Podcast appearances and mentions of Michelle Goldberg

June 30, 2026, 6pm: The Supreme Court issued its final decisions for cases argued this term, including rejecting President Trump's executive bid to end birthright citizenship. Plus, new polling from The New York Times shows Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and State Rep. James Talarico tied at 47% in the U.S. Senate race. The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg joins. 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.

June 25, 2026; 6pm: A federal judge has blocked President Trump's executive order restricting mail voting. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on the latest developments and is joined by Columbia Journalism School Dean Jelani Cobb and The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg. Plus, Trump's Iran deal is drawing backlash from the left, center, and right. 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.

June 16, 2026; 6pm; President Trump's ballroom, which he claimed would be paid for by private donations, has already cost taxpayers roughly $300 million. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on the bombshell report from The Washington Post and is joined by political analyst Michelle Goldberg and Dean of the Columbia Journalism School Jelani Cobb. Plus, Melber is joined by Fat Joe to discuss the New York Knicks' historic championship win. 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.

June 10, 2026; 6pm: MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on a bombshell report from The New York Times detailing how the Epstein scandal caused an internal "freakout" at the White House. The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg and Veteran Journalist Vicky Ward join. Plus, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joins to discuss inflation, the midterms and Game 4 of the NBA finals. 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.

PLUS: "everyone" wants Senator Jon Ossoff to run for President.I pulled up a recent video done by the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Ernie Suggs, doing a small tour of MARTA train usage weaving in MARTA's troubled (from the start) history for some context.What frustrates me most about MARTA's issues - and the issues flowing into its stations and trains from the major city it serves - is that Republicans who have almost no footing in the metro area, and particularly not the city itself, show no interest in addressing systemic issues by offering long term solutions. Instead, they lean on "dog whistle" tropes knowing their suburban, exurban and rural voters have backed-in preconceptions about "inner city" violence and "urban" decay.There's nothing new under the sun with this sort of pandering to a mostly white voting block but what doesn't get said enough - in my opinion - is that a) "white flight" led to a lot of usb) at the state level, Republicans take a "hands off" approach to a region of the state they can't gain footing in because they don't see the electoral benefit (gee, wonder why?) whichc) makes them just as (if not more) responsible, in absentia, as any local authorities or elected leaders actually *trying* to effect positive change.Atlanta police chief Darin Schierbaum opines "you can't arrest your way to a safe city" in an op/ed in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. He's right; but that's all Republicans ever offer as "solutions" to crime: bigger police presence as a (temporary) deterrent but never solution(s) to the longer term and system issues that are at the root of crime: a lack of opportunity. - - - -The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg opines that "everyone" wants Georgia's US Senator Jon Ossoff to run for President. Hey, I"m a fan, myself; I've whispered about him being a 2028 dark horse in episodes past, too, but I'm skimming over her op/ed to chew on the notion a bit. The AJC's Patricia Murphy, meanwhile, has a different take: "sorry liberals; Jon Ossoff isn't running for President."- - - - Whew, that 'Meet The Press' sit down was a headscratcher, no? Why's the President holed up in a metal sided building in rural Wisconsin in the midst of severe weather to do a network TV interview, anyway? Oh, and also he's a petulant man-baby who his base entrusts to negotiate with the likes of Iran, China's Xi and Russia's Putin, but is too easily rattled by Kirsten Welker pressing him on unfounded election conspiracies. But the story that caught my attention over the weekend? That the Pentagon has ratcheted up its concerns that Israel is spying on us. The Hegseth-led "Department of War" raised its threat assessment level to the highest level on our ally - Israel - spying on us. - - - -Back to Trump on 'Meet The Press,' and my calling out political media for their two-toned portrayal of monthly jobs numbers from one presidency to the next. Trump is taking victory laps over jobs numbers from May that - under Biden - would've been less feted by national media. Meanwhile, farm bankruptcies are up, affordability is nearing crisis mode for many Americans (Trumps loves inflation, he said) and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins - quizzed by Rep. Eric Sorensen - couldn't be bothered.

May 26, 2026; 6pm; President Trump faces rising prices and plummeting approval ratings. The New York Times' Molly Jong-Fast and Michelle Goldberg join MS NOW's Ari Melber to break down the political and cultural fallout, including Stephen Colbert's final show. Plus, media mogul Tom Freston joins to reflect on launching MTV, the evolution of media consolidation and free speech, and Colbert's legacy as his late-night era comes to a close. 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.

May 7, 2026; 6pm; Donald Trump was confronted about whether he is dangerously pre-occupied with vanity projects and self-glorification at a time of war. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports and is joined by Chai Komanduri, Michelle Goldberg, Joyce Vance and Eugene Robinson. 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.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe-have we met before, or did we just share a zip code?-Iran is a disaster from basically every possible angle-you don't go to war with this president-maybe just crawl back to a worse JCPOA and call it historic-Venezuela “worked,” which is exactly why it made the next disaster easier-take the oil, burn the soft power, call it realism-Europe gets lectured,…

April 15, 2026; 6pm; MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on mounting challenges facing President Trump, from the Iran war to growing backlash within his MAGA base. Reverend Al Sharpton and The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg join. Plus, New York Attorney General Letitia James joins to discuss the verdict against Ticketmaster and Live Nation. 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.

February 16, 2026; 6pm; MSNOW's Ari Melber reports on the Trump DOJ's handling of the Epstein files, as lawmakers criticize the department over a lack of transparency. Former FBI General Counsel Andrew Weissmann and The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg join. Plus, Melber is joined by progressive host Brian Tyler Cohen to discuss his recent interview with former President Barack Obama. 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 the rest of this premium episode by subscribing at patreon.com/knowyourenemy.The shocking execution of Alex Pretti occurred after we recorded our last episode for subscribers about Minneapolis, and so the city and its people have remained in our thoughts in a special way. To help us understand what's happening on the ground there, we talked to our friend Lydia Polgreen, who grew up in Minneapolis and traveled there to report on the situation for the New York Times. Topics include: how Lydia approached her reporting in Minneapolis; the way the resistance and response to ICE/BP has drawn on networks forged during the George Floyd protests; the ordinary Minnesotans acting with bravery and courage; the "civil war" she glimpsed on the streets of Minneapolis; original sin and democracy; and more.Previous episodes referenced: "The Donroe Doctrine" (Jan 26, 2026); "The Killing of Renee Good" (Jan 19, 2026)Sources:Lydia Polgreen, David French, & Michelle Goldberg, "'Noem Needs to Go': Three Columnists on ICE in Minneapolis," New York Times, Jan 26, 2026Lydia Polgreen, "In Minneapolis, I Glimpsed a Civil War," New York Times, Jan 19, 2026— "Trump's One Small Trick to Destroy American Democracy," New York Times, Jan 9, 2026Garry Wills, The Second Civil War: Arming for Armageddon (1968)Emily Witt, "The Battle for Minneapolis," The New Yorker, Jan 25, 2026

Shuffling under the mortal coil this week (aka hosting the Gabfest), it's our OG players Steve, Dana, and Julia. Like a morose Danish prince contemplating a human skull, they gaze upon the Oscar nominated Hamnet, based on the novel by Maggie O'Farrell inspired by William Shakespeare's life. Directed by Chloé Zhao and starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, Hamnet has brought some critics to tears and left others cold. Our hosts share where they landed.Next, they boot up the Netflix content machine to view The Rip, a new cop caper reuniting Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Do the boys from Boston (illogically playing Miami cops) make good again? Finally, they welcome New Yorker writer Clare Malone to discuss her recent profile of the deeply polarizing, newly-appointed head of CBS News Bari Weiss. In a special add-on, Isaac Butler leaves a voice memo to share his vituperative take on Hamnet—as outlined in a recent Slate piece. The Hamnet discourse continues in a bonus episode exclusively for Slate Plus subscribers wherein the gang unpacks the film's ending. Is the play indeed the thing?EndorsementsDana: The book Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell especially the audiobook version read by Jessie Buckley.Julia: The hilarious video of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck with Jimmy Fallon naming all the towns in Massachusetts on The Tonight Show, the sober, intelligent New York Times opinion round table between Lydia Polgreen, David French, and Michelle Goldberg about ICE raids in Minneapolis and the killing of Alex Pretti, and the still deeply timely film I'm Still Here.Steve: The film Sentimental Value and the double album Sing the Children Over & Sand In My Shoe by the singer/songwriter Kath Bloom as well as the Kath Bloom cover “Come Here” by the band The Concretes.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shuffling under the mortal coil this week (aka hosting the Gabfest), it's our OG players Steve, Dana, and Julia. Like a morose Danish prince contemplating a human skull, they gaze upon the Oscar nominated Hamnet, based on the novel by Maggie O'Farrell inspired by William Shakespeare's life. Directed by Chloé Zhao and starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, Hamnet has brought some critics to tears and left others cold. Our hosts share where they landed.Next, they boot up the Netflix content machine to view The Rip, a new cop caper reuniting Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Do the boys from Boston (illogically playing Miami cops) make good again? Finally, they welcome New Yorker writer Clare Malone to discuss her recent profile of the deeply polarizing, newly-appointed head of CBS News Bari Weiss. In a special add-on, Isaac Butler leaves a voice memo to share his vituperative take on Hamnet—as outlined in a recent Slate piece. The Hamnet discourse continues in a bonus episode exclusively for Slate Plus subscribers wherein the gang unpacks the film's ending. Is the play indeed the thing?EndorsementsDana: The book Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell especially the audiobook version read by Jessie Buckley.Julia: The hilarious video of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck with Jimmy Fallon naming all the towns in Massachusetts on The Tonight Show, the sober, intelligent New York Times opinion round table between Lydia Polgreen, David French, and Michelle Goldberg about ICE raids in Minneapolis and the killing of Alex Pretti, and the still deeply timely film I'm Still Here.Steve: The film Sentimental Value and the double album Sing the Children Over & Sand In My Shoe by the singer/songwriter Kath Bloom as well as the Kath Bloom cover “Come Here” by the band The Concretes.--Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com. Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michelle Goldberg is an author and award-winning NY Times opinion columnist. Her first book, “Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism,” was a finalist for the Helen Bernstein Award for Excellence in Journalism. After that, she wrote “The Means of Reproduction: Sex, Power and the Future of the World,” a book about global battles over gender and reproductive rights. And then in a departure from politics she then wrote “The Goddess Pose,” a book about wellness culture and the long Western fascination with Eastern spirituality. She is a contributor at MSNOW, and her work has appeared in publications including The New Yorker, The New Republic, The Nation and many others. Michelle and I discuss Trump, Noem, Homan, Bovino, DHS and the Minneapolis murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti; the Democrats' Texas US Senate primary showdown between Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State House Rep. James Talarico; and why the right is so damn furious with liberal white 'wine moms'. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dear Mr. Baker,I am but one in a sea of many Americans viewed as a threat to the established order. I was once a part of that order. I helped build it. It would turn out I couldn't survive because I couldn't follow the rules of thought and speech that are mandated by everyone on the Left, especially those at the New York Times.It's personal, you see. I used to believe that if all I did was read Page One of the New York Times, I'd be well-informed. Brainwashed is more like it.It's easy to spot the bias now where it wasn't before. For instance, this was the New York Times on January 12th, and one of the strongest activists for the Democrats pretending they're pushing some sort of objective conclusion on X.But that's just another day at the New York Times. I know you didn't write this piece, Michelle Goldberg did, but it is worth mentioning as an aside that no, the “resistance libs” were not right. They were never right. I was one of them until I wasn't. It's been an ugly road out of the Doomsday Cult of the Left, but now, I live free as an exile.We were never the “resistance.” We were always the empire. We colonized the internet, after all, and, together with Barack Obama, the rise of Silicon Valley, social media, and the iPhone, as society migrated online, we were in control of all of it.But that's a story for a different time, Mr. Baker. This letter is much more urgent regarding the matters at hand. Your “analysis” and observation about Trump and protests is so wildly off base, a complete distortion of reality, that I felt compelled to write you this letter. You wrote:You write:President Trump had a ringing message of solidarity on Tuesday for demonstrators in the streets. “KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” he wrote on social media. He decried “the senseless killing of protesters,” and added that those pulling the triggers “will pay a big price.”He meant the protesters in Tehran, not Minneapolis. By contrast, the people in the streets of Minnesota, he wrote just 63 minutes earlier, were “anarchists and professional agitators” trying to cover up a fraud scandal. He vowed that “THE DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING!”The eruption of protests on opposite sides of the planet at this moment in history has brought Mr. Trump's views of democracy and popular dissent into stark relief. The situations in Iran and Minnesota, of course, are different and complicated, but the president's rule of thumb seems simple enough: Those who take to the streets supporting a cause he favors are laudable heroes. Those who take to the streets to oppose him are illegitimate radicals.I read this, and my jaw dropped open, Mr. Baker. Where have you been for the past five years as we watched a split screen of protests in the Summer of 2020 and then on January 6th? Are you actually saying that you at the New York Times and anyone on the Left saw these things as comparable? Democracy and popular dissent in stark relief, boy, I couldn't have said it better myself.Tell me this is satire. Tell me you do not live in such an isolated bubble that you can't possibly see the blatant hypocrisy here? The treatment of these two events was very different and will be written about in opposite ways in history books forever. One will be seen as heroic and democracy in action, and the other, as dangerous. An insurrection in action. People like me were pulling our hair out, not because we would justify the riot at the Capitol, but because all of you said nothing about what happened in the Summer of 2020, a year that broke America and broke me.It wasn't only your paper that lied that Trump “incited” a mob to storm the Capitol and that it was a threat to “democracy.” That was the narrative pushed by every legacy media outlet, with no kind words for the protesters who were also doing what protesters do - getting angry and having their voices heard by a government and a culture that had demonized them, dehumanized them, and abandoned them. Trump included.The Democrats put up a Green-Zone-like fence around the Capitol. Ordinary Americans had their doors kicked in as the FBI hauled them off to jail. Anyone who even attended the “mostly peaceful” protest on January 6th was called an “insurrectionist” and “election denier,” and anyone who dared to question the 2020 election or who voted for Trump was inspected under a microscope by you all as some kind of insect or insurgent terrorist. Vice President Kamala Harris likened it to 9/11 and the attack on Pearl Harbor. These were American citizens, many of whom had been on lockdown, their businesses destroyed after COVID, and had watched the absurd events of 2020 play out. Masks, no masks, “systemic racism was more urgent than COVID,” then the pivot back to COVID, changing election rules, preventing people from gathering and thus, preventing campaigning, a surge of mail-in voting that won the election all before Election Day, a revolution in the streets that almost no one in the mainstream was even talking about once they got really bad, lest they hurt the Democrats.Oh, I know the game. I know we're all supposed to see the Trump supporters as racists, angry that Black and Brown people were in government, a second Confederacy flying their Dixie flags on January 6th, and that the protests over the Summer were about racial inequality and therefore justified. But here's the thing about democracy. You don't get to decide. We either all have the same rights or we don't have a democracy.There was nothing in your coverage, or the Liz Cheney show trial, that was, in any way, fair to the Americans who protested that day, and even to Donald Trump, who had a right to have their voices heard. No, they didn't have the right to riot. Ashli Babbitt lost her life over it, and then her memory was dragged through the mud by all of you.Here is how the Times covered Ashli Babbitt:And here is how they covered Renee Good:You see, one is treated like human garbage, and the other is treated like a hero. So just say it. Just admit that this has become a two-tiered society, you are among the ruling class, and the underclass has none of the same rights. You will decide they are “racists” and thus have no real stake in what happens in this country, even when they win the popular vote. Now that the protests in Minneapolis are violent, as violent as, if not more so than, January 6th, still you say nothing and pretend they are fighting the good fight. What has changed in ten years? Nothing except the Democrats failing to address the problem, allowing millions to flood over the border, and shaming Americans for caring about it. It's a sickness on the Left by now, a reality distortion that spilled out into real-world violence. Just look at what happened at Evergreen College. These students believed they were protesting “racism” at one of the most liberal colleges in America. Why? Because Bret Weinstein did not think it was right that white people should be asked to leave the campus on a “day of absence.”This kind of strange, new, justified violence by people who don't live in the same reality as the rest of us has become the new normal on the Left, backed up by all of you. How dare you compare them to the protesters in Iran? Complicated, you say? Oh, it's way beyond that. Pampered, privileged, bored white women and bratty college kids attacking ICE are, in no way, risking their lives. Yes, if you attack a police officer or an ICE officer, you are risking your life. Every American knows that if they live in the real world. In Iran, you are risking your life just for standing there and protesting peacefully, or speaking out of turn, or anything they decide is a crime punishable by death, which include adultry, dissent against the government, and blasphemy. At the New York Times, you want the tragic death of Renee Good to be the symbol for protesters dying at the hands of the regime, but, as usual, it is not the truth. That won't stop you from perpetuating the mass delusion and injecting it into the veins of your already unhinged readership.Here is Page One of the New York Times today. Every headline is about Renee Good. That is still the most important news of the day, even as hundreds, maybe thousands of Iranians are slaughtered.Followed by non-stop negative Trump coverage:The protests in Minneapolis are not against ICE. They are against democracy. The wrong people won the election, and that means the Left throws a fit. They've been throwing fits for ten years, starting in 2015 when they attacked a group of Trump supporters in California, calling them “racists,” because all of you sold them that lie. The violence continued on through Trump's inaugural and protests all through his first term. The Summer of 2020 was the biggest by far in modern American history, yet the legacy media, your paper, Mr. Baker, did not capture the truth of what happened. The baby tyrants who run your newsroom insisted the one op-ed by Tom Cotton, Send in the Troops, was itself violence and that caused the resignation of Bari Weiss and James Bennett, a shamefulprotst moment that should live on in infamy if people tell the truth. The Left's protesting now says one thing: Do what we want, or else. That is, Mr. Baker, closer to fascism than Trump will ever be. // This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sashastone.com/subscribe

Michelle Goldberg warns that the modern Republican Party is slipping into open, unapologetic misogyny, and even Republican congresswomen are starting to say the quiet part out loud. They're learning there's a brutal difference between being useful to powerful men and being respected as an equal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

December 19, 2025; 6pm; The Department of Justice has released some of the Epstein files. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports and is joined by former federal prosecutor John Flannery. Plus, Congressman Stephen Lynch and The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg join. 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.

December 12, 2025; 6pm; House Democrats releasing numerous photos of Jeffrey Epstein with prominent individuals including Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Steve Bannon and Bill Clinton, ahead of the December 19 deadline for DOJ to release its Epstein files. MS NOW's Ari Melber reports and is joined by Molly Jong-Fast, Michelle Goldberg, and 50 Cent. 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.

November 19, 2025; 6pm: MS NOW's Ari Melber hosts The Beat and reports on Congress passing legislation to force the DOJ to release its Epstein files. The legislation now awaits Trump's signature. Plus, new reporting on ties between former Trump advisor Steve Bannon and Epstein. Michelle Goldberg, Michael Hirschorn, and Andrew Weissmann join. 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.

November 12, 2025; 6pm: MSNBC's Ari Melber reports on damning emails that allege President Trump knew of Jeffrey Epstein's conduct. The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg and renowned civil rights attorney Nancy Erika Smith join to discuss. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 7, 2025; 6pm: Polling shows that affordability and economic anxiety drove the GOP losses as millions of Americans are going to food banks unable to access their SNAP benefits, MSNBC's Ari Melber reports. New York Times' Michelle Goldberg, Emily Bazelon, and MSNBC's Jason Johnson join. Plus, hundreds of flights have been CANCELED and even more delayed as the shutdown triggers reductions in airspace capacity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ghost dives headfirst into the chaos of October 7th's second anniversary, breaking down the media's narrative war over Charlie Kirk's death, the Zionist influence inside conservative circles, and the growing schism between Israel's defenders and the MAGA movement. He dissects Michelle Goldberg's New York Times hit piece, Candace Owens' leaked messages, and Megyn Kelly's sanitized take on “trusting the right people.” From Tucker Carlson's blunt truths to Netanyahu's veiled threats toward Mar-a-Lago, Ghost traces how propaganda and geopolitics collide across the world stage. Shifting gears, he unpacks Trump's escalating “act of kindness” strikes on Venezuelan drug boats, General Flynn and Cash Patel's rhetoric about regime change, and the deeper economic game behind oil reserves and cartel control. As always, Ghost ties it all together with sharp insight, humor, and unapologetic truth-seeking, reminding listeners that finding truth means questioning everyone, especially your own side.

October 1 2025; 6pm: On day one of the government shutdown, President Donald Trump is exerting presidential pressure, targeting blue states in what Democrats claim is an abuse of power. MSNBC's Melissa Murray reports, and is joined by The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg, Vanity Fair's Molly Jong-Fast and Congressman Brendan Boyle. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight, Donald Trump's plan is not working – big flashing warning signs for the Trump economy and what it means for you. Then, is the United States preparing for war on Venezuela? Plus, is the President trying to slink away from RFK after yesterday's Senate hearing?Guests: Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, Helene Cooper, CO Gov. Jared Polis, Michelle Goldberg, Jennifer Welch To listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

August 21, 2025; 6pm: Democrats are punching back against what they call a Trump-fueled "power grab" to undermine American Democracy, as many experts warn that Trump, who has already tried to over-throw an election, is trying to game the system. Plus, MSNBC's Ari Melber reports on the Trump DOJ's deadline to start sharing the Epstein files with Congress. The NYT's Michelle Goldberg, California Assembly Member Buffy Wicks and other expert guests join to discuss the latest developments.

August 11, 2025, 4pm: As the scandal over the unreleased Epstein files continues to unfold, the Trump administration contradicts themselves: is there nothing in the files, as the president claims, or are they really being withheld to protect Democratic politicians, as his VP said? Nicolle discusses with Andrew Weissmann, Michelle Goldberg and more. The panel also covers Trump's power grab of Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department.

MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts “The Beat” on Monday, August 4, and reports on brand new letters from Epstein victims, federal officials confirming they've launched an investigation into Jack Smith, over 50 Texas Democrats leaving their home state to derail a MAGA power grab and new fallout over Trump's abuse of government power. Michelle Goldberg, Ken Casey and Andrew Weissmann join.

MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Monday, July 28, with reporting on the all-consuming Jeffrey Epstein scandal engulfing the Trump administration, a New York Times report on Hegseth clashing with top generals, growing turmoil inside Trump's Justice Department and a major media merger raising alarms among free speech experts. Anna Gomez, Ankush Khardori, Mark Leibovich and Michelle Goldberg join.

MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts "The Beat" on Friday, July 11, and reports on the MAGA civil war over the Epstein files that is igniting a clash inside Trump's DOJ, NYC's Zohran Mamdani and the latest on President Trump's controversial deportation policies. Paul Krugman, Richard Farley, Faiz Shakir, Michelle Goldberg and Alencia Johnson join.

Guests: Rep. Joe Neguse, Faiz Shakir, Tim Miller, Sherrilyn Ifill, Michelle Goldberg, Patrick Gaspard Republicans force their terrible bill through the Senate and now it's back to the House. Tonight: Congressman Joe Neguse on the Republican plan to gut healthcare for millions. Then, the worst person you know (Elon Musk) makes a great point as Donald Trump threatens to kick him out of the country. Plus, what Zohran Mamdani's unprecedented victory in New York means for the future of the Democrats.   Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

In this powerful episode of The Puck, Jim Baer sits down with Michelle Goldberg—New York Times columnist, author, and longtime voice of progressive political commentary—for a deep and timely conversation. They explore how the Trump era reshaped institutional norms, the growing influence of conspiracy thinking, and the failures of both political parties to inspire and govern effectively. From Goldberg's early activism to her critiques of Gavin Newsom's media strategy, this discussion pulls no punches. They dive into the crisis of civic trust, the role of the media and social platforms in fueling division, and what it might take to inspire a new generation of political leadership. Whether you're left, right, or somewhere in between, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking clarity in a chaotic time.

Guests: Harry Litman, Ben Rhodes, Michelle Goldberg, Claire McCaskill, Alex WagnerThe escalating battle between Trump and the rule of law. Tonight: the sheer lawlessness of Trump's illegal deportations—and refusal to bring a Maryland father home to his family. Then, the great American "tourism crash" as the Secretary of State warns "visiting America is not an entitlement.” Plus, Alex Wagner on the alarm bells going off around Social Security offices.  Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

Guests: Jess McIntosh, Michelle Goldberg, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, Melissa Murray, Ben RhodesThe man who bought the presidency arrives at the Pentagon for a personal briefing. Tonight: new concerns over Elon Musk's control of the government. Then, new reporting on the dozens of Social Security offices across the country being closed as Trump's Commerce Secretary floats a shocking scenario. Then, the latest smackdown for the Trump administration from a federal judge. And Ben Rhodes on why he sees an opportunity for Democrats in the age of Trump.  Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

MSNBC's Katie Phang hosts "The Beat" on March 14, and reports on Donald Trump's speech at The Department of Justice and the economy. Alexis Loeb, Berit Berger, Robert Reich, Michelle Goldberg, Dr. Kavita Patel and Christina Todd Whitman join.

In this episode of "The Opinions," Michelle Goldberg and Frank Bruni join Patrick Healy to discuss what has defined Trump's presidency thus far. This episode originally aired in "The Opinions" feed on Mar. 12.For more episodes like this, follow "The Opinions" wherever you get your podcasts.(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)  Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Guests: Cass Sunstein, Alencia Johnson, Michelle Goldberg, Dr. Peter Hotez, Gov. Andy BeshearThe unlawful Musk coup on full display as he leads the first cabinet meeting. Tonight: the lawless takeover of the federal government while Musk enriches himself at the expense of all of us. Then: America's first measles death in a decade—with an anti-vaxxer in charge of the nation's health. Plus: Kentucky's Governor on the Republican plan to gut Medicaid. And the growing backlash to the MAGA contempt for workers.   Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

Guests: Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Michelle Goldberg, Skye Pennyman, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Ro KhannaA fumble from Democrats—and a boon for Donald Trump. How today's TikTok decision is a lay-up for the incoming president and his posse of oligarchs. Then, as the inauguration moves inside, what Trump has planned for his first day as president. Plus, new reporting on RFK Jr and his attempt to ban the Covid vaccine. And the politicization of devastating wildfires with outright lies from Republicans. Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

The mailbag episode is here! Thanks to all who sent questions, and apologies to those who didn't get answers. We hoped to get through more, but brevity isn't our strong suit and we ran out of time. But the answers we DID deliver are choice, in our opinion.We touch on:* Ezra Klein's terribly wrong ideas about the political impact of blue-state and blue-city misgovernance;* What Donald Trump's attempt at an unconstitutional third term will look like IF he tries;* How Biden could go out with a bang, even without relying on presidential immunity (but probably won't);* Matt's candid thoughts about Pod Save America (as Brian demurs).This episode is free to all, a small token of gratitude to all of our subscribers this holiday season for making this podcast possible. We'll do more of these in the coming year, and if you want your questions answered (or at least included in a lengthy Google document that we might not get through in the allotted time) you know what to do: Further reading:* Brian offers a new, important reason people should reset their relationships with social media. * Michelle Goldberg on this great capitulation.* Greg Sargent discusses the challenges of rebuilding in this climate with Ben and other DNC candidates, Ken Martin, and Martin O'Malley. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politix.fm/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.politix.fmThe mailbag episode will have to wait, but for good reason! An opportunity arose for us to interview Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair (and DNC chair candidate) Ben Wikler. So we jumped on it—and warmly extend an invitation to other DNC chair candidates to join us in the new year.In this episode, Matt and Brian ask Ben:* What he thinks happened in the election, and whether the lessons are actionable for a DNC chairman;* What does the DNC and its chairman actually do;* How to tell a good, effective political operative from placeholders and check cashers;* If he's prepared the dirty tricks and abuses of power that Donald Trump might direct at Democratic Party leaders, including him.Then, behind the paywall, a lengthy exploration of and primal scream about Nancy Pelosi's decision to whip votes against Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, blocking her from becoming the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, in favor of 74-year old, cancer-stricken Gerry Connolly. Why would AOC have been a better opposition leader on this committee? What does the episode portend for Democratic infighting and grand strategery going forward? And most importantly, wtf was Pelosi thinking?!All that, plus the full Politix archive are available to paid subscribers—just upgrade your subscription and pipe full episodes directly to your favorite podcast app via your own private feed. Further reading:* Brian argues that reprising the strategy that just lost Democrats the election (including sidelining more dynamic messengers) makes capitulating to Trump the path of least resistance for other people and institutions. * Michelle Goldberg on this great capitulation.* Greg Sargent discusses the challenges of rebuilding in this climate with Ben and other DNC candidates, Ken Martin, and Martin O'Malley.

Despite making a promise of lowering prices an inflation a central part of his presidential campaign, and admitting that that promise was key to his being elected, Donald Trump is now waffling on whether that's even possible. Michelle Goldberg, columnist for the New York Times, and Faiz Shakir, founder and executive director of More Perfect Union, talk with Alex Wagner about Trump's walk back and what his post-election rhetoric suggests about his actual economic priorities.

MSNBC's Ari Melber hosts The Beat on Tuesday, December 10th, and reports on Rupert Murdoch's loss in his bid to alter the family trust, as well as wealth inequality and excess in America. Gretchen Carlson, Michelle Goldberg and Jay McInerney join.

Guests: Jasmine Crockett, Michelle Goldberg, Brendan Buck, Justin Higgins, Dana NesselAs the world braces for the Trump tariffs, a look at the last time a country fooled around and found out. Then, another Democratic victory in the House as the Republican majority shrinks to a ninety-year low. Plus, the manifest unfitness of Trump's choice to head the Pentagon. And the disdain Trump shows for survivors of sexual assault with his cabinet picks. Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

Guests: Franklin Foer, Rebecca Traister, Lisa Rubin, Michelle Goldberg, Heather McGheeThe new co-president elect takes an important phone call. Tonight: the unique danger of a government run by billionaires. Then, as RFK Jr. gets ready for his big job, is the Trump administration coming for your Doritos? Plus, today's news on the Jack Smith case and the New York sentencing of the president-elect. And after a massive response from American women in 2016, what to expect after a second Trump victory. Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

Guests: Susan Glasser, Jon Favreau, Sherrilyn Ifill, Jen Psaki, Michelle Goldberg, Jess McIntoshDonald Trump's chief of staff says his former boss praised Adolf Hitler. Tonight: The chorus of warnings over Donald Trump, the Republican excuses for praising Hitler, and how the Harris campaign is responding. Plus, Sherrilyn Ifill on Trump's threat to the rule of law, Jen Psaki on the antidote for anxiety 13 days out, and the massive campaign issue Republicans are trying to wish away.    Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

Guests: Neal Katyal, Marc Elias, Michelle Goldberg, Faiz Shakir, David RemnickTonight: the Republican nominee's most consequential lie—and how people who know better are helping him get away with it. Then, 19 days out, Marc Elias on the lawsuit to disenfranchise voters in Michigan. And today's major breaking news out of Gaza, David Remnick on the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.   Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

When Democrats coalesced around Kamala Harris this summer, they set their differences aside in the interest of preventing a second Trump presidency. But at what cost?On this episode, Lydia is joined by her fellow Opinion columnists Jamelle Bouie and Michelle Goldberg to discuss whether this temporary unity is good or bad for the future of the Democratic Party.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:“Poll Finds Harris Rising as She Challenges Trump on Change” by Adam Nagourney, Ruth Igielnik and Camille Baker“Kamala Harris and Tim Walz: More From Their ‘60 Minutes' Interviews” by Brit McCandless FarmerVice President Kamala Harris's interview on “The View”“Silicon Valley, the New Lobbying Monster” by Charles Duhigg in the New YorkerThoughts about the show? Email us at matterofopinion@nytimes.com or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Guests: Maria Hinojosa, Fernand Amandi, Michelle Goldberg, Margaret Talev, Mike Hixenbaugh, Eric LiptonKamala Harris visits the southern border and outlines her approach to immigration. Plus, it turns out Donald Trump's own running mate thinks Donald Trump's presidency was a failure. Tonight: the stunning revelation ahead of what may be the last debate before Election Day. Then, there was a time in presidential campaign history when candidates would actively avoid extremists who believe in things like the occult and witchcraft. But JD Vance is putting an end to that time. And new reporting on a foreign influence campaign that would make Eric Adams blush.  Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

This week on the show, Michelle Goldberg joins Michelle  and Ross to debate the gambles or gains Kamala Harris has made by picking  Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota as her running mate. They also discuss the ways the Trump-Vance ticket could recalibrate to regain their lead. Plus, Goldberg is sunny on a new show you probably haven't heard of.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Recommended in this episode:Don't Listen to the Right. The Kamalanomenon Is Real. by Michelle GoldbergThe Focus Group Podcast episode “Kamala Needs a DEI Pick (Straight White Dude)” with Sarah LongwellSunny from Apple TV+Thoughts about the show? Email us at matterofopinion@nytimes.com or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.

Chris Hayes is joined by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Gov. Roy Cooper, Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, former Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, Michelle Goldberg, and Heather McGhee to discuss Kamala Harris' pick for vice president: Tim Walz. Want more of Chris? Download and subscribe to his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.

Vice President Kamala Harris has gone from being one of President Biden's many problems to the hope of the Democratic Party. This week Ross, Lydia and Carlos dissect the seismic campaign vibe shift in both parties. Plus, Ross criticizes another self-indulgent addition to the modern era's Western canon.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)Mentioned in this episode:Ross Douthat, David French, Michelle Goldberg, and Lydia Polgreen: Is It a Mistake for Democrats to Go All In on Harris? Four Columnists on the Party's Moves.Harris's Michigan event on abortionHarris's first presidential rally in Milwaukee speechThoughts about the show? Email us at matterofopinion@nytimes.com or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.