The Weeknight
Michael Steele, Symone Sanders Townsend, and Luke Russert's one-on-one conversations with politicians and newsmakers, and the breaking issues of the day.
‘Didn't Do Their Homework’
September 30, 2026, 7pm: With just 34 days until the midterm elections, Donald Trump is blaming his party for his plummeting approval rating, saying Republicans are "doing an extremely poor job of promotion." Former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori and Tre Easton, Vice President of the Searchlight Institute, join The Weeknight to break it down. And, Senate Republicans just failed at their hail mary attempt to pass any legislation that might curry favor with voters ahead of the midterm elections. Sen. Tammy Baldwin joins the table, after Democrats successfully blocked two of their deceptively messaged bills.
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‘A Swing and a Miss’
September 29, 2026, 7pm: Sen. Chris Coons was in today’s Judiciary hearing where Republicans made an embarrassing display of their attempt to grill former special counsel Jack Smith. He joins The Weeknight to discuss.
Plus: Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for Ohio Governor, joins the table just 35 days ahead of the midterm elections, as GOP favorability drops to record lows in traditionally red strongholds. And, Sen. Mark Kelly joins The Weeknight after Trump’s day-long A.I.-focused White House event to discuss the importance of safety with this new technology.
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'It's a Trump issue'
September 28, 2026, 7pm: With just 36 days until the midterm elections, Donald Trump is producing desperate propaganda ads to boost his dismal approval ratings … with your taxpayer dollars. Media Matters President and CEO Angelo Carusone joins The Weeknight with MS NOW White House Reporter Laura Barron Lopez to break it down. And, Senate Democrats are taking action against voter suppression efforts from Trump’s cabinet, accusing DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin of pressuring states to participate in illegal activities, threatening to remove grant funding if said states fail to comply with the administration’s wishes. MS NOW Legal Analyst Mary McCord joins The We...
‘A Lot of Confusion’
September 25, 2026, 7pm: With just 39 days until Election Day, Trump’s dismal approval ratings are sending Republicans running, forcing them to campaign in deep red territory, and abandoning any hopes of reaching moderate or undecided voters. Congressman James Clyburn joins The Weeknight to break it down. And, Senate Republicans have spent $117 million in ads boosting Ken Paxton, despite vocal concerns from voters about his character and qualifications. Chair of the Texas Democratic Party Kendall Scudder joins The Weeknight to discuss.
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‘Violated the Constitution’
September 24, 2026, 7pm: Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias joins The Weeknight to discuss journalists’ renewed access to the White House Press Pool. Plus: Warning signs for Republicans, as new reporting reveals the Chair of the National Republican Senate Committee has pulled back from two key battleground states ahead of the midterms. Pollster, Democratic strategist and MS NOW Political Analyst Cornell Belcher joins The Weeknight to break it down. For more, follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @weeknightmsnow and @ms.now. To listen to this show and other MS NOW podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Po...
‘Shooting Himself in the Foot'
September 23, 2026, 7pm: Sen. Cory Booker joins The Weeknight to respond to the fallout from Trump's latest foreign policy blunders as diesel prices hit historic highs and his approval numbers sink to historic lows. Plus: Trump's justification for banning the media, building a ballroom, even tanking the economy? "National security." Sen. Richard Blumenthal joins to explain the President's popular excuse to get whatever he wants.
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‘Doesn’t Give a Darn’
September 22, 2026, 7pm: Behind closed doors, Republicans are preparing for the worst in November’s midterms, with one lawmaker telling MS NOW: “we’re gonna get crushed.” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, joins The Weeknight to react six weeks out from Election Day. Plus, the FBI was investigating donations made to Maine Senator Susan Collins, until Donald Trump returned to office and purged agents who handled public corruption investigations. Molly Redden, National Reporter at ProPublica, joins the conversation to break down her latest reporting.
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'Pickled in Right-Wing Misinformation'
September 21, 2026, 7pm: President and CEO of MediaMatters Angelo Carusone and Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, join The Weeknight to respond to the latest in Trump's attack on the First Amendment, after MS NOW, CNN and Politico sue the White House for banning journalists from the press pool. This, as the Trump admin does everything in its power to distract from its destruction of the economy. Jared Bernstein, Fmr. Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, joins to discuss.
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‘They're Running Scared’
September 18, 2026, 7pm: Election officials nationwide are bracing for chaos as the Trump Administration works to sow doubt about the election process. Former federal prosecutor Brendan Ballou joins The Weeknight as early voting gets officially underway in a few states. Plus, Rep. Melanie Stansbury joins the table to discuss Donald Trump’s latest attempt to reshape the nation’s capital in his own image, as hundreds of protesters gather outside of the Kennedy Center.
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‘Ripping Off the American People’
September 17, 2026, 7pm: Rep. Robert Garcia, ranking member of the Oversight Committee, is investigating Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding celebration and its reported ties to a Russian oligarch. He joins The Weeknight to discuss the Trump family’s blatant corruption and his plans if Democrats retake the House. Plus, Dr. Annie Andrews, the Democratic Nominee for Senate in South Carolina, joins The Weeknight as her campaign gains momentum. And Don Lemon joins the table to weigh in on Donald Trump and the FCC targeting journalists and news organizations to chill free speech.
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‘We’re United’
September 16, 2026, 7pm: Less than 50 days from the midterm elections, Republicans are testing out a new message: give us another chance. Michigan Democratic Senate Nominee Abdul El-Sayed joins The Weeknight as Donald Trump pours millions of dollars from his war chest into the race. Plus, Rep. Greg Casar joins the table after making an urgent plea to A.I. leaders. And Rep. Chris Deluzio reacts to the Federal Reserve raising interest rates for the first time in three years.
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‘Trump’s Henchmen’
September 15, 2026, 7pm: Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel spent the day defending Donald Trump and the actions they’ve taken on his behalf. MS NOW Legal Analyst Mary McCord and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Maya Wiley join The Weeknight. Plus, a judge says Trump’s name cannot be on the Kennedy Center building or its grounds. Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center board, joins the conversation after the Trump-backed Kennedy Center board voted to close the center immediately and indefinitely.
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‘Bereft and Derelict’
September 14, 2026, 7pm: In the Trump Administration's latest attack on voting, DHS agents may have illegally accessed voter data, according to a new whistleblower report. Sen. Alex Padilla joins The Weeknight with the latest. Plus, Sen. Ruben Gallego joins The Weeknight amid alarming calls for more government regulation from leading voices in the A.I. industry.
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‘Can't Fumble This Away’
September 11, 2026, 7pm: Gas prices near $10 per gallon at some pumps because of Donald Trump’s war of choice in Iran, but the president is still claiming America is in the “golden age.” Democratic strategist John McCarthy and MS NOW host Antonia Hylton join The Weeknight to discuss. Plus, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez joins the conversation after ABC pulled an interview with Texas Democratic Senate Nominee James Talarico from airing on a live TV broadcast.
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‘So Desperate’
September 10, 2026, 7pm: The Weeknight hosts are live from Dallas, Texas for day two of Trump’s midterm convention. MS NOW Senior White House Reporter Vaughn Hillyard joins the conversations from inside the convention center. Plus, Symone sits down exclusively with Texas Democratic Senate Nominee James Talarico to hear what he’s focused on two months out from the midterms.
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‘Where’s the Money Going?’
September 9, 2026, 7pm: Donald Trump is taking center stage on night one of the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas. MS NOW Senior White House Reporter Vaughn Hillyard, Democratic strategist Joel Payne, and political strategist Lucy Caldwell join The Weeknight to discuss. Plus, Rep. Robert Garcia of the Oversight Committee joins the conversation as Epstein survivors hold their own event in Dallas.
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<...‘What Have You Done for Me?’
September 8, 2026, 7pm: Eight weeks out from the midterm elections, Republicans on the campaign trail are having to defend high prices and Donald Trump’s war of choice with Iran. Republican strategist Brittany Martinez and Robert Jones, President of the Public Religion Research Institute, join The Weeknight as Trump makes it all about himself ahead of the Republican midterm convention. Plus, Norm Eisen, co-founder of Democracy Defenders Action, joins the table to break down the administration's latest attempt to target mail-in voting.
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‘Unwell… Unhinged’
September 3, 2026, 7pm: Two months from Election Day, and Trump is threatening vulnerable Republicans with the possibility of burdening them with his presence, by campaigning for them. MS NOW Political Analyst Cornell Belcher and Santiago Mayer, Executive Director of Voters of Tomorrow, join The Weeknight to discuss. Plus, Rep. Ro Khanna joins The Weeknight to respond to the administration's failure to handle the conflict, as new reports confirm Defense Secretary Hegseth is extending military deployments to the Middle East through 2027.
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‘Cut and Run’
September 2, 2026, 7pm: Donald Trump is hosts vulnerable Republicans at the White House ahead of the midterms. Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha joins The Weeknight as Trump vows to bring his toxic brand to the campaign trail. Plus, Rep. Debbie Dingell joins The Weeknight as the president’s latest strikes in Iran send oil and gas prices surging again.
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‘Most Dysfunctional Secretary of Defense’
September 1, 2026, 7pm: The Pentagon is in chaos under Pete Hegseth’s leadership as the military continues Trump’s war of choice, launching a new round of strikes against Iran. Democratic strategist John McCarthy and Frank Kendall, Former Air Force Secretary under the Biden Administration, join the conversation. Plus, MS NOW Legal Analyst Melissa Murray joins The Weeknight after a whistleblower sounds the alarms on the Trump administration’s plot to restrict mail-in voting.
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'When does this end?'
August 31, 2026, 7pm: As Donald Trump’s war of choice in Iran stretches beyond the six-month mark, there are no signs of it ending. Ret. U.S. Army Brig. General Steven Anderson and MS NOW political contributor Jason Johnson join The Weeknight to respond to the latest consequences of the war, as the U.S. carries out more strikes in the Middle East. And, the first mail-in ballots ahead of November's midterms go out on Friday, as new reporting confirms they're being rejected for late arrival in roughly a dozen states. Marc Elias, Founder of Democracy Docket, joins The Weeknight to...
'An Assault on All of Us'
August 28, 2026, 7pm: Thousands of protestors gathered on the National Mall today to voice opposition to Donald Trump's new wave of voting restrictions measures. Rev. Al Sharpton, host of "Politics Nation," Martin Luther King III, and Arndrea Waters King join The Weeknight to react. Plus, Rep. LaMonica McIver joins the table to after a federal appeals court allowed assault charges against her to move forward. A federal judge says the prosecution might be an act of political retaliation.
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‘Tone-Deaf’
August 27, 2026, 7pm: An unpopular president is making a rare appearance on the campaign trail in Texas. Bharat Ramamurti, Former NEC Deputy Director, and Dave Weigel, Politics reporter at Semafor, join The Weeknight as Donald Trump deflects blame for his poor standing with voters. Plus, Rep. Joyce Beatty was at the table after calling out Trump's latest attempt to get his name on the Kennedy Center and filing an emergency motion to block the Trump-backed board from making further changes to the center.
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'Democracy Dying in Broad Daylight'
August 26, 2026, 7pm: A federal judge has lifted the final block on Trump’s mail-in ballot executive order that threatens to throw the midterms into chaos. Janai Nelson, President of the Legal Defense Fund, and Jason Johnson, MS NOW political contributor, join The Weeknight to discuss. Plus, Republican Strategist Brittany Martinez joins the table to react to Trump barely getting his chosen candidates over the finish line in deep-red states.
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'Donald Trump is Scared'
August 25, 2026, 7pm: Donald Trump's endorsement power is put to the test in South Carolina as voters voice frustration over his war of choice with Iran and soaring prices. Democratic Strategist Chuck Rocha breaks it down. Then, Norm Eisen, Co-founder of Democracy Defenders Action, joins The Weeknight to discuss the ongoing legal fight over the Trump administration's effort to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the midterms. Plus, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) joins the table to discuss the growing threat of Christian nationalism.
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'The Chaos is the Point'
August 24, 2026, 7pm: The Supreme Court just dealt a major blow to election integrity today by easing the way for Donald Trump's executive order restricting mail-in ballots. Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, and Angelo Carusone, President and CEO of MediaMatters, join the Weeknight to discuss. Plus, Trump's dealmaking skills are called into question after trade talks with Canada collapse and his prolonged war in Iran keeps prices high for Americans. Jared Bernstein, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, joins the table.
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‘People Are Paying Attention’
August 21, 2026, 7pm: Democrats are hopeful about their odds of gaining a Senate majority come November's midterm elections, while an unpopular president is stumping for a Republican running for a safely red Senate seat. Jess Mackler, the president of Emily’s List, joins the conversation. Plus, former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori joins The Weeknight as Donald Trump threatens to sue a liberal think tank publishing a report he didn’t like.
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'An Ally... to an Adversary'
August 20, 2026, 7pm: The DNC is suing the Trump administration for failing to respond to its public records request on potential plans to seize ballots in the upcoming midterm elections. Norm Eisen, fmr. ambassador and Co-Founder and Executive Chair of the Democracy Defenders Fund joins The Weeknight to respond. And, MS NOW exclusive reporting reveals Trump’s close personal aide Natalie Harp worked at the White House without security clearance for a year, filling out the official forms in recent months only after the President personally intervened. MS NOW White House Correspondent Jake Traylor, who co-authored the piece, joins The Wee...
'Padding the Pockets of the President'
August 19, 2026, 7pm: Trump’s corruption saga continues as he welcomes crypto executives to the White House after personally pocketing $1.4 billion from an industry he regulates. MS NOW political analyst Kimberly Atkins Stohr joins The Weeknight to react. Plus, State Rep. Angie Nixon joins the table after her surprising victory in last night's Democratic Senate Primary in Florida.
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'Don't Take the Bait'
August 18, 2026, 7pm: More primaries are underway as Trump's approval rating falls to an embarrassing second term low that matches the lowest point of his first term. Matthew Bartlett, MS NOW political analyst, and Mo Elleithee, Executive Director of Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service, join The Weeknight to discuss. Then, NAACP General Counsel Kristen Clarke joins the table to react to Trump's repeated hypocrisy over voting by mail and his DOJ's plan to sent 1,000 poll monitors across the country in November. Plus, ABC sues the Trump administration's FCC over First Amendment violations as Trump continues to hurl personal...
'Sheer Lunacy and Stupidity'
August 17, 2026, 7pm: Attorney General Todd Blanche refuses to pledge that the Justice Department will remain independent from Donald Trump, and threatens to take the administration’s fight for access to state voter rolls all the way to the Supreme Court. Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters, and Ankush Khardori, former federal prosecutor, join The Weeknight to discuss the stakes. Plus, Texas State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor, joins the table as voter frustration grows over gas prices driven higher by Trump’s war with Iran.
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‘Full of It’
August 13, 2026, 7pm: Attorney General Todd Blanche delivered an uncharacteristically normal speech to the Justice Department workforce in a stark difference from his daily efforts to weaponize the DOJ. Marc Elias joins The Weeknight to break down the Trump admin's latest attacks on the rule of law and election integrity. Plus, independent journalist Katie Phang joins the table to discuss her lawsuit against Trump’s DOJ for its botched release of the Epstein Files. And Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and former Republican John Giles join The Weeknight to explain how they're fighting against Trump's lies with a message of af...
'Utter Rank Incompetence'
August 12, 2026, 7pm: Trump's DOJ is going to extraordinary lengths to punish the President's enemies, now convening a rare special grand jury to potentially release a report related to any subject of Trump's ire. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) joins The Weeknight with his plans to fight back. And, as the self-enrichment of Donald Trump reaches new levels of absurdity, Truth Social is getting sued for its new service that charges up to $100,000 for early access to the President’s posts. Fmr. federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori joins The Weeknight to respond to the latest grift.
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'Roller Coaster to Election Hell'
August 11, 2026, 7pm: Sweeping changes inside Trump's DOJ to shield the president from prosecution are underway, hours after Trump's former personal attorney is sworn in as AG. MS NOW Legal Analyst Mary McCord joins The Weeknight to break it down. And, Trump is rolling back decades of childhood vaccine guidance, signing an executive order calling for children to be vaccinated against 11 diseases… instead of the 18 currently advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Joshua Sharferstein, distinguished professor of the practice in health policy and management at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health, joins The Weeknight to explain th...
‘Are We Turning a Corner?’
August 10, 2026, 7pm: Trump is workshopping new, xenophobic attacks against Democrats in a desperate attempt to scare voters ahead of the midterms, while his own approval ratings tank. MS NOW Political Contributor Jason Johnson and Ashley Davis, fmr. White House official under the George W. Bush administration, join The Weeknight to respond. Plus, Brian Poindexter, the Democrat running to unseat embattled GOP Congressman Max Miller, joins The Weeknight to respond to his opponent's decision to stay in the race despite abuse allegations.
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‘Depressing’
August 7, 2026, 7pm: Senate Republicans seem all but certain to confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General. Sky and Amanda Roberts, the family of late Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre, and Democratic Sen. Peter Welch join The Weeknight. Plus, former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori joins The Weeknight as the Trump Administration escalates its retribution campaign against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook by trying to fire her… again.
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‘Weak Sauce’
August 6, 2026, 7pm: Donald Trump is embarrassed and humiliated by his historically low poll numbers, but the president doesn’t seem to be shifting his priorities ahead of the midterms. Maine's Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson joins The Weeknight to discuss how his campaign is targeting voters' frustrations to help unseat his opponent. Plus, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen joins The Weeknight as Republicans scramble to confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General before their recess.
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'Like a King'
August 5, 2026, 7pm: Sen. Jeff Merkley joins The Weeknight to explain why he is introducing the "For Our Republic Act," which aims to curb Trump's escalating authoritarian abuses, and provide Congress with a roadmap to reassert its authority against him. And, after last night's tight primaries, Virginia Dems have an uphill battle to retake control of the House this fall. Gov. Abigail Spanberger sheds light on what she's doing to defend voting rights as Trump sows doubt in the midterm elections, and her party's efforts to flip key seats blue.
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‘Elections Matter’
August 4, 2026; 7pm: Former U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin joins The Weeknight after Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of Trump’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, to be the next Attorney General. Plus, MS NOW reporters Jacob Soboroff and Ali Vitali, and analysts join the conversation as results begin to roll in on a key primary election night.
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...'Weak, Servile, Incompetent Leaders'
August 3, 2026; 7pm: Donald Trump hits new lows to protect his ego, doubling down on support for the DOJ's controversial "slush fund" after his acting attorney general claimed it had been rescinded. Former federal prosecutor Brendan Ballou and Media Matters President Angelo Carusone join The Weeknight to react. Plus, D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro is spotted leaving the White House after Trump publicly criticized her for acknowledging that the damage to the Reflecting Pool was the result of a "flawed" installation—not criminal vandalism. Skye Perryman joins the table to explain why the controversy extends far beyond a si...
