Jimmy Jam on Prince, Janet, and a Nation Finding Its Rhythm

Very few actors have the range to pull off “Dumb and Dumber’s” slack jawed Harry Dunne, while mastering the arc of moral giants like Atticus Finch on stage or Ronald Reagan in the upcoming film “Reykjavík.” Jeff Daniels is that actor. He’s played iconic character driven roles like “The Newsroom’s” Will McAvoy and delivered countless monologues that embrace the better angels of our nature. And now, he’s playing guitar and writing songs that hold up a mirror to the human experience. He joins Nicolle in this episode to talk about the trajectory of his career, choosing a life in Michigan over Hollywood, and the lack of a national moral compass in the Trump era. Plus: a special acoustic guitar performance. Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

BONUS: In his two decades of coaching youth baseball, Youman Wilder never expected ICE agents to show up at his practice. But recently, that's exactly what happened. On New York's Upper West Side, Coach Wilder claims to have witnessed armed ICE agents questioning his players—and that’s when he knew he had to step in. On “Deadline White House” Nicolle interviewed Wilder on the experience and what is asked of all of us in this moment. Listen to the conversation here.Editors’ Note: since the interview aired on MSNBC on July 14th, an ICE spokesperson has refuted this account, saying “ICE has not conducted any recent enforcement activity in the vicinity of Riverside Park.”Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

Five-time Grammy Award winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, and more Billboard No. 1 hits than any other production team in history – these are just a handful of the accolades amassed by Jimmy Jam. The mastermind behind a seemingly endless list of iconic songs like “Control” and “Rhythm Nation” and the legendary producer has long been a venerated fixture of the music industry, alongside his partner Terry Lewis. From serving as the Chairman of the Grammys, to songwriting for Janet Jackson, to growing up alongside Prince, his infectious passion for music and belief in its unifying properties seeps into everything he does. In this episode, he joins Nicolle to share memories and lessons from his storied career. Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. 

Sarah Jessica Parker is the ultimate New Yorker. Andy Cohen says walking around with her is like “walking around with the Empire State Building.” SJP, as Parker is affectionately known to her fans, is best known for playing the iconic Carrie Bradshaw on HBO’s “Sex and The City” and its revival “And Just Like That,” currently in its third season. But more than men or fashion, the show is about friendship, community, and what it means to show up for one another. And in this interview with “The Best People,” she tells Nicolle Wallace that this spirit of care is one we could use a little more of in today’s political climate. Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. 

The names Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach speak for themselves. Glennon, a bestselling author, activist, and podcaster. Abby, an American soccer legend and World Cup champion. Together, the married couple is a force for good. In this episode, they join Nicolle to talk about how putting our bodies into uncomfortable places is the antidote to the dehumanization of immigrants, and why fighting for democracy needs to be a team sport.Want to listen to this show early and without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. 

The real-life brothers behind the MeidasTouch digital media empire say building a resistance during Trump 2.0 is not that complicated: let your moral compass guide your actions. Anything else is just “weird”. (Paging Donald Trump). Ben, Jordy and Brett Meiselas join Nicolle in this episode to share their outlook on how to keep our democracy thriving, build community, shut down bullies and why their digital first approach is giving Fox News a run for its money.Want to listen to this show early and without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.  

Something about Nicolle: if she wasn’t a full-time anchor and part-time podcaster, her dream job would be to work anywhere near the NBA. So as the best teams in the league are battling it out in the NBA Finals, she welcomes Doc Rivers, NBA Champion head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, to talk Trump, politics, and professional basketball. Doc does not shy away from the dynamics of why Trump won, where Democrats need to go from here and how basketball can teach us everything we need to know about surviving this moment and being human.Want to listen to this show early and without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

Kara Swisher is a boss. As a journalist, entrepreneur, and longtime podcast host, she understands the intersection between tech and media, wealth and power like no one else. Kara joins Nicolle in this episode to talk about the art and intimacy of podcasting, the carnival barker Trump has always been and why she takes no guff from tech titans like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.  Want to listen to this show early and without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. 

On the second episode of “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” Nicolle’s “phone-a-friend" Rachel Maddow reflects on the weird reality of this moment: after tumbling over the edge of the cliff of Trumpism, how do Americans navigate the canyon below? They muse about “shirtless” Vladimir Putin’s embarrassing relationship with President Trump, why Americans aren’t buying that immigrants are the enemy, and why Rachel finds hope in good old-fashioned protest.   Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.  

Welcome to “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace.” Each week, Nicolle sits down with someone she admires for conversations that are illuminating, inspiring, and sometimes surprising. This first episode begins with Jason Bateman copping to how much he’d love to be behind the steady camon Nicolle’s “Deadline: White House” set. From there they discuss his endearingly barbed relationship with his “Smartless” co-hosts Will Arnett and Sean Hayes, reflect on how to navigate the incredible plot twists of this wild Trump era, and Jason walks Nicolle through how to capture good sound of a body splat on the pavement.Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.