The Briefing with Jen Psaki

Moses Small, field reporter on naval recovery logistics in San Diego; Josh Einiger, on-site at Johnson Space Center with technical splashdown context; Ali Velshi, television journalist explaining spaceflight coverage. They discuss Artemis II splashdown choreography and recovery hurdles. The conversation also shifts to U.S.-Iran negotiations, JD Vance’s Pakistan trip, and the geopolitical and economic stakes.

Robert Garcia, U.S. Representative and House Oversight Democrat, discusses withheld Epstein files and calls for answers. John Kerry, former Secretary of State, analyzes U.S.-Iran relations, credibility gaps, and diplomacy failures. They tackle Melania Trump’s unexpected denial linked to Epstein evidence and broader political and foreign policy implications.

David Remnick, New Yorker editor and longtime political journalist, and Senator Mark Kelly, former Navy pilot, astronaut, and U.S. senator, weigh in. They tackle Trump’s Iran ceasefire claims, shifting deadlines, damaged alliances, legal and military risks, and the political fallout at home. Short, sharp takes on strategy, credibility, and national security.

David Remnick, New Yorker editor and reporter on U.S.-Iran policy; Wes Moore, Maryland governor and former Army officer; Mark Kelly, Arizona senator and ex-NASA astronaut. They dissect Trump’s sudden ceasefire pause, the negotiated Strait of Hormuz arrangements, shifting deadlines and costs to U.S. credibility and alliances. Tense political fallout and questions about military and moral leadership arise.

Madeleine Dean, U.S. Congresswoman from Pennsylvania known for her work on justice and oversight, discusses presidential pardons and proposed limits on clemency. She examines concerns about mass pardons as corruption, critiques the political use of fraud narratives, and highlights constitutional and oversight implications. Multiple short takes probe legal and political stakes without offering policy prescriptions.

Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Senator focused on foreign relations and fiscal impacts; Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor and Iran analyst; Joe Neguse, Colorado representative on judiciary matters; Ro Khanna, California representative on oversight. They discuss the fallout from released Epstein files, accountability at the Justice Department, US strikes and risks to civilian infrastructure in Iran, and Congress’s role in oversight and confirmations.

Eric Swalwell, U.S. congressman and gubernatorial candidate, and Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia and foreign policy scholar, join for sharp political analysis. They unpack a judge halting Trump's White House ballroom plan. They also dig into U.S. strategy on Iran, allies denying military access, and how these moves ripple through global diplomacy and domestic politics.

John Kirby, retired Navy rear admiral and defense communications advisor, offers military and logistics perspective. John Brennan, former CIA director, provides intelligence and national security analysis. They discuss warnings about Iran’s likely responses, munitions depletion and troop deployments, risks of escalation and troubling political messaging. Short, focused conversation on the unfolding Iran crisis and its wider implications.

Norm Eisen, former White House ethics official, warns about extensive corruption. Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey governor and ex-Navy pilot, discusses TSA chaos and rising energy costs. Jeffrey Goldberg, national security journalist, analyzes presidential decision-making and the risks of an open-ended Iran conflict. They dig into policy, practical fallout, and how choices play out on the ground.

Ro Khanna, U.S. Representative and Oversight Committee member who is probing Epstein-related depositions, joins the conversation. He discusses contradictions in estate testimony and congressional probes into settlements. Short takes cover reporting on Trump's Iran briefings, a classified Pentagon briefing that alarmed lawmakers, and concerns that key war details are being missed.