The Briefing with Jen Psaki

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. 

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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.

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

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