Inside with Jen Psaki

Jen Psaki looks at some of the happy talk the Trump administration is offering about Donald Trump's war on Iran while outward signs suggest things are not going as well as they would have hoped. Senator Jon Ossoff talks with Jen about Donald Trump's handling of the war and how constituents are reacting to the economic fallout. Rep. Robert Garcia talks with Jen Psaki about questions Democrats in Congress want answered about Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner's role representing the United States in negotiations with countries he has a financial interest in, as well as a new investigation into allegations of impropriety against Corey Lewandowski. Amos Hochstein, an expert in global energy markets, explains why the mess Donald Trump has made with his war on Iran is "the worst energy crisis the world has ever seen," and talks with Jen Psaki about how it could get worse and how long it will take to fix it. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki reports on the confirmation hearing for Donald Trump's pick to replace Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin. Mullin is already a dubious choice to lead DHS, but a long-running feud between Mullin and committee chair, Rand Paul added a whole new dimension to why he might not be a good choice. Jen Psaki reports on director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard's testimony at the Senate Intelligence Committee's worldwide threats hearing, Gabbard was careful not to say anything that would contradict statements made by Donald Trump on his war against Iran, even when directly confronted with her own statements, obvious facts, or the responsibilities of her job. Senator Mark Kelly discusses the stakes of Donald Trump staffing important national security positions with unqualified sycophants. "She's a liar!" Rep. Maxwell Frost talks with Jen Psaki about what happened behind closed doors at a House Oversight Committee meeting with Donald Trump's attorney general, Pam Bondi, about arranging a hearing, under oath, about the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein documents.  Senator Mark Warner discusses his concerns about the safety of upcoming elections. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki shares a remarkable litany of instances in which Donald Trump's confident assertions on his war against Iran are directly contradicted by news reports, many of which are sourced to members of Trump's own administration.   Rep. Jim Himes, member of the House Intelligence Committee, joins Jen to discuss the resignation of a top Trump counterintelligence official who objected to Trump's mischaracterization of Iran's threat to the United States. With less than glowing news coming out of Donald Trump war on Iran, Donald Trump and his acolytes, including some in the media, have decided to try to change the news by attacking the messengers. Terry Moran, former ABC News anchor, and Elise Labott, host of "Cosmopolitics" on Substack, talk with Jen Psaki about the important role of an independent press with a leader like Trump in power. And Ali Velshi reports in from the big board on primary elections in Illinois. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki looks at press conferences by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as well as media appearances by Donald Trump and finds that the former TV show hosts are not living up to the seriousness of the positions they hold and are more fixated on creating a successful image for their war on Iran than they are on the details and strategy that would help secure actual success. Barbara Starr, former CNN Pentagon correspondent, and Brig. Gen. Steven M. Anderson (Ret.) join to discuss how Donald Trump's and Pete Hegseth's attitudes about using the U.S. military is reshaping American military culture. Fiona Hill, a former senior director on the National Security Council, talks with Jen Psaki about the many challenges associated with an attack on Iran that experts in the foreign policy community knew and understood well before Donald Trump decided to jump in with both feet and struggle with those very same, known challenges, and how Trump's one-at-a-time style of dealing with other countries leaves him ill equipped to deal with a complex world with overlapping interests. Bobby Pulido, Democratic congressional candidate and acclaimed Tejano music star, talks with Jen Psaki about the political atmosphere in Texas and using political judo moves on his opponent's attacks. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Donald Trump has trained his acolytes in politics and media to echo his reassuring buzz phrases about weathering the short term effects of his war on Iran on the energy markets and global economy, but catchy slogans aren't changing the facts of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the sudden energy crisis that everyone in the world can see happening in front of their own eyes. James Talarico is already running against one of two very flawed Republican opponents to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate, in a race that could determine control of the Senate. But Donald Trump's steadily sinking popularity and politically disastrous policies from his anti-immigrant cruelty to his senseless war on Iran and the economic fallout that Americans are already feeling, have given voters even more reason to consider making this the election that turns Texas blue. Talarico talks with Jen Psaki about the unnecessary challenges Americans are dealing with as a result of Donald Trump's mismanagement of the White House. After two attacks in one day that appear to be related to Donald Trump's war on Iran, former CIA director John Brennan talks with Jen Psaki about the domestic national security threats that come with picking a fight with Iran. And with Donald Trump pushing for the passage of an election bill, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries talks with Jen about Democratic plans to push back on Trump's effort to manipulate elections, as well as his war on Iran. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As Donald Trump continues to offer contradictory answers and explanations, his war on Iran is running into some foreseeable problems that were among the reasons attacking Iran was ill-advised in the first place. Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor, and Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, talk with Jen Psaki about the deadly, expensive mess Donald Trump and his defense secretary, former weekend cable news host Pete Hegseth, are making. Jen Psaki points out Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's dismaying preoccupation with his personal image while signs of the mismanagement of Donald Trump's war on Iran multiply, including new reporting that the U.S. was likely responsible for hitting an Iranian school full of children with a missile. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the House Oversight Committee, talks with Jen about hearing the testimony of Jeffrey Epstein's accountant, which somehow produced more questions than answers. And Rep. Chris Deluzio joins the show to discuss how U.S. military veterans are reacting to Donald Trump's second term military adventurism and the degree to which his actions contradict what he campaigned on. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki points out the weird and wild inconsistencies in the messaging and explanations from the Trump administration about the war of choice Donald Trump started with Iran, why they did it, what they call it, what they're trying to accomplish and how they're going to keep the world economy from crashing while they do it. Jen Psaki pins down the various excuses and evasions from the Trump administration as new reporting points to evidence that suggests the United States is responsible for bombing a school in Iran, killing 175. Senator Adam Schiff talks with Jen about holding the Trump administration accountable. Donald Trump's endorsement of Republican Clay Fuller in a special election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress was not meaningful enough to voters in Georgia to clinch the win for Fuller. Instead, Democratic candidate Shawn Harris, a retired Army brigadier general and cattle rancher, not only forced a runoff but got a higher proportion of the overall vote in a crowded field. Harris talked with Jen Psaki about how he interprets his success so far and his strategy heading to the April 7 runoff.   To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki looks at Donald Trump's oddly casual answers to questions about the hardships his war on Iran is imposing on Americans, as well as Defense secretary Pete Hegseth's embarrassing chest pounding and the juvenile propaganda being released on government social media accounts, and questions whether Trump understands or is even capable of being a wartime president. Barbara Starr, former CNN Pentagon correspondent, and Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton (Ret.), talk with Jen about the Trump administration's bizarre treatment of war. Kristi Noem's job as secretary of homeland security may be over, but accountability for her time in office did not simply going away when she was fired. Not only is she facing investigations in states where ICE ran amok on her watch, but massive, taxpayer-funded promotional media contracts she arranged are still the subject of intense inquiry on both sides of the aisle. Rep. Joe Neguse, whose tenacious questioning of Kristi Noem in a House Judiciary Committee hearing almost certainly contributed to her eventually being fired by Donald Trump, talks with Jen Psaki about what comes next in holding Noem accountable for her transgressions while in office. And Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joins to talk with Jen about the release of yet more Jeffrey Epstein documents, including ones that mention Donald Trump, and the bigger picture of what Epstein was involved in. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Now-former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem managed to keep her job despite a constant stream of scandals and outrages, but as soon as she suggested that Donald Trump, as president of the United States, and therefore her boss, knew about the corruption highlighted in Congressional hearings, that was too much for Trump to tolerate. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz talks with Jen Psaki about all of the reasons former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem should have been fired from her job before Donald Trump finally reached his limit today, and why Noem should get used to spending more time in Minnesota because, as Walz says, "We're going to want some answers" about the ICE abuses that happened in his state under Noem's command. Senator Markwayne Mullin was already a character of dubious competence based on his conduct in hearings and media interviews, but as Donald Trump's choice to replace Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security at a time when ICE is out of control and the U.S. is at war with Iran, expectations for improvements at DHS are low. Rep. Pay Ryan, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, Rep. Seth Moulton, and Rep. Maggie Goodlander, all veterans of U.S. military service, discuss with Jen Psaki. And in the midst of an already chaotic news day, even more Jeffrey Epstein documents were relased. Lisa Rubin joins to explain the new material. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki shares a dizzying collection of contradictions and nonsense from the Trump administration and its allies trying to explain the reason for attacking Iran, the goals of doing so, or even whether it's ok to call it a war. Senator Mark Kelly joins to discuss the incompetence of the Trump administration's handling of Iran and other national security issues compromised by Trump's poor choices. James Talarico won the Democratic nomination for Senate in Texas in a primary with remarkable turnout, a talented campaigner with a unique ability to speak to voters of faith, and with an opponent who is now emphasizing party unity. On the Republican side, and already acrimonious primary will be tied up in a nasty runoff election for weeks to come, leaving the eventual winner inevitably battered. And all of this takes place in the context of Donald Trump being wildly unpopular and finding new ways to upset American voters almost daily. Former Congressman Beto O'Rourke talks with Jen Psaki about why this year's midterm election holds promise to be the one that finally begins to turn Texas blue.  To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rachel Maddow and her MS NOW colleagues track the primary election returns in Texas and North Carolina, with Ali Velshi offering special statistical insights from the big board as one of the most closely watched elections, the Democratic Senate primary between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico mired in legal complications after polling place confusion in Dallas.   The panel and special guests offer analysis of what the early voting patterns suggest about Donald Trump's political strength, the tone of public opinion in the United States and what it all could mean for the midterm elections later this year. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ali Velshi reviews the dubious dealings and questionable relationships of Donald Trump's commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, not the least of which is his association with Jeffrey Epstein, which he was caught lying about. Just as depositions given by Hillary and Bill Clinton to the House Oversight Committee on the matter of Jeffrey Epstein have raised questions about why Donald Trump or Howard Lutnick shouldn't be next to be deposed, the revelation of missing documents in the Epstein files have given those questions greater urgency. Sarah Fitzpatrick, staff writer for The Atlantic, discusses her new reporting about "multiple allegations that have been submitted to the FBI and DOJ in recent years and do not appear in the files." Texas State Rep. Gina Hinojosa discusses the momentum Democrats are enjoying in Texas heading into midterm election season, and how Donald Trump's deep unpopularity makes he unhelpful to Republican candidates who are struggling with infighting.   To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Republicans on the House Oversight Committee apparently thought that calling Hillary Clinton to testify about Jeffrey Epstein would score them some political points with their base. Instead they looked like fools, wasting everyone's time and only managed to learn that Clinton was possibly the least useful witness they could have called. Rep. James Walkinshaw and Rep. Yassamin Ansari, who serve on the Oversight Committee, join to discuss. It has been clear for months that Donald Trump is very much at risk of losing control of the House and possibly the Senate in this year's midterm elections so he is looking for any way he can to avoid allowing that election to happen in a free and fair way. Now new reporting suggests Trump is considering declaring a national emergency to give himself new powers over the running of elections. Rep. Jamie Raskin joins to discuss. Andrew Bakaj, chief legal counsel for Whistleblower Aid, discusses the latest developments in Tulsi Gabbard trying to keep his whistleblower client's report away from Congres. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

California Governor Gavin Newsom talks with Jen Psaki in an extended interview about the damage Donald Trump has done to democracy in the United States, the threat of his potential successors like JD Vance and Marco Rubio, fighting with the right-wing media machine and what American voters are looking for in a president. Jen Psaki points out that in Donald Trump's first term, Cabinet members who wasted taxpayer money on personal luxuries like planes were cast out of the administration. Donald Trump appears to have lost his aversion to that type of abuse because making spectacles of themselves indulging in taxpayer funded benefits, but haven't prompted any scorn from Trump for doing so. Jon Lovett, co-host of Pod Save America on Crooked Media, joins Jen Psaki to discuss. Crooked Media podcasts will be featured on MS NOW beginning this Saturday, February 8 at 9pm ET. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen to MS NOW's Special Coverage of President Trump's 2026 State of the Union Address. During his speech, Trump touted the ending of DEI policies nationwide, railed against the Supreme Court's tariff ruling, and attacked the Somali community of Minnesota. Hear Rachel Maddow, Nicolle Wallace, Chris Hayes, and more react to Trump's remarks, along with the Democratic response from Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger. Visit ms.now for more coverage. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki points to examples of Donald Trump manipulating tariffs against other countries for reasons that have nothing to do with economics and everything to do with his own personal enrichment or petty grievances. And while Trump abuses his power in order to serve himself, American taxpayers foot the bill by paying for the consequences of Trump's tariffs. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker discusses how Americans can get their money back after footing the bill for Donald Trump's unconstitutional tariffs. Jen Psaki looks at the role tariffs have played in Donald Trump's quest to acquire and assert power, and points out a familiar pattern in Trump's behavior at a press conference after the Supreme Court rules his tariff scheme is yet another violation of the Constitution.  Senator Elizabeth Warren talks with Jen Psaki about what comes next now that the Supreme Court has pulled the plug on Trump's tariff scheme. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sky and Amanda Roberts, brother and sister-in-law of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, react to the news of the arrest of former Prince Andrew. Virginia Roberts Giuffre's photo with Andrew, the man she accused of participating in her abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein, became one of the most recognizable pieces of evidence in her advocacy for justice for her fellow survivors of Epstein's abuse. Rep. Ro Khanna joins to discuss a new deposition given by Les Wexner, a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein, and why Donald Trump's Justice Department hasn't taken any action on Epstein's associates the way other countries have since the release of millions of Epstein files. Susan Rice, former national security advisor and former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., talks with Jen Psaki about Donald Trump's latest pseudo-governmental vanity project, the "Board of Peace," and Trump's dubious appropriation of $10 billion from U.S. taxpayers for the project. House Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries talks with Jen Psaki about the upcoming midterm elections. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Trump administration is rolling out a strategy to send Cabinet members to electorally competitive districts ahead of next year's midterms. Jen Psaki considers the political damage this strategy will cause for Republicans as everyone in Trump's Cabinet is somewhere on the scale from weird and tone deaf to personally repellant.Maryland Governor Wes Moore talks with Jen Psaki about dealing with unwanted attention from Donald Trump, who seems to have not enough to do as President of the United States. Keisha Lance Bottoms, former mayor of Atlanta, discusses Donald Trump's past and ongoing efforts to corrupt voting in Georgia.Les Wexner, former Victoria's Secret boss, and a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein, told members of Congress that the FBI and DOJ investigators never reached out to him despite his close relationship with Epstein. Annie Farmer, a survivor of Epstein's abuse talks with Jen Psaki about the shockingly poor job investigators did holding Epstein to account. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett talks with Jen Psaki about the Texas Senate race and the phone call she received from Paramount in connection to the confrontation between Stephen Colbert and CBS over Colbert's interview with Crockett's Senate race rival James Talarico.Rep. Crockett is also about to hear testimony from a Les Wexler, a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein.Terry Moran, former senior national correspondent for ABC News, joins to discuss Donald Trump's war on the truth-telling media and the style of censorship imposed on broadcasters by Trump's FCC.Elora Mukherjee, director of the Immigrants' Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School, talks with Jen Psaki about the terrible conditions, spoiled food and lack of medical care for children in Trump's immigrant prisons, many of whom are being held significantly longer than the legal limit. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki rounds up a remarkable list of failures and bad news suffered by Donald Trump's secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, and shares highlights of eye-popping new reporting from the Wall Street Journal about how Noem has led her department into chaos with tyrannical behavior, wasted money, rumors of infidelity, and bizarre drama over a lost blanket that resulted in the firing and re-hiring of a Coast Guard pilot.Rep. Eric Swalwell joins to discuss the mess at the Department of Homeland Security and Democrats withholding their votes from any funding unless ICE agrees to new standards.Former federal prosecutors Glenn Kirschner and J.P. Cooney talk with Jen Psaki about Donald Trump's weaponization of the Justice Department and how Trump uses flawed indictments and doomed prosecutions to harass his enemies with the justice system even if they haven't done anything that warrants prosecution.As the Epstein files are causing scandal and disgrace around the world, associates of Jeffrey Epstein in Donald Trump's orbit are not dealing with any consequences. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam talks about next steps in Congress for the Epstein investigation.Donald Trump's intention to manipulate the coming midterm elections is no longer merely speculation, but local election administrators now have their guard up. Stephen Richer, former Maricopa County recorder talks with Jen Psaki about a low-energy Kristi Noem event in Arizona, and how states can prepare for Trump's intrusion. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For more than a week since the initial report from the Wall Street Journal, information about an intelligence community whistleblower report and the accusation that Tulsi Gabbard did not handle the report properly has been slowly leaking to the public. Now it has emerged that Jared Kushner is the subject at the center of the report. Andrew Bakaj, chief legal counsel for Whistleblower Aid, and the attorney for the whistleblower in question, talks with Jen Psaki about where the case stands.Senator Amy Klobuchar joins to discuss Minnesota seeking accountability in the wake of Donald Trump's anti-immigrant surge.Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison talks with Jen Psaki about trying to get federal cooperation in the investigations of the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.Beyond the near daily new stories about people in Donald Trump's orbit and administration turning up in the Epstein files, the regular business of the Trump administration is in a state of disaster as the economy sputters and Trump's crown jewel anti-immigrant agenda is destroying his approval rating. Jen Psaki paints the picture and explains why even the Trump administration's announcement of the end of the anti-immigrant surge in Minnesota is getting pushback from officials who want to make sure accountability is addressed before ICE heads out to terrorize the next American community.  To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki shares highlights from the most bizarre and obnoxious testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, or any committee, in recent memory in which Pam Bondi blurted and shouted like a deranged A.I. bot in a desperate effort to avoid addressing her department's Epstein scandal.  Rep. Jamie Raskin discusses the effort to get transparency and accountability with the Epstein files.Donald Trump may have thought that Jeanine Pirro's cartoonish belligerence on Fox News would make her a strong advocate for his political interests as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. So far, however, Pirro's incompetence has Trump's various political vendettas into legal humiliations. Rep. Chris Deluzio, whom Pirro failed to indict despite a lot of tough threatening talk from Trump, talks with Jen Psaki about the ridiculousness of the failed case against him.Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro discusses Donald Trump's increasingly aggressive efforts to hijack the U.S. elections system. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki looks at how the Epstein scandal is an actual scandal in places still capable of shame and disgrace, while in the United States, association with notorious pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein has no real consequences. Rep. Ro Khanna, however, intends to change that, and today named six men who he says were being hidden by the Department of Justice behind unnecessary redactions.   Jen Psaki reports on Donald Trump giving federal authority to debunked, discredited election conspiracy theorists to revisit his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden and produce an explanation that suits his ego and paranoia. Former federal prosecutor Preet Bharara joins for legal analysis of Trump's intrusion on states' elections.Mark Santia, MS NOW investigative correspondent reports live from Rio Rico, Arizona where sources say there is new FBI activity in the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. This development follows reports of other activity in Annie Guthrie's neighborhood as well as the release of doorbell camera video as the radius of the investigation continues to grow.Sky and Amanda Roberts, brother and sister-in-law to Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, join to discuss Epstein survivors' frustrations with Trump's Justice Department continuing to shield Epstein's associates.  To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The panicked response by Donald Trump and his White House support staff to the backlash against his racist social media post suggest Trump miscalculated how much racism the American people are willing to tolerate, which may be a reflection of the bubble in which he lives. Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, and Eddie Glaude, a professor at Princeton University, talk with Michael Steele about the regressive nature of Trump's brazen racism and the extent to which Trump's racism is reflected in attitudes among the general American public.Michael Feinberg, former FBI official, joins to discuss reports of the FBI inviting state election officials for a meeting.Neal Katyal, former acting solicitor general, discusses taking Donald Trump to court for withholding funding from a vital infrastructure project that will have an effect on the lives of millions of Americans.And Barbara McQuade, former U.S. attorney, discusses how the anti-immigrant zealotry of the Trump administration and the corruption of Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi are driving the Justice Department into the ground. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki rounds up the myriad conspiracy theories and random ideas that Donald Trump has his White House staff chasing down in a desperate effort to make himself feel better about his loss to Joe Biden in 2020, and to justify taking control of the election process going forward under the guise of keeping elections honest.Senator Mark Warner joins to discuss how far out of bounds the Trump administration is going in pursuit of Trump's election conspiracy fantasies.Rep. Jamie Raskin talks with Jen about the galling breaking news that Donald Trump has told Senator Chuck Schumer that he will release  billions in funds for infrastructure projects if Schumer will support naming a train station and an airport after him.Donald Trump is suing the IRS for $10 billion dollars over leaked tax records, essentially asking his White House acolytes to hand over the money. He offers his reassurances that the money, taxpayer dollars, will be donated to charity, a familiar promise to anyone who has paid attention to Trump's past lies and the fact that Trump's charity was shut down over fraud.Former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson talks about Steve Bannon's threat that Donald Trump will surround polling stations with masked, armed ICE agents. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki looks at Donald Trump's poll numbers sinking to deeper depths as Trump grows more vocal about his intention to interfere in the upcoming midterm elections, and doubles down on his goal of making sure his own narrative is the only one people hear by cutting off access to reliable information about his administration."Donald Trump, that's what happened, really." Marty Baron, former executive editor of the Washington Post, talks with Jen Psaki about what explains the total reversal in Jeff Bezos's attitude about the mission of the Washington Post. Bezos appears to have reconsidered the Washington Post's reporting antagonize Donald Trump when Bezos's other business interests are at the mercy of Trump's fickle favor.Miles Taylor, former DHS chief of staff in the first Trump term, talks about the executive order Tulsi Gabbard is using to confiscate ballots from Fulton County, Georgia in her mission to justify Donald Trump's conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan expresses her outrage at ICE and other DHS agents harassing school children and their families, and threatening teachers. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki shows how an onslaught of bad news and bad polls for Donald Trump is making him more desperate to control voting and the outcomes of elections in the U.S., and he is actively taking steps to do so while his staff struggle to find alternative explanations for what is going on.Marc Elias, founder of Democracy Docket, joins to discuss Donald Trump's growing threat to free and fair elections in the United States.Senator Richard Blumenthal discusses Senate Democrats' demands for holding ICE accountable for their actions, and a shadow hearing today to hear from victims of abuse by overzealous ICE agents.Rep. Dan Goldman, a former federal prosecutor, talks with Jen Psaki about the many investigatory leads presented in what has been released of the Epstein files so far and what would likely be pursued if the United States has a real attorney general instead of a Donald Trump sycophant.  To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Abbe Lowell, attorney for journalist Don Lemon, talks with Jen Psaki about Donald Trump's escalating war on the news media, and the pattern he sees among his clients who have been targeted by Donald Trump's Justice Department, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.Rep. Robert Garcia talks about the Justice Department's release of a new batch of Jeffrey Epstein files.Annie Farmer, Jeffrey Epstein accuser, shares the perspective of survivors of abuse by Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and their associates as Pam Bondi's Justice Department botches (or maybe sabotages) the job of redacting names as it releases files from the investigations of Epstein.Terry Moran, former senior national correspondent for ABC News, and Eugene Daniels, co-host of The Weekend on MS NOW, talk with Jen Psaki about the dubious accusations in the Trump Justice Department's indictments of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for reporting on a protest at a church, and what is really motivating the Trump administration to use such heavy-handed tactic against the news media.  To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Senator Warner talks with Jen Psaki about the threat Donald Trump poses to free and fair elections in the United States.Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison discusses the legal fight to liberate the state of Minnesota from the paramilitary occupation of ICE agents terrorizing communities in Minneapolis.Rep. Joaquin Castro visited the immigration prison in Dilley, Texas and met with 5-year-old Liam and his father. He talks with Jen about the poorly maintained conditions in ICE's prison camps.Senator Chris Van Hollen delivers the latest news on negotiations in the Senate where Democrats are refusing to approve any more funding for ICE without new rules to make agents more accountable. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg talks with Jen Psaki about accountability for the abuses committed by members of the Trump administration but also thinking to the future after Trump and how Americans really feel about the issues Trump uses as divisive cultural wedges.  Jen Psaki looks at how even non-political American cultural spaces are reacting to the killing for Alex Pretti and the brutality of ICE actions, and shares other indicators, including new polling, that suggest Trump is in big trouble with voters.Senator Jon Ossoff joins to discuss Donald Trump's corruption of the Justice Department to force the investigation of his conspiracy theory about his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.Ezra Levin discusses the No Kings Day 3 protests and the expectation that participation will set a new record for protests in the United States. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rep. Seth Moulton talks with Jen Psaki about why so many Democrats (and even some Republicans) want Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to resign or be impeached after agencies under her purview have not only terrorized whole communities but left two Americans dead.Senator Alex Padilla, who visited California's largest immigration prison and was shocked at what he heard from detainees, talks with Jen Psaki about how the abuses of ICE don't stop with the terrorizing tactics used to hunt and detail immigrants in the U.S., but extend to what Donald Trump is doing with the tens of thousands of people he is holding at facilities across the country.Jeh Johnson, former secretary of Homeland Security, talks with Jen Psaki about how irregular it is that the DHS would investigate itself for the deadly shootings of protesters in Minneapolis, and how the pre-judging by Kristi Noem and other DHS officials make an impartial investigation extremely unlikely. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

While the Trump administration releases a steady stream of gaslighting statements about ICE arresting "the worst of the worst," Americans are seeing with their own eyes the abuse and cruelty of Trump's anti-immigrant agenda directed at innocent members of close, caring communities. An elderly man, barely clothed, dragged from his house, small children being detained from their parents and used as bait to trap family members. Americans are so thoroughly disgusted and outraged at what Trump and his lackeys are doing that they are braving inhuman cold by the tens of thousands to make their displeasure seen and heard.Mary Moriarty, the county attorney of Hennepin County, Minnesota, talks with Jen Psaki about how distorted the Justice Department has become under Donald Trump and the power the state has to enforce its laws against the abuses of federal agents, including in the case of the shooting of Renee Good. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki reviews the lowlights of Donald Trump's cringey, humiliating  ramble of an address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland which not only put Trump's ignorance and vanity on full display but he repeatedly said the wrong name of the country at the center of his effort to destroy the western alliance.Donald Trump attempted to bring his signature style of whiney grievance politics to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, but only managed to show off his lack of knowledge of history and world affairs. Rep. Madeleine Dean, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, talks with Jen Psaki about how America's allies in Europe are interpreting Trump's petulance.Senator Richard Blumenthal joins Jen to discuss a secret memo that tells ICE agents they can raid homes without a warrant.   To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker talks with Jen Psaki about resisting Donald Trump's power grabs, protecting the people of his state, and holding Trump officials to account once they are not longer under his protection.Donald Trump explained at a press conference that he likes the look of military occupation, perhaps stating the obvious as his actions have shown his enthusiasm for deploying militarized federal forces in U.S. cities. But the American people do not share his fondness for living in a military state, and Trump's overreach has even begun to turn local police against him, Jen Psaki explains.  To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As courts rebuke ICE violence in Minneapolis, and Donald Trump doubles down on corrupting the Justice Department by opening investigations into Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Americans are watching everything that is taking place and are not liking what they see. Jen Psaki looks at how the tide has turned on Trump after his obnoxious handling of what used to be his strongest issue, immigration. Many Americans don't realize that Donald Trump has sent so many ICE agents to the Twin Cities area that they are literally everywhere, and of course, they are not a benign presence. St. Paul, Minnesota Mayor Kaohly Her talks with Jen Psaki about what life is like in a Donald Trump police state and how neighbors are trying to help and protect each other from the malevolent presence of Trump's federal enforcers. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Donald Trump's ICE force is not only not making life better for the residents of Minneapolis, it seems to be trying to pick a fight. Today, Trump, who is notoriously unable to keep the thoughts in his head from escaping out of his mouth, suggested he would invoke the Insurrection Act to suppress the unrest that he provoked. Miles Taylor, former chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security during Donald Trump's first term, talks with Jen Psaki about why he is certain Trump will invoke the Insurrection Act, and tells stories from Trump's first term that make sense of Trump's second term behavior.After another incredible (as in, not-credible) White House press briefing, Jen Psaki steps in to address some of the questions that were not handled correctly by Donald Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.Donald Trump and his Cabinet acolytes continue to insist on the righteousness and professionalism of Trump's ICE enforcers terrorizing Minneapolis, even as Americans see endless accounts and videos of the reckless brutality the residents of Minneapolis are enduring. Elliott Payne, Minneapolis city council president, talks with Jen Psaki about the reality on the streets of his city. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With Donald Trump already doubling down on the trauma and terror he is inflicting on the Minneapolis community with his federal ICE police force, he took a step further away from American values and the First Amendment with a F.B.I. raid on the home of a journalist, ostensibly to search for evidence in the prosecution of a suspected leaker of federal secrets. Jen Psaki reacts.Senator Elissa Slotkin organized a video of elected officials with military backgrounds reminding serving members of the U.S. military that they are obligated to disobey illegal orders. Donald Trump took the message personally and has been using the federal government to exact a vendetta against the people in the video ever since. Most recently that has meant Trump's weaponized Justice Department conducting "investigations." Senator Slotkin discusses with Jen Psaki.  MS NOW reporter Jillian Frankel reports live from the scene of a chaotic clash between federal agents and protesters in Minneapolis following reports by the city's social media account of "a shooting involving federal law enforcement." To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jen Psaki reports on new polling that shows Americans are very aware of the deadly ICE shooting of a Minnesota mom and are not buying into Donald Trump's tactic of trying to blame the victim of the shooting. At the same time, Trump's DOJ deciding not to investigate has triggered a rash of resignations, and a non-stop flow of videos of ICE agents brutalizing residents of Minneapolis, including Americans, is further souring public opinion on the job Trump has ICE doing.Assistant attorney general for civil rights, Harmeet Dhillon, decided not to investigate the deadly ICE shooting of Minneapolis mom Renee Nicole Good, triggering shocked outrage not only from Americans who watched videos of the shooting, but also from prosecutors within the Justice Department. Stacey Young, former DOJ official, talks with Jen Psaki about why the Justice Department refusing to do its job is extremely uncommon, and also an abdication of the department's role in American governance.Donald Trump's petulance over not being able to manipulate interest rates to his own political advantage risks economic catastrophe for the United States as Trump has deployed his weaponized Justice Department to try to intimidate Fed chair Jerome Powell. Senator Elizabeth Warren joins Jen Psaki to discuss how the situation came to be and what's at stake.And the nation is still outraged over ICE shooting and killing a Minnesota mom, and that outrage is only intensifying as videos of other ICE abuses have been spreading across the internet. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost talks with Jen Psaki about what Congress can do to take some power away from Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland Security. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Just two days after the deadly ICE shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, several videos, shot from different perspectives have been released to the public, including video taken by the shooter, which many on the political right claim supports the argument that the ICE agent was defending himself when he shot and killed Good in her car. Jen Psaki synchronizes several videos for a closer analysis of what the shooter's video actually shows, and what the videos tell us about what Good was doing when she was killed.Senator Amy Klobuchar talks with Jen Psaki about the challenges her state has dealt with recently in the national spotlight and how the people of Minneapolis are dealing with the killing of a mother of three by an ICE agent, as well as potential solutions in the Senate to address Donald Trump's abuse of the immigration issue and the ICE agents making residents less safe and more afraid. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen to this special invitation from Rachel Maddow and sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to take advantage of a 3-month free trial!With MS NOW Premium, you can get our entire suite of podcasts – everything from “The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell” to “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace” – all ad-free. As a subscriber, you also get early access to select shows, plus exclusive bonus content – like a new episode of “Rachel Maddow Presents: Burn Order,” out Friday. Sign up right here, then search “Burn Order” to listen to that Premium episode.There's a lot in store for 2026. So to celebrate the new year, we're giving away 3 months free if you sign up by the end of January! It's just $2.99/month or $29.99/year after that. Thanks for listening! To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani talks with Jen Psaki about the need to hold ICE agents, including the one who shot and killed Minneapolis mother Renee Good, to the same justice as everyone else in America. Mamdani also highlights a new universal childcare initiative in New York, proving that government can still work for good outcomes and doesn't have to be all terror and chaos like the Trump administration produces.Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro talks with Jen Psaki about how a well run government coordinates at all levels, from federal to local, instead of the havoc and terror Donald Trump's federal agents are committing while gaslighting communities and making people less safe. Shapiro criticizes JD Vance for being the embodiment of the "chaos, cruelty and corruption" that defines the Trump administration. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey talks with Jen Psaki about how his city is dealing with the deadly shooting by a federal ICE agent, his vehement opposition to how immigration agents are terrorizing communities, and the distortions the Trump administration is pushing even as Americans have seen multiple videos of the shooting. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer shares his reaction to the deadly shooting by a federal ICE agent of a woman in Minneapolis, condemning the Trump administration's anti-immigrant overreach, and lamenting the corruption of previously stalwart agencies like the FBI, which has been tasked with investigating the shooting.Former national security advisor Jake Sullivan discusses the mess Donald Trump has made in Venezuela and Trump's dubious claims about Venezuela's oil. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.