Rachel Maddow in disbelief that Trump's 'show-stopping' new scandal isn't bigger news

MS NOW's Rachel Maddow was beside herself on Monday as she discussed the Trump administration's latest "show-stopping scandal."

Earlier in the day, Mother Jones reported that the Trump administration is working to free Alexander Smirnov, a Russian spy who was indicted for passing false information about former President Joe Biden to the FBI. A recent court filing revealed that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is working on the effort to get Smirnov out of prison, which stunned Maddow.

"Maybe our president just can't stop himself from acting to help Russia," Maddow mused.

"Even when Russia is acting to kill Americans," she added, referring to earlier reporting about how Russia had given Iran intelligence it used to hunt American soldiers. "Maybe he just can't stop himself. It just feels so good. He can't stop. But doesn't it seem like in the middle of this war, he should be able to stop himself from at least helping Iran, from helping the Iranian regime, which he has just declared war on?"

Maddow said Mother Jones's reporting compounds other reports that the Trump administration relaxed sanctions on Russian oil at a time when energy prices are at near-record highs.

"I don't know why this isn't more of a show-stopping scandal in our country," Maddow said. "Is it that hard to see what this is?"