Morning Joe - America celebrates Juneteenth

Episode Date: June 19, 2026

June 19, 2026 — 7am: America celebrates Juneteenth  To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fundamentally, whether they're written down or spoken, this is why we structure the deal that we did because we don't trust words. We trust action and we trust conduct. And so we're going to reward conduct and we're not going to reward any words whether they're written on a sheet of paper or not. There's a lot of discussion, the MOU, the gentleman's agreements, the final deal. Words don't matter, ladies and gentlemen. We're about verification. Vice President J.D. Vance yesterday defending the memorandum of understanding with Iran that President Trump signed on Wednesday. joining the conversation, managing editor at the bulwark, Sam Stein,

and president of Eurasia Group and GZero Media, Ian Bremmer. Guys, good morning to you both. Ian, I'll start with you. Just your 30,000-foot look at what we know of these bullet points in the memorandum of understanding what it means exactly and why many of the leaders in Tehran are celebrating while our allies in the Gulf and Israel certainly are doing just the opposite. Well, because the actions that J.D. Vance is talking about that they have to take are pretty good

actions right now from Tehran. It's ending the war and it's reopening the strait. That's the only agreement that we have. Those are the only actions that are being taken. And the Iranians are being paid off as a consequence. The delay in further negotiations are negotiations that none of us should expect are ever going to come to fruition. But the action in negotiations going forward, is principally not going to be about Washington and Tehran. Now that the strait is open, it's going to be about Tehran with Doha, Tehran with Riyadh, Tehran with Abu Dhabi.

Those are the countries that are going to have to find a mechanism to engage with, to support, and to pay off Iran, to ensure that Iran doesn't strike them going forward as the Americans are looking to put this war in the rearview mirror as fast as possible. You heard from President Trump just two days ago that it was critical to end this war because within a few more weeks, there was going to be a global catastrophe economically, given the lack of energy of oil stockpiles, just how soft all of that was getting. This is not a president that has any interest in going back militarily to striking Iran. And the Iranians are very aware of that.

That's why Iran is happy here. And that's why the Israelis are so uncomfortable with what they are. Americans just signed. I mean, you're certainly right, and I think Tehran's going to keep pushing and see if far what they can get away with because they know that Trump doesn't want to resume hostility. So let's take a step back about what was accomplished in this conflict, or better said, what wasn't? I mean, outside of damaging Iran's Navy and some of its missile supplies, the U.S. achieved none of its war goals. And now, in the last couple of days, we hear President Trump back away from them all together saying, oh, well, actually Iran should be able to keep some of their missiles because

their neighbors do, and suddenly suggesting, ah, the Iranian program, maybe we'll let them keep part of it after all. And indeed, the Iranian regime, they're much more pragmatic. These are folks that maybe we can work with over time. Vance himself also saying that they've learned that after 47 years of doing things the wrong way, now they've learned. Of course, what they've learned is if they shut down the straight, the Americans have to back down. So, I mean, no, none of the war goals have been accomplished by President Trump. And the Iranian people, of course, are very, very aware of that. So are the Israelis. So are America's Gulf allies. And that means that the unilateral decision by the United States of Israel to strike Iran has become the biggest foreign policy failure

that we've seen by an American president, probably since the war in Iraq. I mean, that is the scale of just how poorly this has all turned out for the United States. I mean, it's Trump's mistake, but all Americans have to live with the consequences. Your point, because I too was struck by Trump saying that we were four weeks away from a global energy catastrophe. And I will also note, on a couple occasions, he talked about how he didn't want to end up being Herbert Hoover in the annals of history. That struck me as not a, not a, sort of side admission, but like an actual real, I'm hurting my own leverage going forward admission, because what he was essentially saying right there is I have no appetite for reengaging.

I don't want to risk global energy catastrophe. I don't want my legacy tarnished. Why would he ever get back in to a conflict with Iran? And I guess secondarily, do the Israelis understand that? Because I will also note that it's literally the first point. of the memorandum of understanding, that there has to be a cessation of military operations, including in Lebanon, quote, unquote. That's the first graph of the memorandum of understanding. Do the Israelis know that Trump has literally no appetite

for reengaging militarily in this conflict? So your first question, he won't go back in, except under extreme duress. He wants to move on. He understands the economic consequences. The antecedent that we should be looking at here is China, where Trump hit the Chinese hard, expecting their weaker economy would capitulate on Liberation Day. The Chinese hit back.

They hit back, including not just tariffs, but also critical minerals. And Trump was being told by CEOs visiting him at Marlago, he was within weeks, within weeks of American factories being shut down, shut down in blue and red states because they weren't going to have the essential critical minerals and rare earths to maintain their industrial production. So what did Trump do? He backed down. And ever since he backed down, his engagement with the Chinese has been so much more respectful, so much more stable in the relationship. It's a complete 180 from where he was when he decided that he was going to force the Chinese to surrender to the Americans. That's exactly what just happened with Iran. And America's relationship with Iran,

going forward is going to change a lot because Trump has learned that their ability to hit back hard in ways that would cause unacceptable damage to Trump, the United States, and his personal legacy is far greater than he had previously anticipated. The Israelis are very aware of this, and they're not happy about it. Now, look, it's very clear from paragraph one of the Islamabad memorandum that Lebanon and peace in Lebanon, is part of what this deal covers. But of course, the United States doesn't have jurisdiction

over conflict in Lebanon. Israel is an ally of the United States. There are a much smaller partner, as President Trump has certainly been saying, but it's not as if the Israelis are going to follow everything that the Americans say. They're a sovereign country

with a leader who is facing getting ousted in his own presidential elections, excuse me, his own national elections, coming up in October. And so if you're Israel, your willingness to continue to occupy Lebanon, the south of Lebanon, your willingness to continue to fight against Hezbollah,

especially for strategic territory that matters going forward for the disposition of your citizens in the north, you're not going to listen to the Americans at all. And that means that in all likelihood, the further negotiations that everyone has talked, about, including critically, over the disposition of Iran's nuclear material, its stockpiles

of enriched uranium, as well as to what extent they would be allowed to enrich going forward. It's very unlikely that we will ever see an agreement between the Trump administration and Iran on that. And of course, even at the end of the war, even during the ceasefire, when Trump had given up on almost every other war goal, he was focused on that nuclear dust. He was focused on they must never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. It's not enough for him to just say it. They have to actually make good on it.

Well, all of that is to come. None of that has been negotiated, and it's extremely unlikely we'll ever get there. And to your point on Israel, the Israelis just hours ago launched strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. So this is all very complicated, obviously. President of Eurasia Group and GZero Media, Ian Bremor, Ian, thanks so much. We appreciate it. Still ahead on Morning Joe. we are marking Juneteenth today with a relative of the iconic American abolitionist,

Harriet Tubman, the great, great, great grandniece of the social activists will join us. Plus, we'll take a look at the state of the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial. It's not great. That comes after President's multi-million dollar renovation, algae and peeling paint. And this weekend on Sunday today over on NBC, my conversation with the one-of-a-kind rock and roll god, Keith Richards. Last week, we talked to Mick Jagger. This week, Keith Richards, talking about 65 years of making music with Mick Jagger, the Stone's latest album, Foreign Tongues, and to what he attributes his longevity. He said, well, you better ask my doctor about that. I've got no idea. Keith Richards, coming up this weekend over on NBC Sunday today, and we'll be right back here on Morning Joe. Today, America celebrates Juneteenth, marking the date more than 160 years ago that the last

enslaved people in America were informed of their freedom. Thousands of slaves in Galveston, Texas, learned of President Lincoln's emancipation proclamation on June 19, 1865, more than two years after the order was issued. That date originally was celebrated in southern black American communities as their Independence Day. It since has expanded nationwide and was done. designated a federal holiday by President Biden in 2021. Millions of Americans celebrate every year, traditionally with family gatherings at concerts and with acts of service.

Join us now is Rita Daniels. She's the great, great, great grandniece of Harriet Tubman and the founder of the Harriet Tubman Learning Center. Her book Harriet Tubman, Military Scout, and Tenacious Visionary is available now. Thank you so much for joining us this morning, Ruth. We appreciate it. If we could just start by your reflections on June 19th and what it means to you. Juneteenth is a very, very important holiday for many of us, especially family members,

the emancipation of slavery. All of those things are important now. And Juneteenth right now is a time to celebrate. freedom, and that is what we're doing. And that's what I'm doing now, going around talking about how important Juneteenth is for those people that were enslaved back and didn't know that they were free. Rita, it comes to mind speaking to you today on Juneteenth, that your great, great aunt not only was part of the whole anti-slavery movement, she.

She was getting people freed that were still enslaved. And then, of course, the Emancipation Proclamation freed everyone other than those that knew in Texas. Talk about what you have learned down through your family of what drove your great-grand, great-great-great-aunt to do what she did. I mean, I knew she was a minister. She had spiritual. What empowered her in the face of slavery before the Emancipation Proclamation to do. the underground railroad and actually free slaves. One of the things that I have learned through the years of talking with family members and

everyone is that Harriet Tubman was a rebellious young girl and that she, in her mindset, that it was wrong. She didn't like to do all the work and she was cleaning houses, even taking care of little babies as a young baby herself. And so for all of that, she believed the Quakers are the ones that told her that you don't have to do this. You can become a free woman. She didn't know it while she was even on the plantation. And so she started realizing that if I can be free, they called her Moses of her people because of the fact that that was one of the stories that they knew as slaves.

They didn't get to read the Bible. They didn't get to read or write. They didn't learn how to do any of that. So she kept that in her mindset that she could be a free woman. And that's what she did. And it was time for her to get out of there, get out of that plantation and be a free woman. She made all of those trips going back and forth to go get family members. And it was because of her that a lot of us are free today.

So, Rita, tell us, I mean, Harry Tubman, obviously a towering figure, a legend of history. Tell us what about her do you think is still so important today? What about her life and legacy resonates for people today in 2026? Well, what stands out more for me is the fact that Harriet Tubman, when she was on her escape routes, she would always tell the people to keep going, don't look back. And that's my message to people today. And that is, you can't change what happened yesterday. Whatever happened to you in life, you

have to just keep going. And that's what I've been doing. Anything that happened that bothered me, that I know that I can't change. My new words are, keep going, don't look back and you can't change it.

So that's my message to people as well to keep going and don't look back. That message is one of the themes in the book, Harriet Tubman, Military Scout and Tenacious Visionary. It is out today, the great, great, great grandniece of Harriet Tubman and founder of the Harriet Tubman Learning Center, Rita Daniels. Rita, thank you so much for being with us this morning. We really appreciate it.

And Reverend Al Sharpton, we thank you as well. Coming up here, we will talk to a Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee. Congressman Mike Turner about the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran signed by President Trump this week. That's next on Morning Joe. Live picture of the Capitol 735 on this Friday morning. The Wall Street Journal has new reporting on President Trump testing his powers and frustrating Republicans in the process. According to the journal, President Trump has given the same answer to political allies who have offered him strategic advice in recent weeks, quote, I am the president and you are not.

The journal notes Trump has also privately expressed frustration with Senate Majority Leader John Thune over the voter ID bill, the president has said, is crucial to Republicans winning the midterms. There's actually much more in there than voter ID. Of course, Trump has told allies he's sick of hearing no from Thune, but the Senate leader has noted there simply is not enough support in the Senate to move on the voting legislation. The president referenced that bill in his decision to delay the confirmation hearing of Jay Clayton for Director of National Intelligence

and to keep acting DNI Bill Pulte in the role, as well as refusing to sign the reauthorization of a spying law known as FISA until the voter ID bill is approved. Join us now, Republican Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio. He serves on both the House Armed Services and Oversight committees. Congressman, thanks so much for being with us this morning. I want to start with what's been going on for the last 24 hours or so. With this memorandum of understanding, you've had the opportunity now to look through all the points as they've been made public. Some of the concerns we've heard even from many of your Republican colleagues go to the payment

of $300 billion for reconstruction, the relief of sanctions, the ability for Iran now to sell oil again, but also the fact that the regime is still in power. President Trump said he wanted to get rid of the regime when he started this war. He said he's obliterated their missile capabilities, but then yesterday said, well, they've got to have some missiles because Saudi Arabia has them. And also kind of kicking down the can talks on the nuclear program. So you put all that together. What is your reaction to this agreement? Well, Bufersam, thank you, really. Thank you for having me.

Well, certainly no one trusts the Iranian regime. And we're certainly in a situation where as we go forward in this, this memorandum of understanding is a construct within which now negotiations will begin. So when you begin negotiations with the Iranian regime, everyone certainly is reluctant to trust as those negotiations begin the Iranian regime. However, this is a significant accomplishment. And then as you look at what is in the memorandum of understanding, Iran has made a statement that they said they were not going to make when this first began. And that is that they've stated that they will not pursue a nuclear weapon, which is how this military conflict began. Because as you recall, the military conflict was over. The issue, Midnight Hammer began to address their quest, their nuclear enrichment and the threat of a nuclear Iran. The naval blockade began because of the result of Iran taking actions to block and to control the Straits of Hormuz.

This memorandum of understanding addresses both. There's the issue of the straits being open, the naval blockade being open, and then also the issue of Iran making the declaration, they will not pursue a nuclear weapon. So, Congressman, though, they have made that declaration in the past. Now, whether we trust them or not, it's a different matter. and that will need to be some sort of verification system here. But you mentioned the Strait of Hormuz, and the Strait of Hormuz, let's remember, was open before the war began.

And the president has ticked off, you know, in various moments during the conflict, some of the other war aims, destroying the ballistic missiles, you know, degrading Iran's ability to support its proxy groups and the like. And yet none of those really were goals were accomplished. And the president himself in recent days

has backed off of a number of them, even so far as saying, well, Iran can keep some missiles. So how is this considered a success for the United States? Well, it's certainly disappointing that those aren't specifically addressed in this. And as you go forward to the negotiations, there's certainly opportunities to raise those issues. Certainly, I think when you look at the development fund and the agreement doesn't say, as others have said, that there's going to be a payment to Iran of 300. There has been discussions that this would actually be an investment fund.

This is, I think, is the way the administration has been talking about it, an engagement where actually we would look to try to engage Iran more, turning them more to the West like the rest of the Middle East has done, as we look to our allies that are there. There's opportunities to pull Iran, as the Vice President has said, more toward the West, which would diminish their engagement with terrorist groups. Now, also as we look to the manner in which the sanctions are relieved, unlike the way the Obama administration did, but they took pallets of cash that were unable to be tracked and put them on, you know, plain and sip them to them to them. They're going to be engaging them into the financial institutions, the tracked system of finances. This is going to give us an ability to also control and track the manner in which they're engaged in the West, which is going to diminish their ability, support terrorist groups and organizations.

Well, we know the administration has said that the money is they have to earn it, right? It's to prove that you're achieving this. But we will see actually how that plays out. But it's also the money that could head to Tehran dwarfs what the Obama deal sent that way. And we should stipulate that. But let's also remember that this is now a hardline regime that is still in power. There was no interest. Yeah, no entrust, but no real regime change was something the president had also had said he wanted to accomplish.

And we also now see a real split. it would appear between the United States and Israel, where we heard J.D. Vance, the vice president yesterday, sort of warn Israel, hey, stop criticizing President Trump, but you'll be left alone out there. You know, what is, that that would seem like not only a difficult situation for Israel, but it could endanger the deal, because Israel is not suggesting they're going to stop striking in Lebanon, despite Iran, insisting that they do. Well, I wouldn't characterize it as a split. No one is going to characterize this as a diminishing the support of the United States for

Israel's right and ability to defend themselves. However, as we go forward in this, certainly we have to be concerned with Lebanon's sovereignty, its ability to be able to sustain its own development and its security also. Hesbola has been significantly diminished. Israel has had great success in being able to do so. If we can diminish, and certainly that is a goal in this, Iran's support for Hezbollah, then we should also be able to diminish, you know, Iran's support and Israel's need to continue to be, you know, aggressive into Lebanon with its bombing campaigns. Congressman, Cathy Kay's in Washington and has the next question. Congressman, back in April, you said that this is all about ensuring that Iran doesn't

become a nuclear state. You said that no one would be prepared to exchange lower gas prices for Iran becoming a nuclear state, and yet it seems that that's effectively what President Trump has just fairly openly said that he has made that trade, because there is no commitment in this MOU for Iran not becoming a nuclear state in the future. If you had been involved... They actually expressly stated. I mean, I've got it right in front of it. They expressly state the GASCPA. There are no inspectors, right? There's no inspection mechanism. procure or develop nuclear weapons. I mean, it especially states it.

Which was the first sentence, the JCPOA, but that was backed up by an inspections regime. If you had been given a free hand to draft this memorandum of understanding and draft this deal, what would you have wanted to put in it that is not there now? Well, and what we, the paragraph 8, which says that in this memorandum, goes on to include that the International Atomic Energy Agency will, be involved in the regime of ensuring compliance, but we don't know what the entire agreement will entail. And thank you for that question. I do think that the two things that we're going to be concerned about next is what will be the enrichment capabilities of Iran after this. Hopefully, they'll be very, very diminished if, you know, very, very limited. And then that the

inspection regime will be very, very extreme if there is any enrichment. capabilities at all. Those are very, very, very important aspects of what the next agreement will have to include. Congressman, Sam Stein here, I'm going to read two things from my computer, so bear with me. This is the first from the JCPOA, the text, just so we're all on the same page here. This is Article 3. Quote, Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek develop or acquire any nuclear weapons. That's just to set the stakes that this was the exact language in the JCPOA. The other thing I want to read is a statement you put out. Date is February 18, 2021. This occurs in the context of the Biden administration deciding to

restart negotiations with Iran after the Trump administration had pulled out of the JCPOA. As you know, the Biden administration considered trying to reenter it. You said in the statement, you said this, the JCPOA is a significant flawed agreement where major provisions are set to expire. the Biden administration should not reenter into negotiations with Iran without securing permanent prohibitions on Iran nuclear ambitions. To be clear, they should not reenter into negotiations, which is what the Trump administration is doing right now, without Iran securing permanent prohibitions on nuclear ambitions. Do you consider Iran's pledge, which they made during the JCPOA, which you criticized, that they will not seek a nuclear weapon to be a permanent prohibition,

on their nuclear ambitions. No, and you just read that. You just read that. The JCPOA had a 10-year termination. I mean, you read the agreement. This is a 60-day MOU. The JCPOA specifically had a termination provision. The JCPOA terminated had an expiration provision.

And there's significant difference between this agreement and what you're reading in the JCPOA. You're right. This is a 60-day agreement. This is a 60-day agreement. This is an agreement to have negotiations for another agreement. The other thing that's different is Midnight Hammer happened. That was what was happening in 2021.

That agreement that you are reading allowed them to have the facilities that Trump just destroyed. Those facilities underground were going to continue to enrich, had never been fully inventoried by the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the agreement that the JCPOA had an expiration, including the provision that you just read, that said they would never have a nuclear. a weapon had an expiration in it. This agreement, this, this memorandum of understanding is an agreement to go and have negotiations. That's the difference. Exactly, but that was in 2021, when you criticize the Biden administration for entering negotiations. I stand by what I said. I don't think you listen to yourself reading it. Literally the text. All right. Sam, thank you for that. Congressman, we wanted to quickly turn, though, also to the situation in Ukraine, where you have been an advocate for Ukraine and at times critical

of the Trump administration for not doing more there. Ukraine certainly says some momentum in the conflict that would appear, including a massive drone strike. They're doing great. A massive drone strike in Moscow just yesterday. The Trump administration, though, still has not really come to their assistance. The president and his rhetoric still seems to be siding with Putin over Zelensky. What more can the Congress do to push them to do more?

That certainly is a criticism. I do think that it is important to note that the administration does continue to support Ukraine's operations and the daily operations that Ukraine is undertaking are critically successful. And that is, as you have just expressed, certainly having a huge impact on both Russia, its economy, and there is strong support in Congress for that. Every vote that goes to the House floor has over 300 votes out of 435. I do think we need to put greater sanctions upon Russia and Russia's economy. I think the fact that they're able to sell their oil without sanctions is fueling their war economy

that is fueling their ability to mercilessly bomb innocent civilians in Kiev, and they should be held accountable for that. And the United States has an ability to impose those sanctions. Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio, Congressman, thank you. Up next, we'll go through the new concern with a reflecting pool in Washington after workers poured in gallons and gallons of hydrogen peroxide to kill the algae in the water. The paint's peeling. Plus, we'll tell you about a major flu outbreak at an Air Force training base coming just weeks after the Pentagon under Pete Heggzeth ended mandatory flu shots for troops.

Morning Joe's coming right back. A flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas has affected nearly 160 trainees, less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Higgsath ended the military's flu vaccine mandate. The virus spread through a basic training wing with one trainee, 19-year-old Keon McDaniel, dying after falling ill. Officials have not confirmed whether his death was linked to the virus. The removal of the vaccine mandate has drawn criticism, obviously, from lawmakers, and, including Senate Armed Services Committee, Chairman Roger Wicker, a Republican, who argues the requirement exists to maintain military readiness, of course.

Since the outbreak at Lackland, the Air Force has reinstated mandatory flu shots for recruits at the base. This morning, there are growing problems at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool less than two weeks after the completion of President Trump's $14.7 million renovation project. This is a live picture this morning. An analysis of satellite data requested by the Washington Post reveals the water in the pool has more algae in it that at any recorded point in the month of June

for at least the last five years, while the American flagged blue sealant paint handpicked by President Trump appears to be peeling away in places from the bottom. The hot, sunny weather in Washington, creates conditions in which algae thrive, as was warned by many, many people. crews have been working to scrub out the green, recently seen dumping hydrogen peroxide into the water.

It's unclear whether those efforts have anything to do with the peeling paint. Sam, this was a no-bid contract given to literally a neighbor of President Trump near Maralago in West Palm Beach, Florida. And now we see the outcome of his company, which ironically is called Greenwater, President Trump's friend and neighbor. now the pool, which many experts, many scientists said it's very hot in Washington. The reason we painted that color is to cool the water so we don't get algae in it, and here we are. Yeah, just to be clear, I think it's the sealant that's being peeled, not the paint. I'm not a pool expert, so I just want to set that up. Look, it's funny.

People are always like, why we care so much about this story? Shouldn't you be supportive of a clean, reflecting pool? don't you want this to work? And I answer to that is, yeah, I do want this to be a success. It was pretty cool for the day when we did have a clean pool and it reflected really well. But the fact of the matter is that Donald Trump did something here, which is emblematic of the way he approaches virtually every issue, which is he claims that there's some sort of problem that only idiot predecessors of his couldn't solve, but through sheer force and determination and will and smarts, Donald Trump can get it done. And not only that, he could get it done for less money than anyone expects and faster than you possibly could have imagined.

And then when it happens, he doesn't follow the usual processes that you're supposed to do. He skirts around procurement laws and contract laws and environmental laws. And he does it. And then it doesn't always work out. Often it doesn't work out. And now we're left with a pool that's got algae in it that's peeling, that if you talk to any expert, probably is going to have to be drained again and reset. And we're left having to say, well, what did we spend that $14 million for? And yet, $14 million isn't maybe the biggest thing when you look at other expenditures.

But it is something. And it is emblematic of a bigger problem that we're dealing with right now. Yeah, and people would be fine if it was spent wisely taxpayer money to make, as you say, the pool beautiful. It was spent unwisely in a no-bid contract to a neighbor in Palm Beach. Sam Stein, great to see you, my friend. Have a great weekend. Happy Father's Day to you.

You still ahead. We'll look at the future of negotiations with Iran after Vice President J.D. Vance postponed now his planned trip to Switzerland. Plus, we'll show you what President Trump is saying about the limits or the lack thereof of its presidential powers. Morning Joe's coming right back.