The Assignment with Antonia Hylton
Antonia Hylton tackles everything from major breaking news and original, compelling reporting, to the most important political and cultural debates of our time. The assignment is simple: ask the questions that demand answers, tell the stories that need to be heard, and help our viewers be the kind of people who don’t just hear what's happening in the world, but head into the next week truly understanding their place in it.
White House staffing shakeup, Musk’s midterm millions and Trump’s strange “central casting”: The Assignment Desk weighs in
October 18, 2026; 3 pm: 16 days away from midterms, nine million early votes have been cast across the U.S. and early voting begins in 14 new states this week. A new poll shows two out of three voters believe the president is using his office to enrich himself. Elon Musk pours hundreds of millions of dollars into Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign in Texas, through a Republican super PAC. President Trump faces backlash from his own party after blocking Russian sanctions that Congress passed last month. Vice President JD Vance is confronted about an American’s death in the Iran war. Former Whit...
Republicans speak out against President Trump’s decision to block Russian sanctions
October 18, 2026; 2 pm: 16 days away from midterms, nine million early votes have been cast across the U.S. and early voting begins in 14 new states this week. A new poll shows two out of three voters believe the president is using his office to enrich himself. Elon Musk pours hundreds of millions of dollars into Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign in Texas, through a Republican super PAC. President Trump faces backlash from his own party after blocking Russian sanctions that Congress passed last month. Vice President JD Vance is confronted about an American’s death in the Iran war. Former Whit...
Final weeks before midterms bring political stars to the campaign trail as early voting ramps up
October 18, 2026; 1 pm: 16 days away from midterms, nine million early votes have been cast across the U.S. and early voting begins in 14 new states this week. A new poll shows two out of three voters believe the president is using his office to enrich himself. Elon Musk pours hundreds of millions of dollars into Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign in Texas, through a Republican super PAC. President Trump faces backlash from his own party after blocking Russian sanctions that Congress passed last month. Vice President JD Vance is confronted about an American’s death in the Iran war. Former Whit...
Activist groups focus on voting rights as tens of thousands rally nationwide
October 17, 2026; 2 pm: Voters pack “No Kings” protests across the country, with concerns about voting rights, immigration enforcement and economic concerns front and center. New numbers show twice as many voters say they will vote to oppose President Trump as will vote to support him. Democracy groups sue the Department of Homeland Security, accusing them of unlawfully collecting voter registration records. A college student mistakenly deported to Honduras last year shares her story as she awaits progress on her case. A former federal worker laid off during the Trump administration’s DOGE push reacts to the news that former department employ...
Actor F. Murray Abraham talks the importance of voting early as midterms close in
October 17, 2026; 3 pm: Voters pack “No Kings” protests across the country, with concerns about voting rights, immigration enforcement and economic concerns front and center. New numbers show twice as many voters say they will vote to oppose President Trump as will vote to support him. Democracy groups sue the Department of Homeland Security, accusing them of unlawfully collecting voter registration records. A college student mistakenly deported to Honduras last year shares her story as she awaits progress on her case. A former federal worker laid off during the Trump administration’s DOGE push reacts to the news that former department employ...
”No Kings” rallies draw tens of thousands across all 50 states
October 17, 2026; 1 pm: Voters pack “No Kings” protests across the country, with concerns about voting rights, immigration enforcement and economic concerns front and center. New numbers show twice as many voters say they will vote to oppose President Trump as will vote to support him. Democracy groups sue the Department of Homeland Security, accusing them of unlawfully collecting voter registration records. A college student mistakenly deported to Honduras last year shares her story as she awaits progress on her case. A former federal worker laid off during the Trump administration’s DOGE push reacts to the news that former department employ...
Texas midterm nexus, diesel desperation, and lambasting livestream: The Assignment Desk weighs in
October 11, 2026; 3 pm: President Trump took to Truth Social to announce an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, effective immediately. The deadly Houthi strikes on a Saudi Arabian airport may draw the U.S. into another front of the Iran War. Bernadette Greene Placentia, a Democratic Candidate for Congress in Arizona who reported being raped over the summer while repairing a campaign sign, joins Antonia Hylton to talk about what gave her the strength to come forward. Plus, the Assignment Desk discusses Texas being at the center of the midterms universe, Trump’s desperate move to lower diesel prices, the Pentag...
House candidate who reported sexual assault on campaign trail speaks out
October 11, 2026; 2 pm: President Trump took to Truth Social to announce an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, effective immediately. The deadly Houthi strikes on a Saudi Arabian airport may draw the U.S. into another front of the Iran War. Bernadette Greene Placentia, a Democratic Candidate for Congress in Arizona who reported being raped over the summer while repairing a campaign sign, joins Antonia Hylton to talk about what gave her the strength to come forward. Plus, the Assignment Desk discusses Texas being at the center of the midterms universe, Trump’s desperate move to lower diesel prices, the Pentag...
President Trump says Russia and Ukraine agree to “energy ceasefire”
October 11, 2026; 1 pm: President Trump took to Truth Social to announce an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, effective immediately. The deadly Houthi strikes on a Saudi Arabian airport may draw the U.S. into another front of the Iran War. Bernadette Greene Placentia, a Democratic Candidate for Congress in Arizona who reported being raped over the summer while repairing a campaign sign, joins Antonia Hylton to talk about what gave her the strength to come forward. Plus, the Assignment Desk discusses Texas being at the center of the midterms universe, Trump’s desperate move to lower diesel prices, the Pentag...
Trump’s rerun rallies, debate deficiency and Guilfoyle’s $100k scandal: The Assignment Desk weighs in
October 10, 2026; 3 pm: Hundreds gather in NYC to protest Thursday’s ICE shooting, including Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, who was violently shoved to the ground. She joins Antonia Hylton to discuss President Trump’s immigration crackdown and NYC Mayor Mamdani’s response to the ICE shooting. After welcoming sailors on the USS Lincoln as they return from a controversial 322-day deployment, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the firing squad execution of the 2009 Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed, leading to bipartisan backlash. Plus, the Assignment Desk shares its insight on President Trump’s rally in Syrac...
Hegseth announces livestream of Fort Hood shooter’s execution by firing squad
October 10, 2026; 2 pm: Hundreds gather in NYC to protest Thursday’s ICE shooting, including Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, who was violently shoved to the ground. She joins Antonia Hylton to discuss President Trump’s immigration crackdown and NYC Mayor Mamdani’s response to the ICE shooting. After welcoming sailors on the USS Lincoln as they return from a controversial 322-day deployment, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the firing squad execution of the 2009 Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed, leading to bipartisan backlash. Plus, the Assignment Desk shares its insight on President Trump’s rally in Syrac...
Darializa Avila Chevalier on being shoved to the ground during ICE shooting protests in NYC
October 10, 2026; 1 pm: Hundreds gather in NYC to protest Thursday’s ICE shooting, including Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, who was violently shoved to the ground. She joins Antonia Hylton to discuss President Trump’s immigration crackdown and NYC Mayor Mamdani’s response to the ICE shooting. After welcoming sailors on the USS Lincoln as they return from a controversial 322-day deployment, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the firing squad execution of the 2009 Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed, leading to bipartisan backlash. Plus, the Assignment Desk shares its insight on President Trump’s rally in Syrac...
Double haters, the ‘Patel Report,’ and Russian oil deals: The Assignment Desk weighs in
October 4, 2026; 3 pm: As new polls show a growing advantage for Democrats ahead of November, Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana hints at a blue wave similar to the 2006 midterm results. In his latest financial pledge to Americans, President Trump is offering $90 checks to 20 million seniors, which he says will “help pay for their Medicare Part B premiums.” Voting is underway in Brazil as the country faces a high-stakes presidential election between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Plus, the Assignment Desk talks double haters, the ‘Patel Report,’ an oil dea...
Trump makes another financial pledge as GOP midterm outlook dims
October 4, 2026; 2 pm: As new polls show a growing advantage for Democrats ahead of November, Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana hints at a blue wave similar to the 2006 midterm results. In his latest financial pledge to Americans, President Trump is offering $90 checks to 20 million seniors, which he says will “help pay for their Medicare Part B premiums.” Voting is underway in Brazil as the country faces a high-stakes presidential election between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Plus, the Assignment Desk talks double haters, the ‘Patel Report,’ an oil dea...
Why a GOP senator says this year’s midterms could feel like it’s 2006
October 4, 2026; 1 pm: As new polls show a growing advantage for Democrats ahead of November, Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana hints at a blue wave similar to the 2006 midterm results. In his latest financial pledge to Americans, President Trump is offering $90 checks to 20 million seniors, which he says will “help pay for their Medicare Part B premiums.” Voting is underway in Brazil as the country faces a high-stakes presidential election between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Plus, the Assignment Desk talks double haters, the ‘Patel Report,’ an oil deal...
Hegseth harkens back to “spiritual war” in address to troopers
October 3, 2026; 3 pm: In his latest push to help Republicans before the midterms, President Trump told his supporters to vote by mail, despite his efforts to restrict its use. Also, Antonia Hylton is joined by the older sister of Jaimie Bethea, a 21-year-old sailor who died by suicide after an extended deployment at sea aboard the USS Fort Lauderdale. The Assignment Desk discusses the biblical language and “spiritual war” messaging in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “State of the Force” speech to troopers at Quantico.
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President Trump urges his supporters to vote by mail
October 3, 2026; 1 pm: In his latest push to help Republicans before the midterms, President Trump told his supporters to vote by mail, despite his efforts to restrict its use. Also, Antonia Hylton is joined by the older sister of Jaimie Bethea, a 21-year-old sailor who died by suicide after an extended deployment at sea aboard the USS Fort Lauderdale. The Assignment Desk discusses the biblical language and “spiritual war” messaging in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “State of the Force” speech to troopers at Quantico.
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Sister of young sailor who died by suicide after extended deployment speaks out
October 3, 2026; 2 pm: In his latest push to help Republicans before the midterms, President Trump told his supporters to vote by mail, despite his efforts to restrict its use. Also, Antonia Hylton is joined by the older sister of Jaimie Bethea, a 21-year-old sailor who died by suicide after an extended deployment at sea aboard the USS Fort Lauderdale. The Assignment Desk discusses the biblical language and “spiritual war” messaging in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “State of the Force” speech to troopers at Quantico.
To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS...
Trump is trying to rebrand artificial intelligence
September 27, 2026; 3 pm: Born a Palestinian refugee in Syria and raised in a tent city, Mahmoud Khalil tells his story in a new book. The former Columbia graduate student, targeted by the Trump administration over his pro-Palestinian organizing, spent 104 days in ICE detention and missed his first child's birth, yet was never charged with a crime. He joins Antonia Hylton to reflect on it all and what happens next. Plus, with 37 days until the midterms and voting already underway in many states, lawmakers are raising alarm after the Supreme Court temporarily let DHS advance President Trump’s “SAVE” citizenship-check program, which...
Lawmakers raise alarm over Trump administration moves ahead of the midterms
September 27, 2026; 2 pm: Born a Palestinian refugee in Syria and raised in a tent city, Mahmoud Khalil tells his story in a new book. The former Columbia graduate student, targeted by the Trump administration over his pro-Palestinian organizing, spent 104 days in ICE detention and missed his first child's birth, yet was never charged with a crime. He joins Antonia Hylton to reflect on it all and what happens next. Plus, with 37 days until the midterms and voting already underway in many states, lawmakers are raising alarm after the Supreme Court temporarily let DHS advance President Trump’s “SAVE” citizenship-check program, which...
Former refugee, Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil reflects on 104 days in detention
September 27, 2026; 1 pm: Born a Palestinian refugee in Syria and raised in a tent city, Mahmoud Khalil tells his story in a new book. The former Columbia graduate student, targeted by the Trump administration over his pro-Palestinian organizing, spent 104 days in ICE detention and missed his first child's birth, yet was never charged with a crime. He joins Antonia Hylton to reflect on it all and what happens next. Plus, with 37 days until the midterms and voting already underway in many states, lawmakers are raising alarm after the Supreme Court temporarily let DHS advance President Trump’s “SAVE” citizenship-check program, which...
Inside ICE’s ‘catch of the day’ operation in Maine
September 26, 2026; 2 pm: Republican midterm candidates and some GOP lawmakers facing re-election are shifting their tone, calling for an immediate end to the war in Iran and urging President Trump to focus on the everyday issues weighing most on Americans. In Portland, Maine, Bob Peck set out to witness and document immigration raids, until ICE agents confronted and threatened him. He wasn't arrested, but his lawsuit says the threat did its job: he stopped following and observing ICE. His lawyer says it's the first time a Maine legal observer has sued ICE officers under the Maine Civil Rights Act. And d...
Republican candidates begin to change rhetoric ahead of the midterms
September 26, 2026; 1 pm: Republican midterm candidates and some facing re-election are shifting their tone, calling for an immediate end to the war in Iran and urging President Trump to focus on the everyday issues weighing most on Americans. In Maine, Bob Peck set out to witness and document immigration raids, until ICE agents confronted and threatened him. He wasn't arrested, but his lawsuit says the threat did its job: he stopped following and observing ICE. His lawyer says it's the first time a Maine legal observer has sued ICE officers under the Maine Civil Rights Act. And despite mounting concerns...
Trump renews focus on his growing list of vanity projects
September 26, 2026; 3 pm: Republican midterm candidates and some facing re-election are shifting their tone, calling for an immediate end to the war in Iran and urging President Trump to focus on the everyday issues weighing most on Americans. In Maine, Bob Peck set out to witness and document immigration raids, until ICE agents confronted and threatened him. He wasn't arrested, but his lawsuit says the threat did its job: he stopped following and observing ICE. His lawyer says it's the first time a Maine legal observer has sued ICE officers under the Maine Civil Rights Act. And despite mounting concerns...
What to expect from the Trump-Xi summit this week
September 20, 2026; 3 pm: Sen. Mark Kelly joins Antonia Hylton to discuss the push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, criticism of Pentagon briefings, and Trump's plans for the triumphal arch. Lara do Carmo Santana shares her deeply personal story in detention as ICE reports 18 miscarriages in custody, a number likely undercounted since the agency stopped tracking them in October, per a new Guardian report. Plus, what to watch as Xi Jinping makes his first U.S. state visit in a decade, including a Thursday dinner with tech leaders where A.I. talks are expected. For more on immigration, Kennedy Center...
Woman arrested by ICE after suffering miscarriage shares her story
September 20, 2026; 2 pm: Sen. Mark Kelly joins Antonia Hylton to discuss the push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, criticism of Pentagon briefings, and Trump's plans for the triumphal arch. Lara do Carmo Santana shares her deeply personal story in detention as ICE reports 18 miscarriages in custody, a number likely undercounted since the agency stopped tracking them in October, per a new Guardian report. Plus, what to watch as Xi Jinping makes his first U.S. state visit in a decade, including a Thursday dinner with tech leaders where AI talks are expected. For more on immigration, Kennedy Center developments, t...
Senator Mark Kelly on the Pentagon crisis
September 20, 2026; 1 pm: Sen. Mark Kelly joins Antonia Hylton to discuss the push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, criticism of Pentagon briefings, and Trump's plans for the triumphal arch. Lara do Carmo Santana shares her deeply personal story in detention as ICE reports 18 miscarriages in custody, a number likely undercounted since the agency stopped tracking them in October, per a new Guardian report. Plus, what to watch as Xi Jinping makes his first U.S. state visit in a decade, including a Thursday dinner with tech leaders where A.I. talks are expected. For more on immigration, Kennedy Center...
Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour for pro-Palestine statements
September 19, 2026; 3 pm: Today, journalists were denied entry to the White House grounds, one day after President Trump said he planned to ban MS NOW, CNN and Politico, just 45 days before the midterms. And while Pete Buttigieg isn't on the ballot this November, he's invested in Democrats winning back Congress. Antonia Hylton asks the former Transportation Secretary what Democrats would do with that power. Plus, Macklemore was dropped as Ed Sheeran's opening act after voicing support for Palestinians onstage. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose stadium hosts Sheeran next week, threatened to cancel the shows if Macklemore stayed on the tour...
Antonia Hylton and Pete Buttigieg discuss the midterms, A.I., the Iran war & 2028
September 19, 2026; 2 pm: Today, journalists were denied entry to the White House grounds, one day after President Trump said he planned to ban MS NOW, CNN and Politico, just 45 days before the midterms. And while Pete Buttigieg isn't on the ballot this November, he's invested in Democrats winning back Congress. Antonia Hylton asks the former Transportation Secretary what Democrats would do with that power. Plus, Macklemore was dropped as Ed Sheeran's opening act after voicing support for Palestinians onstage. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose stadium hosts Sheeran next week, threatened to cancel the shows if Macklemore stayed on the tour...
MS NOW journalists among news crews denied entry to the White House today
September 19, 2026; 1 pm: Today, journalists were denied entry to the White House grounds, one day after President Trump said he planned to ban MS NOW, CNN and Politico, just 45 days before the midterms. And while Pete Buttigieg isn't on the ballot this November, he's invested in Democrats winning back Congress. Antonia Hylton asks the former Transportation Secretary what Democrats would do with that power. Plus, Macklemore was dropped as Ed Sheeran's opening act after voicing support for Palestinians onstage. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose stadium hosts Sheeran next week, threatened to cancel the shows if Macklemore stayed on the tour. A...
New fears over the speed of artificial intelligence development reach Congress
September 13, 2026; 3 pm: With 51 days until the midterm elections, new signs of desperation are emerging in President Trump's efforts to win at all costs, even as Americans struggle with high food and fuel prices and a seemingly intractable war. Meanwhile, reports continue to mount over GOP politicians' ties to Nazi sympathizers along with their hiring and platforming of extremists. All of this unfolds amid a fresh wave of warnings about the pace of AI development… warnings that could push Congress into action. This follows former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon accusing major AI companies of acting irresponsibly. Antonia Hylton is joined by...
There’s an alarming pattern of Republican ties to white supremacy
September 13, 2026; 2 pm: With 51 days until the midterm elections, new signs of desperation are emerging in President Trump's efforts to win at all costs, even as Americans struggle with high food and fuel prices and a seemingly intractable war. Meanwhile, reports continue to mount over GOP politicians' ties to Nazi sympathizers along with their hiring and platforming of extremists. All of this unfolds amid a fresh wave of warnings about the pace of AI development… warnings that could push Congress into action. This follows former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon accusing major AI companies of acting irresponsibly. Antonia Hylton is joined by...
New signs of GOP desperation with 51 days to the midterm elections
September 13, 2026; 1 pm: With 51 days until the midterm elections, new signs of desperation are emerging in President Trump's efforts to win at all costs, even as Americans struggle with high food and fuel prices and a seemingly intractable war. Meanwhile, reports continue to mount over GOP politicians' ties to Nazi sympathizers along with their hiring and platforming of extremists. All of this unfolds amid a fresh wave of warnings about the pace of AI development… warnings that could push Congress into action. This follows former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon accusing major AI companies of acting irresponsibly. Antonia Hylton is joined by...
Vice President Vance seems eager to solidify his position as heir apparent
September 12, 2026; 3 pm: Here’s where we start on the premiere episode of “The Assignment with Antonia Hylton” on MS NOW: It’s September 12, 2026. It’s been 197 days since the start of President Trump’s war in Iran and just 52 days remaining before the midterm elections. Antonia reports on the state of the economy, the latest developments in the Middle East, and the pledges and promises coming out of this week’s Republican convention in Texas. Antonia also brings in-depth reporting from her travels to the Big Bend sector of Texas for the newest installment of her MS NOW series, Cities Under S...
The Texans standing in the way of Trump’s wall
September 12, 2026; 2 pm: Here’s where we start on the premiere episode of “The Assignment with Antonia Hylton” on MS NOW: It’s September 12, 2026. It’s been 197 days since the start of President Trump’s war in Iran and just 52 days remaining before the midterm elections. Antonia reports on the state of the economy, the latest developments in the Middle East, and the pledges and promises coming out of this week’s Republican convention in Texas. Antonia also brings in-depth reporting from her travels to the Big Bend sector of Texas for the newest installment of her MS NOW series, Cities Under S...
The countdown: 52 days until the midterm elections
September 12, 2026; 1 pm: Here’s where we start on the premiere episode of “The Assignment with Antonia Hylton” on MS NOW: It’s September 12, 2026. It’s been 197 days since the start of President Trump’s war in Iran and just 52 days remaining before the midterm elections. Antonia reports on the state of the economy, the latest developments in the Middle East, and the pledges and promises coming out of this week’s Republican convention in Texas. Antonia also brings in-depth reporting from her travels to the Big Bend sector of Texas for the newest installment of her MS NOW series, Cities Under S...
Introducing The Assignment with Antonia Hylton
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