

Velshi
MS NOW, Ali Velshi
Ali Velshi brings his sharp analysis and perspective to weekend mornings.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 30, 2025 • 41min
Firing Spree
The tightening of Donald Trump's authoritarian grip on power is in evidence this week in a series of legally dubious firings of top officials. We'll talk about the state of these standoffs and the one guardrail that will be hardest for Trump to break past; Dr Jennifer Layden, one of the top officials that resigned in protest from the CDC this week, speaks out about how the recent chaos at the agency will endanger public health; and this week’s Velshi Banned Book Club meeting features “Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier.
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Aug 30, 2025 • 41min
Where is the Democratic Party?
With the Republican Party simply being a vessel for Trump and his authoritarian inclinations, it’s more important now than ever that the Democratic Party rise up and defend our democracy. But whether its national leadership is unwilling, or simply unable, to do so, they are largely not meeting this moment; the chaos unfolding at the CDC is a flashing red warning about the politicization of public health in America. But there is a critical lesson we can learn from recent history; and as the war in Gaza reaches day 694, Israel has now begun the initial stages of its operation to take control of Gaza City and more than 500,000 Palestinians are experiencing famine.
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Aug 30, 2025 • 41min
Line of Fire
The tightening of Donald Trump's authoritarian grip on power is in evidence this week in a series of legally dubious firings of top officials. We'll talk about the state of these standoffs and the one guardrail that will be hardest for Trump to break past; Dr Jennifer Layden, one of the top officials that resigned in protest from the CDC this week, speaks out about how the recent chaos at the agency will endanger public health; we’ll look at President Trump's record on violent crime as he threatens to deploy National Guard troops to the streets of an unwilling Chicago.
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Aug 24, 2025 • 41min
A former Tea Party Republican says he’s ready to drag Democrats, “kicking and screaming, to meet this moment” and defeat Donald Trump
Tea Party Republican turned Never-Trumper turned Democrat Joe Walsh on his plan to shape his new party into an opposition party capable of stopping Donald Trump’s authoritarian rise; former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband on finding the political will in the Western world to fight unfolding famines in Gaza and Sudan, and Jared Bernstein on what could happen if the Trump administration brings "alternative facts” to economic data collection.
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Aug 24, 2025 • 42min
Can Democrats become the opposition party America needs?
What it’ll take for the Democratic Party to effectively challenge Donald Trump’s authoritarian rise, Lydia Polgreen on why Gaza has become the deadliest war for journalists in modern history, and the story of the ready-made indoctrination program the Trump administration is eyeing after defunding PBS.
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Aug 24, 2025 • 39min
The Trump democracy crisis is here
A crucial survey of how far down the authoritarian slide Trump has already taken the country, the real takeaway from the Ghislaine Maxwell interview tapes, and lessons in standing up for your neighbors against ICE.
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Aug 23, 2025 • 41min
The FBI’s Search of John Bolton & The Presidency That Promised Retribution
How the FBI’s search of John Bolton’s home fits into the context of a President who promised retribution; Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California discusses Democrats’ redistricting strategy in California; the myth of trickle down economics and how the American economy is working against working people
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Aug 23, 2025 • 41min
Redistricting And The Fight For Democracy
Democratic Representatives Pete Aguilar of California and Lloyd Doggett of Texas discuss Democrats redistricting plans in the face of the GOP’s extreme partisan gerrymandering efforts; how President Trump is not a peacemaker, despite his insistence he has ended at least 7 wars; Aiden Thomas’ “Cemetery Boys” is the subject of this week’s Velshi Banned Book Club
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Aug 23, 2025 • 41min
Another Trump Critic Faces Investigation by DOJ
How the FBI’s search of John Bolton’s home fits into the context of a President who promised retribution; member of the House Oversight Committee Rep. Summer Lee discusses what we have learned, and what we didn’t, from the government’s release of the transcripts from Ghislane Maxwell’s interview with the DOJ; how Trump’s new review of the Smithsonian and comments about slavery are more than a whitewash of America’s original sin…it’s a hallmark of an authoritarian regime
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Aug 17, 2025 • 41min
European Allies Join Zelenskyy in DC
Former President of Estonia weighs in on how Monday’s meeting between President Trump and President Zelenskyy has grown in size and stakes; Bishop William Barber describes exactly why Trump’s criminalization of the homeless is so heartless, and so dangerous; Michael M. Grynbaum dishes on the changing landscape of modern media in America.
To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW 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.


