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The Worst Episodes of The Circus

Every episode of The Circus ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Circus!

The Worst Episodes of The Circus

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...

Seasons8

  1. Background image for Recess Reset
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    #1 - Recess Reset

    S2:E5

    Congress may be in recess but Mark Halperin is on the job, covering the White House and the Syria fallout. John Heilemann and Mark McKinnon hit the road to see what Americans think about how President Trump is handling the situation.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  2. Background image for The Resistance
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    #2 - The Resistance

    S2:E6

    How are the Democrats resisting Trump? Mark Halperin talks to Elizabeth Warren about standing strong. Bernie Sanders tells John Heilemann about taking his message to the people. Americans talk about what resistance means to them.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  3. Background image for Learning Curve
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    #3 - Learning Curve

    S2:E7

    What has President Trump learned from his first 100 days in office? As Congress reconvenes, Mark McKinnon and John Heilemann head to Capitol Hill to find out. Mark Halperin is in New York City to get Wall Street’s perspective.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for Looking Back and Moving On
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    #4 - Looking Back and Moving On

    S2:E8

    Washington insiders join John Heilemann, Mark Halperin and Mark McKinnon for a look at some of the thrilling, amazing and logic defying acts performed during President Trump's first 100 days. Season finale.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for The Looking Glass War
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    #5 - The Looking Glass War

    S3:E1

    The United States and Russia are locked in a dangerous new standoff. From Facebook and meddling in the 2016 election, to alleged poisoning attacks, to the war in Syria, Russia is the dominant force in our news cycle. John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon and new host Alex Wagner examine America's new Cold War with Russia and where it's leading.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  6. Background image for Too Many Lawyers
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    #6 - Too Many Lawyers

    S3:E2

    An ever-growing swirl of legal entanglements continues to surround President Trump. From the ongoing Mueller investigation to the Michael Cohen raid and subsequent hearing, and James Comey's inflammatory book, the Trump presidency is under siege. John Heillman interviews Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels' lawyer, John and Alex Wagner have a colorful dialog with legal heavyweight and Trump supporter Alan Dershowitz, and Mark McKinnon sits down with former Acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  8. Background image for Trump Country
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    #7 - Trump Country

    S3:E4

    Taking the nation's temperature on the president's performance, midterm elections and gun control; featuring interviews with Mitt Romney, Randy "Iron Stache" Bryce and Beto O'Rourke

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for War and Peace
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    #8 - War and Peace

    S3:E5

    The gloves are off as Donald Trump fights a 360-degree battle to keep the presidency; he is taking shots at those who stand to threaten it and is at war against the deep state of the FBI, CIA, and the Department of Justice.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for Their Brand is Crisis
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    #9 - Their Brand is Crisis

    S3:E6

    The Trump administration has had to contend with an unprecedented number of crises, and spinning them is an ongoing preoccupation. In this era of splintered news media, how do you get the right message to the right people, and still stay on course? Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie discusses trying to govern during a PR crisis, Steve Brill hosts an Axios event on combating fake news, and Steve Schmidt and Mark Fabiani, Bill Clinton's advisor during the Whitewater scandal, both weigh in on how this White House is managing crises.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for The Gathering Storm
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    #10 - 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for Burden of Proof
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    #11 - Burden of Proof

    S3:E8

    As Republicans and Democrats play a dramatic game of chess in the wake of the assault allegations from Christine Blasey Ford, all eyes are on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the confirmation process of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Parallels are drawn between the current showdown and the Anita Hill hearing in 1991, and recurring contributor Steve Schmidt gives context to the Trump administration's response, given his experience working to confirm Supreme Court nominees for previous Republican administrations.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for Judgment Day
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    #12 - Judgment Day

    S3:E9

    The focus remains tightly on the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; for much of the week, John Heilemann is embedded with attorney Michael Avenatti, who may just have the most explosive revelations of all.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for The Verdict
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    #13 - The Verdict

    S3:E10

    The emphasis remains squarely on the Judge Brett Kavanaugh confirmation saga; as the midterm elections draw nearer, the hosts delve into the ramifications of the confirmation's outcome on various U.S. Senate races around the country.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for California Dreaming
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    #14 - California Dreaming

    S3:E11

    The Circus travels to California to gauge the resistance to the Trump administration; with almost a dozen Republican-held house seats in serious contention, any potential blue wave in the midterm elections will begin here.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for Senatorial Combat
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    #15 - Senatorial Combat

    S3:E12

    As the battle for the Senate heats up with polls forecasting a Republican resurgence, "The Circus" travels the country charting the shifting dynamics in three of the closest races: Arizona, Nevada and North Dakota.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for Black and White
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    #16 - Black and White

    S3:E13

    As undertones of racial politics make news, "The Circus" travels to Florida and Georgia, following two historic gubernatorial races with African-American candidates.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for A Place Called Fear
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    #17 - A Place Called Fear

    S3:E14

    With the midterm elections only days away, The Circus travels to rallies and campaign stops around the country to find out how both sides are pulling out all the stops to win these all-important races.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  19. Background image for Mother(f***er) of All Midterms
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    #18 - Mother(f***er) of All Midterms

    S3:E15

    This special one-hour season finale is all about the midterms: before, during and after. In the run-up to election day, The Circus visits some of the high-profile campaigns to catch their final pushes.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  20. Background image for On the Brink
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    #19 - On the Brink

    S7:E1

    The Circus returns with the world on edge following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. John Heilemann reports from on the ground in neighboring Poland with U.S. Ambassador Mark Brzezinski. Jennifer Palmieri is at the White House with Press Secretary Jen Psaki immediately following President Biden’s first State of the Union address. Plus, Alex Wagner examines the escalating standoff between Presidents Biden and Putin and Mark McKinnon looks at the political tensions on Capitol Hill amidst the evolving crisis.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  21. Background image for The Escalation Ladder
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    #20 - 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  22. Background image for The Information War
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    #21 - 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  23. Background image for The Nuclear Option
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    #22 - 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  24. Background image for The Home Front
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    #23 - 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  25. Background image for There Will Be Blood
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    #24 - There Will Be Blood

    S7:E6

    As the President’s historic nominee for the Supreme Court is confirmed, The Circus examines Biden’s successes, failures and plunging poll numbers. John Heilemann, Alex Wagner, Mark McKinnon and Jennifer Palmieri dig into the dissatisfaction within the Democratic base and the party’s prospects for the midterms; Representatives Stephanie Murphy and Ted Lieu share their differing strategies for Democrats to keep control of Congress; and The Circus speaks with the White House team behind Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s momentous confirmation.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  26. Background image for Keystone Chaos
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    #25 - Keystone Chaos

    S7:E7

    he Circus is on the ground in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania to cover one of the most consequential Senate races in the nation. John Heilemann, Alex Wagner, Mark McKinnon and Jennifer Palmieri report on the heated competition as former president Donald Trump weighs in with a surprise endorsement. Republican and Democratic candidates speak with The Circus about the final, frantic weeks of the primary.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

Worst Episodes Summary

"Recess Reset" is the worst rated episode of "The Circus". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/16/2017. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Resistance".