The Weekend

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No More Epstein Files Feb 15, 2026

Show notes

February 15, 2026; 7am: On Saturday night, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a 6-page letter to Congress writing that the DOJ acted in accordance with the Epstein files Transparency Act and had finished releasing all the files. The letter also states that the only records withheld in full were those for which such withholding is permitted under the text of the bill. Now, lawmakers are calling out the DOJ for trying to “muddy the waters” in names released. MS Now Political Contributor Jason Johnson and former Federal Prosecutor Ankush Khardori join “The Weekend” to discuss.

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Bondi Declines To Specifically Acknowledge Epstein Survivors Feb 14, 2026

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February, 14 2026, 9AM; The most striking moment came when Bondi declined to apologize to the Epstein survivors for the DOJ's missteps. Jess Michaels, an Epstein survivor, joins The Weekend to discuss the moment Attorney General Bondi failed to acknowledge the survivors who were present at her hearing.

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The DOJ’s Dramatic Week Feb 14, 2026

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February 14, 2026; 8am: This week, the DOJ came to the defense of President Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon, seeking to undo his conviction for defying a subpoena regarding the January 6th insurrection. Plus, U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro’s federal prosecutors failed to secure indictments on charges of seditious conspiracy against the six Democratic lawmakers who released a video last year urging troops to refuse illegal orders. Former Federal Prosecutors Brendan Ballou and Paul Butler join “The Weekend” to discuss the hyper-political Department of Justice.

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House Speaker Emerita joins “The Weekend” Feb 14, 2026

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February 14, 2026; 7am: President Trump’s policies are unpopular here at home and also rattling allies abroad. House Speaker Emerita and Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi joins "The Weekend" from the Munich Security Conference to discuss America's standing on the global stage, concerns over possible election interference during the midterms in November, and her reaction to Minnesotans' protesting against ICE tactics.

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Check Out a Preview for “Clock It” Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

“MS NOW Presents: Clock It” is an invitation to the liveliest and most informed groupchat in your feed. Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels are long-time political powerhouses. And they understand more than most how culture influences politics, and the role politics plays in culture. On “Clock It,” they’re helping you put your finger on the pulse of the hottest political gossip and their off-air conversations too colorful for TV.

In the first episode of their new show, “Clock It,” they’re joined by actors Tony Goldwyn and Myles Frost for a conversation about making thought-provoking art when political tensions are at their highest. And they dig in on the Super Bowl halftime show, why cuts to The Washington Post matter for democracy, and the race to the Senate in Texas.

Stay here to get a sneak peek. Then search and follow the show to get new episodes every Thursday.

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Ghislaine Maxwell to Testify Feb 08, 2026

Show notes

February 8, 2026; 9am: Congress faces a big week in the ongoing investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case. His accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, will testify virtually before the House Oversight Committee, but her lawyer confirmed to MS Now that she will exercise her Fifth Amendment right to stay silent. Plus, beginning on Monday, Congress will gain access to the unredacted versions of the three million Epstein files. Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, who serves on the House Oversight Committee, joins “The Weekend” to discuss.

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Trump’s Economy Weakens Feb 08, 2026

Show notes

February, 8 2026, 8AM; This week the Labor Department said job openings in December dropped to their lowest level in five years,

and layoffs surged in January to their highest level since 2009 during the Great Recession. Even members of President Trump's party are raising the alarm heading into this year's midterms. Senate Repbulicans worry backlash to Trump’s handling of the economy and his aggressive deportation policies could cause a Democratic wave that sweeps both the House and Senate. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) joins The Weekend to discuss the current state of the economy. Actor Lena Waithe also joins The Weekend to discuss her new play Trinity and the Trump administration’s attempt to rewrite Black history in America.

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Looming Battle at Ballot Box Feb 08, 2026

Show notes

February 8, 2026; 7am: Republicans are worried about a Democratic blowout in both chambers of Congress. One race they’re focusing on is GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat in Georgia, where 21 candidates are already on the ballot. Plus, the only Senate Democrat up for re-election this year is Jon Ossoff, who delivered a fiery speech attacking the Trump administration for being out of touch. MS Now Political Analyst Eugene Robinson and Stuart Stevens, Senior adviser at the Lincoln Project, join “The Weekend” to discuss.

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Trump Loses Bid to Block Gateway Tunnel Funding Feb 07, 2026

Show notes

February, 7 2026, 9AM; The administration first cut the funding in last october's shutdown, alleging it was to ensure it wasn’t used on "unconstitutional dei principles.” Now the Gateway Development Commission overseeing the project is also suing in a separate case, claiming the Department of Transportation breached several grant and loan agreements and that the suspension is politically motivated. All of this just one day after new reporting revealed the stunning quid pro quo from the president's officials to Sen. Chuck Schumer to help rename Penn Station and Dulles Airport after President Donald Tump in exchange for the federal money. Rep. Rob Menendez joins The Weekend to discuss the latest on the project.

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Prosecutors Push Back on Immigration Crackdown Feb 07, 2026

Show notes

February 7, 2026; 8am: The impact of “Operation Metro Surge” will be felt for weeks to come, especially for the courts. A group of former federal prosecutors and civil-rights attorneys have signed a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding transparency in the Minnesota investigations. One of the lawyers who wrote that letter, former Federal Prosecutor and Chief of the Criminal Division in the Southern District of New York, Perry Carbone, joins “The Weekend” to discuss.

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