The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle

In Donald Trump’s federal election interference case, a three-judge panel mostly upheld the original gag order but narrowed its terms. Trump is barred from attacking potential witnesses, court staff, and most prosecutors but is allowed to criticize the charges, the Justice Department, and Special Counsel Jack Smith. Meanwhile, the U.S. added 199,000 jobs in Novemberand unemployment dropped to 3.7%. A closely watched consumer sentiment index is showing a more optimistic view of the U.S. economy. Eugene Daniels, Eugene Scott, Paul Butler, Jon Allen, Basil Smikle, Susan Del Percio, and Dr. Vin Gupta join.

The Justice Department filed 9 tax-related charges against Hunter Biden, including three felony counts. Meanwhile, Donald Trump takes his campaign to New York court as he calls his civil fraud case “political prosecution.” A Texas judge grants a mother’s request to have an abortion. Her fetus was diagnosed with a fatal condition that could also threaten her health as well. Texas’ attorney general is now threatening to prosecute any doctors involved in the abortion. Peter Baker, Barbara McQuade, Katie Benner, Robert Gibbs, Michael Steele, Michael McFaul, and Dr. Kavita Patel join.

Republican presidential hopefuls took the stage for the fourth and final debate before the Iowa caucuses. At the University of Alabama, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and Chris Christie faced off, while Donald Trump was absent once again. Pop music goliath, Taylor Swift has been named Time Magazine’s person of the year. The first-ever Swiftie reporter joins the 11th Hour to talk about Swift’s achievements and influence. Ali Vitali, Matthew Dowd, Stuart Stevens, Luke Broadwater, Max Rose, Joyce Vance, and Bryan West join.

President Biden told supporters at a campaign event in Boston that if Trump wasn’t running, he’s “not sure” he’d be running. Meanwhile, Trump ally Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) ended his blockade on hundreds of military promotions but said he would continue to block senior positions. Congress has yet to settle funding for Israel and Ukraine. Also, Presidents of Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania testified in front of a House committee, facing tough question over antisemitism on campus. Jon Allen, Amy McGrath, Tim Miller, Glenn Kirschner, Martin Fletcher, and Michael Roth join.

New warnings about Trump’s plans for his next administration. The New York Times says it will be more radical than the first as former January 6th Committee Vice Chair Liz Cheney warns Trump is a threat to democracy. Statistics show Donald Trump has won the affection of white evangelical protestant voters since his 2016 campaign. We tackle how and why the community is loyal to him. Hugo Lowell, Catherine Christian, Carol Leonnig, Mikhail Zygar, Reed Galen, Jason Johnson, and Tim Alberta join.

Our Friday Night roundtable tackles the biggest news in politics this week. The expulsion of Congressman George Santos (R-NY) to Trump’s latest legal troubles, Jelani Cobb, Evan McMorris-Santoro, Kalhan Rosenblatt, and Dan Nathan weigh in.

A New York appeals court reinstated the gag order in Trump’s $250 million civil fraud trial. We are still waiting for the court to rule on the gag order in the federal election case. New reporting on court documents reveals texts from Rep. Scott Perry (R-TX) about being in touch with others to keep the former President in power. Elon Musk’s profanity-laced outburst against advertiser has left X with the repercussions. The company’s CEO Linda Yaccarino has responded with a statement. Susan Glasser, Peter Baker, Barbara McQuade, Jake Ward, Mark Chiusano, Conor Lamb, and David Jolly join.

Former Deutsche Bank executive Rosemary Vrablic testified during Trump’s civil fraud hearing about the money behind the family’s businesses. Vrablic wrote in an email, “we are whale hunting” back in 2011 in reference to bringing in Trump’s business. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken returns to Tel Aviv to urge Israeli leaders to extend the temporary truce with Hamas. This is his third trip to the region, and he also urges leaders to boost aid to civilians in Gaza. Carol Leonnig, David Enrich, Lisa Rubin, David Gura, Jeremy Bash. Juanita Tolliver, and Matthew Dowd join.

New reporting reveals what former Vice President Mike Pence told special counsel Jack Smith about the days leading up to the Capital riot. This comes as Trump’s legal team challenges federal agencies’ findings that there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Meanwhile, the anti-Trump political network backed by the Koch brothers endorsed Nikki Haley in the 2024 presidential race despite Haley averaging 30 points behind Donald Trump in primary polls in her home state. Katie Benner, Charles Coleman, Mary McCord, Ben Rhodes, Ben Hodges, David Plouffe, Tim Miller, and Mike Memoli join.

More hostages are released as Israel and Hamas agree to a two-day cease-fire extension. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel back to the region. After a week recess, Congress is back in session with a lot of work to do, including sending aid to Israel and Ukraine and potentially expelling Rep. George Santos. Amna Nawaz, Eugene Daniels, Michael Bociurkiw, Basil Smikle, Stuart Stevens, Robert Gibbs, and Glenn Kirshner joins.

The deal between Israel and Hamas to release the hostages along with a four-day pause in fighting brought hope to the victims' families. Now, Israel’s government says no hostages will be released before Friday. And, today, a Thanksgiving Eve panel dives deep into the topics likely to come up during dinner. Ned Lazarus, Peter Baker, Jon Allen, Brendan Buck, Charlie Dent, and Victoria DeFrancesco Soto join.

Israel has agreed to the outlines of a deal to release some of the hostages in Gaza. Hostages’ families and other have 24 hours to appeal to the Supreme Court. Then, Speaker Mike Johnson visited Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Elon Musk’s “X” sues Media Matters for defamation over a report that claims Nazi content posted on the platform appeared alongside ads from major companies. Elon Musk is already under fire for promoting an antisemitic conspiracy theory. Several advertisers have fled the site. Susan Glasser, Yaakov Katz, Rob D'Amico, Symone Sanders-Townsend, Shermichael Singleton, and Teddy Schleifer join.

Jack Smith’s prosecutors and Donald Trump’s layers face off in federal court over Trump’s partial gag order in the election case. In a recent speech, Donald Trump called his political opponents “vermin,” echoing the language of dictators like Hitler & Mussolini. As the nation mourns the loss of former first lady Rosalynn Carter, we look at her remarkable legacy. Hugo Lowell, Melissa Murray, Barbara McQuade, Jen Psaki, Michael Steele, Rachel Maddow, and Jake Ward join.

An appeals court will hear arguments on Donald Trump’s request to lift a partial gag order in his federal election interference case. It comes as Judge Tanya Chutkan denied the former President’s bid to strike some language about January 6th from his indictment. It was a whirlwind of a week that included Donald Trump’s rhetoric echoing fascist dictators, senators exchanging petty insults and threats of violence in Congress. Annie Linskey, Jon Allen, Charles Coleman, Basil Smikle, David Jolly, & Michael Beschloss join.

A federal jury has convicted David DePape for crimes related to the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi back in 2022. DePape’s attack raised fears about political violence in America. A former Meta senior consultant, Arturo Bejar, says he warned company leaders that Instagram was harmful to teens and young kids. He says he has firsthand experience with his teenage daughter while using the platform. As the community recovers from a deadly mass shooting, Lewiston, Maine celebrates a soccer championship. Luke Broadwater, Leigh McGowan, Stuart Stevens, Renato Mariotti, Bill Carter, Carlos Curbelo, and Frances Haugen join.

President Biden met with President of China Xi Jinping at the end of Biden’s time at the APEC Summit. Meanwhile, the judge for Trump’s Georgia election case says he will issue a protective order now that the identity of the leaker is revealed. West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin says he would “absolutely” consider running for President in 2024. Then, Comedian Leslie Jones interviewed beloved MSNBC correspondent Steve Kornacki, and Leslie gave a special gift to celebrate a special friendship. Mike Memoli, Sam Stein, Joyce Vance, Matthew Dowd, Symone Sanders-Townsend, Yaakov Katz, and Gen. Barry McCaffrey joins.

Fulton County DA Fani Willis filed an emergency protective order in her state’s election interference case against Trump. Then, veterans who fought for America often face an even greater battle when they return home – PTSD. New research suggests that the psychedelic drug MDMA, could be a solution to help veterans suffering from this psychological challenge. Petty fights in Congress disgrace Capitol Hill. These embarrassing antics from our nation’s leaders and the dangerous precedent they set. Katie Benner, Benjy Sarlin, Harry Litman, Jonathan Greenblatt, Jason Johnson, Reed Galen, and Harry Smith join.

The former president is now calling for his political opponents’ ‘vermin’ and has pledged to go after the ‘radical left’. Then Israel Defense Minister has said that after 16 years in power, Hamas has lost control of Gaza. In 1998, November 13th was established as ”World Kindness Day” to highlight good deeds and remind us all to be kind to others. Peter Baker, Luke Broadwater, Kristy Greenberg, Conor Lamb, Mark McKinnon, Sally Abed, Alon Lee-Green, and Lauren Brenzel join.

West Virginia’s Democratic Senator Joe Manchin announces he will not seek re-election in 2024, while hinting at other political plans. Also, the UAW reaches a deal with automakers after a weeks-long strike. Plus, an interfaith panel looks at the rise in religious intolerance on college campuses and what can be done to fight it. Peter Baker, Matthew Dowd, Juanita Tolliver, Glenn Kirschner, David Enrich, Shawn Fain, Rabbi Marc Schneier, and Imam Shamsi Ali join.

Former President Donald Trump took the witness stand in this $250 million-dollar civil fraud trial in New York. Trump blasted the judge, attack prosecutors and insisted the case was the work of his political opponents. Also, with about a year to go until election day 2024, a New York Times/Siena poll shows President Biden trailing former President Trump in most key battleground states. Plus Israel’s ground operations move deeper into Gaza after one month of war with Hamas. 240 hostages are still being held and Israel’s Prime Minister has rejected a cease-fire until they are released. Hugo Lowell, Andrew Weissmann, Melissa Murray, Robert Gibbs, Mark McKinnon, and Jeremy Bash join.