Aaron Rupar watches the Trump speeches most people never sit through. What gets lost when those sprawling rallies become tidy headlines?

David Corn details how Rudy Giuliani worked with Russian intelligence agent Andrei Derkach to spread allegations about Joe Biden, and how Paul Manafort shared campaign information with Konstantin Kilimnik, whom the Senate Intelligence Committee called a Russian intelligence officer. Corn also describes the GRU’s election operation and U.S. efforts to disrupt Russian influence campaigns.

00:00 The spy story behind the headlines
00:04 Giuliani’s Ukraine smear operation
01:36 Derkach’s allegations about Biden
02:34 Treasury identifies Derkach as a Russian intelligence agent
03:13 Trump’s lawyer and the Russian operation
04:55 Manafort and Kilimnik
06:35 The GRU’s hack-and-leak operation
07:19 Mueller indicts 12 GRU officers
08:19 U.S. Cyber Command targets Russian troll operations
09:48 Trump’s “Russia, if you’re listening” remarks
10:45 The debate over “collusion”

Mike Johnson says the polls are wrong. Pollster Evan Roth Smith explains the problem with his argument—and why Donald Trump’s polling history doesn’t automatically tell us what happens in a midterm.

On this Poll Position Wednesday edition of Election Maxing, Max Burns and the Slingshot Strategies co-founder examine Republican warning signs, emerging Senate opportunities, and the governor’s races that could reshape the political map.

Evan explains why Jon Ossoff could outperform his polling in Georgia, what his team has seen in Texas, and why Democrats still need to give disappointed Trump voters a stronger reason to switch sides.

“Donald Trump is the anchor on a lot of these Republicans right now.”

But favorable polls come with a challenge: winning power is only the beginning. Can Democrats prove they can govern?

Frank Rich argues that the people surrounding Trump are not likely to escape accountability, even if they try to act as though they were never his collaborators, and he points to figures like Todd Blanche, Howard Lutnick, Stephen Schwarzman, and Kimberly Guilfoyle as examples of once-respectable or highly connected figures now tied to a chaotic and self-destructive political project. He says Trump is increasingly disinhibited, out of touch with reality, and fixated on bizarre or self-serving ideas while ignoring the issues voters actually care about, which he believes will make his allies vulnerable to future investigations, lawsuits, memoirs, and public reckoning.

Some Israelis have served hundreds of days away from their families and livelihoods. Others remain exempt—and the political backlash could become Netanyahu’s problem.

Professor Shai Feldman joins Joe Klein and Joe Trippi to explain why ultra-Orthodox military-service exemptions have become a source of intense anger in Israel. Could frustrated Netanyahu supporters stay home rather than vote for the opposition?

“They don’t just oppose this exemption anymore. They’re really angry about it.”

The conversation explores the power of political identity, why longtime Likud voters may resist switching sides, and the appeal Feldman sees connecting Netanyahu and Donald Trump.

David Corn explains how Putin’s strategy exploits divisions in the United States and across NATO. He argues that weakening faith in American democracy also serves Putin’s goals at home and abroad.

00:00 Putin’s ambitions and the West
00:44 Exploiting divisions in NATO and the U.S.
01:46 Influence operations and elections
03:04 The effect on America’s standing
04:37 Putin’s argument that democracy is weak

“He will always take Putin over every other choice.”

Rick Wilson delivers a blunt assessment of Trump’s loyalty to Vladimir Putin—and why Republican candidates may pay the price. From Dan Sullivan’s vulnerability in Alaska to the debate over Russian diesel, Wilson argues that Republicans cannot separate themselves from Trump’s failures.

He also explains how decades of opposition to renewable energy have weakened America’s energy security while China races ahead.

Overpriced government jets. A reported request for $100,000 to cover personal debt. Frank Figliuzzi says the allegations involving Kristi Noem and Kimberly Guilfoyle warrant full criminal investigations.
“Overpaying for aircraft you can’t fly?”
The former FBI assistant director examines the reporting, explains why he believes investigators should act, and connects the allegations to his broader warning about corruption inside the Trump administration.
Plus: Hegseth’s proposed execution livestream, FIFA’s Trump Tower lease, the results of Trump’s drug-boat strikes, firearms policy, and questions about armed guards at post offices ahead of the midterms.

00:00 Frank’s News Breakdown
00:47 Russia’s Attacks and Ukraine Intelligence Questions
02:34 The Expanding Iran War
03:33 Kash Patel’s Russia Trip
07:21 Hegseth Protested—and Growing Public Anger
09:21 Racist Police Texts in Charlotte
13:00 The Danger of Livestreaming an Execution
18:41 Kimberly Guilfoyle Allegations and Trump’s Response
23:25 Kristi Noem’s Aircraft Deals
27:31 FIFA’s Trump Tower Lease
31:17 Frank Challenges Trump’s Drug War Claims
35:12 Mail-Order Guns and Firearms Policy
40:44 Questions About Kelly Johnson’s Ministry Funding
43:26 Armed Guards at Post Offices
45:29 Midterms and Frank’s Closing Message

Hunter Biden says radical honesty helped save his life. In this candid conversation with Steven Beschloss, he discusses addiction, recovery, making amends, and what happened when his most private struggles became public.
“And that radical honesty, whether it was forced upon me or not, is basically the thing that I credit with saving my life.”

Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon will livestream the December 3 firing-squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan, which would be the first U.S. military execution in more than 60 years. Matthew looks at what Gallup’s polling says about where Americans actually stand: support for the death penalty is at its lowest point in more than half a century, and a record-low share of Americans now call it morally acceptable.

Then Mari Manoogian, Executive Director of The Next 50, joins Matthew to talk about the group’s work backing the next generation of Democratic leaders in competitive races. Together they dig into new YouGov and NBC News polls on how voters plan to cast their ballots and which issues matter most heading into November.

Could Idaho’s Senate race become a November surprise? Joe Trippi and guest co-host Kobe Thierry talk with independent candidate Todd Achilles about his challenge to longtime incumbent Jim Risch, Idaho’s independent streak, and the issues shaping the race.
Achilles says, “When you drop the party labels, you could just have good honest conversations with folks across the political spectrum.” They discuss his campaign, public lands, the Iran war, the Senate’s role, and why he believes voter awareness is key in the final stretch.
Subscribe to Lincoln Square for more conversations about the races and ideas shaping American politics.

00:00 Todd Achilles joins That Trippi Show
00:28 The 2026 races to watch
01:36 Why Idaho has an independent streak
02:23 Achilles’ background and Senate challenge
04:37 Voters’ frustration with both parties
05:22 Idaho issues: hospitals, jobs and the economy
07:28 How the campaign is funded
08:56 Risch’s ads and the public lands debate
09:50 The grassroots campaign in Idaho
13:02 What an independent senator could change
16:35 The Iran war and Congress’s role
18:27 Where the race stands
19:27 The awareness gap
21:24 Is the incumbent getting worried?
22:34 Why the race deserves attention
23:47 Where to learn more about the campaign

This week Lincoln Project Executive Director Tessa Gould joins Maya May on the Breakdown with 19 days to go until the Midterms! Tessa and Maya break down Trump's Russian Diesel Drama, a canceled firing squad livestream, and an extremely dementia filled week for old Donald. Plus, a new WH Press Secretary, Trump's golden ballroom grift list, and notorious sex pest Matt Gaetz is back in the hot seat.

Four new shows are out NOW on the Lincoln Project Network! You can find them on the Lincoln Project Youtube, or wherever you like to listen.

Early voting is happening across the country, RIGHT NOW!!! Check your registration and make a plan.

Ali Velshi discusses Donald Trump’s latest press secretary, saying she seemed uncomfortable and unqualified for the role, and uses that as an example of the administration’s recurring incompetence and chaotic decision-making. He then shifts to data centers, describing them as noisy, resource-hungry, heavily subsidized by tax breaks, and often welcomed without enough public scrutiny, while arguing that the real issue is crony capitalism and regulatory capture by the richest tech and AI interests. The conversation moves into the midterm map, where he says Democrats are in a strong position in many races despite heavy Republican spending, though Senate control remains an uphill battle with key contests in places like Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, Maine, Ohio, Texas, and Alaska. He also raises questions about how these results could affect Chuck Schumer’s standing, noting that even a Democratic Senate victory could bring internal party tensions over leadership and influence.

MS NOW launched its MS NOW Membership. It is now available for download in the App Store, on Google Play, and online at ms.now.As part of it, Ali Velshi and Stephanue Ruhle host “Velshi & Ruhle: Full Disclosure, where the two anchors join forces to answer audience questions about money, power and politics. Sparking Outrage: Data Centers and A.I. Backlash" premieres Sunday, Oct.18, at 10 p.m. ET on MS NOW.

Rick Wilson, Tessa Gould, and Andrew Wilson are back at it again, but with a whole new raft of polling. As Trump plays limbo with his approval numbers, his party is in full-on freakout mode/denial about the upcoming midterms.

Rick sits down with Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney about MUSK, his four-hour film that started as a business profile and turned into something much bigger once Elon hitched his wagon to Trump. Gibney says Musk's fortune was built less on engineering genius than on MYTH-MAKING, a confidence-man playbook of gaslighting and bravado that let him buy his way into American politics. They trace the whole arc: the COVID-era fury, the move to Texas, the Twitter takeover, DOGE, the Epstein-files blowup, and the quick patch-up with Trump. Gibney even built an uncanny AI of Elon Musk from his own recorded words to interrogate him in a way no real interview ever could. They close on the legal threats, the rejected ad buys, and just how dangerous Musk is now that he controls a megaphone AND the future of AI.

Alex Gibney is on X @alexgibneyfilm and on Bluesky @alexgibneyfilm.bsky.social. His new film ‘MUSK’ is out now in select theaters, and nationwide on October 16th.

Rep. Al Green confronts the Trump administration over ICE shootings during an Austin congressional shadow hearing. Green alleges cover-ups and warns about potential pardons, raising urgent questions about accountability.

When Republicans stop talking about policy, Bobby Jones says, watch for the old playbook: race, fear, and division. He connects that strategy to the midterms—and argues it may backfire as voters who’ve been targeted decide to show up anyway.

Evan Roth Smith says the governor races are testing grievance against governance. Democrats have to prove they can govern; Republicans are trying to turn frustration with Democratic-run cities into a campaign message.
In Texas, early generic polling for governor and other statewide offices showed Republicans up just 3–5 points—even though Trump won the state by 14 in 2024. Evan calls that a “double digit hemorrhaging” of Republican support.

• 0:00 The Governor’s Race: Grievance vs. Governance
• 0:35 Why Democrats Are Judged on Governing
• 1:25 The GOP’s Attacks on Democratic Cities
• 3:25 Texas: GOP +3–5 After Trump +14
• 5:09 The Same Effect in Republican States