The Weekend on MS NOW

“We have the votes to win” @khanna.house.gov predicts Democrats will prevail in a vote curbing Pres. Trump’s Iran war powers when congress returns this week. House Republican leaders abruptly canceled a vote before the Memorial Day recess after it became clear it was likely to pass.

While Trump is not saying who he plans to back for president in 2028, questions are swirling around JD Vance and Marco Rubio’s chances at becoming the frontrunner. Republican strategist Annalyse Keller weighs in and makes her own 2028 prediction.

“In essence, he puts a bullseye on the judge’s back by making these comments.” @joycewhitevance.bsky.social discusses the danger when Trump attacks judges and calls them and their family members out by name for rulings he doesn’t agree with.

“This is a screening tool for early signs of cognitive decline or dementia” @vinguptamd.bsky.social explains why Trump’s victory lap after getting a 30/30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment exam is not “the flex that he thinks it is.”

“It breaks through in the sense of corruption” NOTUS columnist @danamilbank.bsky.social breaks down how voters are responding to Trump’s focus on vanity projects as Americans struggle with rising prices.

On the latest episode of “Clock It with @symonedsanders.bsky.social and @eugenedaniels2.bsky.social” stand-up comic @wkamaubell.bsky.social joins to discuss the state of comedy as Kevin Hart faces backlash from his controversial Netflix special.

“She seemed to indicate that she didn't think it was appropriate to meet with them for some reason.” @repsuhas.bsky.social discusses former AG Pam Bondi’s response during her transcribed interview with the House Oversight Committee when he asked her why she wouldn’t meet with Epstein survivors.

“If we’re standing by norms while they’re breaking them, well that’s the recipe for disaster” @chrismurphyct.bsky.social explains why congressional Democrats increasingly need to fight fire with fire as the Trump admin. and GOP work overtime to erode democracy and institutional norms.

"It’s a signal to people shut up and stay out of politics.” @chrismurphyct.bsky.social on the Justice Department probe of a non-profit linked to billionaire Democratic donor Reid Hoffman over its funding of E. Jean Carroll's legal bills. Carroll won two civil lawsuits against President Trump.

A lightning round determined this year’s National Spelling Bee Champion, and to get into the spirit, The Weekend hosts put their skills to the test in a spell-off.

“It is politically dumb; real people can see and understand that they have misplaced priorities” @anthonycoley.bsky.social on why Americans may not react kindly to the Trump admin.'s push to put the President’s face on a $250 dollar bill amid efforts to center Trump in America's 250th anniversary.

“We have to get back to some basics...I think we ought not get sucked into playing another person's game.” @repjamesclyburn.bsky.social tells @eugenedaniels2.bsky.social in an exclusive sit-down what Democrats should do to gain back the House majority and win in 2028.

“There's no going back to that world before. “ New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser on a potential agreement to end the war in Iran. President Trump said a deal to end the war was “largely negotiated” but details of the proposal remain unclear.

“People are feeling very angry and despondent...this is going to power our voters in the next election.” Georgia State Senator Nikki Merritt on how voters in her state are thinking about President Trump’s policies as the country looks ahead to the midterm elections.

“...total callousness, total lack of understanding [of] how people across this country [are] hurting.” Rep. @debbiedingell.house.gov slams President Trump as the disconnect deepens between his priorities and what the American people want from him, especially as they struggle economically.

“There’s still a lot of internal investigations and potential plans to beef up security in the near future” MS Now White House Reporter Jake Traylor provides an update on security protocols after the Secret Service shot a gunman who opened fire near the White House Saturday evening.

“We don’t shut people up because they criticize us” Editor-At-Large at “Latenighter” Bill Carter sounds off on the Trump admin. over their alleged role in the firing of “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert after his final episode aired Thursday night.

"Republicans never had this low of a rating of Trump economy [that] we are seeing right now.” @byheatherlong.bsky.social on how the rising prices are translating to a historic-low sentiment among Americans and sinking approval ratings for the President.

“It's worth potentially billions of dollars.” @lawyeroyer.com explains that while Trump may be barred from being paid in his DOJ settlement, the IRS audit immunity for him, his family, and his businesses could be worth so much more and there may be little any future administration can do about it.

On the latest episode of “Clock It with @symonedsanders.bsky.social and @eugenedaniels2.bsky.social” they discuss the final curtain call for “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and what Byron Allen, the successor to Colbert's time slot, will do with the airtime.

“Highly unusual” Former CIA Director John Brennan on Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s investigation into the 2020 election and other domestic activities. Gabbard announced her resignation from the Trump administration Friday citing her husband’s cancer diagnosis.

“When you don’t have a message, you start talking nonsense” Republican strategist Matthew Bartlett and Director of external affairs for DGA Ofirah Yheskel react to those shocking comments from Fox host Jesse Watters about how to achieve more Black representation in Congress.

"An assault on all of us.” @corybooker.com blasts the erosion of voting rights as Republican-led states race to redraw congressional maps. On Saturday Americans mobilized for voting rights at demonstrations across the south.

“My soul and my heart ache in a way I haven't felt in a long time.” @corybooker.com on efforts to wipe away the work of civil rights leaders, including the late Rep. John Lewis, with the Supreme Court’s gutting of the Voting Rights Act as Republican-led states race to redraw congressional maps.

“It’s always dangerous when the president misleads the public.” Former CIA Director John Brennan on President Trump’s claims Iran’s missile capabilities are “decimated.” U.S. intelligence reports found Iran maintains 70% of its prewar missile stockpile despite months of war.

“The problem is that decent and respectable people become immediately compromised in the wake of wanting to be Trump’s sycophants.” Fmr. State Rep. Don Calloway on why Rep. Julia Letlow’s Trump endorsement could tarnish her reputation as she advances in the Louisiana Senate Republican primary.

“I’m dealing with problems that have existed for 3+ decades and I want time to finish my job.” Incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on her campaign in a pivotal mayoral primary against former "The Hills" reality star and Republican Spencer Pratt

“I do think it will embolden the election denialism movement in this country.” Colorado Sec. of State @jenagriswold.bsky.social describes why she believes Gov. Polis’ clemency of election denier Tina Peters is a “gross injustice to the people of Colorado, to our democracy, and to our nation.”

“This is part of a much larger story to try to empower militia & paramilitary groups who have previously enacted violence in Trump's name, who are willing to do so again." @brendanballou.bsky.social on Trump’s reported plan for a “weaponization” fund to compensate allies, including Jan. 6 rioters.

“Is there anyone that is an ethics firewall left at the DOJ?” The former head of the DOJ’s ethics office, Joseph Tirrell, who advised then-Attorney General Bondi & Deputy Attorney General Blanche before being fired without explanation, lays out what it means when the ethics staff has been gutted.

“Iran now has more leverage after 3 months of war than it had beforehand” Bloomberg Chief Geoeconomic analyst @jenniewelch.bsky.social explains how President Trump underestimated Iran’s military capabilities before launching an attack on the country.

“No clear wins” Lara Seligman, National Security Reporter for The Wall Street Journal on President Trump’s trip to China this week as his summit with China’s leader Xi Jinping produced no policy breakthroughs on critical issues such as trade, Taiwan and the Iran war.

“If the economy continues to struggle in this way, it’s going to be hard for anything else to overshadow that” Republican strategist Annalyse Keller explains that while there is time left until the midterms, the pain of Trump’s economy could backfire on Republicans this fall.

“It would be better if we had people who are more independent minded on all sides” CA independent Congressman Kevin Kiley explains why more Republicans are not calling out the Trump administration amid economic turmoil over the war in Iran.

“He’s unwell, he’s irrational and he doesn’t know how to get out of this” @repdean.bsky.social blasts President Trump’s “reckless and self-inflicted” Iran war as a tenuous U.S.-Iran ceasefire is tested, while as the price of gas hits a more than 50% increase since the start of the war.

“It is an attempt to take away Black political voice in the United States Congress” @justinjpearson.bsky.social sounds off on the TN GOP following their newly drawn congressional map that abolishes a majority Black district in Memphis.

“President Trump wants to act like words and facts no longer matter.” @adamsmith.house.gov blasts Pres. Trump’s claim that a ceasefire with Iran is still holding despite the U.S. and Iran trading strikes. Pres. Trump called U.S. strikes on Iran a "love tap" and not a sign the ceasefire was over.

On the latest episode of “Clock It with @symonedsanders.bsky.social and @eugenedaniels2.bsky.social”  Honey Magazine Co-founder and Former Editor-in-chief of Ebony Magazine @mskierna.bsky.social discuss the Met Gala and the controversy surrounding the star-studded event.

Gen Z conservatives are souring on Trump’s GOP as economic worries mount and the war in Iran drags on. @meganmesserly.bsky.social weighs in on what this means for Republicans ahead of the midterms.

“Let’s not forget [Republicans] started this game...Democrats can win at the ballot box...we just have to prove it.” @adrienneelrod.bsky.social on what’s next for Democrats after the Virginia Supreme Court struck down the party’s redistricting map.

“We need a rebuilding of trust as the top priority” @lawyeroyer.com describes what needs to be done to build back the Justice Department following the moves made by the Trump administration because as she claims “the Justice Department as we know it, as we knew it, is dead."

“This is not a pandemic…This isn’t another covid.” Dr. Daniel Jernigan, who ran the C.D.C.’s emerging disease center, provides a reality check on the latest hantavirus outbreak and why the risk to the American public is “extremely low.”

“Trying to bludgeon reality with words.” Former U.S. diplomat Alan Eyre on President Trump’s claims about the status of the Iran war as the U.S. awaits Iran’s response to a peace proposal and as questions surround the tenuous “ceasefire” after both sides traded strikes.

“The next time we have that power, we need to use it, not for the special interests as Republicans have done but in service to the American people.” Fmr. AG @ericholder.bsky.social implores Democrats to use future power to pass legislation banning partisan, racial gerrymandering among other reforms.

“This isn't just a Black thing. This isn't just a Hispanic thing. This is also something that ought to concern every American.” Fmr. Attorney General @ericholder.bsky.social explains how the Supreme Court has helped the GOP hold the majority of power with the minority of popular support.

“It's not about what a Democratic Department of Justice will do against Republicans. It's about trying to reestablish the rule of law.” @raskin.house.gov talks about the need for accountability against the Trump administration without getting “into a cycle of political vengeance.”

One year ago, The Weekend with @jonathancapehart.bsky.social, @eugenedaniels2.bsky.social, and Jackie Alemany launched on MS Now. The hosts look back on this year!

“[Trump] is the single, most effective conman in American history...it’s really hard to fathom.” @repbrendanboyle.bsky.social calls out the President for his attempt to paint a rosy picture of the economy while everyday Americans continue to feel pain in their pockets.

“A knife in the heart for people who are struggling.” Robin Givhan, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic, on the annual Met Gala and the backlash over billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos serving as honorary chairs of this year's star-studded event.

”Absolute disgrace.” @moulton.house.gov blasts Pres. Trump’s comment U.S. forces are acting “like pirates” seizing ships in the Strait of Hormuz. It comes as President Trump skirted a deadline for congressional authorization for the Iran war by denying it is still underway.

“What they should be worried about is whether any of them engaged in criminal conduct to bring these charges.” @milestaylor.bsky.social warns those in the Trump administration who were involved in the "chain of these decisions" to indict James Comey that it could put them in legal jeopardy.

On the latest episode of “Clock It with @symonedsanders.bsky.social and @eugenedaniels2.bsky.social” @jenpsaki.bsky.social and @alivitali.bsky.social discuss the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ dinner and Trump’s immediate pivot to justify his ballroom in the aftermath.

“This is an absolute gift if you’re running against [Republicans]...I could not have invented a stupider thing for them to do.” @milestaylor.bsky.social on the effort from Trump’s GOP to fund his White House ballroom as Americans’ economic worries mount.

"He’s only got one move.” Wall Street Journal National Security Reporter Alex Ward on Pres. Trump’s strategy on Iran as he claims the U.S. might be “better off" without a deal to end the war. Trump is trying to stop the clock on congressional approval of the war saying it is "terminated."

MS Now's @lbarronlopez.bsky.social details her exclusive reporting on how the Trump Administration reassured a deported DACA recipient that he would return home, but instead he was detained by ICE. She also shares what his sister wishes she could tell the President.

“There was no security at the entrance of the lobby” @repsuhas.bsky.social says security at the Washington Hilton hotel was lax as he recounts those harrowing moments when gun shots rang out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Mentalist Oz Pearlman will headline tonight’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, but before that, he tried his tricks on The Weekend hosts.

“What I’m interested in is fixing the problems that we have in this party” @kenmartin.bsky.social gives an update on why the DNC has yet to release their autopsy report from the 2024 election.

“If anyone who has an elderly family member, if they saw this kind of behavior they would be incredibly concerned.” @kurtbardella.bsky.social discusses the “unstable” and “chaotic” middle of the night social media posts coming from President Trump and how it adds to Republicans’ midterm concerns.

On the latest episode of “Clock It with @symonedsanders.bsky.social and @eugenedaniels2.bsky.social” cultural and fashion icon Michaela Angela Davis looks back on the heyday of Black media.

Donald Trump is planning to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner tonight for the first time since taking office - after years of attacking the press. The Weekend hosts weigh in.

“Immigration is a civil thing; it’s not intended to be correctional or punitive” @ag.state.mn.us blasts the Trump admin.’s defense of alleged inhumane treatment by ICE after a group of Texas protesters came together to demand a controversial family detention center be shut down.

“It’s not at all clear they have the desire, the bandwidth, to put in the time necessary to get this done.” Former Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer on President Trump’s claims that a deal to end the war in Iran could be reached within “days.”

“Unfortunately there were a lot of Democrats who empowered this President to take that vote, including my primary opponent Congresswoman Angie Craig” @ltgovflanagan.mn.gov breaks down the harm caused by the ‘Laken Riley Act’ as the Trump administration continues their extreme immigration policies.

“Trump is politically toxic in their countries.” Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder on European leaders, including some on the far right, distancing themselves from President Trump over his war in Iran and his attacks on Pope Leo XIV.

“What we’ve done is created long-term economic pain and long-term security risk for people” @jayapal.house.gov breaks down why Secretary Scott Bessent’s comments on the economy are “flipped on its head” as the Trump admin. contends with high prices amid the Iran war.

"I think a lot of these cases are falling apart.” Fmr. CIA Dir. John Brennan responds to the Trump DOJ dismissing the lead prosecutor investigating him after she told her superiors that there was no justification to bring criminal charges against him.

A Kennedy Center insider recounts cronyism and chaos over the course of his 10 months working under Richard Grenell. Among the red flags he witnessed: Grenell aggressively pitched those at an Oct. 7 commemoration to donate money if they wanted to prevent the Israeli lounge from being given away.