Meet the Press watch: Nov. 15: Weak gruel, but decent interviews of Transportation Sec. Duffy and Fmr. VP Pence

Meet the Press Host Kristen Welker again hosts the once-venerated Meet the Press public affairs show;  as usual, anti-Trump. But not as virulently as is generally the case. And a couple parts of the show were atypically strong.

Major Guests:

• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy:

Topic: Disruption in air travel…air traffic control system.

Reasonable questions by Welker, who is always well-prepared. A not bad interview overall.

When will U.S. air travel be back to normal? By the end of today or tomorrow, says Duffy. Is it safe to travel now? Of course it is, said Duffy. What caused the emergency? Can you guarantee what happened will not recur? L3Harris Technologies (not explained on show) owns the network and Duffy says we cannot cancel it…Congress didn’t give me $$ for new software…Do you owe America an apology, asks Welker. No, says Duffy; it was due to our long-term lack of investment…they gave me a system that needs to be fixed…we need a bipartisan bill to give me more money.

•  Democratic Senator-elect Scott Colom (D-Miss.):
• First Black senator elected from Mississippi since Reconstruction in a state Trump won by 23 points…little newsworthy, save Mississippi’s electing an African-American senator…Colom: We need to show that we can help rural America…I shall listen to see if I can support Schumer. Welker: Are you voting for Chris Van Hollen? I am going to listen…I am in listening mode…[yawn] tariffs have been neglected in Congress…raise the minimum wage. No follow-up by Welker on consequences to jobs with such a raise, and never asked how much he wants to raise it…Welker: Are you going to scratch all of Trump’s tariffs, including those kept by Biden?Colom: I am not a fan of taxes…I am going to listen to others, said repeatedly and boringly…they must be effective for our economy. Welker: Reversing Medicaid cuts and restoring Affordable Care Act subsidies…you would raise taxes?  Medicare for all like Bernie Sanders? Colom doesn’t get into it save to say he probably wants to keep private insurance…on abortion, Colom straddles issue: “I’ll study it.” Abolishing the filibuster? I believe in bipartisanship, says Colom…filibuster shouldn’t be used to stop all progress. Yawn.
• Former Vice President Mike Pence:
• Welker asks: What will become of Donald Trump’s legacy? On Midterm results…Trump responsible? Pence: It was a reckoning…rejection of protectionist tariffs…national debt is too high…embrace of appeasement of Russia is wrong and even Iran we needed consistent action…there is corruption (no follow-up)…Republicans need to turn back to values…Iran War…Vance is wrong in attributing problems to the choice to confront Iran…we stopped in Iran after 5 weeks; why, he wonders…Iran attacking Bahrain in recent days.

Welker: Is the president being tough enough on China? Pence: America needs answers as to why we have retrenched in confronting China.

Pence: China is the greatest threat. Why do we allow Tic Toc to function in U.S. — why delay weapon sales to Taiwan?

Pence: China engages in AI race…we must confront them more.

Pence: Administration has culture or air of corruption…the president’s personal and family financial gains.

Pence: Vance’s stops and starts for support of Ukraine have been contrary to American leadership.

Vance…anti-mail order abortion bills

Welker: Have you ruled out running? Pence: Not my focus [everyone asked this goes to “focus”].

Good substantive interview. No interruptions by Welker.

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Panel: Bad format: Around 7 minutes; Little of interest articulated

NBC News National Security Managing Editor Carol Lee: 

Nvidia spy scandal is a real concern going forward. Why did Trump not do anything when he learned what U.S. intelligence had picked up? Fair enough for one point……not clear on where the president is.

Former Florida Republican Congressman Carlos Curbelo — Why is he a Guest?  Air traffic problems: 

Trump is still powerful, and he is the most powerful principal…Trump will be a major power figure going forward.

Trump is sending mixed signals on what to do re: China…Howard Lutnick appears to be unstopped in facilitating financial deals with China.

Former White House Counselor to Barack Obama Steve Ricchetti:

Van Hollen has been U.S. Senator since 2017. Ricchetti is a human sleeping pill…says re: Van Hollen political challenge to Chuck Schumer: This conversation will go on for weeks for sure…somnambulant panelist…there will be hearings on this and they will be welcomed…zzzzzz    zzzzzzzzzzzzzz   zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

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Overall grade: B- Better than most Meet the Press shows. But who chooses the guests and panel? Replace him or her. And tell Welker to try and be less liberally biased.