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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 Raining Chaos
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    #1 - 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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  2. Background image for Clear and Present Danger
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    #2 - Clear and Present Danger

    S6:E2

    At the brink of an historic second impeachment, The Circus delves into the last week in office of a furious, de-platformed President Trump. With last week’s Capitol violence ever relevant, the question remains: will this be a decisive moment for our nation?

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  3. Background image for Rubber Meets Road
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    #3 - Rubber Meets Road

    S6:E4

    In the first full week of a new administration, The Circus offers a window into President Biden’s approach towards tackling the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. As the vaccine moves transnationally from shipment to inoculation, the hosts focus on the response at a federal, state & local level. In Los Angeles, John Heilemann speaks with Mayor Eric Garcetti about the status of vaccinations at Dodger Stadium. And from a United Airlines cargo area, Alex Wagner examines exactly what it takes to securely transport the vaccines.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for Dysfunction Junction
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    #4 - Dysfunction Junction

    S6:E5

    In a chaotic week, The Circus takes the pulse of a Republican Party at war with itself. Still dominated by the postures of its predecessor, the hosts speak with both ends of the GOP spectrum, zeroing in on a party in the post-Trump era facing incessantly erratic claims from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green. John Heilemann sits down with Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of few Republicans backing the impeachment of Donald Trump, while Jenn Palmieri addresses growing fears for personal safety on the Hill with Green's fellow Georgia Rep. Nikema Williams.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for Persona Non Grata
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    #5 - Persona Non Grata

    S6:E6

    The Circus focuses on the historic second impeachment trial of Donald Trump as the Senate faces a decisive moment and questions the former President’s culpability in the January 6th Capitol siege. Still outraged by the violence, Sen. Michael Bennett joins John Heilemann for a look at preparation for the trial and Alex Wagner speaks with an attorney planning to use Trump’s incitement in defense of his insurrectionist client. Elsewhere, the hosts take a glimpse at Mar-a-Lago, where locals are at odds about Trump’s presence in their community.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  6. Background image for Being Green
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    #6 - Being Green

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  8. Background image for Points On the Board
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    #7 - Points On the Board

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for Calling the Shots
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    #8 - Calling the Shots

    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?

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for The Biden Doctrine
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    #9 - The Biden Doctrine

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  11. Background image for It’s All Happening
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    #10 - It’s All Happening

    S6:E11

    The Circus heads to Capitol Hill for the fierce battle over President Biden's legacy-defining agenda. With Democrats at odds over massive infrastructure and social spending bills, John Heilemann goes behind the scenes with the leader of the House moderates, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, while Alex Wagner speaks with the chair of the House Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal. Neither side is backing down in the fight over how to achieve President Biden's transformative agenda.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for Lone Star Blues
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    #11 - Lone Star Blues

    S6:E12

    The Circus heads to Texas, home to the nation's most restrictive abortion law, a controversial new voting law and a red-hot immigration battle. Alex Wagner speaks with Planned Parenthood about the new law’s impact on women across the state. Jennifer Palmieri talks with Bryan Hughes, author of both the abortion and voting laws. John Heilemann sits down with former Bush aide Matthew Dowd, who’s running for Lt. Governor as a Democrat. And Mark McKinnon heads to the border where Governor Abbott is announcing a new plan to address the crisis.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for Coup Part Two
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    #12 - Coup Part Two

    S6:E13

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  14. Background image for Virginia Is For…
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    #13 - Virginia Is For…

    S6:E14

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for Big F***ing Deal
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    #14 - Big F***ing Deal

    S6:E15

    A report from Capitol Hill as the deadline looms to pass President Biden's legacy-defining agenda, as moderate and progressive Democrats in both chambers race to strike a deal before the week's end.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for The Broken Place
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    #15 - The Broken Place

    S6:E16

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for On the Brink
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    #16 - 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
  18. Background image for The Escalation Ladder
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    #17 - 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
  19. Background image for The Information War
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    #18 - 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
  20. Background image for The Nuclear Option
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    #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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  21. Background image for The Home Front
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    #20 - 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
  22. Background image for There Will Be Blood
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    #21 - 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
  23. Background image for Keystone Chaos
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    #22 - 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
  24. Background image for Tip of the Spear
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    #23 - Tip of the Spear

    S7:E8

    The Circus travels to Florida as Governor Ron DeSantis signs controversial laws on education, gender, and abortion. John Heilemann, Alex Wagner, Mark McKinnon and Jennifer Palmieri explore how the Sunshine State has become the central battlefield of an American culture war that includes a conservative effort to strike math textbooks due to “prohibited topics,” the fallout from the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law, and a rapidly escalating feud between Disney and state Republicans.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  25. Background image for Riptides
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    #24 - Riptides

    S7:E16

    No description available

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  26. Background image for Shocking But Not Surprising
    5.8/10(18 votes)

    #25 - Shocking But Not Surprising

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

Worst Episodes Summary

"Raining Chaos" 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 1/10/2021. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Clear and Present Danger".