Friday, Oct. 30, 2026

THE LATEST

John Durham said exactly what Trumpworld didn't want to hear

By Hayes Brown

There was a lot of time spent in the weeds during Wednesday's House Judiciary Committee hearing with special counsel John Durham. Lawmakers burned hours trying to spin, parse and unpack the dense, 300-page report he issued last month into the origins of the FBI's 2016 investigation of former President Donald Trump. Names that nobody who hasn't been glued to the coverage of the Russia probe and its aftermath would recognize got thrown around to a degree that at several points even I was left wondering, "Who?"

It wasn't the most riveting of hearings, but here's the bottom line: John Durham found nothing to discredit special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. At no point in his testimony did he take the bait from Republicans to give credence to Trump's "Russia hoax" rhetoric. If anything, Durham went out of the way to praise his predecessor — even if his grasp on what Mueller found proved to be a bit shaky.

This is a preview of Hayes Brown's latest article. Read more here.

TOP STORIES

MATT GERTZ

Bret Baier proves the quasi-tragic symbiosis between Trump and Fox News lives on

Fox's association with Trump remains mutually beneficial. Read more.

ANDREW WEISSMANN

Why I'm skeptical of the DOJ's special counsel strategy

The Hunter Biden plea deal and Republican reactions to it raise important questions for the Department of Justice and the public. Read more.

STEVE BENEN

JD Vance thinks he's justified his hold on DOJ nominees (but he hasn't)

The way in which some senators are abusing the chamber's informal rules on 'procedural holds' is clearly getting out of hand. Read more.

JA'HAN JONES

Why critics are calling a frightening new Texas law the 'Death Star bill'

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed the 'Death Star bill,' continuing the GOP's attack on democracy. Read more.

        TOP VIDEOS

ALEX WAGNER TONIGHT

Schiff reacts to censure: McCarthy has turned over the House to 'the crazies'

THE REIDOUT

'Our courts should have ethics': Sen. Booker slams Alito's reported luxury fishing trip with billionaire

ALL IN

Rep. Lieu blasts 'dumb' Durham hearing: Republicans focused on 'stupid stuff'

MORNING JOE

Trump seems stumped when asked about his own death penalty proposal

MORE FROM MSNBC

On Sunday, in honor of Pride month, Jonathan Capehart speaks with LGBTQ champions fighting to hold onto their rights at a time when conservative governments are restricting medical choices, self-expression, and voices. Watch "Defending Pride" on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on MSNBC and streaming on Peacock.

The second episode of MSNBC's original podcast "Rachel Maddow Presents: Deja News" is now available. As presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis wages his "war on woke," Rachel Maddow and co-host Isaac-Davy Aronson tell the story of Florida lawmakers in the 1950s and 60s who ventured down a similar path. Listen now.

30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112