The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

Drawing upon his experience as a former chief of staff on the Senate Finance Committee and as an Emmy-winning executive producer and writer of ‘The West Wing,’ Lawrence O’Donnell examines the compelling and impactful political stories of the day. Join him every weeknight.

Episodes

December 17, 2025 42 mins

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump addresses the nation as his approval rating hits a record low. Also, Jack Smith defends the Trump indictments in a closed-door testimony. Plus, Sen. Amy Klobuchar grills the FCC’s Brendan Carr in a Senate hearing. And Democrats push for the full release of the boat strike video. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Daniel Goldman, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Rep. Jim Himes join Lawrence O’Donnell.

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Tonight on The Last Word: Vanity Fair interviews with Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles reveal new pain points in the administration.  Plus, Wiles claims Trump was unaware of Ghislaine Maxwell's prison transfer, and that Pam Bondi "completely whiffed" handling the Epstein files. Also, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth refuses to release full unedited boat strike video. Nicholas Kristof, Rep. Ro Khanna, and Jonathan Capehart join Law...

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Tonight on The Last Word: New polls paint a bleak picture for the Trump economy. Plus, the weekly jobless claims hit their highest level in over four years. Also, Trump's redistricting push fails in Indiana. Rep. Brendan Boyle, Jared Bernstein, Charlie Sykes, Tom Nichols, State Sen. Shelli Yoder, and Rep. Maxwell Frost join Ali Velshi.

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Tonight on The Last Word: Experts suggest that the boat strikes may be illegal under U.S. law. Also, a judge orders Trump to end the National Guard control in California. Plus, Trump hits an all-time low on economy approval according to an AP-NORC poll. Capt. Todd Huntley, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sherrod Brown, and Eric Gisler join Lawrence O'Donnell. 

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Tonight on The Last Word: The GOP House Armed Service Cmte. Chair announces he's ending the probe into a Sept. 2nd boat strike. Also, Democrats probe the ties between Trump officials and immigration contractors. Plus, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell blames elevated inflation on tariffs. And a federal judge orders Donald Trump to end the National Guard’s control in California. Rep. Adam Smith, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Sen. Amy Klobuch...

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Tonight on The Last Word: Democrats demand the Pentagon release the boat strike video. Also, Donald Trump proposes a health care plan that the ACA already delivers. Plus, a federal judge rules the grand jury documents in Ghislaine Maxwell's New York case be unsealed. And a primary school teacher in Malawi shares his firsthand experience of the K.I.N.D. Fund helping students. Sen. Mark Kelly, Rep. Madeleine Dean, and Rep. Ro Khanna ...

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Tonight on The Last Word: Affordable Care Act subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year. Also, The Washington Post reports Donald Trump pardoned dozens of accused of drug-related crimes. Plus, MS NOW reports Kash Patel’s girlfriend asked FBI security detail to drive home her allegedly drunk friend after partying. And Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene links Trump to threats against her family. Sen. Jon Ossoff, Sen. Sheldon Whiteh...

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Tonight on The Last Word: Questions grow amid shifting stories of boat strikes. Also, health care premiums are set to spike in the new year. Plus, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Donald Trump “has been right” on tariffs. And U.S. Foreign Service reports historically low morale. Rep. John Garamendi, Lt. Col. Rachel VanLandingham, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, Betsey Stevenson, and Amb. Michael McFaul join Ali Velshi.

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Tonight on The Last Word: After a classified briefing on the Sept. 2 boat strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner says he believes the survivors of the first strike were “incapacitated.” And Donald Trump’s tariffs are negatively impacting U.S. businesses. Sen. Mark Warner, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, and Rep. Brendan Boyle join Lawrence O’Donnell.

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Tonight on The Last Word: House Oversight Democrats release new Epstein material. Also, Donald Trump dismisses affordability concerns as a “con job.” Plus, Democrats call for an investigation into Pete Hegseth’s strike orders. And a K.I.N.D. scholarship student is “fighting for her freedom.” Rep. Ro Khanna, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and Rep. Adam Smith join Lawrence O’Donnell.

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Tonight on The Last Word: Democrats are fired up after a close race in the Tennessee Special Election. And Democrats call for an investigation into Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth's strike orders. Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rep. Robert Garcia, and Sen. Adam Schiff join Lawrence O'Donnell.

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Tonight on The Last Word: Fallout grows over a report of Pete Hegseth’s alleged order to “kill everybody.” Also, Rachel Maddow’s latest podcast, “Burn Order,” explores the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans. And Amanda Gorman takes on a new role as a UNICEF Ambassador. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rachel Maddow, and Amanda Gorman join Lawrence O’Donnell.

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Rachel Maddow’s new series lays bare one of the most shocking decisions in American history. It’s story that reveals how an executive order authorizing the mass roundup of innocent Japanese Americans came to be, the powerful players who engineered it, and the burn order that tried to erase it from history.

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Tonight on The Last Word: Republicans are divided on how to handle health care and affordability. Also, 21 states sue over Donald Trump’s SNAP cuts for legal immigrants. And Trump faces legal resistance. Ken Dilanian, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Nicole Santa Cruz, Sister Simone Campbell, Marc Santia, Rob D'Amico, and Skye Perryman join Jonathan Capehart.

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Tonight on The Last Word: The GOP is distancing from an increasingly unpopular Donald Trump. Also, the Justice Department refuses to release the files in the Tom Homan bribery probe. Plus, six Democrats tell the military not to follow unlawful orders. And USAID workers sue Elon Musk over illegal DOGE firings. Rep. Brendan Boyle, Sen. Adam Schiff, and Nick Kristof join Lawrence O’Donnell.

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Tonight on The Last Word: Marjorie Taylor Greene says she will resign from Congress. Also, a Fox poll finds Donald Trump’s approval on the economy hits a new low. Plus, officials ousted or fired from Trump’s Justice Department detail the damage done to DOJ. And a Democrat seeks a historic flip in a deep-red Tennessee district. Rep. Eugene Vindman, Heather Long, Emily Bazelon, and Tennessee State Rep. Aftyn Behn join Jonathan Capeha...

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Tonight on The Last Word: The Justice Department has 29 days to release the Epstein files. Also, the U.S. unemployment rate rises to 4.4%. And Congress has a December 31 deadline to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits. Andrew Weissmann, Rep. Brendan Boyle, and Sen. Tammy Baldwin join Lawrence O’Donnell.

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Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump says he signed a bill to release the Epstein files. Also, the Justice Department acknowledges a full grand jury never saw the final James Comey indictment. And Boston Mayor Michelle Wu stands up to “wannabe dictators.” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, and Mayor Michelle Wu join Lawrence O’Donnell.

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Tonight on The Last Word: The Epstein files release bill now heads to Donald Trump. Also, Trump continues his pattern of cozying up to strongmen. And Epstein survivors demand transparency from Congress. Rep. Ro Khanna and Lisa Rubin join Lawrence O’Donnell.

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Tonight on The Last Word: The House is expected to vote on releasing the Epstein files Tuesday. Also, Kash Patel’s girlfriend is reportedly receiving FBI security detail. And Democrats shift their focus to affordability amid rising inflation and Trump tariffs. Rep. Robert Garcia, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Ken Dilanian, and Governor-Elect Abigail Spanberger join Lawrence O’Donnell.

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