Steve Benen
@stevebenen.com
Rachel Maddow Show producer, MaddowBlog author, MS NOW contributor, and author of Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past
Maybe this is just wishful thinking, but shouldn’t Elon Musk’s campaign contributions be considered radioactive right about now?
Especially as he plans to open his wallet again for Republicans ahead of the midterms? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Especially as he plans to open his wallet again for Republicans ahead of the midterms? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
As Elon Musk amplifies white supremacist messaging, will Republicans keep his money?
As the billionaire eyes a new round of support for GOP candidates, it's worth asking whether his contributions are radioactive.
www.ms.now
January 9, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Maybe this is just wishful thinking, but shouldn’t Elon Musk’s campaign contributions be considered radioactive right about now?
Especially as he plans to open his wallet again for Republicans ahead of the midterms? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Especially as he plans to open his wallet again for Republicans ahead of the midterms? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
For those concerned with the United States’ international standing, and the eagerness of our traditional allies to leave us behind, this week has been especially brutal. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump succeeds in uniting our traditional allies — against the United States
Russia and China have spent years trying to disrupt U.S. alliances. In 2026, the incumbent American president is doing their job for them.
www.ms.now
January 9, 2026 at 6:32 PM
For those concerned with the United States’ international standing, and the eagerness of our traditional allies to leave us behind, this week has been especially brutal. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Given how awful the U.S. job numbers were in 2025, the question for Trump and the White House is simple:
If this is “the greatest economy in the history of our country,” as Trump recently insisted, why has job growth slowed to a 16-year low? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
If this is “the greatest economy in the history of our country,” as Trump recently insisted, why has job growth slowed to a 16-year low? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
U.S. job market ends a woeful year on another discouraging note
If this is “the greatest economy in the history of our country,” as Donald Trump recently insisted, why has job growth slowed to a 16-year low?
www.ms.now
January 9, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Given how awful the U.S. job numbers were in 2025, the question for Trump and the White House is simple:
If this is “the greatest economy in the history of our country,” as Trump recently insisted, why has job growth slowed to a 16-year low? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
If this is “the greatest economy in the history of our country,” as Trump recently insisted, why has job growth slowed to a 16-year low? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump has a plan to use non-existent tariff revenue to simultaneously:
- boost military spending to $1.5 trillion
- bail out farmers
- reduce the national debt
- pay for “dividend” rebate checks
- subsidize child care
Ever hear the old accounting joke that “you can’t spend the same dollar twice”?
- boost military spending to $1.5 trillion
- bail out farmers
- reduce the national debt
- pay for “dividend” rebate checks
- subsidize child care
Ever hear the old accounting joke that “you can’t spend the same dollar twice”?
The glaring flaw in Trump’s plan to boost military spending to $1.5 trillion
The president plans to use tariff revenue that doesn’t exist to increase the Pentagon budget to wildly unnecessary levels.
www.ms.now
January 8, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Trump has a plan to use non-existent tariff revenue to simultaneously:
- boost military spending to $1.5 trillion
- bail out farmers
- reduce the national debt
- pay for “dividend” rebate checks
- subsidize child care
Ever hear the old accounting joke that “you can’t spend the same dollar twice”?
- boost military spending to $1.5 trillion
- bail out farmers
- reduce the national debt
- pay for “dividend” rebate checks
- subsidize child care
Ever hear the old accounting joke that “you can’t spend the same dollar twice”?
Legal: Congress has what’s known as “the power of the purse.”
Illegal: When Trump says, “I’ve decided to create my own purse.”
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Illegal: When Trump says, “I’ve decided to create my own purse.”
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
‘Slush fund’: Democrats push back against Trump’s plan to control Venezuelan oil sales
The president said he’d create a pool of money from Venezuelan oil sales. Democrats said that can’t legally happen.
www.ms.now
January 8, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Legal: Congress has what’s known as “the power of the purse.”
Illegal: When Trump says, “I’ve decided to create my own purse.”
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Illegal: When Trump says, “I’ve decided to create my own purse.”
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Exactly one year ago this week, @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social noted that Trump “is at his absolute worst in a crisis.”
The line came to mind reading Trump's reaction to an ICE agent shooting and killing an unarmed woman in Minneapolis — at which point did what he always does.
The line came to mind reading Trump's reaction to an ICE agent shooting and killing an unarmed woman in Minneapolis — at which point did what he always does.
Trump responds to ICE shooting in Minneapolis in a typically Trumpian fashion
The president could've tried to calm the waters and vow a thorough, independent investigation. Instead he did what he always does.
www.ms.now
January 7, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Exactly one year ago this week, @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social noted that Trump “is at his absolute worst in a crisis.”
The line came to mind reading Trump's reaction to an ICE agent shooting and killing an unarmed woman in Minneapolis — at which point did what he always does.
The line came to mind reading Trump's reaction to an ICE agent shooting and killing an unarmed woman in Minneapolis — at which point did what he always does.
Mike Johnson: Rubio was kidding about Trump wanting to buy Greenland.
Rubio: No, I wasn’t. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Rubio: No, I wasn’t. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Team Trump confirms: The administration wants to buy Greenland
Where exactly does the president intend to get the money to buy a massive arctic island that isn’t for sale?
www.ms.now
January 7, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Mike Johnson: Rubio was kidding about Trump wanting to buy Greenland.
Rubio: No, I wasn’t. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Rubio: No, I wasn’t. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
How many Fox News vets are now serving on Trump’s second-term team?
With Senate Republicans confirming Sara Carter as the nation’s new drug czar, the total is over two dozen. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
With Senate Republicans confirming Sara Carter as the nation’s new drug czar, the total is over two dozen. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Republicans confirm former Fox News contributor as the nation’s new drug czar
There’s no reason to believe the president’s growing Team of Amateurs will be better this year than last year.
www.ms.now
January 7, 2026 at 4:44 PM
How many Fox News vets are now serving on Trump’s second-term team?
With Senate Republicans confirming Sara Carter as the nation’s new drug czar, the total is over two dozen. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
With Senate Republicans confirming Sara Carter as the nation’s new drug czar, the total is over two dozen. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Not long ago, we might expect to see foreign U.S. critics describe the United States as a “predator force,” which Americans would’ve seen as insulting.
But in 2026, Republicans use the phrase — as a compliment.
But in 2026, Republicans use the phrase — as a compliment.
Ogles: "It's important that we have a stake in Greenland, that they are quite frankly a protectorate of the US. They've been in relationship with Denmark - that needs to end. We've spilled more blood protecting Greenland than the Danes... we are the dominant predator force in the Western Hemisphere"
January 7, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Not long ago, we might expect to see foreign U.S. critics describe the United States as a “predator force,” which Americans would’ve seen as insulting.
But in 2026, Republicans use the phrase — as a compliment.
But in 2026, Republicans use the phrase — as a compliment.
As Trump claims that Venezuela will “turn over” roughly $3 billion worth of oil, there’s a long list of problems, starting with this one:
Trump expects to sell the oil and personally control the pool of money — which is brazenly unconstitutional. #slushfund www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump expects to sell the oil and personally control the pool of money — which is brazenly unconstitutional. #slushfund www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
One big problem with Trump’s claim Venezuela will “turn over” its oil
The Constitution gives lawmakers the “power of the purse.” When the president effectively responds, “I get my own purse,” there’s a problem.
www.ms.now
January 7, 2026 at 2:03 PM
As Trump claims that Venezuela will “turn over” roughly $3 billion worth of oil, there’s a long list of problems, starting with this one:
Trump expects to sell the oil and personally control the pool of money — which is brazenly unconstitutional. #slushfund www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump expects to sell the oil and personally control the pool of money — which is brazenly unconstitutional. #slushfund www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
For all of the recent White House talk about the Monroe Doctrine, a different 19th-century concept — Manifest Destiny — should be part of the same conversation.
Instead of eying US expansion to the Pacific, Team Trump apparently believes we’re destined to control the entire hemisphere.
Instead of eying US expansion to the Pacific, Team Trump apparently believes we’re destined to control the entire hemisphere.
White House’s Stephen Miller suggests the U.S. is entitled to Greenland
For all the talk about the Monroe Doctrine, we really ought to discuss a different 19th century concept: Manifest Destiny.
www.ms.now
January 6, 2026 at 6:11 PM
For all of the recent White House talk about the Monroe Doctrine, a different 19th-century concept — Manifest Destiny — should be part of the same conversation.
Instead of eying US expansion to the Pacific, Team Trump apparently believes we’re destined to control the entire hemisphere.
Instead of eying US expansion to the Pacific, Team Trump apparently believes we’re destined to control the entire hemisphere.
Bill Cassidy spent 2025 criticizing RFK Jr’s radical moves, but failing to actually do anything meaningful, despite his powerful committee chairmanship.
In 2026, the senator is offering more of the same, indifferent to the consequences of his passivity. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
In 2026, the senator is offering more of the same, indifferent to the consequences of his passivity. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
GOP’s Cassidy criticizes RFK Jr’s vaccine schedule, but the senator still isn’t ready to act
The Louisiana Republican keeps complaining about Kennedy but failing to use his considerable powers.
www.ms.now
January 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Bill Cassidy spent 2025 criticizing RFK Jr’s radical moves, but failing to actually do anything meaningful, despite his powerful committee chairmanship.
In 2026, the senator is offering more of the same, indifferent to the consequences of his passivity. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
In 2026, the senator is offering more of the same, indifferent to the consequences of his passivity. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Two Latin American strongmen were charged with drug trafficking.
One was captured as part of a controversial and likely illegal military raid.
The other — the one who was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison — is free thanks to a pardon from Donald Trump.
One was captured as part of a controversial and likely illegal military raid.
The other — the one who was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison — is free thanks to a pardon from Donald Trump.
"Hernández boasted that he would 'stuff the drugs up the gringos’ noses' while trafficking more than 500 tons of cocaine into the US.
"Trump freed him, saying, 'If somebody sells drugs in that country, that doesn’t mean you arrest the president and put him in jail'..."
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
"Trump freed him, saying, 'If somebody sells drugs in that country, that doesn’t mean you arrest the president and put him in jail'..."
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
After Venezuela operation, Trump haunted by his pardon for Honduran drug trafficker
Two Latin American strongmen were charged with drug trafficking. One was captured as part of a military raid, the other is free thanks to a Trump pardon.
www.ms.now
January 5, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Two Latin American strongmen were charged with drug trafficking.
One was captured as part of a controversial and likely illegal military raid.
The other — the one who was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison — is free thanks to a pardon from Donald Trump.
One was captured as part of a controversial and likely illegal military raid.
The other — the one who was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison — is free thanks to a pardon from Donald Trump.
Stephen Miller already had a ridiculously expansive policy portfolio.
Now that he’s planning and executing operations in Venezuela, expect to hear a lot more “shadow president” chatter. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Now that he’s planning and executing operations in Venezuela, expect to hear a lot more “shadow president” chatter. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Venezuela heaped onto Stephen Miller’s sprawling portfolio
In Trump’s first term, Jared Kushner oversaw a cartoonishly large policy agenda. In his second term, Miller has the reins.
www.ms.now
January 5, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Stephen Miller already had a ridiculously expansive policy portfolio.
Now that he’s planning and executing operations in Venezuela, expect to hear a lot more “shadow president” chatter. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Now that he’s planning and executing operations in Venezuela, expect to hear a lot more “shadow president” chatter. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Someday, this guy is going to hear about Trump’s pardon for former Honduras' Juan Orlando Hernández — a convicted drug trafficker who boasted that he would “stuff the drugs up the gringos’ noses” and accepted a $1 million bribe to allow cocaine shipments to pass through his country — and be amazed.
January 3, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Someday, this guy is going to hear about Trump’s pardon for former Honduras' Juan Orlando Hernández — a convicted drug trafficker who boasted that he would “stuff the drugs up the gringos’ noses” and accepted a $1 million bribe to allow cocaine shipments to pass through his country — and be amazed.
After a year in which Trump has bombed ...
- Venezuela
- Nigeria
- Iran
- Yemen
- Syria
- Somalia
- and civilian boats in international waters
... I’m thinking about the voters who convinced themselves that Trump was the candidate of foreign policy restraint.
- Venezuela
- Nigeria
- Iran
- Yemen
- Syria
- Somalia
- and civilian boats in international waters
... I’m thinking about the voters who convinced themselves that Trump was the candidate of foreign policy restraint.
January 3, 2026 at 2:06 PM
After a year in which Trump has bombed ...
- Venezuela
- Nigeria
- Iran
- Yemen
- Syria
- Somalia
- and civilian boats in international waters
... I’m thinking about the voters who convinced themselves that Trump was the candidate of foreign policy restraint.
- Venezuela
- Nigeria
- Iran
- Yemen
- Syria
- Somalia
- and civilian boats in international waters
... I’m thinking about the voters who convinced themselves that Trump was the candidate of foreign policy restraint.
Sixteen days later, this sure does seem relevant anew.
Q: Would you seek authorization for any land attacks on cartels in Venezuela?
TRUMP: I don't have to tell them. It's been proven.
TRUMP: I don't have to tell them. It's been proven.
January 3, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Sixteen days later, this sure does seem relevant anew.
This holiday season, Trump got himself an unusual gift: a new, generous, and entirely made-up approval rating.
Yes, he’s done this before — a month into his second term, in fact — but this latest iteration is funnier because even in his own fictional, alternate reality, his popularity is sinking.
Yes, he’s done this before — a month into his second term, in fact — but this latest iteration is funnier because even in his own fictional, alternate reality, his popularity is sinking.
This holiday season, Trump gave himself a gift: A generous, made-up approval rating
It sure is weird to see an American president touting polling data that only exists in his imagination.
www.ms.now
January 2, 2026 at 7:34 PM
This holiday season, Trump got himself an unusual gift: a new, generous, and entirely made-up approval rating.
Yes, he’s done this before — a month into his second term, in fact — but this latest iteration is funnier because even in his own fictional, alternate reality, his popularity is sinking.
Yes, he’s done this before — a month into his second term, in fact — but this latest iteration is funnier because even in his own fictional, alternate reality, his popularity is sinking.
Trump wants a blue state to free a convicted felon he likes. Since the state disagrees, the White House keeps punishing the state and its residents.
Let’s not lose sight of how utterly bonkers this is. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Let’s not lose sight of how utterly bonkers this is. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump gives away the game on his motivations for the first vetoes of his second term
The president has threatened to impose “harsh measures” on Colorado unless the state frees a felon he likes. We now know what that means in practice.
www.ms.now
January 2, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Trump wants a blue state to free a convicted felon he likes. Since the state disagrees, the White House keeps punishing the state and its residents.
Let’s not lose sight of how utterly bonkers this is. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Let’s not lose sight of how utterly bonkers this is. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
When officials are going to release info they hope the public won’t see, they tend to wait for Friday afternoons/evenings.
New Year’s Eve works just as well.
New Year’s Eve works just as well.
BREAKING: The House Judiciary Committee has released Jack Smith's 255-page deposition transcript: judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
December 31, 2025 at 8:13 PM
When officials are going to release info they hope the public won’t see, they tend to wait for Friday afternoons/evenings.
New Year’s Eve works just as well.
New Year’s Eve works just as well.
As electricity costs climb, Trump could try to avoid blame for the problem. He prefers to push an alternate reality in which the problem doesn’t exist.
I continue to believe there’s a qualitative difference between regular ol’ lying and self-defeating lying. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
I continue to believe there’s a qualitative difference between regular ol’ lying and self-defeating lying. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
The more Trump focuses on electricity prices, the more rising costs matter
As electricity costs climb, Trump could try to avoid blame for the problem. He prefers to push an alternate reality in which the problem doesn’t exist.
www.ms.now
December 30, 2025 at 6:59 PM
As electricity costs climb, Trump could try to avoid blame for the problem. He prefers to push an alternate reality in which the problem doesn’t exist.
I continue to believe there’s a qualitative difference between regular ol’ lying and self-defeating lying. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
I continue to believe there’s a qualitative difference between regular ol’ lying and self-defeating lying. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
As visible bruising appears on Trump’s left and right hands, there’s a larger context alongside the obvious questions:
This guy hasn’t exactly earned the benefit of the doubt on questions of medical transparency. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
This guy hasn’t exactly earned the benefit of the doubt on questions of medical transparency. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
The White House needs a new line on the bruises on Trump’s hands
Given the president’s unfortunate record, he hasn’t exactly earned the benefit of the doubt on questions of medical transparency.
www.ms.now
December 30, 2025 at 4:49 PM
As visible bruising appears on Trump’s left and right hands, there’s a larger context alongside the obvious questions:
This guy hasn’t exactly earned the benefit of the doubt on questions of medical transparency. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
This guy hasn’t exactly earned the benefit of the doubt on questions of medical transparency. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
The pattern is eclipsed by countless other scandals, but it’s easy to imagine a world in which Trump is best known for blurting out sensitive national security information.
It’s happened ... a lot. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
It’s happened ... a lot. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump confirms U.S. strike in Venezuela in the clumsiest possible way
Did the president boast about a foreign strike that didn’t happen, or did he disclose a strike he wasn’t supposed to talk about? Now we know the answer.
www.ms.now
December 30, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The pattern is eclipsed by countless other scandals, but it’s easy to imagine a world in which Trump is best known for blurting out sensitive national security information.
It’s happened ... a lot. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
It’s happened ... a lot. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump is ending 2025 the same way he started 2025: vouching for Putin’s interest in “peace” in defiance of reality.
The pièce de résistance came when he declared, in apparent seriousness, “Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed.” www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
The pièce de résistance came when he declared, in apparent seriousness, “Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed.” www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Trump ends the year the way he started it: Vouching for Putin’s interest in ‘peace’
The pièce de résistance came when the American president declared, in apparent seriousness, “Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed.”
www.ms.now
December 29, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Trump is ending 2025 the same way he started 2025: vouching for Putin’s interest in “peace” in defiance of reality.
The pièce de résistance came when he declared, in apparent seriousness, “Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed.” www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
The pièce de résistance came when he declared, in apparent seriousness, “Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed.” www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Dec. 18: Trump asks, “What ever happened to separation of Church and State?”
Dec. 21: Vance says the U.S. is a “Christian nation.”
Dec. 25: DHS insists that Americans “share a nation and a Savior.”
Maybe Trump’s team can answer his original question? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Dec. 21: Vance says the U.S. is a “Christian nation.”
Dec. 25: DHS insists that Americans “share a nation and a Savior.”
Maybe Trump’s team can answer his original question? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
After Trump claimed to care about church-state separation, his team drops the pretense
The week before Christmas, the president asked, “What ever happened to separation of church and state?” It was a question better left to his own team.
www.ms.now
December 29, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Dec. 18: Trump asks, “What ever happened to separation of Church and State?”
Dec. 21: Vance says the U.S. is a “Christian nation.”
Dec. 25: DHS insists that Americans “share a nation and a Savior.”
Maybe Trump’s team can answer his original question? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Dec. 21: Vance says the U.S. is a “Christian nation.”
Dec. 25: DHS insists that Americans “share a nation and a Savior.”
Maybe Trump’s team can answer his original question? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...