The Weekend on MSNBC

“We do not want you here...Our city is not a sandbox for Donald Trump to play dictator.” @ltgovstratton.illinois.gov on the White House authorizing the deployment of the National Guard to Illinois against the wishes of the state government.

“Get back to Washington and do your job.” @bluntrochester.senate.gov on Republicans refusal to negotiate a plan to end the government shutdown and secure health care for millions of Americans by extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.

“I hope that every school would say that this compact is a threat to academic freedom.” UC Berkeley School of Law Dean, Erwin Chemerinsky sounds the alarm on President Trump putting new pressure on universities to commit to his political agenda.

“He was picked by the NFL to do this for a very clear reason” The Weekend hosts react to MAGA’s meltdown after Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny was announced as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performer.

“The next Democratic president will have to take a page out of the book we’re seeing now”: former OMB Director Shalanda Young on the Trump administration weaponizing the government shutdown and pushing the limits of executive power.

“The lawyers from the federal government were coming in there quoting Truth Social. That’s just bizarre.” Oregon Attorney General @agdanrayfield.bsky.social describes the new norms President Trump has established and the importance of the judge’s decision to block National Guard troops in Portland.

“It’s a big win for democracy.” Oregon Attorney General @agdanrayfield.bsky.social speaks out on the judge’s ruling temporarily blocking President Trump from deploying National Guard troops to Portland.

“They need to be acting as if they're trying to tend to the economy, not hurt the economy.” @samsteindc.bsky.social says he is perplexed trying to figure out what the White House's strategic vision is as Trump touts OMB Director Russ Vought’s role in Project 2025 as they discuss gov’t shutdown cuts.

“They are treating the country as if it's in a civil war.” @samsteindc.bsky.social on President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago amid a federal judge’s ruling temporarily blocking his deployment of National Guard troops to Portland.

Sunday at 7am ET - @julianastratton.bsky.social

Sunday at 7am ET - @bluntrochester.senate.gov

Sunday at 7am ET - @repdean.bsky.social

Sunday at 7am ET - Former OMB Director Shalanda Young

“A conversation isn’t good enough because we know how that conversation ends.” @captmarkkelly.bsky.social explains why Democrats are holding firm to their health care demands as Senate Republicans refuse to negotiate while the government remains shut down.

“The enemy within is not the American people and it is not within the American military. I leave it to your listeners to decide [who] is the enemy within.” Retired Major General Randy Manner slams President Trump’s declaration of a new war against domestic enemies.

“Hegseth has a thing against women in the military. He always has, and that’s why he’s pushing this narrative.” @amymcgrath.bsky.social on Defense Secretary Hegseth’s false claim that military standards had been lowered to accommodate minorities and women.

“People are afraid to speak up; people are afraid to talk about what’s going on in these agencies that are being dismantled” AFGE Local 476 President Ashaki Robinson details the bullying and targeting of federal workers from the Trump administration amid the ongoing government shutdown.

"Unhinged and unhealthy" @mayorofchicago.bsky.social pushes back on Trump's suggestion of using American cities as training grounds for the military and says the idea of describing the American people as “enemies from within” is a clear sign of authoritarianism and tyranny.

“A key device that authoritarians use is to force you to pledge allegiance to ‘alternative facts’” Producer of the new documentary “Orwell: 2+2=5” @alexgibneyfilm.bsky.social says Americans must be “deeply skeptical” of information coming from the Trump administration.

The Weekend hosts share their takeaways from Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album “The Life of a Showgirl.”

Saturday at 7am ET - @amyklobuchar.com

Saturday at 7am ET - @captmarkkelly.bsky.social

Saturday at 7am ET - Representatives from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)

Saturday at 7am ET - @alexgibneyfilm.bsky.social

Saturday at 7am ET - @mayorofchicago.bsky.social

Saturday at 7am ET - @michaelfanone.bsky.social

Have a question or comment for @jonathancapehart.bsky.social @eugenedaniels2.bsky.social and Jackie Alemany to read live this weekend? Leave a comment below using #TheWeekend

“This has to be an ironclad deal that is spelled out in legislation…This isn't about 'trust me later.'" @aguilar.house.gov on Monday's planned meeting between President Trump and four top congressional leaders to address Democrats demands on healthcare and avert a looming government shutdown.

Oregon Rep. @bynum.house.gov calls President Trump’s threat to use military force in Portland “little boy energy” and says, “the last time Trump sent his goons to town, we ran them out....He knows he lost, and he wants to come back.”

“This is bad, bad, bad.” @milestaylor.bsky.social slams President Trump’s plan to send troops to Portland and unpacks the dangers this move poses for Americans.