The Circus

The Circus returns with the world on edge following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. John Heilemann reports from on the ground in neighboring Poland with U.S. Ambassador Mark Brzezinski; Jennifer Palmieri is at the White House with Press Secretary Jen Psaki immediately following President Biden's first State of the Union address; plus, Alex Wagner examines the escalating standoff between Presidents Biden and Putin and Mark McKinnon looks at the political tensions on Capitol Hill amidst the evolving crisis. Season premiere.

With the situation on the ground in Ukraine growing increasingly dire, The Circus explores what more the U.S. and its allies can do. As Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Estonia, John Heilemann speaks with Prime Minister Kaja Kallas about fears Putin could strike a NATO nation next. Plus, Mark McKinnon explores President Biden's response with Senator Mitt Romney; Alex Wagner interviews Ukrainian parliament member Oleksandra Ustinova; and Jennifer Palmieri speaks with officials about the threat Putin now poses to the world.

As Russia escalates its assault, Ukraine's President delivers an impassioned address to Congress. Jennifer Palmieri and Mark McKinnon are on Capitol Hill speaking with lawmakers immediately after Zelenskyy's emotional plea to "close the sky" over Ukraine. Plus, Alex Wagner and John Heilemann examine the information war, including the sophisticated Russian disinformation campaign infiltrating American media and Putin's draconian crackdown on dissent and free speech inside Russia.

As President Biden travels to Brussels for an emergency NATO summit, The Circus examines Russia's threats of using nuclear weapons. Jennifer Palmieri speaks to Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby about the U.S. response to Putin's nuclear saber-rattling; John Heilemann games out war simulations with one of the world's foremost experts on nuclear weapons, Zia Mian; and Alex Wagner assesses Putin's motives with former Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev.

The Circus tracks the dramatic developments out of the House committee investigating the forces behind the violent January 6 insurrection. Jennifer Palmieri and Mark McKinnon speak with members of the committee after voting to hold two of former President Donald Trump's aides in contempt; Alex Wagner talks with Bob Woodward and Robert Costa on their bombshell reporting about the White House call log from the day of the Capitol attack; and John Heilemann examines the growing pressure on the Justice Department to investigate Trump's activities.

As the President's historic nominee for the Supreme Court is confirmed, The Circus examines Biden's successes, failures and plunging poll numbers. John Heilemann, Alex Wagner, Mark McKinnon and Jennifer Palmieri dig into the dissatisfaction within the Democratic base and the party's prospects for the midterms; Representatives Stephanie Murphy and Ted Lieu share their differing strategies for Democrats to keep control of Congress; and The Circus speaks with the White House team behind Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's momentous confirmation.

The Circus is on the ground in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania to cover one of the most consequential Senate races in the nation. John Heilemann, Alex Wagner, Mark McKinnon and Jennifer Palmieri report on the heated competition as former president Donald Trump weighs in with a surprise endorsement. Republican and Democratic candidates speak with The Circus about the final, frantic weeks of the primary.

The Circus travels to Florida as Governor Ron DeSantis signs controversial laws on education, gender, and abortion. John Heilemann, Alex Wagner, Mark McKinnon and Jennifer Palmieri explore how the Sunshine State has become the central battlefield of an American culture war that includes a conservative effort to strike math textbooks due to "prohibited topics," the fallout from the so-called "Don't Say Gay" law, and a rapidly escalating feud between Disney and state Republicans.

The Circus returns amid the critical midterm election season with voters across the nation energized in unprecedented ways by the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. John Heilemann goes behind the scenes with Vice President Kamala Harris as she campaigns for reproductive rights in a swing state that could determine control of the Senate. Jennifer Palmieri and Mark McKinnon are on the ground in Michigan to report on how the end of Roe is impacting one the nation's marquee gubernatorial races.

The Circus examines the myriad legal threats facing former President Donald Trump. Mark McKinnon speaks with journalists Susan Glasser and Peter Baker, authors of a new book detailing the Trump administration. Jennifer Palmieri sits down with Sarah Matthews, the former White House Deputy Press Secretary who testified before the January 6th Committee. John Heilemann speaks with legal experts Andrew Weissman and Neal Katyal to discuss the implications of the wide range of investigations into Trump.

The Circus travels to Arizona, a key battleground in the upcoming midterm elections and the epicenter of election denial. Jennifer Palmieri, John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon and guest host Tim Miller travel the state, where every top Republican candidate has echoed former President Donald Trump's false claim that the 2020 election was fraudulent, exploring what's at stake if election-denying candidates win office and control of the state's election system.

The Circus examines the battle for the Senate through the prism of two key states: Georgia and Ohio, where former President Trump's hand-picked candidates find themselves in tight races. Jennifer Palmieri and Mark McKinnon go behind-the-scenes in the Ohio showdown between Democratic Representative Tim Ryan and Republican JD Vance. John Heilemann and guest host Errin Haines head to Georgia, where Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock tries to stave off his Republican challenger, Herschel Walker, whose campaign has been mired in controversy.

The Circus is on the ground in Georgia's 14th Congressional District, home of Marjorie Taylor Greene, examining her meteoric rise within the Republican party. Hosts Mark McKinnon, John Heilemann and Jennifer Palmieri travel the conservative district talking to voters about their overwhelming support for the first-term congresswoman. The team speaks with local Republican officials about where Greene derives her power in a party transformed by Donald Trump and catches up with the Democratic challenger trying to head off her re-election.

With just two weeks until Election Day, The Circus is on the ground in Pennsylvania for the highly anticipated Senate debate between Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Republican candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz. As questions swirl over Fetterman's health, John Heilemann, Jennifer Palmieri, Mark McKinnon and guest host Jordan Klepper crisscross the state hearing from voters and local politicians, attending campaign rallies and analyzing the impact of the debate in a crucial race that could determine control of the Senate.

The Circus travels the country as election day draws near, examining the warning signs flashing for a Democratic party attempting to hold onto the balance of power in Congress. Guest host Paola Ramos joins John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon and Jennifer Palmieri, exploring a party on the defensive – even in deep blue states – in the face of sky-high inflation and daunting historical trends. Plus, behind-the-scenes as the party's most sought-after surrogate, former President Obama, makes the case for why voters should keep Democrats in power.

The Circus concludes yet another turbulent election season with an extended one-hour episode tracking the final days leading up to an historic election night. Hosts John Heilemann, Jennifer Palmieri and Mark McKinnon, along with guest hosts Tim Miller and Errin Haines, are on the ground in the key battlegrounds tracking the stunning election results as a predicted red wave fizzles. Season finale.