MS NOW Presents: Clock It with Symone and Eugene

Summary

Main Justice: "MS NOW Presents: Clock It with Symone and Eugene"
Episode Air Date: February 5, 2026
Hosts: Andrew Weissmann, Mary McCord
Featured Guests: Symone Sanders Townsend, Eugene Daniels

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Overview

This episode introduces a new show under the MS NOW banner: "Clock It," hosted by Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels. Both are seasoned political insiders who now bring their chemistry, wit, and unique perspectives to dissect the intersection of politics and culture. The episode teases the tone, approach, and topics audiences can expect, marking a shift from traditional policy coverage toward the cultural forces shaping and shaped by American politics.

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Key Discussion Points

1. The Hosts' Relationship & Background

• Longstanding Collaboration: Symone and Eugene recount their history—once on opposite sides as White House staffer and reporter, now colleagues and friends.
  • "Simone Sanders Townsend and I have known each other for more than a decade, since she was the strategic mind behind the country's top Democrats." (Andrew Weissmann, 00:02)
  • "Back in the day, Eugene Daniels and I sometimes disagreed. He was, after all, reporting on my then boss, Vice President Kamala Harris." (Symone Sanders, 00:09)
• Insider Perspectives: Both hosts know Washington’s machinery intimately, offering listeners more than just surface-level analysis.

2. The Focus and Tone of "Clock It"

• Beyond the White House: The show intends to go where most political coverage doesn’t, paying attention to cultural phenomena that reveal bigger political currents.
  • "Because while most political coverage is focused on the White House or the Hill, the real political games are being played outside on football fields, on the runways, and on TikTok." (Eugene Daniels, 01:09)
• Culture-Politics Nexus: Politics isn’t confined to officialdom—it lives in memes, Tweets, music, fashion, and social media.
  • "We get along so well because we are both fluent in politics and culture... talking about how politicians are stealing music and slang and aesthetics to make themselves seem powerful and relevant." (Symone Sanders, 00:41)
• Tone: The show promises humor, irreverence, and an accessible approach—taking the subject matter seriously without taking themselves too seriously.

3. Fighting Disinformation & “Clocking” Hijacks

• Calling Out Political Cultural Hijacking:
  • "We're positioning ourselves at the intersection of culture and politics so we can report back to you who's hijacking what for what reason, and precisely how much any of it matters." (Eugene Daniels, 01:33)
• Empowering Listeners: The mission is to help listeners “clock it”—that is, notice, understand, and call out performative or manipulative political tactics in pop culture.
  • "Clock it is where we talk about what we see and hear in the news. So you can start to clock it, too." (Symone Sanders, 01:49)

4. Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Political Performance:
  • "Putting out where he look. Superhero esque, very Tony Stark. It's giving Tony Stark. He's hopping out of the government vehicles." (Eugene Daniels, 00:57)
    (Referencing politicians' attempts to appear powerful and modern through pop culture aesthetics!)
• On Social Media Reactions:
  • "Okay, Sabrina Carpenter saw this, tweeted. This video is evil and disgusting." (Eugene Daniels, 01:19)
• Signature Philosophy:
  • "To fight back in this crazy world, to win the war of ideas and the war for what's right, the people need to know exactly what's going on. They gotta clock it." (Symone Sanders & Eugene Daniels, 01:32)

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Episode Structure & Timestamps

• 00:02–00:21 – Introductions & the hosts' working history
• 00:21–00:41 – How their dynamic has evolved and why it matters
• 00:41–01:09 – The gap in political coverage they're filling; “Politics on the football field and TikTok”
• 01:09–01:32 – How politics and pop culture intersect; notable cultural hijacks
• 01:32–01:49 – The “war for what’s right” and empowering the audience
• 01:49–01:58 – When and where to expect the show; special segments
• 01:58–02:34 – Premium content tease and playful banter

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Notable Quotes

• Symone Sanders:
  "We get along so well because we are both fluent in politics and culture... talking about how politicians are stealing music and slang and aesthetics to make themselves seem powerful and relevant." (00:41)
• Eugene Daniels:
  "Because while most political coverage is focused on the White House or the Hill, the real political games are being played outside on football fields, on the runways, and on TikTok." (01:09)
• Eugene Daniels:
  "We're positioning ourselves at the intersection of culture and politics so we can report back to you who's hijacking what for what reason, and precisely how much any of it matters." (01:33)
• Symone Sanders:
  "They gotta clock it." (01:32)

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Conclusion

"Clock It" with Symone and Eugene refreshingly expands the boundaries of political discussion, mixing sharp, insider analysis with cultural savvy. The episode establishes a fun, sharp-tongued, and deeply knowledgeable perspective on how politics seeps into and is shaped by American culture—and vice versa. Listeners are not only invited to follow along but equipped to “clock” the moves themselves, promising a dynamic, weekly take at the intersection of politics, optics, and the culture wars.

Transcript

[A]

Simone Sanders Townsend and I have known each other for more than a decade, since she was the strategic mind behind the country's top Democrats.

[B]

Y' all want to hear from Bernie Sanders. Back in the day, Eugene Daniels and I sometimes disagreed. He was, after all, reporting on my then boss, Vice President Kamala Harris.

[A]

And honestly, when you talk to people in the White House, people are starting to feel a little bit more pessimistic. And now, instead of being at odds as White House reporter and White House staffer, we're friends and colleagues dissecting what comes across our feed. Just like everybody else. This is people who are getting paid with taxpayer dollars.

[B]

He's out of taxpayer dollars. It's corny. It's corny and it's trolling and it's not funny.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And we'll continue to stay on top of political news, but we'll cover much more in a new show, Ms. Now presents. Clockin. We get along so well because we are both fluent in politics and culture. When we're not mic'd up for tv, we're talking about how politicians are stealing music and slang and aesthetics to make themselves seem powerful and relevant. Putting out where he look. Superhero esque, very Tony Stark. It's giving Tony Stark. He's hopping out of the government vehicles.

[A]

Because while most political coverage is focused on the White House or the Hill, the real political games are being played outside on football fields, on the runways, and on TikTok.

[B]

Okay, Sabrina Carpenter saw this, tweeted. This video is evil and disgusting. And to fight back in this crazy world, to win the war of ideas and the war for what's right, the people need to know exactly what's going on.

[A]

They gotta clock it.

[B]

Come on. Ms. Now presents Clock It. We're positioning ourselves at the intersection of culture and politics so we can report back to you who's hijacking what for what reason, and precisely how much any of it matters.

[A]

Clock it is where we talk about what we see and hear in the news. So you can start to clock it, too. New episodes drop every Thursday starting February 12th.

[B]

And sign up for Ms. Now premium on Apple Podcasts so you can listen to all the good stuff without ads. We'll even be dropping some VIP bonus content. Just four subscribers now. Clock that. Oh, no. My coffee. Brawny here.

[A]

New brawny. 3 ply is now more absorbent.

[B]

Wow. Got a clean shirt.

[A]

Do you wear plaid? Ronnie, summon the strongest.