There’s been a lot of hand wringing this week as Democrats read Chicken Little headlines, leading to some nerves about Biden’s prospects this fall. But Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri seek to calm the waters and highlight what Biden has going for him beyond his legislative record: laying the foundation for a robust ground game operation. Guy Cecil, former head of the Super PAC Priorities USA, joins this episode to describe what a sturdy o...
May 30, 2024•38 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast When thinking about how to win 2024, don’t sleep on the swing voter. That’s the takeaway Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri hope to get across. But it’s a “Yes, and...” scenario. Biden needs to keep touting his wins on the economy and jobs, while highlighting where Republicans are blocking progress: on reforms to immigration and policing. Then, former U.S. Attorney and law professor Barbara McQuade stops in to recap the highs and lows from D...
May 23, 2024•39 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast As Michael Cohen testified against Trump in Manhattan, Biden notched a win by setting the parameters for two presidential debates. Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri break down this week's primary results and why healthcare should stay front and center in the 2024 campaign. Then, Deborah Scott of Georgia STAND-UP shares what her organization is doing to energize voting coalitions in her state, as new waves of voter suppression tactics keep c...
May 16, 2024•41 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast Six months out from the election, and a few issues are converging. Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri drill down on what’s working and what President Biden needs to focus on around a few key issues like immigration, the war in Gaza and reproductive rights. And after Senator Tim Scott tied himself in knots to avoid saying he’d accept the 2024 election results, it's a good time to check in with elections lawyer Marc Elias about coming legal sh...
May 09, 2024•40 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast What do the newest generation of voters want? What engages them and motivates them? This is a question that's central to 2024, as protests over Gaza continue on college campuses nationwide. Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri check in with Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, Executive Director of NextGen America, to get at the heart of how to reach this important constituency. And a review of Trump’s Time magazine profile, in which he’s telling voters...
May 03, 2024•41 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast This year's White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner features NBC News Senior White House Correspondent and President of the White House Correspondents' Association, Kelly O'Donnell. With remarks from President Joe Biden and Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update host Colin Jost. Listen to the event here.
Apr 28, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast An extraordinary phase of the 2024 race unfolding this week as Donald Trump finds himself stuck in a Manhattan courtroom and the focus of historic Supreme Court arguments, while President Biden sprints across a major battleground state. Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri zero in on that stunning split screen and what it could mean for the presidential race. Plus, Claire and Jen talk to constitutional law professor Michele Goodwin about the c...
Apr 25, 2024•35 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast "We have our jury,” announced Judge Juan Merchan late Thursday as the historic trial against the former president continues. Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri explore the heart of the case and underscore the finer points of jury selection ( voir dire ) with former US attorney and law professor Joyce Vance. Plus, a look at Biden’s three-day stop in Pennsylvania and Speaker Johnson’s big bet on bringing foreign aid votes to the floor this wee...
Apr 18, 2024•35 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast This week, as Biden announced a new student debt relief plan, Trump waffled on his reproductive rights position. Former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri drill down on the implications of both for 2024. Then, MSNBC’s All In host Chris Hayes stops by to talk shop about a new recurring series on his Why Is This Happening? podcast. Claire, Jen and Chris highlight the unique moment we’re in: for the first time in over a century, we have two can...
Apr 12, 2024•38 min•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast As a bonus for listeners, we’re sharing the first episode of a special series from “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast,” called “WITHpod 2024: The Stakes.” For the first time since 1892, we have an election in which both candidates have presidential records. It’s a unique chance to take a hard look at what both Joe Biden and Donald Trump have actually done as president. Chris Hayes talks to experts about both candidates’ records on specific policy areas. This week, Aaron Reichlin-Mel...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tensions are elevated as protests continue in Israel and Trump is scrambling for cash. This week, former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri offer Team Biden the strategy of walking and chewing gum at the same time. Then, Daria Dawson, Executive Director of America Votes , joins to highlight how the organization is working to mobilize voters this fall. Lastly, Claire and Jen break down the ripple effects both Florida Supreme Court decisions w...
Apr 04, 2024•39 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast As we get closer to Trump's first criminal trial, Former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri sit down for a conversation with NBC News presidential historian Michael Beschloss on how former president Trump has changed long held presidential traditions, and how history will judge this time. The focus then shifts to compare and contrast how former presidents have worked with (or against) the American legal system when they have been accused of ...
Mar 28, 2024•37 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast Five more states held primaries this week, and former Vice President Pence joined the growing list of Trump’s former cabinet members that just can’t back him in 2024. Former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri analyze the trends and the importance of Biden’s effort to court Latino voters. Then, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes stops in to share what his team is doing to expose the use of generative A.I. to spread misinformation in our...
Mar 21, 2024•40 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast President Biden and Vice President Harris are hitting the road. Former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri weigh in on the post-State of the Union tour, including the Veep’s stop at an abortion clinic in Minnesota. And they get into Majority Leader Schumer’s direct call for new elections in Israel. Then, NBC’s Director of Elections, John Lapinski stops in to pull apart how to think about polling in 2024. And Claire and Jen shine a light on fo...
Mar 15, 2024•39 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast President Joe Biden delivered his third State of the Union address Thursday night. Listen here for the full speech followed by expert analysis from MSNBC’s political team, led by Rachel Maddow. For more political coverage, visit msnbc.com .
Mar 08, 2024•2 hr 20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Though 2024’s Super Tuesday issued few surprises, there were nuanced insights for Democrats and troubling signs for Trump. Former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri look at lessons learned from the 15 state contests. Then, Third Way’s Matt Bennett joins to detail No Labels' well publicized gathering that is not opened to the public, to decide if they’ll enter a third-party candidate into the race. Finally, Claire and Jen shine a light on Pro...
Mar 08, 2024•38 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast Voters in 16 states cast their ballots in presidential primaries across the country this Super Tuesday. As expected, Joe Biden and Donald Trump won the majority of their respective party’s delegates while Nikki Haley struggled to pick up wins. Listen here to a portion of the coverage as Rachel Maddow and MSNBC’s political team analyze the results in real time as polls close. This portion of the conversation was pulled from the 9:00-11:00pm ET hours. For more results, check out msnbc.com ....
Mar 06, 2024•2 hr 45 min•Transcript available on Metacast On a special “How To Win 2024’ edition, live from the 92nd Street Y, MSNBC’s Katy Tur hosts former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jen Palmieri to talk about Biden’s record, Trump’s base of support and what's at stake in the coming presidential election. Among the issues they touch on: the war in Gaza, the Alabama IVF ruling, the immigration stalemate, and the Supreme Court decision to hear Trump’s immunity claim. Plus: questions from the audience bring so...
Mar 02, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast With Michigan and South Carolina in the rear view, former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Comms Director Jen Palmieri digest the results from their unique perspective, diverging from much of the media coverage. And onward to Super Tuesday with former Lt. Governor and Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele. They talk about Nikki Haley’s odds, the departure of Ronna McDaniel and Mitch McConnell from GOP party leadership, and how to think about the tumult among Republica...
Feb 29, 2024•34 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast The results of South Carolina’s Republican primary are in, with NBC’s Decision Desk calling the race for former President Donald Trump within moments of polls closing. Though she lost in her home state, Nikki Haley vowed to continue to Super Tuesday in her concession speech. Listen here as MSNBC’s political team, led by Rachel Maddow, analyzes the results in real time.
Feb 25, 2024•2 hr 58 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a week that saw the Alabama Supreme Court decide that frozen embryos are children and Joe Manchin decide against a third-party run, Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Comms Director Jen Palmieri dig into the week's ups and downs through their unique strategy lens. They also welcome Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas to detail a healing community in the wake of gun violence in his city, and how to approach common sense gun reform solutions. Plus: a spotlight on Russia’s continued ...
Feb 22, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Getting into their campaign mode three-point stance, Senator Claire McCaskill and White House Comms Director Jen Palmieri shift gears to look at the biggest news of the week from their unique comms and strategy lens. And after last week’s report from Special Counsel Hur that's put a spotlight on Biden, veteran prosecutor Andrew Weissmann talks about the politics of what should not have been a political report. Then, Claire and Jen rip off the band aid to speak directly about Biden’s age and cand...
Feb 16, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments today in the unprecedented ballot disqualification case that could see former President Donald Trump removed from the primary ballot in Colorado. Listen here as MSNBC’s political team, led by Rachel Maddow, offers their expert analysis.
Feb 09, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a week of epic fails from the House and Senate GOP on Mayorkas and immigration, Sen. Claire McCaskill and Jennifer Palmieri highlight the significant chasm between Biden and Trump’s campaign coffers. Like Biden, the country’s economic picture is pretty rosy, so why does their guest, economist Jason Furman, think Biden is trailing Trump on the economy? And why does Nikki Haley keep insisting the presidential race comes down to her vs. Kamala Harris? Claire and Jen dig in. Subscribe to the H...
Feb 08, 2024•39 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast Former Senator Claire McCaskill and Jennifer Palmieri dig into the week's biggest stories from the campaign trail including Nikki Haley's new “Grumpy Old Men” ad campaign and Liz Cheney trolling on X. Also, this week, the House impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas takes shape, despite conservatives like Alan Dershowitz saying it’s a bad idea. Jon Ralston, founder and CEO of The Nevada Independent, also stops by to look ahead to the complicated primaries in Nevada. Plus, ...
Feb 02, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast With the New Hampshire primary in the rearview, Senator Claire McCaskill and Jennifer Palmieri break down what the results from the Granite state mean for Nikki Haley, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. And NBC’s resident Biden-ologist Mike Memoli stops in for a look at what the Biden re-election campaign is up to, and what core issues he needs to address with voters. Plus: A spotlight on the No Labels effort to get a third-party candidate on the ballot without disclosing donors or who they will put fo...
Jan 26, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast As the polls closed in New Hampshire and the results came in, MSNBC’s political team, led by Rachel Maddow, were live on air to analyze what the voters in the Granite State had to say in Tuesday's primary, including an appearance by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Listen as Rachel, Steve Kornacki, and guests share their takeaways and how this outcome informs the campaigns of Nikki Haley and Donald Trump as they look to next month's South Carolina contest. Note: this is a portion of our special cove...
Jan 24, 2024•2 hr 37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump won big in Monday’s Iowa Caucuses leaving Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley far behind. Former Senator Claire McCaskill and Jennifer Palmieri analyze Trump’s win and explain why it may not be the landslide his campaign is touting. Plus: a look ahead to the upcoming New Hampshire primary, where the race is up for grabs given the state's high percentage of independent voters. For that, Claire and Jen are joined by the former chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party, Jennifer Horn. And a...
Jan 18, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Iowa Caucuses have wrapped up and the result is clear: Trump was the run-away winner. Ron DeSantis came in second. And Vivek Ramaswamy is now out of the 2024 race. MSNBC’s political team, led by Rachel Maddow, followed the twists and turns of the night live on TV. Listen here as Rachel, Steve Kornacki, and others analyze the results in real time.
Jan 16, 2024•2 hr 52 min•Transcript available on Metacast With the Iowa Caucuses days away, Katy Tur hosts MSNBC’s ‘How To Win’ TV special with Steve Kornacki. Guests include former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri, Iowa pollster Ann Selzer and former Ohio Governor John Kasich, joining to break down the takeaways from the final Des Moines Register/NBC poll and check in with campaigns on the ground in Iowa.
Jan 14, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast