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The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell
MSNBC
Drawing upon his experience as a former chief of staff on the Senate Finance Committee and as an Emmy-winning executive producer and writer of ‘The West Wing,’ Lawrence O’Donnell examines the compelling and impactful political stories of the day. Join him every weeknight.
Location:
New York, NY
Description:
Drawing upon his experience as a former chief of staff on the Senate Finance Committee and as an Emmy-winning executive producer and writer of ‘The West Wing,’ Lawrence O’Donnell examines the compelling and impactful political stories of the day. Join him every weeknight.
Language:
English
Episodes
Velshi: With Trump back in office, are we witnessing the rise of an oligarchy?
2/21/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump abruptly fires Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman CQ Brown. Plus, Kash Patel is sworn in as Trump’s new FBI director. Also, Trump attacks Zelenskyy while praising his talks with Putin. And PA State Rep. Mandy Steele warns against Trump’s medical research cuts. Jennifer Rubin, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Michael McFaul also join Ali Velshi.
Duration:00:40:34
Lawrence: How many laws has Trump, who thinks he's a king, violated publicly?
2/20/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: The Senate GOP confirms Kash Patel to be FBI director. Plus, the Trump administration fires thousands of IRS workers. Also, NY Governor Kathy Hochul vows to stop the ‘Trump revenge tour.’ And an appeals court rejects Trump’s bid to reinstate his Birthright Citizenship order. Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Edward Markey, and Andrew Weissmann join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:41:12
Lawrence: Emil Bove could not find a single attorney to represent Trump’s DOJ in court today
2/19/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Democrats demand answers on Elon Musk’s access into government agencies. Plus, Donald Trump lies calling Ukraine’s Zelenskyy a ‘dictator.’ And Donald Trump endorses a GOP plan that could cut Medicaid. Adam Klasfeld, Andrew Weissmann, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, and Norm Ornstein join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:41:52
Another day, another principled resignation at Donald Trump’s Justice Department
2/18/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Resignations mount at the Justice Department under Trump. Plus, Democrats demand answers on Elon Musk’s access into Social Security. And Trump and Putin officials meet without a Ukrainian envoy. Andrew Weissmann, Sen. Ron Wyden, and Timothy Snyder join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:41:43
Top official out at Social Security after a clash with Musk’s DOGE
2/17/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Musk’s DOGE team targets the Social Security and IRS systems. Plus, the White House claims in a court filing that Elon Musk is not the administrator of DOGE. Also, a former USAID officials speaks out against the Trump-Musk funding freeze. And Lawrence O’Donnell discusses the legacy of SNL’s Executive Producer Lorne Michaels with Susan Morrison, author of the new book ‘Lorne.’ Sen. Amy Klobuchar, E.J. Dionne, and Anne Linn also join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:39:05
More resignations follow after the order to dismiss the case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
2/14/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: A DOJ lawyer eviscerates Donald Trump in their resignation letter. Plus, a new lawsuit against Elon Musk claims that his role and DOGE are unconstitutional. Also, U.S. Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth says returning Ukraine to its 2014 borders is “unrealistic.” And Democrats win big in special election after Trump attack. Andrew Weissmann, Rep. Jamie Raskin, William Tong, William Taylor, and Ken Jenkins join Ali Velshi.
Duration:00:41:42
DOJ prosecutors resign over order to drop charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
2/13/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Six prosecutors resign after refusing to drop charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Plus, a former USAID official speaks out against the Trump-Musk funding freeze. Also, the GOP advances a budget plan that calls for healthcare cuts. And Elon Musk meets with India’s Prime Minister in Washington D.C. Andrew Weissmann, Sarah Charles, Rep. Brendan Boyle, and Norm Ornstein join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:41:08
Elon Musk and Donald Trump create chaos with cuts to USAID
2/12/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: U.S. inflation worsens with rising grocery and gas prices. Plus, Senate Democrats push GOP on Trump’s economic agenda. Also, the Trump-Musk USAID freeze puts HIV treatment in Africa at risk. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, and Declan Walsh join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:42:36
Elon Musk and Donald Trump create chaos with cuts to USAID
2/11/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Trump fires the USAID Inspector General after a critical report. Plus, concerns grow that the Trump administration won’t comply with the courts. Also, Fmr. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announces her run for governor of New Mexico. Nicholas Kristof, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, David Super, also join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:42:04
Vice President JD Vance attacks judge’s ruling against Trump
2/10/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: The Trump DOJ drops charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Plus, House Democrats introduce a bill to block Elon Musk’s treasury access. Also, Donald Trump and Elon Musk spread lies about USAID funding. Rep. Daniel Goldman, Andrew Weissmann, Rep. Haley Stevens, and Dr. Atul Gawande join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:36:10
House Dems introduce ‘Nobody Elected Elon Musk Act’
2/7/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: 19 states sue Donald Trump over Elon Musk’s Treasury access. Also, Vladimir Putin is capitalizing on Trump’s national security chaos. Plus, federal courts are blocking parts of Trump’s extreme agenda. And a Democrat flips an Iowa State Senate seat in a district Trump won by 21 points. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, Amb. Michael McFaul, Joyce Vance, and Iowa State Sen.-elect Mike Zimmer join Ali Velshi.
Duration:00:40:43
Fmr. AG Holder: Courts must stop NC GOP judge from stealing election
2/6/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: A North Carolina Republican candidate tries to subvert the vote after losing the State Supreme Court’s election. Also, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin backs Donald Trump’s purge of federal workers. Plus, WIRED reports inexperienced young men in Elon Musk’s DOGE team gain access to sensitive data. And Donald Trump faces outrage over Treasury access given to Musk. Justice Allison Riggs, fmr. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Vittoria Elliott, Tom Nichols, and Jennifer Rubin join Ali Velshi.
Duration:00:42:01
Lawrence: An ‘afraid’ Trump sits idly by as Musk illegally seizes our data
2/5/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump’s Treasury Department is being sued over access granted to Elon Musk. Also, Senate Democrats speak out against OMB nominee Russell Vought. Plus, Democrats slam Trump and Musk efforts to dismantle government agencies. And Trump and Musk spread lies about USAID funding. Norm Eisen, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen. Raphael Warnock, and Jeremy Konyndyk join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:41:51
Lawrence: Any rational thing opposition says to Trump, Musk ‘bounces off the solid wall of stupidity’
2/4/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Democrats sound the alarm on Elon Musk’s unprecedented access. Plus, FBI agents sue to stop the reveal of January 6 investigators. And Trump’s freeze on foreign aid is wasting food and medicine. House Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Christopher Mattei, Andrew Weissmann, and Rick Stengel join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:42:02
Lawrence: Trump letting Musk intrude into Treasury is biggest, most important data breach ever
2/3/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent grants Elon Musk unprecedented access to sensitive data. Also, Donald Trump releases water in California, but floods areas unaffected by wildfires. Plus, prominent attorneys warn the Trump Justice Department against publicly releasing the names of purged officials. Norm Ornstein, E.J. Dionne, Sen. Adam Schiff, Frank Figliuzzi, and Andrew Weissmann join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:38:52
Trump’s purge of the federal government reaches the FBI & Justice Dept.
1/31/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: A second federal judge blocks Donald Trump’s funding freeze. Also, Trump’s Justice Department fires dozens of prosecutors of January 6 cases. And Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation is in jeopardy after a testy hearing. Rep. Eugene Vindman, David Rhode, Joyce Vance, and Tom Nichols join Ali Velshi.
Duration:00:42:13
Lawrence: Every president but Trump always began with sympathy after a plane crash
1/30/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Families mourn the victims of the D.C. plane crash. Also, NBC News reports two black boxes were recovered on the regional jet. Plus, DNI pick Tulsi Gabbard refuses to condemn Edward Snowden. And Democratic senators grill Trump FBI pick Kash Patel. Capt. Sully Sullenberger, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Sen. Mark Warner, and Andrew Weissmann join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:41:47
Lawrence: Caroline Kennedy invokes her father Pres. Kennedy to condemn RFK Jr.’s nomination to HHS
1/28/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Caroline Kennedy urges senators to reject RFK Jr.’s nomination. And a federal judge blocks Donald Trump’s plan to pause federal aid spending. Norm Ornstein, EJ Dionne, Rep. Brendan Boyle, and Rep. Jim Himes join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:40:40
Lawrence: Trump could not finish his first week as president ‘without violating the law’
1/27/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump violates the law in his mass purge of inspectors general. Also, the Justice Department fires the officials involved in Jack Smith’s Trump probes. Plus, Democrats condemn Trump firing inspectors general. And a new book, “The Sirens’ Call,” tackles the world’s most endangered resource – attention. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Brendan Ballou, Andrew Weissmann, Rep. Jamie Raskin, and Chris Hayes join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:38:59
McConnell: Hegseth’s desire to be a ‘change agent’ not enough to lead Pentagon
1/24/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Vice President Vance breaks the tie to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary. Also, states are fighting Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship. Plus, Trump lied about ending the Ukraine-Russia war on “day one.” And billionaires and CEOs try to curry favor with Trump. Tom Nichols, Jennifer Rubin, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, Amb. Michael McFaul, and Robert Reich join Ali Velshi.
Duration:00:40:56