Latest news with #Welker
Politico
2 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Lindsey Graham sees Israel taking Gaza by force to wrap up war
Graham's comments come as the humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached crisis levels. Roughly a quarter of the exclave's population is facing famine-like conditions, a U.N. World Food Programme official said last Monday. Democrats, international partners and even podcaster and comedian Theo Von are imploring both the U.S. and Israel to substantially increase the flow of aid into Gaza. Israel's military on Sunday paused fighting in three major population centers inside Gaza to increase the delivery of humanitarian aid. Airdrops of aid have also resumed in the area. 'Israel is going to work with the U.N., the World Food Programme, to get some food into these people, who need it,' Graham told Welker. But even against that backdrop, the likelihood of a negotiated peace appears murky. The White House exited diplomatic talks with Hamas last week, with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff concluding that the U.S.-designated terrorist group 'does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith.' 'I think they want to die,' Trump told reporters outside the White House on Friday. Israel occupied Gaza, which had been an Egyptian territory, in the 6-Day War of 1967, and it had retained forces there until June 2005; since then it has periodically sent forces into the territory in response to incursions from Hamas or to prevent them. Graham said he agreed with the president that talks with the militant group Hamas were futile. 'I think President Trump has come to believe, and I've certainly come to believe, there's no way you're going to negotiate an end of this war with Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization who is chartered to destroy the state of Israel,' he told Welker. 'They're religious Nazis.'
New York Post
14-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Kristi Noem clashes with NBC anchor Kristen Welker over ‘inhumane' conditions at Alligator Alcatraz
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem clashed with NBC 'Meet the Press' host Kristen Welker in a testy exchange on Sunday over alleged 'inhumane' conditions at the newly-opened Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention facility in the Florida everglades. The detention facility, which currently holds 900 people but has the capacity to hold nearly 4,000, has been under scrutiny after Democratic lawmakers toured the facility on Saturday. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., described the facility as an 'internment camp.' Democratic lawmakers who toured the facility claimed that detainees were subjected to inhumane treatment, unsanitary conditions and sweltering heat. Wasserman Schultz claimed that detainees were forced to drink water from the same sink they use for the bathroom, and were packed into 'wall-to-wall cages.' 'Our detention centers at the federal level are held to a higher standard than most local or state centers and even federal prisons. The standards are extremely high, now this is a state-run facility at Alligator Alcatraz —' Noem told Welker in response to being questioned over whether the Florida facility was inhumane, before being interrupted by the host. 4 The detention facility, which currently holds 900 people but has the capacity to hold nearly 4,000, has been under scrutiny. NBC 'More than 30 people stuffed into a jail cell?' Welker asked, cutting off Noem. 'I wish they would have said that back during the Biden administration and back when the Democrats were in the White House when they were piling people on top of each other on cement floors and they didn't have two feet to move. They never did that, and that's why this politics has to end,' Noem said. 'I wouldn't call them jail cells, I would call them a facility where they are held and that are secure facilities, but are held to the highest levels of what the federal government requires for detention facilities –' Noem said before once again being cut off by Welker. 4 Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., described the facility as an 'internment camp.' NBC 'Democrats have called them cages,' the 'Meet the Press' host interrupted. Noem vowed to allow cameras to document the conditions inside migrant detention centers to show how their conditions are superior to centers used in the Biden administration. She also encouraged illegal immigrants to self-deport to avoid the detention process entirely and give themselves an opportunity to return to the country legally. Trump administration Border Czar Tom Homan also took Democrats to task Sunday for overlooking migrant detention conditions under Biden and failing to criticize them until Trump took office on CNN's State of the Union. 4 'Our detention centers at the federal level are held to a higher standard than most local or state centers and even federal prisons,' Noem told Welker. AP 4 Noem allows cameras to document the conditions inside migrant detention centers to show how their conditions are superior to centers used in the Biden administration. ''You didn't see them complaining about, under Biden administration, people being held in a border patrol parking lot surrounded by a fence and sweltering heat, they ignored four years of open borders, historic migrant deaths, historic Americans dying from fentanyl, historic numbers of women and children being sex trafficked.' The Trump administration's deportation policies have been the subject of widespread controversy and multiple court injunctions. The White House has aggressively moved to secure the southern border and has been deporting illegal immigrants at a rapid pace.
Politico
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Zohran Mamdani declines to condemn ‘globalize the intifada'
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Sunday again declined to condemn the phrase 'globalize the intifada' but emphasized he would be a mayor 'that protects Jewish New Yorkers' if elected in November. 'That's not language that I use,' Mamdani told NBC's Kristen Welker on 'Meet the Press.' 'The language that I use and the language that I will continue to use to lead this city is that which speaks clearly to my intent, which is an intent grounded in a belief in universal human rights. Mamdani, who last week scored an upset victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, took heat for declining to condemn the phrase in the days leading up to the vote. But rather than reject the phrase, he told Welker 'we have to root out that bigotry' and pointed to his campaign's commitment to increase funding for anti-hate crime programming by 800 percent. Mamdani will face off against beleaguered New York City Mayor Eric Adams — and perhaps Cuomo again — in November. 'I've heard from many Jewish New Yorkers who have shared their concerns with me, especially in light of the horrific attacks that we saw in Washington, D.C. and in Boulder, Colorado, about this moment of antisemitism in our country and in our city,' Mamdani told Welker. 'And I've heard those fears, and I've had those conversations.' The word 'intifada' has been used to describe Palestinian uprisings against Israel, beginning in 1987. The phrase 'globalize the intifada' has drawn criticism because of fears among Jewish people that it suggests support for the use of targeted violence against Jews around the world. New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, a Jewish Democrat, handed Mamdani a boost by endorsing him last Wednesday. Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Jewish Senate minority leader, congratulated Mamdani on social media last week but has not yet backed his campaign. Meanwhile, the state's junior senator, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) called on Mamdani to denounce the term last Thursday. Mamdani has also faced xenophobic attacks since his victory, with top MAGA-aligned commentators including President Donald Trump's eldest son leaning into his Muslim faith. 'New York City has fallen,' Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X last week.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NBC's Kristen Welker Was 'Terrified' to Share Her Infertility Journey. But She Found Something Special Along the Way (Exclusive)
'Meet the Press' host Kristen Welker speaks with PEOPLE about her fertility journey and why she's continued to share it with fans and followers Welker and her husband, John Hughes, welcomed their daughter, Margot, and son, John Zachary, with the help of surrogate carriers On the Sunday, June 8, episode of 'Meet the Press,' Welker sits down with actress Olivia Munn to share their experiences with infertility and surrogacy Meet the Press host Kristen Welker has been telling others' stories for nearly 30 years. Four years ago, she decided to share one that's deeply personal. When Welker and her husband John Hughes — whom she married in March 2017 — started trying to have children, the couple faced a struggle with infertility. Now, in honor of World Infertility Awareness Month in June, Welker is speaking with PEOPLE about her family's journey and why she decided to share it with her TV audience and social media followers. 'One in six people struggle with infertility, and so it is important, particularly in this month, to stop and think about what that means,' says Welker, 48. 'I always try to draw a focus on the importance of resources, and my hope is also that, by having a conversation about infertility, we can find ways to increase resources for people who are struggling.' Following months of fertility treatment attempts, Welker and Hughes, 52, welcomed their first child, daughter Margot, on June 12, 2021, with the help of a surrogate. The journalist made the decision to share her story publicly from the very beginning. Then a White House correspondent and weekend co-anchor on Today, Welker filmed an intimate segment about her path towards parenthood for the morning show. She shared the personal highs and lows, revealing that after one round of in vitro fertilizations (IVF), doctors told her that the lining of her uterus was too thin to carry a child. 'It was really some of the most difficult months that I can remember,' Welker revealed in the powerful Today segment. 'I was going to the doctor in between live shots at work and just feeling like, 'You're a failure.'' Ultimately, Welker and her husband made the decision to try for a child using a gestational carrier. She says it was an easy decision to share her fertility story, 'in part because I want to be honest with the audience who welcomed me into their living rooms on their TV sets, every day.' 'And also, because I wanted to celebrate the journey that my daughter had coming to this earth,' she continues. 'I want my daughter to feel very proud of how she's here, the extent to which her dad and I loved her so much before she was born, before we could even conceive of her.' Welker admits that she was initially 'terrified' to go public with her infertility story. However, the 'incredibly positive' responses she's received in the years since have confirmed that she made the right decision. '[I've had] women, families, emailing me, texting me," she says. "People I've been friends with for years, people I've never met before [were] reaching out to say, 'Thank you for sharing your infertility journey. We are going through something similar. We have experienced something similar. Today we feel a little bit less alone because you shared your story.' ' 'A lot of the notes that I got brought me to tears,' Welker says, 'and also gave me so much strength and made me realize there is a community of people struggling with infertility. And I think that when we share our stories, we are stronger and we feel less alone.' Three years later, in May 2024, she and Hughes added to their family once again, welcoming son John Zachary with the help of another surrogate carrier. The two experiences, Welker shares, have shaped her family in so many ways. 'Both surrogates are still a part of our lives,' she explains. 'I reach out to them on birthdays and holidays. We send each other pictures, and we're in constant communication.' 'They're both really like a part of my family,' Welker adds. 'I'm just so grateful to both of them for the incredible gifts that they gave us.' Amid her intimate family journey, Welker also began exploring a new professional direction. In addition to reporting on world issues every week, she has also found a way to link headline stories with personal experiences. Her 'Meet the Moment' segments on Meet the Press have highlighted public figures dealing with real-world struggles that many viewers can relate to. She's spoken with Selma Blair about her battle with multiple sclerosis, and interviewed Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe about the issues facing women's sports. Most personally, on Sunday's episode, Welker sits down with actress Olivia Munn to discuss their respective experience with fertility and surrogacy. 'We talked about the fact that it's a challenge to get to that point of deciding that you want to go the route of surrogacy,' Welker says. 'I think that when you're battling infertility, you often feel alone, you feel isolated.' One less-discussed aspect of surrogacy that Munn pointed out is the fact that 'many women feel called to [be a surrogate]. They want to work with someone to expand their family,' Welker says. The pair also discussed life as working moms, particularly how to juggle the personal and professional at a time when the news never stops. Speaking with PEOPLE, Welker says that there have been a few instances when breaking stories have pulled her away from her family, but for the most part, she is adamant about drawing a line. 'When I'm at home, I turn off and tune out and I'm focused on my kids,' she shares. 'I am focused on them until we get them to bed.' Welker says that bedtime deadline can be difficult these days as Margot, who turns 4 on June 12, has become a 'master procrastinator,' but she does her best. The mother-daughter duo makes up for that with a weekly 'Mommy-Margot Lunch.' 'I always try to have just special days with her,' she shares. 'We're going to the park together, we're going to lunch, we're having an adventure, so that she knows that on my days off, in my time off, she and her brother, John Zachary, are my entire focus.' For Memorial Day weekend this year, Meet the Press dedicated its whole hour to a special edition on children's mental health and youth loneliness. The powerful information, Welker says, is something she'll take with her as her kids continue to grow up in an increasingly complicated world. 'I certainly drew some important lessons from it, including that it's important to create a community of parents in which you are agreeing to hold off on social media, making sure that your kids are playing face to face,' she says. 'My kids are a little too young to worry about social media, thankfully, but the tools and some of the lessons from that show are ones that I plan to carry with me.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. For now, Welker's focus remains on her family, who are in birthday mode as summer begins. They celebrated John Zachary's first birthday on May 30. 'He was just excited to try cake,' the news anchor recalls with a laugh. It's Margot who's laid out her list of demands for her upcoming fourth birthday on June 12. 'She is deeply involved,' Welker says with a laugh. 'She wants a Moana-themed event. She would like a cat and a bicycle.' Happy to give her daughter whatever she wants — within reason, of course — Welker adds that her own birthday plans on July 1 'might sound cheesy.' "I'm just excited to sit back and relax on my birthday and have dinner with them, and celebrate these miracles in my life and my husband, John, who helps make it all possible,' she shared. Welker's interview with Olivia Munn airs Sunday, June 8, on Meet the Press, 9 a.m. ET on NBC. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NBC's Kristen Welker Was 'Terrified' to Share Her Infertility Journey. But She Found Something Special Along the Way (Exclusive)
'Meet the Press' host Kristen Welker speaks with PEOPLE about her fertility journey and why she's continued to share it with fans and followers Welker and her husband, John Hughes, welcomed their daughter, Margot, and son, John Zachary, with the help of surrogate carriers On the Sunday, June 8, episode of 'Meet the Press,' Welker sits down with actress Olivia Munn to share their experiences with infertility and surrogacy Meet the Press host Kristen Welker has been telling others' stories for nearly 30 years. Four years ago, she decided to share one that's deeply personal. When Welker and her husband John Hughes — whom she married in March 2017 — started trying to have children, the couple faced a struggle with infertility. Now, in honor of World Infertility Awareness Month in June, Welker is speaking with PEOPLE about her family's journey and why she decided to share it with her TV audience and social media followers. 'One in six people struggle with infertility, and so it is important, particularly in this month, to stop and think about what that means,' says Welker, 48. 'I always try to draw a focus on the importance of resources, and my hope is also that, by having a conversation about infertility, we can find ways to increase resources for people who are struggling.' Following months of fertility treatment attempts, Welker and Hughes, 52, welcomed their first child, daughter Margot, on June 12, 2021, with the help of a surrogate. The journalist made the decision to share her story publicly from the very beginning. Then a White House correspondent and weekend co-anchor on Today, Welker filmed an intimate segment about her path towards parenthood for the morning show. She shared the personal highs and lows, revealing that after one round of in vitro fertilizations (IVF), doctors told her that the lining of her uterus was too thin to carry a child. 'It was really some of the most difficult months that I can remember,' Welker revealed in the powerful Today segment. 'I was going to the doctor in between live shots at work and just feeling like, 'You're a failure.'' Ultimately, Welker and her husband made the decision to try for a child using a gestational carrier. She says it was an easy decision to share her fertility story, 'in part because I want to be honest with the audience who welcomed me into their living rooms on their TV sets, every day.' 'And also, because I wanted to celebrate the journey that my daughter had coming to this earth,' she continues. 'I want my daughter to feel very proud of how she's here, the extent to which her dad and I loved her so much before she was born, before we could even conceive of her.' Welker admits that she was initially 'terrified' to go public with her infertility story. However, the 'incredibly positive' responses she's received in the years since have confirmed that she made the right decision. '[I've had] women, families, emailing me, texting me," she says. "People I've been friends with for years, people I've never met before [were] reaching out to say, 'Thank you for sharing your infertility journey. We are going through something similar. We have experienced something similar. Today we feel a little bit less alone because you shared your story.' ' 'A lot of the notes that I got brought me to tears,' Welker says, 'and also gave me so much strength and made me realize there is a community of people struggling with infertility. And I think that when we share our stories, we are stronger and we feel less alone.' Three years later, in May 2024, she and Hughes added to their family once again, welcoming son John Zachary with the help of another surrogate carrier. The two experiences, Welker shares, have shaped her family in so many ways. 'Both surrogates are still a part of our lives,' she explains. 'I reach out to them on birthdays and holidays. We send each other pictures, and we're in constant communication.' 'They're both really like a part of my family,' Welker adds. 'I'm just so grateful to both of them for the incredible gifts that they gave us.' Amid her intimate family journey, Welker also began exploring a new professional direction. In addition to reporting on world issues every week, she has also found a way to link headline stories with personal experiences. Her 'Meet the Moment' segments on Meet the Press have highlighted public figures dealing with real-world struggles that many viewers can relate to. She's spoken with Selma Blair about her battle with multiple sclerosis, and interviewed Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe about the issues facing women's sports. Most personally, on Sunday's episode, Welker sits down with actress Olivia Munn to discuss their respective experience with fertility and surrogacy. 'We talked about the fact that it's a challenge to get to that point of deciding that you want to go the route of surrogacy,' Welker says. 'I think that when you're battling infertility, you often feel alone, you feel isolated.' One less-discussed aspect of surrogacy that Munn pointed out is the fact that 'many women feel called to [be a surrogate]. They want to work with someone to expand their family,' Welker says. The pair also discussed life as working moms, particularly how to juggle the personal and professional at a time when the news never stops. Speaking with PEOPLE, Welker says that there have been a few instances when breaking stories have pulled her away from her family, but for the most part, she is adamant about drawing a line. 'When I'm at home, I turn off and tune out and I'm focused on my kids,' she shares. 'I am focused on them until we get them to bed.' Welker says that bedtime deadline can be difficult these days as Margot, who turns 4 on June 12, has become a 'master procrastinator,' but she does her best. The mother-daughter duo makes up for that with a weekly 'Mommy-Margot Lunch.' 'I always try to have just special days with her,' she shares. 'We're going to the park together, we're going to lunch, we're having an adventure, so that she knows that on my days off, in my time off, she and her brother, John Zachary, are my entire focus.' For Memorial Day weekend this year, Meet the Press dedicated its whole hour to a special edition on children's mental health and youth loneliness. The powerful information, Welker says, is something she'll take with her as her kids continue to grow up in an increasingly complicated world. 'I certainly drew some important lessons from it, including that it's important to create a community of parents in which you are agreeing to hold off on social media, making sure that your kids are playing face to face,' she says. 'My kids are a little too young to worry about social media, thankfully, but the tools and some of the lessons from that show are ones that I plan to carry with me.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. For now, Welker's focus remains on her family, who are in birthday mode as summer begins. They celebrated John Zachary's first birthday on May 30. 'He was just excited to try cake,' the news anchor recalls with a laugh. It's Margot who's laid out her list of demands for her upcoming fourth birthday on June 12. 'She is deeply involved,' Welker says with a laugh. 'She wants a Moana-themed event. She would like a cat and a bicycle.' Happy to give her daughter whatever she wants — within reason, of course — Welker adds that her own birthday plans on July 1 'might sound cheesy.' "I'm just excited to sit back and relax on my birthday and have dinner with them, and celebrate these miracles in my life and my husband, John, who helps make it all possible,' she shared. Welker's interview with Olivia Munn airs Sunday, June 8, on Meet the Press, 9 a.m. ET on NBC. Read the original article on People
