Steve Benen
@stevebenen.com
Rachel Maddow Show producer, MaddowBlog author, MS NOW contributor, and author of Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past
JD Vance on Thursday: The Olympics are “one of the few things that unites the entire country.”
Trump on Saturday: Yeah, about that.... www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump on Saturday: Yeah, about that.... www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
It took just two days for Trump to put a Trumpy twist on the Olympics
JD Vance said the Olympics are “one of the few things that unites the entire country.” In hindsight, maybe “entire” was overstating matters.
www.ms.now
February 9, 2026 at 8:27 PM
JD Vance on Thursday: The Olympics are “one of the few things that unites the entire country.”
Trump on Saturday: Yeah, about that.... www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump on Saturday: Yeah, about that.... www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
As Trump asks us to believe Schumer wanted to rename Penn Station and Dulles Airport after Trump, there are fresh reasons this should be more than a one-day story. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump tries to blame Schumer for the president’s own Gateway tunnel project debacle
The president didn’t deny the absurd proposal, but he did try to blame the Senate Democratic leader for the idea. Schumer called it an “absolute lie.”
www.ms.now
February 9, 2026 at 2:57 PM
As Trump asks us to believe Schumer wanted to rename Penn Station and Dulles Airport after Trump, there are fresh reasons this should be more than a one-day story. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
As layoffs surge and job openings fall, Trump has a talking point he’s excited about: The workforce is the biggest it’s ever been.
The trouble is, his talking point means a whole lot less than the data that points to the worst job market Americans have seen in years. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
The trouble is, his talking point means a whole lot less than the data that points to the worst job market Americans have seen in years. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
As layoffs surge and job openings fall, Trump offers a meaningless talking point
Is it any wonder why the public strongly disapproves of the president's economic performance?
www.ms.now
February 6, 2026 at 8:26 PM
As layoffs surge and job openings fall, Trump has a talking point he’s excited about: The workforce is the biggest it’s ever been.
The trouble is, his talking point means a whole lot less than the data that points to the worst job market Americans have seen in years. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
The trouble is, his talking point means a whole lot less than the data that points to the worst job market Americans have seen in years. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump amplifying another racist video got me thinking about the commitment he made to Black voters in his second inaugural — and how quickly he returned to the kind of gutter racism that helped fuel his political rise in the first place. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
White House tries to defend Trump amplifying a racist video targeting the Obamas
Karoline Leavitt had plenty of options to address the latest example of the president’s routine racism. She made the wrong choice.
www.ms.now
February 6, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Trump amplifying another racist video got me thinking about the commitment he made to Black voters in his second inaugural — and how quickly he returned to the kind of gutter racism that helped fuel his political rise in the first place. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump’s Gateway tunnel pitch sounds an awful lot like extortion: If Democrats want to save the project, restore the funds, and prevent the job losses, they’ll have to indulge his self-glorification obsession.
Articles of impeachment have been introduced over less.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Articles of impeachment have been introduced over less.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump said he’d release federal funds if officials rename Dulles Airport, Penn Station after him
The president’s obsession with self-glorification is old hat, but his tactics surrounding the Gateway infrastructure project are new.
www.ms.now
February 6, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Trump’s Gateway tunnel pitch sounds an awful lot like extortion: If Democrats want to save the project, restore the funds, and prevent the job losses, they’ll have to indulge his self-glorification obsession.
Articles of impeachment have been introduced over less.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Articles of impeachment have been introduced over less.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Vance’s comments got me thinking about the time, just five years ago, when Trump publicly rooted against American Olympic athletes - because he considered them “woke”: tinyurl.com/4mj7jjv2
Vance, in Milan, says the Olympics are 'one of the few things' that unite Americans
That and disliking JD Vance
That and disliking JD Vance
Vance, in Milan, says the Olympics are 'one of the few things' that unite Americans
Vice President JD Vance is in Milan leading President Donald Trump’s delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics
abcnews.go.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Vance’s comments got me thinking about the time, just five years ago, when Trump publicly rooted against American Olympic athletes - because he considered them “woke”: tinyurl.com/4mj7jjv2
On Capitol Hill, a growing number of lawmakers — including a handful of Senate Republicans — want Kristi Noem to resign or be fired.
A new poll shows the American mainstream agrees. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
A new poll shows the American mainstream agrees. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
New national poll shows most Americans want Kristi Noem out at DHS
After federal agents killed Renee Good, polls showed a public backlash. After federal agents killed Alex Pretti, it got worse.
www.ms.now
February 5, 2026 at 9:30 PM
On Capitol Hill, a growing number of lawmakers — including a handful of Senate Republicans — want Kristi Noem to resign or be fired.
A new poll shows the American mainstream agrees. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
A new poll shows the American mainstream agrees. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Seven months ago, Trump said that the New START treaty is “not an agreement you want expiring,” adding that it would be “a big problem for the world.”
Yesterday, it expired.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Yesterday, it expired.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
As the New START treaty expires, is Trump prepared for what happens next?
The president said in July that New START is “not an agreement you want expiring,” adding that it would be “a big problem for the world.” Then it expired.
www.ms.now
February 5, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Seven months ago, Trump said that the New START treaty is “not an agreement you want expiring,” adding that it would be “a big problem for the world.”
Yesterday, it expired.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Yesterday, it expired.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
When assessing personnel, Trump keeps emphasizing one thing: whether or not they meet his expectations for “central casting”: tinyurl.com/4vxf3bsa
It’s quite creepy.
It’s quite creepy.
Trump on the National Guard:
"They are central casting. I love them. To me, it looks much more beautiful. You walk down the street, you have 3 guys that are 6 foot 6"
"They are central casting. I love them. To me, it looks much more beautiful. You walk down the street, you have 3 guys that are 6 foot 6"
February 5, 2026 at 3:00 PM
When assessing personnel, Trump keeps emphasizing one thing: whether or not they meet his expectations for “central casting”: tinyurl.com/4vxf3bsa
It’s quite creepy.
It’s quite creepy.
Schumer and Jeffries present their list to Republican leaders, "laying out clear legislative actions to rein in ICE and stop the violence."
They also called for "fully ramping down the surge in Minnesota and removing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from her position."
They also called for "fully ramping down the surge in Minnesota and removing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from her position."
February 5, 2026 at 2:32 AM
Schumer and Jeffries present their list to Republican leaders, "laying out clear legislative actions to rein in ICE and stop the violence."
They also called for "fully ramping down the surge in Minnesota and removing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from her position."
They also called for "fully ramping down the surge in Minnesota and removing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from her position."
One of the things about the Gabbard/DNI/whistleblower story that I keep thinking about:
May 2025: whistleblower accuses Gabbard of wrongdoing in a report filed with the inspector general's office
June 2025: Gabbard starts politicizing the inspector general’s office
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
May 2025: whistleblower accuses Gabbard of wrongdoing in a report filed with the inspector general's office
June 2025: Gabbard starts politicizing the inspector general’s office
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Congress to gain access to the whistleblower complaint against Tulsi Gabbard at last
Lawmakers have had to wait for months to learn the details about allegations against the DNI. That wait is now over.
www.ms.now
February 4, 2026 at 9:36 PM
One of the things about the Gabbard/DNI/whistleblower story that I keep thinking about:
May 2025: whistleblower accuses Gabbard of wrongdoing in a report filed with the inspector general's office
June 2025: Gabbard starts politicizing the inspector general’s office
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
May 2025: whistleblower accuses Gabbard of wrongdoing in a report filed with the inspector general's office
June 2025: Gabbard starts politicizing the inspector general’s office
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Republicans apparently want to focus on Obama-era deportations. This isn't smart.
Obama showed that it was possible to focus on deportations without terrorizing communities and sparking a national backlash. Team Trump should stop referencing Obama’s policy and start emulating it.
Obama showed that it was possible to focus on deportations without terrorizing communities and sparking a national backlash. Team Trump should stop referencing Obama’s policy and start emulating it.
White House picks a fight it can’t win over Obama-era deportations
If Team Trump wants to pursue a deportation policy without sparking a national backlash, it should stop talking about Obama’s policy and start emulating Obama’s policy.
www.ms.now
February 4, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Republicans apparently want to focus on Obama-era deportations. This isn't smart.
Obama showed that it was possible to focus on deportations without terrorizing communities and sparking a national backlash. Team Trump should stop referencing Obama’s policy and start emulating it.
Obama showed that it was possible to focus on deportations without terrorizing communities and sparking a national backlash. Team Trump should stop referencing Obama’s policy and start emulating it.
It’s easy to forget the degree to which Speaker Mike Johnson is a died-in-the-wool, knee-jerk election denier who touts genuinely bonkers ideas, indifferent to their ridiculousness.
We’re not just talking about a few election-administration concerns; we’re talking about brazen nonsense.
We’re not just talking about a few election-administration concerns; we’re talking about brazen nonsense.
Speaker Johnson abandons all subtlety, embraces role as an election denier
The House Republican has an ugly record when it comes to baseless election conspiracies. This week, he made it worse.
www.ms.now
February 4, 2026 at 5:49 PM
It’s easy to forget the degree to which Speaker Mike Johnson is a died-in-the-wool, knee-jerk election denier who touts genuinely bonkers ideas, indifferent to their ridiculousness.
We’re not just talking about a few election-administration concerns; we’re talking about brazen nonsense.
We’re not just talking about a few election-administration concerns; we’re talking about brazen nonsense.
Trump, late last week: Kristi Noem’s many critics are “going after” her “because she is a woman.”
Trump, four days later: CNN’s Kaitlin Collins — one of several women in media he’s targeted — needs to smile more.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump, four days later: CNN’s Kaitlin Collins — one of several women in media he’s targeted — needs to smile more.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Lashing out at women in media, Trump still can’t seem to restrain himself
In a trend that seems to be getting worse, the president is struggling to treat women who cover the White House with any modicum of professionalism.
www.ms.now
February 4, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Trump, late last week: Kristi Noem’s many critics are “going after” her “because she is a woman.”
Trump, four days later: CNN’s Kaitlin Collins — one of several women in media he’s targeted — needs to smile more.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump, four days later: CNN’s Kaitlin Collins — one of several women in media he’s targeted — needs to smile more.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
I realize that Trump is apparently desperate to praise Putin, but in the middle of “Sunday to Sunday,” a Russian strike on a civilian passenger train in northeastern Ukraine killed five people: tinyurl.com/bp6xuu5p
The Russian dictator didn’t “keep his word.”
The Russian dictator didn’t “keep his word.”
Q: Yesterday you said Putin agreed to pause during the cold weather. Overnight those attacks started up again--
TRUMP: It was Sunday to Sunday. He him them hard last night. He kept his word on that.
TRUMP: It was Sunday to Sunday. He him them hard last night. He kept his word on that.
February 3, 2026 at 9:53 PM
I realize that Trump is apparently desperate to praise Putin, but in the middle of “Sunday to Sunday,” a Russian strike on a civilian passenger train in northeastern Ukraine killed five people: tinyurl.com/bp6xuu5p
The Russian dictator didn’t “keep his word.”
The Russian dictator didn’t “keep his word.”
Last week, the House Freedom Caucus said it couldn’t support the bill to end the partial shutdown. Today, they caved — again.
The Freedom Caucus went from pit bulls to obedient lapdogs with incredible speed. They talk a good game, right up until Trump tells them what to do — and then they roll over
The Freedom Caucus went from pit bulls to obedient lapdogs with incredible speed. They talk a good game, right up until Trump tells them what to do — and then they roll over
After making hollow threats, House Freedom Caucus members cave (again)
For the last year, the far-right members have talked a good game, right until they cave under pressure.
www.ms.now
February 3, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Last week, the House Freedom Caucus said it couldn’t support the bill to end the partial shutdown. Today, they caved — again.
The Freedom Caucus went from pit bulls to obedient lapdogs with incredible speed. They talk a good game, right up until Trump tells them what to do — and then they roll over
The Freedom Caucus went from pit bulls to obedient lapdogs with incredible speed. They talk a good game, right up until Trump tells them what to do — and then they roll over
Last week: Trump praises Putin for pausing attacks in Ukraine, even as Putin launches additional attacks in Ukraine.
This week: Trump *again* praises Putin for pausing attacks in Ukraine, even as Putin launches *even more* attacks in Ukraine.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
This week: Trump *again* praises Putin for pausing attacks in Ukraine, even as Putin launches *even more* attacks in Ukraine.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
As Russia attacks Ukraine, Trump pats himself on the back for a “pause” that doesn’t exist
Last week, Trump thanked Putin for pausing attacks in Ukraine, even as Putin launched new attacks. This week, it happened again.
www.ms.now
February 3, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Last week: Trump praises Putin for pausing attacks in Ukraine, even as Putin launches additional attacks in Ukraine.
This week: Trump *again* praises Putin for pausing attacks in Ukraine, even as Putin launches *even more* attacks in Ukraine.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
This week: Trump *again* praises Putin for pausing attacks in Ukraine, even as Putin launches *even more* attacks in Ukraine.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Four weeks ago: Trump floated the idea of canceling future elections
Three weeks ago: “When you think of it, we shouldn’t even have an election”
Yesterday: “The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting”
But it’s not just rhetoric: all of this has come against a backdrop of concrete action.
Three weeks ago: “When you think of it, we shouldn’t even have an election”
Yesterday: “The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting”
But it’s not just rhetoric: all of this has come against a backdrop of concrete action.
“Republicans ought to nationalize the voting”: Trump eyes radical power-grab
Those concerned about democracy don’t have the luxury of simply shrugging with indifference to the president’s latest conspiratorial nonsense.
www.ms.now
February 3, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Four weeks ago: Trump floated the idea of canceling future elections
Three weeks ago: “When you think of it, we shouldn’t even have an election”
Yesterday: “The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting”
But it’s not just rhetoric: all of this has come against a backdrop of concrete action.
Three weeks ago: “When you think of it, we shouldn’t even have an election”
Yesterday: “The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting”
But it’s not just rhetoric: all of this has come against a backdrop of concrete action.
I enthusiastically agree with Jamelle on this, though I’d one thing:
Senate Republicans had a responsibility to protect us from Gabbard, but 52 of them — including the so-called “moderates” — voted to confirm her anyway. (Mitch McConnell was the only GOP senator to oppose her nomination.)
Senate Republicans had a responsibility to protect us from Gabbard, but 52 of them — including the so-called “moderates” — voted to confirm her anyway. (Mitch McConnell was the only GOP senator to oppose her nomination.)
making tulsi gabbard DNI is itself a watergate level scandal
Exclusive: A U.S. official has alleged wrongdoing by U.S. spy chief Tulsi Gabbard in a complaint that is so highly classified it has sparked months of wrangling over how to share it with Congress, according to people familiar with the matter.
February 2, 2026 at 6:21 PM
I enthusiastically agree with Jamelle on this, though I’d one thing:
Senate Republicans had a responsibility to protect us from Gabbard, but 52 of them — including the so-called “moderates” — voted to confirm her anyway. (Mitch McConnell was the only GOP senator to oppose her nomination.)
Senate Republicans had a responsibility to protect us from Gabbard, but 52 of them — including the so-called “moderates” — voted to confirm her anyway. (Mitch McConnell was the only GOP senator to oppose her nomination.)
To hear Trump tell it, “nobody would care” if, as a result of his baseless lawsuit against the IRS, he agreed to award himself billions of taxpayer dollars, so long as he gave the money to charity.
Given his own record, it’s not nearly that simple.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Given his own record, it’s not nearly that simple.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
On his IRS suit, Trump claims “nobody would care” about a multibillion-dollar payout
Vague presidential assurances don’t turn a baseless lawsuit into a good one.
www.ms.now
February 2, 2026 at 3:52 PM
To hear Trump tell it, “nobody would care” if, as a result of his baseless lawsuit against the IRS, he agreed to award himself billions of taxpayer dollars, so long as he gave the money to charity.
Given his own record, it’s not nearly that simple.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Given his own record, it’s not nearly that simple.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Step 1: Trump begs voters in the Fort Worth area to back a GOP candidate in a special election in a red district.
Step 2: The Dem wins by double digits.
Step 3: Trump pretends Step 1 didn’t happen. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Step 2: The Dem wins by double digits.
Step 3: Trump pretends Step 1 didn’t happen. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
As Dems flip a red district in Texas, Trump tries to distance himself from his own failure
The president insisted that he wasn't “involved” in a special election in the Fort Worth area. Reality suggests otherwise.
www.ms.now
February 2, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Step 1: Trump begs voters in the Fort Worth area to back a GOP candidate in a special election in a red district.
Step 2: The Dem wins by double digits.
Step 3: Trump pretends Step 1 didn’t happen. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Step 2: The Dem wins by double digits.
Step 3: Trump pretends Step 1 didn’t happen. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump challenged his critics to name one economic metric that got worse over the last year — and so I did:
Job growth in the United States has got *much* worse after he returned to power.
Job growth in the United States has got *much* worse after he returned to power.
February 1, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Trump challenged his critics to name one economic metric that got worse over the last year — and so I did:
Job growth in the United States has got *much* worse after he returned to power.
Job growth in the United States has got *much* worse after he returned to power.
The arrest of journalists is a dramatic escalation, but the pattern is straight out of Orban's script:
- suing outlets for reports Trump doesn’t like
- vowing punishments for outlets over polls he doesn’t like
- threatening to sic prosecutors and pull broadcast licenses
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
- suing outlets for reports Trump doesn’t like
- vowing punishments for outlets over polls he doesn’t like
- threatening to sic prosecutors and pull broadcast licenses
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump’s arrest of journalists is the latest front in his effort to Orbanize the media
That journalists have been criminally charged is a dramatic escalation, but it’s not coming out of nowhere.
www.ms.now
January 30, 2026 at 9:56 PM
The arrest of journalists is a dramatic escalation, but the pattern is straight out of Orban's script:
- suing outlets for reports Trump doesn’t like
- vowing punishments for outlets over polls he doesn’t like
- threatening to sic prosecutors and pull broadcast licenses
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
- suing outlets for reports Trump doesn’t like
- vowing punishments for outlets over polls he doesn’t like
- threatening to sic prosecutors and pull broadcast licenses
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
As the White House announces a “fraud czar,” remember: the prosecutor won’t look into things such as
- Trump’s fraudulent “university”
- Trump’s fraudulent charitable foundation
- the Trump Organization, which engaged in systemic fraud
They mean fraud from *other* people.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
- Trump’s fraudulent “university”
- Trump’s fraudulent charitable foundation
- the Trump Organization, which engaged in systemic fraud
They mean fraud from *other* people.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
The problem(s) with the White House’s newly announced ‘fraud czar’
Having an assistant AG report to the West Wing rather than Pam Bondi adds new weight to worries the DOJ is in crisis.
www.ms.now
January 30, 2026 at 7:59 PM
As the White House announces a “fraud czar,” remember: the prosecutor won’t look into things such as
- Trump’s fraudulent “university”
- Trump’s fraudulent charitable foundation
- the Trump Organization, which engaged in systemic fraud
They mean fraud from *other* people.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
- Trump’s fraudulent “university”
- Trump’s fraudulent charitable foundation
- the Trump Organization, which engaged in systemic fraud
They mean fraud from *other* people.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
With Tulsi Gabbard spending months trying to bolster Trump’s 2020 conspiracy theory, while also trying and failing to discredit Trump’s Russia scandal, I’m genuinely curious:
Who’s done the job of the DNI? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Who’s done the job of the DNI? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Tulsi Gabbard’s role in the FBI’s Fulton County raid goes from bad to worse
The DNI is legally prohibited from taking part in domestic law enforcement. So why was she with the FBI in Georgia?
www.ms.now
January 30, 2026 at 6:31 PM
With Tulsi Gabbard spending months trying to bolster Trump’s 2020 conspiracy theory, while also trying and failing to discredit Trump’s Russia scandal, I’m genuinely curious:
Who’s done the job of the DNI? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Who’s done the job of the DNI? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...