The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell Podcast

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.
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Episode's summary

In this episode of The Last Word, Jonathan Capehart examines the current election landscape, featuring insights from historian Timothy Snyder on voter agency and Congressman Joe Neguse on Democratic efforts to protect election certification. The discussion extends to political accountability in Washington and the formation of new political coalitions in the Florida gubernatorial race. The program also covers key regional campaigns, including interviews with Congressman Maxwell Frost, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti. These segments explore critical issues such as economic struggles, water rights in Arizona, and the impact of corruption on living costs in Pennsylvania.

Chapters

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Highlights

More than 23 million ballots have already been cast. So that means 23 million ballots unaffected by whatever surprises the Trump administration might pull.

00:01:58 · The speaker emphasizes the significance of early voting in protecting the election outcome from potential interference.

My basic advice is history is in your hands. It's not in the hands of Trump. You're the ones who have the power now.

00:08:22 · Timothy Snyder encourages voters to recognize their individual and collective agency during a critical election period.

House Democrats have been preparing for quite some time, engaged in a number of tabletop exercises over the course of the last several months...

00:14:06 · Congressman Joe Neguse explains the proactive measures taken by Democrats to prevent the subversion of election results.

I think what we are quietly building in the Florida governor's race is a new coalition in American politics.

00:24:06 · David Jolly describes his strategy of uniting former Republicans, independents, and Democrats for his campaign.

People are pissed off about an economy that's not working for them. 60 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.

00:30:27 · Congressman Maxwell Frost discusses the economic frustrations driving voters in various states.

Episodes

2151-

Dem majority would focus on affordability, corruption

In this episode of The Last Word, Jonathan Capehart examines the current election landscape, featuring insights from historian Timothy Snyder on voter agency and Congressman Joe Neguse on Democratic efforts to protect election certification. The discussion extends to political accountability in Washington and the formation of new political coalitions in the Florida gubernatorial race. The program also covers key regional campaigns, including interviews with Congressman Maxwell Frost, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti. These segments explore critical issues such as economic struggles, water rights in Arizona, and the impact of corruption on living costs in Pennsylvania.

24 Oct 2026
2150-

Lawrence: Elon Musk threatens Democrats in Congress saying, ‘Live by the sword, die by the sword’

The episode explores the political tensions surrounding Elon Musk, focusing on potential congressional investigations into his influence and federal contracts. Host Lawrence O'Donnell and guest Jamie Raskin discuss Musk's threats against critics and the implications for national security and democracy. The program also features an interview with author Michael Lewis regarding his book 'Blockers,' which examines the impact of political appointees on the nonpartisan civil service. The episode concludes with coverage of various Senate and Congressional races, including interviews with candidates Josh Turek and Teresa Benitez-Thompson.

23 Oct 2026
2149-

Lawrence: Trump's envoy called Putin a 'humanitarian,' and Trump's spineless quislings stayed silent

This episode examines a series of political critiques, beginning with an analysis of federal prosecutors' use of resources regarding voter fraud allegations in California and the controversial characterization of Vladimir Putin as a 'humanitarian.' The discussion further explores allegations of corruption involving the Trump family's business interests in Russian energy assets and potential conflicts of interest in U.S. foreign policy. The program also features interviews with Senator John Ossoff, Senator Sherrod Brown, and Dr. Annie Andrews. These discussions cover topics ranging from the influence of private negotiations on American diplomacy to campaign ethics, economic inequality, and the impact of political accountability on Senate races in Ohio and South Carolina.

22 Oct 2026
2148-

Lawrence: Trump & Hegseth 'not telling how much damage there really was' by Iran war to Navy base

This episode investigates the lack of transparency from the Trump administration regarding an Iranian attack on the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain and the subsequent chaotic evacuation of military families. The reporting highlights the resulting financial and psychological hardships faced by service members' dependents, alongside concerns that U.S. foreign policy is increasingly favoring Russian interests. The discussion also covers Maine politics, featuring an interview with Senate candidate Troy Jackson on the economic impact of rising heating oil prices and Senator Susan Collins's legislative record.

21 Oct 2026
2147-

Lawrence: Trump's case for a GOP candidate, 'I examined his ass,' is another example of his madness

Ali Velshi examines Donald Trump's recent campaign rhetoric, focusing on inappropriate physical comments and concerns regarding cognitive decline. The episode also covers political developments in Kansas with Adam Hamilton, as well as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa addressing corruption in Texas. Additionally, the program features discussions with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on the implications of Trump's relationship with Vladimir Putin for US leadership and Ukraine. Finally, Senator Raphael Warnock discusses Democratic strategies for building multiracial coalitions to achieve success in Southern states.

20 Oct 2026