Playback is currently unavailable for S1 E21 · The Newsrooms. Episode details remain available below.
The Circus
Come one, come all to The Circus. This real-time documentary series pulls back the curtain on the current political stories, revealing the intense, inspiring and infuriating stories behind the headlines. Key characters and events are presented in real time, as they are happening.
- Created by:
- John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon
- Cast:
- John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, Jennifer Palmieri
- Language:
- English
- Country:
- United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada
- Network:
- Showtime
Episode guide
Seasons
Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth
Episodes
E01
Episode 1
★ 9.0The Outsiders
2016-01-17 · 29mThe campaigns of three "outsiders" - Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump - are given behind-the-scenes attention on the road to the Iowa caucus. Series premiere.
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E02
Episode 2
★ 8.0Prisoner's Dilemma
2016-01-24 · 29mThe second episode follows Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. Chris Christie, former Gov. Jeb Bush and Gov. John Kasich as they prepare for the all-important, first-in-the-nation primary in New Hampshire.
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E03
Episode 3
★ 9.0Tension City
2016-01-31 · 29mThis episode follows the angst and drama leading up to the Iowa caucuses, with a showdown brewing between Democrats Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton and the GOP's first real test of outsider candidates versus the establishment.
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E04
Episode 4
★ 9.0The Big Mo
2016-02-07 · 29mThe fourth episode goes inside the Iowa fallout and the momentum leading into New Hampshire's primary. Who¿s got it? Who doesn't? And how can the Clinton and Trump campaigns pick up the pace to beat back the surge of Sanders and Cruz?
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E05
Episode 5
★ 9.0The Winnowing
2016-02-14 · 29mFrom the electric jolt of New Hampshire to the hard truths coming up in South Carolina and Nevada. Trump tastes victory, Kasich picks up momentum - and Bush faces the prospect of an impending do-or-die reality.
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E06
Episode 6
Fear and Loathing
2016-02-21 · 29mAs the campaigns head towards the final stretch leading to Nevada and South Carolina, there's growing anxiety among both frontrunners and stragglers about just how high the stakes are - and the significance of falling behind.
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E07
Episode 7
★ 9.0Confidence Game
2016-02-28 · 29mWith the field narrowed down to The Big Five, the campaigns spread their game across the country and play to their strengths - with eyes squarely focused on the all-important upcoming prize: Super Tuesday.
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E08
Episode 8
★ 10.0The Reckoning
2016-03-06 · 29mWith big wins for the frontrunners on Super Tuesday the rest of candidates are reckoning with the results. But the biggest story of all might be one both Democratic and Republican establishments can agree on: how do they stop Trump?
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E09
Episode 9
★ 7.0Dead or Alive
2016-03-13 · 29mIt's make or break time for Rubio, Kasich and Sanders. As the candidates pin their hopes on Florida and Ohio, can they gather enough momentum to force a brokered convention - or will their campaigns finally run out of steam?
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E10
Episode 10
High Hopes
2016-03-20 · 29mWhile Rubio gets trumped in Florida, the rest of the candidates remain cautiously optimistic. But are high hopes what they need to pull off a win and secure the nomination - or are they just delusional?
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E11
Episode 11
★ 7.0Home And Abroad
2016-03-27 · 29mForeign policy comes to the fore as the political climate grows fiery in the wake of the attacks in Brussels. As Trump and Clinton prepare to square off, can either of them prove their presidential mettle in handling the heat?
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E12
Episode 12
On Wisconsin
2016-04-03 · 29mAhead of a Wisconsin showdown the candidates crisscross the state in pursuit of competing agendas. Can Kasich, Cruz or Sanders secure their position as spoilers - or will Clinton and Trump finally be crowned their party's Big Cheese?
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E13
Episode 13
★ 7.0Circus Recap
2016-04-10 · 29mFrom the early primary battles to the Super Tuesday showdown and beyond, pull back the curtain on the 2016 presidential race with Mark Halperin, John Heilemann and Mark McKinnon - and catch up on the electrifying first twelve weeks.
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E14
Episode 14
Game On
2016-07-10 · 29mWhile the nation celebrates July 4th, Trump and Clinton engage in their own fireworks. With the reemergence of Clinton's email scandal and Trump's latest faux pas, the titans go on the attack to take each other down.
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E15
Episode 15
Veepstakes
2016-07-17 · 29mNo president is complete without a veep. As Trump auditions Chris Christie, Mike Pence and Newt Gingrich and Clinton considers Tim Kaine, can the candidates find the right-hand man for the job who will make, not break, their campaign?
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E16
Episode 16
The Trump Show
2016-07-24 · 29mThe political circus goes into overdrive as Trump is crowned the Republican nominee - and Melania, controversially, speaks! Capitalizing on his children to help humanize his image, can Trump plus Pence finally rally a unified party?
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E17
Episode 17
In the Arena
2016-07-31 · 29mThe jeers and boos of Sanders diehards ring out in Philadelphia, before the Democrats at last make Hillary a historic nominee. But is shattering a glass ceiling enough for Clinton and Kaine to unite the party into a winning coalition?
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E18
Episode 18
★ 8.0Closing the Gap
2016-09-11 · 29mWith ten weeks to go until the election the Trump campaign finds itself running from behind. As members of his party start to publicly jump ship, can Trump find a way to close the gap with Clinton or will he just fall further behind?
Watch progress · Not trackedEpisode 19
★ 8.0Fit to Serve
2016-09-18 · 29mAs Clinton's pneumonia and scrutiny about Trump's medical records comes to the forefront, their fitness to lead is questioned.
Watch progress · Not trackedEpisode 20
★ 8.0Battleground
2016-09-25 · 29mAs Clinton and Trump prepare for their first debate, their campaigns target the swing states with an eye on Florida.
Watch progress · Not trackedEpisode 21
★ 10.0The Newsrooms
2016-10-02 · 29mPreparations for the debate; the candidates cede the spotlight to those who cover the political news.
Current episodeEpisode 22
★ 8.0Tale of the Tape
2016-10-16 · 29mThe fallout from the second debate and the current scandal surrounding a recently publicized audio tape.
Watch progress · Not trackedEpisode 23
★ 10.0From Russia With Love
2016-10-23 · 29mClinton faces the scandal of her highly sensitive, private emails being made public on WikiLeaks, amid claims of foreign hacking and intervention and international espionage of the 2016 election.
Watch progress · Not trackedEpisode 24
His Word as Biden
2016-10-30 · 29mWith only two weeks until election day, Clinton bets on the one man who has the potential to swing those states still up for grabs: Joe Biden.
Watch progress · Not trackedEpisode 25
Nobody F... Knows
2016-11-06 · 29mPolls predict the differing outcomes; both campaigns make a case in "far-fetched battlegrounds"; to most, the race is either up for grabs or already decided.
Watch progress · Not trackedEpisode 26
★ 9.0President Trump
2016-11-13 · 29mIn a special hour-long episode of the real-time documentary series, Mark Halperin, John Heilemann and Mark McKinnon go behind the scenes of both campaigns in the lead up to Election Day - and the fallout that followed.
Watch progress · Not trackedCast
John Heilemann
Self - Co-Host
Mark McKinnon
Self - Co-Host
Jennifer Palmieri
Self - Co-Host
