The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

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.
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Episode's summary

This episode examines the shifting political landscape as Election Day approaches, noting declining approval ratings for Donald Trump and rising momentum for Democrats. Through interviews with candidates like Josh Turek in Iowa and Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, the discussion highlights voter dissatisfaction driven by economic struggles, healthcare issues, and political corruption. The program also covers international developments, including negotiations between Oman and Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz, and domestic legal tensions involving a contempt vote for Dr. Anthony Fauci. The episode concludes by analyzing how rising living costs are shifting public opinion and the potential weaponization of the Justice Department.

Chapters

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Highlights

Today, 69% approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president, down from 84% in February 2025. That is a 15-point drop.

00:02:30 · The speaker highlights a significant decline in support among Republican-leaning voters.

We have basically hit the bottom economically. We're one of three states seeing our economy contract, basically dead last for every single healthcare metric.

00:08:24 · Iowa Democratic candidate Josh Turek describes the dire economic and healthcare situation in his state.

The affordability crisis that we are facing is still very real. It's been the number one topic that's come up throughout this campaign.

00:12:57 · Keisha Lance Bottoms identifies rising living costs as a primary concern for Georgia voters.

There are people all over the world who keep track of how many missiles the United States buys, how many it stockpiles, and how many it fires.

00:25:26 · Tom Nichols explains that the depletion of U.S. munitions can be verified through open-source intelligence.

the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, quote, behind bars, unquote.

00:36:28 · Dr. Fauci expresses his belief that the investigation is a politically motivated attempt by Senator Rand Paul to prosecute him.

Episodes

2094-

Democrats see midterm momentum as Trump approval tanks

This episode examines the shifting political landscape as Election Day approaches, noting declining approval ratings for Donald Trump and rising momentum for Democrats. Through interviews with candidates like Josh Turek in Iowa and Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, the discussion highlights voter dissatisfaction driven by economic struggles, healthcare issues, and political corruption. The program also covers international developments, including negotiations between Oman and Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz, and domestic legal tensions involving a contempt vote for Dr. Anthony Fauci. The episode concludes by analyzing how rising living costs are shifting public opinion and the potential weaponization of the Justice Department.

Fri, 7 Aug 2026 03:27:45 +0000
2093-

Lawrence: The mystery of what Trump’s agents were doing in Michigan may make sense on Election Day

This episode covers reports of unidentified federal officials monitoring polling places in Michigan, featuring an interview with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on election integrity and her gubernatorial campaign. The discussion also includes California Attorney General Rob Bonta on legal challenges to Trump's tariffs and antitrust issues, alongside news regarding tensions between Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth over munitions shortages. Additionally, retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling discusses the depletion of critical U.S. missile systems due to high demand in regional conflicts. The episode concludes with historian David Blight discussing political attacks on the Smithsonian Institution and the broader implications for historical integrity and democratic culture.

Thu, 6 Aug 2026 04:08:30 +0000
2092-

Lawrence: Caving to Trump, Tillis & Cornyn prove once a senator, always a senator

This episode examines the intersection of political ethics and legal developments, beginning with the political surrender of Senators Cornyn and Tillis regarding Todd Blanche's confirmation and the growing trend of former senators transitioning into lobbying. The discussion further explores allegations of unethical 'slush funds' and tax amnesties involving the Trump family. The episode also covers significant legal and military concerns, including the absence of DOJ involvement in Florida litigation and potential prosecutorial misconduct. Additionally, Admiral John Kirby discusses the instability of U.S. policy toward Iran and the toll of long deployments on naval personnel, followed by an interview with Dr. Amy Acton regarding healthcare costs and medical debt in the Ohio gubernatorial race.

Tue, 4 Aug 2026 03:43:59 +0000
2091-

TRUMP’S TERRIBLE WEEK: 72% disapprove of Trump’s handling of his Iran war

This episode examines the various political and social challenges facing the Trump administration, ranging from stalled judicial nominations and escalating tensions in the Iran war to concerns over cyber attacks on US infrastructure. Democratic lawmakers Greg Stanton and Brendan Boyle critique the President's leadership, citing economic instability and a lack of transparency regarding foreign policy. The discussion further explores Republican-led efforts to alter voting access in North Carolina, the legal controversies surrounding the anti-weaponization fund, and the impact of healthcare policy changes on uninsured rates. The episode concludes with an analysis of how trust in scientific information, particularly regarding vaccines, is increasingly becoming an ideological position.

Sat, 1 Aug 2026 03:23:59 +0000
2090-

Lawrence: Trump cares more about his slush fund & tax amnesty than Blanche’s confirmation

This episode examines the political tension surrounding Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General, focusing on controversial settlement documents involving a 'weaponization fund' and tax amnesty provisions. The discussion highlights opposition from Senators John Cornyn and Tom Tillis, as well as concerns raised by Epstein survivors regarding the implications of his confirmation. The program also covers the escalating conflict in Iran and an analysis of Donald Trump's war strategy. Finally, it investigates the controversial pardons granted to D.C. police officers involved in a fatal pursuit, exploring the impact on law enforcement accountability and the deviation from traditional presidential pardon procedures.

31 Jul 2026