If the beleaguered defense secretary isn’t preparing for fierce congressional pushback, he’s not paying close enough attention.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

 

TODAY'S TOP MADDOWBLOG POSTS

Vote on Pete Hegseth’s impeachment is on the way — and it probably won’t be the last

Vote on Pete Hegseth’s impeachment is on the way — and it probably won’t be the last

If the beleaguered defense secretary isn’t preparing for fierce congressional pushback, he’s not paying close enough attention.

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New data shows why Trump should stop talking about Biden-era gas prices

To hear the Republican tell it, at least gas prices are lower under him than his Democratic predecessor. Reality is telling a different story.

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New data shows why Trump should stop talking about Biden-era gas prices

To hear the Republican tell it, at least gas prices are lower under him than his Democratic predecessor. Reality is telling a different story.

MORE

When weaponized justice flops: Cassidy Hutchinson case turns humiliating for Trump’s DOJ

The fact that the case against the former White House aide was pursued at all reflects crisis conditions in federal law enforcement.

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When weaponized justice flops: Cassidy Hutchinson case turns humiliating for Trump’s DOJ

The fact that the case against the former White House aide was pursued at all reflects crisis conditions in federal law enforcement.

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Eight months into the conflict, the U.S. war with Iran gets a revised price tag

According to the Pentagon’s latest estimate, the cost of the war rose to $47.1 billion, while the actual number is significantly larger.

MORE

Eight months into the conflict, the U.S. war with Iran gets a revised price tag

According to the Pentagon’s latest estimate, the cost of the war rose to $47.1 billion, while the actual number is significantly larger.

MORE
 

MORE FROM THE MADDOWBLOG

  • Asked if he’ll respect the will of American voters, Trump gives a Trumpian answer
  • In court testimony, FBI agent sheds new light on the White House’s control over the bureau

  • Marco Rubio becomes the latest Cabinet official to brush off ethics limits, hit the campaign trail
  • Wednesday’s Campaign Round-Up, 10.28.26: Poll shows tied race in South Carolina
 

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

  • "On Oct. 21, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen, was tackled by federal agents as he walked to school, which called 911 after he managed to reach campus. He was treated for injuries at a local hospital. His arms were bandaged and his face appeared bruised and swollen..."
    (New York Times)

  • "If DOJ or ICE agents show up claiming emergency powers, election officials should say that none of their instructions will be obeyed without a court order signed by a judge. The “administrative warrants” issued by Homeland Security are not sufficient."
    (New York Times)

  • When Trump says he doesn't "give a damn" about high gas prices because "we're making a fortune" -- he means it literally:

    "In 2026, over 94% of his oil and gas stock purchases occurred after Trump started his war in Iran. In total, from March 2026 through August 2026, Trump purchased as much as $17.5 million of oil and gas stocks."

    (Rachel shares Senate Joint Economic Committee)

  • ICE Is Running One of the Largest Anti-Left Surveillance Operations in US History — ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations is engaged in far-reaching spying against left-wing activists that rivals the FBI and CIA crackdowns on the Civil Rights and anti-war movements.
    (Wired)

  • "so priceless that prolific ratfucker James O'Keefe, by going undercover to prove how easy it is to commit voter fraud....


    ends up proving how hard it is to commit voter fraud, and then catches charges for unlawful voting


    chef's kiss, stellar work all around"


    Conservative influencers face identity theft charges over Minnesota primary — Cam Higby and James O’Keefe disguised themselves and used hidden cameras to try and expose voter fraud in Minnesota’s primary.
    (Christopher Mathias shares the Minnesota Star Tribune)

  • "Local election officials in Mississippi have made changes to 138 polling places since the 2024 election, including moving the location for 112 precincts, closing 21 precincts and opening five new precincts.

    Statewide, there are now 16 fewer precincts than there were two years ago."
    (Mississippi Free Press)

  • "Abbott’s office also invoked a privacy exception for information it described as “intimate and embarrassing.”"

    Gina Hinojosa wins court order to review Abbott-Musk emails, Gov. Abbott appeals
    (Houston Public Media)

  • Nearly 3,000 voters in key Georgia county haven’t received mail ballots with time running out, lawsuit alleges
    (Democracy Docket)

  • Here Are the U.S. Attorneys Who Are Carrying Out Trump’s Grievance Agenda — Together, they have pursued cases against the president’s enemies and protesters and amplified false claims of widespread election fraud, often citing thin evidence.
    (New York Times)

  • "A US judge ruled on Tuesday that Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in southern California, was “unlawfully serving” as the head of the US attorney’s office and was disqualified from overseeing two criminal prosecutions."
    (The Guardian)

  • Judge berates DOJ attorney in court over new charge filed against former FBI officials — The judge tossed a new obstruction charge against Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides and told the Justice Department attorney that “everything is a sideshow on top of a sideshow” in this case.
    (NBC News)

  • "The Trump administration is exploring a new concession to Russia: lifting sanctions on the country’s flagship government investment fund, long viewed by U.S. officials as one of the Kremlin’s most powerful tools of international influence."
    (New York Times)

  • Trump and Epstein’s intrasexual competition
    (Julie K. Brown's substack)

  • "A Republican candidate running to unseat a Democratic incumbent in the state Legislature is facing charges for exposing himself to a child walking to her bus stop earlier this month."
    (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Follow Rachel on Bluesky here.

 

Members who caught Rachel's Monday Q&A this week probably saw the writing on the wall (Rachel's protestations to the contrary) that she wasn't going to be in TV-making shape by 9pm.

 

But! The extra rest for Rachel will be worth it. We have a special show this Sunday, then regular Maddow Monday, then special election coverage Tuesday, and then special post-election coverage on Wednesday. So a Maddow marathon in the offing.

 

Submit questions for next week's here.

 

And the way to ask your question live on video is through this form.

 

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