MS Now

David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart discuss the fallout from the Maine Senate race with Geoff Bennett. Topics also include President Trump's comments at the NATO summit and Rahm Emanuel's criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

A Mexican man was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Houston during an operation, but he was not the individual the agency was targeting, according to Rep. Sylvia Garcia and acting ICE Director David Venturella.

A US official stated that 'technical talks' with Iran continue despite recent attacks, with Washington committed to resolving the conflict. This follows Trump's declaration at a NATO summit in Ankara that the ceasefire with Iran was 'over'.

Troy Jackson, a potential Maine Senate candidate, faced scrutiny over his past support for Graham Platner during an interview. Jackson admitted to backing Platner despite controversies including a Nazi tattoo and Reddit posts but claimed he stopped supporting him after a credible sexual assault allegation. Jackson stated Platner had assured him there were no past issues.

Graham Platner dropped out of the Maine Senate race after his ex-girlfriend accused him of rape, though he denied the claims. Joe Scarborough from MS NOW criticized GOPers as 'hypocritical' amid the scandal.

Hasan Piker, a progressive Twitch host, expressed strong support for a sexual assault accuser against Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, calling the allegations 'curtains' for his campaign. Other liberal media figures, including Luke Russert and Jon Favreau, also demanded Platner step down, citing credible evidence and urging the Democratic Party to replace him by a key deadline.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is criticized for abandoning principle by advocating 'radical reform' of the Supreme Court, aligning with Democratic leaders like Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg. The article compares Shapiro's decision to Terry Malloy's downfall in 'On the Waterfront,' suggesting he missed an opportunity to oppose radical elements in his party. Shapiro's remarks on court reform are framed as capitulating to a socialist movement within the Democratic Party.

David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart joined Amna Nawaz to discuss recent Supreme Court decisions and primary election upsets ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary. The conversation focused on major political developments and judicial actions.

Acting DNI Pulte has begun firing intelligence officials, as reported by MS NOW. This action is linked to President Donald Trump's selection for the role of Director of National Intelligence.

Sen. Ed Markey claimed Republicans 'stole' two Supreme Court seats in 2016 and 2020, advocating for court expansion to 13 seats to counter a 'supermajority.' Other Democrats, including James Carville and Hakeem Jeffries, also supported court reform or expansion in response to recent rulings.

CNN journalist Paula Reid is leaving the network for MS NOW due to concerns over Paramount Skydance's acquisition of CNN and potential leadership changes under Paramount CEO David Ellison. Reid's decision follows reports that Bari Weiss, editor-in-chief of CBS News, may lead CNN, with other CNN journalists expressing fears about the merger's impact.

Jon Meacham, a MS NOW guest historian, argues the U.S. as a 'multiracial, multiethnic democracy' was not founded until 1965 due to laws like the Voting Rights Act and Immigration and Nationality Act. Other MS NOW hosts, including Rev. Al Sharpton and Joy Reid, question celebrating the 250th anniversary of 1776, citing the nation's history with slavery and advocating for Juneteenth as a more meaningful start to American democracy.

Fox News Channel led CBS and NBC in weekday primetime and dominated cable viewership in the second quarter with an average of 1.6 million viewers, surpassing ESPN, MS NOW, and CNN. It maintained a 98-quarter streak as the top primetime cable news channel and outperformed competitors in the 25-54 demographic.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was seen on Capitol Hill as the court released opinions before its summer recess. He was accompanied by a Metropolitan Police Department officer and another man while walking through the House side of the Capitol, where he spoke to MS NOW’s Mychael.

David Brooks of The Atlantic and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW discuss politics with Geoff Bennett, covering President Trump disrupting the GOP agenda, progressives winning Democratic primaries in New York, and Vice President JD Vance's defense of Richard Nixon.

Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan's book 'Regime Change' details how President Trump became more willing to use power in his second term, taking risks like starting trade wars and actions in Iran and Venezuela. The authors describe him as 'untethered' from domestic political considerations, operating on gut instinct and reshaping global perceptions of his leadership.

MS NOW guest Akilah Hughes warned that America may not last another 250 years based on its current trajectory under the current administration. The statement was made during a Sunday podcast appearance.

Akilah Hughes warned that America may not endure another 250 years under the current trajectory, criticizing the current administration for undermining history, public education, and public works. Aminatou Sow countered with optimism, citing resilient energy in New York City. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 64% of Republicans and 27% of Democrats would display an American flag on July 4.

Rep. Seth Moulton criticized a reported US-Iran peace deal, calling it a 'surrender document' in response to President Trump's claim that the U.S. and Iran plan to sign the agreement. Moulton stated the deal is 'terrible' and a sign of surrender to Iran's supreme leader.

The Trump administration's immigration policies have led to a 10-fold increase in babies and toddlers held in ICE custody, with 25 on average daily in 2025-2026 compared to fewer than three under Biden. Parents report substandard conditions causing health and developmental issues, while experts warn detention harms young children.

Graham Platner won a primary election in Maine amid coordinated attacks from rightwing operatives and liberal media figures, who spread allegations about his past relationships and a Nazi-affiliation claim linked to his tattoo. The article suggests these attacks may have backfired, highlighting the unpopularity of Democratic party elite strategies.

David Brooks of The Atlantic and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW discuss the tradeoffs of a possible U.S.-Iran deal, along with other political developments including a congressional conflict and a mixed martial arts event at the White House.

Rachel Maddow of MS NOW repeatedly played a clip of Trump being booed at a Knicks game, while a Morning Joe colleague accused him of falling asleep. The incident involved three consecutive boos directed at Trump during the event.

David Brooks of The Atlantic and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW discuss GOP lawmakers' defiance of President Donald Trump and fresh scandals in a key Senate race with Amna Nawaz.

Katie Couric stated that Bari Weiss had little choice but to fire Scott Pelley after his insubordination during a contentious staff meeting at CBS News. Pelley criticized Weiss's management of '60 Minutes' and expressed anger over recent firings of senior staff, while Couric and media reporter Oliver Darcy discussed the fallout from the network's leadership changes.

Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner stated that he and his wife, Amy Gertner, addressed his past sexting with multiple women early in their marriage. He mentioned the sexually explicit messaging ended soon after they married.

Graham Platner, a progressive oyster farmer, stated he has not considered dropping his Maine Senate primary bid despite new allegations about his past behavior. He emphasized this during an interview with MS NOW's Chris Hayes.

Graham Platner, a Maine Senate candidate, denied allegations in a New York Times report that detailed claims from ex-girlfriends about rape fantasies, heavy drinking, and violent episodes, including an alleged incident where he pulled an ex-girlfriend from a taxi and pushed her into a room. Platner called the allegations 'not true' and attributed them to political motivation, while acknowledging past struggles with alcohol and combat-related trauma.

John Bolton agrees to plead guilty to retaining classified information. He was indicted and claimed innocence, stating he was targeted due to his public opposition to President Trump.

Democratic strategist Jim Messina warned Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass about her reelection chances ahead of the California primary. He stated she should be concerned regardless of the runoff opponent.

Fox News led YouTube news brands in May 2026 with 338.8 million video views, more than tripling the combined total of ABC News, NBC News, and CBS News. It also outperformed MS NOW by over 100 million views and achieved 79.3 million social media interactions across platforms. Fox News Clips saw a 18% year-over-year increase in views, and the network reported 1.3 billion total social video views.

Jill Biden stated her husband, President Joe Biden, would not have been able to serve another four years due to his cancer diagnosis. She expressed uncertainty about his ability to complete a second term and mentioned her belief he would have defeated Donald Trump in a potential election.

Sen. Bernie Sanders refuses to retract his endorsement of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner despite reports that Platner exchanged explicit texts with multiple women after marrying his wife in 2024. Sanders argues the focus should be on economic issues affecting working people rather than Platner's personal life.

Alexis Wilkins, girlfriend of Kash Patel, has sued MS NOW for spreading 'recklessly false allegations.' Kash Patel was sworn in as Director of the FBI in 2025.

Alexis Wilkins, the girlfriend of FBI director Kash Patel, filed a lawsuit against MS Now, alleging defamation over a report that claimed Patel directed a security detail to escort one of her friends home after a night of drinking. The report was published last year.

Graham Platner, a Maine Senate candidate, withdrew from an interview with MS NOW as a sexting scandal emerged. The Platner campaign disputes MS NOW's account, calling it 'flat out inaccurate.'

Graham Platner's team canceled an MS NOW interview following reports of explicit messages sent to women while married. His wife, Amy Gertner, released a video defending him without disputing the allegations, and his campaign denied the interview was ever scheduled, calling the claim inaccurate.

Jonathan Capehart and Matthew Continetti discuss the week in politics, focusing on Trump's strength in GOP primaries, the Texas Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton, and Jill Biden's remarks on the former president's health.

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke praised state Rep. James Talarico as the 'best' candidate he has seen in Texas politics during an interview on MS NOW. O’Rourke highlighted Talarico's performance as the most impressive in his political career in the Lone Star State.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) claims his Senate campaign is gaining support from disillusioned President Trump voters, who express backing 'like they’re in the witness protection program.' Talarico discussed this during an interview on MS NOW, highlighting growing discontent with Trump's policies.