Appearing at a Univision Town Hall with a spanishspeaking audience. Hes started preparing. Check this out. Do you want to learn spanish . Its got to be perfecto. You need dual lingo, trump edition. Its easy. Repeat after me. Manana. Melania. Venezuela. Venezuela. Puerto rico. Puerto rico. We love puerto rico. Before you know it, youll be fluent. Hambre pelequin. Is that right . Wow. Good morning. Welcome to Morning Joe. It is thursday, september 26th. Vice president Kamala Harris and Donald Trump were in swing States Yesterday delivering dueling visions for the economy. Were going to play their remarks. Plus, hours from now, ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with President Biden at the White House, while Donald Trump snubbed a meeting with the ukrainian leader. Well tell you why. Also ahead, were tracking Hurricane Helene, set to intensify and cause catastrophic damage across the state of florida. A lot to cover this morning. Along with joe, willie, and me, we have the host of way too early, white House Bureau Chief at politico, Jonathan Lemire. U. S. National editor at The Financial Times, Ed Luce is with us. Columnist and Associate Editor for the Washington Post, David Ignatius is here. And congressional Investigations Reporter for the Washington Post, jackie alemany. Willie, we have major news to get to out of new York City. Why dont we start there . Sure do,mika. This front page, of course, of all the newspapers in new York City, New York post, Eric Adams saying, i am a target, then The Daily News saying, indicted. Adams is expecting federal charges out of the district of New York later today. The indictment remains sealed, but cnbc reports it accuses adams of criminal conduct related to donations in his 2021 mayoral campaign. Adams denied wrongdoing while vowing to stay in office. He released a video addressing his fellow New Yorkers. It is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes. If so, these charges will be entirely false based on lies. But they will not be surprising. I always knew that if i stood my ground for all of you, that i would be a target. And a target i became. Enough. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit. If im charged, i know i am innocent. I will request an immediate trial so New Yorkers can hear the truth. Lets bring in Nbc News national Law Enforcement and Intelligence Correspondent, Tom Winter, and former Litigator And Msnbc legal correspondent, lisa rubin. Good morning to you both. Tom, we expect probably later today to get detail about what is inside this indictment and what the mayor of new York City is accused of. A lot of this centers around turkey and donations to the campaign in 2021. For people who havent been following this, dont live in new York City, this comes sort of at the end of a long, Domino Effect of people who have fallen. The Police Commissioner stepping aside. The Health Commissioner stepping aside. Schools commissioner, as well. Fire officials, Fire Safety Division officials being charged. Right. Bribery schemes. What do we know about what the mayor is being charged with here . To your point, this investigation really kicked off in earnest almost a year ago on November 2nd, when brianna scuggs, who was the head of his campaign, was searched. The mayor was in washington, d. C. at that moment. We had heard across town that there was some Law Activity going on, and there was some sort of something that was afoot. The mayor, when he canceled abruptly his plans and decided to immediately come home to New York, we first got an indication of, oh, something pretty serious is going on. Initially, we didnt know it was a search tied to his campaign. People were wondering if there is some sort of a Terrorist Type of attack. Obviously, that was less than a month after October 7th. Then the investigation really took the next level November 6th of last year when the mayor, surrounded by his Police Detail, out and about in the course of his business, is approached by multiple fbi agents. They ask and demand his phone and ipad. More recently, in september this year, just after labor day, the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety who oversees the nypd, phone taken. David banks, the Schools Chancellor, phone taken. Sheena wright, key adviser. One of the most loyal and one of the most important advisors to mayor Eric Adams, her phone is taken. Shes the wife of david banks. Then on saturday night, two saturdays ago, Out Of The Blue, we get a letter from their attorney, Lisa Zornburg saying, you know, ive decided to move on, effectively. This has been developing and building. Specific to your question, we dont know the charges. You referenced the turkish donations and whether or not the consulate here in New York, the Safety Approvals were fast tracked in exchange for some sort of donation or for benefits or gifts. That could be a component of it. I dont think the u. S. Attorneys office for the Southern District of New York only charges based on that one specific incident. Theres a number of things that were hearing. A number of things were continuing to report out. I wouldnt be surprised if this is a large indictment with a significant charge on it. I think thats the Level Youd get to go after the mayor of the city of new York City. Out of the Southern District, this is going to be major. The fact that federal prosecutors are looking into this and has been for a long time. Its been, as tom laid out well, almost a year, ten months of this slow roll of, as tom mentioned, the mayor being approached as he walked out of an event down in the village by federal officials. Give us your phones. Give us your devices. What do you expect to hear today if and when this is unsealed . I expect, as tom does, that there could be multiple charges against the mayor. What we dont know is who else could be charged here. There are, based on what we know just about the steps the Southern District has taken, any number of people, both who worked in an official capacity and unofficial capacity on the 2021 campaign who could be charged. One of the things im looking for today is who is not named as a defendant in this. Whether or not there are unnamed coconspirators, for example, in this indictment, or there are people who dont appear at all who you would have expected to appear. New york times reported several months ago that one of the mayors aides, ronna abasova, is said to have been cooperating with federal investigators here. Whether she appears in this indictment, either by name or by reference, is something im particularly focused on. Jonathan lemire, you can put on your daily News Alum Cap right now for the next couple of questions. Going back, even to the beginning of his campaign, there were always whispers also mayor adams ethics. Ethical questions swirling around him for some time. But youd ask somebody, what specifically . Youd never get any specifics. But that was something that everybody said followed him around, that youd talk to that knew New York politics. First, speak to that. Secondly, if you will, speak to the number of politicians, including Andrew Cuomo, who are now going to begin posturing themselves to run in a special election to be New Yorks next mayor. Eric adams, a New York rise. He was the police officer, formed a group there of 100 blacks in Law Enforcement who care. Then moved into, transitioned into politics, a Borough President. During the rise, there were always whisper in New York political circles, Law Enforcement circles, that something wasnt quite right. It was a campaign issue. He was investigated previously but never charged. You know, he won in 2021, you know, with pretty resounding number, and popular as first coming out of the pandemic. What we have seen here is these questions have dogged him throughout. As tom laid out, this has been something going on for a while. Were still going to learn more later today when this indictment is unsealed, but there are four different federal probes right now ongoing into adams and his inner circle. This may not be the only case that comes to fruition with charges in the weeks and months ahead. Eric adams is vowing to fight this, as we played from Last Night. He is vowing to continue. He is the first mayor in new York Citys history to be charged with a crime while in office. Stunning statistic. Yes, because his Poll Numbers were so low, there are already a number of democrats, city officials, former controller, ad advocates, councilmen, announcing theyll challenge him in the democratic primary. Normally, its a gateway to city hall. Yes, one name who has not jumped in officially but strongly rumored to be weighing a bid is former New York governor Andrew Cuomo. The former comptroller who is running for mayor again called for adams to resign. Aoc also called for adams to resign. The list is growing. To underscore, we saw the Police Commissioner resign september 12th. Adams Chief Council resigned. Two Fire Department Safety chiefs were arrested. Then the Schools Chancellor a few days ago stepped aside, as well. Thats just a few of them, by The Way. I know we dont know specifically whats going to be in this indictment, but we use turkey as shorthand for shady connections, allegedly. What exactly are we talk about here . What have we heard from reporting that may have happened here with the mayor . Yeah, i think youre looking at a situation where you may have pay for play. Thats essentially what is being hinted at, what is being reported at, with respect to the Turkey Component of it. The question is, are there going to be other countries that are going to be involved in it . I think thats a big concern. I think, you know, jonathan mentioned the four investigations, true, involving city hall, but we have additional investigations, including one involving winnie greco, the liaison to the asian community as assigned by the mayors office. Shes under federal investigation. She had her home searched. We believe that is, in part, separate from some of the things were talking about here today. So that is a name that im going to be looking for over the next couple hours if not the next couple months. Thats something to keep an eye oon. As far as additional charges, referencing the four investigations involving city hall, you have two other investigations that are going on right now. There is a new, freshly opened investigation into the sheriff of the city of New York. Allegations he was skimming off money that was taken from illegal Marijuana Shops in new York City. That seems to be its own separate silo. Then you have the ongoing investigation involving the new York City Police Department. You referenced the resignation of cabon, the Police Commissioner. A number of others had their phones taken. That appears to be a separate investigation involving pay to play accusations there, as well. Phones taken left and right. If youre in charge in new York City. Lisa, it is worth pointing out, for the charges of weaponization by the Justice Department by republicans, there are a lot of prominent democrats now that are being investigated. Turns out, if you are alleged to have done something wrong, democrat or republican, you might be brought up on charges. Yes. Despite that, one of the things i thought was notable about Eric Adams response Last Night, it seemed trumpy, right . Because i made particular pledges to clean up this city, i am now a target because of my views on the migrant situation. Thats not whats going on here at all. The biden Justice Department is not seeking out people based on their political beliefs and prosecuting them. Rather, what theyre doing is following the facts. We see it happening to republicans and democrats alike now. Eric adams puts an end to the Trump Call of weaponization and, yet, he is also drawing from former President Trumps own defense in his public statements now. Msnbc legal correspondent lisa rubin, Nbc News national Law Enforcement and Intelligence Correspondent Tom Winter, thank you, both, we appreciate it. Much more to Come On this, im sure. Mika, all of this coming during u. N. General Assembly Week in new York City. I know. Major Breaking News. Well be following this as it develops. The other big story of the morning, ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with President Biden at the white House Today, where he is expected to present his socalled Victory Plan for the war in ukraine. President biden is expected to formally announce a 375 Million Aid Package for ukraine, the largest since the summer, and the 66th Aid Package the u. S. Has provided the country since august of 2021. Meanwhile, a meeting between former President Trump and President Zelenskyy will not be happening today. The two leaders were expected to meet at Trump Tower. When asked why the meeting was canceled, a source familiar with the matter pointed to Zelenskyys Interview with the New Yorker this week, in which the ukrainian president called trumps running mate, senator Jd Vance, too radical. Adding, quote, his message seems to be that ukraine must make a sacrifice. At his rally in North Carolina Yesterday, former President Trump continued to criticize zelenskyy. Look at the war in ukraine. I think it is something we have to have a quick discussion about because the president of ukraine is in our country. Hes making little, nasty comments toward your favorite president , me. There didnt even have to be a settlement. It wouldnt have happened, period. Russia wouldnt have gone in. I spoke to putin about it a lot. I got along very well with putin. I spoke to him a lot. I watched this poor Guy Yesterday at the united nations. He didnt know what he was saying. They just dont know what to do. Theyre locked into a situation. Its sad. They just dont know what to do. Because ukraine is gone. Its not ukraine anymore. You can never replace those cities and towns, and you can never replace the dead people. So many dead people. Any deal, even the worst deal, would have been better than what we have right now. If they made a bad deal, it would have been much better. They would have given up a little bit, and everybody would be living. Every building would be built. Thank you so much for your insights, neville chamberlain. Peace at all costs. Peace in our times. You know, David Ignatius, i have to say, its really hard to be shocked by Donald Trumps republican party in 2024. Yet and yet, we have, over the past several days, seen his crowds cheering for vladimir putin, seemingly booing Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Donald trump talking about how saying one positive thing after another positive thing about vladimir putin. Every time he speaks about putin. And constantly criticizing zelenskyy. Constantly criticizing ukraine. Constantly suggesting if he is president , he is going to end the war at once. There was a Vanderbilt Poll taken last year. They asked selfidentified maga voters, who do you think is a better president , russias autocrat, vladimir putin, or Joe Biden, americas democratically elected president . 52 said putin was the better president. Only 18 of these republicans said the american president was a better president. Talk about not only how surprising that is, but ive just got to say, how challenging that is for our country, that you have a large chunk of americans that have been moving towards an autocrat because their leader is so supportive of an autocrat. Joe, its not just surprising. Its shocking. Yeah. Trump really is waving the white flag here. From the stuff we just saw, ukraine is gone. What . Hes ready to declare this war, hes ready to install a Peace Plan that would essentially be a russian victory. He says ukraine is gone. He also says so many dead on the ukrainian side. He doesnt mention, of course, the One Million russian casualties. You know, its true that Ukraine And Russia both are just punching themselves into the ground. I just was in ukraine. I wrote after that visit that ukraine is bleeding out. Theres a generation thats dying on the battleground. It is a horrific war. But the idea that the answer to that, this terrible, terrible sacrifice, is to essentially concede to russia and to putin, his demands, its shocking. Question for me is when are republicans who widely disagree with this on Capitol Hill going to say something . Going to say, this is unacceptable to us, that Ourspe Behalf of our adversary of ukraine. He will support vladimir putin. Yeah. But it is true that the war in ukraine is nearing a crisis point. Ukraine cannot continue indefinitely. It either needs more weapons or needs a new jolt of americanled diplomacy. But this current status quo, you know, as long as it takes Idea Weve had, lets just keep fighting a War Of Attrition and, someday, the russians will give up. Thats not really a sensible strategy. Its not a sensible strategy for the ukrainians. Its not a sensible strategy for the russians either. Theyre pounding Each Other into the ground. Russian casualties are significantly worse than ukrainian. Theres some new figures that are coming out. I mean, its shocking, The Way that, you know, as people say, the Butchers Bill that