Meet the Press NOW — September 23
Digest
The episode opens with a discussion of the latest NBC News poll, showing Vice President Harris leading former President Trump by 5 points among registered voters. This marks the first time a Democratic candidate has led in the poll in over a year. The poll also reveals that Harris is favored by voters on issues like protecting immigrant rights and handling abortion, while Trump leads on securing the border, the economy, and inflation. Nebraska Republicans are making another push to change the way the state allocates its electoral votes, moving from a district-based system to a winner-take-all system. This change would benefit Trump by eliminating Harris's chance of winning a single electoral vote from Nebraska's second district, which voted for Biden in 2020. However, the change is unlikely to pass before the election due to opposition from some Republican lawmakers. Federal prosecutors released new evidence in the second assassination attempt on former President Trump, including a chilling letter allegedly written by the suspect, Ryan Ruth, stating "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you." The evidence suggests Ruth spent a month scoping out locations where Trump could be, and the suspect is being held without bail. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates significantly, with Israel launching extensive airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, resulting in the deadliest day of Israeli strikes since the 2006 war. Hezbollah retaliates with rocket fire into Israel, prompting Israel to declare a special state of emergency. The situation is causing widespread fear and displacement among Lebanese civilians. World leaders gather at the UN General Assembly in New York, with multiple ongoing wars around the world dominating the agenda. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair discusses the challenges of resolving these conflicts, highlighting the need for diplomatic solutions and a shift away from the politicization of religion in the Middle East. He also shares a personal conversation with Putin about Ukraine, revealing Putin's belief that Ukraine should be part of Russia. The panel discusses the latest NBC News poll, highlighting Harris's favorability surge and the changing dynamics of the race. They analyze the importance of Pennsylvania as a key battleground state and the potential impact of the scandal surrounding North Carolina's gubernatorial candidate, Mark Robinson, on Trump's campaign.
Outlines
The 2024 Election: Harris Gains Momentum, Trump Holds Edge on Key Issues
The episode opens with a discussion of the latest NBC News poll, showing Vice President Harris leading former President Trump by 5 points among registered voters. This marks the first time a Democratic candidate has led in the poll in over a year. The poll also reveals that Harris is favored by voters on issues like protecting immigrant rights and handling abortion, while Trump leads on securing the border, the economy, and inflation.
Nebraska Republicans Push to Change Electoral Vote Allocation
Nebraska Republicans are making another push to change the way the state allocates its electoral votes, moving from a district-based system to a winner-take-all system. This change would benefit Trump by eliminating Harris's chance of winning a single electoral vote from Nebraska's second district, which voted for Biden in 2020. However, the change is unlikely to pass before the election due to opposition from some Republican lawmakers.
New Evidence Released in Second Assassination Attempt on Trump
Federal prosecutors released new evidence in the second assassination attempt on former President Trump, including a chilling letter allegedly written by the suspect, Ryan Ruth, stating "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you." The evidence suggests Ruth spent a month scoping out locations where Trump could be, and the suspect is being held without bail.
Israel-Hezbollah Conflict Escalates, Leading to Deadly Attacks
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates significantly, with Israel launching extensive airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, resulting in the deadliest day of Israeli strikes since the 2006 war. Hezbollah retaliates with rocket fire into Israel, prompting Israel to declare a special state of emergency. The situation is causing widespread fear and displacement among Lebanese civilians.
World Leaders Gather at UN General Assembly Amidst Global Conflicts
World leaders gather at the UN General Assembly in New York, with multiple ongoing wars around the world dominating the agenda. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair discusses the challenges of resolving these conflicts, highlighting the need for diplomatic solutions and a shift away from the politicization of religion in the Middle East. He also shares a personal conversation with Putin about Ukraine, revealing Putin's belief that Ukraine should be part of Russia.
Panel Discussion: Harris's Favorability Surge, Pennsylvania's Importance, and North Carolina's Gubernatorial Scandal
The panel discusses the latest NBC News poll, highlighting Harris's favorability surge and the changing dynamics of the race. They analyze the importance of Pennsylvania as a key battleground state and the potential impact of the scandal surrounding North Carolina's gubernatorial candidate, Mark Robinson, on Trump's campaign.
Keywords
Electoral Vote Allocation
The process by which a state's electoral votes are distributed among presidential candidates. In some states, votes are allocated by congressional district, while in others, the winner of the statewide popular vote takes all electoral votes.
Assassination Attempt
An act of violence intended to kill a person, typically a high-profile individual like a politician or public figure. Assassination attempts can be carried out by individuals or groups, and often involve planning and preparation.
UN General Assembly
An annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. The General Assembly provides a platform for discussion and debate on global issues, including conflict resolution, human rights, and sustainable development.
Gubernatorial Candidate
A person running for the office of governor in a state. Gubernatorial candidates typically campaign on issues related to state government, such as education, healthcare, and economic development.
2024 Election
The upcoming presidential election in the United States, scheduled for November 5, 2024.
Vice President Harris
Kamala Harris, the current Vice President of the United States, is a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2024 presidential election.
Former President Trump
Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, is a potential candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election.
Nebraska
A state in the Midwestern United States, known for its agricultural production and its potential to influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
Israel-Hezbollah Conflict
An ongoing conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah, marked by periods of escalation and violence.
Q&A
What are the key issues that could decide the 2024 election?
The top issues for voters in the 2024 election are the cost of living, threats to democracy, the situation at the border, the economy, and abortion.
What are the odds that Nebraska will change its electoral vote allocation system before the election?
The odds are very unlikely, as Republicans lack the necessary support in the state legislature.
What is the latest evidence released in the second assassination attempt on Trump?
The evidence includes a chilling letter allegedly written by the suspect, Ryan Ruth, stating "This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, but I failed you." It also includes photos of the rifle recovered from the golf club and the obliterated serial number on the rifle.
How does the latest escalation between Israel and Hezbollah compare to previous cross-border attacks?
The current escalation is the most deadly since the 2006 war, with nearly 500 people killed in airstrikes just today. The scope and scale of the bombardments by the Israelis have picked up dramatically in the past couple of days.
What are the key challenges facing world leaders as they gather at the UN General Assembly?
World leaders are facing multiple ongoing wars around the world, including the conflict in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, and other regional conflicts. They are seeking diplomatic solutions to these conflicts and working to address the broader challenges of global security and stability.
How could the scandal surrounding North Carolina's gubernatorial candidate, Mark Robinson, impact Trump's campaign?
The scandal could potentially hurt Trump's campaign in North Carolina, as it could discourage Republican voters from turning out to vote. The Democrats are energized in the state and are likely to turn out in large numbers.
Show Notes
Steve Kornacki digs into the latest NBC News Poll, which shows an "off the charts" gender gap between Vice President Harris and former President Trump. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) encourages the Trump campaign to try to win the Omaha congressional district after an attempt to change the way the way the state counts its electoral votes appears to stall. NBC News' Richard Lui sits down with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Table of contents
United States
