Steve Benen
@stevebenen.com
Rachel Maddow Show producer, MaddowBlog author, MSNBC contributor, and author of Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past
A few days ago, I wrote up a piece on Republicans routinely forgetting when Biden took office and how the problem seems to be getting worse: tinyurl.com/3bdxp3te
I suddenly wish I’d held off a few more days. (The “Biden FBI” didn’t exist on Jan. 6. Trump was president at the time.)
I suddenly wish I’d held off a few more days. (The “Biden FBI” didn’t exist on Jan. 6. Trump was president at the time.)
October 12, 2025 at 12:18 PM
A few days ago, I wrote up a piece on Republicans routinely forgetting when Biden took office and how the problem seems to be getting worse: tinyurl.com/3bdxp3te
I suddenly wish I’d held off a few more days. (The “Biden FBI” didn’t exist on Jan. 6. Trump was president at the time.)
I suddenly wish I’d held off a few more days. (The “Biden FBI” didn’t exist on Jan. 6. Trump was president at the time.)
New statement from the House Dem leadership on Kimmel: “Brendan Carr, the so-called Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has engaged in the corrupt abuse of power. ... This will not be forgotten.”
September 18, 2025 at 12:56 PM
New statement from the House Dem leadership on Kimmel: “Brendan Carr, the so-called Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has engaged in the corrupt abuse of power. ... This will not be forgotten.”
I guess Lutnick doesn't remember that he said the exact opposite just six weeks ago?
September 13, 2025 at 2:26 PM
I guess Lutnick doesn't remember that he said the exact opposite just six weeks ago?
The White House’s new line is that Trump’s economic agenda will *eventually* work, but:
- this contradicts the WH’s other talking points
- this contradicts Trump’s 2024 campaign promises
- there’s no reason to assume sticking with failures will produce different results www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
- this contradicts the WH’s other talking points
- this contradicts Trump’s 2024 campaign promises
- there’s no reason to assume sticking with failures will produce different results www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
September 8, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The White House’s new line is that Trump’s economic agenda will *eventually* work, but:
- this contradicts the WH’s other talking points
- this contradicts Trump’s 2024 campaign promises
- there’s no reason to assume sticking with failures will produce different results www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
- this contradicts the WH’s other talking points
- this contradicts Trump’s 2024 campaign promises
- there’s no reason to assume sticking with failures will produce different results www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
Job growth over the first eight months of the year:
2015: 1.76 million
2016: 1.58 million
2017: 1.51 million
2018: 1.75 million
2019: 1.36 million
2020: [pandemic]
2021: 4.69 million
2022: 3.5 million
2023: 1.84 million
2024: 1.14 million
2025: 598,000 #trumpeffect www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2015: 1.76 million
2016: 1.58 million
2017: 1.51 million
2018: 1.75 million
2019: 1.36 million
2020: [pandemic]
2021: 4.69 million
2022: 3.5 million
2023: 1.84 million
2024: 1.14 million
2025: 598,000 #trumpeffect www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
September 5, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Job growth over the first eight months of the year:
2015: 1.76 million
2016: 1.58 million
2017: 1.51 million
2018: 1.75 million
2019: 1.36 million
2020: [pandemic]
2021: 4.69 million
2022: 3.5 million
2023: 1.84 million
2024: 1.14 million
2025: 598,000 #trumpeffect www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2015: 1.76 million
2016: 1.58 million
2017: 1.51 million
2018: 1.75 million
2019: 1.36 million
2020: [pandemic]
2021: 4.69 million
2022: 3.5 million
2023: 1.84 million
2024: 1.14 million
2025: 598,000 #trumpeffect www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
The question for the White House is simple: “If Trump has created a ‘hot’ economy, why has American job growth slowed to a 16-year low?” www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
September 5, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The question for the White House is simple: “If Trump has created a ‘hot’ economy, why has American job growth slowed to a 16-year low?” www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
Obviously, attire is vastly less important than presidential actions, threats, and declarations.
But the fact that Trump did this Oval Office event while wearing a hat that said, “Trump Was Right About Everything” — in a big, all-caps font — added a Mad King vibe to already bonkers circumstances.
But the fact that Trump did this Oval Office event while wearing a hat that said, “Trump Was Right About Everything” — in a big, all-caps font — added a Mad King vibe to already bonkers circumstances.
August 22, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Obviously, attire is vastly less important than presidential actions, threats, and declarations.
But the fact that Trump did this Oval Office event while wearing a hat that said, “Trump Was Right About Everything” — in a big, all-caps font — added a Mad King vibe to already bonkers circumstances.
But the fact that Trump did this Oval Office event while wearing a hat that said, “Trump Was Right About Everything” — in a big, all-caps font — added a Mad King vibe to already bonkers circumstances.
Trump seems confused about why the Alaska summit is itself a win for Putin, no matter the outcome of the talks, but it’s really not that complicated. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
August 15, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Trump seems confused about why the Alaska summit is itself a win for Putin, no matter the outcome of the talks, but it’s really not that complicated. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
If the White House wants to talk about whether the latest economic data is “phenomenal” or not, I’m ready for that conversation. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
August 5, 2025 at 7:36 PM
If the White House wants to talk about whether the latest economic data is “phenomenal” or not, I’m ready for that conversation. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
Moore allegedly destroyed vaccines, distributed fraudulent vaccination cards, and administered saline shots to kids.
Before jurors could consider evidence, the attorney general is dismissing the charges — because she wants to improve her standing on the far-right.
Unbecoming of a serious country.
Before jurors could consider evidence, the attorney general is dismissing the charges — because she wants to improve her standing on the far-right.
Unbecoming of a serious country.
July 12, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Moore allegedly destroyed vaccines, distributed fraudulent vaccination cards, and administered saline shots to kids.
Before jurors could consider evidence, the attorney general is dismissing the charges — because she wants to improve her standing on the far-right.
Unbecoming of a serious country.
Before jurors could consider evidence, the attorney general is dismissing the charges — because she wants to improve her standing on the far-right.
Unbecoming of a serious country.
So much for that “two-week” window.
Note the “now is the time for peace” phrasing as he pursues an avoidable course of military strikes.
Note the “now is the time for peace” phrasing as he pursues an avoidable course of military strikes.
June 22, 2025 at 12:03 AM
So much for that “two-week” window.
Note the “now is the time for peace” phrasing as he pursues an avoidable course of military strikes.
Note the “now is the time for peace” phrasing as he pursues an avoidable course of military strikes.
As it turns out, there are always *three* tweets.
June 17, 2025 at 8:08 PM
As it turns out, there are always *three* tweets.
This paragraph was published in a @washingtonpost.com article two weeks ago. The White House’s erraticism on tariffs has only gotten worse since.
May 26, 2025 at 12:23 AM
This paragraph was published in a @washingtonpost.com article two weeks ago. The White House’s erraticism on tariffs has only gotten worse since.
My wife’s name isn’t Lisa; she isn’t a lawyer; and we didn’t get married in 2006.
An occasional reminder: If you think you can count on AI for accurate information, think again.
An occasional reminder: If you think you can count on AI for accurate information, think again.
May 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM
My wife’s name isn’t Lisa; she isn’t a lawyer; and we didn’t get married in 2006.
An occasional reminder: If you think you can count on AI for accurate information, think again.
An occasional reminder: If you think you can count on AI for accurate information, think again.
I took a moment to count up the errors of fact and judgment in this one sentence from the Trump-appointed top prosecutor in DC.
I settled on six mistakes, but I can't help but wonder if I missed one or two. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
I settled on six mistakes, but I can't help but wonder if I missed one or two. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
February 25, 2025 at 3:52 PM
I took a moment to count up the errors of fact and judgment in this one sentence from the Trump-appointed top prosecutor in DC.
I settled on six mistakes, but I can't help but wonder if I missed one or two. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
I settled on six mistakes, but I can't help but wonder if I missed one or two. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
When I first saw this making the rounds, I wondered whether it was real. I also hoped it was not.
Alas, it's legit.
Alas, it's legit.
February 15, 2025 at 8:46 PM
When I first saw this making the rounds, I wondered whether it was real. I also hoped it was not.
Alas, it's legit.
Alas, it's legit.
I don't mean to sound picky about this @politico.com report, but Vance's "first test" was trying to convince senators to support Matt Gaetz's AG nomination, and as I recall, he failed spectacularly.
February 9, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I don't mean to sound picky about this @politico.com report, but Vance's "first test" was trying to convince senators to support Matt Gaetz's AG nomination, and as I recall, he failed spectacularly.
If you're just getting up, note that Trump — the guy who was elected largely because of concerns about the cost of living — is now admitting that his bizarre new trade tariffs might very well cause "some pain."
He made the admission in an incoherent online rant filled with gibberish.
He made the admission in an incoherent online rant filled with gibberish.
February 2, 2025 at 2:02 PM
If you're just getting up, note that Trump — the guy who was elected largely because of concerns about the cost of living — is now admitting that his bizarre new trade tariffs might very well cause "some pain."
He made the admission in an incoherent online rant filled with gibberish.
He made the admission in an incoherent online rant filled with gibberish.
D. John Sauer, Trump's lawyer and choice for solicitor general, yesterday: "President Trump has called for our Nation’s partisan strife to end, and for the contending factions to join forces for the greater good of the country."
Sauer's client, this morning:
Sauer's client, this morning:
November 28, 2024 at 3:34 PM
D. John Sauer, Trump's lawyer and choice for solicitor general, yesterday: "President Trump has called for our Nation’s partisan strife to end, and for the contending factions to join forces for the greater good of the country."
Sauer's client, this morning:
Sauer's client, this morning:
I'm a little annoyed with myself for not coming up with this joke first.
October 20, 2024 at 12:17 AM
I'm a little annoyed with myself for not coming up with this joke first.
Among the notable things about this anecdote from today's impressive WSJ piece:
- Team Vance, even now, is still trying to make the Springfield lie true
- The local woman apologized — showing a degree of decency that Vance and Trump have so far refused to even consider
- Team Vance, even now, is still trying to make the Springfield lie true
- The local woman apologized — showing a degree of decency that Vance and Trump have so far refused to even consider
September 18, 2024 at 5:49 PM
Among the notable things about this anecdote from today's impressive WSJ piece:
- Team Vance, even now, is still trying to make the Springfield lie true
- The local woman apologized — showing a degree of decency that Vance and Trump have so far refused to even consider
- Team Vance, even now, is still trying to make the Springfield lie true
- The local woman apologized — showing a degree of decency that Vance and Trump have so far refused to even consider
What’s better than making the New York Times’ bestseller list? Staying on the New York Times’ bestseller list.
For the second consecutive week, my new book made it to the hardcover non-fiction list. Many thanks to everyone who’s picked up a copy. If you haven’t, I hope you’ll check it out.
For the second consecutive week, my new book made it to the hardcover non-fiction list. Many thanks to everyone who’s picked up a copy. If you haven’t, I hope you’ll check it out.
August 30, 2024 at 7:40 PM
What’s better than making the New York Times’ bestseller list? Staying on the New York Times’ bestseller list.
For the second consecutive week, my new book made it to the hardcover non-fiction list. Many thanks to everyone who’s picked up a copy. If you haven’t, I hope you’ll check it out.
For the second consecutive week, my new book made it to the hardcover non-fiction list. Many thanks to everyone who’s picked up a copy. If you haven’t, I hope you’ll check it out.
I should probably play it cool, and pretend like it's not a big deal, but I'm thrilled to see my new book make the New York Times best-sellers list. Ministry of Truth is #9 this week on the hardcover nonfiction list: www.nytimes.com/books/best-s...
August 22, 2024 at 6:13 PM
I should probably play it cool, and pretend like it's not a big deal, but I'm thrilled to see my new book make the New York Times best-sellers list. Ministry of Truth is #9 this week on the hardcover nonfiction list: www.nytimes.com/books/best-s...
Is it a good feeling when the first printed copies of your soon-to-be-published book arrives?
Yes. Yes, it is.
Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past comes out in 20 days.
Yes. Yes, it is.
Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past comes out in 20 days.
July 24, 2024 at 7:38 PM
Is it a good feeling when the first printed copies of your soon-to-be-published book arrives?
Yes. Yes, it is.
Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past comes out in 20 days.
Yes. Yes, it is.
Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past comes out in 20 days.
And then there were three: New Mexico's Martin Heinrich is the third sitting Democratic senator to call on Biden to forgo his re-election plans.
July 19, 2024 at 3:42 PM
And then there were three: New Mexico's Martin Heinrich is the third sitting Democratic senator to call on Biden to forgo his re-election plans.