
The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell
MSNBC
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.
Location:
New York, NY
Genres:
US News
Networks:
MSNBC
Description:
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.
Language:
English
Episodes
GOP lawmakers face vote on unpopular Trump budget plan
5/2/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Businesses warn of higher costs as Donald Trump’s tariffs hit. Also, The New York Times reports DOGE cuts cost upward of $135 billion. Plus, Democrats demand answers over DOGE’s access to sensitive data. And voters sour on Trump’s handling of the economy. Rep. Chris Deluzio, Rebecca Cooke, Max Stier, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed join Ali Velshi.
Duration:00:43:21
Lawrence: Donny 2 Dolls Trump's cruelty ignores little girl who asked him to 'make Barbies cheaper'
5/1/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump ousts Mike Waltz as national security advisor. Also, Trump nominates “Stop the Steal” organizer Ed Martin for a key prosecutor post. Plus, Trump tariffs are wreaking havoc on U.S. small businesses. And a Trump-appointed judge in Texas rules Trump’s Alien Enemies Act invocation is “unlawful.” Sen. Adam Schiff and Rick Woldenberg join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:41:43
Lawrence: Defending tariffs, Donny '2 dolls' Trump says kids will just have fewer Christmas toys
4/30/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: The U.S. economy shrinks for the first time since the pandemic. Also, Donald Trump claims he “could” have Kilmar Abrego Garcia returned to the U.S., but his lawyers don’t want him to. Plus, polls show voters are souring on Trump after a chaotic 100 days. And federal workers speak out against Trump-Musk cuts. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Andrew Weissmann, Jonathan Alter, and Jacob Soboroff join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:42:09
Lawrence: 'Tariff scrooge' Trump is already killing U.S. jobs and has the worst 100-day polling ever
4/29/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Americans sour on Donald Trump’s tariffs and his handling of the economy. Also, the Trump tariff chaos upends a Canadian election. Plus, Trump fails to deliver his promised end to Vladimir Putin’s war. And Democrats look to campaign on the chaos of Trump’s first 100 days in office. Catherine Rampell, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Amb. Michael McFaul, and Rep. Angie Craig join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:43:09
Lawrence: Donald Trump is now America's biggest loser in the history of presidents' first 100 days
4/28/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump rages online as his poll numbers tank. Also, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation projects that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party wins in a national election heavily influenced by Trump’s tariffs and threats. And voters pack town halls protesting Trump and the GOP agenda. Robert Reich, Timothy Snyder, and Rep. Joe Neguse join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:45:27
'Chaotic' and 'scary': Voters sound off on the first 95 days of Trump's second term
4/25/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Voters share their anger at Trump's agenda at town hall events. Plus, the controversy around Defense Secy. Pete Hegseth and his alleged use of unsecured communications continues to grow. Also, HHS Secy. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is facing backlash for his comments about Americans with autism. And, the Trump administration's attacks on DEI are facing pushback.
Duration:00:41:35
Lawrence on Trump's second term: 'He is in his 94th consecutive day of failure'
4/24/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: China denies Donald Trump’s claims of “active” tariff talks. Also, The New York Times reports that Trump is pressuring Ukraine to accept a peace plan that sharply favors Russia. And tariffs could be a major issue in the 2025 Senate race. Catherine Rampell, Timothy Snyder, and Jordan Wood join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:42:04
Lawrence: China sees 'world's biggest clown' Trump as most economically incoherent president ever
4/23/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump’s tariff uncertainty causes price spikes and layoffs. Also, Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly have a verbal brawl in the West Wing. Plus, a federal judge slams the Trump administration’s “bad faith” in Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s case. And the president of Harvard University speaks out about Trump’s attack. Sen. Jon Ossoff, Jen Psaki, and Sen. Chris Van Hollen join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:41:33
Lawrence: Trump, a 'humiliated clown' who always pretends he never backs down, backed down again
4/22/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: The stock market is calmer after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told investors a trade war is not “sustainable.” Also, the White House says Donald Trump “strongly stands” behind Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Plus, three prosecutors on the Eric Adams corruption case resign rather than admit to “wrongdoing.” And Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens launches her Senate bid in Michigan. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Andrew Weissmann, and Rep. Haley Stevens join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:43:22
Lawrence: Trump plunging stock market to its ‘Make America 1932 Again’ moment
4/21/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Stocks tumble as Donald Trump attacks Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Also, Harvard University sues the Trump administration over funding cut threats. Plus, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly shared sensitive information on Yemen strikes in a Signal chat with his wife and brother. And Pope Frances dies at 88 after a stroke. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Laurence Tribe, Sen. Mark Kelly, and Sister Simone Campbell join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:41:00
Trump DHS challenged on possible imminent deportations
4/18/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump mocks Sen. Chris Van Hollen for meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Also, voters flood town halls with fears and frustrations. Plus, Trump suggests removing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. And the North Carolina Supreme Court race remains undecided after legal challenges. Lisa Rubin, Garry Kasparov, Rep. James Clyburn, Robert Reich, and Justice Allison Riggs join Ali Velshi.
Duration:00:42:39
Lawrence: Sen. Van Hollen outsmarted Trump today helping Abrego Garcia get a step closer to justice
4/17/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen and Kilmar Abrego Garcia meet in El Salvador. Also, Donald Trump threatens to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status. And Trump suggests he can fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Andrew Weissmann, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Rep. Brendan Boyle join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:46:18
Lawrence: As criminal as Nixon was, he had more respect for the Constitution than Trump
4/16/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: California sues Donald Trump, calling his tariffs “unlawful.” Also, a bipartisan bill would end any tariff not passed by Congress in 60 days. Plus, a federal judge finds probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt over deportation flights. And voters flood town halls and rallies fearing DOGE cuts. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Sen. Maria Cantwell, Rep. Daniel Goldman, and Rep. Melanie Stansbury join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:44:21
Lawrence: Donald Trump now has ‘constitutional dementia’ about Harvard & deporting American citizens
4/15/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: A judge blasts the Trump Justice Department for its refusal to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Also, Donald Trump escalates his fight with Harvard University. Plus, Trump blames Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the war yet again and calls Vladimir Putin’s deadly Palm Sunday attack “a mistake.” And The Washington Post reports a government memo lays out the Trump administration’s proposal to slash State Department and USAID budgets. Andrew Weissmann, Laurence Tribe, and Nicholas Kristof join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:41:15
Lawrence on Trump attacking the rule of law: We are all Harvard. We are all Abrego Garcia.
4/14/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: The Trump Justice Department argues courts can’t force Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return. Also, Donald Trump declines to say what imports might be exempt from future tariffs. And Democrats host town halls to amplify voters’ concerns. Andrew Weissmann, Catherine Rampell, Rep. Greg Stanton, and fmr Rep. David Jolly join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:40:22
Velshi: Trump ‘shattering’ status of U.S. as a global superpower
4/11/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: The Wall Street Journal reports Donald Trump privately acknowledged his tariffs could spark a recession. Also, a federal judge demands updates on the efforts made to return a deported Maryland man. Plus, Democrats seek to keep the momentum against the Trump agenda with the House and Senate in recess. And Trump sends a special envoy to meet with Vladimir Putin in Russia. Robert Reich, Laurence Tribe, Rep. Joe Neguse, Leah Greenberg, and Amb. Michael McFaul join Ali Velshi.
Duration:00:42:12
Justice Sotomayor: Trump admin. had no ‘basis in law for Garcia’s warrantless arrest’
4/10/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: The Supreme Court orders the Trump administration to “facilitate” the return of a mistakenly deported Maryland man. Also, Democrats demand an inquiry around the timing of the Trump tariff pause. Plus, seven GOP senators defy MAGA and back a bill to curb Trump tariff powers. And Donald Trump wants the Justice Department to investigate two first-term officials who criticized him. Andrew Weissmann, Sen. Ruben Gallego, and Sen. Maria Cantwell join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:42:00
Lawrence: Trump backs down on tariffs after a day of fearing Elon Musk might call him a 'moron'
4/9/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: House Republicans cancel Wednesday night’s budget vote. Also, Trump’s tariff pause comes after markets lose trillions. Plus, House Democrats launch an inquiry of Trump aides’ Signal use. And GOP senators up in 2026 face Trump tariff backlash. Rep. Brendan Boyle, Jason Furman, Rep. Stephen Lynch, and fmr. Rep. Wiley Nickel join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:42:35
Lawrence: Musk called Navarro a 'moron.' What does Musk think of Trump who follows Navarro’s advice?
4/8/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Seven GOP senators back a bill to curb Trump tariff power. Also, the Trump administration targets hundreds of federal buildings for a potential sale. And a Trump-appointed judge orders the White House to lift the Associated Press ban. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Jason Furman, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, and Andrew Weissmann join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:42:11
Lawrence: Elon Musk is the biggest loser in Donald Trump's world war on economic sanity
4/7/2025
Tonight on The Last Word: Elon Musk speaks out against Trump tariffs. Also, fired Justice Department attorneys speak out against the Trump administration. Plus, “Hands Off” protests demand action against the Trump agenda. And the Supreme Court pauses the deadline to return a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador. Catherine Rampell, Sen. Adam Schiff, Rep. Maxwell Frost, and Andrew Weissmann join Lawrence O’Donnell.
Duration:00:40:25