The Weekend - Season 2 / Year 2025

2025 is already starting off to be one for the history books. Speaker Mike Johnson gets to keep the gavel, on the first vote no less, and Judge Merchan has ordered President-Elect Trump to appear in court on January 10th to be sentenced in his New York hush money case. For the first time in history, we will have a felon serving as president. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser discusses the preparations underway for inauguration as well as what she says about her "genuine" meeting with Trump. Plus, DNC Chair candidate, James Skoufis, on where he wants to see Democrats invest more resources.

Donald Trump is set to be sentenced in the election interference case just days before his second inauguration.  Plus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal on the start of the 119th Congress and how Republicans are already playing dirty.

Donald Trump hosts a reunion of election deniers at Mar-a-Lago the weekend before the four-year anniversary of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Plus, Rep. Bennie Thompson, the former chair of the January 6th Committee, on being awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Biden. 

Some of Donald Trump's political adversaries are being advised by an attorney to leave the country at the beginning of his second term amid fears of a potential revenge tour. Plus, Mary McCord on the legal double-whammy hitting Trump in the final weeks before Inauguration Day. 

A convicted felon will become president for the first time in history. President-elect Donald Trump was officially sentenced to unconditional release for 34 felonies in New York. Lawyers Andrew Weissmann and Marc Elias talk about the sentencing and how to hold Trump accountable in his second term. Plus, California's attorney general, Rob Bonta talks about what is happening on the ground in Los Angeles as tens of thousands are displaced by wildfires.

After Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a felony, he took to Truth Social to air his grievances, including complaining about a key witness in the hush-money trial, Michael Cohen. He talks about Trump's sentencing and why he wants President Joe Biden to pardon him. Plus, as Republicans take over DC, Trump is getting ready to hold court at Mar-a-Lago, hosting meetings with multiple different Republican groups. Punchbowl's senior Congressional reporter Melanie Zanona joins to discuss.

Marianne Williamson is ready to throw her hat back into the Democratic ring. She's announced her candidacy for DNC chair, and she joins to discuss her plans for the party. Plus, one week until unified power. That's how long until Donald Trump is sworn into office. But even before the felon-elect puts his hand on the Bible, he's attacking the people who are trying to fight the deadly wildfires in California. The Washington Post's Jacqueline Alemany joins to discuss. 

Get ready to watch some of Trump's top cabinet picks try and secure their jobs at their Senate confirmation hearings this week. Former CIA director John Brennan explains why some of Trump's intelligence picks should be disqualified from those positions. Plus, Santa Monica, California mayor, Lana Negrete, talks about what is happening on the ground in and around her city.

Frigid weather forces Donald Trump's inauguration indoors while his picks for top cabinet posts get their own icy reception from Democrats on Capitol Hill. Plus, the hosts discuss the impending ban on TikTok as the app says it will go dark without "definitive" assurances.

President Biden uses his final days in office to warn of the "oligarchy" threatening American democracy. Plus, Dr. Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., on her message for Americans two days before Trump takes power again. 

A precarious cease-fire begins between Israel and Hamas as both sides begin the process of freeing hostages. Plus, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on her role holding Trump's cabinet picks accountable.

Hamas releases the names of three hostages it plans to release into Israeli custody as a delicate cease-fire holds. Plus, TikTok tries to schmooze Trump after the app goes dark for 170 million American users overnight.

President Trump started his time White House with settling scores. Former Deputy Press Secretary for the Pentagon Sabrina Singh and former federal prosecutor Mary McCord weigh in. Plus, we're one week away from the Democratic National Committee chair election February 1, former 2020 Bernie Sanders campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, discusses his candidacy for the role.

A federal judge blocks Trump's executive order aimed at limiting birthright citizenship calling it "blatantly unconstitutional." Plus, former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn reactions to Trump's pardoning of hundreds of January 6th rioters. 

Sorry...he's not sorry...President Trump isn't feeling any shame after he unceremoniously fired 18 inspectors general. He told reporters that it's a "very common thing to do," despite the fact that it's actually not and there's actually a Congressional requirement to give these employees 30-days' notice. Congressman Steven Horsford talks about that as well as what Trump had to say during a visit to his Congressional district. Plus, Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester is about to grill RFK Jr. in one of his two days of confirmation hearings. She talks about what she expects.

Michael Fanone, one of the many DC police officers brutally attacked on January 6th, reacts to being told that he is "no longer a victim" after Donald Trump pardoned hundreds of the rioters. Plus, former CIA Director John Brennan discusses having his security clearance revoked as the president launches his retribution tour.

Trump tries to get his loyalists approved in the Senate while working on another purge, this time from the FBI. NBC News justice reporter Ryan Reilly talks about that as well as the firings of January 6 prosecutors from the Justice Department. Plus, former CIA director John Brennan weighs in on Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel's confirmation hearings.

Trump Administration officials purge top FBI executives as Donald Trump's retribution campaign begins in full force against his perceived enemies. Plus, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on how Democrats can fight back against Trump's agenda of chaos. 

In the age of a second Trump Administration, where the new president can issue memorandums on social media, we all know we live in the age of the screen. The world fights for our attention and many of us fight to be seen. MSNBC host of "All In with Chris Hayes," Chris Hayes, joins to talk about that as well as his new book, The Sirens' Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource. Plus, New York Governor Kathy Hochul talks about how she's standing up to a second Trump Administration.

Do some of Trump's recent executive orders sound familiar? They might, because Alicia, Michael and Symone have probably talked about them when they discussed Project 2025. The new chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, discusses how many of Trump's recent actions in office sound very similar to items that can be read in the Project 2025: Mandate for Leadership. Plus, Stewart Rhodes' ex-wife, Tasha Adams, talks about her husband, his organization the Oath Keepers, and the new MSNBC film, "King of the Apocalypse."

As soon as President Trump or Elon Musk tries to gut a federal office, a lawsuit quickly follows behind it. MSNBC legal analysts Mary McCord and Andrew Weissmann walk Alicia, Michael and Symone through some of the lawsuits that have been filed against the Trump Administration. Plus, Trump tried to rip apart USAID, hey, he even took down the sign outside the building, but a federal judge temporarily blocked that effort. Republican strategist and MSNBC legal analyst Susan del Percio gives her thoughts. 

If you give Elon Musk an inch, he'll take the oval office...Trump's new second-hand man is leading DOGE and ready to watch the heads roll. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong discusses his state's lawsuits against Musk and the Trump administration and where they stand. Plus, Congresswoman Madeleine Dean talks about how she and other Democratic Congresspeople are fighting to save the Department of Education.

Trump has determined it's time for payback, announcing he'll strip security clearances from a former president, national security officials and multiple attorneys. A former special counsel to President Barack Obama and co-counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during Trump's first impeachment, Norm Eisen, discusses Trump's plan to strip him of his security clearance. Plus, Rep. John Garamendi talks about both the global and local impact of Trump targeting USAID.

Trump and his lackeys are gutting federal agencies, stripping longtime civil servants of their security clearances and firing government officials who have served both parties, including trying to get rid of the commissioner of the Federal Election Commission. The commissioner, Ellen Weintraub, discusses why it's illegal. Plus, Rep. Ro Khanna talks about Trump's second-hand man, Elon Musk and his relationship with the billionaire.

Trump's legal cronies move to dismiss charges against Eric Adams prompting chaos and resignations in the Justice Department. Plus, Hamas releases three more hostages including one American Israeli.

Top Democrats says DOGE is "clearly breaking the law" as Elon Musk is blocked from accessing U.S. Treasury systems. Plus, former acting Labor Secretary Julie Su on Trump admitting that prices "could go up" despite vowing to bring them down.

George Conway joins to discuss New York Mayor Eric Adams' capitulation to the Trump Administration after the DOJ moved to dismiss the case against him. Plus, the Trump Administration works overtime to discredit America's legal system after multiple judges issued rulings against the administration's radical moves.

As Trump proposes increasing tariffs on our trade partners across the globe, experts say you should get ready to pull out more cash from your wallet. Michael, Alicia and Symone talk to MSNBC political analyst Kimberly Atkins Stohr about how Trump's reciprocal tariff plan could raise inflation even more. Plus, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in the Middle East talking the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Next, he meets with the Russians over their invasion of Ukraine. Senator Jack Reed gives his advice to the Trump administration.

"He who saves the country does not violate any law." Trump, using a menacing Napoleon Bonaparte line, suggests yet again that he is above the law. Legal expert and founder of the Democracy Docket, Marc Elias, joins to discuss. Plus, Assistant Democratic Leader, Congressman Joe Neguse, talks about how Democrats are fighting back against the Trump administration.

Donald Trump fires the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused him of pushing a "woke" agenda. Plus, new DNC Chair Ken Martin on the Democrats' path forward as public opinion on Trump begins to sour.

Elon Musk's DOGE is now in more than a dozen agencies as Donald Trump calls for him to be even more aggressive after already cutting thousands of jobs. Plus, the second-largest egg producer in America on the skyrocketing price of eggs amid the bird flu outbreak.

Elon Musk's ultimatum: you've got one week to justify your work or you're out of a job. The billionaire posted that to X on Saturday, telling federal employees to defend themselves, but not every agency plans to comply, with leaders at the FBI and State Department telling their employees not to respond. Corey Brettschneider and Heath Mayo join to discuss. Plus, as eggs become a scarce commodity and measles cases rise, Dr. Kavita Patel discusses the public health concerns in America.

Elon Musk's massive DOGE cuts receive major backlash from voters, but many Republicans are still trying to defend them. Plus, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser on the numerous lawsuits he's now involved in against the Trump Administration and the path forward for Democratic resistance.

It was the meeting seen around the world: Trump and his vice president openly berating the president of Ukraine, whose country was invaded by Russia three years ago. The globe is still reverberating from the clash and world leaders are responding. Former Congresswoman Barbara Comstock and Evelyn Farkas discuss. Plus, employees for the watchdog group, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau say Trump and Elon Musk are planning to fire nearly everyone and wind down the agency. Rohit Chopra, the CFPB's former director, talks about it.

John Bolton joins to discuss Donald Trump and JD Vance's Oval Office ambush of Volodymyr Zelenskyy on live TV. Plus, a former DOJ lawyer on the Trump Administration's demotion of senior federal prosecutors who handled some of the biggest January 6th cases.

Global leaders are stepping up, rallying around President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the rift between him and Trump deepens. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, a member of the Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees talks about that as well as Trump's tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, which take effect Tuesday. Speaking of Tuesday, that's also the day the president is set to address a joint session of Congress. Charlie Sykes and Tara Setmayer talk about what we can expect.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury says Americans can expect Democrats to get into some "good trouble" during Trump's upcoming Joint Address to Congress. Plus, Peter Baker joins to discuss his comparison of Donald Trump's media controls to the early days of Vladimir Putin.

Trump and House Republicans are pushing forward with their multitrillion-dollar budget blueprint. Now, the Congressional Budget Office, which is nonpartisan, says that budget will not be able to move forward without cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. The ranking member of the Budget Committee, Congressman Brendan Boyle joins to discuss. Plus, Congressional town halls are getting louder nationwide, as voters call for lawmakers to fight back against Elon Musk's DOGE. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam talks about what he's hearing and how he's helping his constituents.

Trying to follow what is happening with Trump's tariff plan is nearly as hard as trying to figure out what some of our significant others are thinking: one minute they're hot, and the next cold... Former Congressman David Jolly and Molly Jong-Fast help try to keep track of it all. Plus, Trump might be following through on a long-held campaign promise. No, not lower the costs of eggs, but creating a tiered system for NATO. Former CIA Director John Brennan weighs in.