Trump offers a problematic defense of his latest controversial pardon
Why did the president pardon a campaign donor who'd been convicted of crimes related to defrauding investors? Trump struggled with the question.
To boost banks, Republican restore one of the ‘junk fees’ targeted by Biden
Joe Biden set out to limit overdraft fees banks can charge customers. Congressional Republicans are scrambling to undo that.
Friday’s Campaign Round-Up, 3.28.25: Musk heads to campaign trail ahead of Wisconsin race
Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
Ethics Committee advances investigation into GOP’s Cory Mills
House Republican leaders really didn’t need another controversy surrounding one of their members, but they apparently have one anyway.
Canadian prime minister: The United States is ‘no longer a reliable partner’
“The old relationship we had with the United States ... is over,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared.
Ministry of Truth | A New Book by MaddowBlog's Steve Benen
Steve Benen's new book, 'Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past,' with an audio version read by Rachel Maddow is now available.
White House targets a law firm that Trump believes ‘rewarded’ Robert Mueller
According to Trump, Mueller exonerated him in the Russia scandal. With this in mind, why punish the firm that employed him?
Trump order targets ‘improper’ ideology at the Smithsonian Institution
The directive accused the Biden administration of using the Smithsonian to advance what it described as a “corrosive” ideology.
Thursday’s Mini-Report, 3.27.25
Today’s edition of quick hits.
Democrats’ winning streak is worrying Republicans ahead of key elections next week
On the heels of two major victories, will Democrats’ good luck continue at the ballot box?
AG Pam Bondi dismisses Signal chat scandal in a brazenly partisan display
The DOJ has a responsibility to investigate the generation’s most scandalous security breach. Bondi doesn’t appear to care.
White House abandons Elise Stefanik’s nomination for U.N. ambassador
The New York congresswoman would’ve been confirmed with relative ease. Donald Trump pulled her nomination anyway, afraid of what might happen to her seat.
‘Witch hunt’: Trump pushes a claim about the Signal scandal even he doesn’t seem to believe
It’s odd that White House officials can’t agree on the legitimacy of the controversy. It’s worse that Trump is contradicting his own line, too.
Thursday’s Campaign Round-Up, 3.27.25: Musk’s super PAC invests in Florida races
Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
Russell Vought steers the Trumpified CFPB in a regressive direction
It's striking to see the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau try to give money to a mortgage lender, instead of trying to get money from a mortgage lender.
Bystander in chief? Trump appears out of the loop in his own White House
Confronted with key questions about life-or-death issues, the president is offering the public a lot of shrugged shoulders and blank stares.
More MaddowBlog
The importance of a competent White House Cabinet comes into sharp relief
The Signal chat scandal offers a timely reminder: When Cabinet agencies are led by unqualified amateurs, dangerous consequences are inevitable.
Trump officials' tortured Signal scandal semantics suggests they know how bad this is
White House officials have had days to come up with a “Signalgate” defense. They’ve settled on a weird point about the meaning of “war plans.”
Wednesday’s Mini-Report, 3.26.25
Today’s edition of quick hits.
HHS makes an unfortunate choice to oversee unnecessary study on vaccines and autism
The Trump administration could’ve chosen anyone to conduct a study on vaccines and autism. It settled on someone who's apparently already made up his mind.
The White House’s radical offensive against law firms isn’t just about law firms
When pressed, Donald Trump has said he wants law firms “to behave themselves.” It's worth appreciating what that means in practice.
‘Depression-era’: Man declared ‘dead’ by Social Security shares the cost of DOGE’s cuts
Questions about the agency’s future move beyond an anecdote here or there. The question now is how much Social Security can take before it stops working.
As JD Vance heads to Greenland, the administration generates a predictable backlash
Donald Trump keeps claiming that Greenland invited a White House delegation, to be led by JD Vance. Greenland keeps saying the opposite.
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