Opinion

Morning Joe

RacheL Maddow

Deadline: White House

The weekend

Newsletters

Akayla Gardner

Akayla Gardner
Akayla Gardner
By  Akayla Gardner
Akayla Gardner

Akayla Gardner

Akayla Gardner is a White House correspondent for MS NOW.

test MS NOW - Breaking News and News Today | Latest News

Opinion

Morning Joe

RacheL Maddow

Deadline: White House

The weekend

Newsletters

White House

Congress

Supreme Court

Culture

World

Science & Tech

Civil Rights

Business

Sports

Elon Musk looks on while wearing a red Gulf of America cap over his black cap.

What Elon Musk and the right really mean we they talk about ‘heritage’

Philip Bump

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez smiles while standing behind a podium.

Ocasio-Cortez took her populism global. Will she take her politics national?

Kevin Frey

Rev. Jesse Jackson poses for a portrait, sitting down with his hands clasped up by his face.

Jesse Jackson was an unapologetically Black American hero

Charles F. Coleman Jr.

Trump overlaid on a graphic of the Capitol building and ballots.

Cracks emerge in Trump’s ‘ruthless’ midterms strategy

Akayla Gardner

How Trump undermined election assistance agency ahead of the midterms

Julia Jester

Pressed on voting conspiracy theories, Noem gives the wrong answer to a good question

Steve Benen

Tricia McLaughlin gestures with her hand as he speaks during a presser.

The most shameful part of DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin’s resignation

Hayes Brown

Jeffrey Epstein.

Was Jeffrey Epstein a spy? The world keeps asking.

David Rohde & Mychael Schnell

Stefanie Spear, seen in profile, looks ahead.
First on MS NOW

White House moves to sideline key RFK Jr. aide as part of HHS shake-up

Will McDuffie & Jake Traylor

Don Lemon; Georgia Fort.

Trump DOJ goes into its Don Lemon case without a key tool

Jordan Rubin

Marco Rubio; Rachel Maddow.

Rubio praises Orbán — and finds a new way to beclown himself in the process

Rachel Maddow

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 09: Democratic Texas State Rep. James Talarico speaks during a campaign launch rally on September 09, 2025 in Round Rock, Texas. Rep. Talarico announced earlier today that he will be running for U.S. Senate in Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

James Talarico: ‘We have a moral imperative’ to flip Texas in light of Trump backlash

Tim Collins

Profile of Wes Moore is seen in a very closeup shot.

Trump’s latest offensive against Maryland’s Wes Moore comes with a clear subtext

Steve Benen

A cable-stayed bridge above icy water.

Democrats launch investigation into Trump’s ‘Bridgegate’ controversy

Steve Benen

A person with their mouth open holds a picket sign at a protest.

‘We are not going to go quietly’: Singing Resistance takes on Trump’s immigration crackdown

Allison Detzel

Vehicles pass by the sign for the Fulton County Elections Hub and Operations Center in Union City, GA.

Fulton County accuses DOJ of ‘misleading narrative’ in 2020 election probe

Ebony Davis

A collage showing Pam Bondi, Donald Trump, and the mugshots of suspects accused of being Antifa members

Trump wants to prosecute anti-fascists as terrorists. This Texas trial will test his power.

Brandy Zadrozny

One person looks at posted signs while two others walk by explanatory panels that were part of an exhibit on slavery at President's House Site.

Judge cites Orwell in rejecting Trump’s bid to erase history of slavery in Philadelphia

Jordan Rubin

Workers at a construction site for the Gateway Program Hudson Tunnel Project in New York City.

Already in a hole, Trump keeps digging on tunnel project fiasco

Steve Benen

Several thousand people march for democracy at the call of several organizations and associations, demanding ICE out of Minnesota immediately, and justice and accountability for Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and all victims of ICE on Feb. 16, 2026 in Minneapolis.

DHS’ controversial scrutiny of protesters and critics draws fresh scrutiny

Steve Benen

Mike Johnson, right, and Rep. Chip Roy at a podium in front of the Capitol. The podium has a red sign that says "Americans decide American elections."

Republicans are resorting to a ridiculous argument to defend the SAVE Act

Philip Bump

Gisele Pelicot stands among a group of people.

Gisèle Pelicot recounts ‘descent into hell’ in new memoir

Julianne McShane

Stephen Colbert laughs while he sits at his desk.

Colbert accuses CBS of blocking on-air interview with Texas Democrat James Talarico

Steve Benen

Trisha McLaughlin talks to Kristi Noem as they walk away.

Ever-present Homeland Security spokesperson McLaughlin is leaving

Erum Salam

The United States Capitol building.

Police arrest 18-year-old with a loaded shotgun outside Capitol

Clarissa-Jan Lim

Rep. Byron Donalds and House Speaker Mike Johnson after formally unveiling the Frederick Douglass Press Gallery in the Rayburn Reception Room of the US Capitol.

Mike Johnson’s and Byron Donalds’ celebration of Frederick Douglass history rings hollow

Ja'han Jones

Kilmar Abrego Garcia arrives at U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in Greenbelt, MD.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia cannot be detained by ICE, federal judge rules

Sydney Carruth

James Talarico: Backlash to Trump is why he’s ‘worried we’re going to flip Texas’

‘This is not America’: School counselor and coach sticks up for his students amid ICE operations 

Rep. Crockett speaks out on CBS Colbert controversy with her opponent

‘We know he has significant information’: Top Oversight Democrat ahead of interview with Epstein ally

Talarico and Crockett vying for Texas Senate seat as Dems eye historic upset

Symone: ‘There would be no Barack Obama’ without Jesse Jackson

No DNA match from glove found near Nancy Guthrie’s home, investigators say

MS NOW OPINION

Understand Today’s News

  1. Jesse Jackson Sr. lifts his arms surrounded by a group of people mixed-aged people.

    Why Jesse Jackson’s push to ‘keep hope alive’ is even more important now

    Keisha N. Blain

  2. Hakeem Jeffries, left, Chuck Schumer walk out of a presser.

    The counterintuitive reason Schumer and Jeffries may have time on their side

    Hayes Brown

  3. This is a portrait photo of Pete Hegseth shot from below.

    Pentagon pumps brakes on AI company that’s worried tech might spy on Americans

    Ja'han Jones

  4. A fifty-dollar bill is seen in President Donald Trump's back pocket as he boards Air Force One.

    How much money has Trump made as president? The answer should worry us all.

    Ian Bassin

  5. Donald Trump smirks in front of people in hard hats and yellow vests holding signs that say "DRILL BABY DRILL!" Behind them, a large poster that reads "JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!"

    The story of the Trump economy? Old people.

    Philip Bump

  6. An illustration of a daily calendar pages torn off revealing the same image of Trump

    Every day is Presidents’ Day now

    Ryan Teague Beckwith

  7. An illustration of the Missouri state flag that's been cut up and rearranged

    Missouri’s 5th District is the latest front in GOP’s redistricting battles

    Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II

  8. Remnants of signage for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on the facade of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center building on Dec. 29, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

    Trump slashed hundreds of thousands of government jobs. Here’s where hiring actually grew.

    Philip Bump

  9. A photo collage showing the measles vaccine overlaying a young woman with the virus

    South Carolina’s measles outbreak has everything to do with why I’m challenging Sen. Lindsey Graham

    Annie Andrews

  10. A sign reading "Justice for Renee Nicole Good" lays next to LED candles during a protest.

    Trump’s DOJ can’t be trusted to investigate killings by ICE agents. Here’s a better idea.

    Mark Greenblatt

  11. Mark Kelly smiling; Pete Hegseth looking down.

    Pete Hegseth’s campaign against Mark Kelly is extraordinary. And this federal judge noticed.

    Lt. Col. Rachel E. VanLandingham (ret.)

Shows

Rachel Maddow Show

View
Cover art for Morning Joe

Morning Joe

View
Cover art for Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace

Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace

View
Cover art for The Beat with Ari Melber

The Beat with Ari Melber

View

All in with Chris Hayes

The Weeknight

The Briefing with Jen Psaki

The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle

Know Your Value

Read More
Halle Berry poses for photos at a red carpet event.

Halle Berry: Women shouldn’t have to stay ‘forever 30’
A graphic headlined "Forbes 30/50 Summit." On it, photos from (top left, clockwise) Simone Biles, Diane von Furstenburg, Sophia Bush and Diana Flores.

Simone Biles, Diane Von Furstenberg, Sophia Bush, and more to headline Know Your Value, Forbes’ 30/50 Summit

Did you just get the ‘Gen Z stare’ at work? This is why.
Shot of a young black businesswoman looking stressed out in an office.

The words that slipped out after HR fired me still terrify me
Sue Zarco Kramer smiles at an outside venue.

This ‘Divorcee Doula’ wants women to reclaim their confidence and get their ‘zhoosh’ back
African American woman using social media on her phone.

The 5 keys to resisting social media envy — for good
Mandana Dayani poses with her daughters after being sworn in as a trustee to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council on Dec. 8.

“Never Again” is more than remembrance. It’s a mandate to act before hate becomes violence.
Mika Brzezinski in her car with the Christmas Tree she bought.

Mika: Why this year’s Christmas tree comes with extra weight – and hope
Closeup shot of two businesspeople shaking hands in an office.

Want to get ahead in your career? Here’s the playbook on decoding workplace culture.
Woman in front of a device screen in video conference for work.

Leaders, your meetings are quiet for a reason (and it’s you)
Mika Brzezinski and Huma Abedin.

Know Your Value, Forbes honor women shaping success at age 50 — and beyond
Black and white photos of Neiny and Shaquita Garcia

The photographer who wants to help women embrace visibility – one portrait at a time.

Latest from MS NOW

14h ago
Maddowblog

Tuesday’s Mini-Report, 2.17.26
17h ago
News

Strikes on 3 more alleged drug boats kill 11 people, US military says
17h ago
Morning Joe

The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe: ‘He kept the dream alive’
19h ago
News

FBI blocks Minnesota law enforcement from Alex Pretti evidence
19h ago
Maddowblog

Tuesday’s Campaign Round-Up, 2.17.26: Trump backs ‘all three’ Texans in Senate race
20h ago
Maddowblog

As the midterms draw closer, Republicans’ anti-Muslim messaging gets less subtle
21h ago
News

Hegseth has reportedly forced out a top Army adviser
test test