Transcripts For MSNBC Meet the Press 20240903

This sunday, president ial plans. We will move forward. Vice president Kamala Harris begins to outline and clarify her positions on key issues ahead of the Twomonth Sprint to election day. My values have not changed. Are there enough details in the Harris Agenda to win over undecided voters . Ill talk to democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of california. Plus, trumps promises. Donald trump appears to try and moderate his position on Womens Health as the election nears promising the government will pay for fertility treatments. The government is going to pay for it or well mandate your Insurance Company to pay for it. Ill talk to republican Senator Tom Cotton of arkansas. And devastating discovery. The bodies of six hostages, including israeli american Hersh Goldberg, are recovered in gaza just days after his parent addressed the democratic convention. Hersh, if You Canning hear us, we love you. Stay strong. Survive. How will this impact negotiations for i ceasefire. Ing. Joining me for Insight And Analysis are david rohde. The Wall Street Journal senior political correspondent, lahnee bell, and Maria Teresa kumar, president of voter latino. Welcome to sunday. Its Meet The Press. Announcer from Nbc News in washington, the longest running show in television history, this is Meet The Press with kristen welker. Good sunday morning. Former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will face off in their first debate next week as new polling shows just how competitive the race is with just over two months until election day. Nationally, harris is leading trump 48 47 in a Wall Street Journal poll of registered voters. A Quinnipiac Poll shows harris two points among likely voters, 49 to 47 . In the battleground state, according to a set of bloomberg polls, Harris And Trump are tied in arizona and north carolina. Harris is narrowly ahead in Michigan And Pennsylvania and harris is ahead outside the margin of error if there wisconsin. This week the Vice President sat down for the first interview since becoming the nominee. To immigration since she first ran for president back in 2019. I think the most important and most significant aspect of my Policy Perspective and decisions is my values have not changed. And this morning there are new signs the issue of abortion is Front And Center in this race. As a growing share of voters and particularly women rank abortion second after the economy and give harris an edge on the issue. For former President Trump, its ing political land mines, and he was pressed by Dasha Burns over whether he would support an amendment over his Home State of Florida Sixweek Abortion ban. Theres an abortionrelated amendment to overturn the Sixweek Ban in florida, how will you vote on that . I think the sixweek is too short, there has to be more time, and i told them, there has to be more weeks. So you are voting in favor of the amendment . I told them we need more than six weeks. But then after a backlash of antiabortion advocates, mr. Trump said he couldnt back the amendment. Are you voting yes or more on the amendment in florida . Six weeks, i think you need more time. I disagreed with it from the early primaries. I disagreed with it. At the same time the democrats are radical because the nine months is just a ridiculous situation. You can do an abortion in the ninth month. Some of the states like minnesota and other states have it where you can execute the baby after birth, and all of that stuff is unacceptable. So ill be voting no for that reason. Now, less than 1 of abortions happenal 21 weeks or later and usually because of catastrophic Health Risks or lethal fetal abnormalities, and, of course, infanticide is illegal in all 50 states. We will have more on that in a moment, but first, a devastating turn in the israelgaza war. Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of six hostages in gaza, including israeli american Hersh Goldberg after his parents spoke at the democratic convention last month. Anyone who is a parent or has had a parent can try to imagine the Anguish And Misery that jon and i and all the Hostage Families are enduring. Bring them home the Israeli Defense Forces said that the bodies were recovered on saturday from the underground tunnel in the city Of Rafah in an operation by the idf saying all six had been killed shortly before they were to be rescued by israeli forces. In a statement Vice President Kamala Harris said hamas is an evil terror of the organization. With these murders hamas has even more american blood on his hands. President biden spoke on saturday night. Its time this war ended. They should end this war. I think were on the verge of having an agreement and its time to end it. And joining me now is arkansas Senator Tom Cotton. Welcome back to Meet The Press. Thank you, kristen, for having me on. Lets start with this devastating news, the discovery of six body, hostages including Isry Raley american Hersh Goldbergpolin. Everyone, i think, feels heart broken this morning, the entire nation and frankly, The World, mourning these deaths. What is your reaction, senator what will this mean for Hostage Negotiations . Its terribly sad news that hamas murdered, executed these six hostages in Cold Blood apparently shot in the head shortly before they might have been rescued by Israeli Defense Forces. My heart goes out to all of the families, specially Hersh Goldbergs family and another american still to be accounte4d for. Thats where Joe Biden and Kamala Harris put Pressure Israel not to enter for months using Arms Embargo to keep them from entering. Kamala harris said Israel Shouldnt have entered rafah because she had studied the maps. What the Biden Harris Administration should have done from the begin is not Pressure Israel on the response, for 11 months Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have put more pressure on israel than hamas and iran and irans other terror proxies. Senator, just to be clear, there is, of course, no Arms Embargo. It is true that the biden administration did stop one shipment of arms. Thats not correct. It is correct there is no Arms Embargo. For weeks, for weeks the Biden Harris Administration put an embargo not just on 2,000pound bombs, but on things like Tank Rounds and Artillery Shells and mortar shells. No. Yes. It was just one shipment of arms. No. It was a large category of weapons. It was the 2,000pound kristen, it was a large category of weapons, but they had moved forward with that. Its not an Arms Embargo. That is a very specific term and it was not an Arms Embargo. This was in place for many weeks specifically to stop israel from Entering Rafah where the hostages were discovered. If we had backed israel to the hilt this war would probably have been over and there would have been fewer Civilian Casualties caused by Hamas Infliction of Civilian Casualties, but at every turn Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have put more pressure on israel than they have on hamas and iran. And, of course, they have also argued that the u. S. Stands firmly behind Is Rye was one arm shipment. No, kristen, it was more kristen, you can do your factcheck thing all you want. Im going to tell you the real facts. It was a large category of weapons far beyond 2,000pound bombs. But it wasnt an Arms Embargo. Thats my point. It wasnt specifically an Arms Embargo. Lets look at what prime Minister Netanyahu is facing right now because hes been facing pressure. Hes been resistant to accepting this deal. Axios reports that a senior israeli official said, quote, we warned netanyahu and the Cabinet Ministers about this exact scenario, but they wouldnt listen. Do you think prime Minister Netanyahu bears any responsibility for not getting a deal sooner . No. I believe hamas bears responsibility for not turning these hostages back over to their families and surrendering. At every Turn Benjamin Netanyahu has tried tried to meet the biden administration halfway. They continue to move the goalpost. They continue to encourage and embolden hamas. Consider what happened just a few week ago when the Prime Minister was here to speak at the capitol. Kamala harris didnt even sit behind him in a joint session of congress, one of her few duties, and then she came out of a private meeting saying we need a ceasefire now. What did you have two days later . You had israeli children blown up in playgrounds because every time Kamala Harris and Joe Biden put more pressure on israel, it simply Embolde Hamas and iran. You have people protesting in the streets. He is, of course, the leader of israel and thats what im asking you about. Do you think and would you urge him in this moment, senator, to get a deal given these casualties . I would urge him to finish the job against hamas, which is what Kamala Harris and Joe Biden had done from the very beginning. If we had backed israel to the hilt and we hadnt pressured israel to slow and moderate its response hamas would have been broken. The only time hamas has come close to releasing hostages is when they are on the ropes. Of course, the u. S. Has given more aid, both military and monetary, to israel than any other country. To be exact, weve given hundreds of billions in dollars in relief to iran. Some of the money, of course, is frozen. Lets move on to some domestic issues, if we could. The issue of Abortion Front and center this week. Donald trump has gone from calling himself throughout the arc of time very prochoice at one point. Hes more recently bragged about overturning roe v. Wade and now he says hes going to vote to keep floridas Sixweek Abortion Ban in place, a law he once described as terrible. How can people trust trump on this issue when he keeps shifting his position . The president has been very clear. He does not support a nationwide Abortion Law. Theres only one candidate in this race who supports a nationwide Abortion Law, and thats Kamala Harris because we voted on it. It is a radical extreme and it would require Taxpayer Funding up to the moment of birth and thats what she stands for. Shes The Only One in this race calling for a nationwide Abortion Law something that is wildly unpopular. The bill youre talking to requires there will be exceptions of health and not that all abortions be legal in all cases. Donald trump said he supports exceptions when a womans health is at risk and when shes the victim of rape and incest. 50 years didnt require Taxpayer Funding for abortions. It is currently illegal under the hyde amendment, and just to be clear, abortions 21 weeks and after are extremely rare. If theyre so rare they usually only take place in the case of a health emergency. But, if you have those exceptions why wont Kamala Harris say fine, why not allow them . Because of the concern for health emergencies. If you have those exceptions it will account for those rare health emergencies. So why wont she say. Thats what it says up to the time of viability with exceptions, states are allowed to have exceptions. Kamala harris voted against the born alive victims protection act. She did not. Yes, she did. I was there. Senator, she voted against i was there. Kristen, if this cases are so rare she voted against advancing the bill twice. If these cases are so rare in Lateterm Pregnancy then why wont she say you know what . We should prohibit these with the exceptions for the mothers life, why wont she say that . Because she is a radical on abortion. She voted against advancing the bill twice. She called it extreme. Let me ask you something else. I interviewed Jd Vance last week. He told me Donald Trump would veto a federal Abortion Ban if it came to his desk. Now trump is not committing to that. Do you think he would sign that veto if it came to his desk . Kristen, i think its a hypothetical first off. We both know theres not going to be 60 votes in the senate any time soon for either parties preferred or centrist position on abortion, whether its the radical position that democrats have or the prolife position that republicans have. I think its a hypothetical question. What President Trump has been consistent on, theres not going to be a nationwide Abortion Law while hes president. He appointed three justices who reversed roe v. Wade that even liberal scholars acknowledge it was poorly reasoned and returned it to where it has rested for 170 years which is the american people making choices through their elected representatives at their states. States will have different kinds of laws. Donald trump has acknowledged that. I hear you saying that former President Trump has been consistent, but as weve showed, hes actually pivoted quite a bit on this issue, but Jd Vance has been very clear. He said Donald Trump would veto a nationwide ban, and i guess the question is why Cant Trump be clear with people with where he stands . I know youre staying its a hypothetical, but are you clear about what he would do . He has been clear that there will not be a nationwide Abortion Law when he is president. Hes been perfectly consistent on that. Kamala harris has been consistent and not tried her radical position on abortion and its The Only One she hasnt tried to hide in the last six weeks like banning illegal immigration or banning Gas Cars or banning fracking. Ill talk to Ro Khanna Coming Up Donald Trump, his big announcement. He said thursday he wants to pay for or Force Insurance companies to cover ivf. Is that something you would support, senator . To my knowledge, all republicans support ivf. It is expensive for many couples, i understand that, so its something im open to that most republicans will be open to. I think we have to evaluate the fiscal impact and whether the taxpayer can afford to pay for this, what impact it would have on premiums, but in principle, supporting couples trying to use ivf or other treatments, i dont think is controversial at all. Two moments ago you voted against something that would have expanded Ivf Access and some coverage would be covered by insurance plans. Is that what youre saying . You mean chuck schumers ridiculous Emergency Bill that requires men who think theyre women . Its a bill that would have protection expanded ivf. Chuck schumer has spent all summer long slapping together ridiculous bills that he thinks are going to help his liberal Incounsel Bent senators face off in november. Just very quickly, do you know where this money would come from to cover ivf because in 2022 some 8 Billion were paid. Wed have to evaluate specific legislation it would not be taxpayer dollars. I would have to evaluate specific legislation. You are still undecided where you stand on this governmentsupported plan. Its not even a controversial issue in any of the 50 states. Let me ask you about another one of the big headlines this week. Donald trumps visit to arlington national cemetery. Youve been talking about this. He attended a Wreathlaying Ceremony obviously for the 13 Service Members who were killed during the u. S. Withdrawal from afghanistan. He was invited by those family members, its important to say that. He had campaign staffers, photos and videos were posted on a campaign site. Taking Campaign Voters and videos at grave sites is forbidden under federal law. You of course, served in Arlington Cemetery in the old guard so i know this is a sacred place for you. Bottom line, senator, is it ever appropriate to take Campaign Photos at grave sites . He didnt take Campaign Photos there. These Gold Star families whose children died because of Joe Biden and Kamala Harriss incompetence invited him to take those photos. When i spoke to the patients of Taylor Hoover who has arkansas ties, they dont get to go to the beach on Labor Day or have barbecues. This is the one chance to commemorate their service and honor their sacrifices. They wanted Donald Trump there. They also wanted Joe Biden and Kamala Harris there. She was four miles away, ten minutes she could have gone to the cemetery and honored the sacrifice of those young men and women, but she hasnt. She never has spoken to them or taken a meeting. They were with them at the dignified transfer. Her and Joe Bidens incompetence those 13 members were killed in afghanistan. Well, not everyone was pleased with this. Again, the law says Memorial Services at army and military ceremonies will not include partisan political activity. And it didnt, kristen. Trump wasnt it was posted on a campaign site, on his site. He didnt wear a maga hat. Just like Joe Biden has posted content of himself in the cemetery. He wasnt with campaign staffers. They were all american citizens. They have a right to go there and to honor the sacrifice of those 13 americans who Joe Biden and Kamala Harris sent to their death. Let me ask you what were hearing from another family. The family of Master Sergeant Andrew marchesano. He was a green beret. His family is concerned that his grave was posted on a picture that was on social media. We hope that those visiting this sacred site understand that these were real people who sacrificed our freedom and were honored and respecting a accordingly. Did the families fail to honor their wishes. They honored the wishes of the 13 families who died at abbey gate. Those families wanted the photos. They told me yesterday they specifically asked President Trump for the photos. Obviously headstones at arlington are close to each other. What about the marchesanos . When you take a photo, its going to show others gravesides as well. Frankly, its disappoining that The New York Times went and found a family whose headstone was featured in the photograph and went to them to try to embarrass the Gold Star families who wanted President Trump there. Very quickly, have you had any conversations about Donald Trump if he does win . Well begin some of the damage that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have caused. Senator tom cotton, thank you for joining us on this Labor Day. Hope you get time with family. We appreciate it. Coming up, is Vice President harris doing enough to clearly explain her agenda and how her views have evolved. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna joins me next. Evolved. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna Pete G. Writes, my tween wants a new phone. How do i not break the bank . We gotcha, pete. Xfinity mobile was designed to save you money and gives you access to wifi speeds up to a gig. So you get high speeds for low prices. Better than getting low speeds for high prices. Right, bruce . Jealous . Yeah, look at that. Honestly, someone get a helmet on this guy. Get a free unlimited line for a year when you buy one unlimited line. Plus, get up to 800 off Google Pixel 9 phones. Switch today welcome welcome back. How much will Vice President harris draw a distinction between President Bidens record and what she will do if elected . In her first joint interview as democratic nominee, harris defended some of her Policy Shifts since she ran for the White House in 2019. Joining me to discuss all of this is democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of california. Congressman khanna, welcome back to Meet The Press. Thank you for having me on. Thank you very much for being here. I have to start with this devastating and tragic news, the revelation that six hostages have been killed by hamas, including israeli american Hersh Goldbergpolin. What is your reaction and what do you think this means for Hostage Negotiations . My heart breaks for the family of Hersh Goldbergpolin. They spoke about his love for Life And Planning to travel The World and its a devastating murder by hamas, but what we need now is an end to the war and we need to continue to pressure hamas to unconditionally release the hostages, but the Hostage Families themselves are saying that netanyahu needs to actually be in the negotiation. Gallant, his own defense minister, has criticized netanyahu in the cabinet for saying the corridor that netanyahus not willing to withdraw troops there as egypt and the united states want. So i hope theres going to be pressure on hamas and netanyahu to end this war and release the hostages. Let me ask you a Bigpicture Question about this. According to the washington post, Vice President harris would conduct a full review if elected of the u. S. Israel Policy and could be open to imposing conditions to israel. I know Thats Something that you have supported. Have you been pushing her directly to support conditioned aid to israel . Ive been pushing her to enforce the enforcement of u. S. Law. That is what the enforcement of the Leahy Law and the Security Laws require that we dont have unconditional aid. Kristen, this isnt unprecedented. In 1982 after the massacres in lebanon, President Reagan called up israel and said, we will not give aid in a way thats going to cause humanitarian crises. We need to have pressure on both sides, and im glad it is open in a new direction. Has she expressed to open aid to you in your conversations . What her team has expressed is to a new direction and look, anyone looking at this policy, you have hostages who still arent released. You have a war that has lasted almost 11 months. You have over 40,000 people in gaza dying. We need a new direction of policy to bring the war to an end. Let me ask you about another Foreign Policy issue. You have heard Senator Cotton sharply critical of President Biden and Vice President harris for the botched withdrawal from afghanistan. Vice president harris has said that she was the last one in the room for that decision about that withdrawal. Do you think she bears some responsibility for the way that that withdrawal was carried out . First of all, it was Donald Trump who wanted us to get out of afghanistan and was never able to do it. I give President Biden and Vice President harris for finally ending the war after 20 years, and my heart goes out to the Gold Star families of the 13 marines we have lost. I have tremendous admiration for the service of those who were lost, but i think the war had to end, and there needs to be a review of why those victims were there, our marines, and, of course, the administration needs to explain that, but the big issue here was that President Biden ended a war that Donald Trump said he wanted to end. There were recommendations that troops should still be stationed there. Do you believe she bears some of the responsibility for some of those key decisions that were made that did lead to that withdrawal, which we all witnessed, which by all accounts, including the biden administration, acknowledged was botched . I think she is proud of the biden harris record. She deserves credit for ending the war, and to the extent that there were mistakes made, of course, she is part of that administration, but you know the difference, kristen . No one is perfect in government and President Bidens team himself has acknowledged certain mistakes, but leaders take responsibility and theyre open and theyre honest and yes, there were certain mistakes made, but the war was ended and that was the big decision that she deserves credit for. Lets talk about the interview that Vice President harris had this week. She talked about some of those Policy Reversals that have now been in the spotlight. She previously supported medicare for all, she now doesnt. She favored a ban on fracing, she now doesnt. She now says, quote, there should have to be consequences. She said when she defended these Policy Positions that her values have not changed even though her policies have. Why should people believe who she says now . I think she came off with confidence, calmness, and nondefensiveness. I agree with your Predecessor Chuck Todd that she should go on these weekly shows. Shes very competent and running for president have her views out there and take the hard questions, but lets go issue by issue on fracking. President biden ran in 2020 on a position saying there would be no new Fracking Leases on federal land, that our federal land was sacred and that we were going to protect that. And he did not say that we were going to ban fracking in Prievd Lands in states like pennsylvania. Most of the fracking is of private lands, and Vice President Harris Ran on that position and in the Vice President ial debate Joe Biden said they would not end fracing on private land. My assumption is this is the same Position And Shell be fine with fracking as a transition of private, and that is what they led on in 2020. Another one more specifically. Her initial support and now position to a Singlepayer Health Care system. You support that. I do. Lets Play Something Bernie Sanders told politico last month. We need review, and i think im right and theyre wrong, but what am i going to do . Are you disappointed that Vice President harris is not running on an agenda that includes medicare for all . I strongly support medicare for all. I support getting people on medicare, dental, vision, hearing and those are basics, and i believe people should not have to go bankrupt because of medical debt, and i hope that we can get to medicare for all, but if Vice President harris is going to take incremental approaches to improve Health Care for families to expand medicaid, to expand the affordable care act, thats better than going backward and having Donald Trump who wants to repeal the affordable care act. Zooming out, what do you say to progressives who feel abandoned by Vice President harris on some of these key issues . I say look at the progress we have made. You have Bernie Sanders having a progressive agenda that influenced President Biden, that led to the american rescue plan, that had the Child Care Tax credit, that had massive Investment And Manufacturing in schools, and Vice President harris has taken some bold progressive positions, and shes calling for building more housing and called for expanding the child Tax Credit and called for Capping Rents that are outrageous. So Progress Isnt made in one fell swoop, but were moving in the right direction. Do you think she would consider herself to be a proud progressive . How would she label herself . Ill let her do that, but i think of her as a progressive who is pragmatic to meet the needs, but this idea that she hasnt been consistent. What about Donald Trumps flipflops . What about his flipflops on abortion . I asked Senator Cotton about that. I think the Vice President is consistent on the position on fracing. Its exactly how Joe Biden ran. I think on medicare for all, i ran against her as a cochair of Bernie Sanders campaign and she was not for medicare for all in the 2020 primary. That is part of the difference. Is she as progressive as me and Bernie Sanders . No. But she is moving in a progression for the party. Congressman Ro Khanna, thank you for being here on this holiday weekend. We really appreciate your time. When we come back, the fight for Abortion Rights was back in the spotlight this week. Our panel is next. The spotlight. Our panel is next. Why do couples choose a Sleep Number Smart Bed . I need it a little cool and i need it a lot of cool. Were both cool like that. Sleep number does that. Actively cools and warms on each side. The queen Sleep Number c2 Smart Bed is only 999. Plus get free delivery when you add any base. Welcome back. The panel is here. Nbc news national Security Editor David rohde, the author of the book where tyranny begins, molly ball, senior correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, Maria Teresa kumar, and Lahnee Chen from stanford university, thank you for being here on this Labor Day weekend. David, i have to start with you. This devastating news that we all woke up to, the news of the six hostages killed. You, of course, were held by the Taliban In Afghanistan for seven months. I know that you know this family. I know that you are grieving this morning. The implications of this and where things go in gaza. I met the polins in this very studio. Youve interviewed them. Lester holt sat down with all of The Americans that have been taken hostage. John and rachel are just extraordinary, and the odd thing in my case many years ago, i think he suffered more. His courage. He had his hand blown off by a grenade and still dragged through gaza and his hand appeared to be amputated and that was a video released by hamas in april and his struggle to end this way is heartbreaking and john and rachel are incredible in many ways, and im a proud nbc national security editor, and i want to be nonpartisan, but hostagetaking is a very cruel crime. Its a particularly cruel and cowardly for the families. I know john and rachel, my own family, they sit there thinking how can i save my Loved One . Can i get President Biden and prime Minister Netanyahu to do something and its just cruel to the families. So this is just heartbreaking, and i am so sorry for hersh and his family and all of the hostages. Maria teresa, we heard from them at the Democratic National Convention when they spoke out, and they have been so outspoken. Bring our son home. They have shared their grief, their horror with The World so bravely, and yet here we are. I mean, my heart goes out to their families. I do think that what Kamala Harris has been able to do is we have this idea that we need national security for israel and protections while recognizing there has to be a way to protect the innocent in gaza. I do think moving forward that if this blows up into a regional issue, this could be an october surprise, and going into the election, if that is the case, americans are going to ask who is going to be the Commander In Chief . Whos the one that should be at that table. And i think that is something that we should be watching. Again, the Degree Advance that you expressed, i cannot imagine. Lahnee . Its an all of day, without question. I think the challenge for the Harris Team is theyre trying to have it both ways and you saw this a little bit in her convention speech. On the one hand she wants to stand with israel and on the other hand shes talking about the need to be respectful or to be understanding of the position of the palestinians and understanding that this is a hamasdriven activity. There is a difference there, to be sure, but i think that theres a little bit of confusion here because this is an issue that divides the democratic Partys Base as well. Yeah. And thats what i think makes the Politics Complex for her because shes got to navigate this in order to keep the support of her base and pure palatable to Swing Voters. Molly, we started to get to that with congressman khanna, the fact that you have a fair number of voters in the socalled blue wall, to name a few who are deeply driven by this issue. And Kamala Harris was asked about this in her Cnn Interview this week, and she just kept saying, we need a deal, we need a deal. We havent gotten a deal, and months have gone by, and President Biden has consistently said its close, its close, its close, but the u. S. Isnt The Only One who can want a deal here. If hamas doesnt want a Deal And Israel doesnt want a deal and at times both sides have rejected plans that the u. S. Has tried to broker and with every passing day that that deal is not achieved it is a reminder not issue of the issue of arms to israel, which Kamala Harris did not really answer in that interview and which does continue to die provide the democratic base, and there is a significant portion as we all saw in chicago that is animated by that issue and it is a reminder that this conflict persists in a lot of polls voters do say they trust trump more on foreign Policy Policy in part because there are these ongoing conflicts overseas in which the u. S. Has interest at stake and remains embroiled, and the administration has not for whatever reason been able to bring them to a close. Lahnee, the race could also turn not just on the issue of foreign Policy And Everything that is happening in the Middle East right now, but on domestic policy and obviously, abortion is Front And Center in that. We are watching former president Donald Trump wrestle with in real time. For example, on thursday he suggested he was going to basically vote against the Sixweek Ban and by friday, he had shifted gears because he was under so much pressure. How do you think this will play out given the polling . Well, this is another example of the pressure between Swing Voters and Base Voters. Yeah. This is in some ways the equivalent in terms of how this issue plays out. I think that republican voters will give Donald Trump a lot of grace on this issue, so i dont tend to believe that there will be a large migration of Base Voters away from him because his position has been tortured on this issue. I do think its the case, though, that the energy of the republican base is something that could be affected if this continues to drag out. Thats why it was important for his campaign to do as they did which is to clarify this as quickly as possible because this is one of those things that if you let it linger, the energy is the problem, and its not so much that Theyll Vote for Kamala Harris and its not that Theyll Vote for Donald Trump. It is so fascinating because Donald Trump is someone who has taken responsibility for roe v. Wade and understood that this would be a political liability for him and it has been for republicans. When he comes out and says free ivf for everyone, is that something that makes democrats nervous that, hmm, maybe we should have proposed that first . No, i think, first of all, this is real policy. There are women, sadly, that are dying under these bans and so we have to remember that whatever Policy Decisions we end up with that there are actual harm being caused every single day, the more they delay in addressing this issue, and i do think the democrats realize that he is not growing his base. He needs to grow his base, and i actually think to your point, hes making a lot of evangelicals nervous with his flipflopping, and thats one of the reasons why he recognizes that, hey, wait a second, i have to pull myself back because where are my voters coming from. He wants his maga republicans and evangelicals to come out. Hes losing voters from the polling that were seeing and he has to figure out how do you thread the needle while ensuring that the other side does not come out. Molly, how do you see this, that Women Voters increasingly see this as their top issue and tied with second with the Economy And Weve never seen that before, quite frankly. This is an issue where trump has always been caught in a vice, and his position from the beginning is that he was proud of the Decision Overturning roe v. Wade because it returned it to the states, and the states can do whatever they want. Weve seen its more complicated than that. When arizona tried to dramatically tried to restrict abortion, trump intervened and hes got to say how he would vote on a States Decision and as weve talked about went back and forth because he has to simultaneously reassure his base that he will continue to fight for them, but also speak to Swing Voters. The other part of his base that he risks with this Ivf Gambit is fiscal conservatives. You heard Senator Tom Cotton not wanting to commit to what would essentially be an expansion of obamacare and a massive expense for the government if they were to cover ivf. I dont think you would get a lot of republican senators to go along with something like that, and not only for prolife conservatives, but fiscal conservatives who want limited government and less spending. This is a little bit disstushing to see where trump is going on these issues. Guys, stand by. Pause. Well start the next panel with you, david. When we come back. Price controls and the high Cost Of Living have been top of mind for american voters for decades. Our meet the Press Minute is next. This Labor Day weekend both campaigns are this Labor Day weekend both campaigns are leaning into the economy, the top issue for voters. Vice president Harris Proposal Vice President Harris Proposal to ban Price Gouging in the attention and some criticism with former President Trump saying she has endorsed, quote, Sovietstyle Price controls, and harris allies arguing that her plan is instead a targeted expansion of existing state powers. Back in 1951 heres how the president of the United Automobile Workers talked about the debate over Price Controls here on Meet The Press. We believe that when we fight for effective price control, to really have a law that begins to roll back the Cost Of Living and then control it, we think were reflecting the desires and the needs of the greater majority of the american people. We think when we fight for a Tax Law that begins the place the burden of the cost of defending freedom upon all people based upon their ability to pay, we think were fighting a battle of the average american. And you think that in a democracy in a time of war when some of our sons are in korea and when you walk out the way you did and youre speaking for the plain people of america whose sons are in korea and being drafted. What about the g. I. Who leaves his children back here with a wife. Doesnt skyrocketing price affect her . Doesnt the Rent Control affect her . Were fighting for these things because it helps all americans. A debate then, a debate now. When we come back, the special council revised his indictment against Donald Trump this week after the Supreme Courts immunity decision. What role will trumps legal battles play ahead of november. More with the panel next. Lower Respiratory Disease from rsv in people 60 years and older. Rsv can be serious for those over 60, including those with asthma, diabetes, copd and certain other conditions. But im protected. Arexvy is proven to be over 82 effective in preventing lower Respiratory Disease from rsv and over 94 effective in those with these health conditions. arexvy does not protect everyone and is not for those with severe allergic reactions to its ingredients. Those with weakened Immune Systems may have a lower response to the vaccine. The most common Side Effects are injection site pain, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and joint pain. Arexvy is Number One in Rsv Vaccine shots. Rsv . 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With fast and secure payment. Card readers you can rely on. And one place to manage it all. Whatever the stage, businesses that grow grow with shopify. Welcome back. The panel is still here and welcome back. The panel is still here and david, i want to start with you and your new book where tyranny begins, but put it against this backdrop. This week special Counsel Jack Smith filed a new indictment against firmer President Trump, basically stripping out his official acts on the Supreme Courts ruling on immunity, and it relates to your new book, particularly when you reflect on former President Trumps impact on the legal system. You write, quote, in four years as president and three years as an exPresident Trump has successfully used conspiracy theories, corruption, and threats to bend Doj And Fbi officials to his will. Those that dared that is not the rule of law, that is not democracy. What else did you find in this book, when researching this book . That these tactics worked. I was shocked at how afraid people were to speak to me on the record and concerned about what could Han O a trump administration, and since i finished the book, the Supreme Court came out with this immunity decision, which as you said, makes it legal. Any official act by a president with the Attorney General is allowed anything, and this is unprecedented in American History. Its never happened before. A Concrete Example before, recent events on tuesday, Donald Trump is coming out with a new book, a picture book, and he says if mark zuckerberg, the head of facebook does anything to interfere in the 2024 election, zuckerberg will spending the rest of his life in jail. Under this Immunity Ruling, trump can call up his Attorney General, tell him to prosecute zuckerberg and if that Attorney General refuses to carry that order out he can fire him, and again, under the Immunity Ruling that is absolute immunity, privileged communication between the president and the Attorney General. This did not happen. Richard nixon had his Attorney General look for, you know, prosecutors, political enemies, look for leaks against the president. This is a whole new era that were in now. Lahnee, what is your take both on what david has written in his book and this moment we are in and former President Trump is still facing these indictments although it doesnt seem like theyll go to trial before election day. I think the political impact of the Superseding Indictment is minimal unless theres some additional resolution of this case. It appears unlikely. I think people are pretty dug in with their points of view. I do think the supreme Court Decision is going to have a long tail, well beyond a second trump term, whoever is president next. The decision talks about the value of an energetic executive. This decision basically gives the Executive Two Red Bulls and a coffee, right . This is beyond energetic. And so the Concern One has is that in the future, what does this mean for Executive Power going forward . Already we have an executive thats much more active now than in recent American History and it puts at a premium on what executives promise in a campaign, because they then are much more well positioned to engage in Executive Action to get things done. Thats why it matters what they say on the Campaign Trail now because now they actually have the legal backing to do things with it. Maria, all of this is taking place against the backdrop of we are nine days out from between the first debate between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. What are you watching for as we get closer to that allimportant moment . So i think one of the things that has made harris really a Household Name is that she is playing in a completely different sandbox than Donald Trump. She does not engage with him and she does it with joy and deflects him, and we saw that in the interview as well. I think what the american people are going to look for is when she engages him is it going to be through this lens, i know who you are buddy, youre the convicted felon and im the prosecutor. I know among the american people is that they may not like Donald Trump, but what they really dont like is they keep finding these egregious breaking of the law, and they are wanting someone to put him in his place, and how she is going to do that and how she will define it will be important. We have seen her coming out forcefully from the beginning and lean into her background as a prosecutor and tried to as Maria Teresa was saying make that distinction with former President Trump. What does she need to do in the debate, and obviously theyre both preparing in very different ways, these two different candidates. Right, and i think theyre both going to seek to put the other on the defensive, and that is going to be the crucial thing that i think were all watching for. Weve seen her be less comfortable when it comes to defending her own positions and explaining her own values as she puts it. Is she able to keep trump on the defensive . Is she able to keep the focus on him and the case that she wants to make against him and not get bogged down in explaining where she stands because, you know, i think part of what happened in the June 27th debate, of course, all of the focus was on President Biden and his dramatic sort of collapse, but a lot of voters who watched that Debate Werent necessarily in love with what trump was doing, either, and so i think the question is, can she continue to do this Tightrope Walk where shes able to position herself as both, you know, an owner and a defender of the administration that shes been a part of and a candidate who is seeking to represent change and to turn the page, and that is a tricky balancing act, and its interesting to see how she can pull that off. Youre right about that. The first debate proving how significant debates can be. Great conversation. That is all for today. Thank you for watching. Have a great Labor Day weekend, well be back next week because if its sunday, its Meet The Press. Okay. Labor day always marks the final sprint to election day, and its Fa Irto say both