Jennifer Palmieri and former Sen. Claire McCaskill discuss the rise of third-party candidates in elections and their impact on mainstream candidates. They delve into the influence of third-party candidates in the 2016 election, focusing on pivotal states and allegations of ties to Russia. The podcast also explores the five potential third-party candidates in the upcoming election and the potential consequences of their candidacy, highlighting financial support and the role of organizations like 'no labels'.

While Republicans were busy fighting each other in the House and inside Senate hearings this week, Democrats worked together to avert a government shutdown. Former Sen. Claire McCaskill and Jennifer Palmieri explain what they see as the GOP's culture of violence and what Democrats need to do to keep control of the Senate in 2024. Plus, President Biden’s Deputy Campaign Manager, Rob Flaherty, joins to talk about the president’s digital campaign strategy.

Donald Trump's rivals took aim at each other in the third GOP debate while the ex-president mocked them from afar. Former Sen. Claire McCaskill and Jennifer Palmieri explain why they think the debate “means squat.” Plus, VA Sen. Tim Kaine joins us to discuss Democrats’ big wins on election night and what the party needs to do to win in 2024. 

Rachel Maddow, Jen Psaki, and the rest of the MSNBC team broke down the third Republican presidential debate live on TV. They discussed the best and worst moments from the night – including whether any candidate emerged as a viable challenger against former President Trump. Listen to the audio of the post-debate analysis here. 

On Wednesday, five candidates faced off in the third GOP Presidential Debate, hosted by NBC News in Miami. They focused on issues of foreign policy, abortion, and the economy. Meanwhile, the front-runner, former president Donald Trump, counter-programmed with a rally nearby. Listen to the full audio of the debate here. 

In a special episode, Jennifer Palmieri and the West Wing’s Bradley Whitford break down this week’s 2024 winners and losers, including what Mike Pence’s exit from the race means for the GOP and why MN Rep. Dean Phillips’ long-shot primary challenge against President Biden could backfire. Plus, MSNBC legal analyst Andrew Weissmann joins us to dig into Donald Trump’s hellish legal week and what his growing legal woes could mean for 2024.

How can Democrats do a better job of messaging to voters? Which party is hurt more by Independent candidates? And are poll numbers as helpful as pundits claim? In this episode, Claire McCaskill and Jennifer Palmieri answer your listener questions.

President Biden makes his second trip to an active war zone -- his most dangerous trip yet. Jennifer Palmieri and Claire McCaskill talk to MSNBC’s Jen Psaki about the reasons behind Biden’s decision to visit Israel and how he navigates this tricky situation ahead of 2024. Plus, Donald Trump seems to be trapped in a real-life episode of “Law & Order,” spending more and more time in a courtroom. But why don’t his supporters care? We’ll get into it.

The Israel-Hamas war is already shaking up the 2024 race, with President Biden projecting a strong image on the world stage while Donald Trump faces major backlash for praising Hezbollah. Claire McCaskill and Jennifer Palmieri warn about possible parallels with the Iraq War and dig into how that could change the election. Plus, Steve Kornacki is back to tell us which party should be more worried about RFK Jr.’s third-party run.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) joins Claire McCaskill and Jennifer Palmieri to break down the ousting of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and what it means for the Republican party and 2024. Plus, this week’s spotlight on two women from across the ideological spectrum: Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-CA).