right now on "andrea mitchell reports," president biden giving his final speech to the united nations, defending his legacy of creating global alliances, even as the world is racked with the wars in europe and the middle east. and israel pushes further into lebanon and the u.s. sends troops to the region to evacuate americans if diplomacy fails. >> full-scale war is not in anyone's interest, even in a situation that's escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible. >> in his first u.s. televised interview, iran's new president won't rule out retaliating against israel for assassinating a hamas leader in tehran's capital and tells me that hezbollah, hamas, and the houthis are not iran's proxies, despite western intelligence saying otherwise. >> we will respond in a manner

of our choosing. we support those who fight for their freedom. it doesn't mean that we have proxies. they don't fight on our behalf. plus, my interview with nobel laureate, malala youssef and her continue for push for women in leadership around the world. >> it's not just about the title, it's not just about that one position, it's about the engagement of women. >> on the campaign trail, a republican senate candidate calls women's focus on reproductive rights, quote, a little crazy. as donald trump claims he's protecting women from even having to think about the issue. >> because i am your protector. you will no longer be thinking about abortion. it's all they talk about. abortion.

good day, everyone. i'm andrea mitchell in new york. where israel's escalating conflict with hezbollah and u.s. concerns that israel is not sharing its military plans with the administration are dominating the annual u.n. meetings. president biden meeting right now with the u.n.'s secretary general, after delivering his fourth and final address to the u.n. general assembly, as commander in chief. mr. biden ticking through decades of u.n. accomplishments and the current effort to contain the spiraling middle east conflict. >> i put forward with qatar and egypt a cease-fire and hostage deal. it's been endorsed by the u.n. security council. now is a time for the parties to finalize its terms. bring the hostages home, and secure security for israel and gaza free of a hamas script. ease the suffering in gaza and end this war.

we've also been determined to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire region. >> the u.s. is now trying to find an off-ramp and publicly criticizing israel. the state department spokesman saying that israel's strategy of escalating one conflict to de-escalate another has never worked. three u.s. defense officials tell nbc news that israel has stopped sharing its military plans with washington. and without those details, the u.s. is preparing for possible israeli ground invasion into lebanon, deploying u.s. troops to the region in case americans need to be evacuated. twice in the past few weeks, the u.s. was not warned ahead of planned israeli attacks, first using hezbollah pagers as bombs. the second, those air strikes deep inside lebanon. the president today insisting the region must get back on a path towards peace. >> progress toward peace will put us in a stronger position to

do deal with the ongoing threat posed by iran. together, we must deny oxygen to its terrorist proxies, which have called for more october 7th and ensure that iran will never, ever obtain a nuclear weapon. >> we begin with my colleague, nbc news chief white house correspondent, peter alexander, plus, nbc news chief foreign correspondent, richard engel in israel. former nato allied commander, james stavridis, and ben rhodes, former national security adviser in the obama white house. peter, we're really at a crossroads here. the administration has spent, since october 7th -- well, actually, since october 18th or 19th when the refugee camp was bombed, which was the first breach by many inside the state department and elsewhere in israel by using a 2,000-pound bunker buster bomb. that night i met with a top democratic senator, long ally of israel saying, what is going on

here? those are u.s. weapons! and israel said that they were going after one hamas terrorist underground. and that's when the u.n. secretary general turned against israel. maybe, you know, the u.n. has always been arguably biased against israel, but that's when everything turned. and joe biden stuck with them, but now people publicly in the administration are on the record saying we don't know what our closeiest ally is doing. >> that's particularly striking from the president's remarks earlier this day, his fourth and final time addressing the general assembly. he wanted to make this a message about the power of those alliances, these relationships. but really today as much as anything, demonstrated the limitations of those alliances, as well. as the world is witnessing what israel is doing with real concerns, as you indicated from the state department officials and others about the situation that's now continuing to escalate in lebanon. the president, though, continuing to make the case, trying to make the argument if

we get a cease-fire and a hostage deal, this can all be resolved. but we have been waiting for resolution now, approaching a full year. there were a couple of other takeaways in this room that were striking, particularly as a conversation, getting a lot of attention behind the scenes right now, relates to what's going to be delivering this address on behalf of the united states next year, with a real concern among global leaders that donald trump may return with this america first policies, as opposed to the policies of partnership, by this president right now. the president, some of his toughest words were basically effectively saying that we need to make sure that the forces holding us together remain stronger than those trying to pull us apart. and as he talked about the successes, he credited kamala harris for helping him in the course of the way that war has been handled. this is tough and ukraine has its own concerns, as we witness what is happening right now. volodymyr zelenskyy, the president of ukraine, who is here, will be in washington, d.c., meeting with both kamala harris and joe biden this week,

delivering what he is calling his victory plan, as we approach -- or are approaching three years in that war, as well. really, the takeaway is the limitation of the president's desired policies. >> and still has not persuaded this president to sign on to using long-range weapons into russia, whereas the allies, israel, and excuse me, england, the uk and france, want to and want to use their weapons, at least to get the u.s. blessing for it. that's another example of alliances that are frayed over it. richard engel, there you are in the hot seat. what is israel saying or not saying about a potential ground invasion into lebanon? and the world is criticizing, increasingly criticizing the use of the pager, because it was the use of a new weapon, a weapon of mass destruction, arguably, and they don't know how to deal with that. >> i'll start with the pagers, if i can.

actually, military officials, including in the united states, are -- i don't want to say celebrating it, but they were impressed with the israeli operation. they were impressed with its -- with its execution, the fact that they were able to carry it out, smuggle these explosive devices into israel, get them into hezbollah's hands, carry out the operation the way they did. there were some civilian casualties, but considering that many explosives went off, relatively speaking, a very precise operation. there has been criticism on an international human rights level, but when you compare the pager attack to what's happening in gaza, the pager attack was far more precise. it was aimed at hezbollah, it was aimed at the operatives. we saw the operatives having their pockets blown up and being knocked off motorcycles, rather

than the block by block destruction at the beginning of the gaza war more than a year ago. now we're in yet another escalatory phase. and people are very concerned across the region that israel is going to turn large parts of lebanon into a new gaza. that southern lebanon is going to be destroyed, as israel carries out, it's for now air campaign to eliminate hamas -- excuse me, hezbollah weapons sites, particularly drone launching facilities, missile facilities, and rocket facilities. but not just the south, also the becca valley in the west along the border with syria. that, israel says, is a key route, that hezbollah has used, and it's a well-established route. it's not just israel that says this, to smuggle weapons into lebanon. and south beirut. so three targets at the moment. south beirut being the political headquarters of the hezbollah leadership. so at least three areas right now, in southern lebanon, western lebanon, and in beirut

itself are being targeted in a campaign that could escalate. i spoke earlier today with an israeli military spokesman, and he said that for now, it's just an air campaign. they're focused on an air campaign. it was the same thing that admiral hagari said. it's the same thing that prime minister netanyahu said. it is a talking point, that this is an air campaign. but as admiral stavridis can attest to, no war plan survives the first contact. right now it's an air campaign. hezbollah is firing back. and if hezbollah, one of its rockets suddenly hits a school or hits a retirement home or something, we could see a ground campaign coming out of this war. i think we're still in the early phases. and andrea, it is quite shocking to hear that israel isn't cooperating with the administration, but it isn't cooperating -- it isn't shocking at the same time.

it's shocking on one level, because israel has depended on the united states, the israeli government of prime minister netanyahu has been dependent on centcom, has been dependent on u.s. intelligence, particularly to stop attacks like the one that came from iran. it was really the u.s. that came in and provided the intelligence, provided the anti-missile support, using resources that israel had and bringing in a lot of other resources. but it's not shocking, because many in this country, many i've spoken to around the region, believe there's a vacuum of leadership in the u.s. that they are already looking beyond president biden. they're looking to see who the next president is, so they're not terribly concerned about the opinions of the current president. they're doing what they want for as long as they can, and we'll deal with the consequences with the next administration. >> that's certainly what the prime minister seems to think, especially with his visit to mar-a-lago, which is traditional, but it was a very pointed visit during his last

trip to the u.s. >> and same with zelenskyy, also doing the same thing, going to see trump. he's going to see harris. he's presenting the victory plan. >> and that's normal. >> biden thanks, it's been great. >> yeah, but that is normally done, at this stage in the administration. in the transition. but admiral stavridis, if you want to pick up on what richard was just saying, there is a breach here. and it is different from anything we've seen in the past 11 months. >> yeah. and let me also address the pager issue. i've looked at that pretty sign. as a former military officer and as dean of the fletcher school of law and diplomacy, a graduate school of international relations, international law, i for one have no qualms about it. it was precise, as richard said, it was also a mechanism of war. it was a communications device. i think it was justifiable in terms of proportionality,

precision, and intent. in terms of of what the israelis are doing now, as richard said, i'm not sure they know where this is going to go. my inclination is that they will not seek a major ground intrusion into lebanon. last time they did that was almost 20 years ago. it turned into a pretty long, bloody encounter for the israeli defense forces. that was 2006. since then, israel and the united states, israel and hezbollah have had a kind of a back and forth. you're seeing a manifestation of that now. again, this is the period where a miscalculation could really explode the whole situation. and what i define, i'll conclude here with a regional war, would be if iran comes in, overtly, not just fighting to the last

houthi, but actually using iranian guards, iranian troops. that would probably pull the united states into the conflict. that's a regional war. i think that's not impossible, but i put the chances of that at below 20%. still uncomfortably high, andrea. we'll have to watch over the next week or two to see how far the israelis want to press this militarily. >> but the israelis are facing a lot of trouble on the west bank now. jordan has been alienated. they're worried about their own domestic situation, with such an angry palestinian, large refugee camps. how dangerous is it for israel not to clue the u.s. in on its plans? and does this involve netanyahu making a very political calculation, as well? as a military one? >> yeah, i think it's quite dangerous. because they're engaged in an

open-ended war in gaza. the cease-fire deal appears to be dead. they don't really have a plan for what's going to come next in gaza. that's been one of the gaps with the administration. they've now just escalated over the objection of the united states, pretty significantly, in lebanon. again, without the clearest objective. they're talking about bringing people back in israel. it's hard to see how a war is going to accomplish that objective. so they continue to escalate in different directions, continue to move further away from the united states, continue to enflame regional and global opinion, and it's not clear where the end games are, in any of these circumstances, particularly with that kind of cease-fire deal, appearing to be on ice. and look, i think with netanyahu, you always have to factor in political calculation. that is just a reality, anybody who has observed this person and his governance of israel over the last 15 years, and i think clearly, netanyahu believes the

perpetuation of these wars, you can use the plural now, is in his political interests. it's helping to solidify his political survival. it's avoiding an election that might be unpredictable for him. it's holding his kind of far-right coalition together. so this is serving his political interest in israel, and frankly in the united states, i think, you know, his preferences were pretty clearly be for donald trump. and so if joe biden looks embarrassed, if joe biden looks feckless in the current dynamic, well, that's a secondary benefit, as well. and look, i just think that you have to take that kind of political context into account when we're talking about bibi netanyahu. >> peter alexander, admiral stavridis, ben rhodes, thanks to all of you. and in just 90 seconds, it's back to the campaign trail, as the swing states take top priority from both campaigns, with six weeks to go. you're watching "andrea mitchell reports," this is msnbc. watchil reports," this is msnbc. , otherwise the flakes will come back. he's right, you know. is that tiny troy? the ingredients in head & shoulders

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for most, hpv clears on its own. but for others, it can cause certain cancers later in life. you're welcome! now, as the “dad cab”, it's my cue to help protect them. embrace this phase. help protect them in the next. ask their doctor today about hpv vaccination. abortion rights have long been a losing issue for republicans, and today, kamala harris says she supports eliminating the senate filibuster in order to codify abortion rights into law. in pennsylvania last night, donald trump repeated his argument that abortion is now up to the states, while trying a new argument, telling women, just don't worry about it. >> you will be protected and i will be your protector.

women -- you will no longer be thinking about abortion! >> this as the republican challenging senator sherrod brown in a tightly fought race in ohio, bernie moreno is under fire for saying this at a campaign event last week. it just came up. >> there's a lot of single issue -- you know, the left has a lot of single issue voters. sadly, by the way, there's a lot of suburban women, a lot of suburban women that are like, listen, abortion -- if i can't have an abortion in this country wherever i want, i will vote for anybody else! okay, a little crazy, by the way. but -- especially for women that are like past 50 thinking like this. shouldn't be an issue for you. >> joining me now, "washington post" senior national political correspondent, ashley parker, and "boston globe" columnist, kimberly atkins soros. so let's talk about what bernie moreno just said. did seem a little tone deaf. an awkward moment there.

speaking to women voters. also a little bit ageist. just saying. >> yes. absolutely. on the one hand, to unpack the first part of his comments, the democrats are actually quite hopeful that a lot of women will be single-issue voters on abortion. they think it's a huge issue that affects not just women, but also men. the harris campaign has told me that they think that the young men they're trying to reach, abortion is an incredibly compelling issue. but to your question, yes. if there's one thing that perimenopausal and postmenopausal woman love is being mocked by a male politician. i'm obviously being sarcastic, but it does not seem like a particularly winning strategy, as you've seen even members of his own party weigh in and asking if he's deliberately trying to lose the election in underscoring just how tone deaf those comments seem to have landed. >> and donald trump's

calculation appears to be that the economy, the immigration issue, are going to carry him over the finish line. could he be right? because his maga base is energized. polls do show that those two issues are much higher on the priority list for voters. >> well, clearly that calculation isn't right. and i don't think he's making it based on the clip that you just showed. clearly, he's very worried about abortion, as an issue. and while usually politicians have, you know, always tried to pander and say things to try to garner voters, it seems that both his comments and moreno's evidence something else. sort of a detachment with the reality of what voters are actually thinking. to a point that they are flattening a whole population of people in a very one dimensional way. there is no such thing as a single issue voter, by the way. all voters want lots of things. but right to paint themselves as protectors of women, it really

reminded me of something out of a hand maid's tale. that donald trump can protect these helpless women, so that they no longer have to think about abortion? what reality is that? the reality is, it is a right to have bodily autonomy. it is something that women are demanding, of all ages, and men are demanding that, too. and that is a losing issue for him, and he is sweating it and somehow losing touch, completely, in his efforts to try to campaign around that. >> and then that very point, kimberly, is something i just talked about an hour ago with ma lala, about the global issue, and what's happening right here. that's coming up. but ashley, separately, kamala harris is considering a visit to the border. she's going to be in arizona on friday. plans are not final, but she's 21 points behind trump on securing the border in our new nbc news poll. and arizona, you know, is very important, as the issue is, nationally. >> yeah.

she has tried to paint herself as a border state senator, which she was in california, and the democrats recognize that while this largely still remains a winning issue for republicans, what all voters want to hear is they want to feel safe, they want safety, security, and there is a sense among democrats that they perhaps need to be a bit tougher on the issue. and if she goes to the border, this would be one way for her potentially to send that message to some of these undecided voters. >> ashley parker, kimberly atkins store, thanks to you. and next, the u.s. says that israel is blindsiding the administration on its plans for lebanon. so is sending troops to the region just in case americans need to be evacuated. but all eyes are on iran. what will iran do next? more of my conversation with iran's vice president on its role in the region, on his first u.s. television interview. that's next. you're watching "andrea mitchell reports" on msnbc. you're watching "andrea mitchell reports" on msnbc.

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as the fight between israel and hezbollah escalating in lebanon and northern israel, the u.s. hopes of avoiding a wider war now depend on whether iran gets directly involved. i had the chance to question iran's new president, who will speak to the general assembly later today, and to iran's vice president right here in studio,

javad aref, in his first u.s. interview. were you allow for the attack that killed the leader on the inauguration of your president? >> well, that was clearly an act of terrorism and a clear violation of our sovereignty and our territorial integrity. we were asked by the international community to exercise restraint, in order to bring about an end to the war in gaza. unfortunately, that promise has never materialized. and we have reserved our right to respond in a way and a time and manner of our choosing. >> you won't rule out retaliating? >> no, we have said that we will respond in a manner of our choosing. >> the cease-fire remains illusive. israel, your president says, keeps raising obstacles. doesn't sinwar, the hamas leader, also bear responsibility

for not agreeing to the cease-fire and for raising new objections? >> well, i think hamas and the palestinians have been prepared to stop this war, provided that israel is prepared to end its aggression against gaza. >> couldn't hamas end the hostilities by releasing the hostages immediately? >> well, there are prisoners on both sides. and i think the best way to end this is to release all prisoners who have been incarcerated on all sides. >> did iran know that hamas was going to attack israel on october 7th and massacre so many people? >> well, iran -- i was not in the government at the time, but what i understand is that iran had no knowledge of the operation by hamas. >> the nuclear issue is very much on the table. will iran now negotiate directly

with the united states to try to revive a nuclear deal? >> well, it wasn't iran that left the nuclear deal. it wasn't iran that violated its obligations under the nuclear deal. if the united states is prepared to return to the jcpoa, they should do so. and then there will be room for a lot of new opportunities to talk about things of mutual interest. >> secretary blinken has said that iran now has developed so much nuclear weapons grade fuel that it could, if it wanted to, create a bomb within a week or two. >> well, they only have themselves to blame. of course iran has said, we do not want to develop nuclear weapons. but if the united states is concerned with the amount of iranian that iran possesses, it can remedy this by going back and stopping this addiction to sanctions that has only hurt the iranian citizens.

we cannot sit down, idly, and allow the united states to destroy our economy. >> shouldn't that be the subject of negotiation? sanctions and some cap on nuclear development? >> well, actually -- >> simultaneously? >> well, actually, we already have a negotiated text. we don't need to negotiate a deal we already negotiated. you do not buy a horse twice. we bought this horse already. and we paid the price for it. now it's time for the united states to deliver the horse. >> iran has been providing russia with drones for the war in ukraine. and now it's been reported, ballistic missiles. but has reportedly withheld the launchers for those missiles. can you explain what that situation is. >> well, the united states and the europeans have done a lot of things that are of concern to iran. dr. pezeshkian's administration

has not provided any weapons to russia. we have not provided, since we took office, any missiles to russia and iran has never provided any ballistic missiles to russia. >> so no drones have gone to russia since you took office? >> no. >> no ballistic missiles? >> no ballistic missiles have been provided to russia at all. >> given the attacks in lebanon, the explosion of the pagers and the walkie talkies, is iran concerned about the security of your own electronic devices. >> actually, israel has may the international electronic business unsafe, for everybody. not just for iran. this was a huge, a huge blow to business security in the world. >> is it a blow to the security of iran's military to communicate? >> no, our military has the capability to detect this.

>> let me ask you about reports from u.s. intelligence, which says that iran was behind meddling and hacking of both the democratic and republican campaigns. >> well, we have no interest in u.s. elections. of course, we watch it carefully. but we have no interest in changing the results or affecting the results of this election. we will wait for the decision of the american people in the elections, and we will act accordingly. >> you have not hacked both campaigns, the democrats and republicans, as u.s. intelligence says? >> the government and official agencies of iran have not hacked anybody. >> but people working for you? >> no, people working for us haven't either. but there are hackers in the united states, there are hackers in the region, there are hackers in iran. there are hackers everywhere. we are ourselves victims of

hacking and ransomware that are attacking our businesses, our central bank, other official government sites. so we're in it together. and there is a need to respond to this situation, not by accusing the government of iran, but by addressing a problem that is a global problem. >> an iranian man whom the u.s. says -- who the u.s. says is working for iran's government hired members of the hell's angels motorcycle gang to kill an iranian dissent in maryland, the state of maryland. can you comment on that? >> well, i have no knowledge of that, and it is not the policy of the iranian government to engage in such activity. >> there are numerous american officials from the previous administration and this administration, military as well as diplomatic, who are under

24-hour guard because of threat of assassination from iran, through third parties. >> well, we do not assassinate people, but the fact of the matter is, they assassinated a revered iranian general. >> general suleimani. >> general suleimani. in a foreign territory, violating iraqi sovereignty and violating international law. and they boasted about it. we don't boast about anything. >> but is that a reason to have threats to kill the generals involved? >> well, actions have consequences. we have not taken action against them. we have said that we will pursue legal action against them. >> what do you see as the future of your country? you're a new reformest administration. the president, you, the foreign minister. do you have the leverage to

reach out, make agreements, despite the very strong military presence of the revolutionary guard? >> well, we ran -- president pezeshkian ran on the platform of national empathy. and we believe that everybody in iran has a stake in the future of iran. those who voted for him, those who didn't vote for him. >> does that include the women who have been arrested and some have died because of their refusal to wear the veil? >> well, the president has been on the record at the time and since then that we do not condone such policies and that we do our best in order to make sure that the women in iran are respected with dignity, in a dignified way. and that is why we have four women, members of iran's cabinet

today, which is a record. probably in all of the iranian history, both before and after the revolution. and we are proud of that. and we hope to make even more achievements in this regard, and the president is committed to doing that. >> toward equality for women and self-determination in the way they want to dress and work and go to school? >> well, law has to be observed, but the way women were treated or were reported to be treated was not acceptable to president pezeshkian and to many others in the leadership in iran. >> and up next, a setback for donald trump on republican hopes of potentially grabbing a single electoral vote in omaha, that could be a tiebreaker in a close election. you're watching "andrea mitchell reports." this is msnbc. watching "andreal reports. this is msnbc. my painful cavity. well, you shouldn't ignore that. and every time i get stressed about having to pay my bills, i just hop on the bike, man. oh, come on, man, you got to pay your bills. you don't have to worry about anything when you're protected

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an effort by trump allies make nebraska winner take all in the electoral vote count instead of carving out one omaha

district that has recently voted democratic has failed. a single legislator blocking the legislature from making the switch, despite a visit from south carolina's senator lindsey graham on behalf of trump, and a call from donald trump himself. if the electoral vote in this closely fought race were to end up in a tie, which is mathematically possible, the trump campaign was hoping it could then pick up omaha's single electoral vote. nebraska and maine are the only states that do that. that that could mean the difference in trump winning the presidency. but republican state senator mike mcdonald now has written, quote, after deep consideration, it is clear to me that right now, 43 days from election day is not the moment to make this change. joining me now, former republican chairman and co-host of "the weekend ", right here on msnbc, michael steele. so one man standing up against his party, against the leader of his appeared and the republican

candidate, in, of all places, nebraska. that's pretty tough. >> it is pretty tough. i like to thank the senator for his effort to block changing the rules, 43 days before a presidential election, because you're trying to game the season and grab an electoral vote you otherwise may not get. and so, i think, andrea, this is consistent with what we're seeing playing out in a number of states, especially in a state like georgia, where republicans can't put on the table policy ideas that, you know, people can consider and weigh against what the kamala harris campaign is saying they want to do. but rather, let's change the rule, let's make it more difficult for people to vote. so i really appreciate this particular effort, because it has ramifications beyond just the vote going to donald trump, potentially. but actually, potentially creating a tie in the electoral college, which would then throw this to the house, and that's a

whole different game at that point. >> so, the former president also plans to visit springfield, ohio, and aurora, colorado, both very tense places, both in the headlines because of republican rhetoric on immigrant in those cities. yamiche alcindor is in pennsylvania, which also has a growing haitian population. here's what one resident had to say. >> it's just not springfield. this is coming to a town near you. >> what is coming to a town near you? >> haitians or immigrants that have poured over the border within the last couple of years. >> why is that a bad thing given the fact that some would say that the united states is a nation of immigrants. >> they're not coming here to assimilate with us. they're coming here to take over, it seems. >> the haitians are taking over. >> i can't -- you know, i'm trying to muster respect for

what i just heard there. but it does reflect an attitude that has that is pervasive and promoted by donald trump, that somehow these people are "other. they're coming here to take over. i wonder if she was complaining when the jobs were being created by the haitian community, the businesses were opening, they were flying the haitian flag alongside the american flag, at the county seat. so, it just speaks to this very ugly undertone, andrea, that is a part of this election that creates fear and distrust in suburban communities, particularly among white suburbanites, that somehow their livelihood in their community is being threatened, yet and still, those very same immigrants are the ones who are cutting your

lawn, opening small businesses, raising your children, et cetera. and now, suddenly, that's a threat. because you've been told it's a threat by donald trump. that's where we are. >> i kind of thought that we were over that, long after i first covered george wallace in the '70s, when he was running for president. >> yeah, yeah. yep. >> more than a half century ago. michael steele, thank you. >> thank you, andrea. >> see you on the weekend. next, my conversation with nobel peace prize winner, malala yousafzai on her global fight for women and girls. you're watching "andrea mitchell reports" on msnbc. d girls. you're watching "andrea mitchell reports" on msnbc. subject 1: who's coming in the driveway? subject 2: dad! dad, we missed you! daddy, hi!

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let's get to work. create a beautiful website in minutes with godaddy. your shipping manager left to "find themself." leaving you lost. you need to hire. i need indeed. indeed you do. sponsored jobs on indeed are two and a half times faster to first hire. visit indeed.com/hire and today, in kabul, a female cat has more freedoms than a woman. a cat may go sit on her front

stoop and feel the sun on her face. she may chase a squirrel into the park. a squirrel has more rights than a girl in afghanistan today, because the public parks have been closed to women and girls by the taliban. >> actor and activist, meryl streep speaking at the u.n. yesterday, shining a light on the girls and women of afghanistan there, who have been stripped of all of their rights by the taliban since the u.s. withdrawal. earlier today, i spoke to ma malala yousafzai, a nobel peace prize winner, and cofounder of the malala fund. malala, it is such an honor to be with you. co-founder of the malala fund. malala, it's such an honor to be with you. you have been a hero for people around the world. tell us about the women's rights especially in afghanistan since

the taliban took over. >> it has been two years since afghanistan has been living under a system of apartheid. the women and children are banned from going to school and barred from going to marketplaces and work. this is a systematic oppression that women in afghanistan are facing. and often, women activists are calling it apartheid. and they want more leaders, not just to share sympathy, and a few words of empathy, but to take a step to criminalize what the taliban are doing in the international law. they want their leaders to step up and call it a crime against humanity, because it is. we should not be living in a world where we are accepting a ban on girls' education. when we are accepting as normal, this cannot be excused. >> and how does this impact girls who now cannot go to school? >> i have been talking to so many afghan girls who are

dreaming of the day when they will be allowed to have access to education, while the taliban has banned them from school, at the same time, they're trying to find ways to keep learning from home on these platforms. but this cannot continue this long. it's so critical to people listening to the voices of afghan girls to protect education. right now, afghanistan is the only country in the world that does not allow girls to go to school after age of 6. >> i was in with the italian ba, in 1988, doing news for abc news. after years of occupation, there are women and girls who have never known this, and they're suddenly back in the dark ages. >> 100%. you talk to these young women and girls, and they said these were the stories we only heard

from our moms. we did not know that we would witness the oppression of the taliban once again in our lifetime. the future looks very dark to afghan women and girls, and especially if the international community does not step up. there is little hope. i'm practically glad there are some countries, some leaders, that are coming forward and supporting the afghan women's campaign to fortify international law and hold the taliban to account. and it's activism of the afghan women and girls that gives me hope that afghan can have a future. sometimes, peace tox and engagements are happening in dohi and different places, of women, especially in the taliban decisions but the taliban are refusing to include women in

rooms for negotiation and they're refusing to include women, this is a systematic oppression. those who are in power, those who are supposed to protect women are the ones who are the perpetrators, and they are violating all of the human rights of women and girls in afghanistan. >> the afghan constitution required women to be in the parliament. and now, that is no longer the case. how important is it for women to have leadership roles? >> so critical. we need women in leadership roles everywhere. and it's not just about the title. it's not just about that one position. it's about the engagement of women. i always talk about engagements, even when it comes to negotiations with the taliban. it has a difference. and it has to include those they're impacting because of the taliban.

we need women's voices to be at the center. we need girls' voices to be at the center. imagine, a girl who is excluded from the conversation, while she has no idea if she'll ever see a classroom again. >> when you look at the world today two, wars, women are among the worst of the victims, women and children in gaza. what's your view on that? >> when i think about the situation in gaza, i always think about children. when i look at any conflict, any war, any oppression in the world, i think about the children. and it reminds me of my time in pakistan, when we had no idea what the politics were, when we knew there was bombing, people were killed. we could not go to school. the children in gaza are facing the same suffering, where almost for a year now, they have not seen a normal school day. more than 90% of the schools have been burned.

and it's so important for us, you listen to the stories of children and girls. i follow the stories of girls in gaza. and it's so important to listen to them living under constant bombardment. and i hope that we have a message of humanity, i think what is really concerning is dehumanization of people. and that should never happen. and i hope this never happens to the people of gaza. >> here in the united states, there is an enormous political debate. and those who argue that our laws have gone back 50 years in terms of women's rights over their own health, over real productive rights. can you relate to that? >> when i think about the activism of women and girls around the world, i think it's a collective for equality. and with progress, that we should never take for granted, we should keep fighting, you never know, your rights could be

taken back. if you're in the united states it can happen, too, if you're in gaza, pakistan, any part of the world, it can happen too. we need more unity and stronger protection for protecting women's rights. we need to look at our international system as well, our international laws, to ensure they are giving us the safety and protection so that our rights are guaranteed. >> it's extraordinary to hear all of this echoed by you, your experiences, your courage. thank you so much, malala. >> thank you. that does it for a very busy day. this edition of "andrea mitchell reports" remember, follow us on social media @mitchellreports, you account watch us anytime, go to msnbc.com/andrea. "chris jansing reports" starts after a short break.

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