The Weeknight on MS NOW

The Weeknight hosts react to Trump's decision to elevate his former personal lawyer Todd Blanche to attorney general.

@michaelsteele.bsky.social: Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine, should step aside amid scandals

“Apocalyptic moment for journalism”: CBS News faces mounting questions after firing Scott Pelley, whose blistering rebuke accused network leadership of incompetence and caving to pressure. @milestaylor.bsky.social, former DHS chief of staff and founder of @defiance.org, joins The Weeknight.

"Disgraceful!': @danielsgoldman.dg4ny.co joins The Weeknight as Todd Blanche faces tough questions on Capitol Hill and Trump taps Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence.

PRIMARY NIGHT! Polls are closing in New Jersey as voters head to the polls in six states. The Weeknight tracks the key races and what they could mean for control of Congress.

“Extreme MAGA nuts with no experience”: @ms.now political analyst and former Missouri Sen. @clairecmc.bsky.social responds to Trump's decision to name Bill Pulte acting director of national intelligence despite having no known national security experience.

"Check thyself": @michaelsteele.bsky.social reacts as Trump plans a UFC fight on the White House lawn for his 80th birthday.

"As miserable as possible”: Andrea Flores on Trump’s immigration tactics Ex-DHS and White House official @andreaflores.bsky.social joins The Weeknight to discuss Trump's immigration crackdown and whether mass detention is necessary to enforce immigration laws.

@normeisen.bsky.social: “Heinous slush fund” Former Obama ethics czar Norm Eisen joins The Weeknight after @ms.now confirms the White House plans to drop its controversial compensation fund.

@mmfa.bsky.social CEO calls for "more street fighters" in the fight for free press @goangelo.bsky.social joins The Weeknight to discuss reports of an explosive staff meeting at CBS News' 60 Minutes, where a veteran correspondent reportedly unloaded on network executives.

Trump “working overtime” to make America250 about himself: Ordering the U.S. Treasury to print a prototype for a $250 bill with his face on it, installing a UFC cage match on the White House lawn, and a “freedom 250 Grand Prix” are just a few of the things Trump is doing to hijack America’s birthday

MS NOW Exclusive: “The Weekend” host Eugene Daniels shares an exclusive clip of his sit-down with South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, days after the state legislature struck down the GOP’s gerrymandered congressional map that would have eliminated his district.

“The goal here is to silence them”: MS NOW legal analyst Kristy Greenberg says the Trump DOJ’s targeting of E. Jean Carroll, a woman who accused the president of sexual assault, is to silence any victims who come forward.

“Congress has to do its job”: Dem @levin.house.gov calls Trump’s corruption “the root of all other challenges” as a founding member of the "End Corruption Caucus," which is demanding the chamber denounce it in all forms and oppose any policies that benefit special interests.

“Cost and corruption cut across all lines”: @chuckrocha.bsky.social, Senior Advisor to the James Talarico campaign, says decades of GOP leadership has hurt Texans, regardless of their political affiliation.

“Texas is a battleground state” in 2028: The Weeknight reacts to voter turnout and changing demographics in Texas ahead of the highly anticipated Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton.

“A beautiful day”: The Weeknight hosts respond to the South Carolina State Senate blocking a gerrymandered congressional map that would have erased the state’s only majority-Black district.

“Groveled at the feet of a dictator”: Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendal Scudder says Sen. John Cornyn’s chances of winning his contentious runoff election against Trump-backed Ken Paxton are slim, despite years of sucking up to Trump with no guarantees of loyalty.

“Cult-like behavior”: MS Now Political Analyst Cornell Belcher and “The Weeknight” hosts respond to Trump’s claims of being in great health, despite seemingly dozing off in meetings and glaring inconsistencies between his official height and weight compared to NFL athletes.

“A stain on our democracy”: NAACP general counsel Kristen Clarke describes Trump’s efforts to rig the midterm elections in the South, and what her organization is doing to fight back.

“He is not well”: The Weeknight reacts to a disturbing new AI video Trump posted on X depicting him throwing former Late Show host Stephen Colbert in the garbage, following the iconic late-night show’s last episode.

“Keep politics out of intelligence”: Fmr. White House national security council coordinator John Kirby hopes Tulsi Gabbard's replacement will remain non-partisan, after her announcement that she’s stepping down from her role to support her husband as he battles a rare form of cancer.

“Focused on everything else but what voters want”: Ex-DOJ official and MS NOW political analyst @anthonycoley.bsky.social says Trump is “hemorrhaging” support over rising costs

Warnock calls SCOTUS "intellectually dishonest" BREAKING: PRIMARY NIGHT and Republicans are already looking beyond 2026. New redistricting battles are exploding as concerns grow over who gets power and who gets pushed out of the map. @warnock.senate.gov joins The Weeknight.

“Prove them wrong”: @repjamesclyburn.bsky.social, South Carolina’s only Black Democratic congressman, joins The Weeknight to discuss GOP efforts to gerrymander him out of his seat.

@michaelsteele.bsky.social RIPS Hegseth for campaign stunt in Kentucky Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing backlash after joining the campaign trail in Kentucky for a Trump aligned candidate in a Republican primary, a move critics say crosses a major line for a sitting Pentagon chief.

“A societal failure” Three people were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, police said during a press conference. @ms.now national security analyst and former FBI assistant special agent in charge @michael-feinberg.bsky.social joins The Weeknight.

@ayman.msnbc.com shares imam’s reaction after shooting Three people were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Ayman Mohyeldin, who spoke to Imam Taha Hassane of the San Diego Islamic Center after the shooting, joins The Weeknight.

“Big, beautiful ballroom”: @aliciamenendez.bsky.social torches Trump for trying to distract from mounting questions and economic fallout surrounding his high stakes China trip.

“I fell for the lies”: Rich Logis, founder of @leavingmaga.org, joins The Weeknight as scrutiny grows over Trump’s ethics and spending priorities.

@ms.now political analyst @basilsmiklephd.bsky.social on why “the midterms are not going to save us” – and what can be done about it

"Sick of it”: Senate Dem warns of DEFECTIONS in House and Senate GOP @markey.senate.gov joins The Weeknight to discuss rising economic concerns and the political stakes surrounding Trump’s meeting in Beijing.

Former CIA Director John Brennan: “When will they find their integrity?” Todd Blanche was reportedly told to recuse himself from Trump-related DOJ matters. Ex-CIA Director John Brennan joins The Weeknight with a message for Trump officials.

"The president does not care about you” @repbrendanboyle.bsky.social joins The Weeknight after President Trump said Americans’ financial struggles are “not even a little bit” part of his calculations as the economic fallout from the Iran war drives up gas prices and inflation.

"Career-ending comment” Amid war, Trump says he doesn’t "think about Americans’ financial situation." @symonedsanders.bsky.social and @eugenedaniels2.bsky.social react on The Weeknight.

“I am no longer a Jane Doe” A survivor identified only as “Roza” says Jeffrey Epstein abused and raped her for years. At a shadow hearing in Palm Beach, Democrats examined how Epstein’s sweetheart plea deal helped protect his sex trafficking network. The Weeknight reports the latest.

“The golden Don” Nothing captures Donald Trump’s ego and detachment from reality quite like the unveiling of a 22-foot gilded “Don Colossus” statue at his Florida golf course. The Weeknight hosts respond.

Ex-CDC official: No pandemic risk with hantavirus, but stay cautious As hantavirus cases emerge, Trump-era funding cuts and CDC staffing losses face a real-world stress test. Former CDC chief medical officer Debra Houry joins The Weeknight as questions intensify about whether the U.S. is prepared.

@booker.senate.gov: “Bibi and Donald Trump are liars” Trump rejects Iran’s latest offer to end the war he started as consequences spiral. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., joins The Weeknight to discuss the growing political fallout at home and abroad.

@staceyabrams.com: “Do not abandon the South. They incubate evil here, but they farm it out everywhere” Voting rights activist Stacey Abrams joins The Weeknight just after Tennessee Republicans fast-tracked a new gerrymandered map that wipes out the state’s only Democratic, majority-Black district.

“Panic button”: @ms.now senior investigative reporter @carolleonnig.bsky.social joins The Weeknight to discuss her new reporting on Kash Patel ordering polygraph tests for staff. She discusses what the revelations mean for Patel’s leadership and how the fallout is impacting President Trump.

@aliciamenendez.bsky.social: “Loyalty over competence” The Weeknight hosts break down the mounting fallout from a wave of damaging headlines surrounding Kash Patel.

Kurt Bardella on Trump event: “Mortifying for parents” Trump’s Oval Office event with kids spirals into a jarring rant about war and violence, telling children “don’t listen to this” as he describes people being shot “between the eyes.” @kurtbardella.bsky.social responds on The Weeknight.

Marc Elias: “Bolder, pro-voter” agenda @democracydocket.com founder @marcelias.bsky.social joins The Weeknight as Republicans escalate a sweeping push to reshape the vote.

@symonedsanders.bsky.social on economy: “It is too much” Symone Sanders Townsend discusses the state of the economy as rising costs squeeze Americans ahead of the midterms.

@symonedsanders.bsky.social: “The president is not OK. He seems off” The Weeknight hosts and @mmfa.bsky.social CEO @goangelo.bsky.social break down Trump’s erratic social media spree amid the Iran war.

@symonedsanders.bsky.social: "It's giving grift" As Trump’s fragile Iran ceasefire falters, a Trump family backed drone firm lands a new Air Force deal, raising fresh questions about influence and profit amid the war. #TheWeeknight hosts weigh in.

@aliciamenendez.bsky.social: “Do you feel safer?" Alicia Menendez calls out Trump for shifting blame and casting immigrants as the economic boogeyman instead of addressing the real crisis: his own policies.

@michaelsteele.bsky.social: “Justice Alito, let me enlighten you" Michael Steele has a message for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the majority opinion in the court’s landmark decision to limit a central provision of the Voting Rights Act.

@whipkclark.bsky.social to voters: “We see you and you deserve better” Donald Trump is downplaying soaring gas prices as Americans feel the squeeze and outrage grows. Rep. Katherine Clark (D) Massachusetts, House Democratic whip, joins The Weeknight to respond.

@houlahan.house.gov: “Not a very good day for Mr. Hegseth” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth turns combative on Capitol Hill, dodging questions about the Pentagon’s staggering $1.5 trillion budget request. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan questioned the secretary today and joins The Weeknight to respond.

@robertgarcia.house.gov: “Not sure what Todd Blanche is smoking” On #TheWeeknight, Rep. Robert Garcia, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, sends a message to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that he will have to answer questions before the committee.

@janainelson.bsky.social: “We're standing on quicksand" In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map, dealing a major blow to the Voting Rights Act. Nelson, who argued Louisiana v. Callais before the Supreme Court, joins The Weeknight.

WATCH: @carolleonnig.bsky.social on suspect in White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting: "He wasn’t shot at all. He just fell” Carol Leonnig, @ms.now senior investigative correspondent, joins The Weeknight with the latest reporting on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner attack.

@neeratanden.bsky.social of @americanprogress.bsky.social: Trying to punish Disney over Kimmel joke akin to "Putin’s Russia” The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday launched an early review of Disney’s station licenses a day after the president urged ABC to fire Jimmy Kimmel over a joke.

@jayapal.house.gov: “King Charles ignored them today” On #TheWeeknight, Rep. Pramila Jayapal said King Charles’ decision not to meet with survivors of Epstein's abuse was a “big, missed opportunity.”

Sen. Jacky Rosen: “Not going to forget diving under that table” Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are demanding answers after the attack on the White House Correspondents' Dinner. @rosen.senate.gov was at the dinner and joins The Weeknight to respond to the fallout.

@symonedsanders.bsky.social on WHCD shooting: “We were hiding under a table together” Symone Sanders Townsend discusses Saturday’s massive security breach at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

"The people's voice is at stake": @skyeperryman.bsky.social of @democracyforward.org joins The Weeknight as redistricting fights intensify in Virginia and Florida.

King Charles III arrives in Washington to red carpets and royal ceremony, but growing fallout from the Iran war and the Epstein investigation hangs over the visit. @symonedsanders.bsky.social discusses why King Charles should have met privately with the survivors.

@michaelsteele.bsky.social on Trump grift: “How stupid is this?” The White House denies any conflicts as Trump’s inner circle cashes in, including a new $24M Pentagon deal tied to Eric Trump. @kurtbardella.bsky.social joins The Weeknight to discuss Trump’s use of power and profit.

@marcelias.bsky.social: ICE "intimidating entire communities" On The Weeknight, @democracydocket.com founder Marc Elias blasts the Trump administration as the DOJ targets hundreds of naturalized Americans for potential citizenship revocation.

Virginia Giuffre’s brother sends message to King Charles One year after Virginia Giuffre’s death, her brother Sky Roberts delivers a message to King Charles ahead of his state visit, demanding accountability over Jeffrey Epstein’s network and its ties to Prince Andrew.

“Virginia deserves that honor”: One year after Virginia Giuffre’s death, her family speaks out on The Weeknight

@symonedsanders.bsky.social: “Is the president OK?”

Top Oversight Dem: “Not going to participate in that B.S.” @robertgarcia.house.gov slams House Republicans for abandoning official hearings in favor of informal roundtables with no rules or subpoena power, accusing them of sidelining bipartisan oversight.

@duckworth.senate.gov on GOP: “They hide their cowardice behind the valor of our men and women in uniform” A fifth vote on an Iran war powers resolution just failed in the senate as Trump's incoherent foreign policy unravels. Sen. Tammy Duckworth joins The Weeknight with the latest.

"It's not about wearing Carhartts and changing your own oil." @governorwalz.mn.gov unloads on Trump’s Iran war while launching a new PAC to rebuild Democrats’ rural bench. He joins The Weeknight to discuss the strategy.

BREAKING: Chavez-DeRemer resigns as scandal engulfs Labor Department Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns amid a widening scandal involving sexual assault allegations against her husband and an investigation into her own conduct. The Weeknight hosts weigh in.