
Here's the Scoop
272 episodes — Page 4 of 6
Ep 122Trump’s Economic Road Show; Pastors and Prey: Investigating Abuse in the Assemblies of God
Up first, the Trump economy. President Trump is back on the road today, heading to Pennsylvania for what the White House is calling a “campaign-style economic event.” He’s expected to tout his record, sell his vision and make the case that his policies are fueling a stronger economy. NBC News senior White House correspondent Garrett Haake, who is traveling with the president, joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to break it down. And in an NBC News exclusive, a yearlong investigation into one of the world’s largest Pentecostal denominations uncovered allegations of sexual abuse inside the Assemblies of God. Reporters focused on its signature youth program, the Royal Rangers, which is a Boy Scouts–style rite of passage built around camping trips, outdoor skills and Scripture. Dozens of former program leaders have been accused of abusing boys in their care, and, despite mounting claims, church leadership has resisted reforms that survivors say are urgently needed. Mike Hixenbaugh, senior investigative reporter on the NBC News Enterprise team, joins the pod. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 121How Far Can a President Go?; Hostile Takeover: Hollywood Edition
It’s a significant test of presidential power at the Supreme Court. Today, the justices are weighing whether President Donald Trump can fire a member of the Federal Trade Commission, an agency Congress intentionally shielded from political influence to protect its consumer-protection and antitrust mission. The case comes as Trump’s administration moves to dramatically reshape the federal workforce, slashing agencies and removing thousands of career employees. Now, the court must decide just how far presidential authority can reach. NBC News senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to explain. And Paramount Skydance just launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, dropping a stunning $108 billion offer for the entire company. It’s a move that could reshape Hollywood overnight and ignite a new era of media mega-mergers. So, what exactly is going on here? And why now? NBC News senior reporter Daniel Arkin joins the pod to break it all down. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 120Hollywood’s New Power Couple; GOOOOOAL! The Groups Are In!
It’s a Hollywood shake-up for the ages. Netflix’s merger with Warner Bros. Discovery is officially a go. The streamer is spending $82.7 billion to acquire Warner Bros.’ massive movie, TV and streaming portfolio, one of the largest entertainment mergers in modern history. The deal pairs Netflix’s disruptor DNA with a 102-year-old Hollywood heavyweight, blazing a trail for how a streaming pioneer blends with a legacy studio. Mike Calia, the managing editor for business and the economy at NBC News, joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to break down what this blockbuster deal means for the future of entertainment. Plus: It’s the day soccer fans have been waiting for nearly four years. It’s the FIFA World Cup draw. It’s the largest tournament in competition history, with 48 teams now competing to hoist that golden trophy. Where did your country place? What are the potential upsets? Is there a ‘Group of Death’? Oh, and what is the draw anyway? The host of the Men in Blazers podcast, Roger Bennett, joins the podcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 119The Twin Cities’ Immigration Sweep; What JD Vance Told Us
Federal immigration officers are conducting raids across Minnesota’s Twin Cities, home to one of the nation’s largest Somali communities, just days after President Trump verbally attacked immigrants from the country in eastern Africa. The administration has said the ICE raids aren’t targeting Somalis, but community members tell NBC News it sure feels that way. NBC News senior homeland security correspondent Julia Ainsley joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to break down what’s happening on the ground. Plus, in an exclusive interview, Vice President JD Vance discussed with NBC News senior national politics reporter Henry Gomez his frustration with the stalled peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, the speculation about his family life and his political future. Henry joins the pod to tell us what he learned. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 118The GOP holds on in the Volunteer State; A Lawsuit That’s Anything But Sugarcoated
A potential warning sign for Republicans in Tennessee. Matt Van Epps, the party's nominee, won the special election in the 7th District and thanked President Trump for a boost. Both parties poured money into the race, but Van Epps' single-digit margin of victory is a far cry from Trump’s 22-point win there in 2024. So, what does the result signal nationally? Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki joins host Ryan Nobles to break it down. Plus, San Francisco is taking on big food, in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit. The city is suing 10 of the country’s biggest ultraprocessed food makers, accusing them of knowingly selling products designed to be addictive and harmful to Americans’ health. The defendants include household names like Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Nestlé USA. NBC News Legal Analyst Danny Cevallos joins us to break down the case, what’s at stake and why legal experts are watching this one closely. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 117When Does a Strike Cross the Line?; Mr. Witkoff goes to Moscow
President Trump met with his Cabinet this morning as questions continue to intensify over a U.S. strike on a shipping boat allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean. The White House now confirms that in a September anti-smuggling operation, the military launched a second strike that killed survivors of the first attack, a move some lawmakers and legal experts say could be a war crime. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said the operation was legal and Adm. Frank M. Bradley acted within his authority. NBC News senior national security correspondent Courtney Kube joins host Anne Thompson to break it all down. And amid ongoing bloodshed in Ukraine and fragile cease-fire negotiations, Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting today in Moscow with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Witkoff is expected to brief Putin on the newly updated peace plan hammered out in recent days by U.S. and Ukrainian and European negotiators. As these high-stakes talks unfold, we’re checking in with our team on the ground: NBC News chief international correspondent Keir Simmons is in Moscow, and chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel is in Ukraine. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 116The Luigi Mangione Evidence Battle; ’Tis the Season… to Get Duped?
Luigi Mangione is back in court today for a pivotal pretrial hearing in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The 27-year-old has pleaded not guilty to nine state counts and four federal charges, the latter carrying the possibility of the death penalty. His defense team is now fighting to exclude key evidence, a process that could take more than a week. NBC News legal analyst Misty Marris joins host Laura Jarrett to break down what this means for the case. Adobe Analytics is predicting Americans will drop a record-breaking $14 billion on Cyber Monday deals today but, where there are shoppers, there are scammers. Not even our host was immune, getting caught up in a gift card scam herself. NBC News chief consumer investigative reporter Vicky Nguyen is here to break down what went wrong, what’s being done to stop it, and the red flags you need to watch for while you shop this holiday season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 115A GOP Split Over Legal Immigration; A Thanksgiving Feast of Blockbusters?
President Trump’s base may agree on illegal immigration, but legal immigration is tearing open new fault lines — and at the center are H-1B visas. Months after cracking down with costly new restrictions, the president now appears to be reversing course, jolting his party and escalating his feud with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Georgia Republican who announced this week that she’ll resign her seat in 2026. NBC News senior politics reporter Jon Allen joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to break down the policy whiplash and the GOP split that's fueling it. Plus, after box office sales fell to a historic low last month, Hollywood film studios are hoping moviegoers turn out this Thanksgiving weekend. NBC News Entertainment Correspondent Chloe Melas joins the show to give a look into the movie business and preview some of the upcoming films that could save the industry this year. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 114Orders, Obedience and the Senator in the Spotlight; Turbocharging America’s AI
We’re starting with a political firestorm at the Pentagon. Defense officials have launched a misconduct investigation into Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over a video he and other former service members recorded, urging people in the military and intelligence community not to carry out illegal orders from the Trump administration. Kelly, a retired Navy pilot, appears alongside several Democrats with national security backgrounds, and the question now is whether their message crossed an ethical line. NBC News senior national security correspondent Courtney Kube joins host Yasmin Vossoghian. And President Donald Trump has launched the “Genesis Mission,” a new executive order meant to turbocharge America’s artificial intelligence capabilities. The plan ramps up federal computing power, opens access to massive government data sets and pushes AI research toward real-world deployment. NBC News reporter and writer Jared Perlo joins the pod to break down what’s in it and what it means for the U.S. tech race. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 113Judge Topples Comey’s and James’ Cases in Sweeping Ruling; Inside the Ukraine–Russia Peace Push
A federal judge has thrown out the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, a sweeping setback for what critics have described as an effort by the Trump administration to use the justice system for political payback. Legal affairs reporter Gary Grumbach joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to break down one of the sharpest judicial rebukes yet of the administration’s prosecution strategy. And President Trump’s self-imposed Ukraine peace deadline is fast approaching, as U.S. and Ukrainian officials say they’re making headway in Geneva, despite Russia’s continued absence. NBC News’ chief foreign affairs correspondent Richard Engel is on the ground in Switzerland, tracking the negotiations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 112Mamdani Goes to Washington; GLP-1: Micro Dose, Major Buzz
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is heading to Washington, D.C., on Friday for a face-to-face with President Donald Trump, an unlikely matchup after months of trading insults. NBC News reporter Allan Smith joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to break down what’s at stake and whether this meeting is about policy or pure political theater. And we’re digging into the latest wellness whisper: microdosing GLP-1s. You’ve heard celebrities like Andy Cohen and Rebel Wilson talk about it. Now, everyday users are trying tiny doses of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for “appetite tuning” and weight control. Telehealth companies like Noom and Ro are helping fuel the trend by making access easy. NBC News correspondent Anne Thompson joins the pod after speaking with someone who’s doing it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 111The Market Mood Swing; ‘Why Won’t You Help Me?’: How Jails Fail Pregnant Women
We’re breaking down the September jobs report: The U.S. added 119,000 jobs, stronger than expected and a sign the economy was still hiring steadily before the government shutdown. But a closer look from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a more uneven picture, with a labor market starting to wobble amid high-profile layoffs at major companies. Wall Street? Pure chaos. Stocks surged, plunged and snapped back as investors tried to make sense of it all. Host Yasmin Vossoughian is joined by Caleb Silver, the editor in chief at Investopedia and the chief business editor at People Inc. Our new NBC News–Bloomberg Law documentary is out, exposing what happens when women give birth behind bars. We spoke with mothers who delivered alone on jail cell floors, screamed for help that never came and, in one case, delivered a stillborn baby into a toilet. Others didn’t survive their pregnancies at all. These stories reveal a devastating reality inside U.S. jails and prisons, where basic care and dignity are often denied. Yasmin is joined by NBC News staff writer Jon Schuppe, her reporting partner, to break down what they uncovered. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 110The Quiet Breakup of the Education Department; Inside Iran’s Water Emergency
The Trump administration is quietly moving to carve up the U.S. Education Department, shifting key responsibilities to agencies like Labor and State in a renewed push toward its long-standing goal of dismantling the department altogether. It’s a striki ng look at how far the administration is willing to go to bypass Congress to make it happen. Host Yasmin Vossoughian is joined by Erica Meltzer, national editor at Chalkbeat, to unpack what this maneuver means for students, schools and federal oversight. Meanwhile, Iran is staring down its worst water crisis in decades, and the warning signs are plastered across Tehran. New government posters read: “There is a water shortage! It’s fall and there is still no rain.” With reservoirs drying up and no relief in the forecast, officials are raising the unthinkable possibility of evacuating the capital city of 10 million people. NBC News producer Amin Khodadadi joins us from Tehran to break down how the crisis got this bad and what happens next. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 109Epstein Records: D.C. Decision Day; The Saudi Reset
The House votes on a bill that would force the Justice Department to release all its records on Jeffrey Epstein. It’s expected to pass, a major win for the bipartisan group pushing for transparency. So, what would this bill require? And what could surface in any new document dumps? NBC News National Law Enforcement & Intelligence Correspondent Tom Winter joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to discuss his reporting. And President Donald Trump hosts Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. A striking reset after a CIA assessment tied the crown prince to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The U.S.-Saudi relationship appears to be warming under Trump, with LIV Golf ties, reported Trump Organization real estate talks and the sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia, despite the Pentagon’s warning that China could gain access to the tech, all as the White House looks to Riyadh for help shaping Gaza’s reconstruction. White House correspondent Monica Alba joins the pod. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 108“We have nothing to hide”; Operation ‘Charlotte’s Web’
President Trump is now calling for the full release of the long-sealed Jeffrey Epstein documents, saying, “We have nothing to hide,” and urging Congress to make the files public. It’s a sharp reversal from years of efforts to keep parts of the record under wraps. So, why now? NBC News Now’s Hallie Jackson joins host Laura Jarrett to break it all down. And we’re in Charlotte, North Carolina, where federal immigration raids ramped up over the weekend. Border Patrol agents began making arrests across the city, with the Department of Homeland Security saying the operation is meant to “ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.” But tense videos of agents clashing with residents are sparking fear in immigrant communities. Some local business owners say they plan to close their doors to protect their neighbors. We’ll get into what’s behind this ramp-up and what it means for families on the ground with NBC News correspondent Ryan Chandler. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 107Rollback on Aisle CEO; Lights, Camera … Pontiff
Some big news out of Wall Street this morning: Longtime Walmart CEO Doug McMillon is stepping down. The 59-year-old has led the company since 2014, overseeing its transformation from a budget big-box chain into a true e-commerce powerhouse and helping drive Walmart’s stock up roughly 300% along the way. It’s a major shake-up at the nation’s largest private employer. Host Yasmin Vossoughian brings in NBC News senior business correspondent Christine Romans to break down why McMillon is leaving now, what it means for the retail giant and how the markets are reacting. And six months into his historic papacy, Pope Leo XIV is turning to Hollywood, inviting Spike Lee, Cate Blanchett, Judd Apatow and others to the Vatican this weekend. The church says he wants to “deepen dialogue with the World of Cinema” and tap into the power of storytelling to advance human values. NBC News correspondent Anne Thompson joins the pod to explain. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 106Meet the Drone Zone; Half-Century Home Loans?
Today on the pod, we’re heading to Europe, where NATO countries are reporting a spike in mysterious drone sightings over airports and other sensitive sites. It’s a trend that has only accelerated since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Now, European leaders are pushing for a coordinated “drone wall,” a new defensive shield designed to protect their airspace and critical infrastructure. We break down what’s driving the surge, what this wall would look like, and why it matters right now. NBC News foreign correspondent Raf Sanchez, who visited a factory that makes defensive drones, joins host Yasmin Vossoughian. And new data shows just how hard it’s gotten to break into the housing market. The median age of a first-time homebuyer has reached a record high of 40 years old, according to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors. President Donald Trump’s latest idea to tackle affordability? A 50-year mortgage. Supporters say it could shrink monthly payments, while critics argue it would create new problems. NBC News business and data correspondent Brian Cheung talks numbers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 105Epstein’s Inbox; Guess Who’s Back, Back Again?
Jeffrey Epstein mentioned President Donald Trump in multiple emails to his associate Ghislaine Maxwell and a journalist, at one point writing Trump “knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop,” according to messages newly released by House Democrats. The House Oversight Committee made public three email chains sent between 2011 and 2019, which they say came from Epstein’s estate as part of their broader investigation into his network. Republicans on the committee later released what they say are 20,000 additional pages from Epstein's estate. Host Yasmin Vossoughian is joined by chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles and senior national politics reporter Jon Allen to unpack what’s in these emails, what they could mean and what might come next. Meanwhile, the House is back after more than a month away and set to vote Wednesday night on a deal to reopen the government. The plan, crafted in the Senate, skips funding for Affordable Care Act subsidies. Lawmakers will vote on that separately, but Republicans want to tie any extensions to new abortion limits, setting up the next big fight in Washington. NBC News senior national political reporter Sahil Kapur explains. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 104Strikes on the High Seas; A Patient’s Worst Fear
The U.S. military has launched another strike in the eastern Pacific, hitting two boats and killing six alleged “narco-terrorists.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the attack but offered no proof nor identities of the victims. It’s the latest in a series of U.S. operations targeting so-called terrorist-linked drug networks, drawing sharp criticism from Colombia and Venezuela. And with the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group now in the region, signs point to a possible escalation. NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel is in Colombia and joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to break down what he’s learning on the ground. And a new lawsuit accuses an Army gynecologist of secretly recording a patient during an exam at Fort Hood. The suit names Dr. Blaine McGraw and claims the Army ignored years of sexual misconduct complaints, and a military official said at least 25 women have been contacted by Army criminal investigators. NBC News senior national security correspondent Courtney Kube joins the pod from just outside Fort Hood with the latest. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 103Let’s Make a Deal; Moneyball … Literally
Senators worked through the weekend, and for the first time in weeks, there may be light at the end of the shutdown tunnel. Lawmakers appear to have struck a preliminary deal featuring a “minibus” package: three full-year spending bills to fund key departments through next fall, plus a short-term measure to keep the rest of the government running through January. Is this the breakthrough Washington’s been waiting for or just another bump in the road? Yasmin Vossoughian breaks it down with NBC News chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles, who was really hoping for a quiet weekend. And another gambling scandal is rocking pro sports, this time in Major League Baseball. Federal prosecutors have charged Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Leandro Ortiz with rigging their own games by intentionally throwing balls instead of strikes. At the same time, prosecutors say co-conspirators bet on their performance, netting about $450,000 over two years. The case, brought by the office behind last month’s NBA betting indictments, charges the pair with conspiracy, fraud and bribery. Lawyers for both players denied the charges. Sports betting reporter and author Danny Funt joins the pod. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 102The Politics of Hunger; A Forgotten War
As the government shutdown drags on, the fallout is hitting kitchen tables across America. SNAP benefits, the safety net that helps 40 million Americans put food on the table, are running on fumes. NBC News senior policy reporter Shannon Pettypiece spoke with Americans who are turning to desperate measures to feed their families and joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to tell their stories. And the civil war that has been raging in Sudan since 2023 appears to be coming to an end. Chief international correspondent Keir Simmons joins the pod to help break down how close the country really is to peace. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 101Madam Speaker Signing Off; Shutdown Turbulence Ahead
After nearly four decades in Congress, Nancy Pelosi says she’s done. The first and only woman to serve as speaker is stepping away from the House, closing a chapter that shaped modern Democratic politics. Senior politics reporter Jon Allen joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to look back at her legacy, from landmark wins to political battles and what her exit means for the next generation of leadership on Capitol Hill. And with Thanksgiving exactly three weeks away, brace yourself if you plan on flying. It’s Day 37 of the government shutdown, and the ripple effects are hitting the skies. The FAA says it’s cutting air traffic by 10% at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports to cope with staffing shortages. NBC News chief Capitol Hill Correspondent Ryan Nobles joins the pod to answer the question: Will this be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and ends the government shutdown? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 100“It’s the Economy, Stupid”
Voters just sent a loud and clear message: They’re not feeling great about the economy. Wall Street might be soaring, but Main Street is still stuck in the slow lane, squeezed by high prices, shrinking savings and slowing paychecks. Host Yasmin Vossoughian is joined by NBC News Business & Data Correspondent Brian Cheung to break down what’s really driving the frustration. And later, the Supreme Court weighs whether Trump has the authority to impose his signature economic policy: tariffs. Senior Supreme Court reporter Lawrence Hurley was inside the courtroom today for oral arguments and joins the pod to break it all down. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ep 99Special Episode: Election Night with ‘Here’s the Scoop’
“Here’s the Scoop” went live on election night to break down all the key races and ballot measures to watch as the results came in. Host Yasmin Vossoughian tapped some of our very favorite colleagues at NBC News to help us make sense of it all: Laura Jarrett, Jon Allen and, it’s not election night without Steve Kornacki at the Big Board. Tonight on the podcast, we bring you a slice of that special. But we know the news doesn’t stop, so we’re gonna be back in your feed later today with another episode, as usual. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 98Let’s Get Polling with Steve Kornacki
It is Election Day in America and there are just a few hours left before polls close coast to coast. NBC News’ chief data analyst Steve Kornacki joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to break down new national NBC News polling on everything from the economy to the record-breaking government shutdown. By the way: Here’s the Scoop is going live to cover all the election results tonight from 11pm to 1am. Catch us on NBCNews.com or on the NBC News YouTube channel. Don’t want to stay up late with us? We’ll have a replay of that special in the feed first thing tomorrow morning. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 97The Final Countdown
It’s the final countdown before Election Day, but the government shutdown is casting a long shadow. Now on Day 34, Washington remains gridlocked as President Trump urges Republicans to “get tougher,” even floating the “nuclear option” to pass bills without Democratic support. GOP leaders have balked, and a new NBC News poll shows most voters blame Trump and his party for the stalemate. And with as many as 40 million Americans worried about losing food aid, the administration says it will use contingency funds to cover about half of this month’s SNAP benefits. Here to break it all down with host Yasmin Vossoughian is NBC News digital political reporter Jon Allen. And voters in Pennsylvania will decide whether three Democratic justices should remain on the state Supreme Court for another 10-year term. NBC News Senior Reporter Jane Timm tells us why it matters in this critical battleground state. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 96Mamdani’s New York Minute; The Prince formerly known as Andrew
We’re one week out from Election Day, and polls are already open across the country, with key races in New Jersey, Virginia, California and here in New York City. Today, we’re zeroing in on New York, where, to many, the mayoral race isn’t just about who runs the city — it’s about who defines the Democratic Party. The contest has cracked open deep divides over crime, housing and identity, and the result could send a message far beyond the five boroughs. NBC News Politics Reporter Allan Smith, who had an interview with Mamdani yesterday, joins host Yasmin Vossoughian. And Prince Andrew’s royal downfall just hit a new low. Buckingham Palace announced that the disgraced duke has been officially stripped of his remaining royal title and told to pack his bags and move out of the Royal Lodge, the sprawling Windsor estate he’s called home for decades. It’s a dramatic move that underscores King Charles’s efforts to distance the monarchy from scandal. Emily Nash, who is a Royal Editor at HELLO! magazine, joins the pod. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 95A 12 Out of 10: Trump and Xi’s Big Meeting; A New Nuclear Arms Race?
President Trump wrapped up his Asia tour with a high-stakes stop in South Korea, where he held a “12 out of 10” meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping. The two leaders met for nearly two hours to cool tensions over trade, fentanyl and the war in Ukraine. Trump said the talks led to a lot of “finalization,” even if nothing official was signed. So what actually came out of it? Host Yasmin Vossoughian is joined by NBC News foreign correspondent Janis Mackey Frayer. Plus, in a shocking announcement last night, President Trump ordered the Pentagon to start testing nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” with other nations. After more than 30 years since the U.S. last confirmed nuclear testing, a federal site in Nevada could see these tests resume. The announcement comes as China and Russia appear to be leveraging up their weapons’ supplies. NBC News chief Washington and foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell joins the podcast to answer the question: Are we re-entering a Cold War? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 94Americans Feel the Shutdown Squeeze; Olympian Red Gerard marks 100 days until Milan Olympics
It’s Day 29 of the federal government shutdown, and several key deadlines are coming up this week that could heighten the pain for everyday Americans. NBC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Melanie Zanona joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to run through the impacts to SNAP recipients, government workers like air traffic controllers, and those on Obamacare. Plus, 100 days out from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, the youngest-ever Olympic snowboarding champ, Red Gerard, tells Yasmin how he’s gearing up. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 937 Days ’Til Polls Close; Hurricane Melissa’s Historic Landfall
We’re one week out from Election Day, with major races in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City. Voters will head to the polls facing a number of issues, including the impact of the ongoing government shutdown. NBC News chief data analyst Steve Kornacki joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to break down the polling and share a preview of some of next week’s biggest races. Plus, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica today not only as the most powerful storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season — it’s now tied as the strongest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Hurricane Melissa heads this evening toward Cuba, where residents are bracing for more life-threatening damage. Erin McGarry, the executive editor of the NBC News Climate Unit, joins the show to break down why this storm became so devastating. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 92A Trade Truce with China?; The Art of Getting Caught
President Trump is in Japan, the second stop on his Asia tour, meeting with Emperor Naruhito and newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first female leader. But all eyes are on what’s next: Trump’s upcoming sit-down with China’s Xi Jinping. The high-stakes meeting is aimed at cooling the trade war that’s been boiling between Washington and Beijing. Ahead of it, U.S. officials say they’ve agreed on a framework deal to roll back Trump’s threatened 100 percent tariffs on Chinese imports. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Meet the Press it could mark the first real thaw in years of economic brinkmanship. Host Morgan Chesky is joined by Senior White House Correspondent Garrett Hakke, who is traveling with the President. And a week after that lightning-fast Louver raid, French police say they’ve made arrests. One suspect was nabbed mid-escape at Charles de Gaulle, while another suspect was caught outside Paris. The rest of the suspects and the loot are still missing. So, what happens when a high-stakes art caper starts to unravel? We’re talking with former FBI agent Robert K. Wittman, who’s helped recover some of the world’s most priceless treasures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 91Hardball with Canada; Operation Royal Flush: 007 Meets the Mob
President Trump just shut down trade talks with Canada, accusing its government of meddling in a Supreme Court case over his “reciprocal tariffs. “The alleged interference? An ad from Ontario that aired during the Blue Jays–Mariners playoff game, featuring clips from Ronald Reagan’s 1987 speech. Host Brian Cheung unpacks how a baseball broadcast sparked a new trade war with NBC News senior business correspondent Christine Romans. And the feds are calling it Operation Royal Flush, a mob-backed poker scandal with an NBA twist. Prosecutors accuse 31 people, including Trail Blazers coach and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, of rigging underground games tied to the Gambino crime family. Authorities say players never stood a chance thanks to rigged shuffling machines and high-tech lenses that let cheaters read the cards. NBC News breaking business reporter Rob Wile is here to break down this stuff that sounds straight out of a James Bond movie. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 90Nothing But Bet: The NBA Gambling Scandal; Is Trump’s Drug War a Smoke Screen?
It’s the gambling scandal shaking the NBA and the Mob underworld. Federal officials have charged more than 30 people in two sweeping investigations, “Operation Nothing But Bet” and “Operation Royal Flush.” The feds say the schemes involved illegal sports gambling and high-stakes poker rigging backed by organized crime. Among those arrested: Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and former NBA player Damon Jones. The charges include wire fraud, money laundering, extortion and illegal gambling, with victims allegedly cheated out of $7 million. Host Yasmin Vossoughian is joined by Jonathan Dienst, the chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC here in New York, as well as NBC Sports NBA writer and managing editor Kurt Helin. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. military has launched a second deadly strike on vessels in the Pacific, part of what the administration claims is a crackdown on drug trafficking at sea. But are the strikes strictly about drugs? Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins the pod to break it down. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 89A 'Spit in the Face' of Peace in Ukraine; ICE Raids Coast to Coast
After President Donald Trump said peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin were on hold, Russia carried out intense strikes in Ukraine overnight, with more than 400 drones and 20-plus missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force command. NBC News chief international correspondent Keir Simmons joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to break down how the talks fell apart and what prospects for peace remain. Also, immigration authorities carried out sweeping raids in Los Angeles and New York, sparking protests. Correspondent Morgan Chesky and reporter Adam Reiss tell Yasmin what they saw on the ground. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 88Uncle Sam’s Unpaid Vacation; Extreme Makeover: White House Edition
It’s about to become the second-longest government shutdown in U.S. history and, as the days tick on, Republicans and Democrats appear confident in their stances. However, it’s a race against the clock for everyday Americans, as funding for food assistance programs is set to expire by the end of the week and federal workers are on the brink of missing their first full paycheck. We check in with our reporters around the country on how life looks from food banks to airports to courts before NBC News chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles gives us the reality check on when this could actually end. And while the Capitol may be quiet, just down the road the White House is buzzing. Crews are tearing into the East Wing to make way for a new ballroom, a pet project of President Trump’s. It’s the most significant change to the White House since the 1940s, and a sharp turn from his earlier promise not to touch the historic building. Kelly O’Donnell, NBC News justice and national affairs correspondent, also joins the pod. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 87Cracks in the Ceasefire; C’est La Steal: The Louvre Heist
As President Donald Trump touts progress toward ending the war in Ukraine, the fragile ceasefire in Gaza is starting to splinter. Israel launched new strikes over the weekend after it said Hamas fighters killed two Israeli soldiers in an area that was supposed to be under IDF control. The renewed violence is testing Trump’s broader push for stability in the region and raising fresh doubts about whether this ceasefire can hold. Host Morgan Chesky is joined by NBC News Foreign Correspondent Matt Bradley. And cue the Pink Panther, because this one’s straight out of a movie. Thieves pulled off a daring daylight robbery at the Louvre in Paris, stealing priceless jewels once worn by French royalty. The museum had just opened when the heist went down, leaving police scrambling for clues, a nation humiliated and security experts stunned that it happened under the glass pyramid itself. NBC News Foreign Correspondent Molly Hunter joins the pod from Paris to walk us through this caper. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 86Can one peace deal spark another?; John Bolton vs. the Justice Department
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington today, pressing his case for a new aid package as the war in Eastern Europe grinds on. The visit comes just as President Trump rides a wave of momentum from his surprise Middle East peace deal, but, can that diplomatic momentum stretch from Gaza to Kyiv? John E. Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and former Ukraine ambassador, joins host Morgan Chesky. Plus, John Bolton, who once held the role of President Trump’s national security adviser, surrendered this morning to authorities following yesterday’s 18-count federal indictment in connection with his alleged mishandling of classified information. He pleaded not guilty in court. Bolton, the third critic of President Trump to face criminal charges in recent weeks, has called this prosecution “retribution.” NBC News senior justice reporter Ryan Reilly breaks down the case. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 85“Dark day for press freedom”; Wall Street vs. Main Street
The Pentagon is emptying out today after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth implemented new rules for members of the press. Reporters can now have their press passes revoked if they publish information that the Pentagon hasn’t authorized for release. After the vast majority of publications refused to comply, reporters turned in their badges and left the Pentagon. NBC Senior National Politics reporter Jon Allen joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to explain what this means for reporting on the U.S. military. PLUS there’s a tale of two economies when you look at Main Street versus Wall Street. While consumers face steeper costs and a weakening job market, the stock market is hitting record highs. What’s causing the stock boom? The trillions of dollars being invested in A.I. But there are serious concerns this could be a tech bubble ready to pop. NBC News Senior Business Correspondent breaks this all down on the show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 84A Fragile Peace; Inside Trump’s Secretive War at Sea
The Trump administration is growing uneasy over the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Israel accused Hamas of breaking the U.S.-brokered deal and threatened to withhold aid. Hamas was supposed to return the remains of 28 hostages, but it has only handed over eight, one of which Israel says doesn’t match any known hostage. Hamas blames the destruction in Gaza for the delay. Can both sides keep the peace from falling apart? NBC News foreign correspondent Matt Bradley and Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join host Yasmin Vossoughian. Also, President Donald Trump says U.S. forces have struck another vessel off the coast of Venezuela, part of a growing campaign targeting alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean. It’s the fifth strike since September, leaving at least 27 people dead. But members of Congress are raising questions about the legality and secrecy of the operation. Officials told NBC News they’ve gotten few answers. NBC News correspondent Courtney Kube, who covers security and the military, is here to break it down. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 83“Barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history”; plus, the measles comeback
As the shutdown enters its 14th day, House Speaker Mike Johnson is warning that we’re far from the end. Speaking Monday, Johnson predicted it would be “one of the longest shutdowns” to date. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is making moves to lay off thousands of furloughed federal workers – while also reappropriating other funds to make sure military members don’t miss a paycheck. Both moves are being challenged in court. Chief Capitol Hill correspondent (and resident shutdown expert) Ryan Nobles joins host Laura Jarrett to break it all down. Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the highest annual number of measles cases in more than 30 years, with hundreds of unvaccinated children in South Carolina and Minnesota quarantining. NBC News medical contributor Kavita Patel explains what’s going on and what symptoms to be on the lookout for. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 82"Dawn of a new Middle East”
It’s a moment 738 days in the making. All 20 surviving hostages held by Hamas have been released, ending two years of fear, uncertainty and waiting. President Trump called it a “historic dawn of a new Middle East” as he spoke before Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, framing the deal as both a humanitarian breakthrough and the start of something bigger. Hamas also released the bodies of four of the 28 hostages who died in captivity. In exchange, Israel freed 250 prisoners serving life sentences and more than 1,700 others detained since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. Host Yasmin Vossoughian is joined by Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel, NBC News International Correspondent Danielle Hamamdjian, and NBC News Chief International Correspondent Keir Simmons, who are all fanned out across the region. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 81Another Day, Another Indictment; “ You could stop this.” Pleas to Congress to end the government shutdown
President Trump has added another name to his growing list of political rivals facing an indictment. A federal grand jury yesterday charged New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat who’s long sparred with Trump, with one count of bank fraud and one count of making false statements. James is forcefully denying the allegations, calling the charges “baseless” and accusing the president of pursuing “political retribution at any cost.” David Rohde, NBC News senior executive editor for national security & law, joins host Brian Cheung. It’s Day 10 of the government shutdown, and that “closed” sign isn’t coming down anytime soon. The Senate failed to reach a deal before heading home for the long weekend, meaning the shutdown could stretch into a third week. What started as an inside-the-Beltway standoff is now hitting home across the country: Federal workers are missing paychecks, military members could soon be next, and delays are stacking up at airports. The White House budget chief posted on X, “The RIFs have begun,” referring to reductions in force, aka layoffs. NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Melanie Zanona joins the pod with the latest. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 80The Art of the Peace Deal; Conversations inside Israel & Gaza
After two years of devastating war, a breakthrough: Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire deal. President Trump announced the agreement last night following days of tense negotiations in Egypt. Under the terms, Hamas must release all hostages held since the Oct. 7 attacks, living and dead, while Israel begins a phased withdrawal from Gaza and frees hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The news has been met with cautious celebration in Israel and a glimmer of hope that rebuilding and healing can finally begin. But as many warn, the most challenging part may still lie ahead: turning the promise of peace into reality. Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel joins host Yasmin Vossoughian from a van on the side of the road in Tel Aviv. We will also speak with Salma Altaweel, who lives in Gaza and works for the Norwegian Refugee Council. She tells us what she hopes this deal means for the future of her homeland. Additionally, NBC News National Security Analyst Jeremy Bash, a former chief of staff at the CIA and the Pentagon, gives insight into how these high-stakes negotiations unfolded. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 79Ground-stop at the Capitol; “He tells the same story”: Lester Holt on the Texas inmate facing execution
It’s now eight days into the government shutdown, and there’s troubling signs around the country. For some federal workers, the fear of missing paychecks is creeping in, while at some airports, air traffic controllers, already facing staffing shortages, are being stretched even thinner as sick calls increase. Airports around the country have faced delays and even a ground-stop order in Nashville. While negotiations to end the shutdown appear to be at a standstill, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican and a Trump loyalist, speaks out against the president to NBC News Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent Ryan Nobles, who joins host Yasmin Vossoughian. And "Dateline" and former "Nightly News" Anchor Lester Holt joins the pod. He has a new podcast series, "The Last Appeal," which re-examines the case of Robert Roberson, a Texas man convicted of murder in the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki. After two decades on death row and two delayed executions, Roberson is now set to die on Oct. 16. Lester returned to Texas to uncover new evidence and speak with the lead detective who now believes Roberson may be innocent. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 78Two Years Since Oct. 7: A Hostage’s Story; Shutdown Showdown: The 2025 Election Stakes
We mark two years since the morning of Oct. 7, a day that changed Israel, Gaza and global politics forever. We’ll revisit those harrowing hours when Hamas militants stormed across the border and took hundreds of hostages, and hear from one of them: Keith Siegel, who spent nearly 500 days in captivity, joins host Yasmin Vossoughian. And we dig into how the government shutdown could tilt the balance in the November elections. NBC News data analyst Steve Kornacki joins the pod to explain who stands to lose (or gain) politically in some key races. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 77The Deployment Dispute; The Eve of Oct. 7: A Push for Peace
The Trump administration is moving to deploy the National Guard to Portland and Chicago, igniting a high-stakes legal showdown over state sovereignty and the limits of presidential power. NBC News Senior Homeland Security Correspondent Julia Ainsley joins host Morgan Chesky to break down what’s at stake. And there’s renewed hope for an end to the war in Gaza. Officials from the Trump administration, Israel and Hamas are meeting in Egypt to finalize what could be a historic peace deal. The timing is striking, coming on the eve of Oct. 7, two years after Hamas launched its brutal terror attack that killed 1,200 people and saw another 250 kidnapped. In Gaza, many Palestinians are desperate for an end to the Israeli bombardment that has killed more than 67,000 people, most of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry. NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel reports from kibbutz Be’eri, one of the hardest-hit communities, where attackers murdered 102 people and took several hostages. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 76Hamas agrees to release all Israeli hostages, pending conditions; Day 3 of deal-or-no-deal talks in Congress
Breaking news out of Gaza: Hamas says it agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, as long as "the field conditions for the exchange are met" and expressed willingness to negotiate through mediators on President Donald Trump's plan for peace in the Middle East. NBC News foreign correspondent Matt Bradley is in Israel and joins host Morgan Chesky to break down the details. And the government is still shuttered. White House correspondent Monica Alba joins the pod to give us a sense of the tone inside the West Wing and what’s next in this shutdown showdown. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 75An attack at a U.K. synagogue; “Weaponization of faith & policy”; Pope Leo XIV speaks on U.S. politics
What was supposed to be a day of prayer as worshippers observed Yom Kippur was suddenly torn apart at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester, England, after a man rammed a car into a crowd and stabbed several people. Two people were killed and four seriously injured. Host Brian Cheung speaks with Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel about that attack, as well as the latest from Jerusalem, where Richard is on the ground. Then, NBC News Correspondent Anne Thompson joins to discuss recent remarks from Pope Leo XIV critical of anti-immigration rhetoric. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 74Closed for Business: The Government Shutdown Edition
Congress failed to fund the government, which is now officially closed for business. Lawmakers failed to pass a short-term spending bill last night, and the Senate reconvened this morning with little to show for it. Both parties are digging in: Democrats say they won’t budge without an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, while Republicans are calling that a political stunt. House Speaker Mike Johnson put the blame squarely on Democrats, saying they dragged the country into a “reckless shutdown.” So, where does Washington go from here, and how long could this drag on? NBC News Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent Ryan Nobles joins host Yamin Vossoughian to talk about the latest developments. And what does this shutdown mean for you? We’ve tapped a few of our beat reporters to break it all down. From Senior Business Correspondent Christine Romans on the ripple effects on the economy, to Senior Correspondent Tom Costello on what it could mean for air travel - and that’s just a start, we’ve got more correspondents to help connect the dots. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ep 73Quantico Roll Call; Clock Ticking on Capitol Hill
We start with an extraordinary gathering in Quantico, Virginia. Hundreds of the nation’s top military leaders were abruptly summoned to hear from President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. On stage, Hegseth unveiled 10 directives for the armed forces, pledging to root out what he called “wokeness,” overhaul fitness standards and even rebrand the Pentagon. From now on, he declared, the Defense Department will go by its historic name: the Department of War. He opened by announcing the end of policies related to diversity, equity and inclusion, then turned to physical standards, bluntly criticizing what he described as “fat” troops and demanding stricter grooming requirements across the ranks. Senior national security correspondent Courtney Kube and retired Army Col. Jack Jacobs, an NBC News military analyst, join host Yasmin Vossoughian to break it down. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking in Washington. Funding for the federal government runs out at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, and without a deal, hundreds of thousands of federal workers could soon be working without pay or sent home without a paycheck. From air traffic controllers to park rangers to military families, the ripple effects of a shutdown would be felt coast to coast. NBC News chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles joins the pod. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.