Meet the Press NOW — September 12

The suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination has been arrested and is in custody. Criminologist Casey Jordan analyzes the suspect’s profile. President Trump says National Guard troops will be deployed to Memphis. Retired General Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied commander, discusses the latest in Ukraine’s war with Russia as Trump downplays the Russian drone incursion in Poland.

Orem, Utah, Mayor David Young describes how his city is handling the ongoing investigation for the gunman who shot and killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) calls on his colleagues to “do better” in the wake of Kirk’s death.

Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk has died after being shot at an event he was hosting at Utah Valley University, President Trump says. NBC's Tom Winter, Kelly O'Donnell, Melanie Zanona and two eye witnesses join Meet the Press NOW following the shooting. 

The White House continues to grapple with the fallout of the newly released images from the so-called Epstein birthday book and the latest jobs revision. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss Democrats’ strategy ahead of the government funding battle. Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) explains how Republicans will try to avoid a potential government shutdown and the latest redistricting efforts in Indiana. NBC News National Political Correspondent Steve Kornacki examines the latest polling regarding the New York City mayoral race.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee release a photo of the alleged message President Trump wrote to Jeffrey Epstein for a birthday book. NBC News National Political Correspondent Steve Kornacki explains the latest NBC News Decision Desk poll numbers that shows President Trump underwater. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss government funding and the ongoing redistricting efforts in Missouri. 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks out after a federal court strikes down President Trump’s tariffs. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) weighs in as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces mounting scrutiny over his vaccine policies. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) responds to growing pressure on the Trump administration to release the Epstein files. Steve Kornacki breaks down a new Decision Desk poll. Yamiche Alcindor, Stephen Hayes, former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, and Jonathan Martin join the roundtable.

The August jobs report shows a slowdown in the labor market and an increase in unemployment. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss the state of the U.S. economy. Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) reacts to President Trump’s decision to rebrand the Department of Defense to the Department of War.

During a hearing on Capitol Hill, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces questioning from both sides of the aisle over his views on vaccines and the latest staffing shakeups at the CDC. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joins Meet the Press NOW to share why she’s calling for RFK Jr. to resign.

A group of Jeffrey Epstein accusers join lawmakers on Capitol Hill to call for the full release of the Epstein files. NBC News Correspondents Julie Tsirkin and Tom Winter report on how the Trump administration and Speaker Mike Johnson are responding to bipartisan calls to release the documents. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) weighs in on a potential government shutdown and shares her questions for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ahead of his Senate hearing.

President Trump says he will send troops to Chicago and defends his deployment of the California National Guard to Los Angeles despite a ruling today that found the deployment to be illegal. Congress faces a tight deadline to avert a government shutdown as legislators return to Capitol Hill. NBC News National Political Correspondent Steve Kornacki joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss key races this November.