Advertise on podcast: State of Play with Peter Alexander

October 22, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander examines how inflammatory midterm politics, potential Iran strike planning, DOJ independence concerns, Elon Musk oversight threats and USPS ballot delays are shaping the final stretch before Election Day. Guests assess whether political fear, corruption and institutional pressure are becoming defining issues of the midterms. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 21, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander examines Trump’s posture toward Vladimir Putin, Elon Musk’s power over Starlink in Ukraine, and concerns over pardon politics, election interference, press access and midterm campaigning. Guests assess how private influence, presidential power and political pressure are shaping U.S. security, democracy and accountability. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 20, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander breaks down midterm crunch time as President Trump rallies in red districts, voters focus on affordability and corruption, and key Senate races tighten in Kansas, Montana, Texas, North Carolina and Florida. Guests examine Republican dissent, Ukraine negotiations and former FBI employees’ lawsuit alleging unlawful dismissals. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 19, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander covers President Trump’s Russia and Ukraine policy, Latino voter reaction to immigration enforcement in Arizona, and Democrats’ midterm strategy with Madeline Dean and Andy Beshear. The key takeaway is that foreign policy, immigration, election security, and economic pressure are converging as major midterm liabilities. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 16, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander covers the deadly Bend, Oregon school shooting, Trump’s posture toward Vladimir Putin and Ukraine with Leon Panetta, and Elon Musk’s massive midterm spending. The episode also tracks Michigan and Texas Senate dynamics, White House turmoil, and warnings about election distrust. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 15, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander covers President Trump canceling a planned livestream of the Fort Hood attacker’s execution, DOJ threats against California election officials, Ukraine’s concerns over Starlink and Starshield access, and the Pentagon’s move involving Stars and Stripes. The episode also examines Montana’s Senate race, AOC campaigning with Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, and Iowa voters’ frustration with both parties. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 13, 2026; 11:00 a.m. ET: Peter Alexander and his panel use their depth of experience in White House briefings to review the first public appearance by new Press Secretary Katie Zacharia and her breaking news that Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle had been asked to resign. Plus, President Trump tries to bail out struggling Republican senators as his hand-picked candidate in Texas faces more scrutiny. Also, the former Montana Democratic party chair explains why she stepped down amid frustration over a critical three-candidate race in her state. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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). Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.  Sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts to listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.