The Last Word with Lawrence O' Donnell Season 2017 Episode 190 September 28, 2017

The Last Word with Lawrence O' Donnell is a political news and opinion show that airs on MSNBC in the United States. Season 2017 episode 190, which aired September 28, 2017, featured commentary on the ongoing political turmoil in the country, including President Donald Trump's feud with NFL players who were protesting racial injustice by kneeling during the playing of the national anthem.

The episode began with Lawrence O' Donnell discussing Trump's escalating rhetoric against NFL players who kneel during the national anthem. O' Donnell criticized Trump for politicizing a non-political issue, and for attempting to silence dissent and suppress the First Amendment rights of athletes. He argued that the president was intentionally exacerbating racial divisions and exploiting white anxiety in order to rally his base and distract from his own failures and scandals.

The show then featured several guests who offered their own perspectives on the controversy. Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California spoke with O' Donnell via satellite about the importance of free speech and the danger of authoritarianism. She condemned Trump's divisive language and urged unity and tolerance across racial and ideological lines.

Next, former NFL player Donte Stallworth appeared on the show to discuss why he and other players had decided to kneel during the national anthem. Stallworth said that the protest was not about disrespecting the flag or the military, but about highlighting the racial inequality and police brutality that African Americans face in the United States. He also challenged the notion that athletes should "stick to sports" and not engage in social and political issues.

Later in the episode, O' Donnell shifted the focus to the Republican party and its failures to govern effectively. He argued that the GOP had become a "tribal" party that valued ideology over pragmatism and was more interested in opposing Democrats than in solving problems for the American people. He cited the party's repeated attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, despite overwhelming public opposition and the lack of a viable alternative plan.

The episode concluded with O' Donnell calling for greater civility and cooperation in American politics, and for a renewed commitment to democratic values and institutions. He criticized Trump for undermining the media, the judiciary, and the electoral process, and for promoting fear and anger instead of hope and optimism. He urged viewers to hold their elected officials accountable and to work towards a more just and equitable society for all.