Meet the Press

With just two weeks to go until Election Day, President Trump continues his midterm blitz with a rally in North Carolina. Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton condemns a new ad circulating online that features her estranged mother. Republican candidate for Ohio’s first congressional district Eric Conroy discusses his bid to unseat incumbent Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio).

President Trump is back on the campaign trail with just 15 days to Election Day as new polling from the NBC News Decision Desk shows voters are not happy with the state of the economy. President Trump is facing bipartisan backlash after he decided to waive sanctions on Russia just days before they were set to go into effect. Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss his reelection bid despite Republicans’ redistricting effort.

In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shares why he believes it would be a “historic mistake” if the U.S. government decided to support Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kristen Welker has exclusive interviews with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.). Steve Kornacki breaks down the results of a new NBC News Decision Desk poll. Hallie Jackson, Lanhee Chen, and Steve Ricchetti join the roundtable.

Iowa overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump in 2024 — and Republicans hold all of the state’s congressional seats. But rising fuel costs, tariffs and growing voter frustration over the war with Iran have made the Hawkeye State one of the most closely watched battlegrounds of the midterms. This week, “Here’s the Scoop Election Edition” host Garrett Haake sits down with Iowa state representative and Democratic Senate nominee Josh Turek, a Paralympic gold medalist and former Republican who's betting that his brand of "common-sense prairie populism" can win over independents, farmers and working-class voters. Then, longtime Republican strategist and Iowa insider David Kochel explains how GOP candidates are trying to establish independence from the White House and what he'll be watching for on election night. swap.fm/l/htsfd

Katie Zacharia is out as White House Press Secretary after five days on the job. New Jersey congressional candidate Rebecca Bennett (D) joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss her campaign incumbent Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.). California's Secretary of State accuses the Department of Justice of fueling public distrust in elections with early voting is underway.

President Trump hits the campaign trail as economic headwinds intensify for Republicans just 19 days to the midterms. Trump cancels Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's plan to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter. Democratic Pennsylvania U.S. House candidate Bob Harvie discusses his campaign to unseat five-term incumbent Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).

Republicans face headwinds from the rising cost of living in the final stretch ahead of the midterms. Outgoing Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) shares his predictions for control of the House. Montana House candidate Sam Forstag (D) discusses his longshot bid to flip a seat in a district won by President Trump.

President Trump and Vice President JD Vance barnstorm key battleground states, hoping to boost their party despite significant political headwinds. The Vatican announces Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer and had a had a lower lobe of his right lung removed. Democratic candidate Johnny Garcia of Texas joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss his bid for the redrawn 35th congressional district.

President Trump kicks off a busy week of campaigning with a visit to Ohio as he defends a diesel deal with Russia that is drawing bipartisan criticism. Iran-backed Houthi militants attack Saudi Arabia’s airport in Riyadh in the deadliest attack on a Gulf ally since the start of the Iran War. NBC 5's Phil Prazan joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss his interview with U.S Senate candidate James Talarico (D-Texas) who is dismissing rumors about his health after a multi-day absence from the campaign trail.

Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D) sits down for an exclusive interview with Meet the Press less than a month out from the midterm elections.

Kristen Welker has exclusive interviews with Abdul El-Sayed and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Michael Lewis discusses his new book about DOGE. Stephen Hayes, former Sec. Jeh Johnson and Amna Nawaz join the roundtable.

As early voting gets underway ahead of the midterms, Garrett Haake goes behind the scenes of America’s elections to ask a fundamental question: Can voters trust the results? Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt explains how officials are preparing for everything from cyberattacks and AI-generated misinformation to voter intimidation and potential federal interference. Then, NBC News senior reporter Jane C. Timm takes us inside Georgia’s election system, where Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is turning to security measures, audits and a lot of data to combat distrust. Plus, why counting votes takes time, what makes voting by mail secure, and what election officials are most worried about this November. swap.fm/l/htsfd

26 million Americans are under flood alerts as Hurricane Isaias barrels towards the gulf coast. Senate candidates debate in Maine, Michigan and Georgia as President Trump and Vice President Vance hit the campaign trail. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says ICE operations will not pause after agents shoot a man during a New York City traffic stop.

President Trump weighs striking Iran again after the midterms. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) tells NBC News he has not spoken to President Trump since their 2021 call where Trump asked him to “find” more than 11,000 votes. NBC News' Sahil Kapur goes to the big board to break down whether polls can be trusted in 2026.

President Donald Trump hits the campaign trail in Texas as some Republican candidates seek to distance themselves from his policies. Middle East adviser to President Biden and President Trump, Brett McGurk, joins Meet the Press NOW to reflect on the 2023 Oct. 7 attacks that claimed more than 1,000 lives, sparked an international hostage crisis and triggered a humanitarian emergency. NBC News’ Richard Engel reports the latest after Russia launches strikes on Ukraine heading into a brutal winter.

Republicans are facing political headwinds with just four weeks until Election Day. President Trump looks to bolster his economic agenda by signing an executive order easing restrictions of “red-dye” diesel. Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss Democrats' growing target list as they look to win back the House.

President Trump and Vice President Vance hit the campaign trail with just 28 days until the November midterms. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss his reelection bid after Republicans’ redistricting efforts. A news NBC News/Telemundo poll shows the majority of Latinos think the president immigration policies have gone too far.

Kristen Welker has exclusive interviews with former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) about how both parties could fare in the midterm elections, and their own political futures. NBC News chief data correspondent Steve Kornacki discusses the new NBC News-Telemundo Latino poll. Ashley Etienne, Matt Gorman, Jonathan Martin and Julio Vaqueiro join the roundtable.

For decades, Texas has been the deep-red heart of the Republican Party. For Democrats, it’s the white whale. But this midterm cycle, political observers think they may have a chance. In the Senate contest, most polls show Democratic State Rep. James Talarico ahead of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton by a few points. And in the race for governor, Democratic State Rep. Gina Hinojosa is in surprisingly close competition with the incumbent, Republican Greg Abbott, despite being outspent by a mile. For this episode of Here’s the Scoop, Election Edition, NBC News chief White House correspondent Garrett Haake headed to Austin to sit down with Hinojosa and Texas Tribune Editor-in-Chief Matthew Watkins to ask: Could this finally be Democrats’ year in Texas? swap.fm/l/htsfd

President Trump defends his economic record while continuing his midterm campaign tour in Alabama. The U.S. labor market slows as the September job report shows less hiring than expected. Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) appoints Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor in Cornell University sexual assault investigation.

President Trump kicks off his midterm travel plans in Texas as polling shows his approval rating reaching record lows ahead of November's midterms. The Democratic nominee for Texas governor, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss her race to unseat Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas).

President Donald Trump says he and Republicans have done a “very bad job” of touting their economic wins to voters. Hispanic voters appear to trend back toward Democrats amid the closely-watched Senate midterm match-up in Texas between James Talarico and Ken Paxton. After a co-pilot allegedly stabbed his partner aboard a plane bound for Israel, former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Jonhson discusses air safety and potential recommendations.

President Trump meets with tech executives amid growing concerns around artificial intelligence. Former Special Counsel Jack Smith testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a politically charged hearing on his investigation into President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Some Republicans on Capitol Hill push back on the Trump administration's use of taxpayer money to fund a campaign-style TV ad.

President Trump offers conflicting messages about the war with Iran as the conflict enters its eighth month. Five men in the United Kingdom were arrested and released on bail on suspicion of terrorism near a British air force base used by the United States. OpenAI says they are pausing training their latest AI models after disclosing incidents of AI agents attempting to hack various U.S. government websites.

In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates tells Kristen Welker about the potential “major threats” from AI if safeguards aren’t put into place.

Kristen Welker asks U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz and Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araghchi if there’s a path to peace in Iran. Rep. Ro Khanna shares his thoughts on AI and potential impeachment efforts if Democrats win a House majority. Bill Gates warns about the potential threats of AI. Ryan Nobles, Marc Short and Adrienne Elrod join the roundtable.

As Democrats grapple with what their party stands for, one issue continues to divide them: Israel. The first signs of a fissure came after Israel began its invasion of Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 attacks. Some progressive Democrats demanded a more forceful U.S. response to what they saw as war crimes being committed with the help of American weapons and military aid. By the fall of 2024, a larger movement against the war had grown: More than 100,000 Democrats cast uncommitted ballots in the Michigan primary — a harbinger of Kamala Harris’ ultimate loss to Donald Trump. Since then, polls show that voter support for Israel has continued to decline in both parties. But among Democrats, that erosion has been far more dramatic. So how should the party position itself on Israel policy in 2026 — and eventually, 2028? In this episode of "Here’s the Scoop, Election Edition," we ask two Democrats on opposite sides of this debate: Tariq Habash, a co-founder of A New Policy, a political group that advises candidates…

Some Republican candidates break with President Trump as they fight headwinds ahead of November's midterm elections. Former Trump White House lawyer Ty Cobb discusses the president’s attempt to impose a ban on certain media outlets. Physicist and professor Max Tegmark joins Meet the Press Now to share his take on AI regulation as Congress weighs new guardrails.

President Trump welcomes Chinese President President Xi Jinping to Washington on the heels of a court-blocked effort to ban media outlets from the White House grounds. Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio), former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and independent candidates Dan Osborn (Neb.) and Brian Bengs (S.D.) weigh in on the data center backlash shaping their races for U.S. Senate. NBC News’ Ryan Chandler reports on the pushback from cattle ranchers on Trump's beef imports.

More Republican candidates appear to distance themselves from President Donald Trump over a state visit with the Chinese President Xi Jinping and high gas prices impacting voters. Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) and Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) discuss their bipartisan AI legislation as part of NBC’s Common Ground series. Sebastien Lai calls for the release of his father Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy activist and media publisher, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence in Hong Kong.

President Trump says he has a “big decision” to make about Iran in his address to the United Nations General Assembly. Steve Kornacki breaks down NBC News’ latest poll showing Trump’s approval hitting a second-term low. Kamala Harris campaigns with Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) join Meet the Press NOW to discuss the Congressional Women’s Softball game.

Actor and comedian Hasan Minhaj sits down for a Meet the Moment conversation about his career in comedy and film.

Kristen Welker has exclusive interviews with Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). Steve Kornacki breaks down a new NBC News poll. Yamiche Alcindor, Jamelle Bouie and Sara Fagen join the roundtable. Actor and comedian Hasan Minhaj sits down for a Meet the Moment conversation.

If there’s one issue driving this election, it’s affordability. With prices for everything from gas and groceries to healthcare and childcare rising, many Americans feel the American Dream is slipping out of reach. Meanwhile, Democrats think this could be the key to their comeback, while President Donald Trump calls affordability a “hoax” — but is still pitching $5,000 payments for every voter if Republicans maintain control of the House and the Senate. On Episode 2 of "Here’s the Scoop, Election Edition," NBC News chief White House correspondent Garrett Haake brings together NBC News senior policy reporter Shannon Pettypiece, former Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., and NBC News contributor Ashley Etienne, a former adviser to President Joe Biden, to discuss where voters are feeling the squeeze, why they don’t feel like the economy — or the government — is working for them and how the parties are responding on the campaign trail and beyond.

President Donald Trump says he’s banning three media outlets from the White House. Kansas senate candidate Adam Hamilton (D) reacts to Vice President Vance’s attacks over his Christian faith. President Trump reiterates promise to give $5,000 checks to Americans if Republicans win the midterms.

President Trump slams the Federal Reserve after the board unanimously voted to hike interest rates for the first time in three years. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) discusses how the Bipartisan Caucus on Artificial Intelligence is responding to warnings by tech leaders that AI may pose an existential threat to humanity. Charles Booker (D-Ky.) discusses his campaign to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

The National Transportation Safety Board investigates a news chopper crash in Los Angeles that killed three people. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh announces a hike in interest rates, defying pressure from President Trump. Former Biden administration economic adviser Jared Bernstein shares his assessment of the economy.

A summit on the risks of AI unites voices across the political spectrum. Technology ethicist Tristan Harris discusses possible AI guardrails as Congress grapples with regulation. President Trump lashes out at the Supreme Court after it blocked the administration from using the postal service to regulate mail-in ballots. A new CBO report says the Iran war will continue to drive up inflation for Americans.

President Trump dismisses new warnings as AI leaders sound the alarm about the lack of regulation around artificial intelligence. Oil and fuel prices continue to rise amid concerns the war with Iran may be expanding. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) joins Meet the Press NOW after the Supreme Court blocked the use of a new Republican-drawn map that Missouri used in the primary elections.

Kristen Welker has interviews with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) and former Biden Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Ex-Anthropic researcher and whistleblower Jacob Coxon shares his fears of unregulated artificial intelligence. Marc Short, Ashley Etienne and Jonathan Martin join the roundtable.

Midterm elections usually shake up power in Washington – and Democrats are hoping that will hold true in November. But will the "Trump effect" change that calculus? Welcome to Here’s the Scoop, Election Edition. Every Saturday until Election Day, NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Garrett Haake will bring on newsmakers to discuss the themes, issues and key players shaping the 2026 midterms. This week, Garrett’s looking at how Republicans and Democrats are positioning themselves to keep or take control of Congress next year, respectively, and he's speaking with two people at the crux of those decisions: former White House deputy chief of staff James Blair and California Democratic congressman Pete Aguilar. Blair left the West Wing to run President Donald Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc. He’s got $400 million to spend, a president itching to hit the campaign trail and a plan to keep Republican majorities in Washington for two more years. Meanwhile, Aguilar’s role as chair of the House Democratic Caucus means…

The Republican midterm convention wraps up in Dallas as President Trump tries to rally his base with a promise of a $5,000 dividend if the GOP keeps control of Congress. Meanwhile, the GOP loses a major redistricting battle in Missouri after the Supreme Court blocked the use of a new map. Former White House chiefs of staff Andy Card and Leon Panetta join Meet the Press NOW to discuss their mission to “not let America forget” the terror attacks of Sept. 11 after 25 years.

Amid record fuel prices, President Donald Trump travels to Dallas to headline the first-ever Republican midterm convention. Following New Hampshire’s primary elections, NBC News chief data analyst Steve Kornacki previews where the Senate race is headed. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) discusses the competitive Senate race in his state.

Republicans are set to gather in Dallas for their midterm convention even as President Trump is facing political headwinds ahead of November. NBC News Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki previews the key primaries in New Hampshire. Karishma Manzur (D-N.H.) and Scott Brown (R-N.H.) join Meet the Press NOW to discuss their bid to replace retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

Kristen Welker has exclusive interviews with Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.). Steve Kornacki breaks down a new NBC News Decision Desk Poll on artificial intelligence and data centers. Matt Gorman, Steve Ricchetti, Julie Tsirkin and Amy Walter join the roundtable.

The judge in the Lindsay Clancy case formally declares a mistrial. The Missouri Supreme Court overturns the state's redrawn congressional map that was used during the primary election earlier this year. South Dakota Senate candidate Brian Bengs (I) joins Meet the Press NOW as he seeks to become the first independent senator in his state’s history.

Vice President Vance briefs the press and defends the administration’s handling of the war with Iran. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) joins Meet the Press NOW to react to President Trump saying he will hit the campaign trail for Republicans ahead of the midterms. The lead defense attorney in the trial of Lindsay Clancy calls for one of the jurors to be removed as the judge orders the jury to continue deliberations.

The Massachusetts judge in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial instructs the deadlocked jury to return for a fifth day of deliberations. Outgoing Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss Republicans’ odds heading into the midterm elections. NBC News’ Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki explains how some longtime Democratic lawmakers in Massachusetts bucked national trends by defeating younger opponents.

Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss rising oil and gas prices as the U.S. launches new strikes on Iran. An anonymous whistleblower warns technical system the U.S. Postal Service built for mail in voting in flawed and untested. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Patrick Roath (D-Mass.) discuss their bid to unseat longtime incumbents and their calls for generational change.