The Weekend

7am: The United States-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, set to begin today, have been delayed for unknown reasons. A new study reveals up to 325 thousand Russian soldiers are dead, and up to 140 thousand Ukrainian fighters have died since the February 2022 attack. Former U.S. Marine and Russian prisoner Trevor Reed joins "The Weekend" to discuss his new book and why he returned to Ukraine to fight on the front lines against Russia.

8am: In a Texas state senate race, Democrat Taylor Rehmet was declared the winner over Republican Leigh Wambsganss by double digits in the state's deep-red 9th district that President Trump won by 17 points in 2024. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin joins The Weekend to discuss the latest victory for Democrats and what it means for the party.

9am: Protesters are filling the streets across the country, responding to the killings of two Minneapolis residents. And instead of trying to defuse the situation, President Trump threatened protesters and instructed federal agents to be "very forceful" in their protection of federal property. Plus, the latest developments in DHS's Operation Metro Surge are now playing out in courts as a federal judge denied Minnesota's request for a preliminary injunction. In response, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison claims they will continue the legal fight to protect Minnesotans. He joins "The Weekend" to discuss.

7am: The racist video on his social media account was posted late Thursday, the fifth day of Black History Month, and depicts the Obamas as apes -- a longtime racist trope that has deep historical roots. The post sparked backlash with Democratic and Republican lawmakers quickly condemning it. Symone Sanders Townsend and Miles Taylor join The Weekend to discuss the president's post and his refusal to admit any wrongdoing.

8am: The impact of "Operation Metro Surge" will be felt for weeks to come, especially for the courts. A group of former federal prosecutors and civil-rights attorneys have signed a letter to  Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding transparency in the Minnesota investigations. One of the lawyers who wrote that letter, former Federal Prosecutor and Chief of the Criminal Division in the Southern District of New York, Perry Carbone, joins "The Weekend" to discuss.

9am: The administration first cut the funding in last october's shutdown, alleging it was to ensure it wasn't used on "unconstitutional dei principles." Now the Gateway Development Commission overseeing the project is also suing in a separate case, claiming the Department of Transportation breached several grant and loan agreements and that the suspension is politically motivated. All of this just one day after new reporting revealed the stunning quid pro quo from the president's officials to Sen. Chuck Schumer to help rename Penn Station and Dulles Airport after President Donald Tump in exchange for the federal money. Rep. Rob Menendez joins The Weekend to discuss the latest on the project.

7am: Republicans are worried about a Democratic blowout in both chambers of Congress. One race they're focusing on is GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's seat in Georgia, where 21 candidates are already on the ballot. Plus, the only Senate Democrat up for re-election this year is Jon Ossoff, who delivered a fiery speech attacking the Trump administration for being out of touch. MS Now Political Analyst Eugene Robinson and Stuart Stevens, Senior adviser at the Lincoln Project, join "The Weekend" to discuss.

8am: This week the Labor Department said job openings in December dropped to their lowest level in five years, and layoffs surged in January to their highest level since 2009 during the Great Recession. Even members of President Trump's party are raising the alarm heading into this year's midterms. Senate Repbulicans worry backlash to Trump's handling of the economy and his aggressive deportation policies could cause a Democratic wave that sweeps both the House and Senate. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) joins The Weekend to discuss the current state of the economy. Actor Lena Waithe also joins The Weekend to discuss her new play Trinity and the Trump administration's attempt to rewrite Black history in America.

9am: Congress faces a big week in the ongoing investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case. His accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, will testify virtually before the House Oversight Committee, but her lawyer confirmed to MS Now that she will exercise her Fifth Amendment right to stay silent. Plus, beginning on Monday, Congress will gain access to the unredacted versions of the three million Epstein files. Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, who serves on the House Oversight Committee, joins "The Weekend" to discuss.