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Series · 2016 – 2023 · Documentary

The Circus

Inside the Craziest Political Campaign on Earth

★6.5 2016 – 2023 8 Seasons John Heilemann TV-MA

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.

Seasons & episodes

8 seasons · 130 episodes

The Outsiders

Episode 01

The Outsiders

Jan 17, 2016 · 29 min

The 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.

Prisoner's Dilemma

Episode 02

Prisoner's Dilemma

Jan 24, 2016 · 29 min

The 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.

Tension City

Episode 03

Tension City

Jan 31, 2016 · 29 min

This 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.

The Big Mo

Episode 04

The Big Mo

Feb 7, 2016 · 29 min

The 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?

The Winnowing

Episode 05

The Winnowing

Feb 14, 2016 · 29 min

From 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.

Fear and Loathing

Episode 06

Fear and Loathing

Feb 21, 2016 · 29 min

As 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.

Confidence Game

Episode 07

Confidence Game

Feb 28, 2016 · 29 min

With 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.

The Reckoning

Episode 08

The Reckoning

Mar 6, 2016 · 29 min

With 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?

Dead or Alive

Episode 09

Dead or Alive

Mar 13, 2016 · 29 min

It'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?

High Hopes

Episode 10

High Hopes

Mar 20, 2016 · 29 min

While 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?

Home And Abroad

Episode 11

Home And Abroad

Mar 27, 2016 · 29 min

Foreign 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?

On Wisconsin

Episode 12

On Wisconsin

Apr 3, 2016 · 29 min

Ahead 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?

Circus Recap

Episode 13

Circus Recap

Apr 10, 2016 · 29 min

From 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.

Game On

Episode 14

Game On

Jul 10, 2016 · 29 min

While 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.

Veepstakes

Episode 15

Veepstakes

Jul 17, 2016 · 29 min

No 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?

The Trump Show

Episode 16

The Trump Show

Jul 24, 2016 · 29 min

The 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?

In the Arena

Episode 17

In the Arena

Jul 31, 2016 · 29 min

The 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?

Closing the Gap

Episode 18

Closing the Gap

Sep 11, 2016 · 29 min

With 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?

Fit to Serve

Episode 19

Fit to Serve

Sep 18, 2016 · 29 min

As Clinton's pneumonia and scrutiny about Trump's medical records comes to the forefront, their fitness to lead is questioned.

Battleground

Episode 20

Battleground

Sep 25, 2016 · 29 min

As Clinton and Trump prepare for their first debate, their campaigns target the swing states with an eye on Florida.

The Newsrooms

Episode 21

The Newsrooms

Oct 2, 2016 · 29 min

Preparations for the debate; the candidates cede the spotlight to those who cover the political news.

Tale of the Tape

Episode 22

Tale of the Tape

Oct 16, 2016 · 29 min

The fallout from the second debate and the current scandal surrounding a recently publicized audio tape.

From Russia With Love

Episode 23

From Russia With Love

Oct 23, 2016 · 29 min

Clinton 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.

His Word as Biden

Episode 24

His Word as Biden

Oct 30, 2016 · 29 min

With 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.

Nobody F... Knows

Episode 25

Nobody F... Knows

Nov 6, 2016 · 29 min

Polls 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.

President Trump

Episode 26

President Trump

Nov 13, 2016 · 29 min

In 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.

About the series

The Circus poster
Audience score
★ 6.5 /10

based on 21 votes

Synopsis

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.

Documentary

Cast

3 principal cast

John Heilemann

John Heilemann

Self - Co-Host

Mark McKinnon

Mark McKinnon

Self - Co-Host

Jennifer Palmieri

Jennifer Palmieri

Self - Co-Host

Where to watch The Circus

The Circus is available to stream on Flicksy via 6 verified sources, aggregated from publicly available embed providers. The documentary from John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon has 8 seasons and 130 total episodes, rated 6.5/10 by 21 viewers.

Frequently asked

How many seasons does The Circus have?

The Circus has 8 seasons with 130 episodes in total.

Is The Circus still on the air?

The Circus has ended and is no longer in production.

What network airs The Circus?

The Circus airs on Showtime.

When did The Circus first air?

The Circus first aired on January 17, 2016.

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