The Briefing with Jen Psaki

Jen Psaki addresses the horrific shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis and the shocking gun statistics in the United States that "should make everyone angry." Psaki points to new gun legislation that passed under the Biden administration after a mass shooting at a supermarket, and reminds viewers that anger can turn into activism, activism can turn into pressure, and pressure can change laws.Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey talks with Jen Psaki about the horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic School that has left his community in shock and grief. Frey calls for Americans to recognize the victims of today's shooting not as somebody else's kids, "think about them as your own," and encourages a loving perspective but also real action to address America's gun problem. The Trump administration is attempting to remove CDC Director Susan Monarez from her position after only two weeks in the Trump-appointed, Republican Senate-confirmed job. The conflict over Monarez's resistance to Trump HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-science whims and conspiracy theories has apparently set of a series of other high-profile departures, leaving a vacuum at the top of the CDC and the Trump administration looking foolish.

Jen Psaki shares samples of the gross, sycophantic fawning of Donald Trump's Cabinet members at a group meeting that leaves little wonder why Trump thinks "a lot of people say" he should be a dictator. His own Cabinet already treats him like one.Jen Psaki reports on Donald Trump's director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, who is using his access to federal housing data to accuse Trump's political enemies of mortgage fraud, perhaps ignoring the irony that Trump is a notorious fraudster, or perhaps because of it. Senator Elizabeth Warren joins to discuss what the FHFA is meant to do, and what is really going on with Pulte's obeisance to Trump.Jen Psaki reports on the devastating poll results that have Donald Trump rightly concerned about Republican control of Congress after 2026, and which are likely why he is appointing wild election conspiracy theorist Heather Honey to be deputy assistant secretary for election integrity, and is begging states with Republican-controlled legislatures to help him rig voting districts.Iowa Democrat Catelin Drey breaks the state's Republican supermajority with a Senate special election win.

With Texas poised to pass a redistricting bill to help Donald Trump rig the midterm elections in his favor to retain control of Congress, Democrats are taking the fight to Trump. Trump's renewed engagement with Vladimir Putin on the war in Ukraine has made a new priority of the return of Ukrainian children stolen by Putin.

Despite his deep delusions to the contrary, Donald Trump turning Washington, D.C. into a police state is making life and business in the District worse, thanks in large part to the team of bad faith bunglers Trump has assembled to carry out his will. While Trump's acolytes appear eager to help him weaponize the DOJ and law enforcement against his political enemies, their incompetence mostly yields embarrassment. The best possibility for a consistent ceasefire in Ukraine is if a coalition of outside countries deploy a NATO-like force to enforce it, argues former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor. Texas State Rep. Nicole Collier is essentially imprisoned in the State Capitol because she won't agree to being monitored by police, so they won't unlock the doors to allow her to leave. Oklahoma's MAGA superintendent of public schools is working hard to make his state the most poorly educated in the nation by prioritizing right-wing ideological standards instead of fact-based scholastics. And Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is probably wishing her spokesperson didn't invoke the church when offering a retort about Noem mooching a free apartment from the Coast Guard.

The podcast dives into the lackluster Trump-Putin summit that left many expectations unmet. Listeners get a peek into the ambiguous press conference that followed, revealing little detail. The exclusion of Ukraine's President Zelensky raises critical concerns about the ongoing conflict and civilian casualties. The discussion highlights the U.S. military support for Ukraine as it faces rising tensions. Insights on Putin's resurgence in global politics and the implications for future international relations add depth to the analysis.

Ali Velshi, an accomplished NBC News journalist and MSNBC host known for his extensive reporting from Ukraine, joins the discussion. They dive deep into the Trump-Putin summit, emphasizing its disappointing outcomes and the lack of substantive agreements. The conversation highlights the implications for U.S.-Russia relations amid ongoing tensions in Ukraine, critiques the optics and body language of the two leaders, and raises concerns about the erosion of democratic values and national security issues overlooked during the summit.

Michael McFaul, former US Ambassador to Russia, shares his expertise on the upcoming Trump-Putin summit, hinting at the high stakes involved. The discussion highlights Gavin Newsom's strategic response to Trump's gerrymandering efforts with a proposed district map contingent on Texas's actions. Jen Psaki delves into the unsettling influence of Christian nationalist extremists within the Trump administration. Meanwhile, the legal troubles plaguing Alex Jones further unravel as he faces consequences for his Sandy Hook defamation.

Chris Murphy, a Democratic Senator from Connecticut known for his bipartisan efforts on gun violence, discusses alarming revelations about ICE detention conditions. He highlights the shocking transparency issues following his visit to a facility that turned out to be empty. The conversation also critiques Donald Trump's revisionist history, while addressing the dangerous misconceptions propagated by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. around vaccines. Additionally, humor emerges as they ponder Ivanka Trump's unconventional plans for the nation’s 250th anniversary, injecting levity into serious political discourse.

Wes Moore, the 63rd governor of Maryland and commander in chief of the Maryland National Guard, shares his stance on Donald Trump's controversial National Guard deployment. He firmly rejects any political maneuvers in Baltimore, emphasizing local leadership's role in tackling violent crime. Moore also critiques efforts to federalize policing and the implications of redistricting, expressing his commitment to community safety. The discussion weaves through gun violence solutions and highlights the importance of fair electoral practices amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Mike McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, shares insights on the Trump administration's controversial approach to diplomacy with Putin amidst ongoing concerns over Ukraine. He discusses Trump's shift from a hardline stance to proposing concessions, raising alarms about U.S.-Ukraine relations. The conversation also touches on the continuing push for transparency surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files and the rise of youth activism against immigration policies, illustrating the intersection of political maneuvering and grassroots efforts for social justice.