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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!

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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 Worst Episode
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    The Circus Season 2 Episode 5 - Recess Reset
    5.2/10(12 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Circus Season 2 Episode 1 - Shocking But Not Surprising
    5.4/10(19 votes)

    S2:E1

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Circus Season 2 Episode 8 - Looking Back and Moving On
    5.5/10(12 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Circus Season 2 Episode 3 - How's He Doing?
    5.7/10(15 votes)

    S2:E3

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Circus Season 6 Episode 8 - Points On the Board
    5.7/10(12 votes)

    S6:E8

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Circus Season 2 Episode 7 - Learning Curve
    5.8/10(13 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. The Circus Season 6 Episode 7 - Being Green
    5.8/10(16 votes)

    S6:E7

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Circus Season 1 Episode 25 - Nobody F... Knows
    5.9/10(20 votes)

    S1:E25

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Circus Season 2 Episode 4 - The Whole World is Watching
    5.9/10(13 votes)

    S2:E4

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Circus Season 2 Episode 6 - The Resistance
    5.9/10(13 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Circus Season 1 Episode 13 - Circus Recap
    6.0/10(13 votes)

    S1:E13

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Circus Season 3 Episode 11 - California Dreaming
    6.0/10(9 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Circus Season 3 Episode 12 - Senatorial Combat
    6.1/10(9 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Circus Season 5 Episode 7 - Super Duper Tuesday
    6.1/10(15 votes)

    S5:E7

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Circus Season 5 Episode 8 - The Cruelest Month
    6.1/10(14 votes)

    S5:E8

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Circus Season 1 Episode 12 - On Wisconsin
    6.2/10(19 votes)

    S1:E12

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Circus Season 1 Episode 17 - In the Arena
    6.2/10(19 votes)

    S1:E17

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Circus Season 1 Episode 23 - From Russia With Love
    6.2/10(22 votes)

    S1:E23

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Circus Season 5 Episode 2 - Closing Arguments
    6.2/10(18 votes)

    S5:E2

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Circus Season 5 Episode 5 - What Happens in Vegas
    6.2/10(14 votes)

    S5:E5

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Circus Season 5 Episode 17 - Crisis Mismanagement
    6.2/10(16 votes)

    S5:E17

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Circus Season 6 Episode 9 - Calling the Shots
    6.3/10(17 votes)

    S6:E9

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Circus Season 6 Episode 10 - The Biden Doctrine
    6.3/10(13 votes)

    S6:E10

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Circus Season 1 Episode 18 - Closing the Gap
    6.4/10(20 votes)

    S1:E18

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Circus Season 1 Episode 22 - Tale of the Tape
    6.4/10(23 votes)

    S1:E22

    The fallout from the second debate and the current scandal surrounding a recently publicized audio tape.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Recess Reset" is the worst rated episode of "The Circus". It scored 5.2/10 based on 12 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/16/2017. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Shocking But Not Surprising".