Meet the Press NOW — August 14
Digest
The episode begins with a discussion of the 2024 presidential election, focusing on Donald Trump's campaign events and Vice President Kamala Harris's strategy. Trump's campaign is criticized for its lack of focus and personal attacks on Harris, while Harris is praised for her focus on the economy and her avoidance of press conferences. The episode then moves on to discuss the latest inflation report, which shows prices cooling to their lowest level in more than three years. This puts pressure on the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates. The episode also provides an update on Hurricane Ernesto, a category one storm churning north of Puerto Rico towards Bermuda. The storm is causing heavy rain, flooding, and power outages in Puerto Rico. The episode then covers the ongoing war in Ukraine, with a focus on Ukrainian troops' incursion into the Kursk region of Russia. The Ukrainians have launched a large drone attack on Russian air bases and are aiming to create a buffer zone on the Russian side of the border. The episode also discusses the upcoming ballot measure in Missouri that would protect abortion access through fetal viability. The measure has been certified and will be voted on in November. The episode concludes with an update on the Boeing Starliner mission, which has left two American astronauts stranded on the International Space Station. NASA is expected to decide by the end of next week how to bring the astronauts back to Earth.
Outlines
News Roundup: Trump, Inflation, Hurricane Ernesto, Ukraine, and Starliner
This episode covers a range of current events, including the 2024 election, inflation, Hurricane Ernesto, the war in Ukraine, and the Boeing Starliner mission.
2024 Election: Trump and Harris Campaigns
The episode focuses on the 2024 presidential election, with coverage of Donald Trump's campaign events and Vice President Kamala Harris's strategy. Trump's campaign is criticized for its lack of focus and personal attacks on Harris, while Harris is praised for her focus on the economy and her avoidance of press conferences.
Inflation Cooling and Federal Reserve
The episode discusses the latest inflation report, which shows prices cooling to their lowest level in more than three years. This puts pressure on the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates.
Hurricane Ernesto and its Impact
The episode provides an update on Hurricane Ernesto, a category one storm churning north of Puerto Rico towards Bermuda. The storm is causing heavy rain, flooding, and power outages in Puerto Rico.
Ukraine's Incursion into Russia
The episode covers the ongoing war in Ukraine, with a focus on Ukrainian troops' incursion into the Kursk region of Russia. The Ukrainians have launched a large drone attack on Russian air bases and are aiming to create a buffer zone on the Russian side of the border.
Abortion Access on the Ballot in Missouri
The episode discusses the upcoming ballot measure in Missouri that would protect abortion access through fetal viability. The measure has been certified and will be voted on in November.
NASA's Decision on Starliner Mission
The episode provides an update on the Boeing Starliner mission, which has left two American astronauts stranded on the International Space Station. NASA is expected to decide by the end of next week how to bring the astronauts back to Earth.
Keywords
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Kamala Harris
Kamala Devi Harris is an American politician serving as the 49th and current vice president of the United States. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
2024 Presidential Election
The 2024 United States presidential election will be the 59th quadrennial presidential election, to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The incumbent president, Joe Biden, is eligible to run for a second term.
Inflation
Inflation is a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money. It is a broad measure, affecting the cost of living, the price of goods and services, and the value of wages.
Federal Reserve
The Federal Reserve, also known as the Fed, is the central bank of the United States. It is responsible for setting monetary policy, regulating banks, and providing financial services to the government.
Hurricane Ernesto
Hurricane Ernesto is a tropical cyclone that formed in the Atlantic Ocean in 2023. It made landfall in Puerto Rico as a category one hurricane, causing significant damage.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west, and Romania and Moldova to the south.
Kursk
Kursk is a city in western Russia, located on the Seim River. It is the administrative center of Kursk Oblast.
International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is a habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. It is a joint project of five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).
Boeing Starliner
The Boeing Starliner is a spacecraft developed by Boeing for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. It is designed to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Q&A
What are the main criticisms of Donald Trump's campaign strategy?
Trump's campaign has been criticized for its lack of focus, its personal attacks on Vice President Harris, and its tendency to go off script.
What is Vice President Kamala Harris's strategy for the 2024 election?
Harris is focusing on the economy and avoiding press conferences. She is also emphasizing her connection to the middle class and her commitment to reproductive rights.
What is the significance of the latest inflation report?
The report shows that inflation is cooling, which puts pressure on the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates. This could have a positive impact on the economy.
What is the latest on Hurricane Ernesto?
Hurricane Ernesto is a category one storm that is causing heavy rain, flooding, and power outages in Puerto Rico. It is expected to intensify as it moves northwest.
What is the status of Ukraine's incursion into Russia?
Ukrainian troops have made significant progress in the Kursk region of Russia, launching a large drone attack on Russian air bases. They are aiming to create a buffer zone on the Russian side of the border.
What is the situation with the Boeing Starliner mission?
The Starliner spacecraft has experienced technical problems, leaving two American astronauts stranded on the International Space Station. NASA is expected to decide by the end of next week how to bring the astronauts back to Earth.
Show Notes
As former President Donald Trump campaigns in the battleground state of North Carolina, NBC News Chief Political Analyst Chuck Todd joins Meet the Press Now to discuss recent polls that show momentum for Vice President Kamala Harris. Democratic State Rep. Crystal Quade, a candidate for governor in Missouri, highlights a ballot initiative to enshrine abortion rights in Missouri. Former commander of the International Space Station Chris Hadfield explains the latest developments on when and how NASA will bring home two astronauts who have been stuck in space for more than two months.