As the country barrels toward the 2026 midterm elections, one place sits at the center of it all: Texas. The state has become the place where the country’s biggest political questions are tested and where the ripple effects are felt coast to coast. MS NOW brought our trusted journalists and dedicated audience together for a day-long community gathering.

Rachel Maddow, Ali Velshi and Jen Psaki hosted a news-packed evening along with special guests Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sherrilyn Ifill as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

Rachel Maddow hosted a live conversation centered around the themes from her new podcast, including the fight against race-based incarceration during WWII and lessons for now.