Meet the Press NOW — August 21

Welcome to a very special edition of Meet the Press now live from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago I'm Kristin Welker on day three of the action here in the windy city on what the Harris campaign is dubbing quote walls Wednesday You can see the vice presidential nominee doing his walk through on the stage earlier today as he prepares to introduce himself to the country and as Republicans ramp up Their attacks on him ahead of Governor Wallace's keynote We'll hear from some Democratic heavyweights including former President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi It comes after walls and Harris made a brief appearance at last night's convention remotely while rallying supporters in Milwaukee Harris telling packed arenas in both cities that she and walls were quote honored to be the party's nominees and Capping off the night two of the Democratic Party's most popular figures and electrifying speakers America hope is making a comeback In back-to-back speeches the Obama's framed Harris's candidacy and the momentum around it as a continuation of the hope and change movement That rocketed Obama to the White House 16 years ago Both the former president and former first lady also warning the party against retreating into familiar fights over polarization and division Our politics have become so polarized these days that all of us across the political spectrum Seem so quick to assume the worst in others unless they agree with us on every single issue We start thinking that the only way to win is to scold and shame and out yell the other side and after a while regular folks Just to nap or they don't bother to vote we cannot be our own worst enemies No Because the minute something goes wrong the minute a lie takes hold folks we cannot start ringing our hands We cannot indulge our anxieties about whether this country will elect some like like Kamala Instead of doing everything we can to get someone like Kamala elected But perhaps what stood out most last night where they're repeated and frankly blistering attacks on former president Trump I want to know tell him who's gonna tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those black jobs It has been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that that's actually been getting worse now that he's afraid of losing to Kamala There's the childish nicknames the crazy conspiracy theories this weird obsession with crowd sizes Joining me now is our team NBC News senior White House correspondent Kelli O'Donnell on the convention floor von Hilliard is in North Carolina We're former president Trump spoke this afternoon and with me on set of course is NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd Kelli O let's start things off with you you have been reporting on what we can expect to hear from governor waltz tonight Obviously his challenge is really filling in the blanks. Who is Tim waltz. What are you hearing about what we can expect to hear from him? Well, Christian advisors tell him to acknowledge that treat it like a blank slate that the country probably doesn't know much about you So tell the whole story and they will do that in a couple of ways They will emphasize his life of service as a teacher as a coach as someone who spent 24 years in the National Guard And then chose to serve in Congress and as governor of Minnesota part of what will be different is they are not having Gwen Walls who is his wife and the first lady of Minnesota introduce him instead They'll have a student do that and they're having Gwen walls narrate a video that will tell us a lot of those pieces about the dad Emphasizing the rural roots and some of the personality stuff to introduce governor walls in a way that they hope will be relatable We were able to get an exclusive advance clip of that.

Here's a portion of it Then Tim's students inspired him to run for Congress in southern Minnesota Tim spent a lot of time working with Republicans fighting to help farmers and expanding veterans benefits Whether it was in Congress or as governor his focus has always been helping working people like those he grew up with Part of the intentions for Tim walls to be someone who can speak to rural parts of the country the blue wall states and to be someone that is Relatable in some ways that maybe Democrats have had a harder time trying to attract and certainly in the Trump era And part of his challenge will be to also make the case for Kamala Harris So expect that to be a big part of what he needs to do tonight I'm told it will be a personal speech and a patriotic one and it will certainly be one of the biggest nights of his life Kristen It certainly will be Kelly, you know, it's interesting because governor walls and vice president Harris didn't exactly have a very close Relationship prior to her picking him to serve as her running mate Where do things stand now and how will that be on display tonight Kelly? Well, one of the things that advisors have talked about is that he has been known to the party was the head of the Democratic Association and people were tracking some of the policies he was carrying out Minnesota so known to the party and then so much of it about the personal connection and chemistry that they were able to build also when his team made him a surrogate prior to Kamala Harris even becoming the nominee and seeing what he was able to do in telling the Democrat story on cable news and elsewhere Help to advance his case to make him a top choice among the shortlisters Then ultimately her actual choice for running mate So part of what I've also been told is that the people around Kamala Harris have noticed from the first moment of their interactions That he is quite governor walls quite comfortable Playing a supporting role to Kamala Harris not feeling like he has to be the lead of the ticket not feeling like he has to outshine her But to try to complement what she brings to it And that of course is an asset in the very abbreviated race that they are looking at Yeah, and they really highlighted that in their initial rollout in Philadelphia. Kelly O'Donnell. Thank you so much for that Let's turn to von Hilliard von 76 days from election day.

We just heard from former president Trump talk about the key takeaways Chris and I think the top takeaway is the number that you just mentioned 76 days until election day And why is that pertinent? Well four years ago? We learned that election day was really just the beginning and that for the next two months the transfer of power was more than rocky But it was violent on January 6th There were hundreds thousands of individuals who attacked the u.s. Capitol to try to stop the certification of Joe Biden's win And from him taking the White House and that was due in large part to Donald Trump making the claims repeatedly that the 2020 election had been stolen And in these last weeks We have heard Donald Trump begin to leave the foundation for the ability to claim in 2024 here Just two and a half months from now that this election is stolen from him and quite explicitly on this stage here Just a few moments ago, Kristen Donald Trump He said explicitly our primary focus is not to get out the vote It is to make sure they don't cheat because we have all the votes will need you can see it All the houses along the ways with all the signs we have the numbers And so Donald Trump at a time in the last weeks in which he is openly questioned whether the crowds that Kamala Harris is garnering across the country are real And the also the reality that he has argued that the New York case against him amounts to election interference He's also claimed that Google is interfering in this election Donald Trump here telling the crowd that he has the numbers to win this election and all but essentially stating that the only way that he would lose this election Is if the other side here cheats And so I think this has been a very difficult month for Donald Trump watching his poll numbers flip with Kamala Harris going to the top of the ticket And we are now watching him in real time effectively laying the groundwork to claim that the 2024 election is stolen So really Donald Trump is saying it very clearly that his effort is not towards trying to get out the votes at this point Because he feels like that or has the numbers and he is highlighting the idea that this election would potentially be stolen again As of course he falsely claimed the 2020 election ones All right, Bon Hill here.

Thank you so much for that from North Carolina as you've been talking we've been listening to a sound check here Stevie Wonder he just wrapped up I think can we see him on stage yet? We can still see him there on stage We should say that we saw John legend doing a sound check earlier today So things are really getting underway the energy is building here inside the United Center and I'm here with Chuck Todd to talk about all of it So here we are on day three Chuck before we talk about what you're expecting tonight Let's talk about what happened last night. Yeah, the fact that we saw Michelle Obama Well, frankly, we have never seen before what did you make of what we heard from her and from the former president? Look, she's she's had a lot to get off her chest.

Yes, right? I got I got some things And we also know that there's a personal issue between her and the bites and it's personal It's not political. It's not you know, we know it's personal. You guys want to Google what that is.

I encourage you I'm not gonna go down that storyline But she would have been here if there's a joke I can mention and so that's an important thing to understand which made her early lines going Feeling something finally, you know, it wasn't a personal shot People want to say it's a personal shot at the Biden's no It was a shot at the era yeah that we were in it and the fact that she wasn't alone here She was speaking to all those voters the double haters the people that couldn't stand the fact that it was Biden and Trump were the choices And there were some you know 70% of the country wanting different choices So that's what I thought she is so good at which is sort of getting out of the political predictable left-right political paradigms And you know, I think we we sort of There's almost this well, of course you get great speech. I said I go she doesn't do this for a living right, you know Of course Obama gave a great speech of course it they did it for a living every four years I'm we are already reminded going oh my god. This is one of the best public speakers in America And she's not you know a practicing politician if you will so look I think she did it she she was sort of she hit Trump without It's you know, it wasn't like you know below the bell it was this a little bit mockery Which I do think that both of the Obamas went there and it's that's the biggest home change from Biden to Harris Right Biden was painting a picture of this dark menacing Donald Trump Obama's always treated Donald Trump as the celebrity apprentice Right, I mean going back to the White House correspondents dinner riff back in 2011 to the I've been amused at all the different euphemisms That were used today to describe the joke about the former president made It was probably something a lot more for people like television saw perhaps than some people in the room fully You can see it was sort of like an on-the-way homer, right? That's where some of them got it later But that is the big tone change which is into walls has been doing that too and I expect more of that That's the that's the through line I expect from last night to tonight is I think to walls will continue the mockery of Trump versus the dark menacing threat Such a fascinating point because Biden won with that messaging in 2020, but it seemed like people couldn't hear that anymore in 2024 Right, you're like well, it's all dark.

You're not any you're not more light Yeah, that was the problem by itself wasn't presenting like yeah, so here we are and you said Monday night really was official past the torch night Yesterday was Kamala Harris's convention starting in earnest tonight is a huge test for governor Tim walls You know for ten Americans saying they don't really know enough about him to know whether they trust him or not What are you gonna be looking for tonight? It's a huge opportunity for him, you know, and actually you know We haven't had this sort of this least known of a running mates since Sarah Palin and I think it's instructed to go back to Sarah Palin Because Sarah Palin electrified her convention. Sarah Palin had a tremendous first 20 days And and so and yet she was also an unknown figure So her mistakes were also quickly could overshadow things But she gave her terrific speech because she she came at it as an every person, right? And that's what walls I think so assuming that's the theme, you know She went with hockey mom, you know He's going with you know girl that right type of thing But I think there's something to that that if the more he leans on being a public school teacher being a coach sort of growing up middle-class Living a middle-class life before jumping into the political arena I think that's certainly gonna connect with this room This is people need to remember a lot of the delegates are teachers The teacher's union is always a huge and so he's really gonna play well in this room But Kelly O'Donnell made a point earlier to me and which was hey teachers know how to They know how to explain things to keep the attention of people like it's tough to get teenagers to listen to you So that's probably a real asset.

That's great. You will be speaking American not necessarily Political washing well speaking of explaining things and you and I were talking about this obviously we covered the Obama administration Together and when he was running for reelection Bill Clinton played the role of explainer in chief right particularly on economics because Barack Obama could not run or you better off now than you were four years ago because of the great recession They had a twist they changed the message or you'd be better off four years from now from now And that's what Bill Clinton helped you yeah And it seemed like former president Obama was taking that mantle a little bit elder statesmen Yep, and it's starting to explain to people here's why Kamala Harris will be better for you ultimately Well, and I really think what he did very well and sort of Michelle Obama was separate Kamala Harris from the Joe Biden wing of the party I you know if you think about it, you know Obama was sort of the new fresh face Progressives thought he was one of them. I think he was not an any camp I think as it turns out, but he felt like he had to go with a little bit of the old guard and so Biden was the old Guard you could actually see here Biden was the old guard with Kamala Harris She was part of the quote new guard or part of that so it's just always kind of been a fusion here Even though they're all you know been working together And I and I think that this is an opportunity Kamala Harris has is to separate herself from Biden without being rude about it Yeah, but to say hey, I come I came up differently Then Biden I didn't come up through the political wars of the 70s the most appealing thing about Barack Obama is that he didn't go through the wars of the 90s and that's I think in the words of the 90s So shaped the Bidens the Clintons into to this day at shape celery Clinton you can still feel that Biden is still sort of you can feel That he was shaped by those culture wars of the 90s Obama That's what made him such a fresh fresh face here, and I think that's Kamala Harris's possibility And that's what Obama I thought made really did well with last night was making the case Hey, she's not she's not a veteran of those old culture wars She will go about this different. Yeah, very quickly because I'm getting a wrap I know you're learning our here is gonna make a speech on Friday teasing the possibility of dropping out maybe endorsing Trump How big of a deal would that be if he's a hurry up and drop out to be relevant?

Yeah, because he's every day he was losing relevance every day his numbers were shrinking every day his donors were going away I don't think he has any juice left. I'll be honest the candidate switch took away 75% of his support that was at all Democratic they're already back with Harris. What's left? I think is gadfly vote.

I don't think it even goes to Trump I think this is a much ado about nothing now. I think this is gadfly candidate drops out There's only coverage if we choose to cover it well, you call it first when there was a change at the top of the ticket The third party candidate just all go away. There's always gonna be two to four percent of the people not wanting major part But that's the nor yeah, all right Chuck great to see you watching tonight Thank you for sure coming up next to top Democratic Congresswoman from battleground Michigan will be here to talk messaging momentum and taking on Trump But first we're taking a look back at some of the memorable and historic moments from past Democratic conventions like this one 1960 John F Kennedy accepting the nomination in what would become known as his new frontier speech We are not here at the curse of darkness. We are here to light a candle as Winston Churchill said on taking office So I'm 20 years ago if we open a quarrel between the president and the past we shall be in danger of losing the future Today, I'm sure it must be with that future But the world is changing the old era attending the old ways will not do We'll remember Joe Biden as an outstanding president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger And I am proud to call him my president, but I am even prouder to call him my friend And welcome back that was former president Barack Obama with attributed his former running mate at the beginning of his remarks last night in a notable Turning of the page tonight one of the convention those comments for the sir Obama We're one of just a few mentions of the sitting president on night to joining me now is Michigan Democratic Congressmen Go to his chair of the House Democratic policy and communications committee Congressman, thank you for being here.

We are gonna chat at a moment over the pause for a second Listen to Stevie Wonder Yes, you don't often get to hear this. We're gonna go to Stevie Wonder And that was the great Stevie Wonder doing a sound check Congress when we also saw John legend doing a sound check earlier today Are we're gonna have to just talk a little loud to make sure our voices are heard talk about the energy heading tonight free? What are you anticipating to hear from Governor Walt tonight? I think he's gonna be Tim Early 2000 he and John work with friends and but I think the rest of the country needs to get to know We know that a lot of people don't know who he is and I think they're just gonna see real mid-western roots Yeah, we last night.

Let's talk a little bit about it. It was Electrified the crowd here. Let's start with former president Obama who was arguably a little upstage by the first lady last night He acknowledged that himself, but you know, he really tried to paint a difference a little bit between Harris administration and a Biden administration We didn't hear a whole lot about president Biden last night What do you think he was arguing is the main difference between Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden? I think what he's trying to do was to focus all of us on the future And as I've said Joe Biden did a great job, but unless you can to the vice president has begin to lay out What her policy priorities would be one it is going to be economic.

It's about helping people being able to Afford their own homes or to rent to address food at the grocery store I mean the economy is still real in many people's lives And I think we have to do a real comparison between what she's going to do and how Donald Trump has stated very clearly But he's going to do he's gonna cut billionaires taxes and those corporations who want to locate overseas cut their taxes too And yet former president Trump gets higher marks on the economy Then vice president Harris, what does she need to do to convince people in Michigan that she would do a better job? Because clearly she hasn't done that yet. It's I understanding her campaign But I want to say this I think we all have a responsibility to I quite frankly don't think this was if you remember in 216 I said Democrats did a terrible job of talking about trade and we all have to be talking about the economy that she Dismistration hasn't gotten enough credit for what was actually accomplished. What was done in the bipartisan bill What was done in the IRA all of us have to be talking about the economy what we're going to do to help address the inflation But showing that compassion and empathy for people are hurting.

We need to understand people are still hurting Yeah, I want to play a little bit of what the former first lady had to say get to reaction on the other side Take a listen and our primary focus is not to get out the vote It's to make sure they don't cheat because we have all the votes you need you can see it every house along the way has signs Trump Trump Trump Trump fans Trump fans and by the way Okay, so that was for a resident Donald Trump I want to get your reaction to that as well and just just so that folks have a chance to really process What he said our primary focus is not to get out the vote It is to make sure they don't cheat. What do you make of that? So I'm gonna say several things when I am very worried about what happens after the election and I have said that before to people He does not agree that he will accept the results of the election And I think we all need to worry about people's trust in institution and what's gonna happen too I have always been crazy about signs and yell at everybody look at the signs and I'm reminded reminded repeatedly signs Don't vote people doing so that doesn't mean anything and he does need to make sure he gets his votes out And if his votes aren't there which I'm hoping that they're not gonna be but taking nothing for granted He's gonna have to accept the real results of this election and we need to be demanding that Republicans are going to accept The real results of this election if the election is close though. Let's say if vice president Harris were to win, but it's close Do you worry that again?

You'd be in a situation like 2020 in other words Adam Schiff has said the only way to prevent that is by a huge victory Do you see it that way? I think the first lady tried to say that last night as well that we do need to because he will look he's gonna play the card We've already seen him do do it once we saw January 6 so people need to understand every about matters We need to turn out the votes in the future of democracy is at stake in November you bring up the first lady So now let's listen to what the first lady had to say last night We do have that sound bite now. Let's take a look something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn't it? You know, we're feeling it here in this arena, but it's spreading all across this country We love a familiar feeling that's been buried too deep for far too long You know what I'm talking about it's the contagious power of hope It's fascinating because it's almost as if she and former president Obama We're trying to impose the hope and change message a little bit to give it if you will to vice president Kamala Harris Did you see it that way and also notable obviously she didn't mention president Biden?

I think I love president Biden and we all need to he was a great president But now we are looking to the future and we're not gonna go back We're not gonna go back on a lot of things That's Donald Trump wants to take his back on a lot of things I think look if you're out there campaigning or out and about like I am at 20 events by the end of a weekend or 25 There is people are feeling more positive. They're feeling more energy Donald Trump pits people against each other He fans the fire of eight. We need to get rid of this We can disagree agreeably We need to bring civility back and I think people are tired of this hatred and this bitterness and this bullying that's out there And people want to feel better about each other and we can find a way to talk to each other in ways that bring us hope about our communities Let me ask you broadly speaking there Only 76 days left in this campaign in 2020 when Kamala Harris was running She said that she supported things like defunding the police banning fracking the campaign has said no She won't no longer stands by those policy positions But does she need to explain how she got from point a to point B? Does she need to do a better job of that?

We need to look where did she need to do a better job? But the woman has like transformed her life into weeks so that implies she's not doing a good job in defining who she is You won't talk about those issues in the next few weeks and get the issues in our people of mind up there But Republicans are not going to define who we are on these issues Democrats need to define and tell people who she is and who we are very quickly two months ago You were very worried about Michigan. Where do you stand now? I'm not on a sugar high.

I'm not Debbie Downer I'm Debbie determined it is a purple state and we are going to be purple until election day And we cannot stop working until those falls are closed in every left vote is counted Which was 3 a.m. On the Michigan campus. How's that first Logan Debbie determined? There you go.

All right Well, thank you for joining us congress. I really appreciate it's always appreciate your perspective Turning down to the scene outside this arena where a pro-Palestinian protest is set to begin very shortly It comes after some confrontations between police and protesters last night local officials say between 55 and 60 people were arrested during that Pro-Palestinian demonstration which was organized by a leftist group with military leanings the protests began peacefully in front of the Israeli Consulate but soon intensified as protesters got unruly ignoring calls to disperse and marching directly into the police line And be seen his course by the best by covered last night's protesters at the scene of tonight's planned demonstration Maggie said the scene. What are things like there right now? Yes, of course and you can see behind me.

It's a very different scene from what we saw last night I want to point that out This is the Chicago Coalition for Justice of Palestine as people were busting from mosques all over the Chicago area They're planning here in the next few minutes or so I'm open now to march toward the United Center toward the DNC We're about a half mile from there at this point But I contrast this this peaceful rally to the video that we have from last night last night The grip behind that demonstration was called behind enemy lines that left this organization with militant leanings that you were talking about And when we say it started peacefully we made it was that way for like a couple minutes tops They pretty quickly as I said they would online marched to and clash with police ladies numbers from Chicago PD 56 people at that protest Which took over the streets of the West side of Chicago Detained the majority of them cited for misdemeanors cited for things like disorderly conduct and resisting police officer nine charge with misdemeanors Overtopers and two police officers and two demonstrators were injured last night So Chicago police hoping to kind of keep the temperature down today. It's a good imagine Absolutely a Maggie Vespa you have been out there throughout the course of this week Thank you for your great reporting. Please continue to stay safe my friend good to see you Thank you for joining me I'm joined now by my great panel here with me or two former Democratic members of Congress Florida Stephanie Murphy and New York Steve Israel also joining us is Lonnie Chen a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and the policy director for Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign He is also an NBC News contributor. Thanks to all of you for being here.

It's great to see you both Yeah, Stephanie, let me start with you. Let's start right where Maggie was outside with the protesters What has your reaction been to what has been unfolding outside and has it in any way? Do you think overshadowed the sense of unity that is trying to be projected here inside? You know what we've seen outside is Predominantly peaceful protests and we are the Democratic Party we respect American citizens right to gather and to have free speech And so I think that it is well well and good that they are doing that inevitably though in the environment We live in where people are seeking headlines and those conflict moments There are going to be folks who aren't interested in that peaceful protest and I think you saw a little bit of that last night But I think on the whole it hasn't disrupted the sense of unity every night you walk into this arena and you feel the energy in the unity And the forward-looking purpose for this party What have you gleaned from the speeches so far?

What was your reaction to hearing the Obama's last night and do you think that they can keep that electrifying tone heading into tonight with Tim Well, look if somebody had told me five weeks ago that it would take me three powers on a long line to get into the United Center for the Democratic National Convention that members of Congress former members of Congress donors activists would have to wait to get in I would have said what planet you live on we were ready to drink funeral crepe on this We are seeing the most breathtaking consolidation of energy and optimism that I've ever seen in politics and you saw it last night You'll see it again tonight. I will say this I may not be I get Debbie determined and Debbie down I'm not Steve Sanguine. I think this is going to be a very close election There's a lot of runway, and we may not know who wins this until after election day I think you're absolutely we're racing for a potentially long week. That's for sure, Lonnie Let me get your take on what we've seen so far It was so interesting during the Republican National Convention the headline really was a party unified around Donald Trump It was literally on the heels of the assassination attempt against the former president and the room just felt completely unified and electrified What do you make of what and what do you think Republicans are making when they look at what they're seeing here at the Democratic National Convention?

The fact that it seems equally unified and fired up well I think it reflects the reality you're gonna have two very motivated political bases coming out of the Republican convention We saw that with the Republican base of support that continues to be the strategy of the Trump campaign Which is to drive up support with that Republican base and Republican leaning independence and coming out of the Democratic Party convention this week There's no doubt you'll have a unified and energized Democratic Party So two energized bases they're gonna go after a very very small percentage of the vote in six or seven states That really will be the formula for success And I think this race has reset and in some ways the expectation coming out of this week for Republicans is that Kamala Harris is going to Continue to enjoy polling bump now How much of that remains once we get into Labor Day and beyond that'll be the big question and ultimately determine where the selection goes No, I think that it's such a great point because you know Steve There's this big question has Kamala Harris already gotten her convention bump because of the way that the torch was passed What is your take on that and what are you anticipating tonight? Well ironically she stepped on Trump's convention bump when President Biden decided to withdraw from the race And look we've had a bit of a monopoly on earned media over the past several weeks. We have dominated messaging It's not always gonna be like this Trump will respond They will respond with big TV buys in those battleground states They'll do everything they have to do to equalize this and so I do I agree with money This will matter more after Labor Day and will matter among that small segment of undecided moderate voters The ones that you always knew how to win in Florida. They've not they're just doing it now And that's where the message is most vital Stephanie what it's tomorrow's have to do to win over those voters Steve's talking about I think he needs to lean into his personal story because what we have time for right now is to Seem up the idea that they share the same values as these swing voters and voters that Non-college educated white voters those voters need to know that these leaders share have similar life experiences and care about them So that they believe that when they get elected they will serve them You know, it's interesting because former president Trump has been railing about the fact that he has been mentioned so many times I think the count is now up to 200 Do you think Democrats are over-indexing on focusing on him?

I mean it was extraordinary to hear former first lady Michelle Obama take the gloves off We've never seen that side of her before and here's why a democratic party that is historically undisciplined on message has found finally found Somebody who can discipline us on message and his name is Donald Trump Oh, so he has been the one force in American politics that has made Democrats more pragmatic They've suspended their individual ideological beliefs for as if this is a referendum on Donald Trump we turn out our base And we also turn out those moderate independent voters in those swing states Lonnie, what do you make of the fact that there has been such a focus on Donald Trump? Do you think that that creates a bit of an opening for Republicans or is it smart strategy for Democrats? Well, this is actually super important point because essentially what Democrats are trying to do is to turn this into an election That is a referendum on Donald Trump Kamala Harris is a sitting vice president of the United States But what they're trying to do is to make this about Donald Trump because they want to position Kamala Harris as the candidate of change And that can be hard to do given that she has been in power for the last several years presiding over the economic Wows of many Americans that we've seen the issues around cost of living the Biden Harris administration has been in charge the last couple years But this convention is trying to redefine the terms of this debate and if they can do so successfully I will say that it will be near their benefit I think to turn this into a referendum as opposed to being about you know the referendum on the administration We've had for the last several years and naturally the goal here It was a race the definition and this week is an effort to define Kamala Harris as the agent of change And if they could be successful at that then I think they will be successful potentially down the road as well Well, I want to ask you all about something that I just discussed with Chuck Todd Which is that we are learning that RFK junior on Friday is going to be delivering a speech about the path forward in his campaign His running mate teasing the fact that he might drop out and endorse Trump I want to play you a little bit of what JD Vance had to say responding to this news Well, I think clearly Donald Trump is not going to say I'll give you a cabinet position if you give me an endorsement But he's been working for RFK's endorsement because RFK represents I think an old guard of the Democratic Party that was patriotic that was actually very supportive of American workers And unfortunately isn't very welcome in today's Kamala Harris led Democratic Party Stephanie, what's the impact if he does drop out? Could it hurt around the edges?

I think the support that existed for Kennedy was that two-thirds of American people said for over a year and a half that They didn't want to see a Trump Biden rematch and they were just looking for somewhere else But now that he I think now that Harris is in a lot of those votes have already moved to Harris as the new candidate Democratic the Democratic Party is the only party that has answered the American call for somebody other than Trump fighting So I'm not sure that it'll be a huge difference. What's your case? We're completely big zero inconsequential. It's not going to impact the election Lonnie big zero has any impact?

Yeah, I'm not sure matters a whole lot either I mean, I think that some of this is already priced into the in the equation It will be interesting to see though from a messaging perspective how the Trump bans ticket will handle RFK and how they'll handle some of the issues on which RFK has been incredibly fringy quickly frankly So it'll be easy but from an electoral standpoint I mean potentially in some of these states where the margin will be small We'll see but just because RFK junior endorses Donald Trump I don't believe that people who were supporting him necessarily then by the property would translate the Trump either All right great conversation Thank you all for being here Stephanie Murphy Steve Israel Lonnie Chen really appreciate it still ahead as Harrison Walls work to introduce themselves to voters There's still a lot we don't know about their policies and their priorities Senator Michael Bennett will be here next to talk about that and much more and as we go to break another memorable DNC moment This one from 1984 in this fiery speech by then governor Mario Cuomo We must make the American people here our tale of two cities We must convince them that we don't have to settle for two cities that we can have one city Indivisible shining for all of its people Stay informed with the NBC News app breaking news just coming in moments ago watch read and listen throughout your day And now unlock even more with a subscription It's the best of NBC news with fewer ad interruptions including ad free articles podcasts and full NBC news shows plus deeper access and exclusive content Let's just take a step back It's more context and clarity from the reporters you trust download the NBC News app now and subscribe for more As it wraps up get the scoop on what's been happening with here's the scoop But you podcast from NBC News with me your host gazam to sue you will take a deep dive into the day's top stories with NBC News's trusted Journalists. It's a fresh take that's sharp thoughtful and it's informative bringing you closer to the headlines and conversations They're shaping our world on the front page the zeitgeist here's the scoop from NBC News listen daily on Amazon music Yeah, the best of NBC News with a subscription fewer ads deeper access and exclusive content and now during the XFINITY member celebration members Can get an exclusive 50% off an annual subscription head to XFINITY dot com slash membership to learn more XFINITY imagine that Subscription automatically renews each year at $65.99 plus taxes and fees until canceled off her ends May 20th 26th price is subject to change visit NBC News dot com slash XFINITY for full off her terms and details I'm comless voicemail, and I just started Ramley Hey, it's Doug By the way comless save that voicemail and she makes me listen to it on every anniversary Welcome back as we mentioned last night We heard from second gentleman Doug Emhoff and like many others he looked to reveal a more personal side of Vice President Harris Even poking fun at himself when he told that story about an embarrassing voicemail He left her early in their relationship But as we learn more about Kamala Harris the person questions still remain about what she would be like as a president joining me now is Democratic senator from Colorado Michael Bennett senator. Thank you so much for being here for making time Oh, we really appreciate it. Well, look you were the first Senate Democrat to publicly say that Joe Biden couldn't beat Trump following the debate How do you assess the state of the race right now?

I think the state of the race right now is incredible I mean we're sitting in a in a hall where Democrats are more divided than they've ever been the excitement inside this hall I think is also Transformational and my hope is and my belief is that the feeling that's happening in this hall is a feeling that America has I think America wants to turn the page on the last generation of political leadership I don't think they want to go back to the chaos that Donald Trump particularly represented Joe Biden did something incredibly patriotic that no Former president has done and now it's up to the rest of us the Democrats that are in this hall to make sure we deliver on What he has made possible and I think Kamala Harris is you know conduct over the last year or four weeks as the leader of our party has been Extraordinary we got to get enough of the American people to agree with us to make sure that we win this election And I think we will well I want to talk to you a little bit about what we've heard so far the speech that we heard from the former first lady was in many Ways the headline last night because she spoke in such personal terms. She spoke so bluntly She spoke so plainly and the Michelle Obama who in 2016 had said when they go low we go high She seemed to dispatch with that. I mean the gloves were off last night She took on Trump directly in fact she took on Trump more forcefully than anyone at this convention has do you think that's the right strategy and should vice President Harris adopt that or should she leave it to the obama? Well first of all I would say don't tell president obama I said this but I think Michelle Obama gave the speech of the convention and it wasn't just the speech of her life It was an incredible speech and and I felt like it was we were she was letting us into to hear what what's her critique of The politics that Donald Trump represents the division the hatred the believing that Only some people are entitled to be part of this country and not other people are entitled and I think she shared that with the American people She did us a favor by explaining from her perspective what that look like compared to the set of values and the experiences that she was raised on The south side of Chicago by her mother right here You know not that far from this hall and I think what you saw I think her wrestling with was her own experience probably of of the level of disappointment That we've had a president who is unable to embrace the kind of values that I would describe as you know Fundamental core American values and and now she has the opportunity basically to call it out and I'm glad she did She said some very important things last night.

Let's talk about what we might hear from vice president Harris tomorrow night She is going to give arguably the biggest speech of her life to date tomorrow night You know the blanks are still being filled in in terms of how she would govern she has rolled out some economic policies I'm told her speech is largely going to be biographical introductory to reintroduce herself to Americans And it's not going to be heavy on policy Do you think she should include some discussion of policy though given this short and timeline of the campaign is it essential that voters find out How should we go first of all the short and timeline of a campaign man that may be something we want to look into It is not a bad way to run this but and I think it is good that you will share some of her bio because people need to know But look in my mind the economic stakes are everything here because we're living in a country that is suffering from a set Of trickle-down economics that Ronald Reagan started and today in America the bottom 50% of Americans have less wealth than they had in 1980 The bottom 50% of Americans own 2% of the wealth of America and the top 10% of Americans control 75% of the wealth that has been the result of 40 years of trickle-down trade policies economic policies tax policies And that's all Donald Trump brought when he was president more trickle-down trickle-down trickle-down Common Harris representing very different the Biden administration represented something very different And I hope she'll talk about things like the child tax credit something she and I worked on together when she was the set in the Senate And when she was vice president you talk about the child tax credit of course a president Biden couldn't get that passed through Congress How does she get that passed with other priorities? Well, he did get it passed briefly and briefly We were able to tell the world that we were able to cut childhood poverty in America by 50% That we didn't have to accept it as a permanent feature of our democracy or our economy and I believe look JD Vance is now Running around telling people he's for a child tax credit. It's $5,000 when Sherrod Brown and I wrote that bill We would never would have imagined that so maybe people are grappling with the real you know the fundamental threat to our democracy Which I believe is economic immobility Trump is a symptom of that problem. He's not the cause of that problem When you think about getting things done obviously the fight is on for the Senate I want to read you what NRCC chair Steve Danes told NBC Senate Democrats need to pitch a perfect game to hold their majority Including in Ruby Red, Montana and Ohio.

We like our odds are obviously a former DSCC chair Well, you might like his odds and I understand why he's saying what he's saying But we in John tester and in Sherrod Brown. We have all-star pitchers those guys are among the best candidates We have ever run for the Senate they find a way to win the people in those states know them well They're not here. Should they be here? I think they're doing the right thing which is campaigning in their states That's what and they need our help they need our help while they're campaigning their state John tester and Sherrod Brown and the rest of our can Jackie Rosen in Nevada I can't go through the whole list our candidates are extraordinary their candidates less so to be polite and I think as a result of that We're gonna be able to hold the majority in November senator Bennett.

We'll see what happens Thank you for being here really appreciate it for having me good to see you We have some breaking news now two sources tell NBC news that third-party presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy junior intends to suspend his campaign on Friday And is planning to endorse former president Trump sources caution talks are ongoing one of the sources telling us that both camps are working toward a joint appearance It comes after a recent interview where Kennedy's running mate acknowledged They were weighing a potential exit from the race and a Trump endorsement So we will continue to track that angle of this race and bring you any new developments as we get them But again Robert F Kennedy suspending his campaign and now to an historic moment from another Kennedy went back at 1980s DNC senator Ted Kennedy lost a bruising fight for the nomination on the convention floor to president Jimmy Carter Pairs have been our concern the work goes on the cause and doors the hopes still lives and the green shall never die Welcome back to me now is my NBC news colleague Andrea Mitchell, of course our chief Washington correspondent Andrea Thank you for being here great to be here Let's great to cover this convention with you. What a fantastic experience for all of us Andrea talk about if you would what you are expecting to hear from someone who you have covered for quite some time former president Bill Clinton Bill Clinton tonight his job is to bridge the past in the future But he really is more the past and you can't have a democratic convention without inviting all the former living able Democratic presidents Bill Clinton tried to do that Famously in 1996 he really didn't want you to make harder They didn't have a great relationship didn't want him at his midterm right here in Chicago And he was talked into you know peace in the family and all of that here It's a much closer relationship Hillary Clinton has had a growing relationship with Kamala Harris has reached out to her Harris Interestingly reached out to Hillary to tell her right after the writing decision to step aside You know how important it was the thing that she had done and give her the credit the props that she does deserve Hillary Clinton was a very strong speaker on the opening night of the convention good that they separated the two they have different roles So built in is the character the contrast between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump You can speak to that and point out the strengths her preparation and he's now become sort of The senior statesman some unexpected recording You know Andrea he played the role we called him explainer in chief in 2012 from Barack Obama I talked a lot about Obama's economic policies Do you anticipate he'll play that same role is he letting Obama Obama kind of have that role and will we see him in a different role? What are you gonna be watching for out on the campaign trail on the campaign? I don't think he'll play that active role I think they'll all be pulling in the same direction they'll take direction as surrogates for the campaign where they're needed key states he could be helpful in a couple of states where he is very popular and there's a lot of you know familiarity with Bill Clinton and Bonnes more him and for his role.

I think Hillary Clinton could be very helpful for her Translating and reaching out to women Bill Clinton could be helpful in red states and working-class areas places where Joe Biden would also be helpful that centrist democratic Coalition and speaking of barrier breakers. We're also going to hear from how former house speaker Nancy Pelosi that someone whom you've had interviewed and covered extensively You know, we heard from Hillary Clinton about breaking through that glass ceiling Do you anticipate that speaker Pelosi will also speak about this moment in historic terms? Nancy Pelosi is a divisive figure to a certain extent. He was respected by the House caucus There's gratitude there because they did feel that Joe Biden had to step aside.

That was what she was hearing That's what she communicated to Joe Biden She denies the reports that she orchestrated it that she was a godmother, you know in a not very nice way But she had a big role to play and the fact that she is such a senior figure in the party I think that at this point there is going to be an effort to try to heal those women with this Importantly not been any outreach by the Bidens to her and I don't think there's going to be for a while Andrea no one knows more about all of this than you. Thank you so much. Thank you here great to see you Appreciate it I am back tomorrow with more me at the press now live from Chicago in the final night of the DNC But we have plenty more to get to my colleague Hallie Jackson sitting with me on set picks up the NBC news coverage Howie do we love the camera slide? I feel like it's a smooth transition.

We're getting more than I left to do it. I'm Kristen Thank you, and you're great to see you. I'm Craig Malef. Cheers.

Cheers. I've always been a glass half full kind of guy And now I'm talking to some people who look at the world that way, too It's really fascinating folks who shared their defining moments their triumphs the challenges their stories are funny and my cannon So I hope you'll join you each week and who knows you might just come away with your own glass at full search glass out full with Craig Melton from today on YouTube and wherever you get your podcast