House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) appeared on “MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts” (weekdays, 1pmET) in an exclusive live interview on May 29, 2015, about the indictment of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, 2016 Politics, the Patriot Act, the war on ISIS and the fight for marriage equality.

On her reaction to Hastert, Pelosi told host Thomas Roberts she was “surprised” and called it “sad” for Congress.

“When Mr. Hastert was the speaker, our run for winning the house in ‘06 was to say that we were running against a culture or corruption cronyism and incompetence,” she told Roberts. “At the time there were many indictments but we had no idea that that would include the speaker of the house.”

On the Patriot Act, Pelosi said the Senate is “about one or two votes away” from passing the bill.

Pelosi also called Sen. Marco Rubio’s recent comments on same-sex marriage “unfortunate” and “polarizing.” “I don't even think that Pope Francis would subscribe to what Marco Rubio just said,” she added.

Pelosi discuss Hastert and the presidential candidates

Pelosi discuss Rubio’s LGBT comments

Below are excerpts of the interview. If used, please provide mandatory credit to “MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts”:

THOMAS ROBERTS: As promised, my next guest is the Democratic leader of the House, known for her ability to whip a vote, but more importantly, she was born in one of the greatest cities on Earth, Baltimore, Maryland, even if she does call San Francisco and California home now. It is Nancy Pelosi, who is here with us, the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives. And we're really honored to have you here at 30 Rock today. So thank you for joining me.

REP. NANCY PELOSI, D-CA, MINORITY LEADER: My pleasure. Thank you. Nice to be with you.

ROBERTS: All right, so let's get down to it, because we have a lot to get to today.

And we want to start with the breaking news and the developing story that we're following about your predecessor, Denny Hastert, who was the House speaker.

What's your reaction to the indictment for allegedly hiding payments and lying to the FBI?

PELOSI: It's surprising. I think that would be a universal response. And, of course, it remains to be seen what comes forth now. But it's very sad for him and sad, really, for the Congress. We don't like one of our former leaders to be in this kind of a situation

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ROBERTS: -- in our first read today, Chuck Todd's team writing about if you felt Congress' image couldn't get any worse, well, think again. Average Americans who think the place is filled with crooks and creeps may have more ammo.

How do you respond to that?

PELOSI: Well, when we ran for -- when Mr. Hastert was the speaker, our run for winning the House in '06 was to say that we were running against a culture of corruption, cronyism and incompetence. At the time, there were many indictments, but we had no idea that that would include the speaker of the House.

ROBERTS: So when did you first hear about this?

Did you have any...

PELOSI: Just like anyone else...

ROBERTS: -- advanced warning?

PELOSI: -- last night. Yes.

ROBERTS: And so now you're waiting like everybody else to find out what more the detail is in the indictment, because it seems very mysterious now.

PELOSI: Well, I'm not waiting, I'm active and busy on the work that we have to do in Congress. But of course, it's sad that this is happening, because it is a bad reflection on Congress.

But again, a continuation of what we said then, it was a Congress of cronyism, incompetence and corruption and here we are. You remember it was Abramoff, it was Tom DeLay, it was one thing and another as part of that Republican Congress.

This is sad, because as I say, no matter what, it reflects poorly on the Congress of the United States.

ROBERTS: We're going to talk about the work of the Congress here in a second.

But I do want to talk about presidential politics and the bid for the party's nomination, your party's nomination, coming up in 2016.

Hillary Clinton is obviously the -- the favorite in the race for right now. But I want to show you a statistic from the latest Quinnipiac Poll and while she beats her opponents head-to-head in the race, she's the only one of the major candidates underwater on the trust factor.

So can you be a successful candidate, Leader Pelosi, if you don't have the people's trust?

PELOSI: Apparent, in that poll, they have other questions about whether she would be a good leader and that's in a higher number for her.

Does she care about people like me, that's a high number for her.

I think that some of these numbers are affected by some of the anti things that are being said against her.

But she's going to be -- well, it remains to be seen. We have to have an election. As you know, from Maryland, we have Martin O'Malley, who is putting his name forth. We had Bernie Sanders put his name forth. Who else, I don't know.

I think it's healthy to have a debate. It's clear that right now, Hillary Clinton is way out in front and there's a great deal of excitement about having a woman president who's as capable as she is.

ROBERTS: You know, there is a lot of excitement surrounding whether it's President Clinton in the headlines or Hillary Clinton in the headlines.

But I want to show you what "The New York Times" says. It details how Bill Clinton appeared at a charity event last year to commemorate the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, but only after the charity paid The Clinton Foundation $500 for -- $500,000, excuse me, for the speech. In the article, it says, quote, "The donation made late last year after the Foundation sent the charity an invoice amounted to almost a quarter of the evening's net proceeds, enough to build 10 preschools in Indonesia."

What do you think the average American is supposed to think of Hillary Clinton going out there and fighting for the deck that she says is stacked at the top and trying to get the rules back in play for the middle class Americans when her husband's foundation is taking in half a million dollars for a single event showing?

PELOSI: Well, you know -- that -- the Clintons will have to answer for the Foundation. But I would imagine that President Clinton's participation in that event increased the take and the money spent at the Foundation is for a very good cause, as well.

So it was sort of a everyone benefitted from it. But, you know, no question, it raises questions that they'll have to answer.

ROBERTS: So Hillary Clinton has said that she wants to get rid of big money in politics.

PELOSI: Yes.

ROBERTS: However, we have had President Clinton speaking with NBC's Cynthia McFadden about whether or not he would cut back his six figure speeches when and if Hillary Clinton becomes and if Hillary Clinton becomes the Democratic candidate. And he said I -- I've got to pay the bills.

Do you think that's the right response?

PELOSI: Well, I think that she is the candidate for president and -- and, um, she goes forward saying we have to reduce the role of money. That is really important for our democracy. And I think that's where the focus should be.

As you know, in the House Democrats, we have a dare -- disclose where does this big money -- undisclosed money come from?

Amend "The Constitution" to overturn Citizens United, reform -- we had the Sarbanes bill, which is to enhance the role of small donors and empower, working with John Lewis and others to empower people to vote.

Nothing suppresses the vote more than the suffocation of the airwaves by big money. And we have to restore the confidence in our -- our political system by reducing the role of money. It's a very, very important initiative for all of us. And I'm glad that Senator -- Secretary -- so many honored -- so names -- so many names that Candidate Clinton is advocating that, as well.

ROBERTS: Let's talk about what's going on on the right while we look at what's happening on the left. You mentioned the fact that we have Martin O'Malley announcing tomorrow, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton.

So as we look at the GOP field, I want to start with Jeb Bush, who has not officially announced his candidacy. But he has the name and the money and formidable Bush power behind him.

PELOSI: Yes.

ROBERTS: What do you think about him as a candidate going up Clinton and we have a Clinton-Bush rematch?

PELOSI: Well, let me just say that elections are about the future. And whatever the vision is of a person, a candidate, that he or she puts forward. I am very confident that the vision that Hillary Clinton will put -- put forward, her four pillars of how we go forward, she will announce what they are.

But they all are about making progress for the people of our country. And while the Republicans will be negative about Hillary and they'll have a contest to see who could be the most negative, the Democrats will have a presentation of vision, one person's or another, of how we go forward. And I think that's very healthy.

ROBERTS: You know, both names really take us back to the future when we think of Bush or Clinton.

But you think that Hillary Clinton can provide the vision that more Americans would support than a Jeb Bush?

PELOSI: Yes, I absolutely do. It comes down to what we've -- have been the major differences between the two parties -- trickle down, that was the policy of the Republicans and under President George W. Bush, trickle down economics, everything for those at the high end, if it trickles down and creates jobs that's good. If it doesn't, so be it. That's the free market.

Versus middle class economics that President Obama has advocated, which says that we need to make sure we have bigger paychecks for the middle class because we are a consumer economy and the more consumer confidence there is, the faster our economy will turn around in many ways.

The president has had many successes, whether it's reducing the deficit, reducing unemployment, growing the stock market, across the board job growth in the private sector, saving the auto industry, millions of people with health care who were previously under -- uninsured. All great. But not good enough in terms of increasing consumer confidence and that's how would go forward.

ROBERTS: If Hillary Clinton is the candidate of the Democrats and she were to successfully win the White House, do you think that the House could ride those coattails to you taking back the majority?

PELOSI: Well, I certainly hope so, because I think when we have our first woman president of the United States, if that's how the primary turns out, and I suspect it will, that it's important for us to have the debate along the way that -- that holds all candidates accountable, Republicans, as well, that when the election is complete, we want our country to go forward in a very positive way into the future.

We can't have a president, the first woman president and have a Congress that is about obstruction and subpoenas and the rest of that.

But that has to happen in the campaign, not after the fact.

ROBERTS: All right, so we've barely scratched the surface here. So I'm going to ask you to stick around, because I want you to listen to this and we're going to get your reaction.

So take a peek.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MARCO RUBIO, R-FLORIDA: Because today, we've reached the point in our society where if you -- if you do not support same-sex marriage, you are labeled a homophobe and a hater.

So what's the next step after that?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTS: All right, so that was Marco Rubio. I'm going to ask you for your reaction in a bit.

But first, we're going to talk about the expiring parts of the Patriot Act, as well as the ongoing fight against ISIS in the Middle East. I'm going to ask everybody to stay with us and also check out Periscope right now, as Leader Pelosi and I do a one-on-one on Periscope with some of the questions we got through social media.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think it's fair game to say that the surge was a success and that pulling back has created a void that has been filled by what President Obama has called the junior varsity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R-WI), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I see a president who drew a line in the sand and allowed people to cross it. I see a president who, just in the last year, called ISIS a JV squad, who called Yemen a success story, who calls Iran a place we can do business with.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTS: So Republican presidential candidates have taken turns at criticizing President Obama's foreign policy against ISIS and in the Middle East in particular, after the fall of Ramadi. Now, the president called Ramadi's capture a, quote, "tactical setback." However, on Wednesday, White House communications director, Jen Psaki, told CNN, quote, "We need to address -- adapt our strategy."

And back with us here live at 30 Rock is House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi.

So based on that, Leader Pelosi, do you believe that the administration's current strategy is working to defeat ISIS?

PELOSI: I believe that they have the plan to do so, which is to make sure that the countries involved have their troops on the ground. We're helping in a coalition way with air cover. We're helping with weaponry, serious weaponry. We're helping with intelligence. We're helping with training.

And I think that is the appetite of the American people. The president's authors -- request for authorization, he has said that we would not have offensive combat ground troops on -- troops on the ground and that is what I think the American people would subscribe to.

ROBERTS: You know, some have said that there's a mismatch between what the administration's stated goals are in Iraq and the level of resources that we're providing. And Ken Pollack of Brookings, who previously endorsed President Obama's strategy, he wrote that there are, quote, "No advisers accompanying Iraqi units in the field, no one to call in air strikes. There simply is no U.S.-led political effort to bring about national reconciliation."

And as you say, there really isn't an appetite of the American people to put boots on the ground back into Iraq...

PELOSI: In a combat.

ROBERTS: -- in a combat role.

So does the president's administration and the actions fall short of the rhetoric?

PELOSI: Well, I have a great deal of respect for Ken Pollack and that's one interpretation. I do believe that what we're talking about here is a military offensive and what's a -- what form do we play in that?

No combat enduring offensive action on the ground. But also, a communications strategy. I think that that's a place where we must and could do better.

They have been very successful with the social media, recruiting from scores of country fighters to come in to help them. And so again, I think the American people support our helping countries in the region and coalition partners in the region to fight the fight. But not for us to have boots on the ground.

ROBERTS: So should we be doing more to arm the Kurds and should we be doing more with our Middle Eastern allies to take out someone like a Bashar al-Assad?

PELOSI: Well, again, more than what?

In other words, I think we are doing a great deal. And in any time in war, you're always reevaluating where resources should go.

But, you know, for all of these comments from these Republicans, what -- what is their -- what is their alternative?

Is there alternative offensive combat troops on the ground?

That's not where the American people are.

ROBERTS: When we think about Bashar al-Assad, do you think he should stay in charge of Syria?

PELOSI: No.

ROBERTS: No. So do you think that we should do something to lead his ouster?

PELOSI: Well, we -- the -- again, the -- we're now probably what amounts to a civil war in Syria. And again, we're helping with -- I don't know how much I can talk about here as to what -- what our assistance is, but we are helping there.

It's now turned into a bit of a different fight, because ISIS is something that -- is an entity that we want to defeat. And they are anti-Assad and it is an entity that we think should go.

And, by the way, in Geneva, all countries involved, including Russia, agreed on a solution in Syria without President Assad remaining in power.

ROBERTS: There are a lot of complexities at play here. And one which is a concern for Congress right now is the fact that for the NSA and at midnight on Sunday, the law that's governing the telephone metadata surveillance program, known as Section 215, that expires.

PELOSI: Right.

ROBERTS: So that's the bulk data collection for all of us.

Do you believe the Senate is going to pass the bill that already made its way through the House?

PELOSI: I hope so. They're about one or two votes away from doing that. And the bill in the House, the overwhelming vote, and it was bipartisan and it was with proper transparency, with Congressional oversight, with a balance between security and -- and privacy right, public sector and private sector agreement on how we go forward, and, again, ending the data -- the bulk data collection.

ROBERTS: You know, we have never gotten this close to seeing the Patriot Act expire since 9/11.

Do you think that that's because we have so much, I guess, different concern for privacy and security rights of American citizens?

PELOSI: Well, privacy -- the balance between security and privacy and liberty has been --- is as old as our country. It -- Benjamin Franklin said if you don't have liberty, you won't have security, and if you don't have security, you won't have liberty. You have to have both. And that's what this is about.

But this is a -- this is not yesterday's Patriot Act. This is one that has a Jerry Nadler of New York, a very progressive member of the -- of the Judiciary Committee as a full participant in how we balance security and liberty with transparency, Congressional oversight, ending the bulk collection and having a substitute for it.

ROBERTS: All right, we're going to see everybody back in DC on Sunday working.

Congresswoman, I'm going to ask you to stick around, because we have a lot more to discuss.

And we also have breaking news now regarding the investigation into former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. A Tribune Company reporter is citing two unnamed federal law enforcement sources saying that Denny Hastert was paying an individual from his past to conceal sexual misconduct. Now, NBC News has not independently confirmed this report. Hastert was indicted on charges that involved trying to skirt banking rules to pay an unnamed individual.

We're going to have more on this story as we get it. And we're going to be back with much more right here on MSNBC with Leader Pelosi in a second.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: We have breaking news regarding the investigation into former House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

Tribune Company reporters citing two unnamed federal law enforcement officials that say Denny Hastert was paying an individual from his past to conceal sexual misconduct. NBC News has not independently confirmed this report. Hastert was indicted on charges involving trying to skirt banking rules to pay an unnamed individual.

More on this story as we get it.

And we have been speaking through this last half hour with our special guest, the House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi.

And before we let the leader go, I want to talk about something that I know is very close to your political heart, both professionally and personally, and that's your fight for equality for the LGBT community.

Last night, you were honored. It was a great honor that you received here in New York City. We can show the picture of you with your grandkids and I take Tim Gunn, where you received your honor. There it is last night from The Victory Fund.

And you said you wanted your grandkids there, why?

PELOSI: Oh, it's really important for them to see what the practice of our faith is, the dignity and respect that we have for all people and that equality, marriage equality is important.

They've been hearing this their whole life. They go to Catholic school and this is consistent with the dignity and worth we attribute to every person.

ROBERTS: And meanwhile, we have the sound from the interview that Marco Rubio gave where he painted a pretty broad brush in a characterization about those for and against marriage equality.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are at the water's edge of the argument that mainstream Christian teaching is hate speech, because today, we've reached a point in our society where if you -- if you do not support same-sex marriage, you are labeled a homophobe and a hater.

So what's next step after that, after they're done going after individuals?

The next step is to argue that the teachings of mainstream Christianity, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is hate speech. And that's a -- that's a real and present danger.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTS: Do you agree with that?

PELOSI: No.

ROBERTS: As you just talked about, your grandkids go to Catholic school.

PELOSI: I thoroughly disagree. Being raised a -- in a Catholic family, raising a Catholic family, Main Street -- mainstream Catholic -- well, the Baltimore Cateti...

ROBERTS: Yes.

PELOSI: -- Catechism, to get back to our hometown of Baltimore, was what we raise -- were raised on. And I take that the statement by Senator Rubio is most unfortunate. It's a polarizing statement. The fact is, is that what we were taught was to respect people in our faith and to say that this endangers mainstream Christian thinking is so completely wrong.

And again, it's polarizing. And I would hope that -- perhaps he believes what he says and I assume that he does. But I hope that we can persuade him differently, because the country is going in a completely different direction now. And it's very -- it's very, very exciting.

I don't even think that Pope Francis would subscribe to what Marco Rubio just said.

ROBERTS: Well, we are waiting to hear what the Supreme Court is going to say coming up with their decision over the weeks, coming out in June, when it comes to marriage equality in this country.