Podcast
The Weeknight
Hosted by MS NOW, Michael Steele, Symone Sanders Townsend, Luke Russert · EN
Michael Steele, Symone Sanders Townsend, and Luke Russert's one-on-one conversations with politicians and newsmakers, and the breaking issues of the day.
128episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
‘Full of It’
4d ago00:42:35Tap to summarizeAugust 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 affordability and unity. For more, follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @weeknightmsnow and @ms.now. 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.
Transcribe →'Utter Rank Incompetence'
6d ago00:42:05Tap to summarizeAugust 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. For more, follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @weeknightmsnow and @ms.now. 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.
Transcribe →'Roller Coaster to Election Hell'
1w ago00:42:03Tap to summarizeAugust 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 the dangerous consequences of the executive order. For more, follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @weeknightmsnow and @ms.now. 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.
Transcribe →‘Are We Turning a Corner?’
1w ago00:41:55Tap to summarizeAugust 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. For more, follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @weeknightmsnow and @ms.now. 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.
Transcribe →‘Depressing’
1w ago00:42:08Tap to summarizeAugust 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. For more, follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @weeknightmsnow and @ms.now. 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.
Transcribe →‘Weak Sauce’
2w ago00:42:16Tap to summarizeAugust 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. For more, follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @weeknightmsnow and @ms.now. 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.
Transcribe →'Like a King'
2w ago00:42:33Tap to summarizeAugust 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. For more, follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @weeknightmsnow and @ms.now. 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.
Transcribe →‘Elections Matter’
2w ago00:41:37Tap to summarizeAugust 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. For more, follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @weeknightmsnow and @ms.now. 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.
Transcribe →'Weak, Servile, Incompetent Leaders'
2w ago00:42:19Tap to summarizeAugust 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 single monument. For more, follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @weeknightmsnow and @ms.now. 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.
Transcribe →‘Poetic but Pathetic’
2w ago00:41:40Tap to summarizeJuly 31, 2026; 7pm: The Justice Department is admitting there were installation issues with the president’s Reflecting Pool project. Senator Cory Booker joins The Weeknight to react to Trump’s numerous attempts to weaponize the Justice Department, all as the president’s plan to quickly confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General is unravelling. Plus, ABC is calling out the federal government for “attempted censorship,” claiming threats to the network sent a message: fall in line or pay the price. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez 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 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.
Transcribe →