The Briefing with Jen Psaki

Jen is joined by a roundtable of guests, George Conway, Ashley Parker, Eugene Daniels, and Adrienne Elrod to discuss how Donald Trump is increasingly resorting to baseless smears of Kamala Harris, as well as blatant lies about relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Later, fellow MSNBC anchor Joy Reid joins to talk about the racist dog whistle Trump is using when he talks about the vo...

Jen Psaki breaks down Kamala Harris' efforts to close the gap in polling with Donald Trump as she leans into policy proposals including on the economy and immigration. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder joins Jen for a wide-ranging interview covering topics including the Harris campaign's targeted approach to making up ground on her weak spots, Trump dodging an October debate, and growing co...

Jen Psaki breaks down the GOP's attempts at deflecting questions regarding Mark Robinson's hateful rhetoric and why it reveals the party's lack of courage - and their deeply-held loyalty to Trump. Jen is joined by a panel of political analysts including Mark Leibovich, McKay Coppins, Gretchen Carlson, and Symone Sanders-Townsend to discuss how Robinson's comments will affect both the gubernatorial...

Jen Psaki breaks down how Donald Trump is trying to distract voters with hateful rhetoric while Kamala Harris continues to rise in polls. Senator Raphael Warnock joins Jen for a wide-ranging conversation, covering Georgia's election board voting to require ballots to be hand-counted, as well as the not safe for work revelations about the Republican candidate for Governor in North Carolina, self-de...

With just 50 days until the election, Jen Psaki addresses why political violence must be universally condemned while acknowledging that Donald Trump is baselessly blaming Democratic rhetoric for an apparent attempt on his life in West Palm Beach. Senator Elizabeth Warren joins to discuss the risk opportunistic finger-pointing amid heightened political tensions, as well as the alarming reason why R...

As Donald Trump recovers from his embarrassing debate performance, Jen Psaki breaks down how he is reverting to fear-mongering while Kamala Harris surges ahead in polls and connects with voters. Jen is joined by George Conway and Representative Jasmine Crockett to discuss the state of the race, including Trump's baseless claims that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are eating pets. Ohio Congresswoman Sh...

Ahead of the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Jen Psaki shares what she will be watching for on Tuesday night as the two candidates meet for the first time. Steve Kornacki joins from the big board, highlighting the stakes. Then, Kevin Madden and Neal Katyal discuss how Harris's background as a prosecutor may prepare Harris and how she should approach the crucial task of...

Two days out from the first presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, Jen Psaki previews what we can expect from the candidates' performances. James Carville joins the show to discuss the state of the race, including what Harris must accomplish in the debate, how Liz Cheney's endorsement of Harris may appeal to voters, and more. Next, Michael Tyler, communications director for th...

As Kamala Harris pulls ahead of Donald Trump in polls, Jen Psaki breaks down the stark choice voters have between a candidate who wants to take the country forward and the former president who aims to turn back the clock. 65 days out from the presidential election, Molly Jong-Fast, Tim Miller, and Maria Teresa Kumar join Jen to discuss the state of the race. Next, Jen is joined by Randi Weingarten...

As the Harris and Trump campaigns negotiate whether candidates will be muted during the upcoming presidential debate, Jen Psaki reflects on how the more people hear from Donald Trump, the less they like. Don Lemon joins Jen to discuss the state of the presidential race and his new book "I Once Was Lost: My Search for God in America". Next, Ian Sams, senior advisor for the Harris-Walz campaign, joi...

Jen Psaki outlines the stark contrast between the Republican and Democratic national conventions - and explains why the Democratic party's joyful vision is more representative of our country's majority view. Senator Cory Booker joins the show to reflect on the historic convention. Next, Jen is joined by New York Attorney General Letitia James to discuss the dire stakes of the upcoming election, as...

Jen Psaki breaks down how Kamala Harris is beating Donald Trump at his own game, as she heads into the biggest week of her campaign yet - with a bus tour across Pennsylvania and the Democratic National Convention. Senator Amy Klobuchar joins the show to discuss the Harris campaign's accomplishments in just under a month, the Democratic party's recent messaging shift, and more. Next, Jen offers a s...

Guest anchor Michael Steele breaks down state of the presidential race with Molly Jong-Fast and Matthew Dowd as Kamala Harris and Tim Walz draw energetic crowds while Donald Trump melts down. Plus, Jen Psaki's wide-ranging interview with House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi about the new Democratic ticket, her relationship with President Biden after his decision to withdraw from the race, and her ne...

Jen Psaki breaks down the final steps for Kamala Harris before she announces a running mate. Jim Messina and Claire McCaskill join Jen to discuss what the inner-workings of Harris's high-stakes decision-making process looks like. Next, Jen outlines Trump's plans to rid the Republican party of everyone who isn't sufficiently obedient amid the announcement of a new group called "Republicans for Harr...

Jen Psaki explains why Trump's increasingly unhinged behavior reveals that he is running scared as Kamala Harris continues to gain momentum with voters. James Carville and Rev. Al Sharpton join Jen to reflect on the state of the race, including Harris's veepstakes and Donald Trump backing out of a presidential debate that he already agreed to. Next, Jen fact-checks JD Vance and the GOP's pro-famil...

Jen Psaki reflects on the shift in momentum in the presidential race as Democrats rally around Kamala Harris. Governor Tim Walz joins Jen to discuss the state of the race and why the simple messaging tactic labeling MAGA Republicans as "weird" is gaining so much traction with voters. Next, Senator Brian Schatz joins Jen to discuss JD Vance doubling down on his indefensible "childless cat lady" com...

100 days out from the presidential election, Jen Psaki examines how Kamala Harris is meeting the moment with a forward-looking vision just one week into her campaign, while Donald Trump and Project 2025 are proposing to take the country backward. Pete Buttigieg joins Jen for a wide-ranging interview, discussing the evolution of the Democratic party's messaging, the veepstakes, JD Vance and how hav...

In a two-hour show that concludes with the breaking news of President Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 race, Jen Psaki outlines the latest updates in the ever-changing campaign, explaining why Donald Trump winning in November is not inevitable. To discuss Biden's path forward amid growing calls from Democrats to drop out of the race, Jen is joined by Senator Gary Peters and Governor Jared Polis. A...

Jen Psaki explains why defiance alone is not enough for President Biden to win in November, as he faces increasing pressure to assure voters that his debate performance was an anomaly. Senator Chris Murphy joins Jen to express his concerns, given the stakes for the November election. Next, Senator John Fetterman joins the show to explain why he remains a staunch supporter of Joe Biden in the face...

Jen Psaki breaks down the current state of play within the Democratic party, as President Joe Biden digs in against growing pressure to withdraw from the race. Jen is joined by political reporters Peter Baker and Mark Leibovich to discuss Biden's path forward and whether more lawmakers might call on him to drop out as they return to Capitol Hill this week. Next, Jen is joined by Quentin Fulks, Bid...

Jen Psaki addresses President Biden's bad debate night and the resulting fallout amid the frenzied speculation on what comes next for the Democratic party. David Plouffe, former campaign manager for Barack Obama, joins Jen to discuss how Biden can save his campaign and win a second term. Next, Jen questions Molly Murphy, pollster to the Biden-Harris campaign, about what the internal data shows and...

Guest host Alicia Menendez breaks down how prosecutors confronted one of Donald Trump's most dangerous lies in a hearing overseen by MAGA-sympathetic Judge, Aileen Cannon. Legal experts Kristy Greenberg, Mary McCord, and Katie Phang discuss the tensions that flared in court as Jack Smith's team tried to revise the terms of Trump's release. Next, Alicia previews the first presidential debate with p...

Guest host Michael Steele examines how Justices on the Supreme Court, as well as Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon, have delayed Trump's federal trials indefinitely.  Michael speaks to Andrew Weissmann and Lisa Rubin about how unusual their behavior has been, given the stakes for the election and the country. In preparation for the debate between President Joe Biden and Trump, Jennifer Palmieri...

Jen Psaki outlines Donald Trump's Big Lie 2.0 as he revives his 'stop the steal' playbook ahead of the presidential election and signals he'll pardon supporters who commit crimes on his behalf. Rep. Adam Schiff joins the show to reflect on Trump's increasingly dark proposals and their implications for November, as well as Speaker Mike Johnson's allegiance to the former president. Next, Jen is join...

Jen Psaki breaks down how willingly the GOP enables Trump's worst instincts, including his plan to weaponize the legal system in a possible second term. In a wide-ranging interview, Senator Cory Booker talks to Jen about what we learned from Trump's first visit to Capitol Hill since January 6th, as well as the impact of his legal troubles, the need for SCOTUS ethics reform, and protecting IVF acce...