Amid record-low approval ratings, the Democratic Party faces an existential crisis. How should they operate as a minority and opposition party? Should the old guard make way for a new generation of leaders? On this week’s show, Alex Wagner speaks with the upstarts who are challenging the Democratic establishment about how they envision the party's future. Then, a conversation with veteran Democratic Senator Chris Murphy on how his fellow members need to course correct to preserve democracy as we...
Apr 24, 2025•43 min•Ep. 250424
It’s not the first time that Republicans have threatened to dismantle Social Security— the cornerstone program that has provided reliable financial security to American workers for nearly a century. Now, Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency has its eyes set on the third rail of American politics. This week on Trumpland, Alex Wagner speaks with agency employees in the eye of the storm as chaos ensues for them and the millions of beneficiaries who rely on these payments. Then, a conversatio...
Apr 17, 2025•30 min•Ep. 250417
In the last week, president Trump’s latest trade policies have provided a whole lot of whiplash for Americans, their wallets, and the global economy. Part of Trump’s tariff plan includes maintaining and increasing his tariffs on China, one of the U.S.’s largest trading partners. China spends billions on American agricultural products every year, meaning American farmers are likely to get caught in the middle of Trump’s trade war, again. MSNBC’s Alex Wagner travels to Johnston County in North Car...
Apr 10, 2025•37 min•Ep. 250329
This week, the Senate held its confirmation hearing for Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine, President Trump’s relatively obscure nominee for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Caine’s nomination comes amidst questions of his perceived loyalty to Trump and the blowback of last week’s Signal leak involving several high-level Trump administration officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Not to mention, the administration’s continued attack on DEI and so-called “wokeness” in the military....
Apr 03, 2025•32 min•Ep. 250328
Under threat of losing millions of dollars in federal funding, Columbia University has caved to demands from the Trump administration, leaving students and faculty fearing the loss of academic freedom. Adding to those fears, ICE has made multiple arrests of international students at several schools, as well as recent graduates, like Mahmoud Khalil. This week, Alex Wagner speaks with students and professors at Columbia to discuss the dangerous precedent being set, not just for college campuses as...
Mar 27, 2025•36 min•Ep. 250327
Trump’s strikes on environmental regulations are now crossing paths with his attacks on DEI. Citing compliance with Trump’s DEI mandates, the Justice Department dropped its lawsuit against a petrochemical plant in Reserve, Louisiana, in an area known as ‘Cancer Alley.’ This week, Alex travels to Louisiana and speaks to the life-long residents directly in harm’s way. Then, a conversation with former EPA administrator Heather McTeer Toney on the larger implications of Trump’s environmental policy....
Mar 13, 2025•36 min•Ep. 250313
Numerous lawsuits are underway as efforts ramp up to fight against the Trump administration’s agenda, with the charge led by a select group of attorneys general. On this episode, Alex Wagner heads to Phoenix, Arizona where Democratic state attorneys general organized a town hall for citizens impacted by Trump’s executive orders and DOGE’s targeting of the federal government. Alex speaks directly with some of the AGs behind these legal efforts, including Kwame Raoul of Illinois, William Tong of C...
Mar 06, 2025•32 min•Ep. 250306
It’s been three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and while President Donald Trump's spreading of disinformation aims to rewrite history, Ukrainians on the frontline of the war refuse to forget the truth. On this week’s episode, we see how Ukrainians in the U.S. are marking the anniversary and honoring those fallen back home. Plus, a conversation with national security expert and Pod Save the World host Ben Rhodes on what’s at stake as the Trump administration continues to cozy...
Feb 27, 2025•27 min•Ep. 250227
Donald Trump's promise to reduce grocery prices was a keystone of last year’s campaign. Now in office, President Trump faces significant challenges with surging egg prices amidst an avian flu crisis. On this week’s episode, Alex Wagner speaks to farmers and experts in Pennsylvania about the severe impact of the bird flu, its effect on poultry farms, and the controversial strategies Trump proposes to address the issue. Then, Alex catches up with MSNBC colleague Chris Hayes to reflect on Trump's e...
Feb 20, 2025•37 min•Ep. 250220
The Trump administration continues to further its anti-woke agenda with executive orders targeting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives, resulting in a memo placing federal employees with ties to DEIA training or roles on administrative leave. Listen as Alex Wagner interviews affected employees from the Department of Education and discusses the implications with civil rights attorney Subodh Chandra. Plus, a look at what more we can expect with one of the early archi...
Feb 13, 2025•41 min•Ep. 250213
The Trump administration has focused its latest attacks on federal workers and foreign aid. At the forefront of that battle is advisor Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. MSNBC’s Alex Wagner heads back to Washington D.C. amidst protests from federal workers and a looming deadline for workers to accept a government buyout. Listen as Alex speaks with Kristina Drye, a former USAID employee, as well as former Inspector General for the Department of the Interior, Mark Gree...
Feb 06, 2025•32 min•Ep. 250125
On “Trumpland with Alex Wagner,” MSNBC’s Alex Wagner travels the country talking with the people on the frontlines of Trump’s policies and promises. It’s been one week since Trump was sworn into office, and he is already making good on his campaign promise to crack down on immigration, whatever the cost. On this episode, Alex heads to New Jersey’s largest city, Newark, where one of the most public and controversial ICE raids has just occurred. The raid is raising questions that no American can—o...
Jan 30, 2025•28 min•Ep. 250124
On “Trumpland with Alex Wagner,” MSNBC’s Alex Wagner travels the country talking with the people on the frontlines of Trump’s policies and promises. On this very first episode, Alex travels to DC—but not for the inauguration. Hours after President Trump was sworn into office for the second time, he began issuing a series of presidential pardons for the January 6th insurrection. Listen along as Alex speaks to the inmates, their families, and the police officers who survived one of the most violen...
Jan 24, 2025•33 min•Ep. 250123
President Trump has an ambitious agenda, with plans that could reshape the country. And MSNBC’s Alex Wagner will be covering it all from the frontlines. On “Trumpland with Alex Wagner,” you can join her as she travels the country for the first 100 days of the Trump presidency, talking to the people at the center of the president’s policies and promises. Get new episodes of “Trumpland with Alex Wagner” on Thursday evenings during Trump’s first 100 days. And sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podc...
Jan 23, 2025•47 sec
Rachel Maddow remarks on the qualitative difference in the type of people Donald Trump is staffing his new administration with compared to his first administration and the fact that their deliberate antagonism and abuse of power means many political norms are not applicable.
Jan 18, 2025•42 min•Ep. 250117
In an unusual move, House Speaker Mike Johnson removed Rep. Mike Turner, the Republican head of the House Intelligence committee and replaced him with Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., someone with greater fealty to Donald Trump. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi joins Alex Wagner to discuss.
Jan 17, 2025•41 min•Ep. 250116
Pam Bondi appears likely to become the kind of attorney general Donald Trump wished for through his entire first term: absolute fealty and commitment to his avenging his petty grievances. But while her spirit is willing, the lack of a factual basis for many of Trump's vendettas is likely to put her at risk of leaving Trump disappointed and unfulfilled. David Rohde, NBC News national security editor, discusses with Alex Wagner.
Jan 16, 2025•42 min•Ep. 250115
Though clearly prepared in advance with techniques to avoid addressing the many concerns raised about his qualifications to be secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth still struggled as Democrats unloaded questions about his serial infidelities, sexual assault accusations, drinking problem, lack of leadership experience and other shortcomings at his confirmation hearing. Senator Tim Kaine talks with Alex Wagner about why Donald Trump has made a mistake in choosing Fox News personality Hegseth....
Jan 15, 2025•42 min•Ep. 250114
Martin Adams, former general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, blows up some right-wing myths about the water supply in Pacific Palisades, and talks with Alex Wagner about the realities of municipal water systems and ideas for adapting a system built for occasional residential fires to deal with a large scale, community-wide fire.
Jan 11, 2025•41 min•Ep. 250110
The increasing risk and destruction from climate-related disasters is so plain that in some states where climate-driven fires and storms are especially devastating, some insurers are withdrawing coverage for flooding and fires. Jeff Goodell, climate journalist and author of "The Heat Will Kill You First," talks with Alex Wagner about how climate-driven disasters are forcing a change in how we live.
Jan 10, 2025•42 min•Ep. 250109
Still weeks away from returning to office, Donald Trump is showing himself to be as petty and vindictive as he was in his first term, turning the tragic, devastating wildfire crisis in Los Angeles into a political gotcha game with distorted lies and accusations.
Jan 09, 2025•41 min•Ep. 250108
Alex Wagner takes a closer look at the roots of Donald Trump's fixation of re-taking possession of the Panama Canal and adding Greenland and Canada as new American territories, and whether there is cause for concern in Trump's expansionist inclinations despite the his inherent goofiness.
Jan 08, 2025•42 min•Ep. 250107
Judge Juan Merchan denied Donald Trump's motion to dismiss his hush money case in New York and scheduled a sentencing for January 10th, which could mean that Donald Trump will officially be a felon when he is sworn in as president. Lisa Rubin, MSNBC legal correspondent, and Kristy Greenberg, former federal prosecutor, explain what options Trump has left and what is likely to happen.
Jan 04, 2025•42 min•Ep. 250103
Rep. Jasmine Crockett talks with Ali Velshi about the Republican chaos threatening to entangle House Speaker Mike Johnson in a familiar, embarrassing fight to retain the speakership into the new Congress with a tiny majority and having squandered the good will of his colleagues across the aisle who might otherwise save him.
Jan 03, 2025•41 min•Ep. 250102
A special two hour edition of Alex Wagner Tonight.
Dec 28, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 241227
Plus, Trump's anti-immigration plans face resource challenge at the state level
Dec 25, 2024•41 min•Ep. 241224
Republicans are mired in chaos and infighting as they humiliate themselves on the national stage again without being able to pass a spending bill to keep the federal government open. Elon Musk is only making matters worse, but that hasn't deterred a faction of the Republican Party from wanting to give him a more formal leadership role. Musk, meanwhile, is only a portion of the corporate feeding frenzy taking advantage of Donald Trump's weaknesses.
Dec 20, 2024•42 min•Ep. 241219
After Elon Musk expressed his opposition to a new spending bill, Donald Trump and his MAGA supporters followed suit, undermining House Speaker Mike Johnson and steering the U.S. toward a federal government shutdown. Meanwhile, Democrats are stepping away from the Republican chaos, leaving the GOP stuck in its own inability to govern.
Dec 19, 2024•42 min•Ep. 241218
Donald Trump is pressing his grievances with the media through lawsuits, but his case against the Des Moines Register over poll results he didn't like is so poorly conceived from a legal standpoint that his real goal of using the court system as an intimidation weapon is hard to miss.
Dec 18, 2024•43 min•Ep. 241217
As some Senate Republicans recoil at some of Donald Trump's more extreme picks to serve in his administration, Trump is turning up the pressure on anyone who would dare defy him. Eric Cortellessa, staff writer for Time, and Tara Palmeri, senior political correspondent for Puck News, discuss.
Dec 14, 2024•42 min•Ep. 241213
