The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

Tonight on The Last Word: A federal appeals court deals a huge blow to Donald Trump on tariffs. Also, Trump is blasted for his “illegal” tactic to cut foreign aid. Plus, Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff refuses to blame Russia as the aggressor against Ukraine. And Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst won’t seek reelection in 2026. Laurence Tribe, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Norm Ornstein, David Rothkopf, Iowa State Rep. Josh Turek, and Ben Wikler join Ali Velshi.

Tonight on The Last Word: Sen. Angela Alsobrooks calls on RFK Jr. to resign. Also, former CDC Director Susan Monarez is fired after refusing to sign off on vaccine changes. Plus, Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook sues Donald Trump over his effort to fire her. And a whistleblower complaint alleges DOGE copied Social Security data to an unsecured server. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, Dr. Nirav Shah, Andrew Weissmann, Gene Sperling, and Martin O’Malley join Ali Velshi.

Tonight on The Last Word: RFK Jr.’s anti-science policy triggers CDC resignations. Also, two children are dead and 17 people are injured in a mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school. Plus, a Trump-appointed federal judge excoriates the Trump Justice Department in a scathing new ruling. And an Iowa Democrat flips a long-held GOP state Senate seat. Dr. Ashish Jha, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Maxwell Frost, J. Michael Luttig, and Iowa state Senator-elect Catelin Drey join Ali Velshi.

Tonight on The Last Word: A recent poll finds 37 percent of Americans approve of Donald Trump’s economy. Also, Trump is accused of using the Justice Department to target his foes. Plus, Ohio is set to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. And Israeli strikes on a Gaza hospital kill five journalists. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Michael Hiltzik, Rep. Emilia Sykes, and Noga Tarnopolsky join Ali Velshi.

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump threatens to send troops to more Democratic-led cities. Also, a federal judge blocks the Justice Department from deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia. And the House Oversight Committee issues a subpoena for the Epstein birthday book. Radley Balko, Jason Stanley, Gene Sperling, Andrew Weissmann, Garrett Gaff, and Rep. Robert Garcia join Ali Velshi.

Tonight on The Last Word, the House Oversight Committee has received 33,000 pages of the Epstein files. Plus, Trump’s Justice Department also released audio of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s July interview with Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. And the FBI searches the home and office of ex-Trump aide John Bolton.

Tonight on the Last Word, Democrats move to counter Republican gerrymandering and Trump’s redistricting plot. Plus Black and Hispanic Texas voters are at risk of losing representation as that state advances a gerrymandered congressional map. And Trump sends VP Vance out to sell his increasingly unpopular economic policy and budget bill - that and more with Leah Litman, Rep. Gwen Moore, Jennifer Rubin, Andrew Weissmann and Jason Stanley.

Tonight on The Last Word: The DOJ is set to begin releasing Epstein files to Congress on Friday. Plus a Judge calls out Trump’s DOJ’s “Diversion on the Epstien case.” And Trump has the attorney general he’s always wanted - that and more with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, and Yale Business Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld.

Tonight on The Last Word: Oversight Cmte. Dem Rep. Garica says fmr. Trump AG Bill Barr says the DOJ can release the Epstein files now. Also, the Justice Department is investigating NY Atty. Gen. Letitia James, who previously prosecuted the Trump Org. Plus, Sherrod Brown is running in the Ohio special election to fill the remainder of JD Vance’s term in the Senate. And Donald Trump’s economic failures are costing Americans. Rep. Robert Garcia, Andrew Weissmann, and former Sen. Sherrod Brown join Lawrence O’Donnell.

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump backs away from his demand for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Also, the House Oversight Committee questions former Attorney General Barr about the Jeffrey Epstein case. And coffee prices are up because of Trump’s tariffs. Rep. Adam Smith, Rep. Robert Garcia, and Rep. Ro Khanna join Lawrence O’Donnell.

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.

Tonight on The Last Word: California Gov. Gavin Newsom fights back against the Texas redistricting scheme. Also, AARP finds 96 percent of voters say social security is “important.” Plus, Donald Trump breaks his “day one” vow to lower costs as prices rise since his election win. Trump deflects again from his failed campaign promise to end the Ukraine war in 24 hours. And ethics questions are raised over Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s assets. Rep. Eric Swalwell, Sen. Ed Markey, Jared Bernstein, David Rothkopf, and Alan Rappeport join Lawrence O’Donnell.

Tonight on The Last Word: Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee question the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Prisons on Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer. Also, Donald Trump refers to Saint Petersburg by its Soviet-era name. And The New Yorker reports the Trump family has made an estimated $3.4 billion off his presidency so far. Rep. Jamie Raskin, Amb. Wendy Sherman, and David Kirkpatrick join Lawrence O’Donnell.

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump is trying to distract from the Epstein scandal. Also, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse says Trump’s Justice Department “doesn’t care about truth or law.” And Trump lashes out at criticism of his tariff chaos. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Paul Krugman join Lawrence O’Donnell.

Tonight on The Last Word: A federal judge rejects the Justice Department’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts in Ghislaine Maxwell’s case. And the Congressional Budget Office reports Donald Trump’s tax law boosts income for the rich while leaving the poorest Americans with less. Rep. Daniel Goldman, Andrew Weissmann, and Rep. Brendan Boyle join Lawrence O’Donnell.

Tonight on The Last Word: Texas Republicans’ attempt to remove Democrats goes to the state Supreme Court. Also, the Justice Department requests for the unsealing of the grand jury exhibits and transcripts in the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases. Plus, nearly two million Americans are receiving unemployment benefits. And the Supreme Court is poised to come for the Voting Rights Act. Texas state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Heather Long, Conor Lamb, and Melissa Murray join Jonathan Capehart.

Tonight on The Last Word: Trump officials met at the White House and discussed Jeffrey Epstein. Also, The New York Times reports Donald Trump delayed a Medicare change after receiving a $5 million donation. And Trump adopts Project 2025’s warped view of U.S history. Lisa Rubin, Ken Vogel, and David Blight join Lawrence O’Donnell.

Tonight on The Last Word: Democrats introduce a resolution opposing clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell. Also, Donald Trump sets off a congressional redistricting battle. And new reporting finds Elon Musk gave $15 million to support Trump and Republicans amid their public feud. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, and Joe Miller join Lawrence O’Donnell.

August 5, 2025, 10pm; Tonight on The Last Word: The House Oversight Committee issues subpoenas for Epstein documents. And Donald Trump defends firing a labor official after a weak jobs report. Rep. Ro Khanna, Andrew Weissmann, and Paul Krugman join Lawrence O’Donnell.

Tonight on The Last Word: Ghislaine Maxwell is moved to a lower-security prison after meeting with the Trump Justice Department. And Texas Democrats flee the state to block a gerrymandered GOP map. Andrew Weissmann, Texas Rep. Mihaela Plesa, and Texas Rep. Erin Zwiener join Lawrence O’Donnell.