The Bulwark Podcast

The administration is threatening to take away money and power—and maybe even freedom—from some vague Trump opponents because of the Kirk assassination. It doesn't seem to matter that elected Democrats have roundly condemned his murder. And it doesn't matter that Trump himself largely ignored the recent political assassination of Minnesota Democratic legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband. But anyone who is pro-assassination is a foe of The Bulwark. Full stop. A free country by definition must protect the right to self-expression. Plus, the giant nationalist march in London over the weekend, the latest stalling tactic on Russia sanctions, and the right of trans people to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes Today's "Morning Shots"Bill's "Bulwark on Sunday" with Jay NordlingerBulwark Live in DC and NYC at TheBulwark.com/events. Tix for a second Toronto show go on sale this week!RocketMoney.com/thebulwark

Trump and the people around him want to use the Kirk assassination to suppress their political opposition. And Trump is clearly laying the groundwork for cracking down on people he doesn't like—peaceful protesters, Dem fundraisers—while also offering rhetorical comfort to potential vigilantes on the right. Meanwhile, we are witnessing the danger of having an incompetent person atop the FBI, who alternates his time between posting for clicks and purging the bureau of highly qualified personnel for political cred. Plus, Vance is running for the 2028 nomination every day, the raid on the Georgia Hyundai plant shows the incoherence and stupidity of Trump's economic vision, and as Putin tests the resilience of NATO, the White House is playing politics in Poland. David Frum joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes Frum's "Trump Is No Nationalist" pieceBill's tribute to Georgia police officer David RoseBob Kagan's "The Beginning of the End of Nato" Tim referencedThe poem, "For Whom the Bell Tolls"Tim's playlistFrum's podcastBulwark Live in DC and NYC at TheBulwark.com/events. Tix on sale next week for extra Toronto show!

This country has too many guns and too many crazy people. And the social media oligarchs are fanning the flames of violence by constantly trying to piss people off. The Kirk assassination highlights just how dangerous a moment we are living in. America is not free if people are too afraid to speak their minds. Plus, parenting and the surprising gap in what Gen Z women and men think are the highest priorities in life. Crooked Media's Erin Ryan joins Tim Miller. show notes Tim's latest FYPod episodeJVL on Charlie KirkAndrew on the reaction to the assassinationNancy Mace after the shootingThe Wired story on surrogacyhttps://www.american-giant.com

If Zohran Mamdani, as NYC mayor-elect, held a dinner with finance bros and threatened them with a huge wealth tax if they didn't sweet-talk him and say how much they agreed with his political vision, the Wall Street community would freak out. Yet, this version of a shakedown is *really* happening at the White House all the time and in response, the country's most powerful and wealthy business leaders can only trip over each other as they jostle for the chance to cut up Trump's well-done steak. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is tripping over its own rulings to green-light ICE's racial profiling in Southern California. Stephanie Ruhle and MALDEF's Thomas Saenz join Tim Miller. show notes Maggie Haberman pursuing the White House's 'hoax' theory on EpsteinJob Garcia's video of his arrest—includes non-visuals when his phone was in his back pocketMexican American Legal Defense and Educational FundBulwark Live in DC and NYC at TheBulwark.com/events. Toronto is SOLD OUTjoindeleteme.com/

More than 10 years in, journalists still have not figured out how to cover Trump. He understands the media environment better than a lot of reporters, and knows his outrageous acts and statements command attention—and that people will not be able to finish processing one outrage before the next one comes down the pike. But now he's laying down the terms of how he expects to be covered, and media orgs are complying by hiring or giving airtime to MAGA avatars. In the process, journalists are failing to hold the powerful to account. Plus, Dems actually went on offense and got their hands on the Epstein birthday book, and Israel is aggressively embracing the age of impunity. The Economist's James Bennet joins Tim Miller. show notes James, in The Economist, on his departure from the NYT over the Tom Cotton op-ed (gifted)James on the rules for defending democracy under Trump (gifted)Bulwark Live in DC and NYC at TheBulwark.com/events. Toronto is SOLD OUT

In seven months, Trump has accumulated an astonishing amount of unchecked power. No one inside his administration is challenging his will, and Trump is assuming war powers with barely any explanation—while blacklisting Tom Hanks from West Point. At the same time, in the business world, only one MAGA-friendly hedge fund billionaire has raised mild concerns about the Fed, but top-shelf tech leaders can't thank Trump enough just for existing. But, the resistance is showing up in Chicago and the Dems have a chance to throw their weight around with a potential government shutdown. Plus, Vance is an amazingly succinct liar and the White House Rose Garden has had a Panera patio makeover. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes Today's "Morning Shots"Gov. Pritzker responding to Trump's Chi-pocalypse memeBackgrounder on the Bobbsey TwinsBulwark Live in DC and NYC at https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events. Toronto is SOLD OUThttps://www.oneskin.co/

Last month, Trump fired the "woke" job numbers person after she released weak employment data. Now, we have even worse jobs numbers—and burgeoning signs of a tariffs-triggered manufacturing recession. Meanwhile, the administration may be working on a de facto military policy that would fulfill one of Trump's biggest longtime wishes: summarily executing drug dealers. Plus, a trans gun ban would be grotesquely unconstitutional, the blood-and-soil types at NatCon are missing what the Founding Fathers intended, Tucker can't quit his Putin obsession, and why Gen X enthusiastically embraced helicopter parenting. David French joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes Bulwark's live reaction to RFK hearing, with Sam, Jon Cohn, and Will SaletanDavid on Gen X helicopter parenting Gen ZMore from James Madison in 1785Post-recording news: Pentagon is deploying F-35s for a counter-narcotics missionTim's playlistBulwark Live in DC and NYC at TheBulwark.com/events. Toronto is SOLD OUTNakedWines.com/THEBULWARK

The lethal U.S. military strike on a speedboat in the Caribbean was more about putting on a show than countering the drug trade out of South America. And it's not even clear that the people killed on the boat were running drugs, or that any contraband was bound for America. Meanwhile, if senators are truly concerned that local police departments are insufficiently staffed, then they should pass a bill to fund more officers instead of pushing the charade that Guard troops can legally do police work. Plus, Russia is running out of ammunition, Ashli Babbitt was no hero, and a dissection of Trump's fatuous 'seven wars' lie. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling joins Tim Miller. joins Tim Miller. show notes Hertling's piece, "Bombs Won't Win the War on Drugs""Honoring Ashli Babbitt Dishonors the Military"Hertling on the 'perils of yes-men'Rand Paul on the speedboat bombingBulwark Live in DC and NYC at TheBulwark.com/events. Toronto is SOLD OUT

The economic populists at the Nat Con conference may be talking a lot about elites screwing over the little guy, but the Trump administration itself has been catastrophic for working people—its policies are all about doing special favors for elite interests. And while many loud voices in Silicon Valley cursed the Biden administration for blocking some deals, other start-ups appreciated the efforts to try to level the playing field against the tech giants. Plus, a response to Jason Calacanis, how Dems can shake off their elite vibes, and resisting the temptation to run for office. Former FTC chair Lina Khan joins Tim Miller. show notes Tim's interview last month with Jason CalacanisThis week's TNLBulwark Live in DC and NYC at TheBulwark.com/events. Toronto is SOLD OUTSmalls.com/THEBULWARK

Democrats need to learn to fight like Republicans. So when senators with serious foreign policy chops vote to confirm a middling weekend talk show host as secretary of defense, Dems need to call them out for being unpatriotic. And when they allow an ex-junkie to sabotage vaccines that have saved millions of American lives, say they're destroying the legacy of what the Greatest Generation built. The party of Putin-philes is no longer a normal political party with whom Dems can hammer out a compromise. Stuart Stevens joins Tim Miller—and pulls no punches. show notes Lincoln Square on SubstackStuart's piece on trying steroids"The Conspiracy to End America"Stuart's book, "It Was All a Lie"Stuart's "The Last Season" Bulwark Live in DC and NYC at https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events. Toronto is SOLD OUT

Red States are flexing their muscles and imposing their will on the other states through their coordinated redistricting efforts. And if they deploy their Guard troops to other blue cities beyond D.C., the only real precedent would be the era before the Civil War when the South tried to force more slave states on the union. Meanwhile, the infighting at the CDC over the Covid vaccine seems to be upsetting Trump, but what can he do about it? He's only the president. And in China, a new axis of authoritarians is creating a post-American world order, thanks to voters putting Trump back in office. Plus, his faux golf outings and declarations of perfect health are very Soviet, and Giuliani wants people to think 'America's Mayor' is back—this time as Batman. JVL joins Tim Miller. show notes "The Triad," JVL's newsletter"The Secret Podcast," with Sarah and JVLJon Cohn on the crisis at the CDC in his 'Breakdown' newsletterBulwark Live in DC and NYC at https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events. Toronto is SOLD OUTDupe.comDupe.com

Trump is like a dysfunctional 8-year-old whose parents are always in the principal's office arguing that their son is a good boy. The media, CEOs, and Wall Street keep giving him a pass for his behavior while his supporters and apologists explain why he just had to set the school on fire. At the same time, he's empowering ideologues behind the scenes who are dismantling the government and executing their policy wet dreams. Plus, Joni Ernst's Senate tenure has been a sham, Vance tries Mickey Mouse Stalinism on for size, and what's going on with the bruising on Trump's right hand? The public has the right to know about the health of a president. Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes Tom's newsletter installment, "President Homelander"JVL's Thursday 'Triad'Tom calling Trump 'unmanly'Vance an 'ass****'The film, "The Death of Stalin"Felicia Schwartz's piece on Steve WitkoffTim's playlist Bulwark Live in DC and NYC at https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events. Toronto is SOLD OUT

The resignations of senior leaders at the CDC is a calamity. People with decades of expertise in infectious disease are leaving the agency because the new director—who Trump just appointed—refused to get on board with RFK's anti-vax crusade, including limiting access to Covid boosters. And Wednesday's violence in Minneapolis may be a sign that the FBI should be keeping its eye on the threats from domestic terror instead of arresting day laborers at Home Depot. Meanwhile, Trump's threat to the Fed's independence could pose a real risk to the stability of the U.S. Plus, more on the shifting attitudes about Israel among Dems, the latest attack on Kyiv is another reminder of how much Putin is mocking Trump, and remembering Katrina 20 years later. Sam Stein and the NYT's Talmon Smith join Tim Miller. show notes Thursday's "Morning Shots"Tim, Sam, and Will Sommer on a MAGA brawl, the “Bulwark Take” Tim mentionedBulwark Live in DC and NYC at https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events. Toronto is SOLD OUT

A year ago, China was globally isolated and its economy was struggling. But once Trump was back in office pursuing his own personal and political gain, the U.S. brand got tossed in the toilet and the view from Beijing got pretty sweet. Trump has allowed China to buy American microchips that could be used against our own national security interests, he caved on his own trade war with the country, and the divisions he's creating with allies in the West have made China's propaganda job a whole lot easier. Plus, the tragedy in Gaza, the evolving U.S.-Israel relationship, the one powerful way to squeeze Putin's war machine, and re-examining Biden's original plan to run for re-election. Former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan joins Tim Miller. show notes Sullivan's piece on Gaza for the Israeli news site, YnetArticle about Sullivan's comments at The Atlantic Festival in Sept. 2023Bulwark Live in DC and NYC at https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events. Toronto is SOLD OUT

Some rando far-right social media suck-up, who Trump rewarded with an appointment to his administration, is pushing mortgage fraud investigations of Adam Schiff, Tish James, and now Fed governor Lisa Cook. Trump claims he's fired Cook based on a tweet—but will any institution stand up to these McCarthy-like campaigns against his political foes? Meanwhile, Bolton is being investigated because he went on TV and called out Trump's lies about his embarrassing Alaska summit. Plus, the administration is abusing official resources by having Guard troops just stand around in D.C., Putin wants to devour Ukraine by any means necessary, and we are finding out what it's like to have a live-streaming presidency. Susan Glasser joins Tim Miller. show notes Susan's most recent columnPam Bondi profile by Ruth MarcusBulwark Live in DC and NYC at https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events. Toronto is SOLD OUT

Trump and his people have used the summer months to up the despot game—sending armed troops into the streets, taking over the police in D.C., and promising to export the same tactics to even more blue cities. And the attempted deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda shows the lengths the administration will go for not submitting to its coercion. At the same time, Vance sounds downright Orwellian on the John Bolton matter, while the White House eyes other major corporations to extort. Plus, Wes Moore punches back, the injustice of the trans military ban, and the emerging signs of a broad Democratic coalition. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes Kinzinger on how Trump is undermining the Second AmendmentBill's 'Bulwark on Sunday' with Col. Bree FramMark Hertling on the purging of military and intel leadersJust one of Gov. Moore's recent punchy tweetsThe book Tim mentioned, "Diary of a Man in Despair"Bulwark Live in DC and NYC at https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events. Toronto is SOLD OUT

The fears of jack-booted thugs and the military in the streets that filled the fever dreams of numerous people on the right since the 90s have come to pass. Not to mention that these are boom times for private prisons, deportation camps, and huge data centers driving up electricity bills. (We're building things, Marc Andreessen!) Meanwhile, The Bulwark was live on the scene for the FBI raid at John Bolton's house—just the latest installment from Team Trump's pursuit of his enemies. Plus, Alex Jones is worried about Trump's cankles, and Gavin is proving to be a good fighter, but other Dems need to get in the game. Also, Gaza, Israel, and the exaggerated power of AIPAC. Tommy Vietor joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes Bulwark LIVE for FBI raid at Bolton's home (Substack)YouTubeByron Donalds's Cracker Barrel tweetThird Way's blacklisted wordsJoe Rogan takedownPeter Thiel's antichrist lecture seriesTim's playlistThebulwark.com/events

While Trump keeps working hard on his own monetization and glorification—and delivers a Watergate practically every hour—the pro-democracy coalition must stay focused on winning next year's midterm elections. Trump is at the point of no return, Congress is becoming the only institution that can stop him, and holding onto that lever of power is his top priority. Meanwhile, not only did Trump look weak in Alaska, he also looked unpresidential. Plus, a new publication focused on the threats from the post-liberal right and left. Jerusalem Demsas and Garry Kasparov join Tim Miller. show notes Garry's Substack, "The Next Move" Jerusalem's "The Argument" Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen slamming the table after losing in June Trump comparing himself to Nixon *** THE BULWARK LIVE in Toronto, D.C. and NYC: Thebulwark.com/events *** joindeleteme.com/BULWARK

Russia is losing the war in Ukraine. More than 1 million Russian troops have been killed or injured, and it's been estimated that it would take another four years and 2 million more soldiers for Putin to conquer the Donbas region. So no, Ben Shapiro, getting Ukraine to sacrifice the region in return for some kind of security guarantee would not be a "masterstroke" for Trump. Meanwhile, red state governors sending National Guard troops to D.C. are disrupting the lives and families of those troops at back-to-school time—just to please Daddy Trump. Plus, the MAGA socialism around Intel, Dems should advise foreign countries to think twice about doing corrupt deals with Trump, and Hegseth's pull-ups don't cut it in the alpha male world he thinks he's making. Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller. show notes Tim on the Louisiana governor sending the National Guard to D.C. Kinzinger's interview with Jason Riddle Jonathan Martin on Trump giving Putin more time to stall FT on Europeans comparing eastern Ukraine to Florida *** THE BULWARK LIVE in Toronto, D.C. and NYC: Thebulwark.com/events ***

Back in the day, Trump used to puff up his wealth to get on the Forbes list. Lately though, he doesn't talk about how much money he has, especially now that he and his family have pocketed an estimated $3.4 billion off his time in the White House. The bulk of those billions comes from various crypto-related ventures—and money from foreign nationals and some adjustments at the S.E.C. have helped grease the wheel. At the same time, the Trump Org is making development deals directly with dictators in the Middle East. Meanwhile, his supporters may think they're helping MAGA by buying hats and beer koozies, but their money is all going to Trump. Plus, the European leaders had their flattery game down in the Oval Office on Monday. The New Yorker's David Kirkpatrick joins Tim Miller. show notes David's piece, "The Number: How Much Is Trump Pocketing off the Presidency?”White House photo of the European's flattery game in action https://zbiotics.com/THEBULWARK