Meet the Press NOW — March 12

Welcome to the press. Now I'm Kristen Welker in Washington. We will get to the very latest fallout from the war against Iran, with Israel saying moments ago that a new wave of strikes have begun in Tehran and the price of oil again on the rise. But we do have to begin with breaking news on two attacks here in the United States.

The first at one of the largest synagogues in the country and the other on a major college campus in Virginia. First on that synagogue attack, which took place this afternoon at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, about 30 miles northwest of Detroit. Authorities say the suspect drove a truck into the building before security from the synagogue engaged the driver and that something ignited in the vehicle. They also say the suspect is now dead.

This is video from shortly after the incident. You can see smoke there from a fire billowing from the building. The Oakland county sheriff providing this update. Earlier today, he breached the building, broke down the hall and.

And he was engaged by security. What do we know about this fire? Something ignited in the vehicle. That's a work in progress.

We're through an abundance of caution, clearing the vehicle for IEDs or any explosives. We've got a significant number of bond dogs on site, bomb attacks on site, and all of that's going to be done to check the boxes. How much damage to the building? I bet I can't even see that.

The hall was completely clear. We had a 70 point of gas mask to clear that area all the way in the building. Do you know how fast he's going? It's hard to say how fast.

I mean, he was traveling with purpose and down the hall from my look at video. We will speak with a rabbi who is in the building in just a moment. The White House says President Trump has been briefed on the situation. And local law enforcement agencies across the country say they are increasing their patrols around houses of worship.

And just hours before that attack unfolded in Michigan, a gunman opened fire at Old Dominion University in North Virginia. And we're just learning that the gunman in that shooting was previously convicted of providing material support to isis. And officials say he specifically targeted an ROTC class at the university, killing one person and injuring two others. That gunman is also dead.

NBC News national law enforcement and intelligence correspondent Tom Winter joins me along with NBC News Chief justice and national affairs correspondent Kelly o' Donnell and Jim Kavanaugh, retired ATF special agent in charge and now an NBC News law enforcement analyst also with us. Thanks to all of you for starting us off on all of the breaking news. Tom, let me start with you. What is the very latest that we know about the synagogue attack at this point?

Right. So we'll start with the synagogue attack there. Kristen. It is our understanding now that there'll be a press conference at 6:00pm Eastern time tonight.

The FBI has brought the notice about that press conference saying that they'll be joined by local officials. I think that's our clearest indication yet that they are leaning almost to the point of falling down on the fact that this is going to be a potential federal terrorism investigation. We do know that once the FBI would take that over, that would lean towards that. It could also be some sort of a hate crime investigation just given the fact that this happened at the temple.

But we did hear at the last press conference from local officials, they were kind of cluing us into this possibility because they said they picked up some initial information in the course of their investigation that led them to believe that this could be a federal case. Now, as far as what exactly happened, you heard it from officials there. You look at the smoke on the left side of your screen coming out of that entrance. That's what I believe this truck went through.

And then you see heavy smoke billing out of the middle of the building. Apparently after the car stops, there's some sort of fire that erupts. So it to see whether there's an incendiary device or fireworks, probably not a bomb, just given the nature of the damage and some of the other clues that we're looking at. But the bomb squad is there.

They would look into something like that. And it was really. And they talked about the incredible acts of the security guards there at this temple Israel, where there's obviously, you can see it clearly, a school there as well, firing upon this individual and stopping them. So that's the latest moment we now out of West Bloomfield, Michigan.

But I think the fact that the FBI announced the press conference is certainly an indication that this has the potential to be a federal case. Absolutely, Tom. And just be very clear, we don't know the motive yet. Correct.

Investigators are still looking into that. That's right. We don't know the specific motive incident. That is something that they're looking into, at least as far as the synagogue incident.

Okay. And tell us about the very latest, the shooting in Virginia. Sure, Kristen. Well, just as we're coming on the air, the FBI director Cash Patel announcing that the shooting at Old Dominion earlier today will be investigated initially as an act of terrorism.

This follows when NBC News first reported that an individual identified as Mohamed Baylor Jalo, born in 1989 of Sterling, Virginia, is the person that authorities believe is responsible for today's shooting. That's according to two senior law enforcement officials. They say that he was the same person, as public records clearly show, was convicted of material support for ISIS case back in 2016. He was a former member of the Army National Guard and that was to provide material support to that terrorism organization.

He allegedly attempted to help weapons intended to be used in what he anticipated was going to be an attack in the US in the name of ISIS. Apparently he was sentenced to prison for 11 years and was released from BOP custody in 2024. Right now his specific motive isn't known. Obviously they believe that it's potentially here an act of terrorism.

And it's our understanding that he specifically targeted an ROTC class and that was. That's where he walked into and started firing, killing one person in that class, injuring two others. The FBI director saying he was an act of bravery by those that were in the class to stop him. It's our understanding that's how the suspect jar was killed.

That apparently was other ROTC members or members of that class that overcame him. Jalo, excuse me, who was killed in that incident? So it is possible. We're still waiting to get some more information, but it's possible we might have two serious incidents here in this country being investigated as act of terrorism today.

Just extraordinary. All right, Tom Winter, thank you so much for starting us off with all of your latest reporting on those investigations. Let me turn to Kelly o' Donnell now. Kelly, this of course comes at a very tense moment for religious communities nationwide.

What has the broader response been from law enforcement agencies all around the country? Well, certainly with the war in Iran, there had been an alert, a sense of posture that was an elevated threat environment, not specific threats, but many communities increased security patrols. In the case of the West Bloomfield, Michigan Temple, they had their own on site security. Many do, especially those in communities where they feel they have the resources.

That's a particularly large community to have that level of vigilance which is all the time, but now heightened in part because of world events. And as Tom was just outlining, if we are now able in the foreseeable future here to draw connections between the actions at Old Dominion University, the actions in West Bloomfield, Michigan, even potentially the actions in Austin, Texas, where the man was wearing the gunman was wearing an Iran T shirt and opened fire outside an entertainment area. Those kinds of incidents, while we don't see, see any direct connection among them, are they in an environment where there is inspiration to act because of world events. As we're seeing the US Engagement in Iran, the President has been asked about his concerns about this.

He has acknowledged that there could be an increased risk. He's certainly been briefed on these incidents today. And so there has been an awareness of the potential for a greater activity that's different than specific and credible threats on a given location or a part of a certain community, the Jewish community as an example. But what we have seen is that over time and really since the October 7th war involving Israel and Gaza, there was already a much greater incidence of anti Semitism at times just in terms of words or vandalism, not these kind of violent acts.

But that too has been on the upswing. So when you put all of this together, we're just in an environment where it's hard to. To separate what's happening on global stage with what's happening in local communities where people see that there is a need to be vigilant and law enforcement responding very, very forcefully today in Michigan, with lots of different layers of local and federal enforcement to try to come in there and get answers and to prevent anything more serious from happening. The good news in West Moonfield, Michigan, is the fact that the community itself was safe.

The children attending school and the facilities there, all safe. But obviously it was a violent attack using a vehicle which is itself an incendiary device, thousands of pounds. And of course, we're looking to see what the next steps will be for national federal law enforcement about how to prepare other communities to be on alert person. Kelly, you're absolutely right.

I think a lot of parents breathing a sigh of relief after just a terrifying incident there at that synagogue. Thank you so much for that reporting. Jim, let me turn to you. Let's talk about the attack on the synagogue.

What do you of the incident? What would you be looking for if you were part of this investigation right now? What are the key things that stand out to you? Well, I think first of all, look at the scene.

It may be a very simple attack. This guy may have had, you know, a few gallons of gasoline in front of the truck, and he planned to drive in there, jump out, spread it around and light the place on fire, Something simple as that. He could have Molotov cocktails or incendiary devices, as Tom Kelly discussed, of course, and those will be looked for, but then they'll have to be present. He could just be five gallons of gasoline.

And during the shooting, he might have been able to ignite it or maybe even was ignited by Some of the gunfire. Either way, it looks like a pretty simple attack on its face right now. Secondly, in the investigation, they're gonna be looking for all the normal things. Conspirators, co conspirators.

Was it inspired? Is he a lone Mad Dog actor inspired by world events or ISIS or Iran, or, you know, was he directed, Was he supplied with money and marbles and chalk and explosives and guns? We don't have any indication of that. And we don't even know if he had a gun or fired a gun.

So right now it looks pretty simple. And maybe he's an inspired actor. We don't even know his motivation. We don't know if it's tied to world events or something else.

Maybe at the news conference we'll be able to hear, you know, what they think is the motivation if it turns out to be inspired by international events. That would be the third one domestically behind All Dominion, where we have a guy who's convicted of supporting ISIS and went to the federal penitentiary for it, so we know what he's all about. And then, as Kelly reported, the killer in Austin, who was wearing a shirt of the Iranian flag. So if this turns out to be related, that's the third one.

We have just weeks. So it's just the initial phase of the blowback from the war with a nation that has 80 million people. And many of them are supporters of the Ayatollah who we just killed, and all their leaders. So they hated us before, but now they want revenge.

At least a large portion of their nation does. Not all of them, but enough to have kept that dictatorship propped up since 1979. And we all know that they've been the major state sponsor of terrorism worldwide since 1979. And they've done bombings in Buenos Aires.

ATF's had a big bomb team down to investigate that in the 80s, early 90s, because they blew up a Jewish Israeli center there. They tried to kill a Saudi ambassador at a restaurant in Washington, and that plot was thwarted. And they had another feeble plot where they tried to kill some of our political leaders in New York. But now it's all ramped up.

This is the first picture. The second picture could be worse and more sophisticated. So we really, as a nation have to step up our security and our awareness. A little bit of fear is okay.

It helps you make judgments that this could happen and it could happen anywhere. A beer hall in Austin, a university in Virginia. And maybe we don't know the motive yet here, but maybe it will be part of this attacking machine. So at any rate, we're at war with a nation that doesn't have an army that can feel against us, an air force they can feel against us or a navy that can feel against us.

And the only thing they have is asymmetrical terror. And so we need to pay attention to that. Oh, it's a good message. A terrifying series of events, that's for sure.

Thank you so much for your great analysis. As always, we are following this breaking news in Michigan closely. And we will speak with a rabbi who is in the building during the attack in just a moment. You don't want to miss that conversation.

Coming up, the war with Iran now causing the largest oil supply disruption in history, as Iran's new supreme leader defiantly vows to keep blocking the vital straight of her moves and attacks across the region escalate. Stay with us. You're WATCHING ME, the PRESS now. Welcome back.

Turning now again to that attack on the synagogue in Michigan, joining me is Rabbi Ariana Gordon. She is the director of education at Temple Israel. And she was in the building at the time of today's attack. And we did have her hooked up.

And apparently we have lost a shot. But we are going to continue to try to get her so that we can interview her about the horrific events that unfolded today. And as soon as we have our connection established, we will go back to that interview. But we do want to turn now to the latest fallout from the war against Iran and the intensified disruption of global energy markets as President Trump tries to downplay the economic impact of rising oil prices.

And as Iran's new supreme leader issues what the state media is calling his first public statement since his country senior leadership was decimated by US And Israeli strikes. We should note we did not hear or see the new supreme leader himself, who was wounded during the start of the war. Rather, an anchor on state TV read his defiant statement in which he vowed to keep locking transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for roughly 20% of the world's oil. It comes as Iran intensifies its strikes on oil related to targets throughout the region.

This week alone, Iran has hit a fuel tank at a port in Oman, two fuel tankers off the coast of Iraq and an energy refinery in Bahrain. Today, crude oil prices settle around $96 a barrel, up 42% since the start of the war. A separate benchmark for oil prices settled above $100 today for the first time since August of 2022. President Trump now arguing rising prices are not a bad thing, saying in A post on social media that when oil prices go up, quote, we make a lot of money from domestic oil production.

And going on to say that it's more important to stop Iran from having nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, there are still major questions about the US Navy's ability to escort oil tankers through the strait, as the administration has promised. Here's what the Trump administration say about all of that today. It'll happen relatively soon, but it can't happen now.

We're simply not ready. All of our military assets right now are focused on destroying Iran's offensive capabilities and the manufacturing industry that supplies their offensive capabilities. Do you think by the end of this month the US Navy will be escorting some of those ships through the strait? I think, yes, I think that's quite likely the case.

But again, I'll be over the Pentagon later today. But that is, that is what the military is working on. My belief that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy and perhaps with an international coalition will be escorting vessels through. Now, it's hard to overstate the significance of this war when it comes to the US and global economy.

In its monthly report, the International Energy Agency warning is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market and adding that the current flow through the Strait of Hormuz is somewhere between a triple and a near standstill. This video from the Group of Marine Traffic, which monitors the movement of vessels around the world, showing the reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. We should note that some of the noise could be the result of satellite disruptions or signal jammers. All of this coming as President Trump continues to offer more mixed messaging about his strategy, claiming the US has already won the war, but also that the US Needs to finish the job.

You know, you never like to say too early, you won, we won, we won. The first hour it was over, but we won. But I'm pleased to report that earlier today, the International Energy Agency agreed to coordinate the release of a record 400 million barrels of oil from various national petroleum reserves around the world, which will substantially reduce the oil prices as we end this threat to America and this threat to the world. We don't want to leave early, do we?

We got to finish the job, right? Joining now is NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel, NBC News senior business correspondent Christine Romans, NBC News White House correspondent Monica Alba, and NBC News international correspondent Raf Sanchez, who is in Beirut. Thank you all for being here. Richard, let me start with with you.

So we got this extraordinary audio of the anchor with the state media reading what was purportedly a statement by the new supreme Leader. But Richard, you can't see the supreme Leader. We didn't hear his voice. What are the key takeaways and how are people in the region responding?

So first of all, Raleigh state media broadcast this message, this statement from the Supreme Leader, Mashaba Khamenei, his first statement since he was appointed as Supreme Leader replacing his father, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. And as you say, he was not on camera. There was no picture of him. There was no audio of his voice.

And that only is fueling speculation here and around the world that he may have been injured in the same attack that killed his father, that he may have been seriously injured. We're hearing many different reports, none of them confirmed about the severity of his injured, from an amputated leg to that he might be in a coma. But the fact that he didn't appear on camera, couldn't be heard on camera, is only fueling those rumors that are circulating like wildfire around this region. But the message that he conveyed is one that has been reinforced by other members of the Iranian military, the Revolutionary Guard, particularly about the Strait of Hormuz.

So whether this message came directly from him, whether he is incapacitated, we don't know. But the message was clear. And the message was that this tanker war that Iran is engaged in right now will continue. Well, and Richard, we're seeing those images of massive tanker fires in the strait and all across the region.

Quite frankly, the new supreme leader has said the strait should remain closed and is vowing continue attacks. What is the state of play right now, Richard? Well, it's not just Iran anymore. Iran's ability to fire missiles, as CENTCOM reports every day, is greatly diminished.

And its ability to launch drone attacks against the Gulf, it is still doing it, but not at the same level that it did in the first few days of the war. But I'm right now in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. And Hezbollah, which is a militia based in Lebanon backed by Iran, a supporter of Iran has now joined in this war in a full way. And you can talk to Raf Senchans about the impact that it's having on Beirut.

But it is now for Israel a two front war, one against Iran and the other up here in the north across border war into Lebanon. And Israel's defense minister made a direct threat saying that if the Lebanese government and the Lebanese government does not support Hezbollah, in fact, the Lebane government has called out Hezbollah to be disarmed. But the Israeli Defense Minister said that if the government can't stop Hezbollah from carrying out attacks in northern Israel, then Israeli troops will take more territory inside Lebanon. There are already troops on the ground.

More Israeli troops have been deployed to to northern Israel for a potential deepening cross border incursion. Israel already occupies a significant amount of land inside Lebanon and now is threatening to take even more unless Lebanese government can stop this militia group. Well Richard, let me ask you about something that Britain's Defense minister is saying that Iran is likely laying mines in the Strait. What are the implications of that?

If true, it would have a huge implication because mines are are and and sea drones are, are these kind of weapons that are very difficult to to find. They semi submerged for a long time. They can be hit accidentally. It is not like stopping an incoming ballistic missile which you can see, you can see its trajectory, you can predict its launch.

They can linger and serve as a very long term problem for the Strait of amusing. And removing them like removing mines from the territory can take a very from the ground can take a very long time. So it means shipping costs go up, insurance costs go up, means that a ship could hit one accidentally. They are, they move obviously with the current that can be valid in the Strait of Bombs.

It is a very dangerous development if true for this critical waterway and beyond. Well, Richard Engel, thank you so much for joining us with all of those breaking developments. We really appreciate it. Please continue to stay safe.

And let me go to Ross Dentists you were just talking about Richard Roth. You just heard Richard make the point that Israel has been launching waves of attacks into Lebanon. What exactly are you seeing on the ground there? Well, because we've been seeing and hearing those waves of attacks here in Beirut.

Israel just the last couple of hours has been pounding the southern suburbs of the city, an area that it considers to be a Hezbollah strongholds. But then maybe three hours ago they struck where you're seeing now in the center of your screen, the very heart of the Lebanese capital that is in the middle of the city. It's a densely populated part of town. They say that they were targeting Hezbollah there.

But there really is a feeling here in Beirut that nowhere is safe at this point. And there is intense Israeli fire going on further south near the Israeli border. And we should say Hezbollah is shooting back. There was this coordinated strike last night with Iran, Hezbollah firing some 200 rockets, 20 drones according to the Israeli military.

So it in Lebanon that the situation is escalating. Let me ask you about Hezbollah because There was a sense that Hezbollah had been significantly weakened after its latest conflict with Israel. What is the actual state of Hezbollah? It's a really, really good question.

Hezbollah, before October 7, 2023, when the fighting started in Gaza and spread all across the region, was really the crown jewel of the Iranian proxy groups. It was probably the best armed non governmental army anywhere in the world. 150, 000 missiles and rockets. But then when it came to the fighting with Israel, it underperforms relative to expectations.

The Israelis really, really carried out a number of successful operations, including you remember that infamous pager operation where Hezboro operatives had their pagers exploding in their hands. But the group is clearly down but not out. And they are fighting back. They are, it seems, still able to coordinate with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed in southern Lebanon so far. Those are the only really military casualties of this war so far. The Iranians, as far as we know, have not inflicted any military casualties. So Hezbollah is weakened, but it is certainly able to still fight for now at least.

All right, Raf Sanchez reporting from Lebanon. Please be safe. Raf, we appreciate you being there for us. Let me turn to Christine Romans now.

Christine, let me get your take on the latest. The International Energy Agency agreeing to release 400 million barrels of oil from reserves, of course, to help ease those prices that have continued to go up. What do you make of this? How significant is this move?

Could it have an immediate impact? Well, the announcement is just huge. 400 barrels. We've never seen anything like that.

And it's double what the same group committed to after Russia invaded Ukraine a few years ago. So it shows you just how big the problem and the concern is about global supply. It'll take time for this oil to make it to the market. Experts tell me we're talking about this is maybe, I don't know if you're talking about 20 million barrels a day in the straightforward moves, it's offline.

This is 400 million. The world consumes 100 million a day. That's four days of global supply. This huge and historic release will accommodate.

So that's one reason why you're seeing oil prices continue to rise until the Strait. The picture you're seeing there until that is not a concern anymore. Ships on fire until the Strait is putting through 80 or so tankers a day. You still have these global oil supply concerns.

And so that is the underlying problem here. All the other attempts to mitigate oil prices are just that, attempts around the. Just to mitigate what our rising Oil price is. Well, Christine, you get to, I think what's a really important point about how quickly will people actually feel the impact here?

How quickly could U.S. gas prices actually start to drop because of these actions? I've been on the phone for two or three days about when gas prices go down, and not one single expert has said gas prices will go down. What they're telling me is moves like this will slow the advance of gas prices.

One expert telling me the wholesale increase in gasoline prices, hasn't all of it appeared at the retail level yet. So even if oil prices stop rising from here, you still have a delayed reaction that has to be baked in here. And we don't see an end in sight overall here for, for the, for the conflict in the region. And unstopping this, this, this, this chain of events is going to take time, even assuming it were to happen overnight.

So what I hear from experts is this is the biggest supply disruption in history. There is nothing like it. Since the 1970s, they tell me we will not see gas lines and shortages in the US because the US Is now a huge energy supplier in its own right, but you will see higher prices. That's how it'll percolate through here.

All right, Christine Romans watching all of the markets, the money, gas prices, everything for us. Thank you, Christine, really appreciate it. Let me turn to Monica over at the White House now. Monica, let me ask you, because we're learning that the President is considering waiving what's called the Jones Act.

You have new reporting about this. Talk about what specifically the Jones act is and how this would work. So this is basically a century old statute that requires that goods that are going between US Ports, that they be transported specific US Crewed, US Flagged, and US Built specific ships. So the thinking here is that if you waive the Jones act, you loosen some of those restrictions, then you can actually have foreign tankers or foreign ships to come in and help make things flow a little bit more easily to perhaps again deal with exactly what you were just talking to Christine about.

But there are two issues here. One is the administration says this is something that the President is still weighing. He hasn't decided whether he's definitely going to do it or how long the waiver would actually be in effect. And second is, again, what you guys are just discussing.

It's unclear whether that would actually help prices go down and we don't know how fast or how much that would help in the short term, which is where the administration knows they have a limited window to try to address some of these top concerns. You know, Monica, it's interesting what the president has been saying about this issue on social media. He posted, quote, when oil prices go up, we may make a lot of money. But that's not exactly what we say on the campaign trail.

Right. Talk about some of the mixed messaging that we're hearing. Yeah. And this really does add to several examples of mixed messaging in an administration, in a White House that seems to want to present this entered habit both ways when they're talking about this and the awareness that prices, gas prices going up, the pain at the pump is something that is going to be a pain that is felt in the immediate.

You have all these top cabinet officials recognizing that. But the president also then trying to sort of spin why also might be good for the United States at the same time, while the president is also saying that this is a short term excursion, in his words. But there are still some things left to be done militarily. So there is a lot of confusion that is coming out specifically from the president and from the Trump administration about what they are doing economically to combat and try to tame oil prices while also trying to discuss the military objectives and what this might actually mean for when this wraps up.

The president just talked about this a short time ago at an event for Women's History Month where he is saying that things are moving along very rapidly. That is how he's trying to put this into context. But remember that initially the White House has said this would be a four to six week military conflict. The president trying to project this week.

It could be wrapping before that while still trying to figure out exactly how the president is going to determine that the US Military objectives are done. Having gotten his exact assessment for how he's gonna be able to determine that and declare victory potentially. All right, Monica Alpha at the White House Press. Monica, thank you so much.

Joining us, retired Colonel Steve Warren, former chief of strategic communications for the army and now an NBC News military analyst. Colonel Warren, thank you so much for being here. Really appreciate it. Thank you.

To be with you. Well, it's great to have you here. I want you to pick up where Monica just left off, which is that it's not clear when exactly President Trump can extract the United States from this war. He has said he can do it at any time.

What is the military reality check on that once you are entang entangled in a military engagement like this, how complicated is it to actually extract troops? There's two components to this particular military entanglement that we're in component one is the accomplishment of all of the military objectives that the president, the secretary, the chairman laid out. We're familiar with those. Destroy the missiles, destroy the navy, take care of the nuclear weapons, et cetera.

So we're familiar with those. When those missions are accomplished. Well, no, we can measure those things. And then the chairman of the Joint Chiefs can go and tell his boss, hey, Mr.

President, we've accomplished your missions. What do you want to do now? The second component of that is the tough one though, because now the Iranians have said, well, we're going to keep striking the ships in the straits. And so now that's a problem.

Now we have to make them stop doing that and that's going to be trouble. Well, and to that point, three more oil tankers were struck overnight in the Strait of Hormuz. Talk about the implications of that. And strategically, what Iran is, thinks it's accomplishing those strikes, Iran's strategy.

I think very clearly this is a test of wills. It's how much physical punishment can the Iranians withstand versus how much economic pain can the west withstand. So it's who can hold out the longest. And right now the Iranians are trying to squeeze the West.

And this is classic asymmetric warfare. We're hitting them with bullets, they're hitting us in our pocketbook. Right. That's an asymmetry.

Two different things. But both sides are being affected. So it remains to be seen who can last the longest. I don't predict we'll be able to wipe out the Iranian drones.

There's too many of them. It's like people may remember back during the Iraq wars, the biggest threat was these IEDs. It's kind of the same thing. Small, cheap, effective and terrorizing.

Well, Britain's defense minister said he believes that Iran has started placing mines in the Strait and demining apparently very difficult. Talk a little bit bit about that and why it's so complicated. Minds are tough again. They're cheap, they're very difficult to see under general rules.

And they terrify mariners for good reason. One single mind can sink a ship. It can sink it with one mind. They're magnetic.

Some of them are anchored at various levels. So they can, you know, they can be a defense against submarines as well. So they're anchored at various levels of them floating on the surface. They're magnetic, so they'll drift towards where a big metal ship is.

And one impact and you've got a massive fireball. Could they actually pose a threat to the long term goals of this conflict? This war. Absolutely.

I mean, they absolutely will if the goals are now to, you know, allow commerce to continue. One of the stated goals was to prevent Iran from projecting power outside of its borders or outside of Iran's borders. That's going to be a problem. And mines are so difficult to clean up.

We have to use wooden ships together because they're magnetic. These are a real problem. Well, Israel, let's talk about what Israel is doing, essentially expanding its attacks. You heard my colleague Ross Sanchez talking about this against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

What do you make of the state of play there and the sense that Hezbollah had been weakened? But clearly Israel thinks there's still plenty of targets. That's right. And to be clear, Hezbollah fired at Israel first after the ayatollah was killed.

And I think the Israelis have simply had enough. This is their opportunity now. I believe they view it as their chance to go finally finish off Hezbollah or as close as they can. But what I think people should remember, this is what is most notable to me.

Israelis have been working on Hezbollah really in earnest for the last two years and Hezbollah is still shooting. And we've only been working on the Iranians now for 12, 13 days. Something to keep in mind. Right.

It's harder to wipe out, wipe out an enemy's capability to shoot back than many people think. All right, Colonel Steve, thank you so much for being here today. Thank you for your perspective. We really appreciate it.

And we're turning back to the breaking news next. In Michigan, a rabbi who was inside the temple during today's attack will join us next. Stay with us on the press. Now.

Get the best of NBC News with a subscription, viewer ads, access and exclusive content. And now during the Xfinity member celebration, members can get an exclusive 50 off an annual subscription. Head to xfinity.com membership to learn more. Xfinity.

Imagine that subscription automatically reviews each year at 65.99 plus taxes and BC offer ends May 20, 2026. Price is subject to change. Visit nbcnews.com xin 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 fans 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. 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 instructions, 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. Welcome back. We just heard from President Trump moments ago at the White House addressing the attack on that synagogue in Michigan, saying he has been briefed on the situation and he sends his love to the Michigan Jewish community and the people of the Detroit area. We also just got a statement from Temple Israel that quote, everyone is safe following the attack.

And join me now is Rabbi Ariana Gordon. She is the director of education at Temple Israel and she was in the building at the time of today's attack. Rabbi Gordon, thank you for joining us. I'm so sorry for this violence that has been brought to your community.

I want to start by asking how you're doing, how your community is doing after this horrific incident. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me on this afternoon. We're doing okay.

I live in an incredible community which really rose to the occasion and we feel so loved and supported in this really horri moment. And of course, there is a school there. It is my understanding and based on the statement that of course the synagogue released, all of the children are safe. Is that correct?

Yeah. We have incredible rock star teachers and an unbelievable security team as well as local law enforcement. And everyone did exactly what they were supposed to do and everyone got out safely. All of our children are with their parents now and we are so deeply appreciative of our team for doing what they needed to do to make sure that we're the best possible outcome today.

Well, thank goodness. Thank goodness for that. I do want to ask you if you can tell us about those moments that the synagogue was attacked. How did you experience it?

Yeah, so I don't really have a lot of information to share about those moments at this time. We're really debriefing and processing and learning more about what happened. I was definitely a scary afternoon, but again, really relieved in this moment that everyone is safe and unharmed. Yeah, understood.

Can you walk us through what was going through your head when you realized that the temple was being attacked? You know, I, I think we all do these trainings so that we learn what we are supposed to do in these moments and then pray to God you never have to have that experience. But I'm thankful that we all were well trained that we knew how to be in touch with our teachers. We knew how to lock down, we knew how to listen to the law enforcement that were coming into the building so that we could really follow those instructions very carefully and thoughtfully.

And of course, as we've been recording, Temple Israel is one of the largest synagogues in the country. I know it is central to your community there. Talk a little bit about the role that your congregation plays in West Bloomfield. Yeah, we are the biggest congregation in the metro Detroit area.

And we certainly are leaders and all that we do in this community. And it's a very important part of the Jewish community in Detroit. We are often host for events. We run schools, we run programs.

We obviously run services on a regular basis. So we have been hearing from all of those around us, really throughout the country all day long, wishing us well and thinking about us and sending our prayers towards our community today. And I think echoing how everyone right now is feeling, sending all of our thoughts to you all as you go through this. Let me just ask you finally, Rabbi, we know that there have been stepped up security at religious institutions all across the country.

I know that investigators don't know what the exact motive was yet. But what is your message to other communities who are seeing this, learning about the horror that happened today and who might feel afraid? I think that fear is very valid. We have an incredible security team.

I think knowing, doing the training, learning what you're supposed to do so that in that moment you can react as we have ventures is incredibly important. Important, Adam, we're very appreciative about that. Absolutely. All right, Rabbi Gordon, thank you so much for your time.

Please continue to stay safe. We really appreciate it. Thank you so much. All right.

And still to come, President Trump seemingly dismissing Americans pain at the pump and what that could mean for the midterms. We'll get the panels take next. You're watching the president now. Oil prices are already coming back down and it's going to come down.

But we're not leaving until that job is finished. And it's going to be very fast. Gonna be very fast. But we're not, we're not gonna count on having competent presidents.

Well, the fact that was President Trump in Kentucky yesterday seeking to assure his supporters that rising oil and gas prices due to the Iran war will not be sticking around even as crude oil prices are up more than 40 since the start of the war. And Americans are seeing an over 20 increase in the of a gallon of gas. On social media today, the president suggested that stopping Iran was more important than oil prices and the quote, when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money. Joining now to weigh in on all of this, our panel, Mariana, congressional reporter for the Washington Post, John McCarthy, former senior adviser for political engagement to President Obama and tw o r Republican strategist and former national press secretary for the nrc.

Thanks to all of you for being here today. Mariana, let me start with you and the president's message around these rising gas prices. We know that administration officials are privately expressing concern and an urgency to bring these prices down. But here you have the president on social media saying, I'll just remind everyone, quote, when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money.

What do you make of the mixed message? Yeah, it's really not great when you talk to Republicans on Capitol Hill because they would love the president to say a message on affordability. And he's, of course, talking about a number of different things. This is just the latest wrinkle, I think, on that front.

And to your point, what you're hearing privately from the White House is also what I'm hearing privately from congressional Republicans, especially as they're eyeing the midterms. They do not want this to last for a long time. They are repeating the president's point. They're saying, I really believe, and I hope that he is right, that this is not going to be a long conflict because the longer that this goes, the way they are watching the midterm election is if things do not improve by June, both the economy and if we are still entangled, Iran potentially have boots on the ground.

I mean, there are a number of House Republicans at the retreat in Trump's hotel in Doral, saying that is going to be a legitimate problem. Even the majority Whip, Tom Emmer, described it as fun. But privately, Republicans are describing it as a completely different, a completely different way. It's gonna be a problem.

Let's feel you wait on that timeline. Does that sound about right to you? Because I have Republicans saying to me, look, Republicans are probably unified around the president for about seven weeks. They're going to give him to work through this.

And if we don't start to see oil prices come down, that's when the real jitters are going to step in. And by the way, boots on the ground would be a whole different. Boot on the ground changes the dynamics totally. I would probably give it a little later than June.

I'd say probably more late July, early August time frame. But look, I don't think the president entered into this action ever thinking oil prices were going to stay low. This was always going to be a consequence, an unintended consequence of this action. But the good news on that front is we destroyed Iran's complete navy.

We are going after smaller vessels every single day that can lay mines or get into other shenanigans in the Strait of Hormuz. They have no ability to defend their airspace. These are really good things. And by way, the way we've now heard in European this last hour, talk from Scott Besant, Chris Wright talking about escorts through the strait for these vessels.

And that's great. In addition, there should be international cooperation on that. European nations have signals that they will hope in that regard. So I'm confident that, A, this will be a shorter affair and B, we can get the straight hormone moves secure with and get things flowing in.

Good work. What about that argument that Republicans are making will undoubtedly make on the campaign until Iran has been a problem for decades and that President Trump's dealing with and trying to get rid of this, what has been a global threat? I think it's a complex argument to make at a time when most people are still struggling with costs. I mean, Donald Trump ran as America first candidate.

He talked about how he was going to tackle affordability. He talked about how he wasn't going to start any forever wars. And it seems like we kind of put all that to the wayside by now, all while Americans are still finding, you know, housing costs too high, the price of gasoline going up. If Donald Trump wants to sit and say that prices are going to go up and that's a different message, we will take it, I mean, as Democrats.

But I think that, you know, voters are not going to reward us. And foreign policy tends to be a place where presidents can often act in kind of an unchecked way and come across as commanding. But this is not appearing to be one of those. I mean, every poll that we have seen about this conflict so far, is it just Americans are not for it.

So I don't think the president is coming across as commanding. I think it's coming across as if there's not really a plan. Yeah, I would push back a little bit on that. The Washington Post had a great piece today talking about the polling surrounding this issue.

And you see the worst numbers of President Trump when Trump is in the question. We all know in polling it is how you phrase the questions. If you support President Trump's actions in Iran, the negatives are way out. If you say, do you support the US military strikes in Iran?

It is completely split. But 42% support 40% opposed and unsure takes the rest. So I think people are still making up their mind. Donald Trump has shown already that he is a decisive leader in Venice, Venezuela in the first term when he dealt with ISIS in swift fashion in now Iran.

And by the way, this is going to solve a lot of problems down the road when China is trying to make a move in Russia. We're taking their ass off course. President Trump traveling to China in the coming weeks. This will be the backdrop to that trip.

Mariana, let me ask you because Senate Republicans are trying to focus back on affordability, passing today an affordable housing bill. There's reporting that apparently President Trump said to Speaker Johnson he's very focused on the SAVE act, which is the voting act. Quote, no one gives a bleep about housing. Now the White House pushing back and saying, no, no, no, he didn't say that.

But what's the reaction been, broadly speaking to how the president is dealing with this legislation? You can see that Congress wants to focus on something because they are eyeing the midterms. They want to keep their majorities. And the president's pushing something else.

I mean, you mentioned the savings fact. The House already passed two different voting bills and now Trump is saying, forget those, let's do a completely new one. And whether you're talking to someone in the free of caucus of the most moderate Republican, they're saying that's not going to pass. We just don't have enough time.

We should be focusing on housing and other bipartisan measures like permitting reform. Remember when that was a thing that before he wanted to get done. I don't think that the House is going to pick up that housing bill in large part because that was the message received by the speaker of the House. Yet, CW do you think that the president should be so focused on the same act, including the fact that he's now added these amendments, in his words, no men and women's sports and other cultural measures that he's put into this voting bill?

Yeah. Look, the same act is important because it is one of those 8020 issues. If Gallup had a poll just in October saying that 83% of Americans actually supported showing proof of citizenship to register to vote, the overwhelming majority of Americans support voter ID at the ballot box. These are things that should be easy to accomplish.

And I think he sees an 8020 issue like let's talk about it more. But to everything you just said, affordability is still number one. And I think we should really walk and shoot at the same time. There's no doubt about that.

John, I have to ask you about when the big headlines on the Democratic side today, Congressman Jim Clyburn announced that he's running for reelection at age 85. Here's a little bit of what he had to say. Take a look. I know that in a few months I'm going to celebrate the 47th anniversary of my 39th birthday.

Adds up to 80 years. But if I were not to it, I would not do it. What's the reaction of the Democratic Party, which is right now having a big debate over whether it's time for generational change? Yeah, I mean, you're seeing that in primaries all across the country.

You're seeing against the party apparatus. I will say in the Democratic Party, diversity is our strength. And I've never liked to let this test that. If you're at a certain age or under a certain age, you are or are unqualified, put it to the voters.

I would say Dan Carbon has kind of celebrated status inside of our party. And if you've ever spent any time with him recently, he's still just a wise and great voice inside the Democratic caucus. I'd be enhanced for having him. TW was there any reaction so far, your Republican circle, this announcement?

Not a whole lot. Look, I worked in South Carolina. I know South Carolina politics very well. He is a greatly respected man even among the Republicans of South Carolina.

He gets a lot of respect from that. My book, I think with so many departures like State Lawyer Post, etcetera, I think he's looking at November and saying we might take it might be our first African American speaker of the House that would help guide him through it. And I think that's part of this whole calculation that he's going through. I think he has energy, I think he's smart, I think he's wise, and whoever's next speaker could lean on him.

Mariana, what's your take on what was the reaction on Capitol Hill? Because all signs, a lot of signs. Yes. Were pointed to him deciding not to run.

So this is a little bit of a surprise which we don't typically get. Yeah, it's interesting because obviously Pelosi and Hoyer stepped back from leadership several years ago and he was the only one who decided to stay. He was assistant leader for several years until 2023. So he's a little, a little different than the pack of two there.

But something that's top of mind for Democrats is the Supreme Court is obviously going to be debating the Voting Rights Act. So if that is struck down, South Carolina could possibly gerrymander and he is truly the only Democrat. Even if that district becomes much, much more Republican, Democrats think that just because the name recognition he still wins, there might be some political strategy behind this. All right.

Well, track his race closely, guys. Great conversation. Thank you so much, Mariana, John and T.W. we really appreciate it.

We are back tomorrow with War Meet the Press. Now there's more ahead on NBC News. Now, he was a young Marine. She didn't care about convention.

They made a life together. Then one night, the Marine died. And then the death investigation took a wild, unexpected and utterly bizarre turn. I'm Josh Makowitz, and this is Trace of Suspicion, an all new podcast from Dayline.

Listen to all episodes of Trace of Suspicion. Now, wherever you get your podcasts.