CA, US & World
Hakeem Jeffries Defends Meeting With Jared Kushner Amid Democratic Backlash
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is defending his decision to meet privately with Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser, after the meeting drew criticism from some Democrats and Trump critics.
Jeffries said Tuesday that Kushner requested the meeting, which took place recently in New York. The two discussed potential areas of cooperation, including immigration, housing and the rising cost of living.
Speaking on CNN's "The Situation Room," Jeffries said Democrats have a responsibility to work on issues that affect Americans, even when that means talking with people on the other side of the political aisle.
Jeffries said the meeting was a "high-level, topical conversation" and that no specific agreement came out of it.
In a video posted online, Jeffries said he accepted the meeting request to discuss what he called an affordability crisis facing Americans. He also emphasized that meeting with Kushner did not mean Democrats were backing down from their opposition to President Donald Trump.
Jeffries said Democrats would continue to hold the Trump administration and its allies accountable and said he has not ruled out pursuing impeachment proceedings against Trump if Democrats regain control of the House.
The meeting has generated criticism from some progressive commentators and other Trump critics, who questioned why Jeffries would privately meet with Kushner rather than pursue congressional oversight.
Former Obama administration staffer Tommy Vietor criticized the meeting, while journalist Mehdi Hasan argued that Jeffries should instead focus on potential congressional investigations.
Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a vocal Trump critic, also questioned the decision to hold the private meeting ahead of the November midterm elections.
Other Democrats have defended Jeffries.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he supports efforts to hold members of the Trump administration accountable, while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he continues to support Jeffries as Democratic leader.
Jeffries and Kushner have a history of bipartisan work. The two previously worked together on the First Step Act, a criminal justice reform law that passed with bipartisan support in 2018.
Jeffries has emerged as one of the leading Democratic opponents of Trump during the president's second term. If Democrats regain control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections, Jeffries would be positioned to become Speaker of the House.
For now, Jeffries says conversations across party lines can still be useful when they involve issues affecting Americans, while maintaining that Democrats will continue their opposition to Trump's policies and pursue accountability.
The meeting comes as both parties prepare for the midterm elections and as control of the House remains a central political battleground.
By: CNN Newsource
August 25, 2026
Latest Instagram Posts
Are Coachella Valley roads designed more for cars than people? With 65 pedestrian deaths reported across the Valley’s nine cities in roughly five years, The Roggin Report takes a closer look at pedestrian safety, dark-sky rules, road design and who should be responsible for keeping people safe. Drivers? Cities? Or pedestrians themselves? Watch the full discussion on The Roggin Report at NBCPalmSprings.com/therogginreport
Erosion, rising tides and unstable bluffs are reshaping San Clemente’s iconic coastline — and officials are testing new ways to protect the beach, rail line and nearby infrastructure. The city is using a combination of sand, rock, plants, reinforcement and new walls to fight the impacts. The Orange County Transportation Authority has also built a catchment wall to help keep landslide debris off the coastal rail tracks. And there’s a Coachella Valley connection: San Clemente City Manager Andy Hall previously served as Cathedral City’s city manager. With sea levels rising and extreme tidal events putting more pressure on California’s coast, officials say the work in San Clemente could help other coastal communities prepare for what’s ahead. Read the full story at NBCPalmSprings.com. #SanClemente #CaliforniaCoast #CoastalErosion #CathedralCity #CoachellaValley NBCPalmSprings
80s pop icon Taylor Dayne is coming to the Coachella Valley, and you could be there! Taylor Dayne sits down with our entertainment contributor TOD Macofsky for a conversation about her legendary career, classic hits, Palm Springs, her upcoming Las Vegas residency and what fans can expect when she takes the stage at Spotlight 29. Taylor Dayne performs Friday, September 4 at 8 p.m. at Spotlight 29. Want to WIN tickets? Enter now at: nbcpalmsprings.com/promotions Watch the full interview with Taylor Dayne on Desert Entertainment with TOD at NBCPalmSprings.com. #TaylorDayne #Spotlight29 #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #80sMusic ConcertGiveaway TicketGiveaway DesertEntertainment
California is considering major penalties for hospitals and medical groups that exceed state healthcare spending targets. But could those fines actually lead to cuts in critical services like emergency rooms, mental health and obstetrics? Tammy and Stephanie weigh in on the potential impact—and why controlling healthcare costs may be a double-edged sword. Watch the full discussion and hear the panel’s take at NBCPalmSprings.com/therogginreport
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
Tonight the city of Coachella made history - becoming the first city in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County to enact a permanent data center ban. The unanimous decision comes after months of demands from hundreds of residents asking city council to shut down a massive data center project proposed in the east end of the city. Tonight at 11, our @newsbyalondra has the latest details.
Palm Springs City Council is taking a vote on whether or not to temporarily pause all applications and permits for a new data center in the city. Stay tuned on nbcpalmsprings.com for the results of that vote later #coachellavalley #palmsprings #datacenters #citycouncil #localnews
Tonight one vote stands between the city of Coachella and a permanent data center ban. Meanwhile, Palm Springs City Council is considering a temporary 45 day ordinance ban against data centers on their end. Make sure to tune in to our 6 and 11 p.m newscasts as our @newsbyalondra has the latest details on the final vote and reaction from the community.
Did you SEE what viewers spotted behind Brad during the Roggin Report? Eagle-eyed viewers were convinced there was something… a little questionable… sitting outside his window. But was it really a naughty garden sculpture? Or was there a much more innocent explanation hiding in plain sight? Let’s just say Brad had some explaining to do. Watch the full story and see what REALLY caused all the commotion at NBCPalmSprings.com. #RogginReport #FredRoggin #PalmSprings #CoachellaValley #NBCPalmSprings YouSawWhat OnlyInTheDesert DesertLife
Thousands of revelers took over the streets of Buñol for La Tomatina — the world’s most famous tomato fight! 🇪🇸 About 22,000 people joined the one-hour food fight, with a whopping 330,000+ pounds of tomatoes getting tossed, smashed and… well, basically turned into salsa. 😂🍅 Would you jump into this tomato madness or watch from a safe, tomato-free distance? 👀 #LaTomatina #LaTomatina2026 #Spain #Bunol #TomatoFight FoodFight Travel Festival SpainTravel NBCPalmSprings