The Blueprint with Jen Psaki

The youngest person in Congress, Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost of the Florida 10th, says he’s "very pissed off" about the eight senators who agreed to a deal with the GOP to end the shutdown. He says that group – average age 69 – is behaving as though we’re not in a new political era. “When we have Democrats living in a political world that doesn't exist anymore, and Republicans living in reality, we will lose.” He says to be effective, Democrats need to “unshackle ourselves from the way things have been so we can be more like ourselves.” And the party needs to really fight for Americans to get decent health care, not just restore Republican cuts. "A lot of people have healthcare and it sucks,” he says. “So it's not just that we need everyone to have sucky healthcare. It is: we need everyone to have good healthcare.” Before that, Jen and Democratic strategist Lis Smith rewind the emotional rollercoaster of the last seven days – a blue wave crashing into a backroom deal. Subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening to this and other podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Last night felt like a make-or-break moment for Democrats, as voters handed decisive victories to the party, especially in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City. The three candidates that won in those places (Mikie Sherrill, Abigail Spanberger, and Zohran Mamdani respectively) are very different from each other and ran very different campaigns, showing that there isn’t only one face of the Democratic party. David Plouffe, Democratic strategist and former campaign manager to Barack Obama, joins Jen Psaki and Lis Smith to analyze the races, the key takeaways, and how the Dems can take advantage of the momentum to stage a return to power. Subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening to this and other podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Voters have been hitting the polls across the nation — choosing a governor in two states, electing the next mayor of New York City, as well as deciding on California’s redistricting proposal. And the result was a big night for Democrats. Listen to key moments from MSNBC’s live analysis of Election Night 2025, led by Rachel Maddow and Jen Psaki. Highlights from this excerpt include NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's fiery victory speech and an interview with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) reminding Dems that they'll need to stick together if they want to beat back authoritarianism. Be sure to visit msnbc.com for more on Decision 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On November 2nd, Jen Psaki hosted a pre-election “Blueprint” special live on MSNBC. She spoke with Jen Palmieri, former communications director for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Pennsylvania state representative Malcom Kenyatta, New York City comptroller Brad Lander, and more about two governor races in New Jersey and Virginia, state Supreme Court races in Pennsylvania, and the mayoral election in New York City. Plus, Prop 50, the redistricting proposal out to voters in California. It might be an off year, but there is a ton going on. And a lot of it has implications for the 2026 midterms. Listen here to an audio version of that TV special so you can have the most up-to-date news and analysis from around the country as voters head to the polls this week. Subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening to this and other podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The freshman Congresswoman from Delaware has been a politics nerd from a young age. Sarah McBride had Joe Biden’s autograph on her wall growing up, interned in the Obama White House, and then was elected a Delaware State Senator. In that role, she helped pass the largest increase in the social safety net in the state’s history. McBride is known for being the first openly transgender member of Congress, and she says it’s been difficult, and lonely. But she’s in the fight to win – which she says is only possible by rejecting purity tests and welcoming everyone with good intentions to the Democratic coalition. "I think too often we find ourselves wanting the comfort of preaching to our own choir,” she says, “rather than exercising the courage to truly grow our congregation.” And before we hear from McBride, Lis Smith is here to discuss the lessons Democrats can learn from Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner and Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger about how to weather a crisis. Want more from “The Blueprint”? On Sunday, November 2nd, Jen will lead a primetime weekend pre-election special, “The Blueprint with Jen Psaki: Decision 2025,” at 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC. Subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening to this and other podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The two-term governor of Kentucky is a Democrat – and he runs a state Trump won by 30 points last year. He’s got plenty to say about what’s holding Democrats back and where they go from here. His most direct advice? “Talk normal.” And he doesn’t shy away from standing up for things he believes in even when they’re unpopular in his deep red state. As one of the most popular governors in the country, it's a pretty safe bet he’ll join the field of Democrats running for president in 2028. Before that, Jen and Democratic strategist Lis Smith talk about how Democrats can win on the immigration debate, becoming a party that stands for more than being anti-Trump, and the gerontocracy fights back via Cincinnati Bengal Joe Flacco. Subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening to this and other podcasts. Editors’ Note: In this episode, Jen Psaki and Lis Smith discuss the NYC Mayoral race. We want to note that previously in her career, Lis Smith worked for and advised former Governor Andrew Cuomo who is currently running for mayor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Many of your favorite MSNBC hosts gathered recently at an annual fan event to talk about the future of the Democratic party and democracy itself. Jen teamed up with Rachel Maddow to tackle tough and thoughtful questions from audience members including how to cut through all the political noise and how to understand how we got here. Jen also interviewed the cohosts of the wildly popular “I’ve Had It” podcast, Angie “Pumps” Sullivan and Jennifer Welch. Their irreverent hot takes on the current state of our politics often go viral, and they didn’t hold back in their conversation with Jen. This is the Blueprint, live from MSNBCLIVE ‘25. Subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening to this and other podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the second season of “The Blueprint,” Jen Psaki is convening rising stars and leading voices to hash out a viable playbook and identify the priorities that will help propel Democrats back into power. And each week, she kicks things off with a conversation with her friend and Democratic campaign strategist Lis Smith, who has advised dozens of candidates vying in races at the local level all the way to the White House. To start off episode one of the new season, Jen and Lis discuss Maine Governor Janet Mills running for Senate and how the move potentially upends a must-win race for Democrats hoping to regain control in Washington. You’ll also hear from Texas Congressman Greg Casar, an ascending Democratic leader challenging the establishment who says, “if we're talking to people like we talk to them on a construction site, then we will be way better off as a party.” Subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening to this and other podcasts. Editors’ Note: In this episode, Jen Psaki and Lis Smith discuss the NYC Mayoral race. We want to note that previously in her career, Lis Smith worked for and advised former Governor Andrew Cuomo who is currently running for mayor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Democrats are looking to regain power, and there is a whole lot of warranted debate about what a winning formula looks like. “The Blueprint with Jen Psaki” is a forum where those discussions take place. On season two of her podcast, Jen sits down with some of the biggest names on the left side of the political spectrum to talk about confronting Trump 2.0 and how the Democratic party can shape the future they’d like to see. New episodes drop October 15th. Subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The first 100 days of President Trump’s second term have now come to a close. In a live legal special, MSNBC’s Ari Melber breaks down the most consequential legal moments of the new administration, including the Trump administration’s continued dismantling of key federal agencies, the targeting of private law firms, and the response from the judicial system and the US Supreme Court. Melber is joined by legal experts and insiders, including hosts of MSNBC’s Main Justice podcast, Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord. Visit msnbc.com for more coverage. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Following the first 100 days of Trump’s second presidential term, MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle hosts a town hall to discuss the administration’s continued dismantling of the federal government. Live from Washington D.C., former federal workers forced out by the Trump administration’s share how they’ve been affected by DOGE cuts on federal agencies. Political Correspondent Jacob Soboroff reports on the impact to these agencies and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) joins to discuss how Congress is responding. Visit msnbc.com for more coverage. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen to MSNBC’s Special Coverage of President Trump’s address to Congress, the longest one ever at roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes, on March 4th, 2025. During the evening, Trump blamed Biden for the price of eggs, touted the new administration's aggressive cuts to the federal workforce and made his case for how “America is back,” as some Democrats walked out of the chamber in protest. Hear Rachel Maddow and team fact check and react to some of Trump’s remarks, along with the Democratic response from Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich. Visit msnbc.com for more coverage. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Democrats would do well to listen to the leaders in their party who know how to communicate. Whether on the economy, green jobs, or the future of chip manufacturing, former Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan has a way of talking about these issues that resonates and makes sense to people. He joined Jen Psaki in this episode to share some insights into how Democrats can rethink and reframe the issues that matter most to the party. They also take a beat to talk about JD Vance, the nostalgia of small-town America and the importance of self-reflection to a party that lost. Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The political reality is, Democrats are not in charge of anything right now in Washington. So, in this episode, MSNBC’s Jen Psaki wanted to check in with party organizer and fierce voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams about how Democrats can find their way out of the wilderness and prepare for the next wave of elections. Rather than resisting what is in front of them, Stacey talks about insisting on what Dems want to see from their leaders. And she frames up how to gather the fortitude to stand up for the world they want to see. Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois is not your average progressive. He is a billionaire with an activist upbringing, in a family that prioritized advocating for the people who need it most. MSNBC's Jen Psaki wanted to get a sense of his approach to governing in this second Trump term and why priorities like raising the minimum wage and ending his state’s grocery tax are front of mind for him. They also talk about the reality of a rigged system and the dangerous precedent set when an unelected citizen like Elon Musk is running much of our government. And the Governor is not shy about reminding Democrats to revive a core principle of making things just a little bit easier for everyday Americans. Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jemele Hill has made a name for herself speaking truth to power as a journalist. She is also masterful at synthesizing the intersection of sports and politics. During his first administration, Hill was willing to go where many of her peers wouldn’t when she famously called out Donald Trump. Jen Psaki sits down with the “Spolitics” host and Atlantic writer to get her take on what she thinks Democrats should be doing to show voters they are willing to fight back. Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, MSNBC’s Jen Psaki sits down with former CNN primetime anchor turned independent journalist, Don Lemon. Don talks about the new perspective he has gained from ditching the formality of a studio and becoming a leaner, meaner media machine. And they touch on how Democrats have been slower to catch up to the evolving media ecosystem. Don believes the Democratic party, despite their ‘big tent’ legacy, are shooting themselves in the foot by having some outdated purity tests that only isolate them further from voters they need to win over. Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Jen Psaki talks with her former boss Rahm Emanuel about what he thinks Democrats need to do to win again. He offers his trademark candor on where Democrats slipped up in 2024, but also talks about what the future can look like. He stresses the value of who the messengers are, the damage of litmus tests to winning and the importance of running someone in every single race from school boards to Congress. Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of “The Blueprint with Jen Psaki”, Jen sits down with social media darling and provocateur Jack Schlossberg to hone in on how conservatives have come to be the loudest voices online, while Democrats seem to have just ceded the ground. They talk about how to reach young voters – young men specifically – and why Dem’s reluctance to make mistakes has cost them. Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to “The Blueprint with Jen Psaki,” a new podcast from MSNBC looking to shed some light on the state of the Democratic party and how to win again. On this first episode, the conversation starts like many across the country– with football. Governor Wes Moore of Maryland is no stranger to the sport and his approach to the game often aligns with his approach to politics: be a team player, and if you see a play- be bold. Governor Moore talks about his life coming up in Maryland and what led him from the Robinhood Foundation to the Governor’s mansion. He and Jen also dig in to what it means to be a patriotic American, where the party can be bolder, and find optimism in authenticity as a winning factor. Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.