Meet the Press NOW — February 16

Welcome to Meet the Press. Now I'm Gabe Gutierrez in Washington, and we begin with the search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of our friend and colleague Savannah Guthrie. It's now been more than two weeks since her disappearance. And moments ago, we just got a new statement from the Pima county sheriff saying that the Guthrie family, including all siblings and spouses, have been cleared as possible suspects in this case.

The sheriff goes on to say that the family are victims, and to suggest otherwise is not only wrong, but cruel. This all comes after the Guthrie family saying it it is not giving up hope to analyze, posting this video on social media, pleading for answers. I wanted to come on and it's been two weeks since our mom was taken, and I just wanted to come on and say that we still have hope and we still believe. And I wanted to say to whoever has her or knows where she is, but it's never too late, and you're not lost or alone.

And it is never too late to do the right thing. Investigators continue to dig into new leads, but still have no suspects and have not narrowed down a theory of the case. And they're still searching for a suspect who was captured in that chilling video on Guthrie's doorbell camera the night she disappeared. The video shows a man who the FBI says is 5, 9 to 5 10, wearing a 25 liter Ozark Trail hiker backpack and armed with a gun.

The FBI tells NBC News they've covered a glove about two miles from Guthrie's home that's consistent with the type of glove the suspect was wearing in the doorbell video. The FBI says DNA from that glove belongs to an unknown man. Meanwhile, the sheriff's department says DNA that is not Nancy's or those in close contact with her was collected from her property. And over the weekend, authorities conducted a search involving SWAT units at a property in Tucson.

During that operation, a Range Rover SUV was towed by officials, but those searches did not lead to any arrests. Meanwhile, according to the New York Post, President Trump today saying in a phone interview that the Justice Department would seek the death penalty if Nancy Guthrie is not returned alive. Our team is across every angle here. NBC News chief justice and national affairs correspondent Kelly o'.

Donnell, NBC News correspondent Jesse Kirsch are both in Tucson for us. And we're also joined by Andy Black, a former FBI assistant special agent in charge of the Tucson office. Thank you all so much for joining me. Kelly, I'll start with you and this new statement from the sheriff's office.

What more can you tell us? Well, this is coming to us At a time when we have been trying to be very careful about the reporting here and our reporting at NBC News, our colleagues who've been working this had been that investigators were turning away from anyone in the family and the individuals that had been the subjects of searches in recent days. What stands out about this statement from the sheriff is it is really a very loud and clear message, not only to the who's simply following this story, but to those who are online opining, those who are in kind of a wider media space, which involves a lot of true crime or bloggers, that kind of universe, where there's been a lot of speculation. Now, why does that kind of speculation exist?

In many crimes, those closest to the person who is the subject can be a part of the investigation that is typical. And there is usually a period where they review not only the whereabouts of family, but also financial records, phone records, all that kind of data. And in this case, the Pima county sheriff is saying that Samantha Guthrie, her siblings, their spouses, the immediate family of Mrs. Guthrie, is not considered a suspect or in any way involved in her disappearance.

That may bring great comfort to the family, obviously. And the sheriff goes further and says that it is really cool to. To extend these theories or comments without evidence. And so this is in some ways kind of reflective of personality of the sheriff.

We've seen where he has been, the kind of person who's spoken with a lot of heart and empathy, at times criticized for the way he describes the case. But in this instance, where they're going into the statement where they say the family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious, they are victims in this case. To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel. The Guthrie families are victims, plain and simple.

And he goes on to beg those who are communicating, whether it's social media or traditional media, to heed his words. So this is in many ways a significant development in the case. Typically, until there is an understanding of the crime, no one is fully clear. But in this case, they've done the work behind the scenes.

They feel confident in putting this out. And we've seen it in other very high profile cases where the family of the person who is missing is the first area they look at. And then often they're able to publicly clear them because they, of course, are going through and reveal that none of us can fully imagine. In this case, we know the Guthrie is.

And so I'm sure this brings additional comfort, but it also brings the weight of the Pima County Sheriff's office saying that the family has been cooperative, they've been checked out and they are not involved in this case. Kelly, thank you for bringing up the SP on that statement again coming out just moments ago. I also want to ask you about searches in the Tucson area over the weekend. What more do we know about those operations and where do they leave the overall investigations?

Well, they were certainly eye catching operations. Authorities went in with a lot of resources and they executed court approved searches. So that meant they had a lead where they had some evidence to suggest a probable cause to pursue the location and the individuals had cash. And then what they've told us is that after doing that there is not actionable information to lead to being detained or questioned further and no charges have been filed.

And so we put those off to the side. Now sometimes in cases that is just a first step and they might still consider those individuals to be persons of interest, we're being told that is not the case here. And so it is in many ways it is the work of following leads, getting tips, doing the investigative work which can include things like descriptions of vehicles or was someone in the area or any of those array of things. And they work through it and then they move on to the next.

And so that's the phase we're in right now. We have not seen any large scale searches since Friday night and we were told by investigators that they're doing the work. There's a lot going on in the command center and behind the scenes in a few different digital review the cell phone data, which is the cast team of the FBI leads and tips, there have been more than 30,000 now to the county sheriffs and the FBI that's just an enormous volume and someone has to go through and sort of discern, is this a tip we should move on? Is this a tip that's lower priority.

So a lot of working. Yeah, certainly a lot to sit through there. And Kelly, the president, as you mentioned, he suggested in a brief interview with the New York Post that the DOJ would seek the death penalty if Nancy's not found alive. But do we even know if this would be a federal case at this point though?

And you and I cover the President a lot and understand that he often offers his opinions on matters of national interest in this case. What we know about the facts related to Mrs. Jeffrey's disappearance, it is a state case unless or until that changes, the president would not have direct influence over this. And he's of course claiming about events that are not yet known.

And it is the President, I think being engaged on this topic he has spoken to Samantha Guthrie. He has expressed his concern. I've been told this, I know you have, that he is following updates. But on the specific of this, it is not yet a federal case, if it ever becomes one.

And then at that point, he'd have to weigh if it's appropriate for the president to have any say on what happens next. So it's a bit premature, but it does seem to be indicative of the president's interest in the Guthrie case, like so many Americans. Kelly, Donald, live for us in Tucson. Kelly, thank you for your reporting on your expertise.

I'm gonna switch over to Jesse Kirk, also in Tucson for us. And Jesse, there has been an outpouring of support for Nancy not just across the community, but really across the country. How is that community rallying around the search now? Yeah, and a lot of that gave centered right here behind the outside of Nancy Guthrie's home.

You can see this collection of yellow flowers or yellow ribbons not just at her driveway front, but also across this neighborhood. And Kelly actually was the first report on this for us on the Today show last week. And I spoke with a woman in South Carolina who says she saw Kelly's story was inspired by that entitled ribbon in her own Yard again in South Carolina, about 2,000 miles away from here. So this is something that we're not just seeing in parts of Tucson, but across the country.

And people weighing in on social media saying they're chime in from California, from Texas, from Arkansas, from all over. And there's this banner which you see right there at our affiliate here in Tucson, kpoa. It says bring her home. And people have been signing that banner for days.

And we went over there over the weekend and you can see some of the entries, people saying they're signing from Minnesota, from Florida, from Michigan, Ohio, New Mexico, Arizona, of course, where we are right now. And even someone saying they're signing from Fairbanks, Alaska. Of course, we don't know if these are people visiting people who live here part time or have moved here. And it just ties to those communities, but it just speaks to people all across the United States with connections all over the United States expressing their support for the Godfrey family right now.

I think it also just speaks to the impact Savannah Force has had over years at NBC News as a curse. Reporting for us also in Tucson. Jesse, thank you. I want to turn now to Andy Black again, the former FBI assistant special in charge for the Tucson office.

Andy, thank you for your expertise as well. I want to start off with that glove we mentioned the authorities have been saying that it could be consistent with the one worn by the suspect in that doorbell video. Do you think it could generate a lead in this investigation? What are your main questions about that glove?

From what we understand, it's found about two miles away from the home. How realistic is it that this could be a huge break in the case? Well, you never know where you're going to get the best break in the case. You have to follow this lead because they have determined that it resembles and may be the same type of glove the defender used at the Guthrie residence.

So you have to temper your expectations. That glove has been outdoors, so that tends to degrade the quality of DNA sample, but doesn't exclude it from being properly profiled. So that any DNA gathered from that glove or from inside the house will be sent to the lab. A DNA profile will be generated and it'll be put into the code system.

It's the database. It's the combined DNA index system managed by the FBI's largest repository of DNA profiles in the world. And they'll compare that profile against over 20 million known individuals. They can also check that profile against public database of DNA profiles.

And if they elect to, they can also reach out to private companies to gather DNA to gather a genealogy. Andy, on that point, about that database, a CODIS database, how long could it take to get those results back? And you kind of got at this at some of the limitations. What are the limitations here?

If you're not a criminal, your DNA wouldn't be in that database. Right. Or you mentioned something about private databases as well. What are the limitations here?

Limitations deal with the quality of the DNA sample that you submit. If it's a high quality sample, it can be turned around in a matter of hours or a day. If it's degraded because of elements or cleaning solutions doesn't negate it. But it could take longer, it could take days or weeks in order to develop a meaningful profile.

What's critical is if you're not in that, if you're not in one of those databases, maybe a family member is. It could be one that submitted DNA in a public database as part of the genealogy. So many cases have been made because of relatives being identified, which narrows the search for the investigators in crimes like this. Yeah, and our reporting says that this is one of 16 gloves that were found recently in the area.

Obviously, a lot of gloves, a lot of those have been ruled out as gloves that came from investigators themselves that were just started. What is the proper protocol here? That when you have that, that much evidence, similar looking evidence perhaps in and around that crime scene. From what I understand, they eliminated most of the gloves as not being similar to the one or identifying where they came from.

Workers in the area, this one, they feel confident it's similar if not identical, doesn't mean it's the same one that was on the hands of the offender in the Guthrie residents. But it's a really solid lead. You have to find out. You have to follow up on it.

Hopefully this is something that could break the case. You have to follow up on something like this. Andy Black, thank you for your expertise. We really appreciate it.

And we will continue to follow this story very closely. We'll bring you any major updates as we get them and a reminder as well, if you have any information at all that could be helpful for investigators, please call the number on your screen right now. That's 1-800- call FBI. And turning now to some breaking news out of Rhode island where shooting took place at a Pawtucket ice rink this afternoon.

RMC affiliate WJAR reporting that according to the mayor's office there, a young girl was killed and four others injured and that the shooter is also dead. Governor Dan McKee says state police are working with local law enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is urging the public to avoid the area as they assist authorities. Keep our eye on this and bring any developments as we get them now. Coming up, closing time.

We're once again in the midst of a partial government shutdown and Congress seems to be in no rush to fix this one. With both sides digging in, plus high profile poisoning. New allegations that Alexei Navalny was killed by a rare toxin derived from from an Ecuadorian dart frog two years after the Russian opposition leader died in a Siberian prison. You're watching the press now.

Stay with us. Welcome back. For the third time since President Trump's second term began, the U.S. government is partially shut down.

We're now in day three of this latest shutdown after Congress failed to reach a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats are demanding reforms. Immigration Customs Enforcement after two American citizens were shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis. Right now there appears to be no hope for a quick resolution as Democrats say they are not backing down.

We need masks off, we need cameras on and we need every ICE officer to be identified. Jake, these are common sense proposals. They're supported by the American people. Why won't we Republicans go for them?

We'll have a good faith conversation about everything, but fundamentally, we need change that is dramatic. Well, Republicans don't appear to be feeling much pressure to compromise either. As far as I'm asking. ICE agents, I could also know probably not because many of those are involved in undercover operations and you don't want to put them in danger.

But there are a lot of things that we can probably sit down and negotiate on. But the problem is, look, ISIS is funded through 2028. And so there's really nothing here, no pressure to do something about ICE because ICE is funded. They're not stopping ICE from doing their job.

They're not stopping the border Patrol from doing their job. All this is a political theater because the State of the Union is coming up a week from Tuesday. And as you just heard, ICE will continue to be funded thanks to President Trump's so called big beautiful bill. Still, though, a slew of other agencies under DHS could, like fema, the Coast Guard and the tsa, they could bear the brunt of yet another shutdown.

Just listen to what one TSA officer told us. Instead of us focusing 100% on national security, we're having to focus on where our next patient is going to come from, how are we going to feed our families. And so that's, it's very stressful. Joining me now here on SAD is NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Mel Zanona.

Mel, it's so good to have you here. Look, a lot maker seem pretty dug in here. Republicans are arguing that Democrats have no leverage. What is the Democrat strategy right now?

Well, they do have some leverage because they are the minority, but they do need votes from Democrats in the Senate. So they really give an opportunity here to extract some real concessions when it comes to ICE reforms and exchange for funding the Department of Homeland Security. And they feel bullied by the fact not only is there recent immigration polling showing the numbers are on their side, but also the president himself said we need to have a lighter touch when it comes to immigration. But Kate, you probably know this too, talking to the White House, they feel like there hasn't enough time in space since those shootings, that things have calmed down in Minnesota and that there is a little less public pressure on them to potentially cave on some of these issues.

So it's really gonna come down to why they can reach compromise. But as of right now, very little agency. We'll just circle. They're saying that, look, masks seem to be a red line here.

But what about body cameras? I know some federal agents are really wearing them, but are there any signs that there could be some compromise on other issues perhaps other than masks? Body camera Seems to be the number one area of compromise. And interestingly though, Republicans have been much more vocal about where they aren't willing to compromise.

So we can kind of figure out what the deal will look like by the process of elimination. And some of those sticking points number masks. That's the huge red line for Republicans. They don't want guys agents be showing their faces because they're worried about them being doxed, despite the fact that normal law enforcement doesn't wear masks every day.

And the second sticking point is judicial warrants for ICE arrest. That is something that Senate GOP Leader John Davidson is a really big problem for some of his members. So it's really going to come down to how much is each side willing to cave. Right.

Republicans arguing with a little theater ahead of the State of the Union next week. How big is that in the Democrats thinking here? Do they want to get maximum attention here by bringing up this issue such as Congress and recess this week ahead of the State of the Union? Does this all dissipate once the State of the Union happens?

I'm sure that President Trump is going to bring this up at the State of the Union if there is still a shutdown during his address, which at this point it looks like there will be. But Democrats, like I said, they feel like they have momentum on their side so they don't have a problem calling attention to what they say are these major, major issues with ICE and reminding the public back at home why they're fighting for some good reforms in the first place. No. Thank you.

And joining now, Nebraska Republican Congressman Don Bacon. Congressman, thank you so much for joining us here on the Press. Now I want to pick up right now where we left off with Melissa. How do you see this DHS shutdown ending?

Typically five larger areas that we can agree on. I think my cameras is probably the easiest one. I think we should try to find the low hanging fruit we can grant because the shutdown, it doesn't hurt ICE right now Cranit, ice, Border Patrol, they're both largely funded already. So who's gonna pay the price?

Here is fema, TSA that protects us at the airports, Secret Service, the Coast Guard, CISA that protects our protects us against cyber attacks from China and Russia. These agencies need to be funded but still playing hardball. I think we should look what are one or two areas that we can agree on? I think body cameras School 1 we most law enforcement agencies all over the country already have those so that seems like an easy one.

Editors, something else maybe we can agree to look, the administration has already soften on body cameras a bit. A short time ago, you know, they said that the federal agents in Minneapolis, some of them would wear body cameras. But what about one of the other issues that now brought up, this issue of judicial warrants before ICE agents make arrests inside homes? How do you come down on that?

And do you think that, you know, Republicans would budget on that? If you're going to search a home, you have to have a warrant. I think that's in the Constitution. However, someone you know, police have made arrests at people's doors that are citizens, that they're guilty of a crime.

And so I think. I think the one size fits all here. If you need it for citizens, I think you gotta have a warrant to search somebody's house. But you have seen people arrested in further homes, you know, without a word.

So I'm not a lawyer, but, you know, the legal guys take care of this. But I think body camera's an easy one. And quickly, because I do want to perhaps talk specifics here. What about the universal code of conduct that Democrats have been asking for when it comes to ICE operations?

Do you support that or would you be willing to compromise on that? Should be standard law enforcement practices. I know the OLAP police here, I think, do a great job. So it should be a standard processes for law enforcement.

I do think Holland has done a good job in Minneapolis. He came in there, I think he turned down the heat, turned down the volume. And it's probably good because I think it's always bad. We have Americans pitted against Americans.

You see violence in the streets. I think some of the stuff that was done in Minneapolis was unnecessary. And it takes leadership. I think that Director Holland, the guy to do it, so I applaud he'll come in there and create some stability.

And there's a little more about leadership than anything else. Well, Congressman, even if Republicans feel like they have more leverage than Democrats here when it comes to shutdown, do you have any concern that your party is taking a hit on this issue of immigration ahead of the midterms? I do think there's a divide in our country. If you have someone here illegally, say for five years, they're working, they have a family here, they're otherwise here illegally being good neighbors.

Our country's divided on that. I think our own party, the Republican Party, who came here illegally, I'm of the view that if you're a gang member of other kinds of crimes, surely we need to deport those people. But I do think that's A worthy debate how we can reform and make changes to the current laws. I support the Dignity act because I think someone's been here for a while, is working, taking care of their family.

Otherwise, you're illegally. They should pay a fine. They should never become a citizen, but they should be able to get legal status. Or they can continue contributing to the country and their family and not worry about being deported.

Will my legislation make it through? That I support, I don't know, but we should have this debate. I think most Americans are where I'm at. They'd like a little bit of humanity here to go along with, you know, law enforcement.

Surely we all want support, secure order. It's a harder issue dealing with the 20 million people who are here right now illegally. Congressman, certainly that debate will be had over the next few months ahead of the midterms. I want to turn to terrorists.

Now, you voted against the rule that would prevent the House from overturning President Trump's terrorists, saying that Congress needs to be able to debate them. Now, the President has said that any Republican who votes against Harris will, quote, suffer the consequences in elections. I know you're retiring, but do you worry those kinds of threats have a chilling effect on others in your party? I take a tough votes way before retiring.

You know, I've had contested elections for the last 10 years. Four of those were primaries. The president's biggest fan, you know, 2022. I encourage every.

Vote your passions and vote what is best for the country and what is best for your district. And I also think, you know, first of all, Article 1, congressional Congress's authority, it's our role to determine tariffs and taxes. We should not pass the buck there. We should fight to protect this authority.

Secondly, I argue about the economics. I mean, we saw data last week. The average family is paying a thousand dollars in tariffs, and 95% of the tariffs are by the American consumer. That's the numbers that came out last week.

And this is why we should debate it. Now, I fully support if we have a vote and people vote in support of the President, I respect that, the final result. So we should debate it and we should be able to put the south floor debate of pros and cons and do what Article 1 in the Constitution asks us to do. Now, I will tell you, tariffs are not popular in Omaha.

I get all over this district. I talk to businesses large and small, and they're greatly affected right now by these terrorists. I see production lines, some of our factories being moved overseas, and that's why I'm standing up on this. Most Republicans will support terrorists if they're clearly reciprocal against a country that's being unfair.

The sense of it is that it's not being done. Now. 80 countries with terrorists have an average of 20%. And many of these terrorists have been done in a, I would say a very capricious way.

Going after a leader in Switzerland because the president doesn't like her tone or going after European countries because they oppose the process. Hamas and Greenland. That's what we don't like. And Congressman, we're seeing a historic number of House retirements this year, including 30 Republicans.

On the current GDP margin is already incredibly narrow. What do you think this could all mean for the midterms? Typically, midterms go poorly for the party in power. Only twice in the last century, I believe, has it been different.

And so the historical side is not good. That's why I would encourage the president talk about how wages are climbing faster than inflation for the first time in five years, how gas prices are low. He does this once while they get converted with Greenland or going after people's spouses. He followed the map.

He needs to focus on affordability and they do what he promised. He secured the border. If he would say it in what I would call what got him elected, it would be better for him and all Republicans down ballot Right now we're defending tariffs, Greenland, you know, we're keeping a dictator power in Venezuela. These are things that I don't think fare well for Republicans.

But the most important issues are economic. If he made the case, I think he would have a lot of support. Would help us down ballot. Congressman Don Dakin, Republican of Nebraska.

We're at a time I wonder how many of your Republican colleagues think the way you do. Just haven't said so publicly. We appreciate your time to hear me. Press now.

All right. Up next, foreign friction as the US Prepares for high stakes talks. Iran's nuclear program and the Russia, Ukraine war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio proclaims a golden age of US Relationship with a European strongman closely allied with President Putin.

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Hey guys, Willie Geist here reminding you to check out the Sunday Sit down podcast. On this week's episode, I sit down with one of the biggest bands in the world, Mumford and Sons, as we get the boys together to talk about their new number one album, Prize Fighter, and the evolution of that irresistible foot stomping sound. You can get our conversation for free wherever you download your podcasts. Welcome back to the weekend US Secretary State Marco Rubio, who delivered a closely watched speech at the annual Munich Security Conference, receiving a standing ovation while speaking about the need for the US And Europe to work together and strengthen its partnerships and alliances.

Of course, comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Europe as President Trump continues to criticize the NATO alliance and insists the US Must own Greenland, the territory of Denmark. But despite the more diplomatic tone by Secretary Rubio, some of the themes in his speech echoed the message delivered by Vice President J.D. vance to the same forum a year ago, including his warning about mass migration. We must also take control of our national borders, controlling who and how many people enter our countries.

This is not an expression of xenophobia. It is not hate. It is a fundamental act of national sovereignty. And the failure to do so is not just an abdication of one of our most basic duties owed to our people.

It is an urgent threat to the fabric of our societies and the survival of our civilization itself. Joining now is NBC News chief Washington correspondent and chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrew Mitchell, as well as NBC News chief international correspondent Keir Simmons. Thank you so much for joining me. Andrew, I'll start with you.

You were in the room for that speech that Rubio gave. Look, and we mentioned that his tone was different than J.D. vance. Last year, however, did the Europeans fight?

He got a standing ovation and the chair of the conference said, thank you. That was so reassuring. You've reassured us with your, you know, with your speech that said afterwards, the other world leaders gave speeches saying that it was the same message basically as J.D. vance.

The general reaction, I talked to a lot of Europeans, the leaders, the foreign ministers and senators, mostly the Democrats who were critical. And these are Democrats who had worked closely with people when they viewed him as the best figure, the most, I should say, constructive to internationalism, diplomatic in the cabinet. But they were very critical because they said this is JD Vance's speech just dressed up in better language because he also called climate, climate a cult. He criticized, you know, all aspects of Western civilization, praising the civilization, but left out the whole Global south left out by criticizing immigration.

This machine is trying to smooth things over with European by some is the administration. They really care. That's when they think of the Europeans. He said, we want to work with you.

We are, you know, we are, you know, so closely related to you. But at the same time, he said, do it our way or the highway is basically the message, the bottom line that they took from it. And so overall, it was negative. And he skipped the meeting with Zelensky that they all attended and just did a quick drive by with him, not even a bilateral meeting.

So there were other signals that he was not interested in working with them. Well, speaking of Zelensky and Ukraine, today, Secretary Rubio met with the corbin of race, seen as an ally of Putin. How do we expect that meme to be received in Europe? And also by that was another signal because he went from Munich to, you know, go to Central Europe and to go to Orban.

And a very cozy idiot was a big reception. Understandably. Orban has appeared at the conservative, you know, action group, the annual conference here with Trump, very Trumpy Putin ally. And that was certainly a rejection of the rest of Europe.

And so they feel that they've got to step up. The problem has been that the EU takes so long to decide things that despite their criticism, nearly 27 members have not agreed on anything, including unfreezing the Russian assets that are needed, hundreds of millions of dollars that could be helping Ukraine. So they've got their own problems. And Mitchell, thank you so much for joining me here.

I want to turn now. Vikir Simmons here. Let's look ahead to the talks that are set to take place in Geneva tomorrow, starting with the meeting with Iran's foreign minister. And this all comes as the president announced on Friday, there's a second US Aircraft carrier heading to the Middle East.

So what can we expect from the second round of talks with Iran? Well, it's striking, isn't it, that the talks are taking place in Geneva, the talks between Iran and the US and the talks between Russia and Ukraine, both in the same city at the same time, says something about this moment of diplomacy by the Trump administration at the same time. Andrea used the phrase our way on the highway. That's, I think, the message that the US Trump administration is sending to Iran with those two aircraft carriers, Gabe, in the region.

One of them just about to arrive, the USS Forward. There is an enormous amount of US Capability here now close to Iran. And the Iranians, too, are signaling that Iran will act if it is attacked. We spoke to an analyst who looks at Iranian messaging signals in the way that he describes the way the Iranians are positioning, the regime is taking the threat from the US Very seriously.

It appears they appear to be preparing their own people to go to war. They are launching propaganda campaigns depicting U.S. aircraft carriers floating in seas of blood. So from the spectator, both sides are threatening each other in order to get the other side to flex the bend in the negotiations, the other position.

And people worry and people think that actually negotiations, if they fail, there will be strikes, there will be a conflict of some nature. And Akira, you touched on this briefly, but special on the way. Wyckoff will also be participating in trilateral talks with Russia and Ukraine. As we said, do you anticipate the two sides will be able to make any kind of meaningful progress here towards a peace deal?

Well, it depends on who you ask. The Russians think that they can make meaningful progress, but what they mean by that is to get to economic relations, trade agreements with the US Possibly the removal of sanctions to almost step past the conflict itself. The expectation that there can be some kind of agreement on the ground is looking really shaky right now. Both sides, both Kyiv and Moscow, are signalling that they are prepared to compromise, not least because that's what President Trump wants.

But there are real hurdles in those negotiations, too, not least the question of who keeps territory, and if they don't, what happens to that territory. That is a fundamental issue, and right now it's hard to see how that can be resolved. And finally, Kir, I also want to ask you about this new analysis by European officials that found that Russian opposition leader Aleksander Navalny, who died two years ago today, was in fact poisoned with a deadly toxin. What do more do we know about that?

Yeah, this is a deadly toxin from a rare kind of frog. And Europeans effectively are saying that only the Russians, remember Alex Navalny, was in Russian custody. Only the Russians was in Russia initially when he was first poisoned. Only the Russians would have the capability to use this poison on Alexei Navalny.

And they also suggest that it's the kind of thing that only a sophisticated operation like the Russian Russians would be able to administer. So that's the allegation. The Russians entirely deny it. Interestingly, when Alexei Navalny died, I asked Putin, President Putin himself about it.

And in his answer to me, he suggested that he had asked for Navalny to be freed and that then he had died, almost as if it's a coincidence. That's the kind of way that the Russians have been describing it throughout the time since Navalny's passing. But certainly Putin hated Navalny, wouldn't even mention his name. And now the Europeans say effectively the Putin regime killed him.

A coincidence. Pure Simmons reporting life for us here. Thank you. And up next, the attorney general says that all of the Oxygen files have now been released just as the Justice Department also faces ongoing bipartisan criticism over its handling of the case.

Keep it right here on MEET THE press. Now we're back. In the new letter of Congress. Attorney General Pam Bondi says the DOJ has released all of the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

That letter also includes a list of more than 300 names of government officials and so called politically exposed persons who appear in the files. But the two lawmakers who have been leading the push for the release of the Epstein files remain critical of the doj. Democrat Congressman Ro Khanna said by releasing the hundreds of names, the DOJ was purposely muddying the waters on who was a predator and who was simply mentioned. And Republican Congressman Thomas Nassey expressing doubt in Attorney General Bondi over her handling of the files.

Do you still have confidence in Pam Bondi as attorney general? I don't think Pam Bondi has confidence in Pam Bondi. She wasn't confident enough to engage in anything but name calling in a hearing. And so, no, I don't have confidence in her.

Joining now, NBC News Legal Fair supporter Gary Grombach. Gary, thank you so much for joining me here. Attorney General Ham Bond, as we said, she says all files have been released. He just heard Thomas Massey.

He's not satisfied and some Republicans aren't. Other Republicans aren't either. What happens next year? So there's two reasons why Thomas Massey, some others are not satisfied.

One, because he believes there's some over redactions in his millions and millions of files. He believes there's some names that are redacted that shouldn't be. He believes there's some pages that are redacted. He also says he believes there should be criminal charges against putting on some people by the Department of Justice.

This Department of Justice has said they have no interest in doing any of that. So do you think that this goes away from the administration anytime soon? We've already had prominent people within the administration, you know, looked into these Epstein files. We had other relations a couple days ago about Howard Lucknick, the Commerce secretary, in addition to everything else that was already out there.

Is this something that goes away from the Trump administration anytime soon? You're seeing Ludnet, you're saying varying levels of involvement. By the way, Ludnette Parik, One Lunch on the Island. Bannon has accepted your source of expense and he says it's all because of the documentary he was conducting.

In terms of whether or not this goes away, President Trump believes he's been 100% exonerated. He believes there's no reason for this to continue because they're all out and this should be game over for the Epstein files. Moving on to the next day administration. Now, look, that's the administration outside of the Trump administration.

We continue to see the impact of the release of the Epstein files in Great Britain, for example. Huge impact over there. Now we're seeing some business executives, Hollywood, Mo. Katie Wasserman, the Hyatt executive, Thomas Pritzker.

What can you tell us about that? If your name was in one of these files, you've probably released a statement. You may have actually resigned from your position. Casey Wasserman, who was the head of that town agency, has stepped down, saying he was causing distraction to his agency.

Kathy Rumler, former Obama official, is leaving Herb big role at Golden Saxing. She didn't want to be a distraction. And Thomas Pritzker, who's the chairman of the board of Ohio Hotels, also said he's stepping down. And none of these people have been criminally accused of any sort of wrongdoing.

But certainly their careers are now in every. Hey, Graham, Mark, thank you so much for breaking all down for us. We appreciate it. And after break, the truth is out there.

Former President Barack Obama tells a podcaster that aliens are real and he set the Internet on fire. You're watching Media Press now. Stay with us. Welcome back.

Who feels like a sign of the times we're living in a traditionally bipartisan meeting between the nation's governors and the president has taken a partisan term. Last week, officials with the National Governors association said that President Trump was only planning on including Republican governors in that annual meeting at the White House. The president denied that on social media, saying invitations were sent to all the governors from both parties for the gathering on Friday, except for Democratic Governors West Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado. The MGA says all governors were invited to the business meeting, including Moore and Polis, though throughout the saga, President Trump has also repeatedly criticized the Republican chair of the governors association, Kevin Stitt, over the dispute.

So now we turn to the panel, McC Nelson. And back with me and joining us now, TMH Washington Beer Chief for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Thank you both for joining me here. Look, it appears the president has reversed course here, at least on Some of this.

A source confirms, NBC, that as of Wednesday, Governor Westmore had received an invite. But what should we make of Trump's initial push to keep Governors Moore and pull this out of this meeting? Yeah, it seems like the initial, because at the end of the day, most people at home are not going to be moved one way or another about this meeting in the Oval Office. But I think the perception is that Trump didn't want these governors in meeting with him.

That could be critical. That might push back and make it uncomfortable for him. You know, why pick this fight now with these two governors? Why not just hold this meeting and, you know, no big deal.

Why draw attention to this? He can't help himself, first of all. And I think these feuds are fresh on his mind on Colorado. He's been obsessed with Colorado, as you know, Gabe, trying to pressure the state to release one of his allies from prison who's in there after trying to interfere in the 24 election.

And then with Governor Westmore, this is someone he has gone toe to toe with. And not to mention, he could be a Democratic presidential contender. So maybe that's why Trump is more motivated in attacking him. But I think that also backfired because it really only serves to elevate Governor Westmore.

Right. And speaking of that, Governor Moore's raised the fact that not only is he the vice chair, but also the nation's only black governor. So he stopped short of speaking about the president's intent. But can that be ignored here?

Well, I don't think it can, particularly given President Trump's recent pattern of attacking particularly perceived enemies who are people of color, women, of course, the racist video of the Obamas. I do think race matters because even if it wasn't President Trump's intent to go after Moore because of his race, you can't ignore that. That is. It still is what it is.

Right. And now this all comes on the heels of President Obama actually responding to that racist video that President Trump posted that was widely condemned. He did respond in a PODC weekend, the era of the weekend. Let's listen to that.

There's this sort of clown show that's happening in social media and on television. And what is true is that there doesn't seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and, and a sense of propriety and respect for the office. You know, Mel was very interesting there. Obama choosing his words very carefully, as he often does.

He did not mention Donald Trump. He did not say the word racist in there. But what are people making about this response? It was a very Obama esque response, measured, sharp.

And he's not giving Trump the satisfaction of even saying his name. It's also noble because I think it's so different than how Democrats in today's party talk about Trump. Not afraid to use swear words. But I even watched the NBA All Star Game this weekend, saw that Obama wasn't like Reggie Miller, a former member of the Pacers, as a Chicago Bull tenant.

Well, of course, when it comes to basketball, he's going to leave it all out there. He doesn't hold back. How speaking about the former president, how relevant is his voice when it comes to Democrats, you know, preparing for the midterms, speaking about the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies, you know, he called them dangerous as part of that podcast. You know, does Obama's voice make a difference with independent voters now?

I don't definitely. It makes a difference with the base. And I do think Obama still remains an influential figure in American politics. But I do think as the years go on and he's further and further removed from the White House and he gets older and less in the public eye, I do think his influence continues, continues to decrease.

But still, he is a leader of the Democratic Party. He is influential in the Democratic Party. He can draw big crowds still, he can raise money or help out a candidate if he so chooses. Right.

And I thought it was interesting in the podcast, too, he talked about his age. He's 64. But he said Democrats should do well by perhaps looking a little younger. So I thought those comments were interesting as well.

Before we go, though, I want to talk about some other major news that the former president made on that podcast. Let's listen. Are aliens real? They're real, but I haven't seen them.

And they're not being kept in, what is it, Area 51. Area 51. Okay, so that set the Internet on fire. You need to clarify that statement last night.

This was the statement he posted. He said, I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really? So, Mel, look, we have so much else going on in the world.

You know, we got the other 2028 hopefuls trying to make their splash in Munich. The Internet goes nuts over Obama's statement. What does that say? Are we just.

Is a political world looking for any sort of distraction right now? Well, I also think it's not too late for One of those 20, 28 senators come out and say that they have seen some evidence of aliens, clearly they would get so many voters because as I said, the Internet was just on fire over these comments. And what's so interesting about this subject is it actually does not cut across party lines on Capitol Hill. You have everyone from the far left to the far right trying to come together, holding hearings on this issue, pushing for more information to see what else might be out there.

Gate, you know, do you think President Trump plays into this national debate about aliens? If he thinks it's hot, he's going to weigh in. And so he might not do it right now because the last thing he wants to do is be perceived as following behind Obama. But I do think, just like the rest of us, he's intrigued and interested in the topic.

We've seen the hearings on Capitol Hill. And I do think Obama's saying, you know, not that he's seen aliens, but as president, the briefings and whatever he has seen has convinced him they're out there. I do think that's enough to get people even more intrigued. Well, the truth is surely out there.

Thank you both so much for joining me. And you know what? It's something else to talk about on this President's Day. I really appreciate it, and thank you at home for watching.

I'm Dave Gutierrez. We're back tomorrow with more of the press now, of course, there's more ahead on NBC News now. Hey, everyone. I'm Dylan Dryer, co host of the third hour of Today and mom to three wild boys.

I've learned a lot in my years as a parent, mostly that I don't have it all figured out yet. And I'm not the only one. This is my new podcast, the Parent Chat. Each week I sit down with someone new for honest conversation station and real world advice about parenting.

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