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Steve Benen

@stevebenen.com

65K followers 165 following 2.8K posts

Rachel Maddow Show producer, MaddowBlog author, MS NOW contributor, and author of Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past

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Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 13h

Remember when Trump insisted that the Fed renovations were illegal? And sicced the DOJ on Jerome Powell? First, a federal judge said this was nonsense — and then an inspector general investigation came to the same conclusion. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Inspector general investigation discredits Trump’s claims about Federal Reserve renovations

The findings concluded that investigators “did not identify administrative misconduct” or any “reasonable grounds” to think a crime had occurred.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 14h

After Trump used taxpayer money to air one of his literal campaign ads, FCC Chair Brendan Carr shrugged off the scandal, saying the propaganda was just a “normal PSA.” It’s ridiculous to the point of being insulting. It’s as if these guys think Americans are idiots. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

FCC’s Carr brushes off concerns about Trump’s taxpayer-paid election ads

To see literal campaign propaganda as “normal PSAs” is obviously preposterous — except to Trump’s FCC chair.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 15h

The Democrats’ midterm message: Republicans are offering more of the same. Speaker Mike Johnson’s midterm message: Yep, pretty much. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Democrats and Speaker Johnson agree: Republicans are offering voters more of the same

“What we would do in the next two years is exactly what we have been doing already,” the Louisiana Republican said, doing the GOP no favors.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 18h

Was it funny to see the new White House AI chatbot, on its first day of operations, presenting the public with facts that completely contradicted Trump’s alternate reality and brazen lies? Actually, yes, it was. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

On its first day, the White House’s new AI chatbot causes embarrassing troubles for Trump

America.gov, which the president described as “damn good,” presented the public with facts that were wholly at odds with Trump’s alternate reality.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 21h

Sept 29, 2015: Then-Rep. Jason Chaffetz hatches a “gotcha” plot against then-Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, humiliates himself, quickly moves on Sept 29, 2026: Eric Schmitt hatches a “gotcha” plot against Jack Smith, humiliates himself, and doubles down www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

GOP’s Eric Schmitt keeps digging after falling into a ditch of his own making

There was a time when a senator in this situation would simply fess up and express some regret. The Missouri Republican chose a different path.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 29/09/2026

The last 2 weeks at FBI HQ: - deputy director resigns in frustration - veteran FBI counterterrorism supervisors demoted - massive data hack - Patel snubs FBI’s Canadian counterpart - Patel struggles to explain lower professional standards - Trump attacks FBI’s Butler probe www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

As another deputy director resigns, Kash Patel’s FBI confronts even more chaos

The FBI will hopefully someday become a normal law enforcement institution again. That day, however, is not close.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 29/09/2026

Dec 2025: Republicans summon Jack Smith to Capitol Hill, embarrass themselves Jan 2026: Republicans summon Jack Smith to Capitol Hill, embarrass themselves Sept 2026: Republicans summon Jack Smith to Capitol Hill, embarrass themselves The pattern isn’t exactly subtle www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Republicans are slow to learn a simple lesson: They can’t get the better of Jack Smith

Three times, Republicans have summoned the former special counsel to Capitol Hill. Each time, they have left humiliated.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 29/09/2026

Republican election deniers had such high hopes for the Justice Department’s “grand conspiracy” investigation. But as its top prosecutors resign, the absurd crusade appears to be falling apart. It won’t be missed. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Justice Department’s ‘grand conspiracy’ investigation loses another key prosecutor

The administration’s sprawling inquiry into Donald Trump’s election conspiracy theories appears to be falling apart quickly.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 28/09/2026

Sept 20: Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) said she’d spoken to Trump, who was “very receptive” to her concerns about mass deportations Sept 26: Trump turns on Salazar with a vengeance, suggests she might need to be replaced on the ballot www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Maria Elvira Salazar initially avoided Trump’s wrath. Then he turned on her.

On Sept. 20, Salazar said she’d spoken to the president, and he was “very receptive” to her concerns. A week later, he went after her with a vengeance.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 28/09/2026

What does JD Vance’s anti-fraud task force have in common with Musk’s DOGE gambit? Both created online resources, ostensibly to show their purported successes, only to see their claims unravel under scrutiny. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

The embarrassing thing Vance’s fraud task force has in common with Musk’s DOGE gambit

Both initiatives created online resources that invited scrutiny. Both were unprepared for what happened next.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 28/09/2026

George W. Bush’s former ethics lawyer said the Trump White House’s taxpayer-financed election propaganda ads could “an impeachable offense.” Given the circumstances, that’s hardly unreasonable. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Trump’s new taxpayer-funded propaganda recycles 2024 campaign ad, despite legal limits

A former White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush said the use of public money for the campaign ads could “an impeachable offense.”

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 25/09/2026

Sept 2024: Trump promises, “We’re going to bring [mortgage rates] down very fast. ... We will drive down the rates, so you will be able to pay 2% again.” Sept 2026: Trump’s war pushes mortgage rates to 7% as he stops talking about the issue. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Mortgage rates reach 7%, despite Trump’s misguided 2024 campaign promises

Until fairly recently, the president wanted the public to see him as directly responsible for mortgage rates. I think we know why he changed course.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 25/09/2026

It’s fundamentally unhealthy for an authoritarian president to falsely, casually, and frequently accuse assorted political foes of “treason” — a word Trump apparently defines in a deeply twisted way. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Trump is the president who cried ‘treason‘

You’ve heard of the boy who cried “wolf”? I’d like to introduce you to the president who cried “treason.”

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 25/09/2026

As the White House tries to play people for fools, claiming Trump’s new taxpayer-financed propaganda ad is a “public service announcement,” Dems are taking a hard line: “This is the sort of government propaganda one might expect in North Korea,” they said, calling the ad “utterly illegal.”

White House pretends its taxpayer-financed propaganda is a ‘public service announcement’

Key congressional Democrats called the pro-Trump ad “an egregious and utterly illegal misuse of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars.”

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 24/09/2026

Some controversies are complex, but this one’s easy: It is illegal for the federal government to use public funds for “propaganda purposes.” Worried about the midterms, Team Trump simply decided not to care. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Team Trump ignores legal limits, airs taxpayer-financed propagandistic ad

It is illegal to use public funds for “propaganda purposes.” Worried about the midterms, the Trump administration apparently decided not to care.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 24/09/2026

Trump’s decision to host a G20 summit at a business he personally owns is a real problem. Rewarding Putin with an invitation to the summit makes the problem so much worse. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Trump keeps finding new ways to give Putin unearned rewards, inviting backlash

The president’s decision to host a G20 summit a Trump-owned business is a problem. Inviting the Russian leader makes the problem worse.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 23/09/2026

With six weeks to go before Alabama’s gubernatorial election, Tommy Tuberville has a closing message: It has nothing to do with the affordability crisis or the war in Iran, and everything to do with “bringing back mental institutions” and fearing furries who fly airplanes www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Alabama’s Tuberville worries aloud about airline personnel joining ‘the furry community’

In the closing weeks of his campaign, the senator is focused on “bringing back mental institutions” and fearing furries who fly airplanes.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 23/09/2026

The administration’s proposed ban on diesel exports in a nutshell: Trump blurted out a policy position he didn’t really understand, only to be contradicted less than a day later by his own energy secretary, who was probably right about a ban backfiring on consumers. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Team Trump can’t keep its story straight on a proposed ban on ‌diesel exports

The president blurted out a policy position he likely didn’t understand, only to be contradicted a day later by one of his Cabinet secretaries.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 23/09/2026

When making a list of Trump’s dumbest foreign policy fiascoes, keep his Greenland “deal” in mind. He - made guarantees that he failed to deliver - did dramatic harm to US relations with long-standing treaty allies - & secured an agreement that delivered what he already had www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Trump got a Greenland deal, but it’s not the one he set out to get

When making a list of the incumbent president’s biggest foreign policy fiascoes, this one will rank near the top.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 23/09/2026

Dear Mike Rogers, you’re also a failed candidate who lost in Michigan. It’s “interesting” that you’ve been brought in, too.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 22/09/2026

Whether this was intentional or not, Trump sketched out a position on Venezuelan oil today that made the United States sound less like a global superpower and more like pirates. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

‘To the victor belong the spoils’: In U.N. address, Trump brags about seizing Venezuelan oil

The president sketched out a position that made the U.S. sound less like a global superpower and more like pirates.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 22/09/2026

A week after asking voters to give Republicans “another chance,” JD Vance tweaked his pitch, insisting his party simply needs “more time.” The message is rooted in the idea that if voters stick with the status quo for a while longer, a failed agenda will somehow start working. It won’t.

JD Vance pleads with voters to give Republicans ‘more time’

The vice president’s message is rooted in the idea that if voters stick with the status quo for a while longer, a failing agenda will somehow start working.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 22/09/2026

Trump’s press ban? “National security.” His arch? “National security.” Why gut wind energy? “National security.” Justify tariffs? “National security.” Wants Greenland? “National security.” Ignore Endangered Species Act? “National security.” The pattern is not subtle. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

For Trump, ‘national security’ remains the answer to every question

“When you look under the hood, they’re fake national security emergencies,” one scholar explained. “This is a power grab.”

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 21/09/2026

Trump’s allies have had a few days to come up with compelling defenses for the policy he described as “the ban on the free press.” At least so far, they’ve come up with a handful of talking points, each of which was pitiful in its own pathetic way. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Republicans try (and fail) to defend Trump’s ban on MS NOW, CNN and Politico journalists

This is an important test, not just for the president and the free press, but also for those politically aligned with the White House.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 21/09/2026

He's retiring this year, so he knows he can't be punished.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 21/09/2026

As of this morning, it’s official: MS NOW, CNN, and Politico are suing Trump and several top administration officials for blocking reporters’ access to the White House. www.ms.now/news/ms-now-...

MS NOW, CNN and Politico sue Trump and senior officials over White House press ban

The lawsuit alleges the president violated the First Amendment by blocking reporters’ access to the White House.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 20/09/2026

The more Republicans try to bully our memories into submission, the more we’re reminded just how spectacularly the party has failed over the past two years.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 18/09/2026

It’s easy to grow inured, but in Europe’s biggest war since WWII, Trump boasted about an energy truce that doesn’t exist in reality. Remember when the WH would be under pressure to explain how/why the president managed to get something this important so terribly wrong? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Trump celebrates an energy truce between Russia and Ukraine that doesn’t appear to exist

Trump boasted about a major breakthrough that did not happen. In the not-too-distant past, this would’ve been a major controversy.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 18/09/2026

The focus on RFK Jr’s latest nonsense — “chemtrails”? seriously? — makes sense, but it’s incomplete. 52 Senate Republicans — including alleged “moderates,” such as Susan Collins — could’ve voted to protect us from this guy & they chose not to. Where’s the accountability? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Following RFK Jr.’s latest bizarre performance, 52 GOP senators have some explaining to do

Have we reached the point at which the nation’s health secretary is taking “chemtrails” nonsense seriously? Actually, yes.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 17/09/2026

Among the many problems: The gap between the message and the messenger: Salazar backed Trump in 2024, when he ran on mass deportations and fascistic anti-immigrant rhetoric, and she’s toed the Republican line for the past 21 months, including on ICE funding. tinyurl.com/56th6exh

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 17/09/2026

Americans have come to expect warning labels on everyday items, from medications to machines to household chemicals. But as the White House targets the Smithsonian, let’s not forget that we don’t expect to see government-imposed warning labels on museums. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Team Trump eyes new taxpayer-financed warning labels for the Smithsonian

In modern American life, warning labels are quite common. We do not, however, expect to see government-imposed warning labels on museums.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 17/09/2026

As the White House abandons Trump’s unqualified ICE nominee, remember: There are some depths to which even Senate Republicans don’t want to sink. Larger arc: Someone is going to be blamed for the Lance Schroyer fiasco, and it's likely to be Markwayne Mullin. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

White House abandons Trump’s unqualified nominee to lead ICE, despite Mullin ties

It’s a safe bet there will be a lot of questions about who was responsible for this, and most of the blame will likely fall on the DHS chief.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 17/09/2026

House Republican Whip Tom Emmer boasted this week that ground beef prices are now “less than $2 a pound.” Among the questions: - Has Tom Emmer been to a grocery store in recent decades? - Does he expect voters not to believe their own wallets? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

GOP leader claims ground beef prices are ‘less than $2 a pound,’ despite reality

Politicians can get away with all kinds of dishonesty, but asking voters not to believe their own wallets is a losing proposition.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 17/09/2026

JD Vance has a new pitch for the midterm elections: “Give us another chance.” Among the many problems: Even if voters agreed, then what? What would the GOP do in the next two years that it failed to do over the last two? More wars? More tariffs? More corruption? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

JD Vance refines his pitch for the midterm elections: ‘Give us another chance’

Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz called it “the most mind-boggling midterm pitch I’ve ever heard in my life.”

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 17/09/2026

Quite a week for Trump and the Kennedy Center: - his loyalists closed the building indefinitely - he twice said he’d refuse to help unless his name is added - said building could be ‘ripped down’ - was seen reviewing a printout about the center being “demolished” www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Trump says Kennedy Center could be ‘ripped down,’ still wants his name added

The president was also seen through the windows of Air Force One examining a large printout about the Kennedy Center being “demolished.”

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 16/09/2026

In two separate instances on Capitol Hill yesterday, there were references to Trump effectively embracing his own brand of “communism.” And while there’s no point in trying to reduce the midterms to two competing red scares, the underling criticisms are hardly baseless. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Talk of Trump-style ‘communism’ reaches Capitol Hill ahead of the midterms

“I can think of no administration in the last 50 years that is quite as communist as the Trump administration,” one congressional Democrat said.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 16/09/2026

Trump effectively hatched an extortion scheme, telling his handpicked Fed chair that the White House would cut off trade to much of the world in response to a rate hike. Kevin Warsh did it anyway. Was Trump bluffing? (I have a hunch we know the answer to that.) www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Federal Reserve raises interest rates to curb inflation, despite pressure from Trump

To the disappointment of the White House, Kevin Warsh raised interest rates by a quarter of a point, marking the first such increase in three years.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 16/09/2026

When Mike Johnson made the case yesterday that Republicans inherited “a country on the brink of ruin” early last year, he wasn’t just lying. The Speaker was also offering a reminder about how desperate the GOP is to rewrite recent history ahead of the midterms. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Republicans’ midterm strategy hinges on rewriting the recent past

The more the GOP tries to overwhelm voters’ memories, the more we’re reminded just how spectacularly the party has failed over the last two years.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 16/09/2026

You might’ve seen the headlines about the latest CBO report that said the war in Iran has cost $38 billion. But remember: That figure is a minimum that doesn’t include all kinds of things. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Why the new price tag for the war with Iran only tells part of an awful story

The bad news is the conflict’s $38 billion cost. The worse news is that this figure is a minimum that doesn’t include all kinds of things.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 15/09/2026

Quite a recent pattern: - GOP candidate in Fla. marched alongside neo-Nazis - Husted fires aide over Nazi photo - Collins fires aide over swastika images - State Dept hires speechwriter whom DeSantis fired over video with Nazi imagery - Trump rewards Paul Ingrassia, who said he has a “Nazi streak”

Republican state legislative candidate marched alongside neo-Nazis, adding to pattern

As a rule, state House candidates’ backgrounds tend not to generate national headlines, but once in a while, there are important exceptions.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 14/09/2026

Even before Trump left for his latest excursion to Ireland, the trip was a controversial mess. But then he arrived on Irish soil — and made matters so much worse.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 14/09/2026

“This is a contrast election between common sense and crazy,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said. We’re supposed to believe that a Republican candidate who, among other things, was seen goose-stepping to a Nazi marching song, *isn’t* the “crazy” one. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Why Republican leaders’ support for Texas’ Brandon Herrera is impossible to defend

According to Speaker Mike Johnson, the candidate who was seen goose-stepping to a Nazi marching song isn’t the “crazy” one in the race.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 14/09/2026

Trump’s plan for AI safeguards has finally come into focus: Do nothing and hope for the best. He also keeps saying, “Whoever wins AI wins,” without finishing the sentence. What, specifically, does he think the victor of the AI arms race will win? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Trump’s plan for AI safeguards comes into focus: Do nothing and hope for the best

Barack Obama warned that AI technology could be “dangerous” without proper restrictions. His Republican successor apparently disagrees.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 11/09/2026

Yep! I mentioned that in the piece as one of the questions in need of an answer

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 11/09/2026

Now that the Reflecting Pool contractor has further discredited Trump’s “vandals” nonsense, I have questions, starting with: Will there be any accountability for Trump leaning on his DOJ to bring a felony charge against a former Olympian who didn’t do anything wrong? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Trump’s Reflecting Pool contractor acknowledges reality, discredits ‘vandals’ claim

It’s not just prosecutors who’ve shredded the president’s official line on the Reflecting Pool fiasco. Now, his contractor has, too.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 11/09/2026

Eight years ago, then-Republican Sen. Bob Corker said, “It’s not a good place for any party to end up with a cult-like situation as it relates to a president.” This came to mind anew watching the “God gave us Trump” video and his “Raise your right hand” stunt last night. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

As the Republicans’ midterm convention closes, Trump’s message takes a cultish turn

In this country, Americans tend to pledge allegiance to the United States and its Constitution, not to presidents.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 10/09/2026

Putting aside Jeffress’ garbage rhetoric, the fact that he’s on the stage at all is indefensible: Mitt Romney accurately labeled this guy “a religious bigot,” and Chris Christie said to associate with Jeffress was “beneath the office of president of the United States.” tinyurl.com/yu82cnbu

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 10/09/2026

Trump’s $5k checks idea is a lazy con directed at fools - failed to follow through on similar “rebate” promises - this would cost $1.3 trillion & the money doesn’t exist - plan is legally dubious, to put it mildly - GOP already in control, so if he were serious, why wait? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

In desperation move, Trump vows legally dubious $5,000 checks that will never arrive

The president is counting on fools to accept this nonsense at face value, but people need to realize that this con is literally unbelievable.

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 09/09/2026

As Elon Musk takes steps to buy the midterm elections for Republicans, it’s worth asking: Will GOP officials and candidates ever condemn his bigotry? Will they even be asked to condemn his bigotry? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Elon Musk is ready to buy the midterms. That leads to questions Republicans need to answer.

Elon Musk is investing at least $100 billion to buy election victories for GOP candidates. Is the party ever going to comment on his bigotry?

Steve Benen @stevebenen.com · 09/09/2026

4. The timing is awful (NFL games tonight and tomorrow). 3. This sure does like a fundraising grift. 2. It’s built on a foundation of dubious assumptions. 1. It’s a mistake to nationalize the cycle. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

The top 10 problems with the Republicans’ pointless and futile midterm convention

If Trump and his party are feeling optimistic about the gathering in Texas, they probably ought to start lowering their expectations.