The Best People with Nicolle Wallace

Against the backdrop of the shocking U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, renowned historian and Substack superstar Heather Cox Richardson is back with Nicolle, bringing her unique capacity to explain our current state of play through a historically tinted lens. As Trump's actions abroad rattle the post-World War II international order, Heather warns of a political era that adheres more to the strongman politics of autocratic leaders like Vladimir Putin than it ever has before. Together, Cox Richardson and Nicolle trace an evolving list of national concerns: a president in clear decline, a Congress unwilling to act, and a Republican Party abandoning its core principles in real time.

In a media market saturated with content, Oliver Darcy breaks the fourth wall—turning the lens back on the content makers shaping today's news. The veteran media reporter and "Status" newsletter founder is known for delivering must-read scoops and industry analysis. In this episode, Darcy joins Nicolle to analyze the depths of corporate capitulation to Donald Trump, how MAGA media stars are commanding the attention economy through rampant conspiracy pedaling, and why America's information environment is increasingly unhealthy. He warns that "the antibodies that were fighting the sickness" are being depleted. But Darcy also sees glimmers of optimism: from citizen protests to independent journalists, Americans are waking up.

Susan Rice's exemplary career in government and international relations has earned her a distinctive reputation as a resolute advocate for American interests on the world stage. As the former Ambassador to the United Nations and President Obama's National Security Advisor, she is keenly aware of our nation's leadership role across the globe. So, her sober analysis of President Trump's brazen and "widening authoritarian power grab" should be taken with the gravity she affords it. Ambassador Rice joins Nicolle to emphasize how far Trump has fallen from his campaign promises of isolationism and affordability, while underscoring that "most Americans did not sign up for reckless foreign adventures for an imperial United States." And she lays plain that, whether bullying Greenland abroad or brutal ICE interactions here at home, Trump's "gestapo-like tactics" are not who we are.

Eric Holder exemplifies a Justice Department guided by principle and integrity— rather than by the whims of a White House occupant. Holder's unique perspective as the nation's former chief law enforcement officer allows him to diagnose an untethered executive branch intent on weaponizing institutions, while also owning where Democrats fall short: "Democrats have been uncomfortable with the acquisition and use of power." In this episode of "The Best People", Holder joins Nicolle for an earnest conversation about ordinary citizens engaging in extraordinary acts of protest in Minneapolis and the colossal stakes of the upcoming midterm elections. And while he notes, "our institutions have failed us," he underscores that "the American people have not." Plus: a warning to those who bend to Trumps demands: "memories are long and people are going to remember where you stood" in this moment.

Rosie Perez was a self-professed "college nerd" studying biochemistry when she landed her breakout role as Tina in Spike Lee's iconic 1989 film "Do the Right Thing." Since then, audiences have fallen in love time and time again with the Oscar-nominated actress' magnetic presence and character driven performances. Off screen, Perez shows the same genuine courage and heart in everything she advocates for, from AIDS awareness to voting rights. In this episode, she catches up with her longtime friend Nicolle for an honest conversation about the bravery of Minnesotans, the intensity of everything Trump has wrought and the impact she's felt from canvassing to get out the vote. And though she may seem fearless, she admits to Nicolle "everyone thinks I look so brave...I'm terrified." When asked why she continues her advocacy, Perez says "there's so many people that stood up for me and fought for me. That's what gives me the courage."

Like many Americans, Scott Galloway was feeling powerless against the Trump administration's worst policy impulses. And then it hit him: knowing Trump responds only to changes in the market, why not use our keyboards and our spending power to push back through economic action? Designed as a "coordinated economic strike targeting tech and AI companies enabling state power," ‘Resist and Unsubscribe' is a movement aimed at harnessing the power of economic boycott to create repercussions for companies enabling the president. In this episode, Galloway joins Nicolle to break down how consumer spending – the driving force behind the United States economy – is a "potent weapon" for the millions of Americans eager to stand up for our nation's values.

Robert De Niro commands every room he enters. His decades-long career and Academy Award winning performances have gifted the world some of its most beloved films, from instant classics like "The Godfather II" and "Raging Bull" to countless gems like "Goodfellas," and "Casino." But despite the rough and tumble characters he often portrays, he tells Nicolle, "I'm not a tough guy. I'm a concerned citizen." He brings that inextricably human sensibility to this episode, having been a consistent and passionate voice in the fight against President Trump's worst instincts. De Niro and Nicolle drill down on the optics of business leaders turning a blind eye to the administration's behaviors, the need for mass mobilization to protect midterm election integrity, and the importance of kindness in an era defined by division. And the Hollywood titan has some sage advice for those who oppose Trump: "Everybody has to get out there every way possible... this is it. This is our country." 

After Nicolle's fiery conversation with Princeton Professor Dr. Eddie Glaude, former NOLA Mayor Mitch Landrieu, and The Atlantic's Tom Nichols on "Deadline: White House" a few weeks back, it was clear they needed to continue their thread beyond a single TV segment. So this week, she convened the trio to pick up where they left off: how to make sense of this moment in our history. "We're facing some serious headwinds, right? We're running deficits in courage," alerts Glaude, while Nichols, looking at the rise of walled-off technocrats, laments, "Even the ancient Athenians built a Parthenon to put money back into the economy at some point." And after a wide-ranging conversation about grift, grievance and the promise of America versus her reality, Landrieu declares: "Trump is a feral beast," before noting that, in the wake of what the president is destroying, "People need to start thinking about, what are we going to build going forward?"

Tig Notaro is spectacularly funny. She's also a fiercely dedicated friend. The Emmy and Grammy nominated comedian now adds "Oscar Nominee" to her impressive list of accomplishments for her work producing the deeply personal documentary, "Come See Me in the Good Light." The film explores the life and death of her dear friend, the late poet and activist Andrea Gibson, who passed after a hard-fought battle with ovarian cancer in July of 2025. Notaro joins Nicolle in this episode to honor Gibson and share stories of the venerated poet's profoundly impactful life and legacy, encapsulated in the film in Gibson's own words: "My story is one about happiness being easier to find once we realize we do not have forever to find it." They also talk about the healing nature of comedy, Notaro's experiences acting in "The Morning Show" and "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy," and her latest venture into podcasting hilarity, "Handsome."

" We anticipate your unit taking about fifty percent casualties." This is what Retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling heard in an intelligence briefing at division headquarters before deploying to Iraq in 1991. This would be the first of three combat deployments in a 38-year career in the United States Army, retiring after leading over 40,000 men and women as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Europe. It was this deployment that led Lt. Gen. Hertling to begin keeping a war-time journal, which became the basis for his latest book. "If I Don't Return" is a collection of raw and revealing missives written for his sons in the event he didn't make it home. Drawing from his personal experiences and military expertise, Lt. Gen. Hertling joins Nicolle to explain what drives the less than one percent of our citizens to become service members. He also lays out his vision of leadership and notes that while active-duty generals  serve at the behest of the President that voters choose, the current leadership in the White House and at the Pentagon do not always seem to understand the mission.