Usually during an interview, we focus on answers and pay little attention to the interviewer. But the way questions are worded, and the persistence and tone of the follow-up questions says something about the interviewer. Here, we have removed the answers so you can review the questions from Kristen Welker Sunday on “Meet the Press.” Notice how she presses her Republican guest, Scott Bessent, and seems skeptical of his answers, but practically begs Democrat Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to run for president.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

I do want to start right there on the jobs numbers. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told me in an interview the numbers look, quote, “weak.” And you just heard me say there that Moody’s chief economist called this a “jobs recession.” I want to give you the opportunity to respond to Mark Zandi. Do you see this as a jobs recession?

Okay, well, we’ll have you back definitely to check back in with you then. But let me drill down a little bit more on these numbers, Mr. Secretary. The president said that these tariffs are going to spark a manufacturing renaissance, he called it. But since he announced them in April, the U.S. has actually lost 42,000 manufacturing jobs. Are these numbers proof that the tariffs are failing to produce the manufacturing jobs that President Trump promised?

But Mr. Secretary, you know, the economy did add nearly half a million manufacturing jobs under former President Biden. In this case since April, again, you’re actually losing manufacturing jobs. Is that problematic for your policy?

Well, and I think that there will be a lot of debate over the fact that [jobs] went to illegal aliens. But let’s continue.

Okay. Let’s keep moving though, because I want to talk about what U.S. companies are saying right now, Mr. Secretary. The New York Times wrote this about John Deere, the impact that tariffs are having on that company. Quote, “Last month John Deere said net income in its most recent quarter was down 29% from a year earlier. Higher tariffs have cost the company $300 million so far with nearly another $300 million expected by the end of the year. This summer the company laid off 238 employees across factories in Illinois and Iowa.” What do you say to companies like John Deere who say these tariffs are hurting them?

Well, but these are statistics.

This is about John Deere —

It’s not about the New York Times.

But Mr. Secretary, it’s not just John Deere. We’ve heard from a lot of different companies around the country. Nike says that tariffs will cost the company around $1 billion this year. Black+Decker says $800 million. The Big Three automakers all say they’ve had to pay more than $2 billion in tariffs. The list goes on and on. Bottom line, do you acknowledge that these tariffs amount to a tax on the American people?

But these companies say they’re eating the tariffs.

These American companies.

Hasbro says they’re going to have to increase their prices. Goldman Sachs says 86% of the tariff revenue collected so far has been paid by American businesses and consumers. So just bottom line, Mr. Secretary, do you acknowledge that these tariffs are a tax on American consumers?

Even though you have companies saying they are going to have to increase prices, and given the fact that 86% of these tariffs so far have been —

– by Americans.

Yes, Goldman Sachs, correct –

Okay. All right. I do want to talk to you about the battle playing in the courts. I know you’ve been deeply involved in this, the so-called “reciprocal tariff” suffered a big setback when an appeals court ruled they were illegal because tariffs are a tax, and only Congress can impose taxes, unless it explicitly gives that power to the president. You’re appealing to the Supreme Court now. What is your plan if President Trump’s tariffs are struck down by the high court?

But Mr. Secretary, I hear you talking about fentanyl. But these tariffs apply to practically every single country around the globe. But let me ask you. If the Supreme Court rules against you on these tariffs, is the administration prepared to offer rebates?

Would you offer rebates, though? Are you prepared to offer rebates?

And you’re prepared to give those — refunds?

We’re almost out of time. And I do have a couple more questions to get to. Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s term ends in May. On Friday you started interviewing potential successors. Do you want a Fed chair who will factor in the president’s input when it comes to setting interest rates? Is that what you’re looking for?

You talk about what you wrote in the Wall Street Journal. You say the Fed’s independence comes from public trust. But it’s worth pointing out the president has consistently criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell, has leaned on him to lower interest rates. He’s trying to get rid of Fed governor Lisa Cook. Bottom line, Mr. Secretary, will the Fed chair set interest rates, or will President Trump?

Should President Trump have a say?

All right. Last question, Russia. Overnight Russia hit Kyiv in the largest aerial attack on the country since the war began, Mr. Secretary, caused NATO in fact to scramble jets. You have a very high stakes meeting on Monday with key economic officials from European countries. Is the administration prepared to impose sanctions against Russia now?

Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md.:

 You just heard my conversation with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He says the economy is stronger than this latest jobs report would suggest. And he echoed the president, that Americans need to give this tariff policy time to work. What say you? Is that a fair argument?

Well, I want to ask you about another big issue that you are facing in your state: President Trump’s threat to send in federal troops to more cities. You and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott just announced that you’re actually stepping up law enforcement in Baltimore. Governor, Baltimore, I should say, still has the nation’s fourth highest murder rate in the country. Why not accept the president’s offer to send in National Guard troops?

Well, it seems like the president is not backing down on this policy. In fact, I want to show you a post. This was posted yesterday. President Trump shared this on his social media account. It’s directed at Chicago. And it reads, quote, “I love the smell of deportations in the morning and Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of War.” Illinois Governor Pritzker called this a threat. Would you go so far as to call this a threat?

And yet, crime is down in D.C.

I want to turn to another big issue this week, the fireworks on Capitol Hill. Both Democrats and Republicans grilled the HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his vaccine skepticism, for the fact that he’s actually limiting access to vaccines. As you know, Florida is working to abolish vaccine mandates for school-aged children. A lot of people across the country, no matter what their political beliefs right now, Governor, are just confused. As the governor of Maryland, what are you planning to do to ensure the public’s health in your state?

Okay. Well, I want to talk about another big issue for Democrats, heading to the midterms, the battle over redistricting. Maryland is among the Democratic states, actually, eyeing new congressional maps to offset the moves we saw in Texas, where they added five additional GOP seats. In 2022, Maryland was praised for adopting a fairer map. And yet, your predecessor, Larry Hogan, wrote this, recently, quote, “Maryland led by example. We turned the page. Now, some would rather reopen old wounds and copy the worst behavior from other states.” Let me ask you, Governor, will you rule out redrawing the map in Maryland?

But what about this argument by Governor Hogan, who’s very clear, he says it would be, “Copying the worst behavior from other states.” Do you worry about the hypocrisy that it sends?

All right. Governor, finally, before I let you go, you have not announced you’re running for reelection. If you do, do you commit to serve a full term?

Do you rule out a run for president, Governor?

You’d rule it out?

You’d completely rule it out?

All right. Well, listen, if and when you announce your reelection, please come back and join us, Governor Wes Moore.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.:

I want to talk about one of the big developments on Capitol Hill this week, that explosive hearing with HHS Secretary Kennedy grilled by Democrats and Republicans for his vaccine policies, his vaccine skepticism. As you know, a number of Democrats have called for him to resign. Do you, senator, think that Secretary Kennedy should resign?

So you’re saying, yes, he should step down?

Okay. In the past, though, you have expressed a willingness to work with Secretary Kennedy, particularly on issues related to food nutrition. I want to play something that you said back in April. Take a listen. [Video clip plays]

Senator, if he doesn’t resign, do you think you can still find common ground with Secretary Kennedy?

Senator, another big issue on Capitol Hill, the push to release the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, some of his survivors speaking out this week at the Capitol. You have Congressman Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene saying that they will read a list, if those survivors put together a list of people who they say were involved in Jeffrey Epstein’s circle. Do you think and would you support reading such a list out loud on the House floor, even if it includes names of people who criminally haven’t been accused of anything?

As you heard me discuss with Secretary Bessent, we just got that jobs report, lower jobs than expected created last month. And it comes as Congress is now just over three weeks away from a potential government shutdown. Here’s what your colleague Chris Murphy says about it. He says, quote, “I don’t know how Democrats sign on, vote for a budget that doesn’t roll back Trump’s corruption and his lawlessness.” Senator, are you willing to shut down the government to defend Democrats’ priorities?

But will you shut down the government, senator?

Will you shut down the government over it?

All right. Senator, before I let you go, I have to say a very big congratulations to you because you got engaged this week. So on behalf of all of Meet the Press, congratulations, your fiancee not involved in politics. And I wonder, senator, how have you helped her prepare to step into this political spotlight that you’re in?

Steve Kornacki, national political correspondent

Welcome back. The NBC News Decision Desk is out with a new poll this morning, and here to take us inside the numbers is NBC News chief data analyst, the great Steve Kornacki. Thanks for being here, Steve. What do you have?

Yes, certainly one of the biggest flash points ahead of the midterm. Steve Kornacki, great to see you. Thank you so much. When we come back, do the economic warning signs spell political trouble for Republicans in 2026? The panel is next.

Panel Discussion

Welcome back. The panel is here. NBC News White House Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor; Jonathan Martin, politics bureau chief and senior political columnist for Politico; former secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson; and Stephen Hayes, editor and CEO of The Dispatch. Thanks to all of you for being here. Yamiche, let me start with you. Let’s start on the economy. You heard my conversation with Secretary Bessent. He basically tried to argue that, look, the economy is not slowing as these jobs numbers would suggest. Take us inside some of your conversations at the White House. Is there a panic that’s starting to set in? What are your sources telling you?

Well, J-Mart, the economy is still the number one issue for voters. Secretary Bessent quite insistent that the Supreme Court will uphold the president’s tariff policy. He has to be confident, but does this underscore the risks of tariffs being sort of the centerpiece of his entire economic policy?

Well, and it’s so fascinating to me. There’s so much discussion about how to sell the One Big Beautiful Bil—

Yeah. You know, I thought one part of the exchange that was so interesting, he rejects the idea. He would not acknowledge that tariffs are a tax. And to what extent, based on your conversation with Republicans, could that complicate the message heading into the midterms?

Jeh, all of this fits into the broader question of presidential authority, executive authority. We saw that on display this week as well when the administration struck that ship that they allege was carrying drug smugglers. I asked Senator Cory Booker about it. What do you make of this moment and the implication?

And yet, J-Mart, the vice president’s doubling down. He posted with an expletive —

— “I don’t give a blank if people have questions” about exactly what Jeh’s laying out.

Yamiche, the crux of this really is this back and forth between the administration and the courts, as Jeh and J-Mart were laying out.

Yeah. Steve?

Yes. Jeh, final point from you. Thirty seconds left. How do you see this playing out and how do you see it playing out ahead of the midterms?

All right. Well, we’ll watch and wait to see how it all unfolds. Great conversation. Thank you all very much. Really appreciate it. That is all for today. Thank you so much for watching. We’ll be back next week, because if it’s Sunday, it’s Meet the Press.