The Best People with Nicolle Wallace

Aaron Sorkin is acutely aware of the criticism that his work is too optimistic — and with “The Social Reckoning,” he’s doubling down. “I just like when an audience feels two inches taller than they did when they walked in,” he tells Nicolle. The Oscar-and-Emmy award-winning writer and director has inspired countless political hopefuls with “The West Wing,” including Nicolle, who envisioned a place for herself in the White House after watching Allison Janney’s portrayal of Press Secretary C.J. Cregg. Sorkin follows up 2010’s “The Social Network” by assessing Facebook in the age of Trump: telling the story of whistleblower Frances Haugen’s decision to release internal documents surrounding misinformation and potential harms from the platform, alongside a now older Mark Zuckerberg as he reckons with the power of the technology he’s created. Sorkin chose to intentionally release the movie prior to the upcoming midterms — knowing that, if there’s a moment for optimism, it’s right now. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. You'll also get exclusive bonus content and early access to new episodes of "The Best People." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If Michael Lewis has a superpower, it’s the ability to make anything — even the most esoteric subject — interesting. Now, one of the country’s biggest nonfiction writers is tackling Elon Musk, DOGE, his attempts to gut the federal government — and the public servants who resisted him. In “Blockers," named after Musk’s term for the public servants who pushed back against DOGE, Lewis puts the spotlight on six unsung heroes of the federal bureaucracy who did what they could to save the agencies they served. Speaking to Nicolle, Lewis says that “it’s a miracle” these people chose to do the jobs they do, and that DOGE ended up being a “great distraction” that caused chaos and allowed Donald Trump to seize control of the government. Lewis says he wants us to pay attention to the stories of these federal employees because they remind us of our "better selves." Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. You'll also get exclusive bonus content and early access to new episodes of "The Best People." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Judge Esther Salas knows what it’s like to overcome a dark moment. On July 19th, 2020, the U.S. district judge suffered a devastating loss: a man who had been a plaintiff in her court years prior murdered her only son and severely injured her husband. Speaking with Nicolle about the state of the country amidst growing political violence and President Trump’s charged rhetoric against judges, Judge Salas says she thinks America could learn from her personal experience: “Norms have been broken, rules have been shattered,” she observed. “But just like we’ve done in the past, we’re gonna pick up the pieces.” With an unbending belief in the sanctity of the American justice system and a willingness to forgive, Judge Salas teaches us rebuilding is possible, even at its most daunting. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. You'll also get exclusive bonus content and early access to new episodes of "The Best People." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anthony Scaramucci has stories to tell. He joins Nicolle for this special episode as part of the new “Nicolle Wallace Presents: 92NY on MS NOW” series to discuss the roots of our political divisions: the uniquely American conditions that allowed Trump to ascend to the nation’s highest office. The two former White House communications directors discuss Scaramucci’s new book, “All the Wrong Moves,” his 11-day tenure at the Trump administration and the path forward and away from this difficult moment. “I think it will end in darkness for Donald Trump,” he says. But “it'll end with a brighter horizon for America — cause we're gonna fix this.” “Nicolle Wallace Presents: 92NY on MS NOW” will bring conversations from the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan to MS's weekend lineup. The series will feature conversations led by Nicolle and Rachel Maddow with figures including Robert Downey Jr., Ari Emanuel, and Malcolm Gladwell. Tune in Sunday, October 4th at 8pm ET to catch the first episode. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. You'll also get exclusive bonus content and early access to new episodes of "The Best People." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pete Buttigieg thinks this is a “make-or-break” moment in American politics. As Americans continue to struggle economically and President Trump’s focus seems elsewhere, the former US Secretary of Transportation argues that the moments in history that were the hardest "mattered the most,” asserting that “the 2020’s are gonna be remembered like that.” Buttigieg looks ahead to what he’d like to see if Democrats take control of government after the midterms, including a big one: Supreme Court reform. He also hopes there will be accountability from Pete Hegseth for the ways in which the Iran War has affected America’s international reputation, and for Marco Rubio to answer for lying to Congress about the devastating impacts of gutting USAID. Above all else, however, Buttigieg’s call is for everyday citizens: “The biggest, most important thing you get to do is vote.” Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. You'll also get exclusive bonus content and early access to new episodes of "The Best People." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.