The Weekend

August 17, 2025; 9am: President Trump isn't stopping after his attempt to federally takeover Washington DC's police. He has now singled out a number of cities as the worst in the country. Yet, they have all seen a decrease in crime, some even at historic lows. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee join The Weekend to discuss.For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

August 17, 2025; 8am: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will have reinforcements in his high-stakes meeting with President Trump at the White House. European leaders plan to join Zelenskyy when he meets with President Trump. The announcement comes after Zelenskyy said he is skeptical about Russia's willingness to work toward peace but welcomes further conversations. It will be Zelenskyy's first visit to the White House since February, when President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance antagonized and humiliated Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on live TV.For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbc To listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

August 17, 2025; 7am: Saturday,  the Democratic National Committee organized hundreds of “Fight the Trump Takeover” protests in 43 states, according to the event website. Protesters took to the streets to oppose what they see as a sweeping power grab by Texas Republicans: a gerrymandering plan designed to lock in Republican control of the House of Representatives in the midterms. Protestors also took to the streets in Washington, DC, to rally against President Trump's federal police takeover as more Republican-led states plan to deploy National Guard troops to the city. Miles Taylor, former Department of Homeland Security chief of staff during Donald Trump's first term, joins “The Weekend” to discuss.For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

August 16, 2025; 9am: Attorney General Pam Bondi pulled back her order to strip authority from Washington, DC's police chief. But that isn't stopping President Trump, who's continuing to exert his authority as hundreds of National Guard troops fan out across the city. Plus, the Trump administration warns more cities could be next. Former New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman and Washington, D.C. Shadow Senator Paul Strauss join “The Weekend” to discuss.  For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

August 16, 2025; 8am: Late on Friday, California Democrats released proposed maps that would likely flip five Republican-held seats, giving Democrats 48 of the state's 52 districts, up from 43. It's a direct counter to Republican gains that Texas Republicans are proposing. State lawmakers will vote on the plan next week.  Additionally, Texas Democrats plan to return home after leaving the state in protest of the Republican redistricting plan. But the nationwide redistricting fight is far from over, with President Obama offering his support to the Texas Democrats, as well as the DNC organizing “Fight the Trump Takeover” protests in 43 states to condemn Trump-backed redistricting.And as they return to Austin, Texas Democrats are getting some major backup. Democratic National Committee is planning to organize hundreds of “Fight the Trump Takeover” protests in 43 states to condemn Trump-backed redistricting. This week, former President Obama added his voice to the fight in a call with Texas Democrats. California Redistricting Commissioner Sara Sadhwani, joins The Weekend to discuss California's effort to counter Texas RepublicansFor more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. 

August 16, 2025; 7am: On Friday, President Trump hosted President Putin in Alaska to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine with the hopes of brokering a peace deal. However, the nearly three-hour meeting ended without a ceasefire or peace agreement. Now, just hours after the summit, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced his plans to travel to Washington on Monday. Richard Haass and Celeste Wallander join “The Weekend” to discuss. Then, Richard Engel joins “The Weekend” from Kharkiv, Ukraine, with reaction from the region.For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

August 10, 2025; 9am: Texas Republicans have unleashed a wave of legal action aimed at forcing Texas Democrats to return to the Lone Star State. A recent lawsuit accused Former Congressman Beto O'Rourke of bribing lawmakers to break quorum by raising money for their travel expenses and legal defense. A district judge temporarily sided with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, blocking O'Rourke from providing financial support to the Texas Democrats. O'Rouke joins “The Weekend” to explain why the fight is far from over.For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

August 10, 2025; 7am: President Donald Trump has dispatched roughly 450 federal law enforcement officers from various agencies across Washington DC near high traffic areas. The move comes a week after a former DOGE staffer was attacked in an attempted carjacking. Despite the president's habit of trashing the city where he currently lives, violent crime is actually down 26% from last year when it was at a 30 year low. He's recently announced on social media that he will hold an event at the White House that will "essentially stop violent crime" in DC, which he claims has become one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser joins The Weekend to discuss the president's threats and what they could mean for the city.For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. 

August 10, 2025; 8am: One week in, Texas Democratic lawmakers are standing strong despite growing legal threats after leaving the state in protest of the GOP redistricting effort. Texas State Representatives James Talarico and Jolanda Jones join “The Weekend” to discuss.For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

August 9, 2025; 9am: Texas Democrats are facing a full-blown retaliation campaign after leaving the state to block the GOP's redistricting campaign. Governor Greg Abbott is asking the Texas Supreme Court to expel the House Democratic leader from office. Plus, Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit demanding that 13 House Democrats be declared vacant from their seats. One of those Democrats, State Representative Ron Reynolds, joins “The Weekend” to discuss the latest.For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

August 9, 2025; 8am: Pam Bondi's promises from her confirmation hearing back in January have fallen by the wayside. NBC News has learned that the DOJ is now investigating one of Trump's outspoken political rivals, New York Attorney General Letitia James. Plus, the DOJ continues its purge of those who have either been involved in a past investigation against Trump or who have not been willing to take a knee to any of his demands. For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

August 9, 2025; 7am: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a proposal from President Donald Trump to discuss "swapping territory" with Russia after it was announced that President Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week in Alaska to discuss the ongoing conflict between the two warring nations. There is also a dramatic escalation in another international conflict, putting pressure on the Trump administration. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel plans to take control of Gaza, but says it does not plan to “keep” Gaza long term.For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

As Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs go into effect, a federal appeals court is deciding whether a bulk of Trump's tariffs are even legal. Neal Katyal joins The Weekend to discuss the legal challenge brought against the president's ability to set tariffs. The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host who has defended Trump for years, as U.S. attorney for Washington, DC. The news comes after the U.S .Office of Special Counsel announced it was launching an investigation into Jack Smith, the former special counsel who previously indicted President Donald Trump, over an alleged violation of the Hatch Act. Andrew Weissmann joins The Weekend to discuss the President's use of the DOJ.

Following a marathon 16-hour hearing, Texas Republicans have advanced the Trump-backed congressional map, which is expected to shift five Democratic House districts to Republican control. In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing a special election this November to adopt new congressional maps of his own. Texas State Representative Gina Hinojosa joins The Weekend to discuss the latest in the redistricting saga. Then, cities across the country are grappling with the influence import tariffs will have on their local industries and residents. The Weekend talks to Mayor Jim Rose of Arlington, Texas, and Mayor Andy Schor of Lansing, Michigan, to get their first-hand accounts. Plus, a dozen House Democrats sue the Trump administration after being barred from visiting immigration detention centers. Representative Adriano Espaillat of New York joins The Weekend to discuss the latest.

Fox News host and one of President Trump's close allies, Jeanine Pirro, was confirmed by the Senate Saturday night as U.S. Attorney for Washington, DC. Former Special Counsel and Special Assistant to President Obama, Norm Eisen, and Political Strategist Rina Shah join The Weekend to discuss how Pirro has been known for going after the Department of Justice and pushing baseless conspiracy theories. Plus, Trump's war on facts. Trump's firing of the Labor Statistics Chief raises alarms about the future of government data after he claimed the newest jobs numbers were “rigged.”

President Donald Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics just hours after the release of a weaker-than-expected jobs report. Critics say the termination of Erika McEntarfer could undermine confidence in the U.S. economy. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis joins The Weekend to discuss the impact of the recent jobs report and the President's tariff wars.. There are lots of new developments in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's accomplice and convicted sex trafficker, was transferred from a low-security federal prison in Florida to a smaller, less restrictive prison camp in Texas. Arizona Rep. Yassamin Ansar joins The Weekend to discuss the latest developments of the scandal.

Texas Republicans, following President Trump's demands, unveiled a new congressional map this week that could hand the GOP five additional House seats, each drawn in areas Trump carried by double digits. Representative Lloyd Doggett and Texas State Representative Rafael Anchía join The Weekend to discuss what Democrats can do at the local and national level. Plus, a dive into the escalating tensions with Russia that led Trump to order the deployment of two U.S. nuclear submarines to "appropriate regions".

Just hours after a weak jobs report showed signs of a clear slowdown in the job market, President Trump did what he does best: fire the messenger. Senior Economics reporter for Axios, Courtenay Brown, and former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota join The Weekend to discuss the president's direction to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and his claim that the job numbers were “rigged.” Plus, humanitarian aid groups have issued a new warning about the starvation in Gaza. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert joins The Weekend to discuss the growing international frustration with Israel over the humanitarian crisis, as he says, “enough is enough.”

President Trump's DOJ continues to take unprecedented actions in handling the Jeffrey Epstein case. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Epstein's convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, but little is known about what was discussed between the two. Former Attorney General Eric Holder joins The Weekend to share his thoughts on the two-day meeting. Plus, Holder weighs in on Republican-led efforts to redraw congressional districts and how Democrats are pushing back.

President Trump unleashed a retribution campaign inside the Department of Justice on those involved in either investigating him or those who dealt with the January 6 cases. Former Senior Trial Counsel Mike Gordon was among the group who were terminated without warning in June. He joins The Weekend to share his story and discuss how he is now suing the Trump administration over the firing. Plus, Trump is playing politics with disaster aid. After approving disaster relief for several Republican states, the president denied FEMA aid to Maryland after devastating floods swept through the state. Maryland Governor Wes Moore joins The Weekend to discuss.

President Trump took a weekend trip to Scotland to promote his latest golf course, with taxpayers footing the bill. However, this trip was met with protestors showing opposition to the administration's immigration policies, the war in Gaza, and his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Eugene Robinson and Brendan Buck join The Weekend to discuss the optics of this trip as the country demands answers about Epstein. Plus, fired federal workers are spending the summer on Capitol Hill with their kids, forcing lawmakers to see the true cost of their cuts to government. Former USAID worker Kathleen Borgueta joins The Weekend to explain. 

Deputy Attorney General and former defense attorney to Donald Trump, Todd Blanche, spent two days in Florida interviewing Epstein's longtime accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. New reports say the DOJ granted Maxwell limited immunity during these meetings. Legal experts Andrew Weissmann and George Conway join The Weekend to dissect these rare actions. Then, Representative Maxwell Frost explains what Democrats are doing to push for answers on Trump and Epstein. Plus, a look at the pushback federal judges are giving the Trump administration on its deportation tactics.

In this hour, Teresa Helm, a Jeffrey Epstein survivor, joins The Weekend to describe the anguish survivors are dealing with and why it is important to release the Epstein files. Plus, Texas State Representative James Talarico joins The Weekend to discuss his newfound popularity and how he's getting Lone Star Democrats fired up for the next big election. Then, former Capitol police officer Michael Fanone shares his thoughts on House Republicans' new January 6th subcommittee. 

President Donald Trump tries to deflect from the Jeffrey Epstein controversy amid calls for transparency. Former Congressman Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania and Republican strategist Annalyse Keller join The Weekend to discuss Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, meeting for two days with a top DOJ official and the DOJ's decision to offer her limited immunity. Plus, in an effort to distract Americans from the Epstein case, the Trump administration is now trying to accuse President Barack Obama of treason. Administration officials claim he manufactured a false assessment that Russia meddled in the 2016 elections. This has been widely debunked.

New reporting details the Justice Department's plot to obtain voter rolls and election data from multiple states. These unprecedented steps are raising concerns among election officials ahead of the 2026 midterms. Colorado's Attorney General Phil Weiser and Executive Director of the Colorado County Clerks Association Matt Crane join The Weekend to discuss. Plus, Gretchen Carlson talks about her former Fox News boss Rupert Murdoch and his very complicated relationship with Donald Trump, who now has a $10B libel suit against Murdoch and his company over the latest Wall Street Journal reporting about Jeffrey Epstein.

All eyes are on Texas as the state's legislature is set to convene for a special session that will likely be dominated by one agenda item: President Trump's demand to redraw the state's congressional maps. Former Texas congressman Colin Allred joins The Weekend to discuss the implications this could have on the midterms. And, as extreme flooding hits many parts of the nation, the Trump administration shut down a federal website that presented congressionally mandated reports and research on climate change. Representative Eric Sorensen, the only meteorologist in the U.S. Congress, joins The Weekend to explain how these budget cuts could make it more difficult to predict storms. Plus, Emmy-winning actor Jim Parsons joins The Weekend to discuss “Reclaim The Flag,” a new documentary which unpacks the LGBTQ+ community's relationship with the American flag and examines how it can be reclaimed as a symbol of unity for all Americans. 

Former Biden White House Deputy Cabinet Secretary Daniel Koh and former Federal Prosecutor Paul Butler join The Weekend to discuss the tangled saga President Trump has gotten himself into over Jeffrey Epstein. Plus, new reporting reveals Trump is getting annoyed with Attorney General Pam Bondi's handling of the Epstein files. And, Tennessee State Rep. Justin Jones, who you may remember from the “Tennessee Three,” joins The Weekend to share what happened to him after being barred from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference, an event that was held in his own district. She was there to promote a “self-deportation” plan that would offer migrants $1,000 and a one-way ticket out of the country.

It's been a dramatic week after Republicans took a hatchet to public media that could devastate access to news in rural areas. Former president and CEO of National Public Radio Vivian Schiller joins The Weekend to discuss Congress' deep cuts to public broadcasting including PBS and NPR. Plus, Elon Musk might be out of Washington, but Republicans are still moving forward on DOGE cuts. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico joins The Weekend to discuss. And, Donald Trump loves to promote conspiracies. He is leading his administration into spending taxpayer dollars to investigate these easily disproven assertions.

President Donald Trump can't get his MAGA-base to stop obsessing over the Epstein files. But after new reporting from the Wall Street Journal, some MAGA loyalists are coming to the president's defense. MSNBC contributor Jeremy Peters joins The Weekend to discuss. Plus, new polls reveal most Americans, including Republican voters, disapprove of the way the Trump administration is handling the Epstein case.

Amid the frustration growing over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, new reporting from The Wall Street Journal alleges President Trump hand-drew a lewd photo of a woman for Epstein's 50th birthday. In response, Trump filed a libel lawsuit, seeking at least $10 billion in damages against the parent company of the newspaper, News Corp, its publisher, Dow Jones; two reporters for the newspaper, News Corp's chief executive, Robert Thomas, and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. Vaughn Hillyard, Kristy Greenberg, and Tara Setmayer join The Weekend to discuss.

Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly fired more than 20 employees from the Department of Justice who worked on cases involving January 6 and President Donald Trump's classified documents case. The DOJ confirmed it opened criminal investigations into two of Trump's repeated targets, former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey. Former DHS Chief of Staff, Miles Taylor and Former Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the FBI, Michael Feinberg join The Weekend to discuss the Trump administration's attempt at going after those who are at odds with the president. Plus, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a press conference Saturday announcing that five other states are in talks to develop similar facilities modeled after Florida's new immigration detention center dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz." Ofirah Yheskel and Brendan Buck join The Weekend to discuss how the DHS is looking to ramp up its immigration policy.

President Donald Trump continues to say his cabinet officials are doing great jobs despite all the havoc they've created. Virginia Rep. Eugene Vindman joins The Weekend to discuss the chaos within the cabinet. Plus, Elon Musk's really bad week. X, formerly known as Twitter, has continued to decline under his leadership after its AI chatbot, Grok, made antisemitic comments. X issued an apology for the posts and an updated version of Grok rolled out a day after the controversy.

As ICE raids continue to surge across the country, new reporting details the infighting inside the department, with one former official describing the morale as “in the crapper.” Another longtime official attributes the lack of detained convicted criminals to Stephen Miller's fixation on arrest numbers. Coincidentally, a new poll shows President Trump's immigration policy is unfavorable among Independents and Democrats. Then, Representative Debbie Dingell joins The Weekend to discuss Trump's health care cuts and how they could impact the midterms. 

Within the walls of the DOJ, there appears to be major unrest as NBC News has learned that Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is considering leaving his job after a heated confrontation with Attorney General Pam Bondi over his frustration with how the Justice Department has handled the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Rep. Jamie Raskin joins The Weekend to talk about that and how the increased politicization of the Justice Department will impact the nation.Plus, Mahmoud Khalil also joins the Weekend to discuss his decision to file a claim against the Trump Administration after alleging he was falsely imprisoned, maliciously prosecuted and smeared as an antisemite as the government sought to deport him because of his role in campus protests. Then Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin tell The Weekend how they've helped bring crime down in their respective cities to the lowest they've seen in decades.

A week after Texas' deadly flooding, questions are mounting on why an emergency alert was not sent to everyone in the affected area. Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez and former FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell join The Weekend to discuss FEMA's response as recovery efforts continue. Plus, Trump combats his “TACO” reputation as he extends the tariff deadline again. Delaware governor Matt Meyer joins The Weekend to discuss how the tariffs are impacting his state.

The Department of Justice's recent Jeffrey Epstein report has left some in the MAGA crowd with more questions than answers. FBI deputy director Dan Bongino is considering leaving his job following a heated confrontation with Attorney General Pam Bondi over how the Justice Department handled files on the convicted sex offender. Mary McCord and Joe Walsh join The Weekend to discuss the fight roiling the MAGA faithful.

While the spending bill aims to cut healthcare and food aid services, ICE is set to receive a historic boost in funding. Representative Robert Garcia joins The Weekend to warn how this increase can turn ICE into President Trump's “federal police force.” Plus, after weeks of condemning the bill, Elon Musk defies MAGA and announces a third political party.

President Donald Trump's tariff pause is set to expire in three days. Not only is the administration far from reaching its 90 deal target, but it has yet to finalize a single trade agreement. Rhode Island Rep. Gabe Amo and Jared Bernstein join The Weekend to discuss the impact President Trump's tariffs will have on the economy. Liz Shuler, President of the AFL-CIO, also joins The Weekend to discuss the organization's cross-country bus tour, aimed at opposing White House priorities that they believe will hurt working Americans. And presidential historian Douglas Brinkley joins to discuss Trump's divisive rhetoric over this July 4th week and the state of our democracy.

Democrats slam President Trump's “One Big Beautiful Bill” and focus on a path forward to win back voters before the midterms. Former Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison joins The Weekend to discuss. Plus, the chilling effects of the Trump administration's military ban on transgender service members. U.S. Major Erica Vandal, one of the plaintiffs who challenged the executive order, joins The Weekend to talk about the impact of the ban.

Congress passed President Trump's budget bill despite weeks of concern raised by Republicans over the debt limit. A closer look suggests the megabill will add $3.3 trillion to the debt while cutting key services. "The Weekend" takes a deeper look at how that will impact low-income Americans. Then, Jodi Grant discusses the Trump administration's decision to withhold nearly $7 billion in school grants.

Critics are calling President Donald Trump's approach to immigration cruel after a new court filing by Kilmar Abrego Garcia's attorneys argued that during Garcia's time at the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador he suffered psychological and physical torture. Also the first detainees have arrived at the Florida detention center dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz." Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones and Immigration Attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg join The Weekend to discuss President Trump's immigration policy.

Some Republicans denounced President Trump's massive tax and spending bill, but eventually caved in and passed it. And now, Democrats are preparing to make this bill a key focus for the 2026 midterms. Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig, Arshi Siddiqui, and Eugene Craig join The Weekend to discuss.