Donald Trump's transition ahead of his second term in office was already a series of humiliations and failures as his inability to pick qualified members of his administration was laid bare, but the spending bill debacle showed that in addition to that incompetence, Trump is vulnerable to being taken advantage of, as Elon Musk did with apparent ease.

What does the United States look like when the presidency is purchased by billionaires? How do they reap the benefits of their investment and how does it end up hurting everyone else? And perhaps more importantly, as we see the new Trump era oligarchy taking shape, what can Americans do to slow that slide? Rachel Maddow talks with Timothy Snyder and the ACLU's Anthony Romero.

How much will Americans get to know about the people Donald Trump is choosing to run the U.S. government? In the absence of any real vetting the way it's supposed to go, Rachel Maddow presents a Rachel Maddow Show Public Servant Announcement to hopefully help fill that gap with a closer look at Trump's choice for homeland security secretary, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, whose state’s Covid record might seem disqualifying and whose personal stories have caused her political damage.

How much will the American people get to know about the people Donald Trump is choosing to run the U.S. government? In the absence of any real vetting the way it's supposed to go, Rachel Maddow presents a Rachel Maddow Show Public Servant Announcement to hopefully help fill that gap with a closer look at Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, from his dubious business dealings to his dearth of relevant experience.

While Donald Trump fills his administration with relatives and people he has seen on TV, reality stubbornly refuses to conform to the narratives Trump spun on the campaign trail.

Rachel Maddow looks at the shocking level of nepotism in the early staffing of Donald Trump's second administration, leaving him without grounds to criticize President Biden's pardon of his son, Hunter, to spare him further political prosecution by Trump's supporters.

Rachel Maddow looks at how Republican overreach in attempting to secure permanent power is already inspiring pro-democracy pushback while the Trump team goon squad fight and grift each other.

United States of Emergency? Rachel Maddow on her expectations for the US under Trump

Millions interned in camps? Assassinations? Political imprisonments? That is what America's leading liberal commentator Rachel Maddow - and The World's first guest - says could happen during Trump's next stint in the White House.

Richard and Yalda also bring listeners up to date with the conflict in Ukraine and the latest developments in the Middle East, as both are just back from the region.