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The Best Episodes of The Circus

Every episode of The Circus ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Circus!

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Come one, come all to The Circus. This real-time documentary series pulls back the curtain on the current political stories, revealing the intense, inspiring and infuriating stories behind the headlines. Key characters and events are

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Circus Season 7 Episode 16 - Riptides
    8.5/10(9 votes)

    #1 - Riptides

    S7:E16

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Circus Season 8 Episode 6 - Nothing but the Truth
    8.5/10(14 votes)

    #2 - Nothing but the Truth

    S8:E6

    This week The Circus examines the historic indictment of Donald Trump, the nation's first former president to face criminal charges, and tracks the legal and political fallout from the bombshell development. In addition, John Heilemann and guest host Andrew Weissmann discuss the two special counsel probes focused on Trump, Mark McKinnon speaks with Mike Pence after the former VP was ordered to testify in one of those inquiries, and Jennifer Palmieri looks at the investigation into Trump’s election interference in Georgia.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Circus Season 8 Episode 4 - Fake News?
    8.4/10(15 votes)

    #3 - Fake News?

    S8:E4

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Circus Season 8 Episode 12 - Life During Wartime
    8.3/10(14 votes)

    #4 - Life During Wartime

    S8:E12

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Circus Season 8 Episode 7 - Exhaustion, Depression and Dread... Oy Vey
    8.1/10(16 votes)

    #5 - Exhaustion, Depression and Dread... Oy Vey

    S8:E7

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Circus Season 7 Episode 3 - The Information War
    8.0/10(15 votes)

    #6 - The Information War

    S7:E3

    As Russia escalates its assault, Ukraine’s President delivers an impassioned address to Congress. Jennifer Palmieri and Mark McKinnon are on Capitol Hill speaking with lawmakers immediately after Zelinsky’s emotional plea to “close the sky” over Ukraine. Plus, Alex Wagner and John Heilemann examine the information war, including the sophisticated Russian disinformation campaign infiltrating American media and Putin’s draconian crackdown on dissent and free speech inside Russia.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Circus

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  7. The Circus Season 7 Episode 5 - The Home Front
    8.0/10(13 votes)

    #7 - The Home Front

    S7:E5

    The Circus tracks the dramatic developments out of the House committee investigating the forces behind the violent January 6 insurrection. Jennifer Palmieri and Mark McKinnon speak with members of the committee after voting to hold two of former President Donald Trump's aides in contempt; Alex Wagner talks with Bob Woodward and Robert Costa on their bombshell reporting about the White House call log from the day of the Capitol attack; and John Heilemann examines the growing pressure on the Justice Department to investigate Trump's activities.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Circus Season 5 Episode 18 - Steal This Election
    7.9/10(20 votes)

    #8 - Steal This Election

    S5:E18

    The Circus dives into voting integrity, specifically issues concerning election day disputes, voter suppression and re-election rhetoric from the President himself. Eager to stave off fears of negative polling numbers, Trump is hot on the campaign trail, despite his recent COVID-19 diagnosis. Among a myriad of perspectives, Mark McKinnon speaks with ACLU Director Andre Segura in Texas, where Republican officials are limiting mail-in voting. And Alex Wagner talks to a militia leader in Michigan about his view on the necessity of poll-watchers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Circus Season 7 Episode 2 - The Escalation Ladder
    7.9/10(14 votes)

    #9 - The Escalation Ladder

    S7:E2

    With the situation on the ground in Ukraine growing increasingly dire, The Circus explores what more the U.S. and its allies can do. As Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Estonia, John Heilemann speaks with Prime Minister Kaja Kallas about fears Putin could strike a NATO nation next. Plus, Mark McKinnon explores President Biden’s response with Senator Mitt Romney; Alex Wagner interviews Ukrainian parliament member Oleksandra Ustinova; and Jennifer Palmieri speaks with officials about the threat Putin now poses to the world.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Circus Season 8 Episode 5 - Wheels of Justice
    7.9/10(13 votes)

    #10 - Wheels of Justice

    S8:E5

    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. John Heilemann talks with New York Times reporters Michael Bender and Katie Benner about the myriad investigations and their political fallout.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Circus Season 8 Episode 8 - Piercing The Bubble
    7.9/10(13 votes)

    #11 - Piercing The Bubble

    S8:E8

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Circus Season 6 Episode 1 - Raining Chaos
    7.8/10(33 votes)

    #12 - Raining Chaos

    S6:E1

    In an extended season premiere, The Circus attempts to make sense of a country reeling from the grave implications of a Capitol siege.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Circus Season 7 Episode 10 - Rule of Law
    7.8/10(12 votes)

    #13 - Rule of Law

    S7:E10

    The Circus examines the myriad legal threats facing former President Donald Trump. Mark McKinnon speaks with journalists Susan Glasser and Peter Baker, authors of a new book detailing the Trump administration. Jennifer Palmieri sits down with Sarah Matthews, the former White House Deputy Press Secretary who testified before the January 6th Committee. John Heilemann speaks with legal experts Andrew Weissman and Neal Katyal to discuss the implications of the wide range of investigations into Trump.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Circus Season 8 Episode 1 - The Year of Living Dangerously
    7.8/10(16 votes)

    #14 - The Year of Living Dangerously

    S8:E1

    The Circus is in Poland tracking President Biden as he stuns the world with a visit to the embattled capital of Ukraine to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Host John Heilemann talks with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the covert trip to Kyiv and the monumental challenges of confronting a nuclear armed Russia. Back in the U.S., Mark McKinnon speaks with Bush White House veteran Nicole Wallace, while Jennifer Palmieri sits down with former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James Stavridis.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Circus Season 8 Episode 2 - Off to the Races
    7.8/10(16 votes)

    #15 - Off to the Races

    S8:E2

    The Circus is on the ground in Florida, South Carolina, Maryland and New Hampshire to mark the unofficial kick-off of the Republican Party's presidential nominating contest. The week begins as a leading potential candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, launches his book tour and ends with CPAC, the annual conservative gathering that’s friendly territory for former President Donald Trump, who’s already in the race. John Heilemann, Jennifer Palmieri, Mark McKinnon and guest host Tim Miller examine the fault lines already emerging in the party.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Circus Season 8 Episode 3 - Kevin's House
    7.8/10(13 votes)

    #16 - Kevin's House

    S8:E3

    The Circus heads to Capitol Hill to cover the new Republican-controlled House of Representatives. John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, and Jennifer Palmieri follow two freshman members of Congress, Republican Mike Lawler of New York and Democrat Maxwell Frost of Florida, as they navigate a week dominated by Tucker Carlson's coverage of January 6th, hearings on the Biden Administration, and a fight that threatens to tip America over a fiscal cliff.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Circus Season 8 Episode 9 - The Crucible
    7.7/10(12 votes)

    #17 - The Crucible

    S8:E9

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Circus Season 8 Episode 11 - The A.I. Election
    7.7/10(14 votes)

    #18 - The A.I. Election

    S8:E11

    The Circus examines the impact of AI on the 2024 election, as world leaders convene an AI Safety Summit. The Circus team, along with guest host Jordan Klepper, explore the myriad concerns, including AI-enabled disinformation and deep fakes.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Circus Season 7 Episode 4 - The Nuclear Option
    7.6/10(14 votes)

    #19 - The Nuclear Option

    S7:E4

    As President Biden travels to Brussels for an emergency NATO summit, The Circus examines Russia's threats of using nuclear weapons. Jennifer Palmieri speaks to Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby about the U.S. response to Putin's nuclear saber-rattling; John Heilemann games out war simulations with one of the world's foremost experts on nuclear weapons, Zia Mian; and Alex Wagner assesses Putin's motives with former Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Circus Season 7 Episode 9 - Not in Kansas Anymore
    7.6/10(13 votes)

    #20 - Not in Kansas Anymore

    S7:E9

    The Circus returns amid the critical midterm election season with voters across the nation energized in unprecedented ways by the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. John Heilemann goes behind the scenes with Vice President Kamala Harris as she campaigns for reproductive rights in a swing state that could determine control of the Senate. Jennifer Palmieri and Mark McKinnon are on the ground in Michigan to report on how the end of Roe is impacting one the nation's marquee gubernatorial races.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Circus Season 7 Episode 15 - Here Comes the Flood
    7.6/10(12 votes)

    #21 - Here Comes the Flood

    S7:E15

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Circus Season 3 Episode 7 - The Gathering Storm
    7.5/10(16 votes)

    #22 - The Gathering Storm

    S3:E7

    With the looming midterm elections, the Trump presidency under relentless siege, and Hurricane Florence bearing down on the Carolina coast, Washington has a lot on its collective plate. Mark McKinnon and Alex Wagner visit the democratic and republican war rooms respectively, and learn what each camp is doing to secure the majority in the House. John Heilemann interviews Steve Bannon and takes a tour of Breitbart, all in advance of the release of Bannon's inflammatory new documentary.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Circus Season 4 Episode 7 - To the Left
    7.5/10(18 votes)

    #23 - To the Left

    S4:E7

    A deep dive into the Democratic party. There is a reckoning going on about the party's future. On one hand, there is a movement to tack left towards more progressive policies, a strategy that proved effective in 2018 elections. On the other, many feel that the best way to convert Trump voters in 2020 is to move towards the center. That was Bill Clinton's winning strategy in 1992, after the Democrats had failed to win the presidency repeatedly with more progressive candidates. The question is, are we in a new world now, or not?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Circus Season 4 Episode 15 - Field of Dreams
    7.5/10(13 votes)

    #24 - Field of Dreams

    S4:E15

    The Circus is in Iowa for the all-important Liberty and Justice Celebration, aka Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, where past Presidential winners like Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter have broken out from tight races. The hosts go behind the scenes of 2020 Democratic candidates’ campaigns to evaluate their infrastructure and strategy for the event. Will there be a breakout star this time around?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Circus Season 7 Episode 14 - The Main Event
    7.5/10(10 votes)

    #25 - The Main Event

    S7:E14

    The Circus is on the ground in Pennsylvania analyzing the impact of the highly anticipated Senate debate. Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz looks to gain ground while questions swirl about Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman's health.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Riptides" is the best rated episode of "The Circus". It scored 8.5/10 based on 9 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 11/13/2022. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Nothing but the Truth".