The Briefing with Jen Psaki

MS NOW

4.0 (1)
POLITICS
UPDATED WEEKLY

Jen Psaki tackles the biggest issues of the week and features one-on-one interviews with newsmakers.

1 DAY AGO

Trump is losing control of the Senate (even some 'bootlickers')

Donald Trump's avalanche of unpopular ideas and failures has Republican senators livid and turning against him. Even senators who have distinguished themselves as enthusiastic suck-ups to Trump are voicing concerns about Trump's slush fund and the hardships Trump's economy is imposing on the American people. Senator Richard Blumenthal joins to discuss. The $1,776,000,000 that Donald Trump wants to distribute to his criminal political allies does not come from an insurance policy or a corporate entity. It is money from American taxpayers. Andrew Weissmann, former federal prosecutor and author of the newly released "Liar's Kingdom," discusses why Trump's fund shouldn't exist in the first place, even before any debate about who should benefit from it. Donald Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton for Senate in Texas may have come too late to avoid the damage of a toxic primary battle. Chuck Rocha, Democratic strategist, and Mark McKinnon, former advisor to George W Bush and John McCain, discuss the Republican mess in Texas and why this year may be when conditions align to favor Democrats. With Donald Trump's approval rating sinking to historic lows, Rep. Brendan Boyle discusses how Democrats can take advantage of this opportunity. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

41 min
2 DAYS AGO

Trump's power play is backfiring as betrayed Republicans go rogue

Jen Psaki points out that Republicans in Congress are increasingly losing their motivation to follow Donald Trump through his wildly unpopular vanity projects and destructive policies that are hurting Americans. On top of that are the number of lame duck legislators who ran afoul of Trump and lost primaries because of him and not have the rest of their term to exact payback as members of the "Yolo Caucus." Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joins to discuss Trump's slush fund as well as bizarre remarks by Jeff Bezos about income inequality and taxing the rich. Jen Psaki shares video that suggests that Donald Trump was aware of his tax information being leaked months earlier than he claimed in his lawsuit against the IRS, putting him past the statute of limitations for what is ostensibly the basis of his slush fund settlement. Rep. Dan Goldman, former federal prosecutor explains the legal perspective to Jen Psaki and discusses why Trump's slush fund for criminal political allies is legally doomed. Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor to President Barack Obama, talks with Jen Psaki about the Trump administration's clumsy belligerence toward Cuba. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

41 min
3 DAYS AGO

Trump lawyer flops defending slush fund at Senate hearing

Jen Psaki reports on a wild day in Republican politics as Rep. Thomas Massie was defeated in an insanely expensive Kentucky primary by a Trump-backed challenger. Massie's advocacy for the release of the Epstein files put him at odds with Trump. Senator John Cornyn committed no act of defiance against Trump, and, in fact, debased himself in a desperate appeal for Trump's favor, only to be stabbed in the back when Trump endorsed his exceptionally compromised opponent. Tim Miller, host of The Bulwark podcast, and Jim Messina, campaign manager for Barack Obama's 2012 campaign, talk with Jen Psaki about the wildly expensive Republican primary in Kentucky in which Trump insisted on supporting a challenger candidate, and the millions the Republican Party sank into the Texas Republican Senate primary before Trump finally endorsed a deeply flawed candidate. Acting Attorney General and former Donald Trump criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche tried to convince the Senate Appropriations Committee that giving Donald Trump $1.8 billion to distribute to his legally aggrieved political allies is a reasonable thing to do. Senator Chris Van Hollen talks with Jen Psaki about why he wasn't fooled. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

41 min
16 MAY

Trump's campaign tough talk on China EVAPORATES in real world test

Jen Psaki looks at the boasts and promises Donald Trump made on the campaign trail about how he would handle China and President Xi, and compares that to Trump's performance on an actual trip to China. Former U.S. ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, and former Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr discuss Donald Trump's underwhelming performance in his meeting with China's Presient Xi. Rep. Jamie Raskin talks with Jen about insider trading and elected officials, including the president, and what legislators need to do to put an end to it. And David Fahrenthold, investigative reporter for the New York Times, talks with Jen Psaki about the rash of Donald Trump's vanity projects in Washington, D.C. and the bizarre details of Trump's overhaul of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

42 min
15 MAY

Comey: 'The FBI is suffering' with Kash Patel as director

Jen Psaki shares new reporting from ABC News that Donald Trump is expected to settle his lawsuit against the IRS in exchange for a $1.5 billion slush fund for people he feels were persecuted by the Biden administration. Former FBI Director James Comey talks with Jen Psaki about the state of the FBI in the second Trump administration, the effect of Kash Patel's leadership on morale and the resilience of the FBI's culture to survive the deleterious conditions of the Trump administration. Senator Chris Van Hollen talks with Jen about legislative efforts to hold members of the Trump administration accountable for rampant corruption. Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former President John F. Kennedy and candidate to represent New York's 12th Congressional District talks with Jen Psaki about running a modern campaign, his qualification for the job of congressman, his controversial "first cousin once removed," Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his policy ideas should he be elected. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

43 min
14 MAY

SHAMELESS: Vance focuses on fraud with especially bad timing for Trump

Jen Psaki looks at the political convenience of JD Vance's new anti-fraud talking points as he struggles to demonstrate some relevance while the rest of the Trump administration goes to China. But too much attention on fraud is a particularly awkward thing for Trump, who is trying to find a way to force the IRS to give him billions of taxpayer dollars, and while he his own son, Eric, with business interests in China, has joined him in traveling to Beijing. Senator Mark Kelly joins to discuss the corruption in the Trump administration and the incompetence of Pete Hegseth. Jen Psaki rounds up reporting on cost overruns, scheduling delays and quality defects in the work being done on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Despite going on at length about his role in picking the contractor without any bidding and the pool's new color, Trump is now quick to point the finger at "Interior." Rep. Joe Neguse talks with Jen Psaki about Trump's "gross waste of taxpayer resources." Rep. Ro Khanna joins to discuss Donald Trump's self-dealing. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

41 min
13 MAY

Kash's boozy boasts backfire as drinking questions follow him to another hearing

Donald Trump's FBI directory, Kash Patel, testified before the Senator Appropriations Committee and faced more questions about reports of excessive drinking. Jen Psaki points out that despite Patel's umbridge in the face of questioning, before he became FBI director, he did not exactly keep his drinking a secret. Michael Feinberg, former FBI assistant special agent in charge, and award-winning journalist Tim Weiner join Jen Psaki to discuss the corrosive effects of Patel's leadership at the FBI. Rep. Robert Garcia joins to discuss the ongoing fight to get justice for Jeffrey Epstein's victims. Jen Psaki looks at how Donald Trump's failure to endorse a candidate for Senate in Texas has the top two contenders spending money to tear each other down. Meanwhile, Texas Democrats are fired up and boosting turnout numbers as President Barack Obama campaigns with Senate candidate James Talarico and gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa. Hinojosa joins to talk about the evident enthusiasm among Democratic voters. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

42 min
9 MAY

The perspective you're looking for: Democrats still in good shape but gear up for hardball

The Supreme Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act followed closely by Virginia's supreme court rejecting their new redistricting has taken the wind out of Democratic sails, but the actual math and other political factors still favor Democrats re-taking the House in this year's elections. Dan Pfieffer, co-host of "Pod Save America," and Quentin Fulks, former Harris principal deputy campaign manager talk with Jen Psaki about why Democrats are in good shape to take the House and why the party's focus needs to shift to state legislatures. Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger joins to discuss Democratic election strategy with Jen. You may have thought Kash Patel autographing personalized bourbon bottles as FBI director was peak ridiculousness, even for the Trump administration. But Pete Hegseth using U.S. military resources to flatter Kid Rock may have surpassed that standard. And then there is Donald Trump's transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, who has apparently decided that his job is easy enough that he can do it and also star in his own relaity show. Jen Psaki explains it all. And Scott MacFarlane, chief Washington correspondent for MeidasTouch, discusses ABC's pushbach against Trump's effort to intimidate the news media into giving him the coverage he wants. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

41 min

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TRAILER

Introducing: Inside with Jen Psaki

Jen Psaki draws on her 20 years with a seat at the table – from the campaign bus to the Oval Office – to tackle the most pressing issues of the week, interview the biggest names in politics, and pull back the curtain on the lives of the people shaping every aspect of American life. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

15/06/2023

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