State of Play with Peter Alexander

November 3, 2026; 11am: Peter anchors live Election Day 2026 coverage on control of Congress, record turnout, Trump’s economic approval, and key battlegrounds in Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Texas and beyond. Reporters, lawmakers and analysts examine voter frustration over costs, the Iran war, tariffs, DOJ election monitors, and races that could reshape the House, Senate and governorships.

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November 2, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander previews Election Day with a focus on Michigan’s Senate race after Haley Stevens’ endorsement of Mike Rogers, President Trump’s closing midterm message, election lawsuits and federal monitoring concerns. The episode’s key takeaway is that late-stage political shocks, corruption concerns and voting-access fights are shaping the final hours before ballots are counted.

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October 30, 2026; 5pm: Peter Alexander breaks down President Trump’s shifting campaign schedule, the Justice Department’s late election actions, backlash over the Iran war, Dan Osborn’s Senate bid, and Elon Musk’s record political spending. The key takeaway: four days before Election Day, Trump allies and voters are raising alarms about chaos, broken promises, and money reshaping the midterms.

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October 28, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander breaks down the closing stretch of the midterms, with Trump and Obama pushing dueling campaign messages as Democrats eye House and Senate gains. The episode focuses on tight races in South Carolina, Alaska, Georgia, Michigan and Texas, plus why polls are instructive but not predictive.

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October 28, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander tracks the final midterm sprint as Trump and Obama hit the trail, voters weigh the economy and gas prices, and legal fights from the Trump DOJ raise new concerns about election trust. The hour also covers Brazil’s Bolsonaro flight, Scott Colom’s Mississippi Senate challenge, and how election officials in Ohio and Pennsylvania are preparing for secure voting.

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October 27, 2026; 11am: Live from Detroit, Peter Alexander breaks down Michigan’s high-stakes midterm landscape with Jocelyn Benson, Gretchen Whitmer, Alyssa Slotkin, Saginaw voters and political experts. The key takeaway: control of Congress may run through Michigan, where affordability, election security, turnout and attacks on Abdul El-Sayed are shaping the final week.

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October 26, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander anchors State of Play from battleground Michigan as closing midterm arguments intensify, with President Trump and former President Obama campaigning around a tight Senate race and early voting underway. Peter is joined by Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, and Democratic candidate, David Jolly, on his Florida governor bid. Plus, a preview of Peter's conversation with Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, ahead of tomorrow's special episode.

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October 23, 2026; 11am: State of Play examines President Trump’s midterm role, backlash over Ohio and Michigan campaign attacks, Justice Department action in Alaska, tariffs’ impact in Michigan, and Israel’s election uncertainty. The hour underscores how Trump’s politics, legal fights, and economic promises are shaping key races at home and abroad.

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October 22, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander examines how inflammatory midterm politics, potential Iran strike planning, DOJ independence concerns, Elon Musk oversight threats and USPS ballot delays are shaping the final stretch before Election Day. Guests assess whether political fear, corruption and institutional pressure are becoming defining issues of the midterms.

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October 21, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander examines Trump’s posture toward Vladimir Putin, Elon Musk’s power over Starlink in Ukraine, and concerns over pardon politics, election interference, press access and midterm campaigning. Guests assess how private influence, presidential power and political pressure are shaping U.S. security, democracy and accountability.

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October 20, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander breaks down midterm crunch time as President Trump rallies in red districts, voters focus on affordability and corruption, and key Senate races tighten in Kansas, Montana, Texas, North Carolina and Florida. Guests examine Republican dissent, Ukraine negotiations and former FBI employees’ lawsuit alleging unlawful dismissals.

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October 19, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander covers President Trump’s Russia and Ukraine policy, Latino voter reaction to immigration enforcement in Arizona, and Democrats’ midterm strategy with Madeline Dean and Andy Beshear. The key takeaway is that foreign policy, immigration, election security, and economic pressure are converging as major midterm liabilities.

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October 16, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander covers the deadly Bend, Oregon school shooting, Trump’s posture toward Vladimir Putin and Ukraine with Leon Panetta, and Elon Musk’s massive midterm spending. The episode also tracks Michigan and Texas Senate dynamics, White House turmoil, and warnings about election distrust.

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October 15, 2026; 11am: Peter Alexander covers President Trump canceling a planned livestream of the Fort Hood attacker’s execution, DOJ threats against California election officials, Ukraine’s concerns over Starlink and Starshield access, and the Pentagon’s move involving Stars and Stripes. The episode also examines Montana’s Senate race, AOC campaigning with Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, and Iowa voters’ frustration with both parties.

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October 13, 2026; 11:00 a.m. ET: Peter Alexander and his panel use their depth of experience in White House briefings to review the first public appearance by new Press Secretary Katie Zacharia and her breaking news that Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle had been asked to resign. Plus, President Trump tries to bail out struggling Republican senators as his hand-picked candidate in Texas faces more scrutiny. Also, the former Montana Democratic party chair explains why she stepped down amid frustration over a critical three-candidate race in her state.

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October 12, 2026; 11:00 a.m. ET: President Trump's DOJ sent federal agents to raid the Washington, DC home of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) early this morning. MS NOW reporters bring us the latest developments from outside Omar's home. Plus, President Trump is escalating his attacks on the free press by having the Justice Department investigate major TV networks over their decision to briefly suspend press pool coverage of him. Former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara joins Peter Alexander to discuss how damaging these attacks are to Americans' faith in the justice system. John Bolton, a former Trump White House National Security Advisor, unpacks Trump's new deal with Russia to release 300,000 tons of diesel. DNC Chairman Ken Martin sits down with Peter to talk about midterms with just three weeks until election day. Plus, Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico speaks to MS NOW amid right-wing conspiracies about his absence from the campaign trail due to the flu.

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October 9, 2026; 11:00 a.m. ET: Peter Alexander takes a look at critical debates last night in key battleground states — Maine, Michigan, and Georgia. Plus, MS NOW reporter, Marc Santia, brings us live updates from the scene of the latest shooting by ICE agents. The top Oversight Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia, joins Peter to unpack the Trump administration's new push to oust Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, yet again. Plus, the latest installment in MS NOW's "POTUS Promise Check" series. MS NOW reporter Alex Tabet checks in with Ohio voters to see if they think President Trump has lived up to his promise to make America a manufacturing nation. An in-depth look at the First Amendment amid repeated attempts from the White House to restrict media access from its grounds. NBC News senior correspondent, Tom Costello, shares a look at his new documentary, "The First," airing on PBS. And a tribute to the hall of fame NFL coach and player, Mike Ditka, who died at the age of 86 today.

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Oct. 8, 2026: With just 26 days until the midterms, President Trump visits Texas for the fourth time. Co-host of MS NOW's The Weeknight Symone Sanders Townsend and former Chief of Staff to VP Mike Pence join to discuss the upcoming races. Plus, Peter sits down with the Trump donor accusing Kimberly Guilfoyle of seeking $100,000 and offering access to top administration officials in return. And The Atlantic is reporting the president is weighing new strikes on Iran before the midterms. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) joins to discuss the possibility of renewed strikes and the latest on the midterms. MS NOW, CNN and Politico are back in court today to fight the White House press ban. Plus, MS NOW Pentagon Reporter Priya Sridhar joins State of Play from the Southern California port the USS Lincoln will be returning home to today.

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October 7, 2026; 11:00 a.m. ET: Peter Alexander asks Senator Thom Tillis about the "big surprises" President Trump is promising in the weeks leading up to the midterm election. Plus, Dan Osborn lays out his potential path to victory as an Independent candidate running an ascending campaign in deep-red Nebraska. Also, Stephanie Ruhle tackles the big political stories less than a month from the midterms and gives us a preview of her exciting new book.

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Oct. 6, 2026: Peter Alexander discusses the President’s comments during a Nebraska campaign event last night, which have sparked outrage among lawmakers. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass weighs-in, along with a panel of political experts. Former Special Assistant to President Obama, Norm Eisen, joins Peter Alexander to talk about President Trump’s reversal, saying he will stop using taxpayer money for his own TV ads. And Trump voters in Michigan have buyer’s remorse. Their opinions take center stage in a focus group led by MS NOW Political Analyst Elise Jordan. Plus, thousands of Cornell students demand answers and accountability over the university’s handling of a rape investigation. New York Times’ Emma Goldberg brings us the latest.

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