5.7/1011 votesLoading...#1 - Points On the Board
Season 6 Episode 8 - Aired 2/28/2021
The Circus keys in on the Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. As Republicans scrutinize, the question remains: can centrists come together to pass the bill as the US surpasses 500,000 COVID-19 deaths? From the White House perspective, Jenn Palmieri sits with Communications Director Kate Bedingfield and John Heilemann interviews bill author Brian Deese and Domestic Policy Director Susan Rice. And exploring how the package is viewed among conservatives, Mark McKinnon speaks with Rep. Dan Crenshaw. Mid-season finale.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
5.8/1018 votesLoading...#2 - Shocking But Not Surprising
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 3/19/2017
Mark Halperin takes a ride on Airforce One with President Donald Trump. We look at the debate surrounding the healthcare bill and hear from both sides, including Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Rand Paul and the White House.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
5.8/1014 votesLoading...#3 - Being Green
Season 6 Episode 7 - Aired 2/21/2021
The Circus shifts its focus onto an administration fresh off implementing a series of ambitious climate motions. With several early executive actions in place, how is President Biden filtering jobs into his climate agenda moving forward? In Minnesota, where construction of the Enbridge Pipeline is sparking controversy, Alex Wagner speaks with indigenous protesters along with Rep. Ihan Omar. And Mark McKinnon takes a spin in a new electric car from Ford, a company that has pledged fully electric emissions by 2030.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
5.9/1019 votesLoading...#4 - Nobody F... Knows
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 11/6/2016
Polls predict the differing outcomes; both campaigns make a case in "far-fetched battlegrounds"; to most, the race is either up for grabs or already decided.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.0/1013 votesLoading...#5 - Circus Recap
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 4/10/2016
From the early primary battles to the Super Tuesday showdown and beyond, pull back the curtain on the 2016 presidential race with Mark Halperin, John Heilemann and Mark McKinnon - and catch up on the electrifying first twelve weeks.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.0/1013 votesLoading...#6 - The Whole World is Watching
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 4/9/2017
What in the world is going on? This week is all about foreign policy: President Trump's military response to the use of chemical weapons in Syria and its impact on his ongoing delicate dance with Russia.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.0/1011 votesLoading...#7 - Recess Reset
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 4/16/2017
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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.0/108 votesLoading...
#8 - California Dreaming
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 10/14/2018
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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.1/108 votesLoading...
#9 - Senatorial Combat
Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 10/21/2018
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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.2/1020 votesLoading...#10 - On Wisconsin
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 4/3/2016
Ahead of a Wisconsin showdown the candidates crisscross the state in pursuit of competing agendas. Can Kasich, Cruz or Sanders secure their position as spoilers - or will Clinton and Trump finally be crowned their party's Big Cheese?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.2/1022 votesLoading...
#11 - From Russia With Love
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 10/23/2016
Clinton faces the scandal of her highly sensitive, private emails being made public on WikiLeaks, amid claims of foreign hacking and intervention and international espionage of the 2016 election.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.2/1014 votesLoading...#12 - How's He Doing?
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 4/2/2017
What do people outside the Beltway really think about President Trump? Mark Halperin takes a trip through America to find the answers. Then he heads to New Orleans to discuss his surprising findings with Mary Matalin.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.2/1011 votesLoading...#13 - Looking Back and Moving On
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 5/7/2017
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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.2/1019 votesLoading...#14 - Closing Arguments
Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 2/2/2020
In the last full week before the caucuses, the focus is on Iowa and the closing pitch all of the Democratic candidates are making to voters. Campaign leaders for the major candidates weigh in on their final sprints, what they're excited about, and what is keeping them up at night. And even as his impeachment trial is underway in Washington, President Trump makes an appearance at an Iowa rally and The Circus is there to cover it.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.2/1015 votesLoading...#15 - What Happens in Vegas
Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 2/23/2020
All eyes have turned to Nevada and its Democratic caucus. Bernie Sanders has the chance to cement his frontrunner status with a strong showing, and the other candidates are looking for opportunities to challenge him. The arrival of Michael Bloomberg on the debate stage shakes things up, with every candidate seeking to take on his controversial campaign.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.2/1016 votesLoading...#16 - Super Duper Tuesday
Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 3/8/2020
In the run up to the Democratic primaries on Super Tuesday, The Circus covers the political theater of the annual Civil Rights march in Selma, AL, the endorsements of candidates who dropped out, and the remaining candidates crisscrossing the country in a last-minute hunt for undecided votes. And when the results of Super Tuesday turn the race upside down, the hosts check in with experienced Democratic strategists to wade through the repercussions.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.2/1015 votesLoading...#17 - The Cruelest Month
Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 3/15/2020
The results of the Big Tuesday Democratic primaries in 6 states cemented Joe Biden's frontrunner status and gave him a seemingly insurmountable lead in delegates over rival Bernie Sanders. But Sanders has announced he isn't dropping out, and is planning to debate Biden and continue to push his progressive agenda. Meanwhile, with cancelled rallies and limits on travel, the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the race in ways large and small.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.2/1017 votesLoading...#18 - Crisis Mismanagement
Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 10/11/2020
In a turbulent week following President Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis, The Circus is covering all the inquiry surrounding his health. As more people in Trump's circle test positive, the current functionality of the White House and outlook for the campaign has come under scrutiny. Alex Wagner talks with Kevin Madden, one of the top GOP communication experts, to discuss the White House's strategy in the days remaining until the election. Meanwhile, John Heilemann sits down with members of The Lincoln Project on the heels of the first Veep debate.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.3/1020 votesLoading...#19 - In the Arena
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 7/31/2016
The jeers and boos of Sanders diehards ring out in Philadelphia, before the Democrats at last make Hillary a historic nominee. But is shattering a glass ceiling enough for Clinton and Kaine to unite the party into a winning coalition?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.3/1021 votesLoading...#20 - Closing the Gap
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 9/11/2016
With ten weeks to go until the election the Trump campaign finds itself running from behind. As members of his party start to publicly jump ship, can Trump find a way to close the gap with Clinton or will he just fall further behind?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.3/1012 votesLoading...#21 - Learning Curve
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 4/30/2017
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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.3/1016 votesLoading...#22 - Calling the Shots
Season 6 Episode 9 - Aired 9/19/2021
The Circus returns and while the weather may be cooling down, the temperature around the country is still overheated. As Gavin Newsom fights off an anti-vax motivated recall election in California, Asa Hutchinson tries to thread a needle by fighting the pandemic in Arkansas without resorting to a mandate. Meanwhile, Washington fears another incursion from January 6th insurrectionists galvanized by recent vaccine mandates. With the culture war still very much alive, will President Biden be able to heal the country’s political divisions?
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.3/1012 votesLoading...#23 - The Biden Doctrine
Season 6 Episode 10 - Aired 9/26/2021
Against the backdrop of President Biden’s powerful speech to the UN, The Circus focuses on his administration’s approach to foreign policy. With a new defense arrangement announced between the US, UK and Australia, Jenn Palmieri speaks with former Aussie PM Julia Gillard in London. In the wake of ongoing turbulence in Afghanistan, John Heilemann examines the refugee crisis with IRC head David Miliband and Alex Wagner speaks with families in Richmond, Virginia, home to a significant refugee community.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.3/1013 votesLoading...#24 - State of Denial
Season 7 Episode 11 - Aired 10/9/2022
The Circus travels to Arizona, a key battleground in the upcoming midterm elections and the epicenter of election denial. Jennifer Palmieri, John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon and guest host Tim Miller travel the state, where every top Republican candidate has echoed former President Donald Trump's false claim that the 2020 election was fraudulent, exploring what's at stake if election-denying candidates win office and control of the state's election system.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.4/1023 votesLoading...
#25 - Tale of the Tape
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 10/16/2016
The fallout from the second debate and the current scandal surrounding a recently publicized audio tape.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Worst Episodes of The Circus
Every episode of The Circus ranked from worst to best. Explore 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...
Genre:Documentary
Network:Showtime
Worst Episodes Summary
"Points On the Board" is the worst rated episode of "The Circus". It scored 5.7/10 based on 11 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 2/28/2021. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Shocking But Not Surprising".