State of Play with Peter Alexander

October 12, 2026; 11:00 a.m. ET: President Trump's DOJ sent federal agents to raid the Washington, DC home of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) early this morning. MS NOW reporters bring us the latest developments from outside Omar's home. Plus, President Trump is escalating his attacks on the free press by having the Justice Department investigate major TV networks over their decision to briefly suspend press pool coverage of him. Former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara joins Peter Alexander to discuss how damaging these attacks are to Americans' faith in the justice system. John Bolton, a former Trump White House National Security Advisor, unpacks Trump's new deal with Russia to release 300,000 tons of diesel. DNC Chairman Ken Martin sits down with Peter to talk about midterms with just three weeks until election day. Plus, Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico speaks to MS NOW amid right-wing conspiracies about his absence from the campaign trail due to the flu.

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October 9, 2026; 11:00 a.m. ET: Peter Alexander takes a look at critical debates last night in key battleground states — Maine, Michigan, and Georgia. Plus, MS NOW reporter, Marc Santia, brings us live updates from the scene of the latest shooting by ICE agents. The top Oversight Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia, joins Peter to unpack the Trump administration's new push to oust Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, yet again. Plus, the latest installment in MS NOW's "POTUS Promise Check" series. MS NOW reporter Alex Tabet checks in with Ohio voters to see if they think President Trump has lived up to his promise to make America a manufacturing nation. An in-depth look at the First Amendment amid repeated attempts from the White House to restrict media access from its grounds. NBC News senior correspondent, Tom Costello, shares a look at his new documentary, "The First," airing on PBS. And a tribute to the hall of fame NFL coach and player, Mike Ditka, who died at the age of 86 today.

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Oct. 8, 2026: With just 26 days until the midterms, President Trump visits Texas for the fourth time. Co-host of MS NOW's The Weeknight Symone Sanders Townsend and former Chief of Staff to VP Mike Pence join to discuss the upcoming races. Plus, Peter sits down with the Trump donor accusing Kimberly Guilfoyle of seeking $100,000 and offering access to top administration officials in return. And The Atlantic is reporting the president is weighing new strikes on Iran before the midterms. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) joins to discuss the possibility of renewed strikes and the latest on the midterms. MS NOW, CNN and Politico are back in court today to fight the White House press ban. Plus, MS NOW Pentagon Reporter Priya Sridhar joins State of Play from the Southern California port the USS Lincoln will be returning home to today.

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October 7, 2026; 11:00 a.m. ET: Peter Alexander asks Senator Thom Tillis about the "big surprises" President Trump is promising in the weeks leading up to the midterm election. Plus, Dan Osborn lays out his potential path to victory as an Independent candidate running an ascending campaign in deep-red Nebraska. Also, Stephanie Ruhle tackles the big political stories less than a month from the midterms and gives us a preview of her exciting new book.

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Oct. 6, 2026: Peter Alexander discusses the President’s comments during a Nebraska campaign event last night, which have sparked outrage among lawmakers. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass weighs-in, along with a panel of political experts. Former Special Assistant to President Obama, Norm Eisen, joins Peter Alexander to talk about President Trump’s reversal, saying he will stop using taxpayer money for his own TV ads. And Trump voters in Michigan have buyer’s remorse. Their opinions take center stage in a focus group led by MS NOW Political Analyst Elise Jordan. Plus, thousands of Cornell students demand answers and accountability over the university’s handling of a rape investigation. New York Times’ Emma Goldberg brings us the latest.

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Oct. 5, 2026: President Trump returns to his red-state tour today, campaigning in Nebraska with just one month to go until the midterms. Former Republican Ohio Governor John Kasich and MS NOW political analyst Alex Wagner join Peter to discuss the midterms and the president’s latest campaign push. Plus, the U.S. military pulls its B-1 bombers from a U.K. base following an alleged threat. Former CIA Director John Brennan sits down with Peter to discuss. The Supreme Court begins a new term today, with warnings coming from inside the court about its future. And Democrats are eyeing the Senate race in Mississippi. Democratic candidate Scott Colom joins State of Play to talk about his race against Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS). MS NOW reporter Kevin Frey talks about his exclusive interview with Michigan’s Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

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Oct. 2, 2026: Peter Alexander discusses MS NOW’s exclusively obtained “Patel Report” – an internal memo from the FBI to probe past investigations. MS NOW co-host of "The Weeknight" Michael Steele joins Peter to discuss the President’s latest approval rating just ahead of midterms. Plus, New York Attorney General Letitia James is now leading the investigation into disturbing sexual assault allegations from Cornell University. A former federal prosecutor talks about next steps and what went wrong two years ago when this alleged incident was reported. MS NOW reporter Alex Tabet brings viewers a reality check from Trump voters in Alaska after months of sticker shock. And today marks the last jobs report release before the November midterms. Economics professor Justin Wolfers joins Peter to put the latest numbers through the fact-checker. Plus, organizers call a dinner between President Trump and the top buyers of his crypto coin, the "most exclusive dinner in the world." But Trump critics are calling it corruption. Peter digs into that dinner with a newspaper editor tracking how the President has been making money while in office.

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October 1, 2026; 11:00 a.m. ET: Peter Alexander previews a critical campaign trip for President Trump in Texas where his hand-picked candidate Ken Paxton has been unable to separate from Democrat James Talarico in the polls. Plus, Congressman James Walkinshaw highlights Democrats' concerns with the president's actions and priorities as fellow members of the Oversight Committee make a plan of action for potential investigations. Also, a retired U.S. Army Colonel who attended a protest against the Trump Arch details the growing frustration with the project among the military community. 

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September 30, 2026; 11:00 a.m. ET: Peter Alexander sits down with Senator Amy Klobuchar to talk through the moment at Tuesday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that put her colleague Senator Eric Schmitt on defense. Plus, District Attorney  Matthew Van Houten delivers the latest details on the renewed investigation into a 2024 rape allegation on the Cornell University campus. Also, New York Congressman Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reacts to the Mideast flight diversion after a stunning altercation inside the plane.

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Sept. 29, 2026: Peter Alexander and the panel react as former Special Counsel Jack Smith faces questioning from the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning.

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