The Best People with Nicolle Wallace
MS NOW, Nicolle Wallace
Who are The Best People? They’re the most magnetic and engaging people in the room; the ones who know how to get that extra something out of every collaboration, connection, and endeavor. These people are the best at what they do and know how to bring out the best in others. Now, in an era of social and political upheaval, The Best People share lessons that we can all use. Listen as Nicolle Wallace seeks varied perspectives on how to keep reaching for truth, decency, and connection.
Episodes
Mentioned books
14 snips
May 11, 2026 • 56min
Chris Hayes Makes His Curiosity the Antidote to Anxiety
Chris Hayes, journalist and author known for political analysis and his podcasts, uses curiosity to confront anxiety. He explores how politics shifted in a low-trust democracy, how media and algorithms reshape attention, and what deeper questions AI raises about power, regulation, and what makes us human.
May 5, 2026 • 1min
Introducing WITHpod: The AI End Game
A new miniseries unpacks what AI really is and why it matters. Conversations probe how economic incentives are driving rapid adoption and what that means for work and labor. The series raises big questions about how AI might reshape thought, identity, and daily life.
16 snips
May 4, 2026 • 54min
Sarah Longwell Knows the Cheat Code to Politics
Sarah Longwell, GOP strategist, pollster, and publisher of The Bulwark, runs voter focus groups to bridge political divides. She explains why listening to everyday voters is the political cheat code. Short takes cover how Trump's coalition was built and is fraying, how war and tariffs bite at approval, and how Democrats might speak to troubled voters to rebuild trust.
18 snips
Apr 27, 2026 • 52min
Gov. Mikie Sherrill Runs New Jersey Like a Busy Mom
Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey governor, retired Navy helicopter pilot and former prosecutor, brings fast, practical public service. She talks about being underestimated, converting Trump voters with practical policy, using executive actions for quick wins, protecting state power when federal institutions fail, and governing with the urgency of a working mom.
10 snips
Apr 20, 2026 • 56min
Sherrilyn Ifill on Rebuilding Post-Trump: " It's Gotta Come Down to the Studs”
Sherrilyn Ifill, civil rights attorney and former head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund turned law professor, calls for a cultural reset and deep institutional rebuilding. She discusses how racism and wealth obsession shaped Trump’s appeal. She examines the voter-fraud myth, a conservative-leaning Supreme Court, and why recommitting to civic duties and professional ethics matters for democracy.
40 snips
Apr 13, 2026 • 55min
Kara Swisher on Death and Doritos
Kara Swisher, sharp tech journalist and podcaster known for no-nonsense takes, joins to explore longevity, tech and media. She discusses tech leaders chasing immortality, scientific advances shaping healthspan, and the politics that threaten research. Conversation also covers media consolidation, community’s role in wellbeing, and candid reflections on mortality.
Apr 6, 2026 • 40min
Best of the Best: Yes, Robert De Niro is Talking to You
Robert De Niro, Academy Award–winning actor and film legend, talks civic engagement and political resistance. He urges mass mobilization, criticizes leaders who enable authoritarianism, and stresses protecting election integrity. He also confronts misinformation, the optics of capitulation by powerful figures, and the need for courage and accountability in defense of democracy.
21 snips
Mar 30, 2026 • 49min
Alex Wagner: Trump’s MAGA Base is "Mad at Daddy"
Alex Wagner, journalist and host of Runaway Country, brings frontline reporting on militias, Jan. 6 and political life. She explores why parts of MAGA feel betrayed by Trump. She recounts embedding with militias, criticizes sanitizing crude rhetoric, and condemns the White House’s gamified war imagery.
20 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 51min
Julie K. Brown Continues to Break Open the Epstein Story
Julie's K. Brown, the investigative reporter whose Miami Herald work reopened the Jeffrey Epstein saga, reflects on relentless document work and why the story still matters. She discusses how Epstein manipulated powerful people. She highlights class dynamics in victim selection. She describes new leads from millions of released pages and what questions remain.
12 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 55min
Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling Knows Leadership… And When It’s Lacking
Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, retired 38-year Army leader and author of If I Don't Return, shares wartime journals and hard-earned lessons. He recounts a 50% casualty briefing, moral injury from close combat, why people join the military, and what real leadership and presidential responsibility should look like. He also warns about rushed decisions, the need for curiosity and diversity, and when leaders must refuse unlawful orders.
