USE OF DRONE WARFARE – The accidental deaths of two innocent hostages in a counterterrorism operation targeting an al Qaeda compound has reignited the debate over drone warfare. It’s a debate in which even presidential candidates are hesitant to partake, a sign of just how unprepared many of these campaigns are to debate some of the truly heavy issues in the race.
Thomas Donilon
Former U.S. National Security Advisor
Micah Zenko
Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations; Author, “Between Threats and War: U.S. Discrete Military Operations in the Post-Cold War World”
# # #
SCOTUS TO HEAR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ORAL ARGUMENTS – As the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments this Tuesday on state-level bans on same-sex marriage, there’s potential for its June decision to make same-sex marriage a national right.
David Boies
Co-author, “Redeeming the Dream; The Case for Marriage Equality”
Ted Olson
Former U.S. Solicitor General; Co-author, “Redeeming the Dream; The Case for Marriage Equality”
Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR)
# # #
THE WEEKEND OF “NERD PROM” – Full of journalists, government officials and celebrities, the audience at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner is a tough crowd. Chuck will catch up with ‘Saturday Night Live’ cast member Cecily Strong immediately after the dinner for her reaction to how her speech fared.
Cecily Strong
Cast Member of ‘Saturday Night Live’; Host of 2015 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner
# # #
“DOONESBURY” CREATOR – Garry Trudeau, best known for creating the Pulitzer Prize-winning Doonesbury comic strip, recently made news with remarks that the work of those at Charlie Hebdo “wandered into the realm of hate speech.”
Garry Trudeau
Creator, “Doonesbury” and “Alpha House”
# # #
POLITICAL PANEL – As money pours into the 2016 presidential race, all eyes are on the Clinton Foundation, the Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson and super PACs as candidates make the rounds in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Matt Bai
National Political Columnist for Yahoo! News
Helene Cooper
Pentagon Correspondent for The New York Times
Doris Kearns Goodwin
American Biographer; Author of “The Bully Pulpit”
Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR)
# # #
For more information contact:
Olivia Petersen
NBC News
202-885-4159
# # #
MEET THE PRESS
“Meet the Press” is where newsmakers come to make news—setting the political agenda, and spotlighting the impact Washington decision-making has on people across the country. “Meet the Press” reaches more than 3 million people every Sunday through its broadcasts and millions more through NBCNews.com, the #TweetThePress interview series, Flipboard, and social media platforms. Chuck Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press” and John Reiss is the executive producer.
# # #