>> BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT. >> YOU JUST SAVED ME 40 BUCKS. >> OF IT IS THURSDAY, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP RETURNS TO CAPITOL HILL, THE FIRST TIME HE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE HIS CRIMINAL CONVICTION IN THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION, RALLYING REPUBLICANS AND HOUSE AND SENATE AROUND AN ANTICRIME, ANTI-IMMIGRATION AND ANTI-BIDEN ELECTION MESSAGE. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNS A 10 YEAR SECURITY PACT WITH UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS FOR THE FIRST ABOUT HIS SON'S CONVICTION ON CRIMINAL GUN CHARGES. >>> A UNANIMOUS RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT. A MAJOR DECISION ON A WIDELY USED ABORTION PILL THAT CAN REMAIN ON THE MARKET, ACCORDING TO THE COURT, AT LEAST, FOR NOW. >> IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SETBACK FOR ANTIABORTION ADVOCATES BUT DEMOCRATS ARE ARGUING THE RULING IS NOT A WIN, IT IS ONLY A WARNING ABOUT THE ABORTION RIGHTS FIGHT, AHEAD. >>> WELCOME TO MEET THE PRESS NOW. I'M PETER ALEXANDER ON WHAT WAS A BUSY DAY HERE IN WASHINGTON AS FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, THE PRESUMPTIVE RESIDENTIAL NOMINEE MADE HIS FIRST TRIP TO THE CAPITAL GROUNDS SINCE THEY JANUARY 6 ATTACK FOR HIS FIRST MEETING WITH REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SINCE HIS CRIMINAL CONVICTION AND THE WORDS OF ONE OF THE TOP CONGRESSIONAL ALLIES, HE WAS GREETED WITH A, QUOTE, PEP RALLY FROM REPUBLICANS. THE FORMER PRESIDENT STARTED THIS DAY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH HOUSE REPUBLICANS PITCHING A 2025 AGENDA OF TARIFFS AND DEPORTATION WHILE REPORTEDLY ALIGNING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. A SOURCE IN THE ROOM TELLS NBC NEWS THAT MR. TRUMP ALSO CALLED MILWAUKEE, THE SITE OF THE UPCOMING REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE CONVENTION, HORRIBLE, AND THAT IT WAS OVERRUN BY CRIME. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS EMERGED FROM THE MEETING TO DRIVE HOME THEIR SUPPORT OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT. >> WE ARE A 100 UNIFIED BEHIND HIS CANDIDACY AND ARE READY TO GET TO WORK ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. >> ANYBODY WHO THOUGHT THAT THIS PRESIDENT WOULD BE DOWN AFTER THE SHAM TRIAL, AFTER THAT CROOKED TRIAL THAT WE SAW IN NEW YORK, THINK AGAIN. IT HAS ONLY GIVEN HIM MORE ENERGY. >> HE WANTS TO FIX THE COUNTRY. HE HIT IMMIGRATION. HE HAD CRIME -- HIT CRIME, ALL OF THE HOT POINTS THAT THIS COUNTRY WAS THINKING ABOUT. >> WE BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO WIN BACK THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND WHEN WE DO THAT, WE WILL NOT WASTE A MOMENT. >> AFTER A CLOSED DOOR DISCUSSION WITH THE BUSINESS LEADERS, MR. TRUMP MET WITH REPUBLICAN SENATORS AND SAID THEY ARE IN LOCKSTEP WITH HIM, ALL THE WAY. >> WE HAVE GREAT UNITY. WE HAVE GREAT COMMON SENSE. A LOT OF VERY SMART PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LOVE OUR COUNTRY. THEY LOVE OUR COUNTRY BEYOND JUST ABOUT ALL ELSE. I AM WITH THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE 1000%. THEY ARE WITH ME 1000%. WE AGREE JUST ABOUT ON EVERYTHING. IF THERE ISN'T, WE WORK IT OUT. I HAVE HAD A REALLY GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY HERE, WITH EVERYBODY HERE, JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE SENATORS. IF IT WAS NOT FANTASTIC, IT GETS WORKED OUT. WE HAVE ONE THING IN MIND AND THAT IS MAKING OUR COUNTRY GREAT. >> MR. TRUMP'S VISIT COMES AS REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO USE THEIR POWER TO UNDERMINE HIS GUILTY VERDICT IN MANHATTAN AND TO DISRUPT LOCAL AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS TIED TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT. A GROUP OF SENATE REPUBLICANS LED BY VICE PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL JD VANCE HAS SAID THAT THEY WILL TRY TO HOLD UP PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS IN RESPONSE TO, QUOTE, THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION'S PERSECUTION OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. POLITICAL REPORTS SAY MR. TRUMP ASKED HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON TO, QUOTE, FIND A WAY TO OVERTURN HIS CONVICTION. OF COURSE, THAT WAS DONE IN NEW YORK. IT WAS NOT A FEDERAL COURT PROCEEDING. THEY ALSO WARNED THAT THE SPEAKER MIGHT BE WARNING AT THE IDEA OF TRYING TO DEFUND JACK SMITH TO THWART THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF MR. TRUMP'S HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AND HIS ACTIONS SURROUNDING THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION. JOINING ME NOW WITH THE LATEST ON CAPITOL HILL IS NBC'S ALLIE VITALI. WHAT DID THEY TALK ABOUT INSIDE, WHAT WAS THE MOOD LIKE AMONG REPUBLICANS AND AMONG THE FORMER PRESIDENT? HE LOOKED PRETTY GOOD IN TERMS OF FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE WAY THINGS WENT AND THERE WAS A LOT OF POSITIVE TALK ABOUT HIM. >> THE MESSAGE FOR MOST REPUBLICANS COMING OUT OF THIS MEETING, THE MAJORITY OF THEM THAT I SPOKE TO, WAS, THIS IS A PARTY THAT IS UNIFIED AND THIS IS A PARTY THAT WANTS TO HEAD INTO NOVEMBER WITH THE FULL STRENGTH OF EVERY PIECE OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE BEHIND THEM. OUTSIDE THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE THIS MORNING, YOU SAW THE ENTHUSIASM THAT CONGRESSMAN RALPH NORMAND AND OTHER REPUBLICANS USED WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE REMARKS. THEY WERE REALLY WIDE-RANGING. THEY BEGAN BY TALKING ABOUT -- BY GIVING HIM AN EARLY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. THAT THEN CONTINUED ON TO THE SENATE MEETING AS IF EVERY SENATOR NEEDED THE CHANCE TO WISH HIM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND BE PART OF THE CHORUS, LITERALLY SINGING TO THE FUTURE NOMINEE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN ADVANCE OF HIS BIRTHDAY A FEW WEEKS FROM NOW. THE OTHER TOPICS THAT WERE COVERED WERE POLICY. THEY SAID IT REALLY FELT LIKE TRUMP WAS RIPPING ON A WHOLE RANGE OF THINGS FROM ABORTION AS A KEY ISSUE IN THE ELECTION, ALL THE WAY THROUGH TAX POLICY AND ALSO URGING REPUBLICANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON THE HOUSE SIDE WHO HAVE HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH PICKING THEIR SPEAKERS, TO BE NICE WITH EACH OTHER, TRYING TO PUT SOME BAD BLOOD BEHIND THEM. IT IS NOTABLE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PUTTING BAD BLOOD BEHIND THEM, SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL WAS AT THE MEETING WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT. IT IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE BEEN IN A ROOM TOGETHER IN YEARS, THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE SPOKEN SINCE TRUMP LEFT OFFICE. McCONNELL, YOU WILL REMEMBER, PETER, WAS BLISTERING IN HIS CRITICISM OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT FOR THE ROLE HE SAID TRUMP PLAYED MORALLY ON JANUARY 6. THAT CRITICISM IS NOT SOMETHING McCONNELL HAS BACKED AWAY FROM SINCE. HE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT IN SAYING THAT HE WOULD SUPPORT THE NOMINEE AS WELL. THAT EXPLAINS A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WE SAW TODAY BEHIND THE SCENES, AT LEAST WHAT BROUGHT McCONNELL INTO THE POLLS AGAIN. >> THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS. THE PHOTOGRAPHER WAS INVITED INTO THAT ROOM TO CAPTURE THE PHOTO. IT IS HOW THEY CAN PUT OUT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BE A PRESS RELEASE. WE ARE ALL GOOD HERE AND UNIFIED. A LOT OF VICE PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS WHO WERE WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT TODAY. WE SAW JD VANCE, SCOTT WAS IN THE ROOM. I WAS SHOCKED BY WATCHING TED CRUZ, WHO HAD FOUGHT FOR THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION, REPEATEDLY ATTACKING HIS FATHER AND HIS FAMILY. WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL? >> THIS IS EXACTLY THE IMAGE THAT REPUBLICANS WANTED TO COME AWAY FROM. MOST OF THE MEMBERS WHO ARE BEHIND HIM RIGHT NOW ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BEHIND TRUMP CONSISTENTLY. YOU DON'T SEE, IN THAT IMAGE, CONGRESSMAN JOHN WHO WAS CRITICAL AND THAT ULTIMATELY ENDORSED TRUMP. YOU DON'T SEE SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO HIM BUT WE DID SEE HIM IN THE MEETING AND THAT SPEAKS TO THE LARGER UNITY MESSAGE. IN TERMS OF THE WAY HE TALKED ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT CONTENDERS, A LOT OF'S THE SAME THINGS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT. WITH ALL OF THE SENATORS WHO ARE BEING CONSIDERED IN THE SAME ROOM, YOU HAVE JD VANCE RUNNING SHOULDERS WITH THE OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE BUYING AGAINST HIM FOR THAT VICE PRESIDENTIAL POSITION. I ASKED SENATOR MARCO RUBIO WHO IS ONE OF THOSE WHO IS IN CONTENTION, WHERE THERE ANY HEAD TILTS OR NODS IN THIS MEETING? HE SAID NO. HE ALSO SPOKE TO THE LARGER ISSUE AND I SAID, WHAT DOES IT SAY THAT EVEN McCONNELL WAS IN THIS ROOM TODAY. HE SAID WE ARE REPUBLICANS, WE WANT TO WIN. WE WORK AND POLITICS. THIS IS A MOMENT FOR REPUBLICANS, BY AND LARGE, TO COME TOGETHER. WE DO NEED TO NOTE THAT THERE WERE TWO REPUBLICANS THAT WERE NOT IN THAT ROOM TODAY, SENATOR LISA MURKOWSKI AND SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS, CONSISTENT CRITICS OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND WHEN I SPOKE WITH MURKOWSKI TODAY, SHE REITERATED WHAT SHE HAD SAID WHEN SHE ENDORSED NIKKI HALEY WAS THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR TRUMP. THAT SORT OF LEAVES ARE WITHOUT A HOME POLITICALLY. >> IT WAS NOTABLE TO SEE HIM STANDING SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO TRY TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE MORE MAINSTREAM CANDIDATES AS OPPOSED TO MORE CONSERVATIVE MAGA REPUBLICANS WHO THEY THINK COULD MAKE LIFE MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM. THANK YOU. JOINING ME NOW IS JONATHAN ALLEN, JOSHUA BURNS WHO COVERS THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN FOR US, FORMER NORTH DAKOTA SENATOR HEIDI HEITKAMP IS WITH US AND FORMER PENNSYLVANIA REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN CHARLIE DENSON IS AT THE TABLE AS WELL. THIS IS WHAT YOU DO FOR LIVING. YOU WERE THERE AND YOU TALKED TO A LOT OF FOLKS AHEAD OF TIME. YOU TALKED TO THEM AFTER AS THEY EXITED THE ROOM. THIS IS THE IMAGE THAT THEY WANTED TO DAY. WE ARE ALL BACK TOGETHER DESPITE WHAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT, THIS IS A UNIFIED FRONT. ARE THEY SATISFIED THAT THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED? >> UNITY WAS HAMMERED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. REPRESENTATIVE MATT GAETZ SAID THIS WAS A PEP RALLY FOR TRUMP AND THAT IS PRETTY STRIKING CONSIDERING THE LAST TIME HE WAS ON CAPITOL HILL WAS ON JANUARY 6. YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE SENATOR TIM SCOTT. MIKE PENCE SPOKE AND HE TALKED ABOUT HOW SCOTT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE HE SAW WHEN HE CAME OUT OF WHERE THEY WERE KEEPING HIM SAFE AND SCOTT SAID THANK YOU AND ASKED TO PRAY WITH MIKE PENCE AND NOW MIKE SCOTT IS ON THE SHORT LIST FOR VP. THIS WAS EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER TO SAY THIS IS OUR GUY AND THIS MIGHT BE THE GUY WHO HELPS US WIN THE ELECTION. IF YOU LOOK AT POLLING RIGHT NOW, TRUMP IS POLLING BETTER THAN MOST OF THE FOLKS DOWN BALLOT. NOT THE SAME CASE FOR BIDEN. THAT WAS ANOTHER PART OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN TRYING TO CONTRAST WHERE REPUBLICANS ARE AT WITH THEIR LEADER OF THE PARTY VERSUS DEMOCRATS. >> I WAS FLIPPING AROUND THE CHANNELS AFTERWARD AND FOX NEWS SAID THIS IS A DISCIPLINED SET OF REMARKS BY DONALD TRUMP. >> NO QUESTIONS ALSO FROM THE PRESS. HE CALLS IT A PRESS CONFERENCE BUT DOES NOT ALLOW REPORTERS TO ASK QUESTIONS. ONLY A MATTER OF HOURS AGO HE RIPPED ON MILWAUKEE WHERE HE WILL BE HOSTING THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. LET ME ASK YOU, THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT THERE ON JANUARY 6 BUT LET'S BE CLEAR, THAT WAS A DEFINING MOMENT IN THE CAREER. TO BE BACK ON THE STEPS, IT WAS A BIG MOMENT FOR AMERICANS WATCHING IT. HE DID MEET WITH MITCH McCONNELL TODAY. McCONNELL HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT HIM AFTER. TAKE A LISTEN. >> THERE IS NO QUESTION, NONE. PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PRACTICALLY AND MORALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVOKING THE EVENTS OF THE DAY. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. THE PEOPLE THAT STORMED THIS BUILDING BELIEVED THEY WERE ACTING ON THE WISHES AND INSTRUCTION OF THEIR PRESIDENT, THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD. HE CANNOT SPEND WEEKS THUNDERING THAT SHADOWY FORCES ARE STEALING OUR COUNTRY AND THEN CLAIM SURPRISE WHEN PEOPLE BELIEVE HIM AND DO RECKLESS THINGS. >> OF COURSE, HE IS THE OUTGOING SENATE MAJORITY LEADER. THERE WILL BE A NEW ONE, LIKELY ONE OF THOSE MEN IN THE ROOM. JOHN CORNYN WAS NOT THERE BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHERS. WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THAT MITCH McCONNELL, THE MOST POWERFUL FIGURE IN THE SENATE RIGHT NOW SAID THAT SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND TODAY IS HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT. >> I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF AWKWARDNESS, PARTICULARLY IN THE SENATE. THERE WERE AT LEAST FOUR OR FIVE SENATORS THAT VOTED TO CONVICT HIM. THERE IS A LOT OF HAPPY TALK ABOUT UNITY. I AM NOT SURE THEY ARE SO UNIFIED. THE RILEY HOGAN TRASHING BY LERA TRUMP IS ALSO HANGING OVER THIS. THERE IS A LOT OF DISCOMFORT AMONG REPUBLICANS, PARTICULARLY SENATE REPUBLICANS BECAUSE OF THE WAY TRUMP AND HIS FAMILY HAD HANDLED THE HOGAN MATTER AND THE EVENTS OF JANUARY 6. MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOT GOTTEN OVER IT. >> MOSTLY BECAUSE THEY NEED TRUMP LOVE TO WIN AT HOME. IS IT AS SIMPLE AS THAT? >> YEAH. THERE WAS JUST A SPECIAL ELECTION IN OHIO A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WHERE A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERPERFORMED. TRUMP ONE THAT DISTRICT BY 29 POINTS. NOT THAT SPECIAL ELECTIONS ARE INDICATIVE OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT. THAT IS A VERY TRUMP THE DISTRICT. PEOPLE ARE VOTING AND SAYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE SEE IN THE POLLS. >> DEMOCRATS WATCHING DONALD TRUMP ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY. >> I THINK THIS HAD LESS TO DO WITH UNITY AND THEIR PARTY. EVERYBODY IS GOING TO RALLY AROUND THE FLAG EVENTUALLY. IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH TRUMP WANTING TO TELL THE PUBLIC I AM PRESIDENTIAL. I CAN COME INTO THIS ROOM AND HAVE CORDIAL APPOINTMENTS WITH MY OWN PARTY AND MOVE THE AGENDA FORWARD. THIS WAS ALL ABOUT THE IMAGE FOR TRUMP. HE IS TRYING TO WIPE THE CHAOS, IN TERMS OF HIS BANTER BACK AND FORTH, CERTAINLY AFTER HIS TRIAL AND HE IS TRYING TO FIND A DIFFERENT PLACE TO STAND AND A DIFFERENT FORMAT. IN THAT CASE, MAYBE HE ACMPLISHED SOMETHING TODAY FOR HIMSELF. >> I MENTIONED EARLIER THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAD THAT BEHIND CLOSED DOOR MEETING REFERRING TO MILWAUKEE HAS HORRIBLE. IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HIT ON A BLUER CITY IN THE COUNTRY. RIGHT NOW, HIS CAMPAIGN IS PUSHING BACK SAYING HE WAS REFERRING TO ALLEGED VOTER FRAUD AND CRIME IN THE CITY BUT IF YOU ARE LIVING IN MILWAUKEE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU LIVE IN THE SUBURBS OF MILWAUKEE, YOU CAN'T SEE THAT AND BE LIKE, WHAT THE HECK? THAT CAN'T BE WITH THE PRESIDENT WAS TRYING TO DO TODAY. >> I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THIS WOULD TURN ANY VOTES. IT IS OLD-SCHOOL POLITICS FOR PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY TO ATTACK THE CITY. >> YOU WOULD READ THAT AND IT MIGHT UPSET YOU A LITTLE. WE JUST LOOKED AT THE UNITED STATES SENATE WHERE YOU HAD EVERYBODY FROM MITCH McCONNELL WHO WAS HIDING FROM THE TRUMP MOB TO JOSH HAWLEY WHO IS FIST PUMPING FOR THE TRUMP MOB HUDDLING WITH TRUMP TODAY. I DON'T THINK HE WILL LOSE ANY BASE. IT IS FASCINATING THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO PICK ON A WISCONSIN PLACE AS A REPUBLICAN THAT HE WENT FROM MILWAUKEE AND NOT MADISON. IT IS WHERE THE BIGGEST SET OF VOTES WILL COME FOR JOE BIDEN. >> IS THAT SMART? >> TO TRASH MILWAUKEE? NO BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WON'T HURT HIM. >> I THINK IT JUST SHOWS THAT EVEN IN THE MOST CONTROLLED CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS GUY CAN'T BE CONTROLLED, RIGHT? HE IS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE WHAT WOULD CLIP THE OTHER HEADLINES. HE TOOK AWAY FROM HIS MESSAGE. >> LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR HOME STATE SINCE YOU ARE HERE IN FRONT OF ME. DOUG BERGEN, HIGH ON THE LIST. J.D. VANCE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. WHAT SHOULD AMERICANS KNOW ABOUT DOUG? WOULD HE BE A GOOD VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES? >> I THINK DOUG BURGUM IS A CLASSIC REPUBLICAN. HE HAS NEVER BEEN MAGA BACK IN OUR STATE. HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN, HOW DO WE OPEN THE AGENDA MOVING FORWARD. FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE -- HE IS NOT JUDGE HOLLY. MAYBE HE WILL BRING US BACK TO A PARTY THAT IS PRO-BUSINESS, PRO-TRADE, PRO-AMERICAN ENTERPRISES. I THINK IN SOME WAYS IT IS SMART FOR THE PRESIDENT TO CONSIDER HIM. >> I DON'T THINK HE WILL STOP SPENDING MONEY ON THIS RACE IF HE IS NOT THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE. THAT IS HIS FUTURE, RIGHT? HE IS YOUNG. WELL, I AM YOUNG, I GUESS. >> HE HAS A LONG POLITICAL CAREER AHEAD OF HIM. >> THANK YOU, PER USUAL. >> PRESIDENT BIDEN STANDS WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY ON THE WORLD STAGE AS HE ADDRESSES HIS SON'S CRIMINAL CONVICTION ON CAMERA FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE WILL TAKE YOU LIVE TO ITALY, NEXT. SENATE REPUBLICANS JUST VOTED TO BLOCK A BILL THAT WOULD SAVE ACCESS TO IVF TREATMENT AS THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS FIGHT RAMPS UP IN COURT, IN CONGRESS. MORE ON ALL OF THIS AHEAD. YOU ARE WATCHING MEET THE PRESS. >>> MORE AMERICANS TURNED TO NBC NEWS THEN ANY OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATION. >>> WELCOME BACK. PRESIDENT BIDEN MADE HIS FIRST ON CAMERA COMMENTS TODAY ABOUT HIS SON HUNTER BIDEN'S FELONY CONVICTION IN HIS FEDERAL GUN TRIAL, REITERATING HIS SUPPORT FOR HIS SON AND HIS TRUST IN THE AMERICAN JUSTICE SYSTEM. >> I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF MY SON HUNTER. HE HAS OVERCOME AN ADDICTION. HE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST, MOST DECENT MEN I KNOW. I AM SATISFIED -- I SAID I WOULD STAND BY THE DECISION AND I WILL DO THAT AND I WILL NOT PARDON HIM. >> THE PRESIDENT ALSO LATER CONFIRMING BEFORE LEAVING THE STAGE THAT HE WOULD NOT COMMUTE HUNTER BIDEN SENTENCE EITHER. THOSE COMMENTS CAME DURING THE CEREMONY ENJOY NEWS CONFERENCE WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY FOR A NEW 10 YEAR BILATERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT AND AN EFFORT TO SIGNAL AMERICA'S LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO UKRAINE. THIS FOLLOWS A RAPID SUCCESSION OF OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS AIMED AT IMPOSING CONSEQUENCES ON RUSSIA AND REASSURING AMERICA'S ALLIES, INCLUDING NEW U.S. SANCTIONS ON MOSCOW'S FINANCIAL SYSTEM AND AN AGREEMENT BY G7 LEADERS TO FROZE RUSSIAN ASSETS AND HELP UKRAINE BUY WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION AS WELL AS BEGIN REBUILDING DAMAGED INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THERE WAS A LOT OF REBUILDING TO TAKE PLACE BUT ONLY WHEN THE WAR FINALLY CONCLUDES. JOINING ME NOW IS MIKE ALBA. BREAK DOWN WHAT THIS NEW SECURITY AGREEMENT MEANS FOR THE U.S. AND THE UKRAINE RELATIONSHIP. THIS INCLUDES THE PROVISION OF A DEFENSE SYSTEM LIKE PATRIOT AND FIGHTER JET SQUADRONS, PLURAL, HE SAID. >> PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR THESE THINGS FOR MONTHS, PETER. THE PRESIDENT APOLOGIZED TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY JUST A WEEK AGO WHEN THE TWO WERE TOGETHER IN FRANCE FOR HOW LONG IT TOOK CONGRESS TO APPROVE THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING. DURING THOSE MONTHS WHERE IT WAS IN DOUBT, THERE WERE THESE CONVERSATIONS GOING ON ABOUT THE SECURITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE U.S. AND UKRAINE THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS HOPING COULD BE SOLIDIFIED BY AROUND NOW. IT IS A 10 YEAR LONG COMMITMENT TO THIS DEFENSE COOPERATION AND WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THAT IS OF COURSE THE LONGEVITY AND THE MEANING BEHIND THE MESSAGE THAT THIS SENDS TO RUSSIA, THEY HOPE. THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT IT WAS HIS INTENTION. PRESIDENT PUTIN THINKS HE CAN OUTLAST UKRAINE AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT HAS BANDED TOGETHER BEHIND UKRAINE IN ITS DEFENSE AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION, PRESIDENT PUTIN WOULD BE MISTAKEN TO THINK THAT. WHAT THIS DOES NOT DO IS COMMIT U.S. TROOPS ON THE GROUND AS THEY CONTINUE TO DEFEND CRITICAL TERRITORIES BUT IT IS A SIGN OF HOW THE PRESIDENT HOPES THIS WILL CONTINUE NO MATTER WHO IS IN OFFICE. WE KNOW DURING THIS BRUTAL RE- ELECTION FIGHT THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP COULD BE BACK IN OFFICE AND IT IS UNCLEAR EXACTLY WHAT HE WOULD DO WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORTING UKRAINE. WE KNOW HE HAS MADE MANY COMMENTS ABOUT WITHDRAWING FROM NATO AND SUGGESTING THAT IF PEOPLE ARE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE WHEN IT COMES TO DEFENSE SPENDING, THAT THEY ESSENTIALLY, HE HAS SAID, RUSSIA HAS THE RIGHT TO DO WHATEVER IT WANTS TO THOSE COUNTRIES. PLENTY IN TERMS OF THE POLITICAL BACKDROP HERE BUT ALSO THIS REALLY IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE U.S. AND UKRAINE IN A SOUTHERN ITALY TODAY. >> AND, A BIT OF NEWS ON THE CEASE-FIRE NEGOTIATIONS AS WELL. A LOT OF THE ALLIES WITHIN THESE MEETINGS RIGHT NOW WANT TO SEE A RESOLUTION. >> YEAH. THEY ARE PUSHING FOR THAT. THE PRESIDENT IS THE ONE WHO LAID OUT THESE DETAILS TWO WEEKS AGO FOR WHAT HE HOPES WILL BE A MULTI-PHASED PLAN FOR THE WAR TO END IN GAZA. HE HAS REALLY URGED ALL OF THESE LEADERS AND EVERYONE AROUND THE WORLD TO PRESSURE HAMAS TO ACCEPT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL THAT IS ON THE TABLE BUT HE ALSO SAID HE WAS NOT SURE AND DID NOT WANT TO PREDICT WHEN THAT MIGHT HAPPEN EVEN WHEN WE HEARD FROM EVERYBODY THAT THE TIME FOR THIS WAR TO END IS UPON US AND THEY ARE STRESSING THAT THEY HOPE IT HAPPENS SOON BUT IT IS UNCLEAR EXACTLY WHEN THAT COULD TAKE PLACE. >> IT COMES TO THE LEADER OF HAMAS AND WE ARE HOPING HE WILL SAY YES TO THE CEASE-FIRE. A LOT OF ALLIES ARE ON BOARD. MONICAL THE ON THE GROUND FOR US IN ITALY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR REPORTING. FOR MORE ON TODAY'S MEETINGS AT THE G7, I AM JOINED BY BILL TAYLOR, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR RUSSIA AND EUROPE AT THE U.S. INSTITUTE OF PEACE, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU IN PERSON AS OPPOSED TO VIA SATELLITE. LET'S JUST GET RIGHT TO IT. THE SECURITY AGREEMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY. WHAT IS THE SIMPLE MESSAGE THE PRESIDENT IS TRYING TO SEND TO AMERICA'S ALLIES AND IT SENT THE SERIES WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT? >> WE ARE THERE TO SUPPORT UKRAINE. WE ARE NOT GETTING TIRED. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THE SUPPORT. THE SUPPORT IS ON THE MILITARY SIDE, THE INTELLIGENCE SIDE, ON TRAINING. IT IS ALSO ON THE ECONOMIC SIDE, SANCTIONS WERE MENTIONED. THIS IS A DEMONSTRATION OF U.S. COMMITMENT. >> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND REMIND THE AUDIENCE WHO ARE SEEING YOU. USURPED DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHEN THE FORMER PRESIDENT ISSUED WHAT WAS A SURPRISE QUID PRO QUO ON UKRAINE AID IN EXCHANGE FOR DAMAGING INFORMATION ON THE BIDEN FAMILY, SOMETHING HE WAS IMPEACHED FOR AND WAS LATER ACQUITTED. AS YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY SIGNED THIS AGREEMENT TODAY AND THERE IS A BIG SENSE THAT THERE IS REAL CONCERN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS A SECOND TRUMP TERM. MUCH OF THIS WAS TO PROVE THINGS AND HOW MUCH OF IT WAS FOCUSED ON THAT DESIRE TO TELL ALLIES, WE RECOGNIZE YOUR CONCERNS AND WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THEM? >> I THINK THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO DEMONSTRATE LONG-TERM SUPPORT. >> DOES DONALD TRUMP COME IN AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT AND SAY, I HAVE MADE IT CLEAR, I WANT MORE MONEY FROM OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE SPENDING MORE MONEY ON UKRAINE. I SAID WE WOULD GET IT DONE ON DAY ONE. >> PETER, HE COULD SAY THAT. HE PROBABLY WON'T. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS IN HIS HEAD. HE HAS GIVEN DIFFERENT MESSAGES ON UKRAINE. HE ALLOWED THE $61 BILLION TO GO THROUGH. HE SUPPORTED THE SPEAKER WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO PUSH IT THROUGH. THERE IS SOME INDICATIONS BUT THIS IS BINDING ON THIS ADMINISTRATION. THIS EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT IS AS BINDING -- IT IS A PORTION OF LAW FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION BUT THE NEXT COULD COME IN AND CHANGE IT. EUROPEANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. THE UKRAINIANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO PREPARE IN ANY CASE. THE PRESIDENT SAID U.S. PEOPLE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THEY SUPPORT THIS. HE IS RIGHT ABOUT IT. CONGRESS SUPPORTS IT. HE IS RIGHT ABOUT THAT. HE IS HOPING THAT ANY PRESIDENT WILL REFLECT THAT. >> THERE WAS A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CAME OUT OF THE G7 TODAY THAT IS ABOUT THE $50 BILLION LOAN THAT WAS AGREED TO BY THE ALLIES. THEY SAY IT WOULD BE BACKED UP BY FROZEN RUSSIAN ASSETS. IS THAT DOABLE? WALK US THROUGH THE DESIRE THERE. >> IT IS DEFINITELY DOABLE. IT HAS NOT BEEN DONE BEFORE. >> A LOT OF LEGAL WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS AND NOW THE LEGAL ISSUES SEEM TO HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. THERE IS SOME POLITICAL WORK. THE EUROPEANS AND THE AMERICAN STASH WAS TO BE FAIR, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WAS NOT INITIALLY ONBOARD. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND THEY CONCLUDED THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA. THEY CONCLUDED THAT THIS MONEY -- THIS IS RUSSIAN CENTRAL BANK MONEY. THIS IS -- THE RUSSIANS ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE DAMAGED UKRAINE. IT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM TO PAY FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION. HOW DO THEY DO THAT? THIS ONE IS A PRETTY INNOVATIVE IDEA. THERE IS ABOUT $280 BILLION SITTING IN FROZEN ACCOUNTS RIGHT NOW IT IS DRAWING INTEREST. THAT INTEREST IS ABOUT $3 BILLION A YEAR. THAT CAN PAY THE PREMIUM ON A LOAN. AMERICANS WILL PROVIDE THIS LOAN. WE WILL TAKE THE INTEREST FROM THIS 280 BILLION A YEAR AND PAY IT BACK AND THAT WILL ALLOW THE LOAN -- LET ME ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE AMERICAN JOURNALIST FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL WHO HAS BEEN HELD, WRONGLY DETAINED BY THE RUSSIANS FOR FAR TOO LONG AT THIS POINT. WE KNOW NOW TODAY THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A TRIAL, THE RUSSIANS SAID FOR HIM. WHO KNOWS WHEN THAT TAKES PLACE. FOR BRITTNEY GRINER, THERE NEEDED TO BE A RIAL SO THEY COULD HAVE THAT CONVICTION BEFORE THEY TURNED HER OVER IN AN EXCHANGE WITH THE U.S. DOES THAT GIVE YOU SOME HOPE THAT WE ARE NEARING RESOLUTION FOR EVAN? >> THAT HAS BEEN THE PATTERN. I DON'T KNOW WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE OTHER SIDE BUT ONCE A CONVICTION HAS COME DOWN, THEN THEY COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT. >> IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE. APPRECIATED. >>> THE SUPREME COURT RULING THAT ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST WIDELY USED ABORTION MEDICATIONS WILL STAY ON THE MARKET. WE WILL DIG INTO THE RULING AND MUCH MORE. LOVE THAT. >>> NEWS FOR THE GENERATION OF NOW IS NBC NEWS NOW. >>> WELCOME BACK. WE TURN NOW TO WHAT WAS A MAJOR RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT AS THE JUSTICES UPHELD ACCESS TO A WIDELY USED ABORTION PILL AND THE UNANIMOUS DECISION. THE COURT REJECTED A CHALLENGE TO THE FDA APPROVAL OF MIFEPRISTONE THAT WAS BOUGHT BY A GROUP OF ANTI-ABORTION-RIGHTS DOCTORS RULING THAT THE GROUP DID NOT HAVE THE STANDING NEEDED TO BRING THE CASE. JUSTICE BRETT KAVANAUGH WROTE THE OPINION ON BEHALF OF THE JUSTICES SAYING IN PART, QUOTE, THE PLAINTIFFS DO NOT PRESCRIBE OR USE MIFEPRISTONE AND THE FDA IS NOT REQUIRING THEM TO DO OR REFRAIN FROM DOING SO. RATHER, THE PLAINTIFFS WANT THE FDA TO MAKE MIFEPRISTONE MORE DIFFICULT FOR OTHER DOCTORS TO PRESCRIBE AND FOR PREGNANT WOMEN TO OBTAIN UNDER ARTICLE 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION, THE PLAINTIFF'S DESIRE TO MAKE A DRUG LESS AVAILABLE FOR OTHERS DOES NOT ESTABLISH STANDING TO SUE. JOINING ME NOW ON THAT IS CAROLYN KITCHEN OF THE NATIONAL REPORTER FOR THE WASHINGTON POST WHO COVERS THE ISSUE OF ABORTION. YOU CAN WALK US THROUGH THIS. THIS WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION, THE FIRST THING WE HEARD FROM CAMPAIGN AIDES THROUGH THE BIDEN SIDE AND THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF. THIS IS NOT DONE. MAKE NO MISTAKE. THIS DOES NOT RULE OUT THE POTENTIAL EFFORTS TO TRY TO GET RID OF MIFEPRISTONE. >> THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT ABORTION RULING SINCE THIS COURT OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. THAT BEING SAID, THIS WAS A RULING ON A DECISION OF STANDING WHICH MEANS THAT THE DOCTORS AND THE ANTIABORTION GROUP THAT SUED THE FDA TO TRY TO CURTAIL ACCESS TO MIFEPRISTONE, THEY SIMPLY WERE NOT ABLE TO SHOW THAT THEY WERE INJURED IN ANY WAY. THERE WERE HINTS OF THIS DURING THE ORAL ARGUMENT. YOU HAVE BRETT KAVANAUGH WHO IS A CONSERVATIVE AND HE ASKED, DOCTORS ALREADY SAY THAT YOU WANT TO PERFORM THE ABORTION. YOU CAN ALREADY SAY THAT YOU WANT TO PRESCRIBE AN ABORTION MEDICATION. WHY WOULD YOU BE HERE IN OUR COURT BLOCKING OTHERS? THIS REALLY MEANS THAT THERE COULD BE OTHER PEOPLE IN A SEPARATE CASE THAT COMES FORWARD , A TEACHER, POSSIBLY WHO SAID I TOOK MIFEPRISTONE AND WAS HARMED BY IT OR A DOCTOR WHO SAID HE WAS FORCED TO PRESCRIBE IT. THERE IS A WINDOW, AN OPENING. THERE ARE TALKING POINTS. THIS IS NOT OVER. IT IS NOT SAFE OVERALL BUT FOR WOMEN WHO ARE WATCHING THIS, MIFEPRISTONE FOR NOW IS ACCESSIBLE IN EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS YESTERDAY. >> WALK US THROUGH THIS. THERE IS ONE MORE ABORTION CASE ON DECK. TELL US ABOUT THAT. WE EXPECT THE DECISION TO BE MADE BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH. >> WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THAT DECISION YET. IT IS A CASE THAT IS FOCUSED ON AN IDAHO RULE, A NEAR-TOTAL BAN IN THE STATE. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING THERE IS A FEDERAL LAW THAT IS ABOUT EMERGENCY CARE. THEY ARE SAYING THE NEAR-TOTAL BAN ON ABORTION CONFLICTS WITH FEDERAL LAW THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE EMERGENCY CARE WHICH INCLUDES IF SOMEONE IS HAVING AN ABORTION OR MISCARRIAGE IF THERE IS SOME COMPLICATIONS. YOU CAN'T JUST SAY WELL I DON'T WANT TO HELP YOU. THIS IS A LOT OF THE STORIES WE HEAR FROM DEMOCRATS WHO SAY WOMEN ARE HAVING MISCARRIAGES IN BATHROOMS. WE HEARD FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT WHO WAS VERY QUICK TO COME OUT TODAY AND TALK ABOUT THIS RULING. THERE IS A LOT THAT IS STILL TO BE WATCHED. THERE ARE 25 OTHER RULES THAT WE ARE WAITING FOR THE SUPREME COURT TO MAKE. >> YOU WILL BE JOINING ME ON SUNDAY AT MEET THE PRESS. CAROLINE, LET ME ASK YOU. THE COURT DID NOT HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH THE ISSUE, REALLY, BECAUSE THEY DISMISSED IT ON STANDING. ARE THOSE ANTI-ABORTION-RIGHTS GROUP -- GROUPS VIEWING THIS RIGHT NOW? HOW ARE THEY EXPLORING OTHER ROUTES TO BRING MEDICATION ABORTION BACK BEFORE THE COURT? >> I HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE TODAY SAY TO ME THAT THIS IS NOT OVER, WE ARE NOT DONE. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THEY COULD DO NEXT. ONE IS CERTAINLY CONTINUING THIS CASE WITH DIFFERENT PLAINTIFFS. THERE ARE ALREADY DIFFERENT PLAINTIFFS WAITING IN THE WINGS. SEVERAL STATES HAVE HAD THE GREEN LIGHT ALREADY TO JOIN THE LITIGATION, SAYING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HARMED AS A STATE BUT THE BIGGEST WAY THAT ABORTION PILLS COULD CONCEIVABLY BE CRACKED DOWN ON OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR IS IF TRUMP WINS. THERE IS A LOT THAT A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION COULD DO WITH AN ANTIABORTION HEAD OF THE FDA AND ANTIABORTION HEAD OF HHS TO IMPLEMENT A LOT OF ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS THAT WOULD MAKE ABORTION PILLS MUCH HARDER TO GET NATIONWIDE. >> ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE MORE OF THE TARGETING OF CONSERVATIVE JUDGES LIKE JUDGE KACZMAREK IN THIS CASE? >> I THINK THAT IS HARD TO SAY. KACZMAREK IS ALREADY PLAYING A ROLE BY GREEN LIGHTING THESE ADDITIONAL PLAINTIFFS. IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THESE GROUPS ARE LIKELY TO TARGET THE CONSERVATIVE JUDGES AND THAT KACZMAREK MAY STILL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY. >> LET'S WALK THROUGH THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THIS CASE. WE HEARD FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYING TODAY'S DECISION DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE FIGHT FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM CONTINUES. DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WOMEN LOST THE FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOM. HOW CRUCIAL IS THIS TO DEMOCRATS AND THEIR ELECTORAL HOPES? EVERY TIME I TALK TO THEM, THEY TALK ABOUT DEMOCRACY, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND THE ECONOMY. >> I THINK IT IS ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT FOR DEMOCRATS AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO THESE SUPREME COURT CASES WHICH ARE BIG MOMENTS WHERE THE NATION IS PAYING ATTENTION TO ABORTION TO MAKE THESE POINTS NO MATTER HOW THE SUPREME COURT RULES. LIKE YOU SAID, THEY WERE OUT THERE TODAY SAYING, YES, THIS IS A VICTORY FOR ABORTION RIGHTS BUT IT IS A TEMPORARY ONE AND ONE THAT COULD VERY MUCH CHANGE WITH THE ELECTION. >> WHAT WAS STRIKING FOR ME IS AS WAS DISPLAYED BY THE REPUBLICANS -- HE SAID IT IS UP TO THE STATE. NOW THAT THAT IS HIS FINAL POSITION, EVEN TALKING TO REPUBLICANS ABOUT IT TODAY, HE DREW MIXED REACTION. ARE VOTERS -- WHERE DO VOTERS FALL ON THIS ISSUE RIGHT NOW? THE FORMER PRESIDENT MADE CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT A GOOD ISSUE FOR HIM AND REPUBLICANS. THERE IS REAL CONCERN IN MY CONVERSATION ABOUT REPUBLICANS ABOUT THE STATE WHERE THERE ARE ABORTION RELATED BALLOT ITEMS THAT WILL BE THERE THIS FALL. >> I THINK FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TRYING REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW TO WALK A VERY FINE LINE AND STRIKE A VERY DIFFICULT BALANCE BY SAYING THAT IT IS UP TO THE STATES BUT THEN, YOU SAW A MONTH OR TWO AGO, WHEN THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT CAME DOWN WITH A DECISION SAYING WE ARE GREEN LIGHTING THIS BAN, THEN YOU SAW HIM STEP BACK AND SAY, WE SHOULD NOT LEAVE THIS TO THAT DECISION, TO THAT COURT. WE SHOULD TRY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING, I THINK. IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE HE WANTS TO ENTIRELY LEAVE IT TO THE STATE. >> WE WILL BE WATCHING THIS VERY CLOSELY. A LOT OF AMERICANS WILL AS WELL. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR EXPERTISE ON THIS TOPIC. COMING UP, MORE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DEBATE OVER REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AS A GROUP SENDS A MAJOR MESSAGE TO THE EVANGELICAL MOVEMENT BY FORMALLY OPPOSING IN VITRO F SPACE. >> STAY TUNED NOW, WEEKNIGHTS ON NBC NEWS NOW. >>> THIS AFTERNOON, REPUBLICANS BLOCK THE DEMOCRATIC EFFORT TO ENSHRINE PROTECTIONS FOR IN VITRO FERTILIZATION IN THE LAW. DEMOCRATS BLOCKED THE NARROW REPUBLICAN BILL LAST NIGHT. HEAD OF THE VOTE, ALL 49 SENATE REPUBLICANS SIGNED A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE FERTILITY TREATMENT ACCUSING DEMOCRATS OF WHAT THEY CALL SCARE TACTICS. THIS WEEK, THE DEBATE OVER IVF TREATMENT SURFACED AT THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, THE NATION'S LARGEST PROTESTANT DENOMINATION AND SENT A MAJOR MESSAGE YESTERDAY BY VOTING TO FORMALLY OPPOSE IVF TREATMENTS. THAT ALIGNS WITH THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT RULING IN MARCH THAT FROZEN EMBRYOS ARE CONSIDERED CHILDREN WITH FULL HUMAN RIGHTS. THAT RULING TEMPORARILY STOPPED IVF TREATMENTS IN THE STATE, FORCING THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE TO INTERVENE. JOINING ME NOW IS NATIONAL RELIGION CORRESPONDENT FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES, ALSO THE CO- AUTHOR OF THE FALL OF ROE, THE RISE OF A NEW AMERICA. ELIZABETH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME. I DO WANT TO BEGIN ON THIS VOTE BY THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. IT IS NOT A BAN. TELL US WHAT DOES THIS -- WHY DID THEY CHOOSE TO HOLD IT AS WE TALK ABOUT THE LARGEST PROTESTANT DENOMINATION IN THE COUNTRY? IS THERE A CONSENSUS ON THE ETHICS OF IVF? >> THIS WAS A MONUMENTAL DECISION BY THE BAPTIST CONVENTION, THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS MOVEMENT WAS SAID, THE LARGEST EVANGELICAL LED PROTESTANT NOMINATION IN THE U.S., THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY MADE THIS FORMAL STATEMENT ABOUT IVF. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE GOTTEN SINCE THE OVERTURNING OF ROE AND EVEN IN THE SUPREME COURT DECISION, DESPITE THE ACCESS TO ABORTION, WE ARE SEEING THIS DOUBLING DOWN BY CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN MINORITY OF THE COUNTRY THAT IS EAGER TO PRESS AHEAD WITH THEIR GOALS NOT JUST WITH LIMITING ABORTION BUT COMING TO A LOGICAL CONCLUSION. THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU HAVE A RELIGIOUS BELIEF THAT LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION. A GROUP OF SOUTHERN BAPTISTS DECIDED, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT THROUGH. LET'S OPPOSE IVF. THIS IS ALREADY CONTROVERSIAL WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. NOMINATION OF 13 MILLION PEOPLE, THIS GROUP OF 10,000 THAT VOTED FOR THIS. IT IS QUITE DRAMATIC. >> THAT IS RIGHT, THE 10,000 VOTERS REPRESENTING A GROUP OF 13 MILLION IN THE COUNTRY. DOES THE APPROACH TO IVF COMPARED TO OTHER CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS? >> CATHOLICS TEND TO BE MORE OPPOSING OF IVF. THERE HAS BEEN A MOVE ABOUT THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE PAST DECADE OF EMERGING ABOUT CONSERVATIVE CATHOLIC AND EVANGELICAL POLITICS. WE ARE WATCHING PAULA TIPS SHAKE -- POLITICS SHAPE THE COUNTRY. THEY ARE SAYING THEY HAVE FEARS ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD MEAN. I AM VERY CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THEY DO NEXT. LET'S PUT THIS INTO POLITICAL CONTEXT. THIS COMES MONTH AFTER THE ALABAMA COURT RULING. AS LAWMAKERS ARE GRAPPLING WITH PROTECTIONS FOR IVF, WHAT KIND OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE DOES A GROUP LIKE THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST HAVE ON ISSUES LIKE THIS? WHAT DOES IT TELL US ABOUT THE WAY THIS WILL GO IN WASHINGTON? >> IT IS NOTABLE THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ADDRESSED THIS IN CONGRESS. HE HAS BEEN MORE VOCAL SAYING THAT HE WOULD PROTECT IVF. HE IS ALSO CONTINUING TO COURT THIS HEART EDGE -- HEART EDGE OF THE CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN RIGHT. THIS PARTICULAR SECTION HE WAS SPEAKING TO WAS THE GROUP WITHIN THIS CONVENTION THAT ONCE THE TOTAL ABOLITION OF ABORTION WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS OF ANY KIND. THEY ARE VERY ACTIVE IN POLITICS. THERE WAS THIS UNDER THE RADAR NETWORK OF CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD, FOR YEARS, ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V WADE. >> I JUST WANTED YOUR TAKE ON A FINAL TAKE. GIVEN THE MIFEPRISTONE RULING TODAY BY THE NATION'S HIGHEST COURT, WHAT YOU ARE HEARING WITHIN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND REACTIONS TO THAT TO THE POINT THAT A LOT OF THE PRESIDENTS THEMSELVES ARE SAYING THIS SEEMS LIKE A FIGHT THAT IS NOT DONE YET. >> LAWYERS WHO WERE ARGUING -- THEY WERE DEFENDING FREEDOM. THEY WERE MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V WADE, ALL OF THIS BEHIND THE SCENES WORK IN THE BOOK. THIS IS A LONG GAME. FOR THEM, IT IS A LOSS BUT IT IS NOT THE END. >> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EXPERTISE. >> BIDEN'S QUARTERBACK, THE WE KNOW. >> NEWS FOR THE GENERATION OF NOW IS NBC NEWS NOW. >>> WELCOME BACK. IN AN EFFORT TO SHORE UP SUPPORT, THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN IS LAUNCHING A NEW AD PLAYING UP ITS ECONOMIC MESSAGE. >> I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO STRUGGLE. I KNOW MANY AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING EVERY DAY TO GET BY. THAT IS WHY NO ONE SHOULD STOP ME FROM FIGHTING FOR LOWER COSTS FOR FOOD AND RENT. >> THE AD COMES AS PRESIDENT BIDEN FACES CRITICISM FROM SOME DEMOCRATS OVER THE EXECUTIVE ACTION HE TOOK LAST WEEK TO CRACKDOWN ON ASYLUM CLAIMS THAT THE SOUTHERN BORDER. THE ACLU ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT IT WAS SUING THE WHITE HOUSE OVER THE NEW ASYLUM RULE THAT CAME A DAY AFTER A GROUP OF 18 HOUSE DEMOCRATS URGED THE PRESIDENT IN A LETTER TO DROP THE ASYLUM RULES. MEANWHILE, SEVERAL HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIALS TELL US THAT THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS CROSSING ILLEGALLY HAS FALLEN BY 29% IN THE WEEK SINCE THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THAT EXECUTIVE ACTION AND OFFICIALS ARE STILL RELEASING SOME OF THOSE BORDER CROSSERS INSIDE THE UNITED STATES. JOINING ME NOW IS CONGRESSWOMAN, DEMOCRAT FROM CALIFORNIA, CHAIR OF THE CONGRESSIONAL HISTORIC -- HISPANIC CONGRESS. THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS CROSSING INTO THE USA LEGALLY IS DOWN BY ABOUT 25%. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GLITCHES TO THIS POINT. WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THIS HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN TRYING TO STEM THE FLOW OF MIGRANTS ENTERING THE U.S.? >> IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL. WHEN THERE IS A NEW ORDER, WE FEEL A BIT OF A DROP OFF. IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL WHETHER IT IS EFFECTIVE OR NOT. I THINK THE GREATER CONCERN THAT I HAVE AND THAT THE ENTIRE CAUCUS HAS IS WHETHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE VALID ASYLUM CLAIMS ARE BEING TURNED AWAY. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT HERE AND THAT IS AN AMERICAN VALUE. >> DID YOU CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A LEGAL AUTHORITY? DO THEY HAVE THAT AUTHORITY TO NOT ALLOW THEM INTO THE UNITED STATES? >> THAT IS WHY THERE IS A LAWSUIT GOING ON. WE KNOW THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT USES AUTHORITY AND IT WAS SHOT DOWN. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE COURTS WILL DECIDE. WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING THE PRESIDENT TO DO IS, IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE ACTION THAT IS ENFORCEMENT ONLY, THAT DOES NOT WORK FOR VOTERS. IF YOU HAD TO DO ENFORCEMENT POLICY, MAKE SURE YOU PAIR THEM WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE. MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING PROTECTIONS FOR UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY FOR A LONG TIME. CONGRESS HAS FAILED TO ACT. THAT IS WHAT WE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE HIM AND IMPLORE HIM TO DO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. >> THERE HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT ABOUT THE URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK HE SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS? >> REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT TO HELP DO ANYTHING. THEY ARE PREVENTING OUR ABILITY TO GET THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER FROM OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, MORE PROCESSING, MORE JUDGES. >> THEY SAY THE PRESIDENT COULD DO THINGS UNILATERALLY AS WELL. THEY CLAIM THAT HE COULD SHUT DOWN THE BORDER. WHAT YOU THINK YOU COULD DO UNILATERALLY, ACKNOWLEDGING THE RELUCTANCE TO PROVIDE ANYTHING? >> THE FIRST QUESTION IS, ARE THERE WAYS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES? THERE ARE SOME THAT SAY INVOKING THE STANFORD ACT, THERE IS A CRISIS AND IT WILL ALLOW US TO GET MORE RESOURCES. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE MORE PATHWAYS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO COME BETWEEN THE PORTS OF ENTRY. REMEMBER, THAT IS WHY. THEY CAN'T GO TO A PORT OF ENTRY FOR THEY CAN'T GET AN APPOINTMENT. PEOPLE WHO ARE DEFINITELY -- DESPERATELY FLEEING VIOLENCE NEED A PATHWAY TO COME RIGHT NOW. THAT IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IS CONTRARY TO WHAT THE ASYLUM LAW PROVIDES. >> THERE IS A POLICY, POLITICS. PRESIDENT BIDEN WON HISPANIC AND LATINO BOAT BY 32 POINTS IN 2020 BUT OUR OWN RECENT POLLING SHOWS PRESIDENT BIDEN LEADING DONALD TRUMP BY 10 POINTS AMONG LATINO VOTERS. HE IS 17 POINTS UNDERWATER ACCORDING TO THE RECENT POLLING WHEN IT COMES TO LATINO VOTERS' APPROVAL OF THE WAY HE IS HANDLING HIS JOB. HOW DOES HE TURN THOSE NUMBERS AROUND? WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT FAILING TO SAY TO RESONATE? ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT IS NOT ANYTHING. >> ONE POLL SAYS ONE THING AND ANOTHER POLL SAYS SOMETHING ELSE. WE GOT TO GO ENGAGE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE DONE. THEY GO TO THESE GROWING LATINO POPULATED AREAS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE BUT THEN WHAT HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO. TAKE A LOOK AT THE INFORMATION AND THE DATA. WHAT HE IS FIGHTING FOR HIS WHAT LATINAS WANT. WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WITH STATES LIMITING ACCESS TO WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND ABORTION, YOU HAVE LATINOS THAT OVERWHELMINGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A RIGHT THEY SHOULD HAVE. 81% OF LATINOS ARE BELIEVED THAT THERE SHOULD BE THE ABILITY FOR WOMEN TO GET REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AND AN ABORTION. THAT IS SOMETHING TRUMP DID NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT. >> REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ARE IMPORTANT. THAT IS WHY THE PRESIDENT FOCUSES ON THE ECONOMY. SHOULD LATINOS BE SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THE PRESIDENT HAS HANDLED THE ECONOMY? PRICES REMAIN TOO HIGH FOR A LOT OF AMERICANS. INFLATION COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC WAS QUITE HIGH, A 40 YEAR RECORD. SHOULD THEY BE SATISFIED? >> I THINK THAT YOU DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AND SAY BIDEN HAS BEEN A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS FOR LATINOS. UNEMPLOYMENT IS AT A LOW NUMBER. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE COULD TALK ABOUT. THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING. SOME OF THESE POLICIES HAVE NOT GONE INTO EFFECT YET. IT IS CREATING JOBS. WHAT KIND OF JOBS? CONSTRUCTION JOBS. >> HOW DO YOU MAKE THEM FEEL IT? >> SOME OF IT IS THAT THE POLICIES HAVE NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED. LOOK AT THE IRA AND THE SAVINGS THERE. THE ENERGY SAVINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL HAVE NOT BEEN ROLLED OUT YET. THIS IS THE NEW ARGUMENT. THIS PRESIDENT INHERITED A HORRIBLE SITUATION WITH DONALD TRUMP WITH COVID. >> THAT IS NOT THE POPULATION WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH LATINOS.>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. WE ARE BACK TOMORROW, AND RIGHT NOW NBC NEWS COVERAGE CONTINUES WITH TOM COSTELLO.
