Meet the Press NOW — November 4

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1:14The American people have rebuked the depravity, corruption, and incompetence of the failed lame duck president, Donald J. Trump. We just took back Texas. Elon Musk does not decide our elections. Iowans do, and we proved it tonight. I owe no one in Washington anything. I owe South Carolina everything. thing.

1:48Welcome to a special post-election day edition of Meet the Press Now. I'm Kristen Welker in New York. After the stunning blue tsunami that crashed over American politics last night, Democrats taking control of both chambers of Congress and voters sending a clear and resounding rebuke of the president and his party. At this hour, Democrats have flipped seven Senate seats effectively sweeping the battlegrounds and winning in deep red territory. In some cases in states, the president won by nearly 20 points. And the Democrat Senate majority could get even bigger. There are two uncalled races in Alaska.

2:26That race is still too early to call with Mary Peltola in a tight race with Senator Dan Sullivan and Mississippi. One of the reddest states in America is too close to call with Democrat Scott Cologne holding a very narrow lead. In the House, NBC News projects Democrats will have a once unthinkably large majority with nearly 260 seats, the most since President Obama's historic election in 2008. Democrats also won governor's races in Republican strongholds, including Texas, Ohio, Iowa and Georgia. The party now facing major questions about how it will wield power and how it will govern. Today, Democratic leaders in Washington vowing action.

3:10We have five words to the American people. Relief is on the way. This, again, is a generational remake of the Senate map that has huge consequences for history. The first thing we're going to do is reduce people's costs and work the legislative process so it does. We are going to work hard to drive costs down with the president or without him, period. It wasn't simply a blue wave. It was an American tsunami. House Democrats have decisively taken back control of the Congress. The American people have chosen House Democrats because they want to see a dramatic change in direction. And that's exactly what House Democrats will deliver beginning on day one.

4:11We've promised to fight for an affordable America. And that's exactly what we will do. Republicans, meanwhile, are facing a once in a generation reckoning about the future of their party. with President Trump in multiple interviews last night, offering a rare conciliatory approach to the resounding results. Well, we're going to work with the Democrats to make sure things go well for our country. Very important. They've already called and they want to work with me, have the right to veto everything. But I don't want to be just sitting there for two years vetoing everything. This afternoon, the president gathered reporters at the White House ballroom construction site where he spoke at length about the project.

4:51When pressed by reporters about the election results, he defended his campaign strategy and distanced himself from the losses, despite repeatedly telling voters to pretend he was on the ballot. If I were on the ballot, we would have won. You saw the people that were packed, thousands and thousands of people at every rally. And if I was on the ballot, we would have won. But they just you couldn't transfer that love. There was such love at those rallies. It was incredible. We weren't able to transfer the love to candidates. Vice President J.D. Vance in a lengthy social media post today distancing himself from the president's agenda, saying, quote, the reason we lost is the war.

5:30The president himself said so last night. The president today downplaying the divide with his vice president. Vice President Vance says the reason Republicans lost the war, lost last night, was the war in Iran. Well, I think it's largely true because it drove the gasoline up a little bit short term. And probably that's probably it's true. But at the same time, if I had it to do again, I'd have to do it again. Well, I knew he was I know how he feels about it. I think it was I think it was fine. Yeah, I thought it was good. We knew that. I know that. I knew that when I went in and we stopped them from having a nuclear weapon and they will never have a nuclear weapon.

6:11Joining me now is NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Garrett Hake, an NBC News correspondent covering the White House and Capitol Hill. Julie Serkin, two people who have had very little sleep, have been working their sources all night long. Garrett, let me start with you. Look, we did see the president today speaking at the White House construction site there. What were your biggest takeaways, Garrett, from how he's reacting so far to last night's extraordinary events? Yeah, my biggest takeaway is just looking at those visuals, the idea that it's almost like last night didn't happen, Kristen.

6:45I mean, the idea that we would first see the president reacting to these midterm beatdown for Republicans at the ballroom, which is sort of a symbol for everything that voters have been telling us in this election that they don't like about the way the president has handled the issues that are important to them, is just sort of a striking visual and way to think about how the White House is responding to this. there. The president's going to go on about his business. He's going to respond to questions. But he seemed almost entirely nonplussed by the fact that he has lost so many of his allies here in Washington.

7:17Yeah, just so extraordinary, Garrett, to hear him say over and over again that if he had actually been on the ballot, he doesn't think they would have suffered these losses, despite the fact that he said, pretend I'm on the ballot. Let me ask you, Garrett, because, look, we know that there's a lot of speculation, a lot of debate within the Democratic Party about potential investigations into the Trump administration. How's the president preparing for Housey bracing for that? Yeah. And by the way, the on the ballot thing is kind of ridiculous. If I were on the ballot, I might have won a governorship in Texas, but I didn't.

7:46So I didn't. You know, it's kind of an impossible thing to compare. But look, the White House is preparing for this. They've understood that this possibility was coming for a long time. We have some reporting that there is an effort to beef up the White House counsel's office. For example, staffers are well aware of the possibility that they could be investigated. The president has even openly speculated about the possibility of mass pardons. He has joked, or perhaps it's not a joke, that anybody who came within some number of feet from the Oval Office could receive a pardon. They are well aware of this possibility.

8:18And I think the other thing that folks around the president are hanging their hat on is that at the end of the day, the Department of Justice is still controlled by Republicans, meaning that even if a Democratic congressional committee sends them a subpoena. It's the Republican DOJ that would have to enforce it. And the suggestion from some Trump allies is that that DOJ wouldn't do so, which I think could be a major constitutional question we might see answered nearly next year. That's something we're going to be tracking very closely. Garrett, I have to talk to you about this really remarkable post from the vice president blaming the Iran war for the election losses.

8:51He's always tried to put a little bit of distance between himself and the Iran war in various ways, even while being the front person in talking about the Iran war. Do you think, based on your conversations, Garrett, that the president might rethink his strategy or could he potentially ramp up in Iran? Yeah, I think any outcome is still possible in Iran. I think it was hard to pin down what exactly the president's strategy was 24 hours ago, and it's hard to pin it down now, at least with J.D. Vance, someone who, as we know from our reporting, privately been very critical of the decision to go to war and is long pressed for a negotiated solution, is kind of laying his cards on the table post-election, that in fact, this is his position, that he thinks the Iran war was politically damaging to Republicans.

9:34And if he's making that case publicly now, you can assume he's still making it privately. But the president, by all accounts, still does remain conflicted, as he has for months, about whether to escalate or to try to find an off-ramp. And I don't think anything about last night's results adds any real clarity just yet into what he might do. Yeah, I think that's absolutely right. All right, Garrett Haake, thank you for starting us off on this Wednesday post-election day. Julie Serkin is here with me. Julie, great to have you here. Great work covering everything. I know you've been talking to your sources.

10:06The Democrats now handed an immense amount of power. What are they going to do with it? That's a great question. They have a mandate, but I don't think they figured out what to do with it because, Kristen, as you know, we thought that perhaps Democrats could edge this out. But by this margin. Democrats didn't even think that they could have this kind of margin. I mean, it is unthinkable. It is a generational change. One Republican put it to me is the worst night they've had in a century. I mean, that is how just crazy it is to think about the majority and the power that Democrats have here. What they do with it is going to be the open question, because a lot of people are saying, and I know you're talking to them, too.

10:41This was less perhaps an endorsement of Democrats, because in our polling, they're still quite unpopular. They have to define themselves after their 2024 losses and more of a rebuke against President Trump. So when Democrats now are thinking, do we impeach? We saw a bunch of posts. I mean, Senator Ed Markey said, essentially, you'll have to take down the whole forest with the amount of subpoenas that we're sending. Is that really the strategy when Trump is not going to be on the ballot in 2028? People that I'm talking to really hope that Democrats use this opportunity to address the issues like cost of living that Americans sent them to Congress to essentially do.

11:16Yeah, there are so many Democrats who are concerned that an overreach could really backfire. Of course, you reported today that House Speaker Mike Johnson is not going to seek a leadership position, given the fact that Republicans are no longer in the majority. Now, a race seems to be taking shape between Jim Jordan, potentially Steve Scalise. What are you watching for there? Yeah, like two hours after I got off the set here already, my phone was blowing up because that's how quickly it took Speaker Johnson to call his staff up and say, yeah, I'm not going to go for a minority leader. And we expected this.

11:49I was hearing from Republican lawmakers and sources two weeks ago saying that if Republicans are going to be in the minority, I mean, they didn't expect to be in the minority with this much of a margin. I think Speaker Johnson's probably a little bit jealous given the three or so he's been working with. But he is out of the race. It's hard to imagine him, though, going back to being a rank and file member. I wonder what he does. He indicated on the call that was a key word that he would stay. But I'm curious. However, we already have Republicans who are eager to replace him. That is Jim Jordan of Ohio, the judiciary chairman.

12:21He's long been eyeing this spot. And Steve Scalise, who was part of Mike Johnson's leadership team, serving as his leader beneath the speaker, working with him. there's going to be a fight between the two trying to define what the Republican minority looks like. Hard to imagine all the work they have ahead of them, though, with this majority and Democrats are just picking up seats as we go into this count. And minority leader soon to be what we'll see if he gets the speakership has officially announced that he is running for the gavel. Hakeem Jeffries. How do you see that unfolding, Julie? I think Hakeem Jeffries is going to have an easier time than a leader Schumer.

12:59And I say that because this is a historic moment for Jeffries. You know, he's the first black speaker poised to become one. He's younger. I mean, he has had the wind at his sails. I worry, though, what happens on the other side of the chamber when you hear Leader Schumer talk about this generational change. He said it over and over again. Does he realize that he potentially could be part of the change that voters are looking for? I had conversations, Kristen, with Senate Democrats before this election back in September, And a number of them told me, look, we have to look at who even raises their hand to run potentially challenging Leader Schumer.

13:34But certainly a lot of the candidates, including El Sayed, who is going to be a senator, they said we're not voting for Leader Schumer in that secret ballot they're going to take. Well, it's going to be fascinating to watch it all unfold. And you're going to be on the front lines there for all of it. Thank you, Julie Serkin. Fantastic work to you. Really appreciate it. Thank you. And as we mentioned, there was a seismic shift in Texas last night with Democrats winning the statewide races for Senate governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and even the railroad commissioner. Joining me now is Ryan Chandler in Texas.

14:07Ryan, boy, what an historic day there in Texas. What's the mood like? Well, it is a mix of shock and disbelief across the political spectrum. understand, Kristen, the idea that Democrats would control the entirety of the executive branch, half of the legislative branch, and push the 9-0 Republican Texas Supreme Court to 5-4 was silly, this time 24 hours ago. That was not serious political analysis. You would have been called a blindly faithful Democrat if you suggested that was even a possibility. But now the dog has caught the car. Democrats have recovered an embarrassing Republican fumble, but they have 95 yards to drive down the field and they have to convert.

14:52Don't make Republican voters who place their trust in you regret that vote. So what do they do now? Here's a little bit of James Tallarico about how he will enter that battlefield in the Senate. Last night, the people of Texas sent a crystal clear message that they want change and they expect change. This is not about the Democratic Party. It's not about the Republican Party. This race was a lot bigger than that. It was about chasing a vision of what our state can be. I was speaking with a Democratic lawmaker who represents a moderate area of the valley, yes, of the border rather yesterday, and he said that the priorities have to be bipartisanship, moderation, don't delve into cultural issues.

15:36Take it slow as you grow into this power. Well, really just fascinating to hear from Tallarico on the heels of his historic win there. We know that a part of his win, Ryan, was the Latino vote. It was a major, important constituency that helped President Trump win the presidency in 2024. They rejected Republicans last night. What are your takeaways there, Ryan? What are you hearing? some of the most interesting insights i heard there came from from that same lawmaker he represents eagle pass was which was the epicenter of the border crisis under president biden but now all of the gains that president trump made along the border seem to have been mostly wiped out and and the the way this lawmaker described it is um there was a sense that immigration enforcement through ICE affected people's pocketbooks.

16:32The border area is very multicultural and binational, right? People cross international bridges every day. It is part of the economy. And Democrats did a very good job of connecting immigration enforcement to economic concerns and saying that this is affecting your pocketbooks. So it plays into the wider concerns that voters had. So it wasn't just cultural or social issues on their mind. The whole thesis of the Tallarico campaign was that corruption and all of these policies from the Trump administration are costly. And it played into the number one concern on voters' minds, which is the economy.

17:11He hit the right message at the right time. All right. Well, Ryan, you have been down there covering this extraordinary election. Thank you so much for your reporting. We really appreciate it. History was also made in Kansas, where voters sent a Democrat to the Senate for the first time in nearly a century. NBC's Liz Kreutz joins me now from Wichita, Kansas. So, Liz, walk us through the historic night. We keep using that term historic, but that's what it is. How did this all come together? How did Adam Hamilton win? Hey, Kristen, it's absolutely historic. When you look at the numbers, neither of us have ever been alive in our lifetimes when a Democrat's been elected to the Senate from Kansas.

17:54The prohibition was underway here in the U.S. when the last time a Democrat was elected from Kansas. Wizard of Oz hadn't even come out yet. So it has been a very, very long time. And Democrats were hopeful they'd be able to pull it off, but they were really cautiously optimistic. I don't think they expected to win by this big a margin. And Adam Hamilton is this megachurch pastor, as you know, who has really made his message about being a centrist, a moderate who's going to bring decency back to Washington. And we would talk to voters and that was something they'd bring up. Of course, we would hear about affordability, the economy, those frustrations.

18:29But they really liked this idea that they wanted to bring goodness and heart back to Washington. They maybe were sick of some of the crass language, the name calling here. I'll tell you, we're at Wichita State right now, Kristen, and we just talked to a group of young students, 20 year olds that said they voted their Democrats. They said this is the first time in their lifetime, the real adult lifetime that they can remember feeling hopeful about the future. And they said we did it is how they put it. They really feel like they were part of a movement to turn this state blue. Kristen, it's fascinating to hear from those younger voters.

19:03We're also, of course, still tracking the governor's race in Kansas, which is still too close to call. Talk a little bit about that race and what you're watching for there. Yeah, Kristen, so the Democrat right now, Cindy Holscher, is ahead, but just by like 5 ,500 votes, it is extremely tight. She has declared victory. We have not called that yet. Ty Masterson, the Republican candidate, he put a statement out saying this first count does not seem to be going our way. But the margin is narrow enough that Kansas law calls for another look. It's unclear if he's calling for a recount here or an audit.

19:39It is very close. If the Democrat pulls this off, Kristen, that will also be historic. While Democrats have not won in federal races, Kansas has elected Democrats for governor in the past. But this will be the first time in decades that a Democrat will win in three consecutive terms. So we'll be watching this closely, Kristen. All right. I know you will be, Liz. Fantastic job. Thank you. Coming up. Was it a progressive mandate for Democrats last night? New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani joins me next after urging the left to put its foot on the gas after the midterms. We'll talk to him about what last night's results mean.

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20:52Stay informed with the NBC News app. major developments out of the White House. Read, watch, and listen throughout your day. And now, unlock even more with an NBC News subscription. Get deeper reporting and exclusive articles. Plus, more insight, analysis, and content only for subscribers. When you really look inside these numbers, it's more context and clarity from the reporters you trust. Download the NBC News app now and subscribe for more. Hey guys, Willie Geist here, reminding you to check out the Sunday Sit-Down Podcast. On this week's episode, I get together with the boys of Smartless, Will Arnett, Sean Hayes, and Jason Bateman for a rollicking, frankly unhinged conversation about the surprise success of that Smartless Podcast and the long friendship that's made it possible.

21:43You can get our conversation now for free wherever you download your podcasts. Welcome back on this day after an historic election for Democrats flipping seven Senate seats and regaining control of Congress. Votes still being tallied in two other states, Mississippi and Alaska, where NBC News characterizes the race as too early to call, with Democrat Mary Peltola looking to oust Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. NBC News correspondent Steve Patterson is in Anchorage, Alaska. Steve, you have been all over this race. Alaska remains one of the two Senate races that we haven't called yet. What's the very latest on the vote count there?

22:26What's the state of play? You know, unlike other races that I think we're looking at across the lower 48 that we thought were going to be close, but were kind of easy to call, this race is exactly what it was built to be at this point. Razor thin margins, still too close to call, still returns coming in from all over the state. The state, by the way, the size of a small country with precincts all over in inaccessible areas. Very difficult to count and tabulate those votes. And then, of course, you factor in the rank choice. There's still a long way to go before I think we know a victor in this one.

22:59Yeah. Give me a sense. I mean, could it be a couple of weeks, Steve, to your point about rank choice voting? Is that going to delay it, you think, a couple of weeks? Oh, 100 percent, it will. And so you have to look at the threshold, right? So if a candidate it doesn't reach that 50 percent threshold, which would put him over or over what is needed to essentially win the race. It then essentially goes into this ranked choice runoff, which is a retabulation, a recalculation of the votes. And one in which we're told would take 15 days from the election. That happens nearly automatically. So it's sort of baked into the system that this is going to take a while if it's close.

23:38And by all accounts, looking at the returns that we have so far it's going to be close. This could take again could take some time. And let's just remind our viewers there was this big controversy hovering over this race because there are two Dan Sullivans on the ballot. The New York Times exposing the fact that the Peltola campaign Democratic operatives were in fact involved in getting that second Dan Sullivan on the ballot, something that she denies any awareness of. What are Alaskan voters saying now that they have cast their ballots? Is there a sense of relief that Alaska is not going to determine control of the Senate, Steve?

24:21I don't think that itch is going to get scratched until we have a candidate that wins for Senate. I don't think it is predicated upon this controversy, which, by the way, Alaska voters have known about since before the August primary. They've been seeing Dan J. Sullivan on their ballots for quite some time. They're not as affected and impacted as the rest of the lower 48 when that New York Times story came out. They've had time to process this. They've had time to fight this in the courts. The voters have had time to make sure they knew what issues they were going to vote for and in doing so, which candidate they were going to vote for.

24:56So we've spoken to voters all across the state now. I mean, we must be past the two dozen or so threshold of voters asking, is this going to impact your vote? Are you confused about the ballot, every single one of them, no lie, Kristen, has been no. We know exactly how we're going to vote. We are not confused. We're well educated on the issues. And I think that continues. And I think it's going to only end this sort of sense of, you know, not knowing what comes next and what the future of Alaska is until they have a candidate that wins on that ballot. Kristen. All right. Well, Steve Patterson, appreciate all your great reporting from Alaska.

25:30We know you continue to cover every single twist and turn. Thank you. Coming up next, one of the winners in last night's blue tsunami on his party's plans for power. After flipping a district, President Trump won by double digits. Keep it right here on Meet the Press Now.

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26:55we have not had democratic representation or representative in this district for over three decades

27:13welcome back that was democrat jd ford last night after he won his election in Indiana's fifth district, defeating incumbent Congresswoman Victoria Sparks. It's a district President Trump won by 16 points in 2024. It's one of a number of double-digit districts Democrats were able to flip from red to blue in this election. And joining me now is Congressman-elect J.D. Ford. Congratulations to you, Congressman-elect. Thank you so much. Thanks Thanks for having me. Well, thank you so much for being here. As I just mentioned, this was a district that went for double digits for President Trump. How do you see your mandate?

27:56Well, just watching the footage from last night, I'm just hashing that. And I'm just so honored that the people of the 5th District are trusting me to go to Washington, D.C., to be their voice. And Chris and I was out, you know, long lines in Indiana yesterday. You know, folks were frustrated. They're tired of what they're currently seeing. And so but I want all Hoosiers of the 5th District to know that I will be a congressman for everybody. When people call my office, I'm not going to ask your partisan label. I'm just going to ask how to help. And I think that's the message that is really resonating with people in the 5th.

28:32Well, so let me follow up with you on that point, because exit polls show that 53 percent of voters still hold an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party. What do you take from that? What message does that send to Democrats about how voters want you to behave when you get to Washington? Absolutely. I think the last time that we took seats like this was 2018. And I don't know necessarily if we delivered on our promises from the campaign trail. And so I think for me, what I'm going to be laser focused on is delivering for the American people. I heard over and over again about the rising cost of groceries and utilities and gas over and over again about the rising cost of health care and the cost of corruption.

29:18I mean, the corruption and the grift that people have seen right before their very eyes. We have got to do something about this. We have got to deliver for the American people. And I think that's what we're going to continue to do when I get there. Let me ask you, because Congressman Robert Garcia is poised to lead the House Oversight Committee. You're probably aware at this point posted online last night, quote, lawyer up. He told reporters today he's planning investigations into the Trump family. Is that an approach you support? Do you think that's what voters want? Well, look, I think we have to do the investigations.

29:52We have got to get to the bottom of the corruption and the grift that we're seeing that we've got to do something about that. And so so but, yes, I also think that we can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time so we can do these investigations. We can get to the bottom. We can clean up the corruption. But also we have to deliver on the affordability, have to deliver on health care, have to deliver on the things that people are, you know, have shared with me on the past couple of months on the campaign trail. So and again, that's groceries, that's utilities, you know, that's gas in the gas tanks.

30:26That's what we've got to deliver. Well, a recent NBC News poll found that more than half of Americans, including 83 percent who identify as Democrat, think Democrats should begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump. Do you support impeaching President Trump for a third time? Well, look, what I will say is that this is going to be one of the most important responsibilities, a constitutional responsibilities that I'm going to take very serious. And so I'm going to make sure that I listen to all the arguments and read all the findings and I'm going to act like a juror in a proceeding.

31:04And so I'm also going to listen to the people of the 5th Congressional District. I think a lot of times, you know, people just go to Congress to do what they want to do. And I'm fully going to Congress to make sure that I'm bringing the people of the 5th Congressional District with me. So I'm going to make sure they listen to what they have to say as well. So, Congressman-elect Ford, it sounds like you are saying you do support impeachment proceedings. Yeah, I mean, I think what I'm going to listen to the people of the 5th Congressional District. I know I have my own personal feelings on this, but I want to make sure that we are incorporating the voices of the 5th District into this process.

31:41It's a responsibility, a constitutional responsibility that I'm going to take very serious. And I don't want to, you know, get ahead of myself, but I also want to make sure that the people know that I'm going to be very serious on this approach. Well, Hakeem Jeffries has formally now announced his candidacy to be House Speaker. Will you be voting for him? Well, look, I am excited for his should he be successful as a speaker, his historic speakership. But but look, I have a responsibility to the people of the 5th Congressional District. I work for them. So I'm going to be asking, you know, Hakeem Jeffries what he can help me do for the people of the 5th Congressional District.

32:21And should he give me a satisfactory answer, then sure, he'll get my vote. OK. As you know, a number of progressive Democrats were elected to Congress yesterday. They campaigned on things like abolishing ICE, among other things. How do you think you can govern in a moderate district alongside progressives? How are you all going to work together? Sure. Look, I think that, you know, we are a big tent party and I think that we should not be dismissing voices. So I believe in inclusion and I want to listen to my colleagues from no matter what political spectrum that they are. And if it's a good idea for not just the people of the fifth district, but the people of our country, I'm willing to roll my sleeves up and work with them to get it done on behalf of the people.

33:06Are you concerned that there could be an obstructionist element in the progressive wing of the party? There might be. However, what I will say is that this moment is way too big. This is a moment where we have got to recognize that we've got to deliver for the American people. And again, we're going to go right back to the same things that we were talking about on the campaign trail, which is, you know, affordability, gas, groceries, utilities. And so I think that hopefully people can recognize that this moment is way too big and we're going to move forward and deliver for the American people.

33:44I have to ask you because there are a lot of firsts and you are making history as the first openly gay congressman elected from Indiana. What does that mean to you? You know, I'm I'm really just kind of trying to pinch myself today. I mean, this is really a dream come true. You know, as I took my seat to the state Senate here in Indiana in 2018, I've just really asked the people of the 29th District to trust in me and to be the public servant for them. And I'm doing the exact same thing for the people of the 5th Congressional District. And so, yes, I think that representation matters. But also I'm asking people to judge me on my public servant heart, my work ethic.

34:25But I also recognize what a historic moment this is. All right. Well, we are going to track this new Congress very closely. Hope you will come back soon. Congratulations again. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you again. Thanks for having me. All right. And stay with us. There's much more ahead. You're watching Meet the Press Now.

34:49Welcome back to this very special edition of Meet the Press Now. Joining me now for more on the historic midterm elections for Democrats is New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, who endorsed a number of Democratic candidates throughout this midterm cycle. Mayor, thank you so much for joining me. So what's your reaction to last night's results? It was an incredible evening. And I think what it showed is that the American people are tired of being told that their needs are unrealistic by the very politicians that have been bought off by the wealthiest people in the country. And, you know, we heard from J.D.

35:22Vance asking Americans across the country for two more years. And what those same Americans have said in response is they can't afford to wait two more years when their rent is due on the first of the month, when they have to pay for their groceries today, when they have to get their kids to child care this week. Well, let me ask you, because with the exception of Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, nearly all of the Democrats' biggest statewide victories were more moderate candidates. What do you think that says and what does it say about the progressive movement? Well, I want to push you a little bit on that, Kristen, because when we're thinking about James Tallarico, we're talking about somebody who campaigned on universal pre-K.

36:00When we're talking about Annie Andrews, we're talking about somebody who campaigned on an end to endless wars. When we're talking about Keisha Lance Bottoms, we're talking about somebody who campaigned on streamlining the construction of affordable housing. And those are all the hallmarks of what progressive governance also looks like in this country. And I think it's critically important that when we look at these victories, no matter where they are across the United States, that we understand the unity of purpose that comes out of it and the urgency of delivering change that Americans can feel in their wallets.

36:29So, Mayor, given this argument that you're making, do you think there is a path for a progressive candidate in the presidential race in twenty twenty eight? Absolutely. And why? What gives you that confidence? We have heard time and again over the 10 months that I've been in office here in New York City that what we're doing here can't work elsewhere, that what people are concerned about here isn't what people are concerned about across the country. And what we saw last night is that the struggles of Americans in Atlanta, of Americans in Allentown, are not all that different than the struggles of Americans in Astoria.

37:06And that is a reflection of the fact that dignity has to be at the heart of our politics and it has to be at the heart of our vision for what comes next. Because we've had the debate for a number of years. Now is the time for us in the Democratic Party to deliver. And we have to deliver with the same urgency that Americans have given us this mandate. Well, what is the mandate, do you think, that Democrats have given, that voters have given to Democrats? I see it as a mandate to deliver on the cost of living crisis that has affected Americans across this country. A mandate to build schools, not bombs.

37:41A mandate to actually fulfill the trust that has been given to us by working class voters. And that, to me, is a mandate that understands that politics cannot simply be about better managing the decline of our country. It has to be about inspiring our country to reach heights that we've never seen before. And that comes from a recognition of the fact that what makes this the greatest country in the world is the working class people who build it every single day. As you know, there's a big debate right now inside the Democratic Party about how far to go when it comes to oversight investigations.

38:13And there's a lot of discussion about potentially impeaching President Trump for a third time. Is that something that you would support, understanding that you're not in the Congress? But is that something that ideologically and strategically you would support? I would support our Congress taking action that will deliver change in Americans' lives that they can feel in their wallets. And I would also support our Congress taking action to confront the corruption that we have seen in Washington for far too long. Americans have been voting for a new vision of government, and it's time that we hear that and don't try and confine it into just one lane of what that politics must mean.

38:53I believe in so many of the people elected last night's ability to take action across the board. Do you think it could backfire, though, if Democrats do move to impeach President Trump? That's not something that I've heard as a plan right now from those who have been speaking up over the last 24 hours. what I have heard time and again is how we can move with the urgency of action that's been required by the American people. And to me, it is an urgency that speaks about data centers. It's an urgency that speaks about tariffs. It's an urgency that speaks about the fact that we have continued to fund the violation of international law across so many parts of the world, especially when we're looking at Palestine, even when we're looking at Iran.

39:35And that is something that needs to be confronted. And I'm excited at the fact that we now have the opportunity to do so. Well, in order for this Democratic Congress to deliver results, they're going to have to work with President Trump because he does have veto power. He's made it very clear he's not afraid to use it. You're someone who has worked with President Trump. You've gone to the Oval Office. What is your advice to your fellow Democrats about how they can get things done in Washington? What I found has been the most productive approach to this relationship has been the fact that both the president and I are very open and honest about the immense number of policy disagreements that we have, and amidst that, looking for any place of commonality.

40:17And when it comes to the two of us, that commonality has been the welfare of our city. We've had conversations that have allowed us to free New Yorkers from ICE detention to ensure that we were able to get a visa for the mother of a New Yorker who was killed here recently. These are the kinds of tangible benefits that can be delivered when we're looking for any of those areas of overlap. And I'm looking forward to whatever opportunity there is in working with whomever across whatever party line to deliver for working people across our city. Do you think that Democrats should take the possibility of a government shutdown off the table?

40:50In other words, do you think that's sort of the opposite of what people voted for last night? I think what people voted for last night is an affirmative vision. And I think what people voted for last night is an urgency and an unwillingness to be told to wait any longer. And you can see that both in terms of the politics that prevailed and also in terms of the generational change, where we saw a number of younger candidates also step forward and say, the time is now to change this kind of a status quo. And that is something that excites me. I know there are a lot of these decisions, you know, they're going to be in the hands of Congress people, and I trust them to make the right ones.

41:22What I will say is the mayor of New York City is that we're excited to have partners in the fight to bring dignity back into working people's lives. Well, and speaking of one of the issues that the Congress is going to address and that your fellow Democrats are going to address in Washington is who is going to be their next speaker of the House. You've said you would support your fellow New Yorker, Hakeem Jeffries, as speaker. You're not going to have a vote, though. Are you going to encourage your fellow Democrats in Washington to support him? I'm going to leave the machinations of that to my fellow Democrats in Washington.

41:56I've been clear about where I stand, and I think that's all they need to hear from me on that. And what about Leader Schumer? I think it's the same. There are some decisions that I will leave to those in Washington, and I can just be clear about where I stand as the mayor of our city. Do you think they both represent the type of what they have described as generational change that voters delivered overnight? I think it all comes from the vision that we put forward. It's less about us as individuals. It's more about the agenda that we will now pursue, because power is not something that should just be sought to be won.

42:28It's something that should be used to actually deliver. And that is what we have the opportunity to do today. It is the dawning of a new day, and it's up to us to seize it. Let me just ask you one more question. It's been really notable. Vice President J.D. Vance had a really long post today, effectively blaming the war with Iran for the election losses that Republicans suffered. Do you think trying to end this war should be at the top of Democrats agenda? And how can they go about that? Yes. Yes, it should. It is a war that is not only illegal. It is one that should be opposed on political grounds, on economic grounds, on moral grounds.

43:11And it is something that the American people have spoken up loud and clear about. And I have to say that I find it quite ironic to read a post from the vice president as if he's describing the actions of a different administration. He's the vice president of the United States of America. He is not just some commentator online. And there has to be a reckoning of the fact that this is a war that they started. It's a war that they can end. If they think it was a part of their political demise, then why don't they actually start to take some action to reflect that? All right. Well, Mayor Zoran Mamdani, Always appreciate our conversations.

43:42Thanks so much for joining me on this very busy day after Election Day. Thank you so much for having me. Always a pleasure. Thanks, Mayor. Coming up after the break, it's already begun the jockeying ahead of 2028. The panel is next to break it all down. You're watching Meet the Press now.

44:02Welcome back. Joining me now is our panel. Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress. And Matt Gorman, Republican strategist and an NBC News contributor. Thanks to both of you for being here a bleary eyed day after Election Day. I really appreciate it. I keep asking myself, what day is it today? Neera, I have to start with you. An historic night for Democrats. Absolutely. What do you make of it? How do you see the mandate the voters gave Democrats last night? Oh, I mean, I think their voters, you know, took a leap of faith with Democrats. You see a lot of candidates around the country articulate an argument for a big tent, really trying to persuade people who voted for Trump two years ago to to, you know, really take a take a chance on them.

44:50And those voters did. I mean, I think the most important thing is the real break in the MAGA coalition, the Donald Trump's coalition. We are seeing in the data that groups like white non-college voters who have been the mainstays of the Republican Party have actually many of them actually chose to vote for a Democrat. I think that is because Donald Trump over the last two years has taken action after action. The Iran war tariffs to make their lives harder. And, you know, they finally said enough is enough. Now, Democrats have to prove themselves in the next two years. They can't just take these voters for granted or they'll shift to somebody else.

45:26So they have a lot to prove. But I think this was a historic election once in my lifetime, at least. And I'm excited for what's to come. Matt, how do you explain what happened? Some of it was candidate quality. Nira laid out the big picture, the backdrop to this. Do you think this was a rebuke of President Trump and his policy? It was clearly a rebuke. I mean, look, Democrats didn't suddenly get more popular. They're less popular than us. Right. You have Zoran Mamdani trying to march in front of parade here. But like, again, progressive didn't get more popular. It was a rebuke, plain and simple.

46:00Right. And candidates absolutely do matter. And, you know, you're right. Like, I think, you know, voters can be rented. They necessarily can be bought. We learned that with Latinos last night. I mean, we'll see what happens with with some of that coalition. But again, I would also say this. This is true. George W. Bush, Obama. Every president has their own coalition. I think the mistake people make is thinking it transfers over to another candidate, right? Hillary Clinton tried that in 16, didn't work. Whoever is the Republican nominee can't try that with Trump again. It might be similar, but it's not going to be the same.

46:30Nera, let me pick up on that point. And you spoke to this. How do Democrats make sure that this coalition that they built last night is durable? How do they hold on to it? And is part of it investing in the South in a different way and thinking about the South in a different way? Well, I think the most important thing about this election, what makes it really kind of monumental is you see that there is no red state that's a permanent red state. I mean, just Texas is kind of a mind boggling shift here. What's happened throughout the government of Texas? And it's like hard to even fathom that happening.

47:06And people woke up in a different Texas today than yesterday. So but I think the crucial thing is and, you know, here I would agree. I would see there's a connection between Zwaran Ramdani and James Tallarico. The truth is that candidates that won are candidates who look like who who seem and are focused on people's everyday lived experiences. And I think that James Tallarico, a Hamilton, you know, an Annie Andrews like these people are going to come to Washington and focus like a laser beam on lowering costs for people and making their lives better. I think a lot of people feel like Washington and really both parties have lost their way.

47:45And now Democrats have an opportunity to regain that faith. And I believe leadership in the House and Senate understand that this is, you know, we have promises to keep over the next two years. Matt, how do you think Republicans can rebuild the faith that Nira is talking about? Is it a process that's going to take years? Can it be done by 2028? The silver lining for me is that there's no silver lining. I was at the NRC in 2018 and we got a blowout in the House, but we gained a couple of Senate seats, Missouri, Florida and the like. Twenty twenty two Democrats didn't do as bad as they thought that caused Biden to think, hey, I can run again.

48:23The fact that there's there's no silver lining here. I'd rather be having this conversation today, the day after the 26th elections than the day after the 28th elections. We get a little bit of a head start on it. But again, I think it depends what we do with it. And I think the challenge now, however, is that's why you don't mess with Senate seats. These guys are going to be around that were elected last night until the next president's reelect. So it's not like a House seat where it flips back and forth two years. Let's talk about 2028 since you raise it. What are the lessons for 2028, Nira?

48:52And I tried to get at this with the mayor. Does an Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez look at the win by Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and say a progressive just won in the most purple of purple states? that she could be a viable candidate in 2028? How are moderate candidates responding? What are the lessons? I mean, I think when you look at the numbers, the fact that James Tallarico won so much, such a huge victory. If you're a person who wants to end the MAGA nightmare, the lesson is to look at a James Tallarico or a Hamilton or, you know, any of the candidates who won double digits in states that Trump won.

49:35I mean, that's the way to build an election victory in 2028 that would basically make the Republican Party crack its mat from the MAGA coalition. And I actually agree with you. I think the thing here really is that the country said the president's policies are failing a little like they did in 2006 with George W. Bush. And the opportunity for both parties is to figure out a better alternative. I think the truth is that for Democrats, and it's definitely the argument that I am making, is, you know, if you want to have a big majority in the country, the way to do that is to really look at the states where we cracked open our big Republican divides.

50:18Matt, you are seeing some extraordinary reactions today, including from the vice president, who had a very lengthy post, saying the reason we lost is the war. You also had Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida coming out with some strong language. I'm going to play a little bit of it and get your analysis on the other side. Let's take a look. It's the political equivalent of a meteor strike that went all around the United States, blue states, red states, everything in between. And the one state that was able to hold the line and withstand that is right here in the free state of Florida. How does what happened last night impact a vice president, J.D.

50:59Vance, Governor Ron DeSantis, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as they potentially consider a run? Maybe Governor Brian Kemp or others as well. I will say this. I think you're more likely than we were last say last week to get more people in a Republican primary. I think we're going to have we're going to have a serious primary. Real people got in real people getting against Trump in 24th. That was not a question. However, you're going to have real debates. but in paradoxically the more people that get in the better it is for jd vance because it splits a lot of that vote and as a sitting vice president you have a natural power of incumbency there at least the primary and so i think you're gonna that's what the dynamic you're gonna see play out but again i think more more candidates are gonna get in i think this doesn't deter jd vance i don't think it deters jd vance uh but i think i could see more candidates getting in yeah do you see Republicans distancing themselves from President Trump now?

51:50I will say this. I think there's going to be a conversation as we go into this. But look, he was leaving office in two years anyway, right? So there's going to have to be that conversation about what the party looks like afterwards. And I think that's the key to 2028. You saw it with Vance in his post today. You see the other folks, too. Nero, let me ask you, when you think about the mandate the Democrats have, you talked about it, How much do you think it includes oversight investigations and possibly impeachment? I think Democrats have to walk in shoe gum and they're going to have to deliver on lower costs.

52:23But corruption was a crucial message and people want accountability. Now, accountability doesn't mean impeachment of the president. I think people really broad spectrums of the party from the right to the from the left to moderates understand that that's not going to go anywhere. But I think because Trump will get out of it. But I do think aggressive oversight is actually what the country demands. A big reason why Republicans lost last night, really across the board, is because voters recognized that they could not be a check on Donald Trump. And I think that oversight and accountability, it was crucial to yesterday's victories.

53:00All right. Well, fantastic conversation. Thank you both for being here. Really appreciate it. We are back tomorrow with more Meet the Press Now. And a reminder to join me every Sunday for Meet the Press on your local NBC station on NBC News Now, streaming every Sunday at noon, 1 p.m. Eastern and 9 p.m. Eastern. There's more ahead on NBC News Now. When an intruder approaches a home, they expect a camera. What they don't expect. Stop. This is SimpliSafe. Police are on the way. Using smart AI cameras, live U.S.-based agents help deter intruders in under 30 seconds. Don't just record a break-in. Stop it from ever happening.

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