The Circus
Season 8

s08e01 / The Year of Living Dangerously

27th Feb '23 - 1:00am
The Year of Living Dangerously Summary

The Circus is in Poland tracking President Biden as he stuns the world with a visit to the embattled capital of Ukraine to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion. Host John Heilemann talks with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the covert trip to Kyiv and the monumental challenges of confronting a nuclear armed Russia. Back in the U.S., Mark McKinnon speaks with Bush White House veteran Nicole Wallace, while Jennifer Palmieri sits down with former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James Stavridis.

42 have watched this episode

s08e02 / Off to the Races

6th Mar '23 - 1:00am
Off to the Races Summary

The Circus is on the ground in Florida, South Carolina, Maryland and New Hampshire to mark the unofficial kick-off of the Republican Party's presidential nominating contest. The week begins as a leading potential candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, launches his book tour and ends with CPAC, the annual conservative gathering that's friendly territory for former President Donald Trump, who's already in the race. John Heilemann, Jennifer Palmieri, Mark McKinnon and guest host Tim Miller examine the fault lines already emerging in the party.

46 have watched this episode

s08e03 / Kevin's House

13th Mar '23 - 12:00am
Kevin's House Summary

The Circus heads to Capitol Hill to cover the new Republican-controlled House of Representatives. John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, and Jennifer Palmieri follow two freshman members of Congress, Republican Mike Lawler of New York and Democrat Maxwell Frost of Florida, as they navigate a week dominated by Tucker Carlson's coverage of January 6th, hearings on the Biden Administration, and a fight that threatens to tip America over a fiscal cliff.

44 have watched this episode

s08e04 / Fake News?

20th Mar '23 - 12:00am
Fake News? Summary

The Circus examines the .6 billion defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News. John Heilemann speaks with legendary First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams, Mark McKinnon with prominent journalists, and Jennifer Palmieri with Trump voters about the case.

44 have watched this episode

s08e05 / Wheels of Justice

27th Mar '23 - 12:00am
Wheels of Justice Summary

This week The Circus examines the multiple investigations facing Donald Trump that could lead to the first indictment of a U.S. president. Jennifer Palmieri speaks with former Justice Department prosecutor Andrew Weissmann about the hush-money probe. Mark McKinnon charts Michael Cohen's journey from Trump fixer to star witness with Vanity Fair reporter Emily Jane Fox. John Heilemann talks with New York Times reporters Michael Bender and Katie Benner about the myriad investigations and their political fallout.

42 have watched this episode

s08e06 / Nothing But The Truth

3rd Apr '23 - 12:00am
Nothing But The Truth Summary

This week The Circus examines significant developments in the myriad investigations into former President Donald Trump. John Heilemann and guest host Andrew Weissmann discuss the two special counsel probes with former U.S. Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal. Jennifer Palmieri looks at the investigation into Trump's efforts to overturn the election results in Georgia. And Mark McKinnon speaks with Mike Pence in Iowa, after a federal judge orders the former Vice President to testify to a grand jury.

43 have watched this episode

s08e07 / Exhaustion, Depression and Dread... Oy Vey

9th Oct '23 - 12:00am
Exhaustion, Depression and Dread... Oy Vey Summary

The Circus returns amid an historic week in politics. Hosts Jennifer Palmieri, John Heilemann and Mark McKinnon are on Capitol Hill for the unprecedented vote to remove a House speaker by members of his own party, in New York City where former president Donald Trump is in court lashing out against the prosecution of his business empire and on the campaign trail in Iowa as the presidential primary race heats up.

45 have watched this episode

s08e08 / Piercing the Bubble

16th Oct '23 - 12:00am
Piercing the Bubble Summary

In the wake of the shocking terrorist attack in Israel, The Circus tracks the political fallout as Republican presidential hopefuls respond to the ongoing crisis. John Heilemann, Jennifer Palmieri, Mark McKinnon and guest host Tim Miller travel to Iowa, Washington, DC and New Hampshire to hear from GOP candidates about how they would lead America in an increasingly dangerous world.

49 have watched this episode

s08e09 / The Crucible

23rd Oct '23 - 12:00am
The Crucible Summary

The Circus examines President Biden's high profile wartime trip to Israel, a nation reeling in the wake of the terrorist attack by Hamas. Meanwhile, House Republicans struggle to elect a new speaker, two weeks after ousting Kevin McCarthy. John Heilemann, Jennifer Palmieri, Mark McKinnon and guest host Errin Haines track the dramatic developments throughout the week, speaking with Vice President Kamala Harris and Ron Klain, President Biden's former chief of staff.

47 have watched this episode

s08e10 / This Thing of His

30th Oct '23 - 12:00am
This Thing of His Summary

The Circus explores the mounting legal threats facing Donald Trump. Guest host Andrew Weissmann, a former lead prosecutor on Robert Mueller's team, joins Jennifer Palmieri, John Heilmann and Mark McKinnon amid news that several Trump allies have flipped and beballoon cooperating with prosecutors in cases against him. Meanwhile in New York City, the former president comes face-to-face in court with his former fixer and now antagonist, Michael Cohen.

46 have watched this episode

s08e11 / The A.I. Election

6th Nov '23 - 1:00am
The A.I. Election Summary

The Circus examines the impact of AI on the 2024 election and democracy itself. Jennifer Palmieri travels to the U.K. for the first global AI Safety Summit and sits down with Mustafa Suleyman, a world leader in AI technology. John Heilemann and guest host Jordan Klepper talk with former Google tech ethicist Tristan Harris about the threat of AI-enabled disinformation and deep fakes. And Mark McKinnon discusses how campaigns can prepare with Jiore Craig, a strategist in countering disinformation.

50 have watched this episode

s08e12 / Life During Wartime

13th Nov '23 - 1:00am
Life During Wartime Summary

The Circus confronts the central story defining American politics since the show premiered eight seasons ago: the rise of Donald Trump and the Democratic resistance. Hosts John Heilemann, Jennifer Palmieri and Mark McKinnon, joined by guest hosts Tim Miller and Errin Haines, explore this era of bitter division and uncertainty - in a week that features Trump taking the witness stand in New York, a surprising election night, and a shocking new battleground poll.

54 have watched this episode
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