The Bulwark

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com We've spent plenty of time on this show discussing what Donald Trump's newest voters found wanting about Democrats in the 2024 election. This week, we're turning our attention to their affirmative case for Trump. The Bulwark's MAGA-world correspondent, Marc Caputo joins Sarah to hear them out. show notes The NYT's DealBook summit Sarah referenced Harvard Kennedy School's recent election forum that Marc referenced Watch, listen, and leave a comment. The Focus Group podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Ad-free editions are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Don’t care for video? Use the control on the left-side of the player to toggle to the audio-only version of the show. Add this podcast to your player of choice, here.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com The billionaires rushing to get on board with Trump, and contributing millions for his inauguration, may have missed this key detail: Enhancing the power of a leader—to bend the rules and undermine the rule of law—is often very bad for business. Meanwhile, Team Trump is distracting the media and the public with the firehose of nominations. Plus, election laws v TikTok and Elon, how brutal regimes can quickly die, and the impact of Israel's campaigns on international law during wartime. Anne Applebaum joins Tim Miller. Show notes: * Anne's recent piece on Syria, and potentially other brutal regimes, falling quickly * Video of Clarissa Ward finding a Syrian prisoner who didn't know about the fall of Assad * Tim's playlist Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Ad-free editions of The Bulwark Podcast are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Don’t care for video? Use the controls on the lefthand side of the player to toggle to audio. Add the show to your player of choice, here.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sarah and JVL have a loooong talk about RFK and vaccines and collateral damage. One of them might be a heartless monster and you’ll never guess which one! Then they do a full after-action report on Sarah’s DealBook panel. You do not want to miss this part. It’s solid gold. And we’d like your thoughts on Sarah’s big question. Discuss in the comments. And …

Noah Smith joins to discuss what Tulsi Gabbard could do to America, the other anti-qualified nominees, the Penny/Mangione cases, and what Syria should remind us of. Highlights / Lowlights Mona: Rupert Murdoch's Succession Fiasco, Clive Irving at Vanity FairLinda: Why Does Pete Hegseth Keep Talking About ‘Warfighters’? Elliot Ackerman at The Free Press.Bill: His WSJ column: Save a Reagan Initiative From Musk and RamaswamyDamon: When Democracy’s Defenders Turn Into Its Gravediggers, Yascha MounckNoah makes his reasoned pitch as to why rabbits make excellent pets. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebulwark.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com In this episode, George Conway and Jonathan V. Last, in for Sarah Longwell, break down Christopher Wray’s resignation, Trump’s escalating legal troubles, and the dangerous implications of his authoritarian revenge agenda for a second term. Watch, listen and leave a comment. Don’t care for video? Use the controls on the left side of the player to toggle to the audio edition. Follow George Conway Explains It All wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube. Ad-free editions are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Upgrade for more ad free shows.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com The origins of the Democratic party's current malaise include ineffective messaging on climate and economic policy, too rigid a tent on cultural issues, and Dem politicians just too scared to speak their mind. Like, Kamala could've turned the trans youth in sports convo into one about parents spending boatloads on sports camps so their kids can get into…

Eric and Eliot discuss the rapidly unfolding events in Syria and examine the causes and consequences of the collapse of Bashar al Assad's regime in Syria. They discuss the big winners (Turkey, Israel, the Syrian people and to a lesser extent the U.S) and the big losers (notably Russia and especially Iran). They discuss the timing of the Hayat Tahrir al Sham offensive, how to interpret the claims of HTS leader abu Mohammed al Jolani that the group has moderated, the prospects for Russia maintaining its Khmeimim Air Base and its naval base at Tartus, as well as the future of Iranian national security policy. In particular, they discuss whether the Iranians will have incentives to sprint to a nuclear weapon or whether they will temporize and seek to embroil the incoming Trump administration in an endless negotiation over the nuclear program. They discuss the Biden Administration's efforts to polish its reputation in the aftermath of recent events and the waxing and waning of leadership reputations including former President Barack Obama and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. They consider what effect events in Syria might have on Trump's approach to the war in Ukraine. They also touch on listener criticisms that calling for greater defense spending seems out of touch with today's American political scene. They consider the results of the recent Reagan National Defense Forum survey and the light those results shed on the question of public support for stronger national defense. Eliot's latest pieces in the Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/12/khamenei-iran-syria/680920/ https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/12/european-troops-ukraine-war/680928/ Eric & David Kramer's latest in Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/12/06/trump-ukraine-better-foreign-policy-00192415 Reagan Foundation Study on Public Perception of Defense Spending: https://www.reaganfoundation.org/media/363274/rndf-survey-nov-2024-memo.pdf Financial Times Retrospectives on Angela Merkel: https://www.ft.com/content/0a538c85-27fb-400e-ae8b-f13fb6ce4e72 https://www.ft.com/content/e82af5d9-32ea-444e-93e2-9e457d6a6796 Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebulwark.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com A.B. Stoddard and Bill Kristol discuss the many congresspeople falling in line with Donald Trump's controversial nominations for his administration, particularly Pete Hegseth as he continues to court politicians for support. Bill Kristol in Morning Shots A.B. Stoddard: "Trump’s New Team Is a Gift to America’s Enemies" Marc Caputo: "Trump World’s Confirmation Playbook: Speak Loudly and Unleash the MAGA Dogs" Bulwark+Live is the home for daily short-form videos, archived live events, and livestreams for Bulwark+ members. Add this feed to your player of choice, here.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Michael Steele speaks with Brian Tyler Cohen about how Republicans have perfected the art of campaign branding, messaging and sloganeering and how Democrats can learn from their playbook. The pair analyze the branding of Obamacare, Michael Steele's "Fire Pelosi" campaign and what Democrats can take away from the 2024 election. Check out the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Timothy-Snyder/dp/0593728726 Watch, listen and leave a comment. Don’t care for video? Use the controls on the left side of the player to toggle to the audio edition.Ad-free editions are available exclusively with a Bulwark+ membership. The Michael Steele Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. To add this to your player of choice, click here.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Mona Charen and Ben Parker react to FBI Director Christopher Wray's unprecedented decision to resign at the end of the current administration's term. Bulwark+Live is the home for daily short-form videos, archived live events, and livestreams for Bulwark+ members. Add this feed to your player of choice, here.

Team Trump is trying to intimidate the opposition. Stop showing them your fear. Plus, Gaetz moves from AG nominee to low-rent MAGA cable channel host, and RT's girlfriend, Tulsi, could have access to the identities of our informants in Russia if she is confirmed. Meanwhile, as Dems plot a way forward, they need to be more clear about calling out the heroes and the villains: When you're trying to be everything to everyone, you're nothing. Adam Kinzinger and Rep. Pat Ryan join Tim Miller. show notesKinzinger's Substack response to Trump's jail threatJake Tapper's 2017 interview with Tulsi Gabbard after her meeting with Assad Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Ad-free editions of The Bulwark Podcast are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Don’t care for video? Use the controls on the lefthand side of the player to toggle to audio. Add the show to your player of choice, here. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebulwark.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com The gang talk Sen. Joni Ernst folding to MAGA on Pete Hegseth’s nomination, Donald Trump already acting like president, the shocking amount of support for alleged murderer Luigi Mangione, and Kimberly Guilfoyle getting offered Ambassador to Greece amid her breakup with Donald Trump Jr. Watch, listen and leave a comment. This ad-free video edition of The Next Level is exclusively for Bulwark+ members. You can add The Next Level to your podcast player of choice, here.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller and Sam Stein call foul on the House GOP’s decision to move their annual retreat to Donald Trump's golf club in Doral, Florida rather than hold it at it's usual location in West Virginia. Bulwark+Live is the home for daily short-form videos, archived live events, and livestreams for Bulwark+ members. Add this feed to your player of choice, here.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com A.B. joins Mona to discuss Trump's anti-qualified appointees, Covid revisionism, and the depraved response to the cold-blooded murder of Brian Thompson. Just Between Us is a podcast exclusively for members of Bulwark+ featuring Mona Charen and her Bulwark colleagues unburdening themselves each Tuesday evening. To listen to this episode become a Bulwark+ …

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com A sense of Biden's irrelevance has descended on Washington, with Trump flying off to Paris and meeting world leaders, and also openly conducting his own foreign policy—often at odds with the current US policy. Meanwhile, following the diminishment of our foes in the Middle East, and after all the assistance America gave to Israel and Ukraine, Biden isn't being given credit—or he's choosing not to take it. Plus, the MAGA media mob is doing all it can to get Trump's nominees through, and a postscript from Tim on the danger of romanticizing someone who was "radicalized" by a bad experience. Susan Glasser joins Tim Miller. show notesSusan's most recent columnCathy's piece last year on the Daniel Penny caseNoah Smith piece on how insurance companies aren't the main villain in the healthcare system Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Ad-free editions of The Bulwark Podcast are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Don’t care for video? Use the controls on the lefthand side of the player to toggle to audio. Add the show to your player of choice, here.

NO CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRAT has been as willing to accept and oblige Elon Musk in his MAGA turn as Rep. Ro Khanna. The Californian, whose district includes Silicon Valley, has encouraged his fellow party members not to decamp from Musk’s platform, X. He’s praised Musk as a disruptive force for good in the electric vehicle and space industries. And he’s spoken about his desire to work collaboratively with Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” as it looks to slash $2 trillion from government expenditures. But even Khanna has qualms about the world’s richest man making a febrile foray into national politics. In an interview with The Bulwark, Khanna called for Musk and his DOGE co-chief, Vivek Ramaswamy, to ensure that the public was aware of conflict of interests in their work by disclosing their finances. Musk, for one, has numerous federal contracts tied to various companies, among them SpaceX and Starlink. “I think there should be transparency. I think he would have to do the same financial disclosures that I have to do, that the presidents need to do. I think there should be complete transparency in those interests and he should recuse himself if there is a conflict of interest,” Khanna said. “I just assumed that they would put them through a financial disclosure process and conflict-of-interest process. I mean, absolutely that. That to me strikes me as a very reasonable request.” Here at The Bulwark, we’re not for the Red Team or the Blue Team—we’re just for democracy. If that sounds like you, join us. Musk has not released comprehensive information on his finances, while Ramaswamy did put out tax information as part of his Republican presidential primary run. A spokesperson for “DOGE” declined to comment. Good-government groups, ethicists, and even fellow entrepreneurs have warned that DOGE creates a morass of conflicts. And while Musk has promised that the still-inchoate, quasi-governmental cost cutters will post “all actions” online, the Trump transition team has only said the entity will be “compliant with all legal guidelines related to conflicts of interest.” But it is not yet clear if DOGE will be structured as a government body that would require them to comply with such guidelines—or as some sort of non-profit, outside consultant group exempt from them. While the potential for corruption has troubled Democrats, their primary concern is what DOGE will do to actual governance. Musk has hinted at targeting a host of different agencies and expenditures, from outdated IT to full elimination of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the National Institutes of Health. The debate within the party is over whether to try and shape the cuts and reforms that DOGE proposes or to dismiss it entirely. In a separate interview, Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) called the entity “a complete joke,” that, in reality, had the power of two rich men with a joint Twitter account. “There is no Department of Government Efficiency. Just tweeting out that you are creating a department is not the way it works,” Boyle said. Khanna disagrees. He was “not confident” that DOGE wouldn’t end up suggesting reforms or cuts to major entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. But it was precisely for that reason, he argued, that Democrats should be at the table, fighting to protect fundamental interests. “We have to be willing to cross party lines to put the American people first, being vigilant, understanding that there are going to be places to oppose, and understanding that there’s some risk,” he explained. “But what’s the alternative? That we just all retreat to our camps and never be willing to cross the aisle to look for common ground?” Khanna ultimately did not have a nihilistic view of what DOGE might do, arguing that Congress would have final say on pay cuts and that legal challenges would likely derail any dramatic efforts by the Trump administration to rescind federal expenditures or dramatically fire career...

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discussed a controversial (or possibly nontroversial?) op-ed in the New York Times asking if “the awkward diversity era” of blockbuster filmmaking is over. (Gift link there so you should be able to read it.) Then they reviewed Amy Adams’s new movie Nightbitch, in which she plays a mother pushed to the brink by her unsatisfying home life. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ for our bonus episode on Friday about the Golden Globes nominations. And if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to share it with a friend! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebulwark.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Trump is threatening members of Congress with jail, Republican senators may be circling the wagons around his nominees, but we still need to protect ourselves from a nihilistic mindset. Plus, the cautious optimism and uncertainty after the fall of Syria's brutal dictatorship, and No, Tulsi: You were wrong. Assad was our enemy. Bill Kristol and Michael Weiss join Tim Miller. Show notes:Tim's Triad piece on fighting a nihilistic mindset Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Ad-free editions of The Bulwark Podcast are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Andrew Egger discuss Donald Trump's appearance on 'Meet The Press' where he calls for jailing of the January 6th committee, including Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. Bulwark+Live this home for archived live events, Bulwark livestreams and daily short form videos for Bulwark+ members. Add this feed to your player of choice, here.

On this week’s episode, I talked to Alex Reisner about his pieces in The Atlantic highlighting the copyrighted material being hoovered into large language models to help AI chatbots simulate human speech. If you’re a screenwriter and would like to see which of your work has been appropriated to aid in the effort, click here; he has assembled a searchable database of nearly 140,000 movie and TV scripts that have been used without permission. (And you should read his other stories about copyright law reaching its breaking point and “the memorization problem.”) In this episode, we also got into the metaphysics of art and asked what sort of questions need to be asked as we hurtle toward the future. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebulwark.com/subscribe