Next Up with Mark Halperin

Mark Halperin delivers a reported monologue on the growing uncertainty surrounding a potential U.S.–Iran deal, breaking down what’s actually on the table, the competing perspectives, and the high-stakes risks that could shape the outcome. “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough joins, questioning who is really advising President Trump, raising concerns about the structure and effectiveness of the curre...

Mark Halperin delivers his reported monologue on what it really takes to survive a presidential campaign, drawing on decades of experience covering politics at the highest level. He breaks down how Bill Clinton navigated major scandals during the 1992 race and why his approach to crisis management still stands apart today, then broadens the lens to 2028 to explain why many potential candidates may...

Mark Halperin delivers his reported monologue on the new uncertainty surrounding the war in Iran, breaking down the key unknowns and why China’s role could ultimately determine the outcome. He also examines Iran’s stepped up use of AI and viral content to influence perception during the conflict, explaining why tracking the real impact of this information warfare is nearly impossible and where the...

This episode of “Next Up with Mark Halperin” tackles the growing uncertainty shaping today’s biggest geopolitical story, as Mark uses his reported monologue to unpack the “fog of peace” surrounding the Iran ceasefire and why even top officials can’t fully explain what’s happening behind the scenes. He also takes on tough criticism of his April “8 for ’28” rankings of the Democrats top presidential...

Who will the Democrats nominate for president next? Mark’s “8 for ’28” is back with his April rankings. In his reported monologue, he breaks down the current state of the evolving 2028 Democratic field. He highlights what he sees as the biggest weakness facing many of the contenders: a lack of clear messaging and modern media strategy, and explains why campaigns must now operate like full-time con...

This episode of Next Up with Mark Halperin puts Mark in the hot seat. In a rare role reversal, he reflects on the personal and professional forces that shaped his career, from his father Morton Halperin and a childhood surrounded by politics to the lasting influence of ABC News Legend Peter Jennings, whose mentorship helped define his approach to journalism and life.   Mark is then joined by Drew...

In this special episode of “Next Up with Mark Halperin,” Mark uses his unparalleled sources to deliver a full-length reported monologue demonstrating that Democrats still have an extremely steep hill to climb to take back the Senate majority in November. Shattering the conventional wisdom, Mark breaks down in detail the nine races that will decide control of the chamber. He starts by analyzing the...

Mark Halperin speaks with Congressman Ro Khanna of California about the real impact of the Iran war, weighing military gains against rising costs and making the case for diplomacy. Khanna also opens up about a potential 2028 presidential run and the personal and political factors, including family, shaping his decision. Then, the Economist’s James Bennet joins to examine President Trump’s motives...

Mark Halperin’s reported monologue breaks down the latest developments in the U.S. conflict with Iran, explaining why recent U.S. and Israel strikes are delivering meaningful tactical wins, while the broader strategy remains uncertain. He outlines what’s going well, what’s not, and why reopening the Strait of Hormuz is the single most critical factor in determining how this conflict unfolds, with...

Tensions with Iran are escalating, and new risks are emerging that could make the mission far more difficult than the Trump administration expected. Mark uses his reported monologue to break down the military,  strategic, and public perception challenges now facing the United States, including, most immediately, the zero-sum fight to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the role of drones and asymmetric w...

Mark Halperin opens the show with a reported monologue on the rapidly evolving Iran conflict and the role messaging plays in shaping global expectations. He explains how Donald Trump’s communication style can quickly shift market sentiment, influence oil prices, and alter the narrative around the war. Mark also examines why Trump’s seemingly inconsistent public statements may actually be part of a...

In this episode of “Next Up with Mark Halperin,” Mark uses his reported monologue to put to rest the debates over the “why?” and “why now?” questions about President Trump’s decision to use military force in Iran.  By looking at nearly half a century of statements from Trump himself and from his immediate predecessors, Mark illustrates how clear Trump’s rationale and reasons are for the historic d...

This episode features an update on the latest in Iran and a revealing interview with California Governor Gavin Newsom. Mark opens with his reported monologue featuring an in-depth analysis of President Trump’s escalating conflict with Iran, scorecarding what appears to be early strategic and tactical wins while separating battlefield gains from political complexities. He breaks down what seems to...

In this episode, Mark Halperin argues in his reported monologue that too many journalists cover “politics” instead of “campaigns, leaving their audiences largely unaware of what really wins and loses elections. The vast majority of news coverage focuses on surface narratives and political gossip, leaving consumers in the dark about the asymmetrical campaign advantages that are the obsession of the...

In this episode, Mark Halperin uses his reported monologue to reflect on how Donald Trump’s path from 2016 to today reshaped American politics — and why the country remains deeply divided in his second term. Drawing on signature moments with Stephen Colbert and Tucker Carlson, he looks at why what once felt to some  like a shocking political moment has now become a defining era, and why millions o...

On a new episode of “Next Up with Mark Halperin,” Mark’s reported monologue breaks down why the AI revolution is bigger than most people realize and why millions risk falling behind if they don’t adapt now. He also breaks down AI pioneer Matt Shumer's rules for staying competitive in a rapidly changing economy, explaining how shifts in how people use AI today will determine if they succeed in the...

“8 for ’28” is back. Mark Halperin debuts his February rankings of the most likely next Democratic presidential nominee, breaking down why Gavin Newsom and Josh Shapiro remain alone at the top of the list and why some major names are still on the outside looking in. He explains what’s driving movement early in the 2028 field, and what to watch for as the jockeying intensifies. Plus, Republican Wis...

Mark Halperin opens the episode with a deep dive into the changing standards of political scandal, from Bill Clinton in 1992 to today’s Epstein fallout. In what he calls a political “Wild West,” Mark explores why some public figures survive controversy while others are taken down, and what 2028 presidential hopefuls should be quietly worried about right now. Then Andrew Sullivan joins for a candid...

In this episode of Next Up, Mark Halperin opens with his reported monologue on how a recent speech by Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff has Democrats energized and Republicans quietly concerned. Mark breaks down how Ossoff skillfully fused outrage at Donald Trump with economic populism, optimism, and disciplined messaging in a way many Democrats now see as a potential template for the 2026 midterms and b...

Mark Halperin opens the latest episode of "Next Up" with his reported monologue on how President Trump’s decade-long war against the Dominant Media remains one of his most effective political tools. Mark highlights Trump’s unparalleled understanding of the news business, which, unbelievably, he gets better than journalists themselves do. Trump’s critique of the industry's flaws is as muscular as i...

Mark Halperin opens a new episode with a reported monologue on the shifting midterm landscape, explaining why Republicans are increasingly worried about a potential Blue Wave. He walks through new polling, historical patterns, and insider conversations that suggest what felt possible to sophisticated Republican strategists just weeks ago — keeping the House majority — for now has gone out of reach...

Mark Halperin opens with his reported monologue arguing that America is losing sight of what matters by obsessing over elites, gossip, and political theater instead of grappling with the serious policy questions that matter. He makes the case that the media and political class are crowding out first-principles debates at a moment when the stakes could not be higher. Mark then turns to foreign poli...

On today’s episode of Next Up, Mark Halperin uses his reported monologue to go inside what really drove Donald Trump to change course on Minnesota. He lays out the specific voices that matter when Trump rethinks a decision and explains why media optics, internal pressure, and shifting political narratives pushed a rapid reversal — all informed by Trump insiders who really understand how he made th...

President Trump is leaning hard into foreign policy and national security, even as voters keep signaling they want answers on costs, security, and everyday life at home. In today’s reported monologue, Mark explains why second term presidents so often focus overseas and why that instinct can collide with midterm politics.  Davos isn’t Dayton, but the president just spent time in Davos dealing with...

Mark Halperin kicks off today’s episode with a sweeping reported monologue on Donald Trump’s escalating pressure campaign over Greenland and what it reveals about his broader foreign policy theory of the case and about his unique decision making style. Mark lays out five fundamentals about the president and this international controversy, from Europe’s dependence on U.S. power and Trump’s obsessio...