California Gov. Jerry Brown stopped by NBC's Meet the Press for a wide-ranging interview with Chuck Todd on everything from President Donald Trump, to healthcare, taxes, immigration, free trade and more. It was Brown's first visit back to Meet the Press since 1975.
Some highlights:
On building a border wall:
"The wall, to me, is ominous. It reminds me too much of the Berlin Wall. When I see that 30-foot wall, I worry somehow, 'Are they trying to keep me in, or keep them out?'"
On how California differs from the Rust Belt:
"We have harmony in Sacramento, to the extent you ever do in politics. And people have jobs -- 2.1 million jobs have been created just in the last six or seven years. So I think it's that sense of economic security that makes the difference. So if we had the same insecurities as Akron, Ohio, Hillary would not have gotten the votes she got in California."
On healthcare reform:
California
"I'm more concerned about the millions of people who wouldn't have healthcare. That's why I say this bill is not healthcare reform or repeal and replace, it's death, disease and suffering. It's a terrible thing."
On losing the populist voter:
"They [Republicans] won on the basis of the globalized impact on swing states. Now President Trump and the Republicans have to deliver. And I don't see in their policies -- they're going to raise wages, provide healthcare and make sure the kids can have a good path to college."
On President Trump:
"I have one piece of advice for Donald Trump. Don't fight everybody. Pick your battles... In politics you have to have battles, but you have to choose your battles and you have to make more allies than enemies. It's simple. Politics is about addition, not subtraction."
On sanctuary cities:
"We have to create a human, decent sense with respect to our immigrants and maybe I can convince the president that he has to take a more enlightened view."
"We do have something called the 9th and the 10th Ammendment. The federal government just can't arbitrarily for political reasons punish the state of California, that's number one. Number two, California is America. We're 12 percent. We're a key part -- the export capital going into the Pacific, we're the innovation capital, high-tech, agriculture, $40-50 billion industry... you don't want to mess with California because you're going to mess with the economy and that can blow up in your face in a gigantic recession and roll the Republicans right out of this town."
You can watch Gov. Brown's full interview on the Meet the Press website or in the video player at the top of this page.
