Podcast appearances and mentions of michael mcfaul

The pain of the government shutdown worsens as states sue the administration for emergency funds to prevent a hunger crisis. Then, Trump shakes up leadership at ICE as he demands stepped up deportations and threatens to send more than the National Guard into U.S cities. Plus, the dark side of A-I: what happens when the technology goes rogue. Jeff Mason, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Tim Miller, Tyler Pager, Steven Levy and Michael McFaul join The 11th Hour this Tuesday night. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At a time of “hot wars” across the globe, there's also an ideological “cold war” featuring two foes: those who embrace freedom and those who oppress it. Michael McFaul, the Hoover Institution's Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow and author of the newly released Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, America, Russia and the New Global Disorder, joins GoodFellows regulars John Cochrane and Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster to discuss where he departs from the Trump administration on its approach to Russia and China (one autocracy economically dwarfing the other), his suggestions for course change, and why he holds “guarded” optimism for America's future. After that: John and H.R. go “trick-or-treating”—weighing the pros (“treats”) and cons (“tricks”) of a new White House ballroom, a Chinese military purge, the latest inflation numbers and gold prices that no longer glitter, a CEO's tariff worries, New York City on a non-hallowed eve of “democratic socialism,” plus a new and tougher American citizenship test (could Sir Niall Ferguson pass it?). Finally, as Halloween approaches, John and H.R. give us their go-to candies. Subscribe to GoodFellows for clarity on today's biggest social, economic, and geostrategic shifts — only on GoodFellows.

Gaza has seen its deadliest day since the ceasefire began just over two weeks ago. The Israeli strikes come after Israel accused Hamas of an attack that killed an IDF soldier and allegedly staging the discovery of a deceased hostage. But Hamas says it has "no connection" to the attack and remains  committed to the deal. To discuss, former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas joins Christiane from Tel Aviv.  Also on today's show: Mustafa Barghouti, President, Palestinian National Initiative; journalist/historian Garrett Graff; author Michael McFaul, former US Ambassador to Russia  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tonight on The Last Word: Congress faces a November 1 deadline to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. And Donald Trump is criticized for his relationships with autocrats. Plus, Lawrence shares some of his conversation with Rachel Maddow from the recent MSNBC Live '25 event. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Amb. Michael McFaul join Lawrence O'Donnell. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Former Ambassador to Russia and author of the new book Autocrats vs. Democrats Michael McFaul reminds us that the autocratic world is united while the democratic world is not, and quite frankly, we have to get it together. We're not allowed to just ignore what's happening, or simply give up because it's too hard. If we do that, the consequences will be even worse. We must find our allies, both at home and abroad, and work with them to defeat that which would defeat us. Fantastic insight in this episode. As always, if you find worth in what we do, please consider SUBSCRIBING to PoliticsGirl Premium. You'll get this podcast ad free, along with a bunch of other perks, like the rants directly to your inbox and the knowledge that you're making this kind of highly researched, factual information possible. If that interests you, please go to https://www.politicsgirl.com/premium and subscribe today!! Thank you so much! xoPG   Guest social: https://michaelmcfaul.com/ https://fsi.stanford.edu/people/michael_a_mcfaul https://michaelmcfaul.substack.com Book: Autocrats vs. Democrats https://www.harpercollins.com/products/autocrats-vs-democrats-michael-mcfaul?variant=43731712606242   This episode is sponsored by… https://bubsnaturals.com code: politicsgirl https://jonesroadbeauty.com code: politicsgirl https://AURAframes.com code: politicsgirl https://dupe.com https://quince.com/politicsgirl As always, please RATE and SUBSCRIBE so we can grow the show, open the dialogue, and inspire change moving forward!   All show links here!: ⁠https://linktr.ee/politicsgirl⁠

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.wethefifth.com Michael McFaul, former US ambassador to Russia, has a new book…- The disaster of Russia- Trump's evolving views on Putin (and Nigel's…and Georgia's…)- When McFaul met Putin…in 1991- Was the Maidan uprising an American-sponsored coup?- It's not about NATO- From boring technocrat to a nationalist, imperialist ideologue- What does Putin believe?- Vlad the flat taxer - He's not a Bolshevik- A crook, sure. But an ideological crook- Does no one care about 200,000 dead Russians?- Liberation or surveillance - Elite fatigue in Putin's Russia- The documentary Moynihan mentioned - Mike McFaul, Soviet bootlegger

When Vladimir Putin first rose to power, few expected him to become the world's most confrontational autocrat. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, who has studied and worked with Putin for decades, explains what changed — and why. From paranoia about democracy to the drive to rebuild Russia's sphere of influence, McFaul shows how personal power and national destiny became one and the same. His insights reveal not just who Putin is, but what he wants next.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins Chuck Todd for a sweeping conversation about whether the world is slipping back into a pre–World War II world order marked by isolationism, power struggles, and a fading commitment to democracy. McFaul argues we’ve entered a new era of great power competition, with China offering an alternative world order and America retreating from its role as the global stabilizer. The two discuss how Trump’s “strong vs. weak” worldview reshapes alliances, why autocracy is gaining ideological ground inside the U.S., and what happens when America stops believing in exporting democracy. From the growing unity of the European Union post-Ukraine to Taiwan’s fears of being sold out to Beijing, Todd and McFaul explore whether it will take another crisis to “sober up” American politics. They also debate Trump’s paradoxical legacy — destabilizing allies while showing skill in Middle East negotiations — and what kind of leadership it will take to rebuild collective security and moral credibility in an increasingly unstable world. Timeline: 00:00 Michael McFaul joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 Are we in a similar set of conditions to pre-WW2? 02:00 We’ve entered a new era of great power competition 03:15 In some ways we’re in a cold war, in some way we’re not 04:00 Our economy is highly intertwined with China’s 04:45 America’s isolationism similar to 1930’s 07:00 Was the cold war an outlier period for American & world history? 08:30 Everyone understood the USSR as an adversary during cold war 09:15 America was the great power during cold war, underestimated ourselves 10:15 The “law of the jungle” is returning as the US retreats from the world 12:00 No unity around “small d” Democracy in America, can’t export it 13:15 Trump defines the world by “strong leaders vs. weak leaders” 14:15 Trump’s style of diplomacy works in middle east, not with allies 15:30 China is another hegemon, and offering a different world order 16:30 Autocrats vs Democrats fight is between countries & domestic 17:45 Many Americans now closer to Putin ideologically than Democrats 19:15 Venezuelan activist wins Nobel, her message to Trump was brilliant 20:15 We should have done more to help democracy in Venezuela 23:00 Trump shut down NGOs that promote democracy on world stage 23:45 America needs to run a better pro-democracy campaign worldwide 24:30 America’s security arrangement w/Europe was working well 25:45 Something bad will have to happen to sober up American politics 28:30 There’s a fear of debate in American politics & on campuses 30:15 The importance of debate on college campuses 32:45 The EU has gathered collective strength as America retreats 33:45 Russia invasion of Ukraine + Reelection of Trump recalibrated Europe 35:45 Europe has gained unity and clarity 37:15 Trump deserves credit for trying to end the Russia/Ukraine war 39:00 How will the great power conflict play out in Asia 40:30 We need more alliances and collective security in Asia to counter China 41:15 Taiwan is nervous the US will sell them out to China 42:00 Invasion of Taiwan might be the event to wake up the west 42:45 Trump’s skill set is uniquely suited to negotiations in middle eastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down a week that feels like a case study in America’s democratic backslide. With the government shutdown dragging on and Donald Trump disengaged from any real effort to end it, Republicans in Congress are paralyzed — and Democrats risk losing ground the longer it continues. Chuck examines how Trump’s brand of politics has reshaped the culture, from congressional dysfunction to GOP leaders dodging accountability on everything from Epstein files to free speech hypocrisy. Later, he dives into the Supreme Court’s looming decision on the Voting Rights Act, the ripple effects of potential gerrymandering shifts in the Sun Belt, and the latest shake-ups in Democratic primaries — from Janet Mills’ funding alliances to Florida’s Hector Mujica making AI a centerpiece of his campaign. It’s a snapshot of a democracy under strain — and a politics struggling to evolve. Then, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins Chuck Todd for a sweeping conversation about whether the world is slipping back into a pre–World War II world order marked by isolationism, power struggles, and a fading commitment to democracy. McFaul argues we’ve entered a new era of great power competition, with China offering an alternative world order and America retreating from its role as the global stabilizer. The two discuss how Trump’s “strong vs. weak” worldview reshapes alliances, why autocracy is gaining ideological ground inside the U.S., and what happens when America stops believing in exporting democracy. From the growing unity of the European Union post-Ukraine to Taiwan’s fears of being sold out to Beijing, Todd and McFaul explore whether it will take another crisis to “sober up” American politics. They also debate Trump’s paradoxical legacy — destabilizing allies while showing skill in Middle East negotiations — and what kind of leadership it will take to rebuild collective security and moral credibility in an increasingly unstable world. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:15 It’s strange having an American president that’s not pro-democracy 04:15 The government shutdown non-update update 05:00 Trump is not engaged at all in trying to end the government shutdown 06:45 Prior presidents didn’t engage in foreign trips during shutdowns 08:15 Republicans in congress can’t negotiate without Trump 09:45 The longer the shutdown goes, the more Dems lose what they gained 11:00 Trump received more votes in LA county than 15 states he carried 12:00 Trump is punishing his own voters in blue states/cities 14:30 Mike Johnson’s refusal to convene house gives Epstein theory credence 15:45 Johnson doesn’t want members to have to take vote on Epstein files 17:15 Republicans trying to brand No Kings protests as a “Hate America” rally 17:45 Saying protestors “hate america”…is un-American 19:45 Donald Trump has culturally changed America for the worse 20:30 Release of abhorrent group chat from young Republican leaders 21:30 MAGA argues for “no speech police”, but only for themselves 22:45 Speech should always be free, but speech does carry consequences 24:45 SCOTUS hearing case that could potentially end the Voting Rights Act 25:30 Fears over gerrymandering from SCOTUS ruling may be overblow 26:45 Gerrymandering could create many more swing seats in sun belt 29:15 We don’t yet know whether the ruling will disenfranchise black voters 30:00 DSCC set up joint fundraising committee with Janet Mills in Maine 31:15 UAW has already endorsed Platner over Mills 31:30 Seth Moulton mounts primary challenge against Ed Markey 32:45 Generational vs. Ideological change in Democratic primaries? 33:30 New ads running for VA DA race addressing Jay Jones texts 34:30 Ad highlights Spanberger’s refusal to endorse Jones 37:00 Democrat Hector Mujica enters Florida senate race 38:15 Mujica highlights federal job cuts and AI job displacement in ad 40:15 Mujica is the first candidate to really centralize AI in their pitch 41:45 AI advances might remind people of importance of human connectivity 44:00 Michael McFaul joins the Chuck ToddCast 45:00 Are we in a similar set of conditions to pre-WW2? 46:00 We've entered a new era of great power competition 47:15 In some ways we're in a cold war, in some way we're not 48:00 Our economy is highly intertwined with China's 48:45 America's isolationism similar to 1930's 51:00 Was the cold war an outlier period for American & world history? 52:30 Everyone understood the USSR as an adversary during cold war 53:15 America was the great power during cold war, underestimated ourselves 54:15 The "law of the jungle" is returning as the US retreats from the world 56:00 No unity around "small d" Democracy in America, can't export it 57:15 Trump defines the world by "strong leaders vs. weak leaders" 58:15 Trump's style of diplomacy works in middle east, not with allies 59:30 China is another hegemon, and offering a different world order 1:00:30 Autocrats vs Democrats fight is between countries & domestic 1:01:45 Many Americans now closer to Putin ideologically than Democrats 1:03:15 Venezuelan activist wins Nobel, her message to Trump was brilliant 1:04:15 We should have done more to help democracy in Venezuela 1:07:00 Trump shut down NGOs that promote democracy on world stage 1:07:45 America needs to run a better pro-democracy campaign worldwide 1:08:30 America's security arrangement w/Europe was working well 1:09:45 Something bad will have to happen to sober up American politics 1:12:30 There's a fear of debate in American politics & on campuses 1:14:15 The importance of debate on college campuses 1:16:45 The EU has gathered collective strength as America retreats 1:17:45 Russia invasion of Ukraine + Reelection of Trump recalibrated Europe 1:19:45 Europe has gained unity and clarity 1:21:15 Trump deserves credit for trying to end the Russia/Ukraine war 1:23:00 How will the great power conflict play out in Asia 1:24:30 We need more alliances and collective security in Asia to counter China 1:25:15 Taiwan is nervous the US will sell them out to China 1:26:00 Invasion of Taiwan might be the event to wake up the west 1:26:45 Trump's skill set is uniquely suited to negotiations in middle east 1:28:30 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Michael McFaul 1:29:00 Ask Chuck 1:29:15 How closely does "The Morning Show" reflect an actual newsroom? 1:35:15 Do FCS and Div 2 & 3 programs more accurately rep college football? 1:39:30 Is Greg Abbot sending troops to Chicago to build a national profile? 1:45:00 What podcasts do you regularly listen to? 1:48:15 Why are conservatives attacking Bad Bunny's citizenship when he's American? 1:53:15 College football previewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck breaks down a week that feels like a case study in America’s democratic backslide. With the government shutdown dragging on and Donald Trump disengaged from any real effort to end it, Republicans in Congress are paralyzed — and Democrats risk losing ground the longer it continues. Chuck examines how Trump’s brand of politics has reshaped the culture, from congressional dysfunction to GOP leaders dodging accountability on everything from Epstein files to free speech hypocrisy. Later, he dives into the Supreme Court’s looming decision on the Voting Rights Act, the ripple effects of potential gerrymandering shifts in the Sun Belt, and the latest shake-ups in Democratic primaries — from Janet Mills’ funding alliances to Florida’s Hector Mujica making AI a centerpiece of his campaign. It’s a snapshot of a democracy under strain — and a politics struggling to evolve. Finally, Chuck answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and previews the upcoming weekend in college football. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:45 The government shutdown non-update update 01:30 Trump is not engaged at all in trying to end the government shutdown 03:15 Prior presidents didn't engage in foreign trips during shutdowns 04:45 Republicans in congress can't negotiate without Trump 06:15 The longer the shutdown goes, the more Dems lose what they gained 07:30 Trump received more votes in LA county than 15 states he carried 08:30 Trump is punishing his own voters in blue states/cities 11:00 Mike Johnson's refusal to convene house gives Epstein theory credence 12:15 Johnson doesn't want members to have to take vote on Epstein files 13:45 Republicans trying to brand No Kings protests as a "Hate America" rally 14:15 Saying protestors "hate america"…is un-American 16:15 Donald Trump has culturally changed America for the worse 17:00 Release of abhorrent group chat from young Republican leaders 18:00 MAGA argues for "no speech police", but only for themselves 19:15 Speech should always be free, but speech does carry consequences 21:15 SCOTUS hearing case that could potentially end the Voting Rights Act 22:00 Fears over gerrymandering from SCOTUS ruling may be overblow 23:15 Gerrymandering could create many more swing seats in sun belt 25:45 We don't yet know whether the ruling will disenfranchise black voters 26:30 DSCC set up joint fundraising committee with Janet Mills in Maine 27:45 UAW has already endorsed Platner over Mills 28:00 Seth Moulton mounts primary challenge against Ed Markey 29:15 Generational vs. Ideological change in Democratic primaries? 30:00 New ads running for VA DA race addressing Jay Jones texts 31:00 Ad highlights Spanberger's refusal to endorse Jones 33:30 Democrat Hector Mujica enters Florida senate race 34:45 Mujica highlights federal job cuts and AI job displacement in ad 36:45 Mujica is the first candidate to really centralize AI in their pitch 38:15 AI advances might remind people of importance of human connectivity 40:15 Chuck's thoughts on interview with Michael McFaul 40:45 Ask Chuck 41:00 How closely does "The Morning Show" reflect an actual newsroom? 47:00 Do FCS and Div 2 & 3 programs more accurately rep college football? 51:15 Is Greg Abbot sending troops to Chicago to build a national profile? 56:45 What podcasts do you regularly listen to? 1:00:00 Why are conservatives attacking Bad Bunny's citizenship when he's American? 1:05:00 College football previewSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul became the Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor in International Studies in the Department of Political Science at Stanford University in 1995. He is also the Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Prof. McFaul commends President Trump's efforts to engage Russian President Putin to end the war in Ukraine, but thinks Mr. Trump's approach lacks the necessary pressure and consistency to achieve actual results. He reviews Ukraine's efforts to maintain its independence and sovereignty and outlines how the U.S. should deal with President Putin to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine. Mr. McFaul also talks about his new book, "Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder", which will be published on October 28, 2025. https://www.harpercollins.com/products/autocrats-vs-democrats-michael-mcfaul?variant=43731712606242 https://politicalscience.stanford.edu/people/michael-mcfaul

Max and Maria spoke with Stanford professor and former ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul to talk about his latest book, and where things stand today in U.S.-Russia relations. Pre-order Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder by Michael McFaul (HarperCollins, October 2025) "The Real Meaning of Putin's Middle East Failure: Russia's Allies in the Region Couldn't Count on Moscow — and Neither Should China," by Michael McFaul and Abbas Milani (Foreign Affairs, July 2025) "Putin, Putinism, and the Domestic Determinants of Russian Foreign Policy" by Michael McFaul (International Security, Fall 2020)

Meer as 100 000 Oekraïnse huise was Woensdagaand sonder krag na die jongste Russiese hommeltuig-aanvalle op energie-infrastruktuur. Die Oekraïnse energie-ministerie sê dit is 'n voortsetting van Moskou se beleid om burgerlike infrastruktuur voor die winter te vernietig. Die voormalige Amerikaanse ambassadeur na Rusland, Michael McFaul, het aan Britse media gesê om Rusland se aandag te kry om die oorlog te beëindig, moet die Weste radikale en omvattende sanksies oplê.

John welcomes Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, back to the show to discuss the past week's flurry of diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. McFaul analyzes the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska; the subsequent visit of Volodymyr Zelensky and a phalanx of European leaders to the White House; the signals emanating from Russia that Putin's maximalist war aims remain unchanged; and the grim options facing Zelensky if the spate of summitry, as seems increasingly likely, results in nothing more than a return to the status quo ante. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meet as the fighting continues in Ukraine. Also, the Justice Department rescinds an order to take over the Washington, D.C. police. And Rep. Ro Khanna plans to introduce a bill to repeal tariffs on coffee. Timothy Snyder, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (ret.), Amb. Michael McFaul, Ben Rhodes, Lisa Rubin, and Rep. Ro Khanna join Ali Velshi.

Despite efforts to lower expectations for his big meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump still managed to underperform with nothing to show for the meeting, which was followed by a "press conference" with no details and no questions taken. Jen Psaki is joined by her MSNBC colleague Nicolle Wallace, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, and former deputy national security advisor, Ben Rhodes discuss what happened and what it all means.

Donald Trump's use of federal forces to crack down on residents of Washington, D.C. is not well received. Neither is the crackdown by federal immigration authorities on immigrant school children. Gavin Newsom has presented his counter to Donald Trump's gerrymandering scheme by offering to voters a new district map that would only be triggered if Texas changes their map first. Jen Psaki takes a closer look at the Christian nationalist extremists who have a concerning amount of influence on members of the Trump administration. Michael McFaul offers a preview of Trump's Friday meeting in Alaska with Vladimir Putin. And Alex Jones has lost another court case and it another stop closer to losing all of his business assets to pay for the Sandy Hook Elementary judgment against him.

National guard troops and federal agents arrive in Washington D.C. as part of President Trump's anti-crime push – Attorney General Pam Bondi met with the D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser to lay out Trump's plan. The White House scrambles to make arrangements for Trump and Putin's Alaska summit set to occur this Friday. A new inflation report today has investors celebrating July's better-than-expected numbers, as inflation held steady and grocery and gasoline prices declined. Natasha Korecki, Charlie Sykes, Jeff Mason, David Gura, Ron Insana, Michael McFaul, and Jessica Knurick join The 11th Hour this Tuesday night.

The House Oversight Committee subpoenas the Justice Department for its ‘Epstein files' and demands testimony from several high-profile individuals, including the Clintons. Then, DOJ weighs releasing the audio and transcript from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's interview with Ghislaine Maxwell last month. Plus, Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn asks the FBI to arrest Texas Democrats who fled the state to block the GOP's redistricting plan. Jon Allen, Daniella Diaz, Jeff Mason, Ron Insana, Gillian Tett, Reed Galen, and Michael McFaul join The 11th Hour this Tuesday. 

Tonight on The Last Word: The family of Virginia Giuffre speaks out against a potential Trump pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell. Also, Donald Trump unveils a wave of new tariffs hours before the August 1 trade deadline. Plus, a new Gallup poll shows momentum moving towards Democrats. And Trump escalates a war of words with a top Russian official. Rep. Robert Garcia, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Suzan DelBene, and Amb. Michael McFaul join Jonathan Capehart.

Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia, joins FP Live to assess the Trump administration's shifting policies on Ukraine and how that could impact the ongoing war. McFaul is currently a professor at Stanford University and writes the McFaul's World newsletter. Michael Hirsch: The Enduring Mystery of Trump's Relationship with Russia Luke Coffey: Trump's Ukraine Shift Sends the Right Signal to Putin Christian Caryl: Democracy is Ukraine's Most Powerful Weapon Franz-Stefan Gady: The Air Battle That Could Decide the Russia-Ukraine War Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight on The Last Word: Stocks are down as Donald Trump threatens new tariffs on allies. Also, Trump-GOP Medicaid cuts put rural Georgia hospitals at risk. And Trump turns on Vladimir Putin and calls for the end of the war in Ukraine. Jason Furman, Sen. Jon Ossoff, and Amb. Michael McFaul join Lawrence O'Donnell.

Tonight on The Last Word: Republicans vote for the Trump bill they criticized. Also, The New York Times reports Vladimir Putin is rebuilding his wealth as Donald Trump eases sanctions. And Rep. Hakeem Jeffries says Democrats will “press on” fighting for Americans. Rebecca Cooke, Secy. Kathleen Sebelius, Rep. Ro Khanna, and Amb. Michael McFaul join Ali Velshi.

Tonight on The Last Word: A father of three Marines is beaten and arrested by masked federal agents in California. Also, Democrats demand answers on delayed Iran briefings. Plus, GOP senators are split over Medicaid cuts in the budget bill. And Donald Trump is expected to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the NATO summit. Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Amb. Michael McFaul join Lawrence O'Donnell.

Tonight on The Last Word: Democrats slam Donald Trump and Republicans for their budget bill's Medicaid cuts. Also, the Trump administration complies with the Supreme Court's order and returns Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States. Plus, Trump blames Ukraine for Vladimir Putin's latest deadly strikes. And the motive for Trump's tariffs and trade war remains unclear. Rebecca Cooke, Ben Wikler, Barbara McQuade, Amb. Michael McFaul, and Rep. Madeleine Dean join Ali Velshi.

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump enacts a new travel ban, restricting or limiting nationals from 19 countries. Also, the Congressional Budget Office estimates 16 million people will lose their health insurance under Trump's budget plan. And Ukraine strikes more than 40 bombers inside Russia. Governor Kathy Hochul, Amb. Michael McFaul, and Lt. General Mark Hertling join Lawrence O'Donnell.

Nicolle Wallace on Trump doubling down on tariffs despite pushback, benefits for law firms who stood up to intimidation from the White House, and Ukraine's large scale attack on Russian airbases.Joined by: David Gura, Justin Wolfers, Sarah Longwell, Mitch Landrieu, Marc Elias, Mike Schmidt, Ryan Reilly, John Brennan, Claire McCaskill and Amb. Michael McFaul.

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump condemns Vladimir Putin after Russia strikes Ukraine. Also, Trump attacks judges in a Memorial Day post. Plus, Trump escalates his fight with Harvard University. The Trump trade war undercuts American battery makers. House Republicans pass a bill that would cut Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood. And Trump delays 50% tariffs on EU goods until July 9. Amb. Michael McFaul, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Norm Ornstein, Laurence Tribe, Michigan State Rep. Joe Tate, Rep. Adam Smith, Carrie Baker, and Betsey Stevenson join Lawrence O'Donnell.

Michael McFaul, Obama's Ambassador to Russia, tells Michael Krasny a new cold war is shaping up in a kind of three way with China, Russia and the U.S. as main players. While the geopolitical dynamics are familiar, the stand-off between autocratic regimes and the self actualizing west is different.Grey Matter host Dr. Krasny got specific. How does Trump's tilt toward Russia explain what's going on? What about the Ukrainian mining deal? Is it the key to Ukrainian security?Ambassador McFaul spoke of liberalism and illiberalism and the effect of sanctions on Russia, including those proposed by the Trump administration. He and Dr. Krasny spoke, too, about the present state of the Russian economy, the weaponization of space, nuclear programs – including the giving up of nuclear weapons by Ukraine – and Ukraine being kept out of NATO.In a thought-provoking turn, Michael Krasny inquired into McFaul's long-time rivalry with the late Russian scholar Stephen Cohen. Though a respectful adversary, McFaul detailed how Cohen aligned himself with Putin.Ambassador McFaul provided a historical analysis of Russian attitudes toward NATO and emphasized that Putin's real problem has been democratic expansion. Dr. Krasny brought up Putin's weighted view of World War II and his charge of Ukraine having been Naziified. Ambassador McFaul highlighted the profound historic importance in Russia given to May 9th – the day this podcast episode occurred.Statements by President Trump and Vice President Vance were singled out by Ambassador McFaul as well as mistakes made by the U.S. in the cold war and present mistakes being made with the U.S. toward its allies, with McFaul emphasizing the U.S. need for its allies. Krasny quizzed McFaul on his notion of "hot peace," Trump's tunnel vision of Putin's expansionist ambitions, and President Trump's peremptory shut-down of the U.S. Agency for International Development.A range of topics were covered with Ambassador McFaul talking about the stages of revolution, the need for civil debate, Trump's takeover ambitions for Greenland and European history coming to a stop in 1945 with the advent of the cold war. Dr. Krasny brought up Mutually Assured Destruction and a podcast he did with Mideast peace negotiator Ambassador Dennis Ross who claimed an Iranian nuclear deal may be in the offing.Dr. Krasny went on to ask Ambassador McFaul about the present efficacy of Intelligence agencies and McFaul spoke of surveillance technology versus human intelligence. McFaul wound up defending the reset with Russia during the Barack Obama administration – emphasizing the ways he believed diplomacy ought to be judged. This episode concluded with Dr. Krasny asking deeply committed basketball Warriors fan Ambassador McFaul what he thought the chances were of a series victory for Golden State.A not to be missed conversation with Ambassador Michael McFaul on his sweeping geopolitical world view!

Tonight on The Last Word: Americans sour on Donald Trump's tariffs and his handling of the economy. Also, the Trump tariff chaos upends a Canadian election. Plus, Trump fails to deliver his promised end to Vladimir Putin's war. And Democrats look to campaign on the chaos of Trump's first 100 days in office. Catherine Rampell, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Amb. Michael McFaul, and Rep. Angie Craig join Lawrence O'Donnell.

Melissa Murray – in for Nicolle Wallace – on Trump's falling approval ratings, universities banding together to resist the Trump administration, and Governor JB Pritzker's powerful call to action. Joined by: Sam Stein, Claire McCaskill, David Jolly, Leah Litman, Caleb Silver, Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Susanne Craig, Emily Glazer, Kristy Greenberg, Eddie Glaude, Amb. Michael McFaul, Mallory McMorrow. 

Nicolle Wallace on the political price of Trump's handling of the U.S. economy, the Trump family's increased efforts to profit from cryptocurrency, and dire circumstances in Ukraine as the Trump administration attempts to secure a peace deal.  Joined by: Robert Armstrong, Sarah Longwell, David Gura, David Yaffe-Bellany, Amb. Michael McFaul, Ben Rhodes, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Kevin Baron, and Harry Litman.

Tonight on The Last Word: The Wall Street Journal reports Donald Trump privately acknowledged his tariffs could spark a recession. Also, a federal judge demands updates on the efforts made to return a deported Maryland man. Plus, Democrats seek to keep the momentum against the Trump agenda with the House and Senate in recess. And Trump sends a special envoy to meet with Vladimir Putin in Russia. Robert Reich, Laurence Tribe, Rep. Joe Neguse, Leah Greenberg, and Amb. Michael McFaul join Ali Velshi.

Fears of a recession grow as Trump's ‘Liberation Day' approaches. Then, Elon Musk gave Wisconsin voters million dollar checks ahead of the state's Supreme Court election. And, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson gives his take on Trump's tariff policy and how it could impact farmers in his home state. Susan Glasser, Tyler Pager, Dan Nathan, Catherine Rampell, Michael McFaul, and Asa Hutchinson join The 11th Hour this Monday night. 

A judge says DOGE's gutting of USAID was likely unconstitutional and must be undone, while Chief Justice John Roberts pushes back against Trump's attack on a different judge. Plus, what we know about the limited ceasefire after Putin's phone call with Trump. And, Trump fires the only two Democrats on the FTC. Peter Baker, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Reed Galen, John Harwood, Rohit Chopra, Martin O'Malley, and Michael McFaul join The 11th Hour this Tuesday. 

Tonight on The Last Word: Trump-Musk cuts are creating chaos inside the federal government. Also, Donald Trump invokes the Alien Enemies Act for the fourth time in history. Plus, Democrats issue a warning over possible GOP Medicaid cuts. The Black Lives Matter Plaza is removed amid Trump funding cut threats. And Tulsi Gabbard says Trump and Putin are “very good friends.” David Fahrenthold, Barbara McQuade, Rep. Paul Tonko, and Amb. Michael McFaul join Jonathan Capehart.

MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts The Beat on Tuesday, March 18, covering the return of NASA astronauts to Earth after nine months in space, Donald Trump's ongoing legal battles, and Trump's phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Temidayo Aganga-Willia, Amb. Michael McFaul, Adam Frank and Wayne Hale join.

Nicolle Wallace on Trump's open defiance of a judge's order to stop deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, his baseless claims that Biden's preemptive pardons are invalid, and the concerns expressed by three fired CDC workers over DOGE cuts.Joined by: Mattathias Schwartz; Andrea Flores; Andrew Weissmann; Claire McCaskill; Amb. Michael McFaul; Jacob Soboroff; Mara Gay; Eddie Glaude; David Folkenflik; and Sarah Boim, Abigail Tighe and Stephanie Tran, who were all fired from the CDC during recent DOGE cuts.

Trump's tariffs sink markets for another day, while he promotes Tesla vehicles on the White House lawn. Plus, how will Moscow respond to Ukraine's acceptance of Trump's 30-day ceasefire plan? Also an exclusive interview with PA Senator John Fetterman. He explains how his approach to Donald Trump is different from his fellow Democrats. Jeff Mason, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Michael McFaul, Brian Schwartz, Bharat Ramamurti, John Fetterman, and Charlie Dent join The 11th Hour this Tuesday. 

Nicolle Wallace on the FBI's newfound focus on retribution, a confrontation between Elon Musk and members of Trump's cabinet, and growing concerns over the future of the U.S. economy.  Joined by: Glenn Thrush, Frank Figliuzzi, Kristy Greenberg, Michael Steele, Rev. Al Sharpton, Mitch Landrieu, Steve Rattner, Susanne Craig, Ben Rhodes, and Amb. Michael McFaul.

European leaders met for an emergency summit in London Sunday to shore up support for Ukraine and wrest control of ceasefire talks with Russia. The rushed gathering came on the heels of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's disastrous Oval Office meeting Friday, where he was publicly berated by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance for being ‘disrespectful' and ‘gambling with World War III.' While the Oval Office blowup shocked the Western world, Kremlin officials praised Trump for his 'commonsense' approach to ending the war. Michael McFaul, the former U.S. ambassador to Russia under President Obama, talks about how Trump's actions benefit Russia and leave the U.S. weaker.And in headlines: Israel halted all aid to Gaza as the first phase of the ceasefire expires, Elon Musk and the DOGE bros sent federal workers another email asking them to justify their jobs, and Trump signed an executive order making English the official language of the U.S.Show Notes:Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8Support victims of the fire – votesaveamerica.com/reliefWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

MSNBC's Katie Phang hosts "The Beat" on Friday, February 28, and reports on Donald Trump's chaotic Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump's legal battles, and the Trump administration's handling of the surging Measles outbreak in Texas. John Sipher, Michael McFaul, Dr. Paul Offit, and Michael S. Roth join.

John is joined by Michael McFaul, director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford and former U.S. ambassador to Russia, to discuss Donald Trump's efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. McFaul explains why the rare earth minerals deal between Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky amounts to an act of pure extortion by America against an ostensible ally; how Vladimir Putin views the U.S. siding with Russia at the U.N. and the reopening of diplomatic channels between Washington and Moscow; the depth of Trump's admiration for Putin and disdain for Zelensky; and the clear-eyed if mortified European reaction to all of the above. McFaul also weighs in on whether Team Trump is effectively deep-sixing America's role as the leader of the free world—and whether the U.S. electorate is, in fact, down with that program. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nicolle Wallace on the right-wing podcaster tapped to be deputy FBI director, angry voters voicing their frustration at Republican town halls across the nation, and Trump's sudden firing of the U.S. military's top officer.Joined by Ryan Reilly, Andrew Weissmann, Tim Heaphy, Alexis Loeb, Charlie Sykes, Eddie Glaude, Helene Cooper, Major General Steve Lepper, Amy McGrath, Amb. Michael McFaul, and Simon Shuster.

Chaos and confusion across the federal government as layoffs continue amid mixed messages over the DOGE team's "What did you do last week" email. Then, POTUS meets with Saudi investors who have ties to Trump family businesses. Plus, three years of war in Ukraine and how President Trump has upended America's stance on the conflict. Susan Glasser, David Drucker, Dave Weigel, Ron Insana, Charlotte Howard, Igor Novikov, Michael McFaul, and Michael Steele join The 11th Hour this Monday. 

It's time for our periodic episode on foreign policy, in fact the nick of time, b/c while we've been chiefly focused on the damage Trump has done to domestic constitutional rules, he's been taking as big a sledgehammer to longstanding foreign policy relationships. A superb panel of Anne Applebaum, Michael McFaul, & Stephen Sestanovich breaks it all down and, with special focus on Ukraine, Russia, Europe, & China, details the enormous risks for the country and the world of Trump's abrupt reversals.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump abruptly fires Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman CQ Brown. Plus, Kash Patel is sworn in as Trump's new FBI director. Also, Trump attacks Zelenskyy while praising his talks with Putin. And PA State Rep. Mandy Steele warns against Trump's medical research cuts. Jennifer Rubin, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Michael McFaul also join Ali Velshi.

Nicolle Wallace on Trump's dangerous and warped approach to the war in Ukraine, today's hearing on the DOJ's motion to dismiss charges against Eric Adams, and the administration's targeting of independent agencies.Joined by: Amb. Michael McFaul, Michael Crowley, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Andrew Weissmann, Kristy Greenberg, Mike Schmidt, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Anne Applebaum, Claire McCaskill, Vaughn Hillyard, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett.

MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Tuesday, February 18, and reports on the FDA, Donald Trump's DOJ crisis and immigration. Josh Marshall, April Ryan, Brendan Ballou and Amb. Michael McFaul join.

Nicolle Wallace on the stunning resignation of Manhattan's acting U.S. Attorney after being ordered by the Justice Department to drop the corruption charges against Eric Adams.   Joined by: Mimi Roche, Andrew Weissmann, Chris Hayes, Dr. Ashish Jha, Dr. Kavita Patel, Lisa Rubin, Michael Crowley, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Amb. Michael McFaul, and Alex Wagner.