Maddow: U.S. military fights war on two fronts: Iran and Trump incompetence

Rachel Maddow looks at how Donald Trump's overall cluelessness and incompetence is made worse by Pete Hegseth's active destabilizing of the U.S. military and poor decision-making in wartime. Rachel Maddow talks with Senator Mark Warner, top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, about reporting in the Washington Post that people close to Donald Trump are being pitched an idea to use fake intelligence about foreign election interference to allow Trump to declare an emergency and take over the voting system ahead of this year's midterm elections. Patrick Dattilio, founder of Hagerstown Rapid Respone talks with Rachel about how a diverse collection of activism has made a stand against a Trump immigrant prison project. Want more of Rachel? Check out the "Rachel Maddow Presents" feed to listen to all of her chart-topping original podcasts.To listen to all of your favorite MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rachel Maddow points out several instances of Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security paying tens of millions of dollars more than the assessed value of warehouses the administration wants to turn into massive prison camps for immigrants. While Donald Trump's scattershot strategy against Iran appears to produce a lot of positive outcomes for Russia, the American public is not so fortunate. But Trump's worthless word and the biuld-up of U.S. troops in the Middle East make a negotiated end to the situation in Iran seem increasingly unlikely. Rachel Maddow discusses with former deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes. Indivisible's Ezra Levin, fresh off a massive weekend of No Kings protests, talks with Rachel about the next protest event in the works, a general strike on May 1. Rachel Maddow highlights the Trump administration's shift from using the Justice Department to meddle in states' elections to assigning that task to the Department of Homeland Security, which is distinguished by scandals, incompetence and a disregard for the law. Want more of Rachel? Check out the "Rachel Maddow Presents" feed to listen to all of her chart-topping original podcasts.To listen to all of your favorite MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rachel Maddow looks at the news stories we would have trouble believing if we weren't living through them in real time, including Denmark, a U.S. ally, making preparations to defend itself and Greenland against the U.S., Donald Trump staggering around war crime-level threats against Iran, a MAGA sheriff seizing hundreds of thousands of ballots, and ICE agents being sent to airports with no real job to do. Rachel Maddow looks at how the "No Kings" protests have grown progressively as outrage over Donald Trump's policies and conduct has grown, and now with the third "No Kings" day set for Saturday, March 28th, truly massive crowds are expected to make their views known. Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible, joins to discuss the growing movement. Reports of corruption at the Department of Homeland Security come at the same time as other reports about DHS overpaying for warehouses to convert into immigrant prisons. Utah State Sen. Nate Blouin talks with Rachel about what's going on. Want more of Rachel? Check out the "Rachel Maddow Presents" feed to listen to all of her chart-topping original podcasts.To listen to all of your favorite MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As Donald Trump flings the world into an energy crisis with his war in Iran, his administration is apparently trying to resurrect the ghosts of past environmental catastrophes with deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and an oil pipeline off the coast of California. Rachel Maddow looks at how Donald Trump's fast talk and gaslighting can't change the reality of the mess he has made in the Strait of Hormuz as allies resist his bullying and rivals and opportunists take advantage of him to enrich themselves. Donald Trump's avoidance of accountability or even having to give any real answers on his decision to go to war against Iran may be coming to an end as Senate Democrats are poised to bring the business of the Senate to a grinding halt by forcing a wave of votes on U.S. military action in Iran. Senator Cory Booker talks with Rachel Maddow about Trump's handling of his attack on Iran and the questions Senate Democrats want answered.   And the disaster at the Department of Homeland Security did not end with the firing of Kristi Noem. Wall Street Journal reporter Michelle Hackman discusses with Rachel. Want more of Rachel? Check out the "Rachel Maddow Presents" feed to listen to all of her chart-topping original podcasts.To listen to all of your favorite MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a rambling press conference full of bizarre answers to questions about the war he started against Iran, Donald Trump admitted that he is doing it "for the other parts of the world." Rachel Maddow looks at how Russia is benefitting tremendously from Trump's attack on Iran, even as it helps Iran target American interests, and how Trump has set off a global energy crisis of historic proportions. ** Shortly after this episode began, Rachel shared new video of the dignified transfer of the remains of Sgt. Benjamin Pennington. The video provided to the media is without an audio track, so we've removed that from this podcast. But we've kept the conversation Rachel had with Col. Jack Jabobs about the recent history of the dignified transfer of the remains of fallen U.S. service members. Rep. Jim Himes joins to discuss the Trump administration's rationale for attacking Iran. Rachel Maddow reports on how the horrifying stories coming out of Donald Trump's existing immigrant prison camps are not only tanking Trump's approval ratings with the American public but are hindering his ability to bring his nationwide prison camp plan to reality. And the wheels are coming off Donald Trump's extremely narrow House majority as lame duck Republicans have less reason to show up for work as the year wears on and they move on to other things. Want more of Rachel? Check out the "Rachel Maddow Presents" feed to listen to all of her chart-topping original podcasts.To listen to all of your favorite MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rachel Maddow and her MS NOW colleagues track the primary election returns in Texas and North Carolina, with Ali Velshi offering special statistical insights from the big board as one of the most closely watched elections, the Democratic Senate primary between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico mired in legal complications after polling place confusion in Dallas.  The panel and special guests offer analysis of what the early voting patterns suggest about Donald Trump's political strength, the tone of public opinion in the United States and what it all could mean for the midterm elections later this year. Want more of Rachel? Check out the "Rachel Maddow Presents" feed to listen to all of her chart-topping original podcasts.To listen to all of your favorite MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"They're not sending their best." Rachel Maddow reviews how the collection of unqualified culture warriors Donald Trump has put in charge of key facets of the United States national security apparatus is much worse than merely incompetent now that Trump has started a war with Iran and stoked a new level of threat against Americans and American interests. MS NOW's Carol Leonnig reports on new firings at the FBI that included members of an elite counterintelligence squad specializing in neutralizing threats from Iran. The firings came just before Trump started a war with Iran, setting up a whole new threat environment for Americans and American interests. Senator Tammy Duckworth joins Rachel to discuss Donald Trump's incoherent explanation for attacking Iran and the burden America's men and women in uniform are taking on for Trump's whim. And Donald Trump's Justice Department under Pam Bondi is in trouble with a judge again. Want more of Rachel? Check out the "Rachel Maddow Presents" feed to listen to all of her chart-topping original podcasts.To listen to all of your favorite MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rachel Maddow joins MS NOW's ongoing live breaking coverage of the United States' attack on Iran. Want more of Rachel? Check out the "Rachel Maddow Presents" feed to listen to all of her chart-topping original podcasts.To listen to all of your favorite MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen to MS NOW’s Special Coverage of President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union Address. During his speech, Trump touted the ending of DEI policies nationwide, railed against the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, and attacked the Somali community of Minnesota. Hear Rachel Maddow, Nicolle Wallace, Chris Hayes, and more react to Trump’s remarks, along with the Democratic response from Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger. Visit ms.now for more coverage. Want more of Rachel? Check out the "Rachel Maddow Presents" feed to listen to all of her chart-topping original podcasts.To listen to all of your favorite MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rachel Maddow considering the tradition associated with the State of the Union address in which one member of the president's Cabinet does not attend the event in case something happens that prevents everyone in attendance at the speech who would ordinarily be part of the presidential succession from being able to serve. But in Donald Trump's case, his Cabinet is so full of scandal and disgrace, designating a survivor seems impossible. Rep. Pat Ryan discusses rallying local resistance against Donald Trump's planned network of ICE prisons. Rachel Maddow reports on an important sign of light for the rule of law: federal judges losing patience with Donald Trump's Department of Justice for repeatedly defying orders, particularly in immigration cases.    Want more of Rachel? Check out the "Rachel Maddow Presents" feed to listen to all of her chart-topping original podcasts.To listen to all of your favorite MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.