'Obviously ridiculous': Trump veers into bizarre fixation on adding neighboring countries as states

Under threat of losing millions of dollars in federal funding, Columbia University has caved to demands from the Trump administration, leaving students and faculty fearing the loss of academic freedom. Adding to those fears, ICE has made multiple arrests of international students at several schools, as well as recent graduates, like Mahmoud Khalil.This week, Alex Wagner speaks with students and professors at Columbia to discuss the dangerous precedent being set, not just for college campuses as centers of debate and dissent, but for all free speech. Remember to follow the show so you don’t miss a single episode. And sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen without ads.

Trump’s strikes on environmental regulations are now crossing paths with his attacks on DEI. Citing compliance with Trump’s DEI mandates, the Justice Department dropped its lawsuit against a petrochemical plant in Reserve, Louisiana, in an area known as ‘Cancer Alley.’ This week, Alex travels to Louisiana and speaks to the life-long residents directly in harm’s way. Then, a conversation with former EPA administrator Heather McTeer Toney on the larger implications of Trump’s environmental policy. And a note to listeners: we’ll be off next week and will return with a new episode on March 27!Remember to follow the show so you don’t miss a single episode. And sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen without ads.

Numerous lawsuits are underway as efforts ramp up to fight against the Trump administration’s agenda, with the charge led by a select group of attorneys general. On this episode, Alex Wagner heads to Phoenix, Arizona where Democratic state attorneys general organized a town hall for citizens impacted by Trump’s executive orders and DOGE’s targeting of the federal government. Alex speaks directly with some of the AGs behind these legal efforts, including Kwame Raoul of Illinois, William Tong of Connecticut, and Letitia James of New York. Then she sits with Arizona AG Kris Mayes, the organizer of the town hall, for a look at what’s next as these attorneys continue to advocate on behalf of the U.S. Constitution and the citizens it protects. Remember to follow the show so you don’t miss a single episode. And sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen without ads.

It’s been three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and while President Donald Trump's spreading of disinformation aims to rewrite history, Ukrainians on the frontline of the war refuse to forget the truth. On this week’s episode, we see how Ukrainians in the U.S. are marking the anniversary and honoring those fallen back home. Plus, a conversation with national security expert and Pod Save the World host Ben Rhodes on what’s at stake as the Trump administration continues to cozy up to Russia’s authoritarian agenda.Remember to follow the show so you don’t miss a single episode. And sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen without ads.

Donald Trump's promise to reduce grocery prices was a keystone of last year’s campaign. Now in office, President Trump faces significant challenges with surging egg prices amidst an avian flu crisis. On this week’s episode, Alex Wagner speaks to farmers and experts in Pennsylvania about the severe impact of the bird flu, its effect on poultry farms, and the controversial strategies Trump proposes to address the issue. Then, Alex catches up with MSNBC colleague Chris Hayes to reflect on Trump's economic policies and their political consequences. Catch new episodes of Trumpland with Alex Wagner every Thursday evening during the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. You can find the show in the Alex Wagner Tonight feed.  Remember to follow the show so you don’t miss a single episode. And sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen without ads.

The Trump administration continues to further its anti-woke agenda with executive orders targeting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives, resulting in a memo placing federal employees with ties to DEIA training or roles on administrative leave. Listen as Alex Wagner interviews affected employees from the Department of Education and discusses the implications with civil rights attorney Subodh Chandra. Plus, a look at what more we can expect with one of the early architects of the Right’s efforts to tackle DEI and wokeness: conservative activist Christopher Rufo.  Catch new episodes of Trumpland with Alex Wagner every Thursday evening during the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. You can find the show in the Alex Wagner Tonight feed.  Remember to follow the show so you don’t miss a single episode. And sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen without ads.

The Trump administration has focused its latest attacks on federal workers and foreign aid. At the forefront of that battle is advisor Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. MSNBC’s Alex Wagner heads back to Washington D.C. amidst protests from federal workers and a looming deadline for workers to accept a government buyout. Listen as Alex speaks with Kristina Drye, a former USAID employee, as well as former Inspector General for the Department of the Interior, Mark Greenblatt.  Catch new episodes of “Trumpland with Alex Wagner” every Thursday and follow the show. And subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen without ads.

On “Trumpland with Alex Wagner,” MSNBC’s Alex Wagner travels the country talking with the people on the frontlines of Trump’s policies and promises.  It’s been one week since Trump was sworn into office, and he is already making good on his campaign promise to crack down on immigration, whatever the cost. On this episode, Alex heads to New Jersey’s largest city, Newark, where one of the most public and controversial ICE raids has just occurred. The raid is raising questions that no American can—or should—ignore. Listen along as Alex speaks to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, community organizers arming immigrants with strategies to avoid deportation and those on the front lines whose lives have been turned upside down.  Catch new episodes of Trumpland with Alex Wagner every Thursday evening during the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. You can find the show in the Alex Wagner Tonight feed.  Remember to follow the show so you don’t miss a single episode. And sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen without ads.

On “Trumpland with Alex Wagner,” MSNBC’s Alex Wagner travels the country talking with the people on the frontlines of Trump’s policies and promises.  On this very first episode, Alex travels to DC—but not for the inauguration. Hours after President Trump was sworn into office for the second time, he began issuing a series of presidential pardons for the January 6th insurrection. Listen along as Alex speaks to the inmates, their families, and the police officers who survived one of the most violent attacks on the Capitol in our nation’s history. Catch new episodes of “Trumpland with Alex Wagner” on Thursday evenings during Trump’s first 100 days. You can find the show in the “Alex Wagner Tonight” feed. Remember to follow the show so you don’t miss a single episode. And sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen without ads.

President Trump has an ambitious agenda, with plans that could reshape the country. And MSNBC’s Alex Wagner will be covering it all from the frontlines.On “Trumpland with Alex Wagner,” you can join her as she travels the country for the first 100 days of the Trump presidency, talking to the people at the center of the president’s policies and promises.Get new episodes of “Trumpland with Alex Wagner” on Thursday evenings during Trump’s first 100 days. And sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen without ads.