The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth Season 1 Episode 2 Prisoner's Dilemma

In season 1, episode 2 of "The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth," titled "Prisoner's Dilemma," the series continues to follow the Presidential campaign of 2016 with a focus on the Democratic Party. The episode begins with co-hosts John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, and Mark Halperin arriving in Las Vegas to cover the second Democratic debate. The debate is a crucial event for the candidates as they are all vying for the nomination in a race that has been dominated by the Republican candidates.

The episode highlights the differences between the two Democratic front-runners, Senator Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The co-hosts give viewers an inside look at how each candidate is preparing for the debate and what their respective strategies are. While Clinton is focused on presenting herself as a steady and experienced leader, Sanders is looking to energize his base with his populist message.

One of the most interesting aspects of this episode is the discussion of the "Prisoner's Dilemma," a game theory scenario that is often used to explain political behavior. The co-hosts explain how the scenario works and how it can be applied to the Presidential campaign. According to the Prisoner's Dilemma, two candidates who are both trying to win the nomination may end up hurting each other's chances if they engage in negative campaigning. However, if one candidate decides to attack the other, the other candidate must also attack in order to avoid being seen as weak. This can lead to a situation where both candidates end up hurting each other and ultimately lose the nomination.

As the co-hosts cover the debate, they pay close attention to how the candidates interact with each other and whether they are following the Prisoner's Dilemma scenario. While both Clinton and Sanders are critical of each other's policies, they generally avoid personal attacks. However, former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley decides to break the norm and take some jabs at Clinton. The co-hosts analyze the impact of O'Malley's attacks and whether they are likely to hurt Clinton's chance of winning the nomination.

In addition to the Democratic debate, the episode also covers the latest developments in the Republican race. The co-hosts discuss Donald Trump's recent controversial comments about banning Muslims from entering the United States and how his fellow Republicans are reacting to his proposal. They also cover the latest polls and whether Trump's lead is continuing to hold.

Overall, season 1, episode 2 of "The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth" provides an in-depth look at the Democratic Presidential campaign and how the candidates are preparing for one of the most important debates of the election cycle. The co-hosts use game theory to analyze political behavior and offer insightful analysis of the latest developments in both the Democratic and Republican races.