The Briefing with Jen Psaki

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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