Rachel Maddow Launches New MSNBC Podcast

By A.J. Katz 

When Rachel Maddow signed a new deal last year to remain at NBCUniversal, it included the scaling back of her on-air MSNBC primetime duties from daily to weekly—and the ability to do more premium long-form projects with NBCUniversal, including documentaries and streaming specials, movies, books and podcasts—all under the banner of a new independent production company: Surprise Inside.

Well, MSNBC and Maddow announced today the launch of her newest original podcast under that banner—and it’s named Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra.

According to the network, “the eight-episode series, which will debut next Monday, Oct. 10, examines the history of a seditious plot to undermine democracy 80 years ago and the wild fight to stop it … Maddow will guide listeners through history to tell the story of Americans who plotted to overthrow the government and end democracy during World War II, the members of Congress who aligned themselves with that movement—and their attempts to cover their tracks when they were exposed.”

Advertisement

MSNBC president Rashida Jones adds, “Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra spotlights what Rachel does best: masterfully breaking down complex stories and connecting history to our world today,” MSNBC President Rashida Jones said. “This is the first of many projects in the expanding Rachel universe that will allow audiences to see—or hear—Rachel on all of our platforms.”

“We are not the first generation of Americans to have contended with a clear and present threat to our democracy,” says Maddow. “The history of this particular fight is less well known today, but it’s a fascinating example of how the criminal law can’t be counted on to do it all. Protecting democracy from its enemies takes all kinds of Americans working in all kinds of ways.”

Former The Rachel Maddow Show producer Michael Yarvitz is the ep of Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra. This is the second original podcast from the pair, following their hit series Bag Man, which earned the duPont-Columbia Award.

The first two episodes will be available beginning Monday, Oct. 10 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Episodes will then drop weekly on Mondays.

Advertisement