The Weekend

March 21, 2026; 8am: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard contradicts Trump’s claims about the war with Iran, including on whether Iran’s nuclear program posed an imminent threat, even as the White House used that as justification. At two separate hearings this week, she said it’s not her job to assess threats. John Brennan, Former Director of the CIA and MS Now Senior National Security...

March 21, 2026; 7am: Overnight, Iran says its nuclear facility – the country’s largest enrichment site – has been hit in an airstrike. On Friday, President Trump said he was considering winding down military presence in the region. However, MS NOW reports the administration has doubled the number of United States troops deployed to the region. Josh Lederman, fellow at the Center for International...

March 15, 2026; 9am: This weekend, the U.S. has intensified airstrikes on Iran’s most important oil export terminal, Karg Island. Investors warn that additional action could plunge global oil markets into further chaos as the island exports roughly 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil. U.S. Amos Hochstein, former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources under President Biden, join...

March, 15 2026, 8 AM; A recent NBC poll shows that the war has not fractured the MAGA base all that much, with 90% of MAGA-aligned republicans approving of the strikes on Iran. However, some prominent MAGA and conservative media figures are among those crying foul the loudest over the war. When it comes to republicans who don’t align with MAGA that number falls to 54 % in support of the attacks on...

March 15, 2026; 7am: In an interview with NBC News, President Trump claimed that Iran was ready to negotiate a ceasefire but rejected their offer because “the terms aren’t good enough.” But Trump has declined to say what those terms would be. This comes as the president has called on allies to help re-open the Strait of Hormuz. White House Correspondent for NOTUS, Jasmine Wright, and senior econom...

March, 14 2026, 9 AM; A bipartisan group of senators is calling for a probe into the Justice Department’s redactions of the files accusing the Trump administration of violating the Epstein files transparency act and re-victimizing survivors. A bipartisan group of senators is calling for a probe into the Justice Department’s redactions of the files accusing the Trump administration of violating the...

March 14, 2026; 8am: As the economic pain from the war gets worse, the Trump administration says it’s just short-term pain for long-term gain. This week, the stock market took another nosedive as Iran’s newest leader vowed to use the Strait of Hormuz as a “tool to pressure the enemy.” Plus, Gas prices have jumped an average of nearly 60 cents since the initial attack. Senator Alex Padilla joins “T...

March, 14 2026, 7 AM; The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was struck by a missile according to Iraqi security forces Saturday morning, after U.S. forces bombed targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, home to the primary terminal that handles that country’s oil exports. Meanwhile, MS NOW has learned the military plans to send 5K troops and several additional ships to the Arabian Sea, a day after the U.S. military...

March 8, 2026; 9am: The first week of the U.S.-Iran war has been defined by contradictions as questions emerge over U.S. goals in the operation. For example, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initially insisted this would not be a regime change war, yet President Trump is already talking about shaping Iran’s future government. MS NOW international reporter Ines De La Cuetra, MS NOW political analyst...

March 8, 2026; 8am: On this International Women’s Day, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o joins “The Weekend” along with Senator Angela Alsobrooks, to discuss a critical health issue affecting millions of women worldwide. For more, follow us on social media: Bluesky: @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social Instagram: @theweekendmsnow TikTok: @theweekendmsnow To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads,...

March, 8 2026, 7 AM; Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia said they are continuing to fight off Iranian drone and missile attacks. The UAE says Iran has fired 16 ballistic missiles and 117 drones in new barrages. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said its defensive operations against U.S. military bases in the region will continue, but the attacks should not be construed as hostility...

March 7, 2026; 9am: Congressional Republicans once again surrender power to the president to do as he wishes in Iran after the War Powers Resolution fails in the House and Senate. Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, who is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a Marine veteran who served four tours in the Iraq War, joins “The Weekend” to discuss.  For more, follow us...

March 7, 2026; 8am: It’s been more than 10 years since the Obama Presidential Center was announced in Chicago, and we’ve got an EXCLUSIVE announcement on its progress. Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation, joins “The Weekend” to discuss. For more, follow us on social media: Bluesky: @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social Instagram: @theweekendmsnow TikTok: @theweekendmsnow To listen to this show and...

March, 7 2026, 7 AM;  Meanwhile, the Israeli military said its fighter jets launched 230 munitions toward several military sites across Tehran. President Donald Trump is threatening to hit Iran again "Very Hard." He's expected to travel to Dover Air Force base to attend the dignified transfer of six U.S. service members killed in the war. NBC News is reporting that Trump has privately expressed re...

March 1, 2026; 9am: As strikes continue between the U.S. and Iran, Democrats in Congress are calling for an immediate War Powers vote to rein in President Trump’s military actions. Trump officials are slated to brief Congressional committee staff on the Iran operation. Top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Gregory Meeks, joins “The Weekend” to discuss. For more, follow u...

March, 1 2026, 8 AM; Cheers were heard from large crowds of Iranians in several cities following the confirmed death of Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the U.S., Iranian-Americans took to the streets in cities like Los Angeles and Washington D.C. to celebrate the blow to the Iranian Islamic regime. While there were celebrations taking shape, there were also scenes of mourning fr...

March 1, 2026, 7am; A massive explosion was heard in Tehran today after the Israeli military intercepted more missiles launched towards Israel this morning. Associated Press Correspondent Sam Mednick and MS NOW Political Reporter Alex Tabet join “The Weekend” to share the latest. Then, Retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling and MS NOW Political Analyst Richard Stengel join the conversation to di...

February 22, 2026; 9am: Ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Gregory Meeks, joins “The Weekend” to discuss potential U.S. action against Iran and calls out President Trump for attempting to sidestep Congress in getting authorization for potential strikes, and calls on the president to brief lawmakers. For more, follow us on social media: Bluesky: @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social...

February 22, 2026; 8am: President Donald Trump’s State of the Union is shaping up to be a very dramatic event before it even begins. It comes as the president has faced several setbacks, including a major Supreme Court loss after the court struck down his tariffs. Former speechwriter and special assistant to former President Joe Biden, Jeff Nussbaum, joins “The Weekend” to discuss. For more, follo...

February, 22 2026, 7AM; Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will meet with committee members on Thursday, and former President Bill Clinton will testify a day later. The depositions will take place behind closed doors, but they will be filmed and transcribed. Both have denied any wrongdoing, and Hillary Clinton has said that neither of them has links to the late sex offender. Rep. James Walk...

February 21, 2026; 9am: After former Prince Andrew's arrest for misconduct in public office, there are growing calls for accountability here in the United States over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. This week, we got a look inside the deposition of Epstein's former billionaire benefactor, Les Wexner. The former CEO of Victoria’s Secret testified behind closed doors to several Democrats on the H...

February 21, 2026; 8am: Election season is here with early voting underway in Texas with special focus on the U.S. Senate primaries. On the Democratic side, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is facing off against State Representative James Talarico. And for Republicans, incumbent Senator John Cornyn is fighting to keep his seat against State Attorney General Ken Paxton and Congressman Wesley Hunt. Th...

February, 21 2026, 7AM: The court struck down his far reaching global tariffs in a 6-3 decision Friday, ruling that he did not have authority under a 1977 emergency economic powers law.  Tim O'Brien and Courtenay Brown join The Weekend to discuss the latest in the SCOTUS decision and how the ruling may impact President trump’s economic agenda, as well as the bottom line for U.S. For more, follow u...

February, 15 2026, 9AM; Former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff joins “The Weekend” to discuss growing concerns about the impact of AI in the workplace and the weaponization of the Justice Department under Donald Trump. Emhoff calls this week’s congressional testimony by Attorney General Pam Bondi “shameful.” For more, follow us on social media: Bluesky: @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social Instagram: @thewee...

February 15, 2026; 8am: The Trump Administration announced its plans reduce the number of immigration agents in Minnesota after weeks of protests, arrests, and use of force. This withdrawal comes with lingering skepticism among Minnesotans who remain dubious about the administration’s announcement. Minneapolis City Council President Elliot Payne and Former Federal Public Defender Liz Oyer join “Th...