Podcast
The Briefing with Jen Psaki
Hosted by MS NOW, Jen Psaki · EN
Jen Psaki tackles the biggest issues of the week and features one-on-one interviews with newsmakers.
231episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
MS NOW Exclusive | Hope Comes Home: Inside the Obama Presidential Center - Part 2
3d ago00:40:46Summary readyMS NOW's Michele Norris interviews former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama about their time in the White House and opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. 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.
SummaryMS NOW Exclusive | Hope Comes Home: Inside the Obama Presidential Center - Part 1
3d ago00:42:36Summary readyMS NOW's Michele Norris interviews former President Barack Obama about his time in office and the opening of his new presidential center in Chicago. 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.
SummaryObama re-ups American values in an age of Trump depravity
4d ago00:43:17Summary readyJen Psaki talks with former speech writers for President Barack Obama, Jon Favreau and Cody Keenan, about the significance of the Obama Presidential Center and how the messaging of hope and hard work contrasts with the bleak mood as Americans endure Donald Trump's corruption and mismanagement. Former President Barack Obama, in his remarks upon the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, tells the story of the origin of the now-famous quote, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice," from 19th-century abolitionist pastor Theodore Parker. Reggie Love, former personal assistant to President Obama, talks about the team of people who worked in the Obama adminiatration. 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.
SummaryDISGRACED by Iran failure, Trump is tormented by Obama's superior skill
5d ago00:42:23Summary readyFormer President Barack Obama has made permanent residence in Donald Trump's head for most of Trump's political life, and now, in the shadow of his failed war on Iran, the contrast between Trump's shortcomings and Obama's accomplishments only add to Trump's burden. Jen Psaki traces the roots of Trump's insecurity about Obama, and talks with House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. Senator Jon Ossoff lays into his new Republican opponent, Trumpy Rep. Mike Collins, and responds to Donald Trump's petty name calling with withering criticism of Trump's performance in office. Jen Psaki shares a clip of MS NOW's Michelle Norris' exclusive interview with former President Barack Obama in conjunction with the opening of his presidential library. The full interview will air as part of a two hour special on Friday, June 19 at 9pm ET on MS NOW. Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation talks with Jen Psaki about the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. 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.
SummaryBlurting Kash Patel brings fresh embarrassment to Donald Trump
6d ago00:41:26Summary readyDonald Trump's sycophantic FBI director, Kash Patel, has reportedly caused a rift between the FBI and the Secret Service for impulsively posting to social media about an investigation that was still ongoing, part of a pattern of Patel being unable to restrain himself. Patel's embarrassment comes as he is newly accused of making payouts to his inner circle from a taxpayer funded slush fund. Senator Adam Schiff joins Jen Psaki to discuss. As Republican candidates wrestle over who can be Trumpier than the other, Democratic candidates are focused on the issues that matter to voters. Keisha Lance Bottoms, Democratic candidate for governor of Georgia, talks with Jen Psaki about the asymmetry of the election and why it's important to have reasonable people in leadership positions in the age of Trump. Ali Velshi tracks another night of election returns. Jim Messina, former campaign manager for Barack Obama, and Tim Miller, host of the Bulwark podcast, offer analysis of what the results suggest about the shape of the electorate and the November 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.
SummaryLegal SMACKDOWN: Millions await Trump's name RIPPED from Kennedy Center
1w ago00:40:54Summary readyPeople gathered in person and online to witness the removal of Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.. The Trump administration made last-ditch efforts to delay the removal. Ultimately, the courts pushed back. Former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirshner joins Jen to discuss. Following SpaceX's debut trading on the NASDAQ, Jen Psaki breaks down why you may end up boosting Elon Musk's net worth, whether you like it or not. Jen interviews Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger to discuss her first six months as governor, redistricting efforts in her state, and more. Democratic Congressman Adriano Espaillat joins The Briefing following a fiery debate with Mamdani-backed Darializa Avila Chevalier. 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.
SummaryMAGA regret: Trump's failed policies, broken promises drive supporters away
2w ago00:41:03Summary readyJen Psaki looks at catastrophic polling data about how Americans feel about Donald Trump and his handling of issues like the economy and his war with Iran Jen also shares interviews from MS NOW reporter Alex Tabet with frustrated Trump voters who turning away from Trump. "They thought he was going to lower costs. They thought he was going to end the wars. They thought he was going to drain the swamp. They thought he was going to release the Epstein files. And now they're feeling pretty disillusioned." Democratic candidate for Senate from Texas, James Talarico, talks with Jen Psaki about how Donald Trump's broken promises and the hardships imposed by Trump's economy are giving his campaign the opportunity to connect with previously inaccessible voters and have a real shot at flipping that Senate seat in November. Norm Eisen, executive director of Democracy Defenders Fund, talks with Jen about the illegality of Donald Trump's self-indulgent use of federal resources, including the White House, for his personal aggrandizement and birthday celebration. John Brennan, former director of the CIA, joins to discuss Jay Clayton, Donald Trump's new DNI nominee, and the perils of Bill Pulte serving in the acting-DNI role for even a short period of time. 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.
SummaryEpstein files release sent White House into CRISIS MODE: New report
2w ago00:40:43Summary readyA new report from the New York Times exposes the frantic response from Donald Trump's White House to protect Trump from fallout from the revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein files and his association with the notorious sex predator. Rep. Robert Garcia talks with Jen Psaki about what the report's revelations mean for the ongoing congressional investigation. In addition to bizarrely declaring his love for inflation, Donald Trump also announced that the U.S. is taking Iranian oil. Rep. Emilia Sykes took advantage of the fact that Trump's energy secretary, Chris Wright, was testifying before the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, and pressed Wright to address Trump's statements, leaving the secretary at a loss. Democratic candidate for Senate from Maine, Graham Platner talks with Jen Psaki about leaving the past behind and the road ahead to the general election. 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.
Summary'We are ready for change!': Victorious Platner thanks supporters and BLASTS Susan Collins
2w ago00:49:57Summary readyGraham Platner, Democratic candidate for Senate from Maine, addresses his supporters in declaring victory in the Democratic primary, thanking them for his support, laying out his vision for the issues he hopes to champion on their behalf in Washington, D.C., and presenting a blistering criticism of Senator Susan Collins, his Republican opponent in the general election. Ali Velshi, MS NOW chief data reporter, breaks down primary election returns as they are reported. MS NOW's Alex Tabet shares his reporting on how Maine voters view the Senate primary race. And Jim Messina, former campaign manager for Barack Obama, and Alex Seitz-Wald, deputy editor of the Midcoast Villager, talk with Jen Psaki about the stakes of the 2026 election and what voters are showing their priorities are. 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.
SummaryReport exposes hidden $50 billion price tag on Trump's ballroom
2w ago00:41:44Summary readyA report from the non-profit watchdog group Public Citizen points out that while Donald Trump insists that donations are paying for his vanity project ballroom, those donors are being granted federal contracts totaling more than $50 billion. Ruth Ben Ghiat, author of "Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present,” and Timothy L. O'Brien, senior executive editor of Bloomberg Opinion, discuss Donald Trump's corruption and how his behavior is typical of authoritarians, from trying to put his name and face on everything to going to war against the free press. The discovery of the screwworm parasite in cattle in Texas has raised alarm about the struggling U.S. cattle industry and the already high price of beef for American consumers. Ali Velshi explains the careful government precautions necessary to protect American livestock from the damaging screwworm, and how Donald Trump threw those precautions out the window. Rebecca Cooke, Democratic candidate for Congress from Wisconsin, talks with Ali Velshi about the hardships farmers have endured as a result of Donald Trump's policies and why his words on a visit with Wisconsin farmers rang hollow to anyone actually experiencing the fallout from Trump's tariffs, high fuel prices, cuts to local services and more. 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.
Summary