Putin Leverages the Iran War in Ukraine; Trump Taps a Real Estate Mogul as New Intel Chief

Putin Leverages the Iran War in Ukraine; Trump Taps a Real Estate Mogul as New Intel Chief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pushing for more U.S. aid after a series of Russian attacks killed more than 20 people and injured more than 100 others. Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko joins from Bucha to explain how the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has given Russian President Vladimir Putin more leverage in Ukraine. Then, National Security and Global Affairs Reporter Dan De Luce explains why President Donald Trump may have tapped Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to be his new acting director of national intelligence despite having no known intelligence experience. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What Lebanon’s Got To Do With Iran’s Stalled Talks; Plus, Graham Platner’s Sexting Scandal

Iranian government-aligned media says Iran is walking away from the negotiating table and considering resuming its full closure of the Strait of Hormuz after exchanging strikes with the U.S. and in protest of Israel’s expanding military offensive in Lebanon. NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel explains the latest in the war — and how Israel’s deepest incursion into Lebanon in decades is making progress more difficult. Then, NBC News Senior National Politics Reporter Jon Allen explains why Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner’s sexting scandal doesn’t seem to be hurting his poll numbers in Maine and how Democrats nationwide are reacting amid their bid to regain control of the Senate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Supreme Court Edition, Trump v. Slaughter, Trump v Cook: Who can POTUS terminate?

In March 2025, President Trump fired FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, telling her in an email that allowing her to remain on the commission would be “inconsistent” with his administration’s priorities. A few months later, he fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, alleging that she’d committed mortgage fraud – an allegation that she denies. But can the president fire employees of independent agencies at will? Host Laura Jarrett speaks with Kannon Shanmugam, head of the Supreme Court & Appellate practice at Davis Polk, which won Seila v. CFPB, a landmark constitutional challenge that ultimately invalidated the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Shanmugam breaks down how he convinced the justices that the CFPB violated the separation of powers – and explains why the court might view the FTC and the Federal Reserve differently. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Former AG Bondi Explains Errors in the Epstein Files; A Conversation with E. Jean Carroll’s Documentarian

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi told the House Oversight Committee that the Justice Department made “redaction errors” in its release of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent Ryan Nobles explains why Oversight is interested in talking to her even after she was fired last month. Then, the Department of Justice has opened a criminal probe into the nonprofit that financed journalist E. Jean Carroll’s civil lawsuits against Donald Trump for sexual abuse and defamation. Documentarian Ivy Meeropol discusses her portrayal of E. Jean in her latest film, “Ask E. Jean,” and talks about what it was like being in the courtroom when she was suing the then-former president. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are Drones the Future of Battle? And How the Iran War Is Impacting Farmers

The Defense Department is investing $1.1 billion to buy hundreds of thousands of drones. NBC News senior technology reporter Jane Lytvynenko explains why the Pentagon is so focused on stimulating domestic drone production right now amid competition from China. Then, NBC News senior White House reporter Peter Nicholas shares what he heard from farmers in Iowa, who are struggling with higher prices for diesel and fertilizer because of the Iran war — and whether it’s changing their feelings about President Donald Trump and the GOP heading into the midterms. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.