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The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth Season 8 Episodes
Season 8 Episode Guide
12 Episodes 2023 - 2023
Episode 1
The Year of Living Dangerously
Sun, Feb 26, 2023 30 mins
The Circus is on the ground in Europe as President Biden stuns the world with a surprise visit to war-torn Ukraine. On the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion, Biden seeks to galvanize support for Ukraine at home and abroad. Season premiere.
Episode 2
Off to the Races
Sun, Mar 5, 2023 30 mins
The Circus is on the ground in early nominating states and at CPAC, the annual conservative gathering, looking at the candidacy of former President Donald Trump and the field of potential challengers.
Episode 3
Kevin's House
Sun, Mar 12, 2023 29 mins
The Circus is embedded on Capitol Hill following two freshman members of Congress as they navigate the new Republican-controlled House during a turbulent week.
Episode 4
Fake News?
Sun, Mar 19, 2023 30 mins
The Circus examines the $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News; John Heilemann speaks with legendary First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams; Mark McKinnon with prominent journalists; and Jennifer Palmieri with Trump voters about the case.
Episode 5
Wheels of Justice
Sun, Mar 26, 2023 30 mins
This week The Circus examines the multiple investigations facing Donald Trump that could lead to the first indictment of a U.S. president. Jennifer Palmieri speaks with former Justice Department prosecutor Andrew Weissmann about the hush-money probe. Mark McKinnon charts Michael Cohen's journey from Trump fixer to star witness with Vanity Fair reporter Emily Jane Fox.
Episode 6
Nothing but the Truth
Sun, Apr 2, 2023 28 mins
This week The Circus examines the historic indictment of former President Donald Trump, tracking the legal and political fallout as the nation processes the first indictment of a former president. Mid-season finale.
Episode 7
Exhaustion, Depression and Dread...Oy Vey
Sun, Oct 8, 2023 28 mins
Hosts John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon and Jenn Palmieri go behind the scenes of the wildest political show on earth for an unbiased, inside look at the stories beyond the headlines.
Episode 8
Piercing The Bubble
Sun, Oct 15, 2023 28 mins
In the wake of the shocking terrorist attack in Israel, The Circus tracks the political fallout as Republican presidential hopefuls respond to the ongoing crisis. John Heilemann, Jennifer Palmieri, Mark McKinnon and guest host Tim Miller travel to Iowa, Washington, D.C. and New Hampshire to hear from GOP candidates about how they would lead America in an increasingly dangerous world.
Episode 9
The Crucible
Sun, Oct 22, 2023 28 mins
The Circus examines President Biden's high profile wartime trip to Israel, a nation reeling in the wake of the terrorist attack by Hamas. Meanwhile, House Republicans struggle to elect a new speaker, two weeks after ousting Kevin McCarthy. John Heilemann, Jennifer Palmieri, Mark McKinnon and guest host Errin Haines track the dramatic developments throughout the week, speaking with Vice President Kamala Harris and Ron Klain, President Biden's former chief of staff.
Episode 10
This Thing of His
Sun, Oct 29, 2023 28 mins
The Circus explores the mounting legal threats facing Donald Trump. Guest host Andrew Weissmann, a former lead prosecutor on Robert Mueller's team, joins Jennifer Palmieri, John Heilmann and Mark McKinnon amid news that several Trump allies have flipped and begun cooperating with prosecutors in cases against him. Meanwhile in New York City, the former president comes face-to-face in court with his former fixer and now antagonist, Michael Cohen.
Episode 11
The A.I. Election
Sun, Nov 5, 2023 28 mins
The Circus examines the impact of AI on the 2024 election and democracy itself. Jennifer Palmieri travels to the U.K. for the first global AI Safety Summit and sits down with Mustafa Suleyman, a world leader in AI technology. John Heilemann and guest host Jordan Klepper talk with former Google tech ethicist Tristan Harris about the threat of AI-enabled disinformation and deep fakes. And Mark McKinnon discusses how campaigns can prepare with Jiore Craig, a strategist in countering disinformation.
Episode 12
Life During Wartime
Sun, Nov 12, 2023 58 mins
The Circus confronts the central story defining American politics since the show premiered eight seasons ago: the rise of Donald Trump and the Democratic resistance. Hosts John Heilemann, Jennifer Palmieri and Mark McKinnon, joined by guest hosts Tim Miller and Errin Haines, explore this era of bitter division and uncertainty – in a week that features Trump taking the witness stand in New York, a surprising election night, and a shocking new battleground poll.
