The Briefing with Jen Psaki

MS NOW

4.4 (950)
Politics
Updated Weekly

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

3d ago

Extended legal losing streak hits Trump where it hurts

Jen Psaki reviews the fresh string of legal failures Donald Trump has suffered, including a federal judge dropping the hammer on Trump's sketchy IRS "settlement" trick to give himself a $1.8 billion slush fund. Former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara joins to share legal insights. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam tells Jen Psaki about Pam Bondi's behind-closed-doors testimony about the Jeffrey Epstein files before the House Overnight Committee, saying she repeatedly placed the burden of how the release of the Epstein files was handled on Donald Trump's former criminal defense lawyer and current acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Jen Psaki points out that despite lots of promises, Donald Trump is repeatedly failing to secure a deal with Iran, and the terms that are reportedly being considered include monetary concessions that are significantly more than Trump and his allies criticized former President Barack Obama for. Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor to President Obama, and Admiral John Kirby (ret.), former NSC coordinator for strategic communications, join to add further insight. And Jen surveys the mess Donald Trump has made of Washington, D.C. 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
4d ago

In any other administration, this would be grounds for opening an impeachment inquiry

Jen Psaki shares reporting from Pro Publica that the White House played a direct role in helping a company in which Donald Trump Jr. is an investor. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani talks with Jen Psaki on a range of issues from affordable housing to the New York Knicks and the World Cup, and directly addresses the threat by Donald Trump's Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin that he plans to shut down international flights to sanctuary cities. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has endorsed democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier over incumbent Democratic Congressman Adriano Espaillat in the Democratic primary for New York's 13th Congressional District. Mamdani and Avila Chevalier talk about the race with Jen Psaki. Donald Trump has turned his weaponized Department of Justice on E. Jean Carroll after she twice won massive civil judgements against him. Former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann discusses. And Terry Moran, former senior national correspondent for ABC News, talks with Jen about the right-wing ideologues who have taken over CBS News and are trying to influence its editorial content. 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
5d ago

Iran makes a fool of Trump as another peace deal falls apart; U.S. launches new attacks

Former Rep. Beto O'Rourk talks with Jen Psaki about why the political conditions in Texas may finally be right for Democrats to start flipping Senate seats. Donald Trump successfully lured the U.S. media into publishing headlines about another imminent peace deal with Iran over Memorial Day weekend, only for the deal to fall apart yet again and then days later the U.S. is firing more missiles despite the ongoing so-called ceasefire. Robert Malley, former special envoy to Iran, talks with Jen Psaki about the cycle of failure Trump is stuck in and what steps could realistically make progress toward re-opening the Strait of Hormuz and ending U.S. military action in Iran. Donald Trump is trying to use the 250th anniversary of the United States as an excuse for sloppy spending on rehabilitating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool while Americans watch him turn the White House grounds into a circus scene. Norm Eisen, executive chair of the Democracy Defenders Fund, talks with Jen Psaki about the impropriety of Trump's vanity projects. 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
6d ago

'Captive of the crazy': Trump's dubious primary picks add to GOP's midterm burden

As Texas Republicans follow Donald Trump's direction and give a primary victory to deeply flawed candidate, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Jim Messina, campaign manager for Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign, and Chuck Rocha, former senior advisor to the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, talk with Jen Psaki about how the Republican Party's inability to break away from unpopular Trump is setting them up for and even more difficult midterm election. Ali Velshi offers insights from the election data. Jen Psaki describes the basic contours of some of the many scandals that make the newly selected Texas Republican candidate for Senate, Ken Paxton, endorsed by Donald Trump, a disastrously difficult candidate for voters to support, even Trump-era Republican voters with a high tolerance for corruption, disgrace and dishonor. Rep. Greg Casar, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, joins to discuss. And Senator Cory Booker joins to discuss the potental shift in power in Congress after this year's midterms and how lame duck legislators burned by Trump may haunt him as their terms run out. 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
May 22

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
May 21

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
May 20

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
May 16

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

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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.

06/15/2023

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Jen Psaki

Host
Terry Moran

Guest
Beto O'Rourke

Guest
Robert Malley

Guest
Norman L. Eisen

Guest
Richard Blumenthal

Guest
Andrew Weissmann

Guest
Chuck Rocha

Guest
Mark McKinnon

Guest
Brendan Boyle

Guest

4.4

out of 5

950 Ratings

Counter factual

11/08/2025

Gordie Seattle

What happens if Trump is convicted of war crimes for his extrajudicial killings?
Mondavi interview..disappointed!

4d ago

Jelly Car LMAO

Ilistened to today’s interview with Mondavi,and was struck not one mention of the Jewish voters, and their fear of his radicalism regarding Israel. No. mention of his not going to the Israel parade, either. I am so sad,as I usually likeJen..but, herlack of full picture discussion with Mondavi makes me very uncertain about her.so very disappointed.It would have been great for her to talk about Jewish New Yorkers, and theirambivalences about Mondavi or anger. Of the anti Israel commentshe and his wife have made..why didshe not addressthem?WHY isn’t he attending the Israel parade? Did he attend anyArab honored parades? Is not the Mayor supposed to be impartial, his full interest ALL NYCers? What are there 3million Jewish people residing in NYC?Jen, if you could be so blindon the ramifications of Mondavi for such a big poetion of NYCity electorate,what elsedo you polish over.sincerely,this is a bridge too far for me, a used to be Jen fan
Comey & the Supreme Court

May 15

Lee Esq

As an attorney, I begged to differ with Mr. Comey. The Supreme Court has no enforceable code of ethics and is the most corrupt pro corporate in my lifetime This courts abusive use of the shadow docket makes it impossible for lower courts to follow because one paragraph rulings are useless.
Thank you

Apr 30

Demi698

I so look forward to hearing from you each morning. Thank you for your thoughtful insight, well-researched stories & just being the excellent you. Stay safe and well. ps-We are celebrating May Day tomorrow in rural & agricultural SE Washington State with gas prices now over $5 gal and diesel prices at $6.99 gal. The cost of fertilizer is also rising rapidly. Neither of these are helping our many farming communities.