lead story of the Wall Street Journal president moves to oust the governor from the Fed. She says, I'm not going anywhere. And there's deep skepticism that he can fire her, certainly not from a truth social post.

[Jonathan Lemire]

Yeah, this can could be symbolic, potentially him sending a warning shot to the Fed. She's hired Abby Lowell, a well known and high powered Washington attorney to defend her here. We should point out that Lisa Cook has not been char. She's not been convicted of a crime. This is an allegation that's been floated out there and President Trump using it as the pretext to get rid of her or at least try to. So, Katty Kay, why is this important? This gets to the independence of the Federal Reserve has its own clear wall between it and the executive branch and the rest of the government so that it can make decisions based on economic indicators where the rates go up and down, not to be packed with loyalists to a president who then could manipulate those rates for himself.

[Katty Kay]

Yeah, when the news was first announced yesterday, Willie, we did see the dollar fall precipitously and people were suspecting that that was a reaction to the news about Lisa Cook and whether the Federal Reserve was going to be independent is why there's been so much pressure over the last few weeks, overt pressure from the president on Jay Powell. Our presidents have always put pressure on the Fed. My understanding is, and all the reporting is behind the scenes. That's what I've been told of fiery meetings between Federal Reserve chairmans and presidents about interest rates. But it's always been behind the scenes. The time around is that it's public. And of course it puts the Federal Reserve in this position of a question mark over whatever they do around interest rates. Is it actually a reflection of the state of the US Economy or are they acting in response to pressure from the White House in order to appease political forces? And Lisa Cook's firing has been caught up in all of those questions about the independence of the Federal Reserve. But really the focus has been on Jay Powell in the past. I think the firing of Lisa Cook, if it happens, is also going to play into all of those other questions about is the president targeting black leaders around the country. We've spoken about this in the context of black mayors. Lisa Cook is the first black female governor of the Federal Reserve. And I think that will Bethel be more questions from people who think that there is an element of this in the White House's policy at the moment about is this part of what we've seen around the targeting of black mayors around the country?

[Willie Geist]

All right. A lot. Still ahead on MORNING Joe, what we're learning about the Israeli airstrikes that killed five journalists and the demand for answers on that. Plus, President Trump signs an executive order requiring the DOJ to prosecute people who burn the American flag. But the Supreme Court has already ruled the act as a protected form of protest. We'll dig into the legal issues this poses straight ahead on on MORNING joe. And as we head to break, a note about an event we have coming up in a few weeks here in New York city. On Wednesday, September 10th, Joe and I will appear at the 92nd Street Y along with Ed Luce of the Financial Times for a discussion on Ed's critically acclaimed biography of my father, former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski. For tickets, [e-mail] events.

[Frank Holland]

You're watching Morning About.

[Joe Scarborough]

This also is really, you're learning to play banjo Steve Morton style.

[Willie Geist]

Will you?

[Jonathan Lemire]

Yeah.

[Joe Scarborough]

You're gonna have arrow between your head harmonic.

[Willie Geist]

Are you gonna do that? Will you have the balloons?

[Jonathan Lemire]

Yeah.

[Joe Scarborough]

And the whole package.

[Willie Geist]

Morning Joe. We'll be right back.

[Joe Scarborough]

And we're talking about Steve Martin's documentary when we get back.

[Frank Holland]

At a time like this, we can't.

[Joe Scarborough]

Forget that the fight for a brighter.

[Frank Holland]

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[Joe Scarborough]

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[Frank Holland]

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[Joe Scarborough]

Future for all of us.

[Katty Kay]

I think that you have to have.

[Molly Hunter]

Faith that in the end it'll all be okay.

[Willie Geist]

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[Nicole Wallace]

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[Joe Scarborough]

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[Jonathan Lemire]

At least 20 people, including five journalists, were killed in an Israeli attack at a hospital in southern Gaza. There were two strikes yesterday morning. Journalist and emergency had rushed to the building just moments after the first blast. Then moments later, a second strike occurred. Most of the five journalists killed were freelancers. Some of them worked for the Associated Press, Al Jazeera and Reuters. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack a tragic mishap, adding that investigation will be conducted. But Reuters and the Associated Press are demanding more answers. In a letter to Israeli officials, the news outlets called for a clear explanation for the attack, writing in part, we are outraged that independent journalists were among the victims of this strike on the hospital, a location that is protected under international law. Unfortunately, we have found the IDF's willingness and ability to investigate itself in past incidents to rarely result in clarity in action, raising serious questions, including whether Israel is deliberately targeting live feeds in order to suppress information. Joe?

[Joe Scarborough]

Yeah, and you know, Jonathan, yesterday when you reported this news, you had an interview and you heard that it was actually the strike was on a stairwell. The second strike where journalists, our reporter said, where journalists usually went so they could get a signal to send out.

[Nicole Wallace]

Their stories to that point. So Reuters had a live feed from the hospital after the first strike. It of course went dark when the second rocket hit. Molly Hunter from NBC brought us that news from Jerusalem yesterday, saying that, yes, first of all, let's remember of course, that outside drama journalists not allowed into Gaza, the IDF has not allowed the eyes and ears of the world to be there. Other war zones, Afghanistan, Vietnam, the like, there's always that outside media presence not being permitted here in Gaza. So therefore outlets have to rely on local journalists, freelancers like those who were killed yesterday. And after the first strike, a number of them, as well as we should say, rescue workers came to that hospital and were there when the second one landed. And we have now had Mika well, well north of 200, I believe almost 250 journalists killed in since the beginning of the war.

[Willie Geist]

So we have information about the five journalists killed in Gaza. Mariam Daga was a visual journalist working as a freelancer for the Associated Press and other news outlets. She had been with EAP since the war started in October of 2023. According to the news outlet, Daga based herself at the hospital where the strike occurred reporting on starving and malnourished children. She was was 33 years old. Hussam Al Masri was a contracted cameraman for Reuters. He was near a live broadcasting position when the first strike hit. Moaz Abu Taha was also a freelance journalist for Reuters. Mohammed Salama was a cameraman for Al Jazeera. He had been with the organization since the start of the war. According to Al Jazeera, Salama was engaged and was planning to get married after the war. And Ahmed Aziz was a freelance journalist who filed dozens of reports for the news outlet Middle East Eye.

[Joe Scarborough]

Mike Barnigle this war just continues, and it's a war that continues. A year after Israel's own military experts and generals were saying there's no need for this war continue. There is no reason. There are no more political or military objectives to reach. There are no more intelligence objectives that we can reach. It's a law of diminishing returns. And yet this continues. Journalists continue to be shut out of this area. International journalists. So people that will defend Israel no matter what Israel does, can say, oh, well, those are just, you know, reports from Hamas or those are just reports from, quote, health officials. No, no, no, they' There are reports from the International Red Cross, from the United nations, from other organizations, Doctors Without Borders, other organizations that have been allowed in there. And yet here you have people that, that, that were working on the ground because the IDF and Israel, Netanyahu's government are barring the press from going into Gaza. And this happens, Joe, in addition to.

[Donald Trump]

The enormous, this human tragedy that we're talking about right now and that occurred just a couple of days ago, this is a tragedy for Israel as a whole. Yes, it is a global tragedy for Israel. Israel needs friends. It has always needed friends. But under Bibi Netanyahu and the conduct of the IDF in waging this war against Hamas, Israel is winning no friends. It's losing friends rapidly. And the idea that the IDF is continuing to wage war against Hamas under the goal of, as Bibi Netanyahu has pointed out, eliminating Hamas. You're never going to eliminate Hamas. It's not going to happen. And the reason it's not going to happen is because of the constant warfare against Hamas in Gaza. You've earned another generation since contempt, Palestinians toward Israel.

[Joe Scarborough]

Beyond, beyond, yeah, beyond contempt. And you talk about losing an entire generation, Jonathan. Generation of American support is being lost. This is not, you know, people can't say, oh, this anti Semitism, oh, this because people hate Israel. No, no. America has been Israel's steadfast ally. You look at the data, the strong data, and look and see what's happened and those numbers are chang changing dramatically every day. Older people like us, I'll just speak for myself. Born Israel supporters will remain Israel supporters, but again, deeply critical Israel supporters because I know and so many other my friends know, all of this is bad for Israel's long term health. It's bad for their standing in the region, for their standing in the world, and most importantly for Israel. Israel where they're standing with their most important ally, the United States of America.

[Nicole Wallace]

Yeah, that's right. It was obviously a flashpoint during the 2024 election, but polls since then have shown Americans, both parties, growing less and less, you know, willing to ally themselves with what Israel is doing and support for Israel. And as a final note, Maryam Daga, we mentioned the AP journalist who was killed. Her byline just a couple of days ago about the malnourished children being taken, taken to that very hospital. So those are the stories that we wouldn't know otherwise. It's because of work of people like her who were killed yesterday.

[Jonathan Lemire]

Terrible tragedy. Let's go to Israel where we find NBC News international correspondent Molly Hunter live in Jerusalem. Molly, what more do we know about what happened at that hospital yesterday?

[Molly Hunter]

Willie, I just want to start by saying that I'm really proud and I really respect Mika just running through all five of those names. These are our colleagues, these are our peers. And it is important to not only put their pictures, their stories, but their names on screen for our audience. I also want to make a note, and Jonathan just did this really well, is that we are not allowed into Gaza as international journalists. And it's not for lack of trying. We have raised hell. We have signed petitions. We have repeatedly asked the Israeli military, you heard Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even two weeks ago say that, yes, he thinks that he is going to allow international journalists, journalists at some point. And that has not happened. And so the result of that is that we rely very heavily, entirely on independent journalists who are in Gaza and specifically the AP and Reuters, of course, NBC News, like many big international news organizations, are subscribers. And so the only reason that we have so much video, Willie and Jonathan and Mika and Joe of yesterday's attack is because there were journalists there, because there was a Reuters live feed trained on that staircase after that first strike. And the other thing I want to make, the other point I want to make about these independent journalists working and they have been tirelessly for 22 months, is they're not immune from these struggles and the risks that the rest of the Gazan population faces. It's not like there's a special safe area that they can go to work. It's not like there is a special stash of food that they have access to. So these guys are starving, are working around the clock, are looking for food and safe places, places like this staircase attached to a hospital to send video to get that reporting around to the rest of the world. And we have a lot of respect for all of those journalists who are still doing that. You guys, the only other point that I want to make after going through the Israeli press this morning and reading all of the military reporters kind of using leaks in their government reporting and how it's being framed here is that it is being framed as a massive mistake. And you guys already put that joint letter from the AP and Reuters up on screen. But the big question and the international outrage and criticism and the criticism, of course, from these news organizations that lost reporters and photographers yesterday is if it was a mistake, which is how it is being framed in Israeli media. Excuse me, if that first strike was a mistake, why was there a second? And I think that is the question that will keep dogging the Israeli military until they answer it in the next couple of days.

[Jonathan Lemire]

That's exactly right, Molly. And after, as those rescuers, as those journalists were rushing to the scene of the first strike, President Prime Minister Netanyahu calling it a tragic mishap. NBC's Molly Hunter in Jerusalem, thanks so much. You know, Katty, we'll let you take it to David Ignatius here. But obviously this is the access, the lack of access of journalists to Gaza is one problem, but also the targeting of hospitals. Yes, we understand Hamas is known to use hospitals and schools as cover, but this incident yesterday, especially galling when you look at the second strike as well.

[Katty Kay]

Yeah. And then the question is, where does the outrage lead to, Willie? I mean, David, we've had outrage multiple times over the situation in Gaza. We've had it when we've seen pictures of children starving. We have it right now in a case that looks hard to explain as a mistake, when there are two strikes and the IDF knows full well that the journalists are going to that stairwell to try and get the feed out for their images. What pressure, what more pressure will the Trump administration, will the international community be able to put successfully on Prime Minister Netanyahu to change his policies in Gaza? Because so far, they don't seem to be able to have much success.

[David Ignatius]

So we just hope that the conscience of Israel, conscience of the international community, will be struck by this and that people will continue to tell the truth. Covering the Middle east now for more than 45 years, and what I'm seeing in Gaza, of all the tragic situations I've watched over those decades, is really the most painful. I've been in Gaza. I'm one of the few Western reporters who's allowed to go there and to see the suffering of people, to see the destruction, to see the column of Palestinians, as far as my eyes could see, desperately leaving Gaza City, trying to find someplace that was safe. Most of us are not allowed to be there regularly. And again, to see these pictures that Joe and Mika showed at the beginning of the journalists who were there on behalf of the whole world risking their lives every single day. And this was a terrible, terrible moment. But it's dangerous every day for these people. We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude. This is a war, as Mike Barnacle said earlier, that should have ended. As Joe said, the military reasons for this war are well past. It's only making new Hamas recruits today. An attack like this, that's especially true. So you just have to hope that good sense and the values we all have as human beings can somehow prevail in this tragedy.

[Joe Scarborough]

And I'm hoping that Donald Trump and impress upon Netanyahu that this is a dead end, because as the New York Times reported several weeks, something that we've been saying for, for quite some time now, these wars are continuing because Benjamin Netanyahu knows when the killing stops, when the bombing stops, his political career stops. And he's taking the most extreme views, not only in Gaza, but also on the west bank, because he now has a government. That's right. Run by religious extremists, by the most hardcore religious extremists, who of course, ironically say, we're not going to fight in your war, but continue the war. So I do wonder, though we look at the tragedy that's been visited upon the Gazans, what about the tragedy that flows out of October 7th and the hostages, the hostages that have been left there? I mean, Donald Trump, it was so telling about a month ago, basically said to Benjamin Netanyahu, get out of the way. Way. You don't care about hostages. I care about the hostages in so many words. And he negotiated his own deal to get rid of, to, to, to bring home an American hostage. Netanyahu. I, I wonder, I wonder what, what, what, what number these hostages are on Netanyahu's list of importance? Because they don't seem like they've even cracked his top 10, Joe.

[Donald Trump]

In a litany.

[Joe Scarborough]

And the hostage families will tell you.

[Donald Trump]

That in a litany of tragedies. The hostages still remain, remain number one. Number one. And it's been going on now for two years. Held hostage. And now we're down to, according to news reports, perhaps less than 20 have survived. Less than 20. And you referred to this just now. I mean, the reason the hostages are still hostages, the reason the war still continues is because Bibi Netanyahu knows the day the war ends, his trial begins in Tel Aviv.

[Joe Scarborough]

Right. And by the way, Mike, there are people out there that, well, Hamas could release Sahaj. Yeah, they could release Sahaj. They're terrorists. They're terrorists. And so when you know you're dealing with terrorists, you have to behave a certain way. And Donald Trump did it. Donald Trump was able to get an American hostage. Why can't Netanyahu? Again, the hostage families will say his actions are only endangering their loved ones.

[Donald Trump]

Lives and have and have been, have been for months. His behavior has been for months complicit in keeping them hostages. Keeping the hostages hostages.

[Willie Geist]

All right, we're going to continue to follow this. We have a lot more news to cover, including a look at the other stories making headlines this morning. A massive dust cloud plaguing the West. We'll have an update on that. And a reminder, the Morning Joe podcast is available each weekday featuring our full conversations and analysis. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts. You're watching Morning Joe. We'll be right back.

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[Joe Scarborough]

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[Donald Trump]

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Could experience a little bit of other people's experiences.

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[Willie Geist]

Minutes before the top of the hour, let's take a look at some of the other stories making headlines this morning. A pair of American lawmakers visited Syria. Yesterday was the first official U.S. delegation to enter the country in years. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Congressman Joe Wilson met with Syria's transitional leader, who was once listed as a designated terrorist. The two lawmakers are pushing for an end to sanctions on Syria in an effort to usher in longer term security and investments in the region.

[Joe Scarborough]

And yesterday, Jonathan Omir, though I believe it was the New York Times talked about the quiet work the Trump administration has been doing with Syria to try to move them closer to sort of the community of nations.

[Nicole Wallace]

Yeah, it's a fragile moment there. The Trump administration has been doing work behind the scenes, you know, but it's unclear what that future is, where that country's future holds at this moment. You know, he is certainly the new leader has, you know, it's the terrorist in a suit. I believe one of our guests called him recently. You know, is he. But he is trying to reform his image and his country's image, trying to embrace at least some aspects of modernity. We will see what happens next, if it can hold that path or if there's a backslide akin to what we saw in Afghanistan.

[Joe Scarborough]

Cue the music.

[Willie Geist]

More headlines now. And parts of Phoenix lost power yesterday after a massive dust cloud rolled through the region. A powerful monsoon storm kicked up the wall of dust, stranding driver drivers canceling flights at the state's largest airport. Wind gusts were clocked at up to 70 miles per hour.

[Joe Scarborough]

CGI, that is crazy, man.

[Donald Trump]

Did it.

[Joe Scarborough]

I know this affected the day one, but the mic was there. Let's ask, anything happen to empty into the ground?

[Donald Trump]

No. It was nice yesterday. Until the windstorm died.

[Willie Geist]

Okay. The Powerball jackpot has soared past $800 million after no one matched the winning numbers in last night's drawing. The massive prize is now the seventh largest in the lotto's history. The current jackpot has an estimated cash value of $367 million after taxes and deductions. The next drawing is tomorrow.

[Jonathan Lemire]

Really take a bite out of that, don't they? You're still happy with the 400 million?

[Joe Scarborough]

It's not even doing it. I know, right? That's why we go to the dogs.

[Jonathan Lemire]

That's right. It's more reliable over the long term.

[Joe Scarborough]

Otb. It really is. It's like T bills are. Yeah, yeah, very.

[Jonathan Lemire]

It's a rocky ride, but you got to just hang in. Hang in.

[Joe Scarborough]

If you look at. Again, you look at T bill long term, over. Over time, over 20 years, how much money we made at the dog track.

[Jonathan Lemire]

I mean, cost us some relationships, a lot of money and our integrity, but other than that, it's been great. How about a little tennis action? US Open here in New York. A mixed day for Americans at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens. On the men's side, number 17, Francis Tiafo cruised in a straight set victory to join fellow Americans Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz in the second round. American women, however, not such a great day. Australian Open champion Madison keys undone by 89 forced errors yesterday in a three set loss. The first round upset makes Keys the first American woman seated in the top 10 to lose in the first round at Flushing Meadows since 2003. Meanwhile, 45 year old Venus Williams returned to Grand Slam competition after a two year layoff. She's won seven major singles titles in her career, including a couple at the US Open. She took her 11th seeded opponent to three sets, ultimately losing. 45 years old, though playing kind of odd and off in these tournaments to push an 11 seed to three sets. Amazing.

[Joe Scarborough]

Still got it. How exciting it really the US Open still though it's Medvedev Open. I mean, come on. Here's where he's throwing a racket in the crowd. And by the way, Emma Tucker, the editor at the Wall Street Journal, I mean this is, this is the sort of stuff she's doing now. I mean she's just again, I was noting a logging fight in Alaska. Risk Steinway piano, the plant in Astoria, Queens. A lot of fascinating stories there.

[Willie Geist]

Is he the new Mac and Roll?

[Joe Scarborough]

But. I hope so. But 89, we had him here. He was a Morning Joe guest. That's right.

[Willie Geist]

Thank you very much. You know, even keeled.

[Joe Scarborough]

Fine, fine. Even killed young man.

[Nicole Wallace]

That's the kind of temperament we like around here.

[Joe Scarborough]

Exactly. And also really, 89, unforced error errors and I mean that's. I do that every morning. That's one show. That's just one show.

[Willie Geist]

That's why you need to say you're sorry.

[Jonathan Lemire]

That's why you were surprised though.

[Willie Geist]

That's pretty good.

[Jonathan Lemire]

Did she win?

[Joe Scarborough]

Ye. 18 years later, 89, still here.

[Willie Geist]

Says his administration intends to sue the state of California over its redistricting plans. We'll have the latest on those efforts. Plus President Trump is mulling a meeting with Kim Jong Un after nearly six years after he, quote, fell in love with North Korean, the North Korean dictator.

[Joe Scarborough]

Does he like about North Korean details.

[Willie Geist]

About the potential reunion. Straight ahead. I'm warning Joe.

[Donald Trump]

Would you go back to the DMZ to meet with the North Korean leaders?

[Joe Scarborough]

I loved It Remember when I walked.

[Donald Trump]

Across the line and everyone went crazy? Crazy, especially Secret Service. I felt safe because I have a great relationship with Kim Jong Un. I hope it stays that way. I think it will. I have a, I have a very good relationship. I understand him. I spent a lot of free time with him talking about things that we probably aren't supposed to talk about. And you know, I just, I get.

[Joe Scarborough]

Along with him really well.

[Donald Trump]

I think he has a country of great potential. Tremendous potential.

[Joe Scarborough]

Is it possible you meet him this year or maybe next year?

[Donald Trump]

Well, I'm meeting a lot of people. I mean, it's hard to say that, but I'd like to meet him this year.

[Joe Scarborough]

But it's a country of great potential because North Korea is perhaps one of those backwards countries on the planet because of that leader right there and his father. You look at satellite shots from the space and conservatives, real conservatives, the type of people that used to be in the Republican Party when I was back there would always say, look at the satellite photos at night of Korea, the Korean Peninsula, South Korea lit up like a western power. And you have North Korea dark because it's backward. And he's the most brutal dictator, one of the most brutal dictators on the planet. Which leads to the question, Jonathan, what is it? What is it about Kim Jong Un? What's happening here that Donald Trump just can't quit? What is it about Kim Jong Un that has the President of the United States bringing up up the dictator, the world's worst dictator when he's meeting with our long term ally and democratic countries leader, South Korea?

[Nicole Wallace]

Well, this shows you just how topsy turvy the Trump foreign policy is. He spent the last couple of days, including yesterday morning before meeting the leader of South Korea, really bashing South Korea, suggesting that there was undue political and religious persecution there, suggesting the trip.

[Joe Scarborough]

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. In South Korea.

[Nicole Wallace]

In South Korea.

[Joe Scarborough]

And he's praising North Korea.

[Nicole Wallace]

This is the, this is the backdrop.

[Joe Scarborough]

Where you get fed through.

[Nicole Wallace]

Like to the dogs.

[Joe Scarborough]

Yeah, fed to the dogs just for the hell of it, if they don't like you.

[Nicole Wallace]

Yes. Where there are mass executions of political foes and the like. But that's the backdrop here. Now he ended up having seemingly a pretty productive meeting with the South Korean leader. The South Koreans were very relieved afterwards. But as part of that it came up and his fascination with Kim Jong Un has lasted more than a decade. It was that first summer in August 2017 where he threatened the fire and fury and then that Evolved to the point where I was part of the presidential pool. Two years later, when he did step over the line at the DMZ and met Kim Jong Un. They had three summits over the years, no real progress made. But it seems now, as we know, President Trump is casting about to try to find a way to get a Nobel Peace Prize. It seems like perhaps this is the new venue if he could broker some sort of perhaps reconciliation between north and South Korea as other conflicts like Gaza and Ukraine continue to boil.

[Willie Geist]

Katty?

[Katty Kay]

David, it was so interesting watching President Lee in the Oval Office with President Trump yesterday and watching all of these foreign leaders come through and they've kind of figured out what it is that they need to say. And there is President Lee saying he looks forward to the meeting between Chairman Kim Jong Un and President Trump and he looks forward to a Trump Tower being built in North Korea. I mean, the transparency with which these foreign leaders have read the kind of translation guidebook on how to speak Donald Trump for foreign from foreign leaders. And we saw President Lee yesterday desperately, of course, trying to salvage trade, relationships, security guarantees, all of the issues that South Korea has to deal with with this big neighbor, China right next door.

[David Ignatius]

It's this, it's a sort of play that's taking place with the leaders of the countries that used to be our closest friends and trading partners and allies. Each of them offered offering more embarrassing and fawning praise of President Trump. This fascination with Kim Jong Un is remarkable. It's been a fixation for Trump now for eight years. You know, you have the feeling that he is going to try to meet him. You know, it's the reality TV part of President Trump. It's the thing that would be so astounding. He'd meet with the very person who's Eli with Vladimir Putin and sending troops into the Ukraine war. So, you know, with Trump, it's just he wants to astound us every day with a new part of the TV show. And coming soon to a screen near you, a visit with Rocket man can't wait.

[Jonathan Lemire]

If you've ever been to Seoul, you understand that people there live 30 miles away from the DMZ. It is right there. And it's not a joke to them that this guy, this dictator threatens them with nuclear holocaust all the time. He doesn't have the ability to do it at the moment, but he could develop that capability. And it's that age old question with Donald Trump. What is it about Kim Jong Un? What is it about Vladimir Putin? What is it about Orban that he so admires.

[Joe Scarborough]

President Xi.

[Jonathan Lemire]

President Xi that he so admires. Well, it's their unchecked power that's the through line. Line with all of those people.

[Joe Scarborough]

And Mike talking about leaders knowing what they have to say. The South Korean president coming around, sitting down, looking around goes. I like what you did to the office.

[Willie Geist]

All right.

[Donald Trump]

The dizzying tour of Trump world, though, capped off by Trump wants a Trump Tower in North Korea. I mean, incredible Trump Tower.

[Joe Scarborough]

Oh, South Korea. No, I think. Wasn't it the South Korean promise or does he want North Korea? North Korea's 1 in North Korea.

[Jonathan Lemire]

Sure.

[Joe Scarborough]

There'll be no lights in it because.

[Nicole Wallace]

Bills are cheap.

[Willie Geist]

Okay. The Washington Post, David Ignatius, thank you. Free labor very much.