How to Win 2024

Is retribution a winning campaign issue? That’s the question Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri want to answer this week. And the striking contrast of the two presidential candidates comes into sharper focus: while one meets with G7 world leaders after honoring the fallen heroes of D-Day, the other tells his supporters he doesn’t care about them, he just needs their vote. Then: what is more of a kitchen table issue to voters than stubbornly high food prices? Montana Senator Jon Tester sits down with Claire and Jen to lay bare the effects of corporate consolidation on food production and what it means for your next grocery run.

As a bonus for listeners, we’re sharing a special preview of the second season of the award-winning original series, “Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra.” In the chart-topping second season, Rachel Maddow returns to uncover the shocking history of the ultra-right’s reach into American politics. Listen to the entire first episode now, and follow the show to get the whole series: https://link.chtbl.com/rmpust_fdlw. You can also subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts for early access to every episode the Friday before it drops, and ad-free listening to all episodes of Ultra seasons one and two.

What a difference a week makes. Last Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri spoke, the jury was deliberating, and now the contrast of the two incumbents is in stark relief. The pair frame how to talk about running against an opponent found guilty on 34 criminal counts, and how desperate Republicans seem to be-- to undermine our judicial system and call for retribution, just to curry favor with Trump. Then Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign, joins to kick off Pride Month and zero in on what issues are most urgent for LGBTQ+ voters. And before signing off, Claire and Jen take a beat to lay out the hard but necessary executive action President Biden took this week to stem the flow of immigrants crossing the border illegally, as the GOP stand idly by.

There’s been a lot of hand wringing this week as Democrats read Chicken Little headlines, leading to some nerves about Biden’s prospects this fall. But Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri seek to calm the waters and highlight what Biden has going for him beyond his legislative record: laying the foundation for a robust ground game operation. Guy Cecil, former head of the Super PAC Priorities USA, joins this episode to describe what a sturdy operation looks like on the ground and how to use SuperPAC money to get your message out. We may not like dark money in our elections, but as Claire says, this is the hand we’ve been dealt- so we've got to play it.

When thinking about how to win 2024, don’t sleep on the swing voter. That’s the takeaway Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri hope to get across. But it’s a “Yes, and...” scenario. Biden needs to keep touting his wins on the economy and jobs, while highlighting where Republicans are blocking progress: on reforms to immigration and policing. Then, former U.S. Attorney and law professor Barbara McQuade stops in to recap the highs and lows from Donald Trump’s criminal trial as the jury preps for deliberations next week. And beyond the legal impact, Claire and Jen take a beat to analyze the political impact the jury’s decision will have this fall.

As Michael Cohen testified against Trump in Manhattan, Biden notched a win by setting the parameters for two presidential debates. Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri break down this week's primary results and why healthcare should stay front and center in the 2024 campaign. Then, Deborah Scott of Georgia STAND-UP shares what her organization is doing to energize voting coalitions in her state, as new waves of voter suppression tactics keep crashing ashore. Lastly, Claire and Jen highlight the unsexy, but sorely needed infrastructure projects that the Biden administration is building to make our water cleaner, our roads safer and to bring US manufacturing into the 21st century.Further reading:Here is the map the White House released, showing the more than 56,000 infrastructure projects and awards that are identified or now underway.Here are the state by state fact sheets to see how money is being spent in your state. Go look for what's happening in your neck of the woods!Further Watching:Deborah Scott, along with other grassroots community leaders are featured in the MSNBC Films documentary: Battleground Georgia. The film breaks down the complex history of voting across the South and how Georgia came to lead the charge in this pivotal political moment. You can watch Battleground Georgia this Sunday, May 19 at 9pm Eastern on MSNBC.

Six months out from the election, and a few issues are converging. Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri drill down on what’s working and what President Biden needs to focus on around a few key issues like immigration, the war in Gaza and reproductive rights. And after Senator Tim Scott tied himself in knots to avoid saying he’d accept the 2024 election results, it's a good time to check in with elections lawyer Marc Elias about coming legal shenanigans. Claire and Marc highlight lawsuits brought by the RNC that aim to sow doubt in election integrity ahead of the fall, and how to stand up to right wing vigilantism at the ballot box.

What do the newest generation of voters want? What engages them and motivates them? This is a question that's central to 2024, as protests over Gaza continue on college campuses nationwide. Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri check in with Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, Executive Director of NextGen America, to get at the heart of how to reach this important constituency. And a review of Trump’s Time magazine profile, in which he’s telling voters exactly who he is. Then, the campaign pros zoom in on Arizona as a case study of the converging issues that will be central in November.

This year's White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner features NBC News Senior White House Correspondent and President of the White House Correspondents'Association, Kelly O'Donnell. With remarks from President Joe Biden and Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update host Colin Jost. Listen to the event here.

An extraordinary phase of the 2024 race unfolding this week as Donald Trump finds himself stuck in a Manhattan courtroom and the focus of historic Supreme Court arguments, while President Biden sprints across a major battleground state. Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri zero in on that stunning split screen and what it could mean for the presidential race. Plus, Claire and Jen talk to constitutional law professor Michele Goodwin about the chipping away of reproductive freedom and how that could also shape the election.Further reading: Here is the map Jen mentioned, showing where reproductive rights stand, state by state.

"We have our jury,” announced Judge Juan Merchan late Thursday as the historic trial against the former president continues. Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri explore the heart of the case and underscore the finer points of jury selection (voir dire) with former US attorney and law professor Joyce Vance. Plus, a look at Biden’s three-day stop in Pennsylvania and Speaker Johnson’s big bet on bringing foreign aid votes to the floor this weekend.

This week, as Biden announced a new student debt relief plan, Trump waffled on his reproductive rights position. Former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri drill down on the implications of both for 2024. Then, MSNBC’s All In host Chris Hayes stops by to talk shop about a new recurring series on his Why Is This Happening? podcast. Claire, Jen and Chris highlight the unique moment we’re in: for the first time in over a century, we have two candidates that have presidential records to compare and contrast.

As a bonus for listeners, we’re sharing the first episode of a special series from “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast,” called “WITHpod 2024: The Stakes.” For the first time since 1892, we have an election in which both candidates have presidential records. It’s a unique chance to take a hard look at what both Joe Biden and Donald Trump have actually done as president. Chris Hayes talks to experts about both candidates’ records on specific policy areas. This week, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, joins to unpack immigration policies under Trump vs. Biden, the state of the asylum system, and more. Follow and listen to the whole series: https://link.chtbl.com/withpod_tsfd

Tensions are elevated as protests continue in Israel and Trump is scrambling for cash. This week, former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri offer Team Biden the strategy of walking and chewing gum at the same time. Then, Daria Dawson, Executive Director of America Votes, joins to highlight how the organization is working to mobilize voters this fall. Lastly, Claire and Jen break down the ripple effects both Florida Supreme Court decisions will have on abortion access, now and in the longer term. The stakes are incredibly high for reproductive rights.  Content warning: In this episode, there is discussion about the rape and incest exceptions in the Florida six-week abortion ban that might be triggering for some listeners, so please listen with care.For further reading: Here is a map showing where reproductive rights stand, state by state.And here is the Vanity Fair article Jen was talking about: Inside the Terrifyingly Competent Trump 2024 Campaign.

As we get closer to Trump's first criminal trial, Former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri sit down for a conversation with NBC News presidential historian Michael Beschloss on how former president Trump has changed long held presidential traditions, and how history will judge this time. The focus then shifts to compare and contrast how former presidents have worked with (or against) the American legal system when they have been accused of crimes or impeached in Congress.Note: This conversation was recorded on Friday, May 22.

Five more states held primaries this week, and former Vice President Pence joined the growing list of Trump’s former cabinet members that just can’t back him in 2024. Former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri analyze the trends and the importance of Biden’s effort to court Latino voters. Then, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes stops in to share what his team is doing to expose the use of generative A.I. to spread misinformation in our elections. Plus: why we need to pay attention to RFK Jr’s candidacy.

President Biden and Vice President Harris are hitting the road. Former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri weigh in on the post-State of the Union tour, including the Veep’s stop at an abortion clinic in Minnesota. And they get into Majority Leader Schumer’s direct call for new elections in Israel. Then, NBC’s Director of Elections, John Lapinski stops in to pull apart how to think about polling in 2024. And Claire and Jen shine a light on former Trump voters who are looking elsewhere. 

President Joe Biden delivered his third State of the Union address Thursday night. Listen here for the full speech followed by expert analysis from MSNBC’s political team, led by Rachel Maddow.For more political coverage, visit msnbc.com.

Though 2024’s Super Tuesday issued few surprises, there were nuanced insights for Democrats and troubling signs for Trump. Former Senator Claire McCaskill and former White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri look at lessons learned from the 15 state contests. Then, Third Way’s Matt Bennett joins to detail No Labels' well publicized gathering that is not opened to the public, to decide if they’ll enter a third-party candidate into the race. Finally, Claire and Jen shine a light on Project 2025- a Christian nationalist agenda laying the groundwork behind the scenes in preparation for a Trump 2nd term.Note: We reached out to No Labels for comment. As of the time of publication they have not responded.

Voters in 16 states cast their ballots in presidential primaries across the country this Super Tuesday. As expected, Joe Biden and Donald Trump won the majority of their respective party’s delegates while Nikki Haley struggled to pick up wins. Listen here to a portion of the coverage as Rachel Maddow and MSNBC’s political team analyze the results in real time as polls close.This portion of the conversation was pulled from the 9:00-11:00pm ET hours. For more results, check out msnbc.com.