| | | |  | | By Adam Wren | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun, Bethany Irvine, Ali Bianco and Rachel Umansky-Castro Good Saturday morning. I’m Adam Wren. Get in touch.
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
At 7 a.m. this morning, MSNBC became MS NOW. | MS NOW | At 7 a.m. this morning, after nearly three decades, one cable television channel disappeared and a new one flickered to life in its place: MSNBC became MS NOW. Its opening seconds included a brief introduction from its “The Weekend” hosts promoting segments hitting President Donald Trump’s response to newly released congressional documents centered on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, interviews with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and an exclusive interview with Jack Schlossberg. “Grab your coffee, settle in, and welcome to ‘The Weekend’ on MS NOW,” said Jackie Alemany, a Washington correspondent and co-host. Next, in the right-hand, lower-third of the screen hovered the blue, red and white MS NOW logo, part of a reported $20 million rebrand, occasioned by Versant spinning out from NBC Universal. “Don’t adjust your settings: We are formerly MSNBC,” co-host Jonathan Capehart told viewers, introducing the labored new acronym, which stands for “My Source for News, Opinion and the World.” Capehart added: “But other than that, and these snazzy new graphics, not much is changing. Bottom line: Same mission. New name.” The third co-host of "The Weekend" is none other than Playbook alum Eugene Daniels. But the digital landscape and news cycle MS NOW arrives in is changing, and fast. The role a cable channel once played in the political news cycle is diminished — particularly that of one with a reputation of catering to a liberal audience amid a Washington dominated by Republicans. Nielsen shows the channel’s total audience absorbing a 34 percent decline so far this year. Substacks like The Bulwark can book a potential presidential candidate just as easily as a cable show, and newsy podcasts rival their audiences. “We’re watching this really fascinating splintering across the media ecosystem,” Ali Vitali, host of MS NOW’s “Way Too Early,” told Playbook. “From a coverage perspective, I too am beginning to question: how many podcasts am I going to have to listen to? This is where our ability to be nimble and operate on a few different fronts is really going to come into play.” But Democratic wins last Tuesday in 2025 off-year elections showed some signs that resistance cable could bounce back: the cable channel averaged 3.04 million viewers in primetime, “the first time MSNBC led Fox News in both total viewers and the key demo since the Democratic National Convention in August 2024,” noted TV Insider.
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Learn more at siemens-energy.com | | | | Ahead of today’s changeover, Playbook spoke with Vitali and Alemany about the role of MS NOW in the news cycle at this moment, how YouTube is changing the dynamic, why they want to reach Republicans, and how covering Trump 2.0 is different:
- On the differences between covering the second Trump administration and the first: “It’s the same kind of warp speed, very fast-paced news environment, where it's one story, really after another,” Vitali says. “Everything is just constantly tumbling out. The thing I think that we've gotten better at is being able to separate what is sticking versus what is not.” Added Alemany: “It is a White House that came into power with eight years of experience and strategizing behind them, and so all of the things that they set out to do in the first administration, but weren't able to do because of the lack of experience — and the lack of not enough norms were shattered during that time period for Trump to actually implement some of his most controversial policies. And this time around, that barrier to entry no longer exists.”
- On competing with YouTube: “It's just another place for people to watch, right? … You want to be wherever people are looking at their screens,” Vitali says. (The network says it’s notched more views on YouTube than NBC News, ABC News and CBS News combined.)
- On its ideological identity: “I know that the view is that this is a progressive network, but our viewers really span the political spectrum,” Vitali says. (The network points to data that its primetime lineup draws twice as many independents and Republicans as CNN’s, according to Nielsen/MRI fusion data.)
- On fears of censorship in the wake of Disney’s approach to Jimmy Kimmel: “No … we have the luxury of working for a rare media outlet that has our backs 100 percent,” Alemany says.
All of which raises the question: What’s the value of a cable news show in 2025? Among other examples, Alemany points to “The Weekend’s” recent newsmaking interview her show did with losing New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo three days before the election, in which he said that “diversity can be a weakness.” “We make news — and people choose to make news with us — all the time,” Alemany says. “So if you want to learn something new and get smarter and have a little fun while you’re at it, our show is the place where all those needles are moving.”
| | | 9 THINGS THAT STUCK WITH US
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President Donald Trump arrives and walks by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to address a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on March 4, 2025. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP | 1. A MAGA MELTDOWN: The breakup between Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.) is complete. After Greene raised red flags over Trump’s handling of the Epstein files and affordability, Trump broke with Green in a scathing Truth Social post, calling her a “ranting lunatic” and signaling his support for a primary challenge against her, POLITICO’s Danny Nguyen reports. Greene hit back on X, posting screenshots of her texts to Trump and blasting his attack as an “example to scare all the other Republicans before next weeks vote.” Trump woke up still angry, calling Greene a RINO this morning, with Greene doubling down on releasing the Epstein files. Speaking of the Epstein files … The latest: House Republican leaders plan on putting Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna’s (D-Calif.) legislation that would force the full release of all Epstein records from the DOJ up for a vote on Tuesday, per POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill. Web of players: Manhattan U.S. attorney Jay Clayton has so far managed to avoid involvement in Trump’s most politically charged cases, but AG Pam Bondi named him in charge of the new Epstein investigation hours after Trump demanded a probe into prominent Democrats — which could shape the future of his office, NYT’s Jonah Bromwich and colleagues write. … The new documents show that Epstein exchanged texts with Democratic Del. Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands during a congressional hearing on Michael Cohen, which may have influenced her questions, WaPo’s Amy Wang and colleagues report. … And WSJ’s Joshua Chaffin unpacks Epstein’s relationship with journalist Michael Wolff, which has also come under a microscope this week. 2. SHUTDOWN FALLOUT: The DOT announced that they’re lowering the flight cuts to three percent starting this morning, easing restrictions on 40 major airports, POLITICO’s Sam Ogozalek reports. The change reflects positive improvements in air traffic controller staffing levels, per the FAA. Funding for food stamps through the SNAP program is also now flowing again, but NYT’s Sarah Maslin Nir chronicles the food hoarding and late nights that marked NYC residents’ “nail-biting scramble” to keep the city fed as the funding ran dry. On the Hill: Some moderate House Republicans are pushing the party to come to the table to address the expiring ACA subsidies that could risk skyrocketing premiums, per Bloomberg’s Steven Dennis. And House GOP members on the Ways and Means Committee have been floating a bill that would mirror Trump’s suggestion to redirect subsidies directly to individuals, per POLITICO’s Ben Guggenheim. Meanwhile in the Senate, there are key roadblocks facing any potential deal — including debates over income caps, fraud prevention and a potential attachment of the anti-abortion Hyde amendment, Axios’ Stef Kight and Peter Sullivan report. 3. REDISTRICTING RODEO: “Indiana redistricting push likely dead despite White House pressure,” by your Playbook author and Andrew Howard: “Indiana’s GOP state Senate leader declared the chamber will not convene in December to redraw maps. In response, Trump’s team has begun summoning Indiana lawmakers to meet with the president in the Oval Office as early as next week … It’s a massive blow to the White House’s efforts to shore up a Republican House majority next year via redistricting, and comes from a state Trump easily won last November.” 4. COURT IN THE ACT: Bondi and U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan pushed back yesterday against a judge’s questions over whether records in the grand jury proceedings on former FBI Director James Comey had gone “missing,” POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein reports. The unusual written statements argued that the gap of two hours in the proceedings reflected the grand jury’s discussions, which are not recorded. … A federal judge ruled late yesterday that the Trump administration can’t unilaterally fine the University of California system or cut their federal funding over its claims of antisemitism and discrimination, per AP. Behind the bench: Trump’s had a year of judicial blowback, but his fiercest rebukes from federal judges all have something in common, POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney writes — they were appointed to the bench by Ronald Reagan.
| | | | POLITICO Policy Outlook: Combating Financial Cybercrime: From identity theft to phishing scams, financial cybercrimes have skyrocketed in recent years. But catching perpetrators and preventing future scams remains a challenge. Join Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) for discussions on the latest strategies for confronting these crimes and empowering consumers. Register to attend or watch online. | | | | | 5. ROCKING THE BOAT: Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One last night that he's "sort of" decided how to move forward on Venezuela, but "I can't tell you what it would be," CBS’ Jennifer Jacobs and Margaret Brennan report. His comments followed three straight days of high-level meetings among top admin officials discussing possible military operations inside the country. Among the deliberators are VP JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and WH senior adviser Stephen Miller, per WaPo’s Dan Lamothe and colleagues. “We made a lot of progress with Venezuela in terms of stopping drugs from pouring in,” Trump told reporters. The backup: Reports on the justification for the multiple boat strikes in the Caribbean zoom in on drug cartels, and claims that Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro leads the “Cartel de los Soles.” But WSJ’s Alex Ward and colleagues scoop that a classified DOJ brief on the boat strikes also describes fentanyl as a potential chemical weapons threat. Inside the State Department: “The man in Rubio’s ear,” by POLITICO’s Diana Nerozzi: “Michael Needham is officially the counselor and director of the secretary’s policy planning staff; unofficially, he is the implementer-in-chief of a muscular foreign policy.” 6. THE ECONOMY, STUPID: The government will release the very delayed September jobs report this Thursday, WSJ’s Harriet Torry and Matt Grossman report. It’s the first backlogged data to be released after the government shutdown largely stalled the collection and release of the key economic indicators. A delayed report on inflation-adjusted earnings will come on Friday, the BLS announced. Trading spaces: Trump issued an executive order yesterday formally rolling back his “reciprocal” tariffs on agricultural products like beef, tomatoes and coffee, WaPo’s Alec Dent and David Lynch report. The administration signaled the change on Thursday could help alleviate cost-of-living concerns with high grocery prices. But it also signals that Trump is on the defensive when it comes to his signature tariff agenda, Lynch writes. 7. WHAT K STREET IS READING: “How the left’s dark money behemoth spent its millions,” by POLITICO’s Caitlin Oprysko: “The left’s preeminent dark money hub dished out nearly $311 million in 2024 backing progressive causes like abortion and voting rights, climate change and more … The spending was more than double what the nonprofit Sixteen Thirty Fund steered to liberal groups and causes a year prior.” 8. WAR AND PEACE: U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is planning a meeting soon with chief Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, as the administration continues to keep close tabs on the peace transition and maintains communication with Hamas, NYT’s Adam Rasgon and colleagues report. And while the fragile ceasefire remains in place for now, many remain displaced across Gaza with no running water or electricity, per NYT’s Bilal Shbair and colleagues in Gaza. MAD watch: Top nuclear and energy officials in the Trump administration are planning to meet with Trump in the coming days to convince him not to restart nuclear weapons testing, CNN’s Ella Nilsen and colleagues scoop. 9. TIES THAT BIND: “Trump Organization Is Said to Be in Talks on a Saudi Government Real Estate Deal,” by NYT’s Vivian Nereim and Rebecca Ruiz: “The Trump Organization is in talks that could bring a Trump-branded property to one of Saudi Arabia’s largest government-owned real estate developments … [Trump] is set to host Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, in Washington next week. … The prince is overseeing a $63 billion project that is set to transform the historic Saudi town of Diriyah into a luxury destination with hotels, retail shops and office space.” Related read: “A Mideast Development Firm Has Set Up Shop in Trump Tower,” by NYT’s Ruiz and Nereim
| | | CLICKER — “The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics,” edited by Matt Wuerker — 17 funnies
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| GREAT WEEKEND READS: — “Laura Loomer’s Endless Payback,” by The New Yorker’s Antonia Hitchens: “The President’s self-appointed loyalty enforcer inspires fear and vexation across Washington. What’s behind her vetting crusades?” — “What Climate Change Will Do to America by Mid-Century,” by The Atlantic’s Vann Newkirk II: “Many places may become uninhabitable. Many people may be on their own.” — “Inside Kathy Griffin’s Head,” by Slate’s Scaachi Koul: “After she held up a dummy of Donald Trump’s severed head, the comedian became a Hollywood pariah. The way she sees it, she was right all along—and not just about the president.” — “FBI Director Kash Patel Waived Polygraph Security Screening for Dan Bongino, Two Other Senior Staff,” by ProPublica’s William Turton and Christopher Bing: “His ascent to that position without passing a standard bureau background check is unprecedented, insiders say.” — “The AI Cold War That Will Redefine Everything,” by WSJ’s Josh Chin and Raffaele Huang: “America holds a sizable lead, but China is working to tip the scales with a sweeping countrywide push, betting ‘swarms beat the titan.’” — “Inside the CIA’s secret mission to sabotage Afghanistan’s opium,” by WaPo’s Warren Strobel: “In a decade-long covert operation, the U.S. spy agency dropped modified poppy seeds in an attempt to degrade the potency of Afghanistan’s billion-dollar opium crop.” — “Will People Trust Voting by Phone? Alaska Is Going to Find Out,” by NYT’s Nick Corasaniti: “Anchorage will experiment with internet voting in local elections, betting that its ease and security will win over voters even in an era of election conspiracy theories.”
| | | | POLITICO’s Global Security briefing connects the policies, deals, and industrial shifts shaping the global defense landscape. From Washington to Brussels, we follow who’s funding what, what’s being built, and how power moves across continents. Subscribe now for the free preview. | | | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | TOP TALKER — A post from the X account “Dear White Staffers” went viral claiming Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) was looking at inappropriate photos on his iPad on a flight yesterday. Punchbowl’s John Bresnahan asked Sherman about the post, where he denied any claims he was looking at pornography and said the posts came up on his “For You” feed on X. Standout quote: “If I see a picture of a woman, might I look at it longer than a sunset? Yeah.” HEALTH OF A NATION — Trump told reporters yesterday that his doctor said his most recent MRI was “the best result he has ever seen as a doctor,” but added he has no idea what they analyzed during the MRI. MEDIA WATCH — Trump said yesterday that he plans to sue the BBC next week for as much as $5 billion over its edits of a speech he gave, following the broadcaster’s apology this week, Bloomberg’s Hadriana Lowenkron and Airielle Lowe report. “I think I have to do it,” he told reporters on Air Force One. OOPS — Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) this week appeared to wade into the crowded Democratic primary for New Hampshire’s open House seat in his official capacity as DCCC recruitment co-chair before the organization stepped in to clarify, POLITICO’s Lisa Kashinsky writes in. Crow tagged DCCC in a since-deleted X post Thursday promoting Maura Sullivan. On Friday, a person familiar with the committee’s thinking said DCCC is neutral in the race and Crow was supporting Sullivan strictly in his personal capacity. NH-01 is not on DCCC’s battleground map. It is on the NRCC’s target list. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s daughter, Stefany Shaheen, is also vying for the seat on the Democratic side. WEEKEND WEDDING — Marie Baldassarre, chief of staff for Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and Chris Beckmann, associate at Polydelta, got married in Columbus, Ohio on Nov. 1. They met while both working in the Senate. Pic, via Ashley Wallace Photography … Another pic WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Caitlin McFall, world news reporter for Fox News, and Randon White, head of political & public sector for Amazon Ads, welcomed Chloe Marina White on Nov. 9. Pic — May (Davis) Mailman, founder of MPL Strategies and director of Independent Women’s Law Center, and David Mailman, CFO at Environmental Design, Inc., welcomed Barrett Robert Mailman on Nov. 10. He joins big sisters Hadley and Piper. Pic ... Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: AP’s Zeke Miller … Robert Draper … former Reps. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) … Fox News’ John Roberts … Jen Palmieri … Amanda Renteria … Gail Gitcho … WaPo’s Greg Miller … Bill Signer of Carmen Group … John Easton … Augie McGinnity-Wake … Jennifer Jones … Adam Snider … Elliott Phaup of Veeam Software … Helen Brosnan … Matthew Fried … Max Steele of Everytown for Gun Safety … Ben Goodman … Asha Rangappa … Elizabeth Daniels … Trip Yang … Ethan Sorcher of Rep. Wesley Bell’s (D-Mo.) office … Jim Boyle … POLITICO’s Kate Scott and Steven Zheng-Wang THE SHOWS (Full Sunday show listings here): ABC “This Week”: Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) … Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) … Ken Burns. Panel: Donna Brazile, Reince Priebus, Sarah Isgur and Faiz Shakir. NBC “Meet the Press”: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) … Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso … Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). Panel: Peter Alexander, Jamelle Bouie, Leigh Ann Caldwell and Lanhee Chen. FOX “Fox News Sunday:” Speaker Mike Johnson …. Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) … Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) … Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.). Panel: Mollie Hemingway, Josh Kraushaar, Comfortably Smug and Jessica Tarlov. Sunday Special: Dr. Marc Siegel. MS NOW “The Weekend”: Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.)… Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.)… Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton CBS “Face The Nation”: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) … Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) … Dan Driscoll … Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.). Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures”: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent … FBI Director Kash Patel … Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) … Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) … Mike Davis. CNN “State of the Union”: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). … CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz … Rahm Emanuel. Panel: Scott Jennings, Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Hogan Gidley and Jamal Simmons. NewsNation “The Hill Sunday”: Rep. Rick Crawford (R- Ark.) … Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) … Allen Guelzo. Panel: Sabrina Siddiqui, Julie Mason and Audrey Fahlberg. Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn’t happen without our deputy editor Garrett Ross and Playbook Podcast producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
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