COMING UP ON “MEET THE PRESS WITH CHUCK TODD” 5/17/15: EXCLUSIVE WITH SEN. RAND PAUL; NTSB OFFICIAL ON LATEST IN AMTRAK TRAGEDY

AMTRAK TRAGEDY – With tens of thousands traveling the Northeast Corridor by rail, the investigation into Tuesday evening’s train derailment continues.

Tom Costello

Correspondent for NBC News

Robert Sumwalt

National Transportation Safety Board

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW – Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul, vowing to “defeat the Washington machine,” reacts to Jeb Bush’s Iraq comments, talks foreign policy, the Patriot Act and more.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

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POLITICS & PUNCHLINES –  As writer and producer for “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” Jon Macks wrote more than 100 jokes a day in an era when the late night monologue was the home of political comedy.

Jon Macks

Comedian; Writer & Producer for “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”

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POLITICAL PANEL – While the Iraq question was always going to be problematic for Jeb Bush – no matter what the answer – the Republican Party has quickly moved from its longtime defense of the war to disavowing it. The panel talks foreign policy in the 2016 race and more.

David Axelrod

Director, University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics

Helene Cooper

Pentagon Correspondent for The New York Times

Sara Fagen

Former White House Political Director for President George W. Bush

Tom Friedman

Columnist for The New York Times

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For more information contact:

Olivia Petersen

NBC News

202-885-4159

olivia.petersen@nbcuni.com

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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.

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