May 12 — Sec. Blinken, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Lindsey Graham
Summary
TLDRIn a recent episode of 'Meet the Press', the discussion revolved around the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine, with a focus on President Biden's warning to Israel about potential cuts to American weapons supply. The show featured a range of guests, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Senator Lindsay Graham, and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who shared their perspectives on the crisis. Blinken defended the State Department's report on the conflict, emphasizing the complexity of the situation and the importance of Israel's self-policing. Sanders criticized Israel's actions, arguing for a halt to U.S. military aid, while Graham staunchly supported Israel, equating the conflict's urgency to historical attacks like Hiroshima and 9/11. The program also touched on the potential political implications of the conflict on President Biden's administration and the upcoming 2024 election.
Takeaways
- 🚨 President Biden has warned Israel that the U.S. will cut off some American weapons if Israel launches a full-scale assault in the city of Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinians are sheltering.
- 🛡️ Israel has responded defiantly, stating they are willing to fight without U.S. help if necessary, emphasizing their resolve to defeat Hamas, including in Rafah.
- 💣 The U.S. administration has already halted a large shipment of 2,500 bombs to Israel, and President Biden has admitted that U.S.-supplied bombs have killed civilians in Gaza.
- 🕊️ There is a call for an immediate ceasefire from the American people, with opposition to more U.S. military aid going to the conflict.
- 🤔 Tensions are high, with questions about whether the relationship between the U.S. and Israel is at a crisis point.
- 👎 A judge in Donald Trump's criminal trial has threatened jail time if Trump violates a gag order again, after ruling that Trump violated it ten times.
- 📉 Despite the threats, the State Department has not reached a definitive conclusion on whether Israel has violated international law, leading to criticism from various sectors.
- 📈 Senator Lindsay Graham strongly opposes President Biden's threat to withhold military aid to Israel, arguing it would weaken Israel's hand against Hamas.
- 🏛️ There is a debate within the U.S. about the effectiveness of using military aid as leverage to influence Israeli policy, with references to past presidents' actions.
- 🏊 Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, has opened up about his battle with depression, highlighting the importance of mental health awareness.
- 💰 The Biden campaign is planning high-profile fundraisers with celebrities and former presidents to boost campaign funds and build infrastructure for the upcoming election.
Q & A
What warning did President Biden issue regarding American weapons to Israel?
-President Biden warned Israel that he would cut off some American weapons if the Israeli military launches a full-scale assault inside the city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering.
How did Israel respond to President Biden's warning?
-Israel responded defiantly, stating that they are willing to fight without U.S. help if necessary and that they will stand alone if required.
What is the U.S. State Department's stance on Israel's actions in Gaza?
-The State Department released a report criticizing Israel for failing to protect civilians in Gaza and raising substantial questions about Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law.
What has been the American public's response to the conflict?
-The American people have called for an immediate ceasefire and have expressed their disapproval of more U.S. military aid going to the conflict.
What is the current state of the U.S.-Israel relationship?
-The relationship between the U.S. and Israel is at a critical point due to disagreements over military actions in Gaza and the potential withholding of U.S. weapons.
What is the position of Senator Bernie Sanders regarding U.S. military aid to Israel?
-Senator Bernie Sanders believes that Israel should not receive any more U.S. military aid, citing the destruction caused in Gaza and the breaking of international law.
What is the position of Senator Lindsay Graham regarding U.S. military aid to Israel?
-Senator Lindsay Graham is opposed to President Biden's threat to withhold military aid to Israel, arguing that it is necessary for Israel to fight against Hamas and that the U.S. should fully support Israel.
What is the U.S.'s reported action regarding a shipment of bombs to Israel?
-The U.S. has reportedly halted a large shipment of 2,500 bombs to Israel, with President Biden warning that the pause could extend to even more weapons.
What is the reported number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry?
-The Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry reports that Israeli forces have killed over 6,000 Palestinians, including 2,700 children.
What is the U.S.'s reported action regarding the release of hostages and ceasefire?
-The U.S., through the CIA Director's involvement, has been engaged in efforts to secure the release of hostages and to negotiate a ceasefire.
What is the reported impact of the conflict on the civilian population in Gaza?
-The conflict has reportedly led to the destruction of 60% of housing in Gaza, a systematic destruction of the healthcare system, and the likelihood of hundreds of thousands of children facing starvation.
Outlines
😀 Biden's Warning to Israel on Weapon Supply
President Biden has warned Israel that the U.S. will cease supplying certain weapons if Israel proceeds with a full-scale assault on Rafah, a city in Gaza with over a million Palestinians. This warning comes amidst a broader conflict where Israel has shown defiance, stating they are prepared to fight without U.S. aid if necessary. The U.S.'s stance has evolved from previous approaches, with Biden acknowledging civilian casualties as a consequence of U.S.-supplied bombs. Despite this, the U.S. has not completely halted arms shipments to Israel, leading to domestic pressure and questions about the integrity of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
😐 U.S. State Department's Report on Israel's Actions
The U.S. State Department has released a report that criticizes Israel for not protecting civilians in Gaza, raising questions about potential violations of international law. However, the report does not come to a definitive conclusion about Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law. Secretary of State Antony Blinken defends the report, stating that the U.S. does not apply double standards and that Israel, like any other country, is assessed based on its compliance with the law. Blinken also discusses the complexity of the military situation and the difficulty of making a definitive assessment in real-time.
😟 Civilian Casualties and the Aftermath of War
Concerns are raised about the potential civilian casualties and the lack of a clear plan for the aftermath of the war in Gaza. Secretary Blinken acknowledges the difficulty of assessing the situation in real-time and emphasizes the importance of credible plans for civilians. He also addresses the potential long-term issues, such as the persistence of armed Hamas fighters and the risk of creating a power vacuum that could lead to further instability.
😠 Senator Graham's Defense of Israel and Criticism of Biden's Stance
Senator Lindsay Graham strongly criticizes President Biden's threat to withhold military aid to Israel if it invades Rafah. Graham argues that it is impossible to mitigate civilian deaths in Gaza as long as Hamas uses human shields. He also condemns the idea of restricting weapons to Israel, calling it a dangerous and irresponsible move. Graham emphasizes the importance of supporting Israel against what he perceives as an existential threat and criticizes those who suggest withholding aid.
😔 Senator Sanders' Critique of U.S. Support for Israel
Senator Bernie Sanders expresses his belief that Israel has broken international and American law and should not receive further U.S. military aid. He describes the impact of the conflict on Palestinian civilians, including the destruction of housing and infrastructure, and the potential for widespread starvation among children. Sanders also discusses the potential political implications of the conflict for President Biden, suggesting that the war in Gaza could be politically damaging, akin to the Vietnam War for previous administrations.
😕 The Impact of U.S. Policy on the Israel-Hamas Conflict
The panel discusses the implications of U.S. policy on the Israel-Hamas conflict, including the potential impact on the upcoming election and the influence of celebrity endorsements in fundraising. They also touch on the legal battles involving former President Trump and the potential effect on moderate and independent voters. The conversation highlights the complexities of the U.S.'s role in international conflicts and domestic politics.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Red Line
💡Rafah
💡Civilian Casualties
💡International Humanitarian Law
💡Hamas
💡Weapon Withhold
💡Humanitarian Aid
💡Military Aid
💡State Department Report
💡Gaza
💡Palestinians
Highlights
President Biden warns Israel that the U.S. will cut off some American weapons if a full-scale assault is launched in Rafah, a densely populated area with over 1 million Palestinians.
Israel responds defiantly, stating they are willing to fight without U.S. help if necessary.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discusses the complexity of the situation and the challenges in assessing compliance with international humanitarian law.
Blinken emphasizes that Israel has the means and will to police itself, with open inquiries and criminal investigations into specific incidents.
The State Department report criticizes Israel for failing to protect civilians in Gaza and raises questions about potential violations of international law.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu expresses preparedness to act alone in protecting Israel's future and defeating Hamas.
Senator Bernie Sanders argues that Israel has broken international and American law and should not receive further U.S. military aid.
Senator Lindsay Graham strongly opposes Biden's threat to withhold military aid, emphasizing the importance of supporting Israel against Hamas.
Graham suggests that withholding weapons from Israel could embolden its enemies and put civilians at greater risk.
The panel discusses the potential political implications of Biden's decision on military aid within the Democratic party and the upcoming election.
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps opens up about his battle with depression, highlighting the importance of vulnerability and change.
The Biden campaign is focusing on fundraising with the help of high-profile celebrities to bolster support in battleground states.
Former President Trump's legal battles, including the recent testimony of Michael Cohen, are seen as potentially alienating moderate voters.
The panel debates whether the U.S. leveraging military aid to influence Israel's policy is effective or undermines Israel's security.
Senator Graham calls for unconditional support for Israel, arguing against the idea of withholding aid during a time of existential threat.
The discussion touches on the potential impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on the Saudi normalization deal and the broader Middle East strategy.
Senator Graham insists that the U.S. should not let political considerations dictate the support for Israel's fight against Hamas.
Transcripts
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♪
>>> THIS SUNDAY, BIDEN'S RED
LINE.
PRESIDENT BIDEN WARNS ISRAEL HE
WILL CUT OFF SOME AMERICAN
WEAPONS IF THE ISRAELI MILITARY
LAUNCHES A FULL-SCALE ASSAULT
INSIDE THE CITY OF RAFAH WHERE
MORE THAN 1 MILLION PALESTINIANS
ARE SHELTERING.
>> IF THEY GO INTO RAFAH I'M NOT
SUPPLYING THE WEAPONS THAT HAVE
BEEN USED HISTORICALLY TO DEAL
WITH RAFAH.
>> ISRAEL DEFIANT SAYING THEY
ARE WILLING TO FIGHT WITHOUT
U.S. HELP.
>> IF ISRAEL HAS TO STAND ALONE,
WE'LL STAND ALONE.
>> GIVE ISRAEL WHAT THEY NEED TO
FIGHT THE WAR THEY CAN'T AFFORD
TO LOSE.
>> THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT AN
IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE AND THEY DO
NOT WANT MORE U.S. MILITARY AID
GOING TO THE WAR MACHINE.
>> IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE U.S. AND ISRAEL AT A CRISIS
POINT?
MY GUEST THIS MORNING SECRETARY
OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN,
REPUBLICAN SENATOR LINDSAY GHLAM
OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND
INDEPENDENT SENATOR BERN SANDERS
OF VERMONT.
PLUS LEGAL STORM.
AFTER RULING DONALD TRUMP
VIOLATED A GAG ORDER TEN TIMES
THE JUDGE PRESIDING OVER TRUMP'S
CRIMINAL TRIAL THREATENS JAIL
TIME IF HE VIOLATES THE GAG
ORDER AGAIN.
>> IF YOU SAY ANYTHING SLIGHTLY
OFF HE WANTS TO PUT YOU IN JAIL.
>> AND AFTER STORMY DANIELS
TAKES THE STAND DESCRIBING HER
SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH MR. TRUMP
THE JUDGE REJECTS THE DEFENSE
TEAM'S REQUEST FOR A MISTRIAL.
JOINING ME FOR INSIGHT AND
ANALYSIS ARE NBC NEWS WHITE
HOUSE CORRESPONDENT MONICA ALBA,
FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS
SECRETARY JEN PSAKI AND STEPHEN
HAYES EDITOR OF "THE DISPATCH."
WELCOME TO SUNDAY.
IT'S "MEET THE PRESS."
>>> FROM NBC NEWS IN WASHINGTON
THE LONGEST-RUNNING SHOW IN
TELEVISION HISTORY, THIS IS
"MEET THE PRESS" WITH KRISTEN
WELKER.
>>> GOOD SUNDAY MORNING AND
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
TODAY THE WORLD'S EYES ARE ON
GAZA AS THE ISRAELI MILITARY
WIDENS OPERATIONS INCLUDING
ORDERING MORE EVACUATIONS FROM
PARTS OF RAFAH, A DENSELY
POPULATED AREA IN SOUTHERN GAZA
DESPITE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S STARK
WARNING THAT HE'LL WITHHOLD
WEAPONS IF THEY LAUNCH A MAJOR
OPERATION.
THE U.N. SAYS 300,000 PEOPLE
HAVE FLED RAFAH OVER THE LAST
WEEK.
NOW LAST WEEK THE WHITE HOUSE
HALTED A LARGE SHIPMENT OF 2,500
BOMBS TO ISRAEL.
PRESIDENT BIDEN WARNED THE PAUSE
COULD EXTEND TO EVEN MORE
WEAPONS EVEN THOUGH THE
ADMINISTRATION SENDS SMALLER
ARMS AND IT'S THE BIGGEST BREAK
WITH THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND
MR. BIDEN MADE A STRIKING
ADMISSION THAT BOMBS SUPPLIED BY
THE U.S. HAVE KILLED CIVILIANS
IN GAZA.
>> CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN
GAZA AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THOSE
BOMBS AND OTHER WAYS IN WHICH
THEY GO AFTER POPULATION CENTERS
AND LET ME BE CLEAR THAT IF THEY
GO INTO RAFAH, THEY HAVEN'T GONE
INTO RAFAH YET, IF THEY GO INTO
RAFAH I'M NOT SUPPLYING THE
WEAPONS THAT HAVE BEEN USE
HISTORICALLY TO DEAL WITH RAFAH,
TO DEAL WITH THE CITIES.
>> IT'S A NOTABLE EVOLUTION FROM
THE WAY THE PRESIDENT TALKS
ABOUT CIVILIAN DEATHS.
>> HAMAS CONTROLLED GAZA
MINISTRY SAYS ISRAELI FORCES
HAVE KILLED OVER 6,000
PALESTINIANS INCLUDING 2700
CHILDREN.
YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY ASKED
NETANYAHU TO MINIMIZE CIVILIAN
CASUALTIES, DO THESE NUMBERS SAY
TO YOU THAT HE'S IGNORING THAT
MESSAGE?
>> MA WHAT THEY SAY TO ME IS
THAT NO NOTIONS ARE THE
PALESTINIANS ARE TELLING THE
TRUTH.
I'M SURE INNOCENTS HAVE BEEN
KILLED.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY
CAREFUL AND I THINK THE ISRAELIS
SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY CAREFUL,
BUT I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE
NUMBER THAT THE PALESTINIANS ARE
USING.
>> ON FRIDAY THE STATE
DEPARTMENT RELEASED A REPORT
CRITICIZING ISRAEL FOR FAILING
TO PROTECT CIVILIANS IN GAZA
SAYING THE RESULTS ON THE GROUND
INCLUDING HIGH LEVELS OF
CIVILIAN CASUALTIES RAISED
SUBSTANTIAL QUESTIONS.
THE REPORT SAYS IT IS REASONABLE
TO ASSESS THAT ISRAEL HAS
VIOLATED INTERNATIONAL LAW IN
GAZA, BUT SAID THE U.S. HASN'T
BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY INSTANCES
THAT WOULD JUSTIFY WITHHOLDING
MILITARY AID.
THAT FINDING ALLOWS THE U.S. TO
CONTINUE SUPPLYING WEAPONS TO
ISRAEL.
RESPONDING TO PRESIDENT BIDEN,
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU
SAID ISRAEL IS PREPAREDED TO GO
IT ALONE.
>> I'VE KNOWN JOE BIDEN FOR MANY
YEARS, 40 YEARS OR MORE.
WE OFTEN HAD AGREEMENTS AND
WE'VE HAD OUR DISAGREEMENTS.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME
THEM.
I HOPE WE CAN OVERCOME THEM NOW,
BUT WE WILL DO WHAT WE HAVE TO
DO TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY AND
THAT MEANS PROTECT OUR FUTURE
AND THAT MEANS WE WILL DEFEAT
HAMAS INCLUDING IN RAFAH, WE
HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.
AND JOINING ME NOW IS SECRETARY
OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN.
SECRETARY BLINKEN, WELCOME BACK
TO "MEET THE PRESS".
>> GOOD MORNING, KRISTEN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
I WANT TO START WITH THAT STATE
DEPARTMENT REPORT THAT DID NOT
DRAW A DEFINITIVE CONCLUSION
ABOUT ISRAEL AND WHETHER IT'S
VIOLATED INTERNATIONAL LAW.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS OF
THE REPORT THIS IS THE, QUOTE,
INTERNATIONAL VERSION OF SENDING
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR CHRIS VAN
HOLLAND SAYS IT DUCKS THE
ULTIMATE QUESTIONS THAT THE
REPORT WAS DESIGNED TO
DETERMINE.
MR. SECRETARY, IS THE U.S.
TRYING TO AVOID WITHHOLDING
ISRAEL ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS
ACTIONS?
>> NO.
WE DON'T HAVE DOUBLE STANDARDS.
WE TREATISE RAIL, ONE OF OUR
CLOSESTAL RYES AND PARTNERS LIKE
WE WOULD ANY OTHER COUNTRIES
INCLUDING ASSESSING
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW
AND ITS COMPLIANCE WITH THAT
LAW.
THE REPORT ALSO MAKES CLEAR THAT
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX
MILITARY ENVIRONMENT.
YOU HAVE AN ENEMY THAT EMBEDS
ITSELF WITH CIVILIANS, HIDING
UNDER AND WITHIN SCHOOLS,
MOSQUES, APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND
FIRING UP ISRAELI FORCES FROM
THOSE PLACES.
IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT IN THE
HEAT OF WAR TO MAKE A DEFINITIVE
ASSESSMENT ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUAL
INCIDENT, BUT THE REPORT SAYS
BASED ON THE TOTALITY OF THE
HARM THAT'S BEEN DONE TO
CHILDREN, TO WOMEN, TO MEN WHO
ARE CAUGHT IN THIS CROSSFIRE
HAMAS IS MAKING IT'S REASONABLE
TO CONCLUDE THAT THEIR INSTANCES
WHERE ISRAEL HAS ACTED IN WAYS
THAT ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW
AND WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT AND
INVESTIGATE EACH OF THESE
INCIDENTS, BUT CRITICALLY SO
DOES ISRAEL.
THERE ARE UNDERSTANDS, AS WE
UNDERSTAND IT OF OPEN INQUIRIES
INTO PARTICULAR INCIDENTS AND
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS GOING
FORWARD.
ISRAEL, UNLIKE MANY OTHER
COUNTRIES HAS BOTH THE MEANS AND
THE WILL TO TRY TO POLICE ITSELF
SO WE NEED TO LET THOSE PLAY
OUT, BUT OUR OWN PROCESS THAT
HAS BEEN UNDER WAY FOR MANY
MONTHS TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL
INCIDENTS WILL CONTINUE AS WELL
AND WHEN WE CAN REACH DOWN
COLLUSION, AS WELL AND IT IS
DIFFICULT TO DO THAT IN THE
MIDST OF WAR.
>> HERE WE ARE IN THE SEVENTH
MONTH OF THIS WAR, MR.
SECRETARY.
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE
STATE DEPARTMENT WITH ALL OF ITS
RESOURCES WAS NOT ABLE TO REACH
A DEFINITIVE CONCLUSION ON
WHETHER ISRAEL HAS VIOLATED
INTERNATIONAL LAW?
>> PRECISELY BECAUSE WE CONTINUE
TO BE IN THE MID OFST OF THIS
REPORT AND MAKING IT REAL TIME
WHEN WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE ON THE
GROUND, WHEN WE HAVE THAT MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING
INFORMATION FROM ALL CONCERNED
THAT TAKES TIME AND WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE WANT TO REACH
DEFINITIVE CONCLUSIONS, BUT AS
THE REPORT MAKES CLEAR, GIVEN
THE TOTALITY OF THE DAMAGE
THAT'S BEEN DONE TO CIVILIANS,
TO CHILDREN TO WOMEN TO MEN,
GIVEN THAT, GIVEN THE FACT THAT
ISRAEL CLEARLY HAS PROCEDURES,
RULES, REGULATIONS AND LAWS THAT
GO INTO THE TARGETING DECISIONS
THEY MAKE AND THE WAY THEY
CONDUCT THEMSELVESES AND THE
RESULTS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN TERMS
OF THE LOSS OF LIFE OF INNOCENT
CIVILIANS, IT'S REASONABLE TO
ASSESS AS WE SAY IN THE REPORT
THAT THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE
THEY'VE ACTED INCONSISTENT WITH
OBLIGATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL
HUMANITARIAN LAW.
THOSE INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE
BOTH BY US AND BY ISRAEL.
>> LET'S ZOOM OUT A BIT AND TALK
DID U.S. POLICY.
THE U.S. HAS URGED ISRAEL NOT TO
INVADE RAFAH AND TROOPS ARE ON
THE GROUND AND WE LEARNED THAT
300,000 PEOPLE ARE BEINGEC VAK
WAITED.
PRESIDENT BIDEN THREATENED TO
WITHHOLD CERTAIN WEAPONS WHILE
AT THE SAME TIME SENDING IN
OTHER WEAPONS AND BIG PICTURE.
WHY SHOULD ISRAEL BELIEVE THAT
THE U.S. IS WILLING TO BACK UP
ITS THREATS?
>> FIRST, LET'S STEP BACK FOR
ONE MINUTE AND NO ONE BEEN
WILLING TO DEFEND ISRAEL THAN
PRESIDENT BIDEN.
HE WAS THERE IN THE DAYS AFTER
OCTOBER 7th AND THE FIRST
PRESIDENT TO GO TO ISRAEL IN THE
MIDST OF A CONFLICT, WHEN IRAN
MOUNTED AN UNRESIDENTED ATTACK
ON ISRAEL.
300 PROJECTILES LAUNCHED AT
ISRAEL.
THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FOR
THE TIME EVER PARTICIPATED IN
THE ACT OF DEFENSE.
PRESIDENT BIDEN BROUGHT TOGETHER
A COALITION OF COUNTRIES TO
DEFEND ISRAEL AND NO ONE HAS
DONE MORE THAN JOE BIDEN.
AT THE SAME TIME WHAT WE'VE SEEN
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS IS A
DEEP CONCERN ON OUR PART ABOUT
THE POSSIBILITY OF A MAJOR
MILITARY OPERATION IN RAFAH
GIVEN THE DAMAGE IT WOULD DO TO
CIVILIANS AND THERE ARE MORE
THAN 1.4 MILLION GAZANS IN
RAFAH.
THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE PLAN TO GET
THEM OUT OF HARM'S WAY AND
SUPPORT THEM AND THE PRESIDENT
HAS BEEN CLEAR FOR SOME TIME
THAT WE COULDN'T AND WOULD NOT
SUPPORT A MAJOR MILITARY
OPERATION IN RAFAH.
AT THE SAME TIME WE SHARE
ISRAEL'S OBJECTIVE OF MAKING
SURE THAT HAMAS CANNOT GOVERN
GAZA ANYMORE AND ISRAEL GET ITS
LEADERS AND THERE'S A BETTER WAY
OF ACHIEVING THAT THAN GOING
HEADLONG INTO RAFAH.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
WITH ISRAEL NOW AND WE HAVE A
BETTER WAY OF DOING IT AND WE
ARE ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THAT, BUT THE PRESIDENT
ANSWERING A QUESTION WAS VERY
CLEAR ABOUT WHERE WE ARE ON
RAFAH ITSELF AND WHAT WE WOULD
DO OR NOT DO IN THE EVENT THAT
THEY GO WITH THE MAJOR MILITARY
OPERATION.
>> I HEAR YOU SAYING A CREDIBLE
PLAN YET FOR HOW ISRAEL WOULD GO
INTO RAFAH AND MITIGATE CIVILIAN
CASUALTIES.
IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT PRESIDENT
BIDEN AND PRIME MINISTER
NETANYAHU ARE NOT SEEING EYE TO
EYE RIGHT NOW?
>> TWO THINGS.
ONE IS THAT AS THE PRESIDENT
SAID IN MANY CONVERSATIONS OVER
THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THERE
HAS TO BE A CREDIBLE PLAN FOR
THE CIVILIANS.
>> HAVE YOU SEEN A CREDIBLE
PLAN?
>> WE HAVE NOT.
SECOND, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE
THAT'S IMPORTANT.
WE ALSO HAVEN'T SEEN A PLAN FOR
WHAT HAPPENS THE DAY AFTER THIS
WAR IN GAZA ENDS BECAUSE RIGHT
NOW THE TRAJECTORY THAT ISRAEL
IS ON IS EVEN IF IT GOES IN AND
TAKES HEAVY ACTION IN RAFAH
THERE WILL STILL BE THOUSANDS OF
ARMED HAMAS LEFT.
WE'VE SEEN IN AREAS THAT ISRAEL
HAS CLEARED IN THE NORTH EVEN IN
KHAN YOUNIS AND HAMAS COMING
BACK.
GOING INTO RAFAH EVEN TO DEAL
WITH THESE REMAINING BATTALIONS
ESPECIALLY IN THE ABSENCE OF A
PLAN FOR CIVILIANS RISKS DOING
TERRIBLE HARM TO CIVILIANS AND A
PROBLEM THAT WE WANT TO SOLVE
WHICH IS MACKING SUREKING SURE T
DOESN'T GOVERN GAZA AND ISRAEL
IS TO INHERIT AN INSURGENCE WITH
HAMAS LEFT OR IF IT LEAVES A
VACUUM FILLED BY CHAOS AND
ANARCHY AND REFILLED BY HAMAS,
WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THEM ABOUT
A MUCH BETTER WAY TO GET AN
ENDURING RESULT BOTH IN GAZA
ITSELF AND MUCH MORE BROADLY IN
THE REGION.
THOSE CONVERSATIONS DONE AND
THAT'S WHAT PARTNERS AND ALLIES
DO.
WE ARE CLEAR-EYED AND WE SPEAK
THE TRUTH TO EACH OTHER AS WE
SEE IT.
WE HAVE AMERICAN INTERESTS FIRST
AND FOREMOST IN MIND.
WE ALSO HAVE ISRAEL'S INTEREST
IN MIND AND THERE MAY BE A
DIFFERENCE IN VIEW IN THE BEST
WAY TO ACHIEVE THEM, BUT THAT'S
ALSO THE NATURE OF THE
RELATIONSHIP.
>> I WANT TO DRILL DOWN WITH YOU
ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S THREAT TO
WITHHOLD WEAPONS.
WHAT, EXACTLY, IS HIS RED LINE,
MR. SECRETARY?
WHAT WOULD TRIGGER HIM TO SAY I
AM NOW WITHHOLDING WEAPONS?
>> WE DON'T TALK ABOUT RED LINES
WHEN IT COMES TO ISRAEL.
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN DID TALK
ABOUT A RED LINE, THOUGH, MR.
SECRETARY, RESPECTFULLY?
WHAT WOULD TRIGGER HIM TO MAKE
THAT DECISION?
>> SURE.
FIRST, WE HAVE BEEN HOLDING BACK
AND WE'RE IN ACTIVE KFRLG
CONVERSATIONS WITH ISRAEL ABOUT
THE HEAVY AND HIGH PAYLOAD
WEAPONS, LARGE BOMBS BECAUSE OF
THE CONCERN THAT WE HAVE ABOUT
THE EFFECT THESE WEAPONS CAN
HAVE WHEN USED IN A DENSE, URBAN
ENVIRONMENT LIKE RAFAH.
WE ARE DISCUSSING THAT WITH
ISRAEL RIGHT NOW.
SECOND, WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID
THAT IF ISRAEL GOES IN WITH A
MAJOR MILITARY OPERATION IN
RAFAH, IN THAT CASE THERE ARE
CERTAIN SYSTEMS THAT WE WILL NOT
PROVIDE TO ISRAEL THAT WOULD AID
THAT EFFORT BECAUSE IT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO
BE PART OF GIVEN THE DAMAGE THAT IT WOULD DO TO CIVILIANS AND
IT WOULD DO TO CIVILIANS AND
AGAIN, NOT TO ACHIEVE A DURABLE,
LASTING EFFECTIVE RESULT FOR
SECURITY AND THAT'S WHAT THE
PRESIDENT SAID AND WE SAID THAT
IN CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR
ISRAELI PARTNERS.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT LEAKED
OUT, BUT PRESIDENT RESPONDED
FORTHRIGHTLY ABOUT THE QUESTION.
>> MR. SECRETARY, I WANT TO ASK
YOU ABOUT THE VERY LATEST ABOUT
GETTING OF THE HOSTAGES RELEASED
FOR A CEASEFIRE.
WE KNOW THAT THE CIA DIRECTOR
HAS SINCE RETURNED HOME.
DID THOSE TALKS FALL APART
BECAUSE PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU
WAS THREATENING AND IS MAKING
MOVES TO GO INTO RAFAH?
>> LOOK, FIRST IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMIND OURSELVES THAT HAMAS
SHOULD HAVE ENDED THIS DAY ONE.
THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED,
WAS THERE A CEASEFIRE THAT HAMAS
DESTROYED IN THE MOST BARBARIC
WAY POSSIBLE, HUMANLY
IMAGINABLE, BUT EVERY DAY AFTER
THAT, HAMAS COULD HAVE DECIDED
TO GIVE UP THE HOSTAGES AND STOP
HIDING BEHIND CIVILIANS, AND PUT
DOWN ITS WEAPONS AND ALL OF THIS
COULD HAVE BEEN OVER.
THE QUICKEST WAY FOR THIS TO END
IS FOR HAMS TO GIVE UP THE
HOSTAGES AND WE WOULD GET A
CEASEFIRE THAT WE CAN BUILD ON
AND BUILD SOMETHING MORE LASTING
AND MORE DURABLE.
THE DIFFERENT TEAMS CONTINUE TO
TALK.
IT REMAINS ABLEABLE THAT THE
FASTEST WAY TO GET TO A
CEASEFIRE AND THE FASTEST WAY TO
GET TO AN AGREEMENT IS THROUGH A
CEASEFIRE AND TO TRY TO GET IT
TO HAPPEN.
I THINK YOU CAN QUESTION WHETHER
HAMAS ACTUALLY WANTS TO GET
THIS.
IT WOULD ALSO BE THE BEST WAY
THAT WE CAN SURGE HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE AND BETTER PROTECT
CIVILIANS IN GAZA.
HAMAS REPORTS TO BE INTERESTED
IN THAT.
ITS ACTIONS CERTAINLY
DEMONSTRATE THE OPPOSITE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SECRETARY BLINKEN, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> WHEN WE COME BACK,
INDEPENDENT SENATOR BERNIE
SANDERS OF VERMONT JOINS ME NEXT.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
AS TENSIONS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
MOUNT, STUDENTS PROTESTED THE
WAR IN GAZA AT COMMENCEMENT
CEREMONIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
ON SATURDAY FROM BERKELEY,
CALIFORNIA, TO CHAPEL HILL,
NORTH CAROLINA AND MADISON,
WISCONSIN, DOZENS OF STUDENTS
WALKED OUT OF THE VIRGINIA
COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY CEREMONY
AS GOVERNOR GLEN YOUNGKIN
DELIVERED THE COMMENCEMENT
ADDRESS THERE.
JOINING ME IS THE INDEPENDENT
SENATOR FROM VERMONT, BERNIE
SANDERS.
SENATOR SANDERS, WELCOME BACK TO
"MEET THE PRESS".
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE
ON A BUSY SUNDAY MORNING AND I
WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO THE
STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT AND WHAT
YOU HEARD FROM THE SECRETARY OF
STATE DEFENDING THE REPORT AND
THERE WAS NO DEFINITIVE
CONCLUSION AND HE HAD NOT SEEN A
DEFINITIVE PLAN FROM ISRAEL TO
GO INTO RAFAH WITHOUT MITIGATING
CIVILIAN CASUALTIES.
WHAT WAS YOUR TAKEAWAY, SENATOR?
>> KRISTEN, I HAVE A LOT OF
RESPECT FOR TONY BLINKEN. HE HAS AN IMPOSSIBLY DIFFICULT
HE HAS AN IMPOSSIBLY DIFFICULT
JOB, BUT THE REALITY IS IS I
THINK AS ANY OBJECTIVE OBSERVER
KNOWS, ISRAEL HAS BROKEN
INTERNATIONAL LAW, IT HAS BROKEN
AMERICAN LAW AND ISRAEL SHOULD
NOT BE RECEIVING ANOTHER NICK
KNELLEL
IN U.S. MILITARY AID.
HAMAS IS A DISGUSTING TERRORIST
OESHGDZ
ORGANIZATION THAT BEGAN THIS WAR
AND WHAT ISRAEL HAS DONE IS IT
HAS GONE TO WAR AGAINST THE
ENTIRE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND
THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY
CATASTROPHIC.
KRISTEN, WE'RE TALKING NOT JUST
35,000 PALESTINIANS DEAD AND
77,000 WOUNDED, TWO-THIRDS OF
WHOM ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND
THAT IS NOT THE WAY YOU CONDUCT
CIVILIZED SOCIETY.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 60% OF THE
HOUSING IN GAZA HAVING BEEN
DESTROYED, THE CIVILIAN
INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT'S WATER,
THAT IS RAW SEWAGE.
RUNNING OUT INTO THE STREETS.
SNOW
NO ELECTRICITY.
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A
SYSTEMATIC DESTRUCTION OF THE
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THERE, EVERY
UNIVERSITY IN GAZA HAS BEEN
BOMBED AND RIGHT NOW MOST
FRIGHTENINGLY, ACCORDING TO THE
HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS WE
ARE LOOKING AT THE LIKELIHOOD OF
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
CHILDREN FACING STARVATION, THE
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT IS VERY
CLEAR, ANY ENTITY, ANY STATE,
ANY COUNTRY THAT BLOCKS U.S.
HUMANITARIAN AID IS IN VILEATION
OF LAW AND SHOULD NOT CONTINUE
TO RECEIVE MILL TAERITARY AID AN
IS PRECISELY WHAT ISRAEL HAS
DONE.
>> LET ME PRESS YOU.
YOU BELIEVE ISRAEL SHOULDN'T
RECEIVE ANOTHER CENT AND YET 26
HOUSE DEMOCRATS WROTE A LETTER
TO THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING,
QUOTE, THEY ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE MESSAGE THE
ADMINISTRATION IS SENDING TO
HAMAS AND OTHER IRANIAN-BACKED
TERRORIST PROXIES.
DOES WITHHOLDING WEAPONS TO
ISRAEL RUN THE RISK OF
PROLONGING THIS WAR AND WEAKENING ISRAEL'S HAND AGAINST
WEAKENING ISRAEL'S HAND AGAINST
HAMAS?
>> NO -- LOOK, EVERY REPUBLICAN,
AS I UNDERSTAND IT WANTS TO GIVE
HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO ISRAEL.
MY GUESS IS THAT MANY
REPUBLICANS WANT ISRAEL TO GO
INTO RAFAH DESPITE THE
INCREDIBLE HUMANITARIAN
DESTRUCTION THAT WILL CAUSE AND
THERE ARE DEMOCRATS WHO ALSO
FEEL THAT WAY, BUT THIS IS WHAT
I WILL TELL YOU, KRISTEN, THAT
IS NOT WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
FEEL.
POLL AFTER POLL SUGGEST THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT AN
IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE.
THEY WANT MASSIVE HUMANITARIAN
AID TO GET IN.
PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY DO NOT
WANT TO BE COMPLICIT IN THE STAR
VAGSZ OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF CHILDREN.
BY THE WAY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, WE
ARE INCREASINGLY ISOLATED IN
TERMS OF OUR SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL
WHO IS BECOMING A PARIAH NATION.
>> SENATOR, IS THERE A
NON-MILITARY WAY TO GET RID OF
HAMAS GIVEN THE THREAT THAT THEY
POSE?
GIVEN THAN THEY SAY THEIR VERY
GOAL IS TO DESTROY ISRAEL'S
EXISTENCE?
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
LOOK, HAMAS -- THAT IS EXACTLY
RIGHT.
THAT IS THEIR GOAL.
IT IS DIFFICULT.
I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE THIS,
SO THE GOAL IS TO DEFEAT HAMAS,
BUT NOT TO DESTROY OR CAUSE THE
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF DESTRUCTION
THAT WE ARE NOW SEEING IN GAZA,
AND I HOPE THAT THE FUTURE FOR
THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IS A NEW
GENERATION OF PALESTINIAN
LEADERS WHO FOCUS ON ALLOWING
THE PEOPLE TO HAVE A STATE OF
THEIR OWN, LIKE TO SUPPORT A
TWO-STATE SOLUTION IMPROVING THE
ECONOMY AND REBUILDING THE
ECONOMY AND THAT'S A LONG-TERM
GOAL.
>> SENATOR, I HAVE TO ASK YOU
ABOUT SOME COMMENTS YOU MADE
THIS WEEK SAYING THAT THE MIDDLE
EAST, THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR COULD
BE BIDEN'S VIETNAM, ARGUING
POLITICALLY SPEAKING THIS COULD
COST HIM THE ELECTION.
IN THE WAKE OF BIDEN'S NEW
WARNING TO ISRAEL, DO YOU STAND
BY THOSE COMMENTS OR DO YOU
THINK THAT THE LANDSCAPE HAS NOW
CHANGED?
>> WELL, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE
PRESIDENT SAYING THAT IT IS
ABSURD TO PROVIDE ISRAEL WITH
2,000-POUND BOMBS WHICH COULD
LEVEL AN ENTIRE SQUARE BLOCK IN
THE MIDST OF RAFAH WHICH IS AN
INCREDIBLY DENSELY POPULATED
AREA SO THE PRESIDENT IS CLEARLY
RIGHT.
WHAT I WORRY ABOUT IS THAT THIS
WAR IN GAZA RIGHT NOW IS NOT
ONLY STRONGLY OPPOSED BY YOUNG
PEOPLE, BUT A WHOLE LOT OF
PEOPLE IN THE DEMOCRATIC BASE.
>> SO YOU THINK THIS COULD BE
HIS VIETNAM?
>> DO YOU STILL THINK THIS COULD
BE HIS VIETNAM?
>> LOOK, I AM STRONGLY
SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE
ON MANY DOMESTIC ISSUES HE'S
DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB, BUT I
THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
IN THE DEMOCRATIC BASE WHO ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT HIS SUPPORT FOR
ISRAEL IN THIS WAR.
>> SENATOR, VERY QUICKLY, YOU
HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND ANNOUNCED
THIS WEEK THAT YOU ARE RUNNING
FOR RE-ELECTION, OF COURSE.
THIS COMES -- YOU'RE 82 YEARS
OLD, AND I DON'T HAVE TO TELL
YOU THIS, BUT AGE IS OBVIOUSLY A
BIG ISSUE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.
ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT AGE COULD
BE A POLITICAL LIABILITY FOR
YOU?
>> WELL, LOOK, I THINK AGE IS A
FACTOR, EXPERIENCE IS A FACTOR,
ACCOMPLISHMENT IS A FACTOR AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY A FACTOR IN
POLITICS IS WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE
IN?
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE
IN VERMONT AND THE PEOPLE OF THE
UNITED STATES LOOK AT CANDIDATES
IN THEIR TOTALITY.
I SHOULD ALSO TELL YOU, I WOULD
NOT HAVE RUN -- ANNOUNCED
RE-ELECTION, MY INTENTION TO
SEEK RE-ELECTION UNLESS I FELT
PRETTY GOOD, WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF A WEEK OFF OF COVID I HAVEN'T
MISSED A DAY OFF OF WORK.
I FEEL PRETTY GOOD.
>> THAT IS WHAT YOUR STAFF SAYS.
YOU NEVER TAKE VACATION.
LET ME ASK YOU, YES OR NO, DO
YOU THINK ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
POTENTIALLY RUNS THE RISK OF
BEING BIDEN'S VIETNAM?
YES OR NO?
>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
DISAPPOINTED -- WELL, IT'S
HURTING HIM POLITICALLY.
YES, OF COURSE, IT IS.
>> OKAY.
THERE YOU HAVE IT.
SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING ME
THIS MORNING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATION.
>>> AND WHEN WE COME BACK,
REPUBLICAN SENATOR LINDSAY
GRAHAM OF SOUTH CAROLINA JOINS
ME NEXT.
♪ ♪
>>> WELCOME BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE
CRITICIZING PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR
PROVIDING THE HIGH PAYLOAD BOMBS
TO ISRAEL.
SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR LINDSAY
GRAHAM GRILLED PENTAGON LEADERS.
>> IF WE STOP WEAPONS NECESSARY
TO DESTROY THE ENEMIES OF THE
STATE OF ISRAEL AT A TIME OF
GREAT PERIL, WE WILL PAY A
PRICE.
THIS IS OBSCENE.
IT IS ABSURD.
GIVE ISRAEL WHAT THEY NEED TO
FIGHT THE WAR THEY CAN'T AFFORD
TO LOSE.
THIS IS HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI
ON STEROIDS.
>> AND SENATOR LINDSAY GRAHAM
JOINS ME NOW.
SENATOR GRAHAM, WELCOME BACK TO
"MEET THE PRESS."
>> HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
>> THANK YOU, SENATOR.
I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
LOOK, YOU HAVE BEEN QUITE CLEAR,
AS WE JUST HEARD THERE THAT YOU
ARE OPPOSED TO PRSZESIDENT BIDEN
THREAT TO WITHHOLD MILITARY AID
IF ISRAEL DOES INVADE RAFAH, BUT
LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION WHY
SHOULDN'T ISRAEL'S WAR AGAINST
HAMAS PROCEED IN A MORE PRECISE
WAY WITH A CLEAR PLAN TO
MITIGATED CIVILIAN DEATHS IN
GAZA?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
TO MITIGATE CIVILIAN DEATHS IN
GAZA AS LONG AS HAMAS USES THEIR
OWN POPULATION AS HUMAN SHIELDS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN IN THE HISTORY
WARFARE SUCH BLATANT EFFORTS BY
AN ENEMY, HAMAS TO PUT CIVILIANS
AT RISK AND THE LAST THING YOU
WANT TO DO IS REWARD THIS
BEHAVIOR.
THEY PUT WEAPONS IN MOSQUES.
THEY FIRE ARTILLERY ROUNDS FROM
APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
THEY PUT COMMAND CENTERS UNDER
HOSPITALS TO MAXIMIZE CIVILIAN
CASUALTIES AS ISRAEL TRIES TO
DESTROY THE TERRORIST GROUP.
YOU DON'T WANT TO REWARD THIS BY
RESTRICTING WEAPONS TO THE
VICTIM OF THE ATTACK, BUT LET ME
JUST SAY THIS.
THIS IS MOTHER'S DAY, HAPPY
MOTHER'S DAY, BUT THIS IS A
TOUGH TIME FOR THE WORLD.
WHAT SENATOR SANDERS SAID, NOT
ANOTHER NICKEL OF MILITARY AID
TO THE UNITED STATES IS THE MOST
DANGEROUS, IRRESPONSIBLE
STATEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE
U.S. RELATIONSHIP.
THIS IS NOT VIETNAM.
ISRAEL IS IN A FIGHT FOR THEIR
LIVES.
HAMAS SAYS THEY WILL DO IT AGAIN
AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, THEY'RE
DEDICATED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF
THE JEWISH STATE AND NOT HELPING
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.
IRAN, THE GREAT SATAN VIEWS TO
DESTROY ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH.
ISRAEL IS SURROUNDED BY
TERRORISTS THAT WANT TO DESTROY
THE JEWISH STATE AND NOT HELP
THE PALESTINIANS.
THIS IS NERVE AND
THIS IS 9/11 AND PEARL HARBOR
ALL ROLLED INTO ONE.
IT WOULD BE OUTRAGEOUS, DANGER
ROUSE AND THE REPUBLICANS WILL
FIGHT BACK AGAINST BERNIE
SANDERS AND THE SQUAD.
>> SENATOR, LET ME PUSH YOU A
LITTLE BIT, THOUGH, BECAUSE OF
COURSE, THE ISRAEL HAS PROVIDED
ISRAEL WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
BOMBS AND MISSILES JUST APPROVED
SOME $14 BILLION IN MILITARY AID
LAST MONTH.
SO THE UNITED STATES, EVEN THE
IDF HAS SAID HAS GIVEN AN
EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF SUPPORT.
I WANT TO ASK YOU, THOUGH, DO
YOU THINK ISRAEL IS IN ANY WAY
PREPARED TO LISTEN TO, TO WORK
WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND IS HE
TRUSTWORTHY AND LET ME ASK IT
THIS WAY, IN A SURVEY THIS WEEK
HELP HALF OF ISRAELIS THOUGHT
THE CHIEF CONSIDERATION THE
POLITICAL SURVIVAL.
YOU TRUST ISRAEL MORE THAN THE
U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY.
WHY SHOULD AMERICANS TRUST NETANYAHU TO PUT THE UNITED
NETANYAHU TO PUT THE UNITED
STATES INTERESTS FIRST?
>> AMERICANS SHOULD BE ALL IN IN
HELPING ISRAEL AGAINST AN
EXISTENTIAL THREAT.
THE ONE THING ISRAEL AND THE
U.S. HAVE IN COMMON, HAMAS WOULD
ATTACK US IF THEY COULD, IRAN IS
THE LARGEST STATE SPONSOR
TERRORISM THAT SHOUTS DEATH TO
AMERICA AND HOSE BELL ONNA IS IN
THE SAME CAMP.
I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYBODY IN
ISRAEL CHANT DEATH TO AMERICA.
THE PEOPLE ISRAEL IS FIGHTING
ARE BENT TO DESTROYING ALL OF
THE JEWS.
THIS IS HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE
MONTH FOR GOD'S SAKE.
WE SHOULD UNEQUIVOCALLY SUPPORT
ISRAEL AND YES, WORK WITH THEM
TO LIMIT CIVILIAN CASUALTIES.
THEY WANT TO DO THAT, I KNOW
THEY DO.
THEY HAVE A WHOLE BATTALION
DEDICATED TO THAT, BUT THIS IDEA
OF WITHHOLDING WEAPONS TO ISRAEL
IS PUTTING CIVILIANS AT RISK.
HERE'S MY STATEMENT TO THE
ADMINISTRATION, WORK OUT A PLAN
THAT GETS US ALL TO WHERE WE
NEED TO BE.
I SPOKE WITH ISRAEL THEY ARE
DISCUSSING WITH THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION A WAY FORWARD.
I AM SOMEWHAT HOPEFUL WE CAN
JUMP OVER THIS IMPASSE, BUT DO
NOT LET BERNIE SANDERS RUN THIS
WAR.
BURDENY SANDERS AND THE SQUAD
ARE INSANE WHEN IT COMES TO HOW
TO DEFEND ISRAEL.
HE JUST SAID ON NATIONAL
TELEVISION CUT OFF EVERY NICKEL
OF MILITARY AID TO THE JEWISH
STATE WHO IS BEING THREATENED
WITH OBLIVION, SHUT THESE PEOPLE
DOWN.
THIS DECISION WAS POLITICAL.
HE IS TRYING TO APPEASE THE
RIGHT AND LEFT.
>> THE POSITION NOT TO CUT OFF
EVERY NICKEL AND I GUESS THE
QUESTION IS WHY DOES ISRAEL NEED
THE MOST MASSIVE BOMBS THAT
COULD POTENTIALLY LEVEL AN
ENTIRE BLOCK IN ORDER TO WAGE
THIS WAR?
WHY CAN'T IT BE MORE PRECISE?
>> LISTEN, YOU KNOW, HERE'S WHAT
I WOULD SAY ABOUT FIGHTING AN
ENEMY WHO WANTS TO KILL YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY.
WHY DO WE DROP TWO BOMBS,
NUCLEAR BOMBS ON HIROSHIMA AND
NAGASAKI TO END A WAR THAT WE
COULD AREN'T AFFORD TO LOSE?
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND APPARENTLY
WHAT ISRAEL IS FACING.
THEY'RE FACING THREE GROUPS,
IRAN WHO HAS RECEIVED $80
BILLION IN AID.
WHEN TRUMP LEFT OFFICE THEY WERE
EXPORTING 300 BILLION OILS OF
DAY AND NOW THEY ARE 1.3 MILLION
A DAY.
THEY'VE BEEN ENRICHED BY BIDEN
AND THEY'VE TAKEN THAT MONEY TO
KILL ALL OF THE JEWS.
WHEN WE WERE FACED WITH
DESTRUCTION AS A NATION AFTER
PEARL HARBOR FIGHTING THE
JAPANESE WE DECIDED TO END THE
WAR BY THE BOMBING HIROSHIMA AND
NAGASAKI WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS
AND THAT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.
GIVE ISRAEL THE BOMBS THEY NEED
TO END THE WAR THEY CAN'T AFFORD
TO LOSE AND WORK WITH THEM TO
MINIMIZE CASUALTIES.
>> SENATOR, MILITARY OFFICIALS
WOULD ARGUE THAT THERE HAS BEEN
SO MUCH TECHNOLOGY SINCE THOSE
BOMBS WERE DROPPED THAT FOR THAT
VERY REASON THAT IS WHY ISRAEL
AND OTHER DEVELOPED CAN BE MORE
PRECISE, BUT LET ME ASK IT THIS
WAY BECAUSE PRESIDENT BIDEN IS
NOT THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO USE
ARMED SHIPMENTS TO TRY TO
INFLUENCE ISRAELI POLICY.
AS YOU KNOW FORMER PRESIDENT
RONALD REAGAN ON MULTIPLE
OCCASIONS WITHHELD WEAPONS TO
IMPACT ISRAEL'S MILITARY
ACTIONS.
DID PRESIDENT REAGAN SHOW THAT
USING U.S. MILITARY AID AS
LEVERAGE CAN ACTUALLY BE AN
EFFECTIVE WAY TO REIN IN AND
IMPACT ISRAEL'S POLICY?
>> WHEN YOU'RE TELLING THE WORLD
YOU WILL RESTRICT WEAPONS
DELIVERY TO THE JEWISH STATE WHO
IS FIGHTING A WAR FOR THEIR
SURVIVAL IT EMBOWDENS IRAN, IT
EMBOLDENS HAMAS.
IT IS TOO STUCK ON THE IDEA FOR
THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL,
THIS IS THE WORST DECISION IN
THE HISTORY OF THE U.S.
RELATIONSHIP.
AT A TIME THE JEWISH STATE CAN
BE DESTROYED AND HERE'S WHAT I
WOULD SAY.
THERE IS SOME HOPE WE CAN GET
OVER THIS, NON-NEGOTIABLE WITH
THE DESTRUCTION OF HAMAS.
NOBODY IN ISRAEL WILL ALLOW
HAMAS TO BE STANDING.
HOW WE GET THERE IS SECOND TO
NEGOTIATION.
MY PROBLEM IS NOT WITH THE
WEAPONS ISRAEL IS USING AND MY
PROBLEM IS WITH THE HAMAS ISSUES
AND THE IDEA THAT AMERICA WOULD
NOT SEND A NICKEL OF AID ECHOED
BY THE UNITED STATES SENATOR
WHEN ALL OF THE JEWS ARE TRYING
TO BE KILLED BY RADICAL ISLAMIC
GROUPS TELLS US WHERE WE ARE AT
AS A NATION.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS WITH
ISRAEL WITHOUT APOLOGY.
>> HISTORIANS WOULD SAY WHY IS
IT OKAY FOR REAGAN TO DO IT AND
NOT PRESIDENT BIDEN, BUT LET ME
ASK YOU --
>> WHY IS IT OKAY FOR AMERICA TO
DROP TWO NUCLEAR BOMBS ON
HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI TO END
THEIR EXISTENTIAL WAR?
WHY WAS IT OKAY FOR US TO DO
THAT.
TO ISRAEL, DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE
TO DO TO SURVIVE AS A JEWISH
STATE.
WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO.
>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT HOW --
>> THESE MILITARY OFFICIALS THAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT --
>> LET ME ASK YOU.
>> ARE FULL OF CRAP.
>> LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING THEY
KNOW YOU CARE A LOT ABOUT AND
THAT IS THE SAUDI NORMALIZATION
DEAL.
>> YES.
>> HOW WOULD A GROUND INVASION
INTO RAFAH IMPACT WHAT YOU
BELIEVE IS CRITICAL, GETTING A
DEAL FOR NORMALIZATION IN THE
REGION WITH SAUDI ARABIA.
>> REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
>> NUMBER ONE, I WANT TO KEEP
PURSUING THIS BECAUSE YOU ASKED
TONY A GOOD QUESTION.
WHAT HAPPENS THE DAY AFTER.
TO MY FRIENDS IN ISRAEL, WHAT
WAS THE DAY AFTER?
TO TONY, WHAT HAPPENS THE DAY
AFTER?
I WANT THE ARAB WORLD, THE UAE
AND SAUDI ARABIA TO COME IN AND
GIVE THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE HOPE
ONCE WE DESTROY HAMAS.
I WANT NORMALIZATION BETWEEN
SAWED RABEUDI ARABIA AND ISRAEL
THAT'S THE WORST NIGHTMARE FOR
IRAN AND THAT'S WHY OCTOBER 7th,
I THINK, HAPPENED.
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENED.
WHEN YOU DENY ISRAEL WEAPONS THE
SAUDIS ARE BEGINNING TO WONDER,
AM I A GOOD ALLY?
SHOULD I SIGN UP TO THIS?
WOULD THEY TURN ON ME IF I GET
IN A CONFLICT?
THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE DEAL
IS TO USE RAFAH INVASION TO BACK
ISRAEL OFF.
I AM STILL GOING TO PURSUE THE
DEAL.
I HOPE WE CAN GET THIS ISSUE
WITH THE WEAPONS TRANSFERS
BEHIND US AND WE CAN GET BACK ON
SETTING THE CONDITIONS WHERE WE
CAN NORMALIZE BETWEEN SAUDI
ARABIA AND ISRAEL AND AS PART OF
THAT HAVE A NEW PALESTINIAN
OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY'LL HAVE A
BETTER LIFE, WHERE THE ARABS
HELPED THEM BUILD GAZA AND THE
WEST BANK.
I'M NOT GIVING UP ON THAT.
I'VE JUST NEVER BEEN MORE
WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THE SIGNALS
WE'RE SENDING TO OUR ENEMIES
THAN I AM RIGHT NOW.
WHEN WE ARE DOING WITH ISRAEL IS
UNCONSCIONABLE AND IT NEEDS TO
STOP.
WE NEED TO BE WITH ISRAEL
WITHOUT APOLOGY.
>> VERY QUICKLY, BEFORE I LET
YOU GO.
A QUESTION ABOUT 2024, WILL YOU
ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THE 2024
ELECTION NO MATTER WHO WINS?
>> YEAH, I'LL ACCEPT IT, BUT I
THINK THERE'S NO MASSIVE
CHEATING.
I ACCEPTED 2020.
HERE'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS POISED TO
WIN.
HE SAID LAST NIGHT WHEN IT COMES
TO ISRAELI WILL HAVE THEIR BACK
AND I'LL GIVE THEM WHAT THEY
NEED.
BERNIE SAND SERS WRONG ABOUT THE
POLLING HERE.
MOST AMERICAN, 80% SIDE WITH
ISRAEL.
THE 20%, UNFORTUNATELY, ARE A
CONGRESS AND A STATE DEPARTMENT
THAT SIDE WITH HAMAS.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THIS
WAR.
>> ALL RIGHT, SENATOR, WE ARE
OUT OF TIME.
SENATOR GRAHAM, I SHOULD SAY,
YOU JUST INVOKED ANOTHER
SENATOR'S NAME.
>> WE ARE OFTEN CONFUSED.
>> HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.
WHEN WE COME BACK, OLYMPIC SWIMMER MICHAEL PHELPS
>>> WELCOME BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
MONTH AND 23-TIME GOLD MEDALIST
MICHAEL PHELPS, THE MOST
DECORATED OLYMPIAN OF ALL TIME
IS OPENING UP ABOUT HIS BATTLE
WITH DEPRESSION.
PHELPS SAT DOWN WITH ME FOR A
MEET THE MOMENT CONVERSATION AND
TALKED ABOUT HOW HE DEALS WITH
HIS MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES AND
HIS ACTIVISM.
>> WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALIZE
YOU WERE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH
DEPRESSION?
>> I WOULD SAY PROBABLY 2004.
2004 WAS MY FIRST TASTE OF
POST-OLYMPIC DEPRESSION.
COMING OFF SUCH A HIGH IT'S
BASICALLY LIKE THE EDGE OF A
CLIFF, LIKE COOL, NOW WHAT?
I GUESS I HAVE TO WAIT FOUR MORE
YEARS FOR THE CHANCE TO DO IT
AGAIN AND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T
HAVE A SUCCESSFUL OLYMPICS THOSE
FOUR YEARS ARE ABSOLUTELY -- SO
FOR ME, 2004 WAS THE FIRST CASE
OF POST-OLYMPIC DEPRESSION
BECAUSE COMING OFF OF THAT HIGH
AFTER DOING SOMETHING YOU SET
OUT TO DO YOUR WHOLE ENTIRE
LIFE.
MY GOAL WAS TO DO SOMETHING NO
ONE ELSE HAD EVER DONE BEFORE,
AND I DID IT BY THE AGE OF 19,
20.
>> DID YOU KNOW IT WAS
DEPRESSION OR DID YOU JUST THINK
I'M FEELING A LITTLE OFF?
>> THINK AT THAT POINT, YOU
KNOW, I'LL SAY AS A MALE ATHLETE
I CAN TELL SOMETHING WAS OFF,
BUT I THINK I SAW IT AS A SIGN
OF WEAKNESS AND IF I SHARED
ANYTHING ABOUT IT IT WOULD GIVE
MY COMPETITORS AN EDGE, AND I'M
NOT TRYING TO DO THAT, RIGHT?
I DON'T WANT TO GIVE MY
COMPETITORS AN EDGE.
I'M TRYING TO BE BETTER THAN
ANYBODY, PERIOD, HAS EVER BEEN.
SO FOR ME, I LOOKED AT IT AS
WEAKNESS.
SO FOR ME, I HAD TO LEARN THAT
VULNERABILITY IS A GOOD THING,
AND IT WAS SCARY AT FIRST, BUT I
LEARNED THAT VULNERABILITY JUST
MEANS CHANGE AND FOR ME IT WAS A
GREAT CHANGE.
>> IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS
STRUGGLING OR IN CRISIS, HELP IS
AVAILABLE.
CALL OR TEXT 988 OR CHAT AT
988LIFELINE.ORG.
YOU CAN HEAR MORE OF OUR
CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL PHELPS
NEXT SUNDAY HERE ON "MEET THE
PRESS" AND TUNE INTO THE PARIS
OLYMPICS ON NBC AND PEACOCK.
WHEN WE COME BACK, DONALD
TRUMP'S FORMER ATTORNEY MICHAEL
COHEN IS EXPECTED TO TAKE THE
STAND THIS WEEK. THE PANEL IS NEXT
>>> WELCOME BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
THE PANEL IS HERE.
NBC NEWS WHITE HOUSE
CORRESPONDENT MONICA ALBA, JEN
PSAKI, FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS
SECRETARY, HOST OF "INSIDE WITH
JEN PSAKI" AND AUTHOR OF THE NEW
BOOK "SAY MORE.
LESSONS FROM WORK, THE WHITE
HOUSE AND THE WORLD AND STEPHEN
HAYES, EDITOR OF "THE DISPATCH."
JEN, HERE WE HAVE YOUR BOOK WITH
US.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
>> WE'LL HAVE A SIGNING AFTER
THE SHOW.
>> MONICA, START US OFF AND SET
THE TABLE HERE AND OBVIOUSLY
THIS EXTRAORDINARY WARN BY
PRESIDENT BIDEN THIS WEEK SAYING
THAT HE WOULD CUT OFF MILITARY
AID AND IT'S BEEN THE FOCUS OF
ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT
WE'VE HAD THIS MORNING.
WHAT PROMPTED HIM TO MAKE THAT
WARNING THIS WEEK?
WAS IT THE BUILDUP OF POLITICAL
PRESSURE?
WAS IT HIS OWN FRUSTRATION WITH
ISRAEL?
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS WILL TELL
YOU THAT FOR DECADES THIS
PRESIDENT MAKES FOREIGN POLICY
DECISIONS BASED ON NATIONAL
SECURITY AND NOT ON POLITICS,
BUT IN ALL MY CONVERSATIONS WITH
BIDEN ADVISERS OVER THE COURSE
OF THIS CONSEQUENTIAL LAST WEEK,
THEY CAN SEE THAT IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE THE
POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS HERE AND
THEY CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT THAT
IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS POLICY
SHIFT, OF DRAWING THAT LINE AS
YOU WERE DISCUSSING AND IT IS
VERY NOTABLE.
THEY POINT OUT THAT ISRAEL HAS
THE WEAPONS IT NEEDS TO GO
FORWARD WITH THIS FULL-SCALE
INVASION INTO RAFAH.
SO THE PRESIDENT THREATENING TO
WITHHOLD THAT MILITARY AID IS
LARGELY SYMBOLIC IN MANY WAYS
AND IT IS ABOUT A POLITICAL
MESSAGING AND SIGNALING AT THIS
POINT IN THE WAR AND IT COMES
AMID THIS LARGER BACKDROP OF
DEMOCRATIC DIVISIONS WITHIN THE
PRESIDENT'S OWN PARTY AS YOU
JUST SAW THERE IN YOUR INTERVIEW
WITH SENATOR SANDERS THAT WERE
PROGRESSIVE AND WHO HAVE BEEN
VERY CRITICAL OF THE PRESIDENT
DURING THIS WAR WHO NOW ARE
PRAISING THIS MOVE AND THERE ARE
OTHERS WHO REALLY ARE NOT
CONVINCED AND WHO SAY THIS
DOESN'T MEAN MUCH AT THIS POINT
GIVEN THE MASS NUMBER OF
CIVILIAN CASUALTIES AND THE REAL
LACK OF HUMANITARIAN AID GETTING
INTO GAZA.
>> YEAH.
AND THAT DIVIDE, JEN, IT IS SO
STARK FOR THE CAMPAIGN, FOR
THOSE CLOSE TO PRESIDENT BIDEN.
YOU ACTUALLY THINK HE SHOULD
HAVE SPOKEN OUT AND DONE THIS
SOONER.
>> I THINK THAT AS IT RELATED TO
THE DIPLOMATIC ASPECT.
I WORKED WITH SECRETARY KERRY
FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
I WENT 30 TIMES TO ISRAEL AND I
SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THOSE
NEGOTIATING ROOPS WITH PRIME
MINISTER NETANYAHU.
THE POLITICS OF THIS ARE VERY
HARD TO PREDICT.
THERE'S NO QUESTION AND THERE'S
A LOT OF ACTIVISM ON CAMPUS AND
ANTISEMITISM IN THE COUNTRY AND
A LOT OF DYNAMICS POLITICALLY.
THE BEST THING THEY CAN DO IS
REACH A CEASEFIRE AND THAT'S THE
BEST THING THEY CAN DO.
TO ADD WHAT MONICA SAID, WHAT
PRESIDENT BIDEN IS DOING, HE'S
BEEN HAVING TOUGHER PRIVATE
CONVERSATIONS.
SOME OF THOSE HAVE BEEN READ OUT
WITH PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU.
THIS IS THE USE OF LEVERAGE AND
THAT'S HOW DIPLOMACY WORKS AND
IT'S THREATENING IF YOU DON'T
CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR THIS IS
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND IT'S NOT
WALKING AWAY FROM ISRAEL'S
SECURITY AND IT IS USING
LEVERAGE SO THAT THEY DON'T GO
INTO A CITY THAT HAS A MILLION
PEOPLE AND THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE
TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW.
>> THEY MAY NOT BE WALKING AWAY
FROM ISRAEL'S SECURITY AND IT IS
UNDERMINING ISRAEL'S SECURITY
AND PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THIS
HIMSELF BACK IN OCTOBER THE DAY
AFTER THE ATTACK AND THE MORE
SEPARATION THAT THERE IS BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL THE
GREATER STRENGTH IT GIVES TO
HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH AND ISRAEL'S
ENEMY AND BOTH IN WORD AND DEED
WHAT WE SAW FROM THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION THIS WEEK WAS
THIS WEAKENING.
THIS WAS A SEVEN-MONTH PROCESS
AND HE CAME OUT STRONG IN THE
BEGINNING AND NOW GIVEN THE
REASONS THAT SENATOR SANDERS HAS
ARTICULATED AND GIVEN THE FACT
THAT THERE'S THIS BUILDUP OF
DOMESTIC, POLITICAL PRESSURE ON
JOE BIDEN YOU'RE SEEING HIM
CREATE THIS SPACE IN A WAY
THAT'S LIKELY TO INTENSIFY THE
CIVILIAN DAMAGE AND LENGTHEN THE
CONFLICT OVERALL.
>> I THINK THIS IS A VERY WRONG
READ.
>> HOW DO YOU REALLY FEEL?
>> THE POLITICS ARE IMPORTANT.
THEY'RE ALSO UNPREDICTABLE AND
YOU HAVE TO BE PRESENT AND WATCH
THAT CLOSELY.
THERE IS ALSO THE POTENTIAL FOR
THE ISRAELI MILITARY TO GO INTO
THE CITY OF A MILLION PEOPLE
WHERE 300,000 PEOPLE HAVE
ALREADY LEFT.
NO ONE HAS BEEN MORE SUPPORTIVE
OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND TO
THE FRUSTRATION OF MANY
DEMOCRATS THAN JOE BIDEN AND THE
ALTERNATIVE OF NOT USING
LEVERAGE IS THE ISRAELI MILITARY
GOING IN AND ABSOLUTELY LEVELING
RAFAH, KILLING HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT WON'T
DESTROY HAMAS AND ANY
INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL WILL TELL
YOU THAT AND THERE ARE NO PLANS
FOR THE DAY AFTER AND THAT'S NOT
ACTUALLY AN EFFECTIVE, WISE
STRATEGY.
>> THE UNITED STATES IS
WITHHOLDING KEY INTELLIGENCE ON
HAMAS LEADERSHIP IN RAFAH AND ON
THE TUNNELS.
HOW DOES WITHHOLDING THAT
INTELLIGENCE MAKE IT MORE LIKELY
THAT ISRAEL SUCCEEDS IN MEETING
ITS MILITARY OBJECTIVES.
>> AND THAT IS THE DEBATE AND
THE CRUX OF WHAT YOU ARE BOTH
SAYING WHICH IS WHAT YOU ARE
SAYING AND HOW DO YOU WAGE THIS
WAR AND MONICA, IT DOES COME
AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THIS
CAMPAIGN THAT IS RAMPING UP AND
OF COURSE, THE QUESTION IS WHERE
DOES THIS GO ON THE TRAIL?
HOW DO WE SEE IT PLAY OUT ON THE
TRAIL?
YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SOME NEW
REPORTING NOT NECESSARILY AS IT
RELATES IN THE WAR IN THE MIDDLE
EAST AND AS IT RELATES WITH THE
BIDEN CAMPAIGN IS HOW TO
INTENSIFY AND GALVANIZE ITS
SUPPORTERS AGAINST SOME OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND.
>> AND THAT IS THE REMINDER THAT
WE ARE MONTHS AWAY FROM THE
CRITICAL ELECTION AND THE BIDEN
CAMPAIGN IS TRYING TO WAGE THAT
FIGHT WHILE DEALING WITH THIS
VERY SERIOUS CHALLENGE OVERSEAS,
BUT IN TERMS OF THAT
FUND-RAISING.
FOR A LONG TIME, THE DNC HAS HAD
A CASH ADVANTAGE.
THAT'S ABOUT TO LOOK VERY
DIFFERENT FOR REPUBLICANS WITH
FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE
RNC THAT NOW HE HAS CLINCHED THE
NOMINATION AND YOU CAN SEE THE
BIDEN TEAM WITH TRYING TO BOOST
THE FUND-RAISING STAR POWER AND
THEY'LL DO A FUNDRAISER WITH
GEORGE CLOONEY, JULIA ROBERTS
AND FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA IN
MID-JUNE IN LOS ANGELES AND
THERE WILL ALSO BE A FUNDRAISER
WITH FORMER PRESIDENT BILL
CLINTON AND FORMER SECRETARY OF
STATE HILLARY CLINT EARLIER THIS
SUMMER.
THEY SEE A DIRECT LINE FROM HUGE
HALLS FROM EVENTS LIKE THAT TO
BEING ABLE TO BUILD
INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPEN OFFICES
AND HIRE KEY STAFF IN THOSE
CRITICAL BATTLEGROUND STATES
WHERE YES, SOME OF THOSE YOUNG
VOTERS WHO ARE SO DIS, LUGSZILLU
WITH THE CRITICAL HANDLING OF
THE WAR AND THEY'LL GO ALL IN ON
THAT.
>> STEPHEN, THE BACKDROP TO THE
BIDEN CAMPAIGN KIND OF RELYING
ON THIS CELEBRITY POWER IS WE
ARE SEEING DONALD TRUMP IN COURT
DAY AFTER DAY.
THIS WEEK, MICHAEL COHEN TAKES
THE STAND THIS PAST WEEK, STORMY
DANIEL, THE ADULT FILM STAR AT
THE CENTER OF THE HUSH MONEY
TRIAL WAS ON THE STAND.
HE WAS IN NEW JERSEY OVERNIGHT
CAMPAIGNING, TAKING AIM AT THESE
LEGAL BATTLES AND HOW DO YOU SEE
THIS PLAYING OUT MOVING FORWARD?
DO YOU THINK THESE LEGAL BATTLES
WILL ALIENATE SOME OF THOSE
CRITICAL INDEPENDENT WOMEN,
MODERATE VOTERS THAT HE NEEDS TO
WIN?
>> YEAH.
I THINK THEY LIKELY WILL.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPEECH HE
GAVE IN WILDWOOD NEW JERSEY HE
WAS GIVING A PEACH TO HIS BASE
AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT IS
WHAT HE WAS DOING.
THIS IS JOE BIDEN, AND THIS IS
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND
KEEPING ME FROM CAMPAIGNING AND
THAT IS A MESSAGE THAT NOT ONLY
IS RECEPTIVE TO IN RALLIES A
TRIAL THAT INVOLVED HUSH MONEY
PAYMENTS TO A PORN STAR THAT HE
WAS CHEATING WITH ON HIS WIFE
AND THAT IS NOT THE NEWS THAT
YOU WANT TO APPEAL TO THE
VOTERS.
>> THE VOTERS ARE THE NIKKI
HALEY VOTERS.
COULD SHE POTENTIALLY BE TRUMP'S
RUNNINGMATE.
HE SAYS NO, HE'S NOT CONSIDERING
HER AND THOSE ARE THE VOTERS
THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
>> IT WILL BE A CLOSE RACE
AROUND SIX STATES.
TO MONICA'S POINT, THE BIDEN
TEAM FEELS THEY CAN ALREADY DO
THE
THE ORGANIZATIONAL STUFF THAT
THE TRUMP TEAM IS BEHIND ON.
JUST TO ADD TO IT, AS STEPHEN
POINTED OUT.
THERE HAVE BEEN POLLS THAT
SUGGEST THAT IF TRUMP IS
CONVICTED IT COULD MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
I GUESS WE'LL SEE IN TERMS OF
HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE IT.
YOU HAVE A WOMAN ON THE STAND,
AND SHE TALKED ABOUT BLACKING
OUT WHEN THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES WAS HAVING SEX
WITH HER.
THIS IS THE MAN WHO SAID WOMEN
SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN CHOICES.
THOSE ARE UNDERESTIMATING THE
MOVEMENT OF WOMEN, WE'LL SEE AND
THE CHARACTER ASPECTS OF THIS
TRIAL AND THAT IS INTERESTING TO
ME TO SEE HOW THAT IMPACTS.
>> THE POLLS ARE JUST GETTING
TIGHTER, YOU GUYS.
FANTASTIC CONVERSATION, A PREESH
IT AND MANY MOTHER'S DAY.
>> HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
WATCHING AND HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
TO YOU ALL OUT THERE AND WE'LL
BE BACK NEXT WEEK BECAUSE IF
IT'S SUNDAY, IT'S "MEET THE
PRESS."
♪ ♪
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