Alex Wagner Tonight

Rep. Jasmine Crockett talks with Ali Velshi about the Republican chaos threatening to entangle House Speaker Mike Johnson in a familiar, embarrassing fight to retain the speakership into the new Congress with a tiny majority and having squandered the good will of his colleagues across the aisle who might otherwise save him.

Judge Juan Merchan denied Donald Trump's motion to dismiss his hush money case in New York and scheduled a sentencing for January 10th, which could mean that Donald Trump will officially be a felon when he is sworn in as president. Lisa Rubin, MSNBC legal correspondent, and Kristy Greenberg, former federal prosecutor, explain what options Trump has left and what is likely to happen.

Alex Wagner takes a closer look at the roots of Donald Trump's fixation of re-taking possession of the Panama Canal and adding Greenland and Canada as new American territories, and whether there is cause for concern in Trump's expansionist inclinations despite the inherent goofiness.

Still weeks away from returning to office, Donald Trump is showing himself to be as petty and vindictive as he was in his first term, turning the tragic, devastating wildfire crisis in Los Angeles into a political gotcha game with distorted lies and accusations.

The increasing risk and destruction from climate-related disasters is so plain that in some states where climate-driven fires and storms are especially devastating, some insurers are withdrawing coverage for flooding and fires. Jeff Goodell, climate journalist and author of "The Heat Will Kill You First," talks with Alex Wagner about how climate-driven disasters are forcing a change in how we live.

Martin Adams, former general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, blows up some right-wing myths about the water supply in Pacific Palisades, and talks with Alex Wagner about the realities of municipal water systems and ideas for adapting a system built for occasional residential fires to deal with a large scale, community-wide fire.

Though clearly prepared in advance with techniques to avoid addressing the many concerns raised about his qualifications to be secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth still struggled as Democrats unloaded questions about his serial infidelities, sexual assault accusations, drinking problem, lack of leadership experience and other shortcomings at his confirmation hearing. Senator Tim Kaine talks with Alex Wagner about why Donald Trump has made a mistake in choosing Fox News personality Hegseth.

Pam Bondi appears likely to become the kind of attorney general Donald Trump wished for through his entire first term: absolute fealty and commitment to his avenging his petty grievances. But while her spirit is willing, the lack of a factual basis for many of Trump's vendettas is likely to put her at risk of leaving Trump disappointed and unfulfilled. David Rohde, NBC News national security editor, discusses with Alex Wagner.

In an unusual move, House Speaker Mike Johnson removed  Rep. Mike Turner, the Republican head of the House Intelligence committee and replaced him with Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., someone with greater fealty to Donald Trump. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi joins Alex Wagner to discuss.

Rachel Maddow remarks on the qualitative difference in the type of people Donald Trump is staffing his new administration with compared to his first administration and the fact that their deliberate antagonism and abuse of power means many political norms are not applicable.