The Bulwark Podcast

Republican disunity is being obscured by affection for Trump, but just below the surface, MAGA is being pulled apart at the seams. At the same time, the administration is busy committing war crimes while conducting an illegal, nonsensical war, and the FBI is investing progressive groups for their views. The state of free speech protections may be worse than during the Red Scare. Meanwhile, SCOTUS keeps shaping the power of the presidency, Tucker and Candace’s conspiracies and Israel fear-mongering are way past an act, and the Andrew Tates of the manosphere are giving cover to men who just want to be a**holes. David French joins Tim Miller. show notes David's recent piece on MAGA Ken Klippenstein on the FBI investigating progressive groups NYT on the Trump administration helping out Andrew Tate David's podcast, "Advisory Opinions"

Big Boss Trump, who claims the power to run the whole government via executive order and pushes all our allies around, is a man suddenly with no agency when it comes to the economy. He says the high cost of living is a Democratic hoax, or in true Christmas spirit, he’s back to blaming parents for spoiling their daughters with too many dolls. And while his approval rating slips into the the 30s, voters keep rewarding Democrats at the ballot box. On the healthcare front, Republicans have been promising an alternative to Obamacare for 15 years with nothing to show for it. Plus, the corruption of Trump & Co is so pervasive, it’s hard for voters to get their minds around it, and Dems have to go all-in on recapturing the Senate next year—which means winning independents and non-MAGA republicans in red states. Neera Tanden, at the Center for American Progress, joins Tim Miller. show notes The "Trump's Take" tracker at the Center for American ProgressTim and Andrew's 'Bulwark Take' after Trump's rally Tuesday nighthttps://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKtheperfectjean.nyc/BULWARK15

Heaping scorn and disdain on Europe, Trump called its countries decaying and its leaders weak, but the U.S. likely needs Europe more than they need us. And while POTUS is whining that Zelensky won't consider his rigged deal with Putin, the corruption of Trump's negotiating team is off the charts, with Witkoff and Kushner trying to work a land deal rather than a peace treaty. Meanwhile, the boat bombings seem to be about performative politics, Hegseth is pushing out another high-ranking black officer—for voicing concerns about the strikes on alleged drug-runners in the Caribbean—and where is the video of that Sept 2 restrike that killed two survivors? Lt. Gen Mark Hertling joins Tim Miller. show notes: Hertling's piece on Trump's new National Security StrategyHertling on the potential misuse of Special Forces in the boat strikesRemembering National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, by HertlingBulwarkPodcast@thebulwark.comTrump's Politico interviewhttps://on.auraframes.com/BULWARK

ICE and Border Patrol are kidnapping people in the suburbs near New Orleans based on racial profiling—it’s like the South of 70 years ago. Mini Greg Bovino cares far more about his video team capturing him menacing and harassing people going about their lives than he does about due process and the Fourth Amendment. But despite her own pinup-style social media spreads, Trump may be readying to dump Kristi Noem from DHS. Meanwhile, the administration keeps creating new excuses for why it killed the two shipwrecked men near Venezuela, while also withholding key information. Plus, Trump is handing out more welfare checks to farmers, MTG says MAGA is not America First, the Dems get another shot this week on the affordability issue, Colin Allred may have been unwisely pushed out of the Texas Senate race, and Tim and Bill share a rare ‘you gotta hand it to Ted Cruz’ moment. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes Adrian's scoop on how Trump may be moving on from Noem Tim's 'Bulwark Take' on the protests and raids in greater NOLA Bill's "Bulwark on Sunday" with Sen. Warner on the boat strikes Monday's "Morning Shots" Cruz's good tweet

Trump is overseeing extrajudicial killings off the coast of Venezuela but nothing was going to stop him from getting a peace prize—even if it’s a fake one from super highly reputable FIFA. He also helped himself to a federal agency that used to work on peace initiatives, but which Elon DOGE’d. Democrats should embrace the spirit of McCain and focus on the massive corruption in the administration around crypto, the ballroom, the pardons, and more. At the same time, the Dems have a disconnect between leaders and the base over Israel, Netanyahu, and AIPAC. Plus, Candace may be less worried about the French taking her out than she plays on her podcast, and Fox doesn’t seem like it’s rooting for war in Venezuela. Tommy Vietor joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes Tommy's podcast, "Pod Save the World" Hillary on TikTok influencing young people's opinions on Israel Ben Rhodes's piece on Israel in the NYT Tim's playlist https://www.oneskin.co/BULWARK

Trump’s use of his pardon power is downright crazy, and that’s not even counting his rescue of a convicted drug kingpin. He’s also sabotaging his own redistricting plans in Texas by pardoning Rep. Henry Cuellar, and wasting taxpayer money absolving a sports executive who was indicted by his own Justice Department earlier this year. Meanwhile, down in NOLA, two men with a Napoleon complex are unleashing misery of the psychic and economic kind on the city through its ICE and Border Patrol operation. Plus, someone needs to scour the immigration history of Phil Mickelson’s family, and why is Tucker so obsessed with the gays? Sam Stein joins Tim Miller. Sam's 'Bulwark Take' on the DOJ attorney fired for not restoring Mel Gibson's gun rights Lauren on the Dems itching to go after AI https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKhttps://zbiotics.com/THEBULWARK

Trump’s rallies have been his signature event, but since he returned to the White House, he has stopped doing them. And his allies are worried he’s losing touch with voters, as well as his political antenna. Instead of traveling the country, he’s dining with billionaires, playing golf, and going abroad in search of his elusive peace prize. Meanwhile, he can’t stay awake in own Cabinet meetings. Plus, the heat is on Hegseth, the ex-Honduran president Trump pardoned bragged about stuffing drugs up the noses of Americans, and the results of the Tennessee special election are a good sign for Democrats—and a reminder for the party to go all-in on the gerrymandering war. Jonathan Lemire joins Tim Miller. show notes Jonathan's piece on Trump not doing ralliesThe Atlantic on Germany permanently stationing troops beyond its borders

There are no shortage of scandals plaguing Washington D.C. right now. One that has captivated much of the political and media professions involves Olivia Nuzzi, a political writer formerly of the magazine New York, and now an editor with Vanity Fair, who was involved in a relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during the 2024 campaign. Nuzzi’s relationship has provided incredible fodder for the press, not least because her ex-fiance, Ryan Lizza, has penned a multi-part series on the matter where he has unspooled numerous accusations against her and RFK Jr., in anticipation of the publication of Nuzzi’s book, American Canto, which was released Tuesday. Those accusations are quite serious, many of which Nuzzi addresses in her book, including an admission that she secretly aided RFK Jr.’s campaign. The more important ones, however, deal with RFK Jr. himself, including the charge that he has hid drug use and was both manipulative of and threatening to Nuzzi during their relationship. Nuzzi has not discussed any of it on camera. Until now. In a sit down interview with Tim Miller, she talked about the ethical breaches that cost her her job, the conflict between her responsibilities as a reporter, the private relationship that blurred those boundaries, and the fear and isolation she experienced as the scandal unfolded. She describes withdrawing from the world, fleeing across the country, and trying to rebuild her sense of self while contending with public shaming and, what she saw as, the “weaponization” of her personal life against her. She also offers some insights and revelations regarding the now Health and Human Service secretary, who has denied the relationship. She and Tim discuss her relationship with RFK Jr. and the wreckage that followed, whether he continues to use drugs while occupying a cabinet post, what type of threats she felt, and why she didn’t feel compelled to speak up as it became clear that Kennedy was ascending to remarkable heights of political power. They also discuss the broader political moment that shaped all of it: the Trump era’s constant tug between reality and spectacle, the corrosion of public trust, and the ways journalists become characters in the dramas they cover. And they broach one of the more understated questions throughout this entire, sordid ordeal: why even bother writing this book to begin with? Nuzzi explains that writing was an act of survival and the clarity that came from separating herself from Washington, D.C.’s rituals and delusions. Along the way, she says, she became further entrenched in the delusions she was hoping to escape. show notes American Canto

As a candidate, Trump knew to steer clear of Project 2025. But as president, he embraced its deeply unpopular policy goals and it has been driving down his poll numbers. Meanwhile, what are we doing with Venezuela? No one in the administration has made a remotely convincing case for the intimidation campaign against President Maduro. And the boat bombings are putting members of our military in legal danger under the guidance of Hegseth. Plus, the threats against legislators in Indiana who aren't going along with redistricting, and the broad-based coalition standing up to ICE—including people in costumes and grannies on scooters—has been one of the most successful responses to Trump's immigration agenda. Amanda Carpenter joins Tim Miller. show notes: Protect Democracy's web siteAmanda's Substack"If You Can Keep It" on Substackhttps://www.Ridge.com/THEBULWARK

Not only are the opportunities for personal financial gain for Trump and his White House cronies driving the administration’s foreign policy decisions, his tariffs look more and more about grift. Trump also inexplicably granted clemency to a private equity exec who ripped off ordinary Americans in a Ponzi scheme, while he plans a pardon for a former Honduran president who trafficked cocaine to America—even as he orders the bombings of suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, on the immigration front, Border Patrol is moving into NOLA, and the administration is exploiting the heinous and tragic DC Guard shooting to try to rid the country of black and brown immigrants. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes Bill's 'Bulwark on Sunday' on Trump's anti-immigrant agendaTim's 'Bulwark Take' on Scott JenningsWSJ's piece, "Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine"NYT on David SacksAndy McCarthy on the killing of two survivors of a missile strike in the CaribbeanMakeup-less Trump at Mar-a-LagoNew Bulwark merch!https://www.american-giant.co

Americans were already losing touch with basic decency before Trump came along—and he exploited that indecency, distrust, and division to win power. In his new novel, George Packer spins a story of an imaginary country that just collapses, and how ordinary people have to learn to live together again. Fiction has a way of making the real world more clear. Plus, Charlie Kirk’s influence on our political climate before his death, JD’s phoniness and lust for power, Trump may be flailing but he’s still amassed immense power, and how AI moving us away from the written word threatens our democracy. The Atlantic’s George Packer joins Tim Miller for the holiday weekend pod. show notes George’s new book, “The Emergency: A Novel” Tim's playlist George’s piece on Arizona and Charlie Kirk from last year “The Talented Mr. Vance” piece by George Other books by George: “The Assassins’ Gate” “The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America” “Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal”

Trump needs to quit the games and his defamatory accusations about who's in the Epstein files, and just release the 300 gigabytes of data from the Epstein case—even if he has an army of elves trying to redact or whitewash any references or images of Trump himself. Meanwhile, the dismissal of charges against Comey and Tish James show how bad Team Trump is at political retribution. Plus, the commander-in-chief doesn't want members of the military hearing the truth, spies are listening in to Steve Witkoff, and is Weissmann going to sue Trump for defamation? Andrew Weissmann joins Tim Miller. show notes: Andrew's SubstackAndrew and Mary McCord's podcast, "Main Justice"New Bulwark merch!

A troika of foreign policy amateurs—Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and JD Vance—are trying to impose a Russia-drafted peace plan on Ukraine. While Trump was in the loop, other senior officials in the administration were in the dark, even as Kushner was using backchannels to work with a Putin ally. Vance eagerly got on board because he’s desperate to stab Ukraine in the back and declare himself MAGA’s heir apparent for 2028. But rival Marco Rubio—who sees that Russia doesn’t really want peace—is working on an alternative deal. Michael Weiss joins Tim Miller to break all the machinations down. Michael's Substack, "Foreign Office"Michael's reporting at "The Insider"Today’s Morning ShotsNew Bulwark merch! https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARK

Unrest has broken out in MAGA, and Mike Johnson looks like he’s losing control of the House—which means that Trump could be losing control of the party. And the fear of Trump is morphing into loathing because Republicans are not winning. Meanwhile, DOGE has ended in another total Elon failure: Not only was no money saved, the program’s biggest success was cutting assistance to the world’s most vulnerable people. Trump has only been ‘fixing’ the government to work for his grift. Plus, Mamdani showed real political skill in meeting Trump, but the left needs to cool it with its 'Trump is a populist' take. As MTG pointed out, he definitely is not. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes 'Bulwark on Sunday' with Bill and CatherineMost recent 'Shield of the Republic'Jon on the fraud in the health care systemTim's 'Bulwark Take' on Trump turning 'fascist' into a punchlineThe Bulwark's new merch!NOBLTravel.com

As a man who’s not used to losing, Trump is going through a bit of a rough patch since his party turned against him over the Epstein case. He’s flailing, lashing out, and acting afraid. After all, he knows how many times his name comes up in the Epstein files, and Ghislaine Maxwell continues to enjoy a bevy of special perks at her cushy prison for some reason. At the same time, the economy isn’t helping him, the stench of a lame duck is growing, and the threat of oversight by Dems after the midterms feels real. Plus, some skepticism about MTG’s new-found clarity, Fox and Trump’s war on Christmas, the crash of bitcoin, and the Kinzinger documentary. Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes "The Last Republican," the Kinzinger documentary YouTubeKinzinger's SubstackCBS News on the prediction market KalshiGhislaine Maxwell's special prison privilegesTim's playlistSmalls.com/THEBULWARK

Tim Cook and the other tech titans who dined with bone saw murderer MBS—and who’ve given millions to Trump to knock down our history for his gilded ballroom—expect the people who use their products every day to protect American democracy, while they reap its benefits to freely act against the public’s interest. Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy is acting like an agent of the Russian government, and POTUS shows yet again that he is not a tough negotiator. Plus, Stephen Miller is spreading fear by design, Trump’s Epstein capitulation is still worth savoring, and Tim shares his postmortem on his Kamala interview. The New Yorker’s Susan Glasser joins Tim Miller. show notes Susan and Peter Baker’s book, “The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021”Tim’s interview with Kamala in NashvilleTAKE THE SURVEY

Before a live audience in Nashville Tuesday, Kamala Harris discussed what it takes to fight back against Trump. But she also threw punches—against the corrupt and callous administration that's trying to gaslight Americans about Jeffrey Epstein, and the tech titans who are bending the knee to a tyrant. Also noteworthy: Both MTG and Mamdani come in for some praise. Plus, the power of a consumer boycott, the challenges of being No. 2 on the job, and the still stinging emotions around her 107-day campaign. Former Vice President Kamala Harris joins Tim Miller. show notes "107 Days," by former VP Kamala HarrisTAKE THE SURVEY joindeleteme.com/BULWARK

The White House leaks may be more contained in Trump 2.0, but the slavish loyalists who POTUS has surrounded himself with do nothing to keep him within the bounds of the law, ethics, or decorum. So in this round, the chaos is more consequential for the country. Meanwhile, the administration may be prepping to bury the Epstein files. Plus, the bitterness and resentment that drives Trump, the war on truth is winning, and the Bidens' animosity toward Obama. ABC's Jon Karl joins Tim Miller. show notes: Jon's new book, "Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America"TAKE THE SURVEY

Not a lot of people predicted that Trump would fold and let Congress vote on the release of the Epstein files. But his retreat shows that Democrats have more leverage than conventional wisdom has suggested, and they should not rule out long shots in the fight against Trump’s authoritarian project. Meanwhile, MAGA looks to be fracturing in real time and Trump looks more and more vulnerable—on his ballroom, falling asleep in meetings, and his constant reminders that he’s only out for himself. Plus, MTG’s possible Saul to Damascus moment, Border Patrol’s invasion of Charlotte, bombing Venezuela would not be America First, and the Epstein emails are a reminder of how gross and nauseating the elites can be. Go away, Larry Summers. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes Chris Geidner on Greg Bovino's appalling misuse of E.B. White's legacy and "Charlotte's Web"Bill's "Bulwark on Sunday" with Mark Hertling on VenezuelaTim's book, "Why We Did It"TAKE THE SURVEY https://trymiracle.com/THEBULWARKhttps://zbiotics.com/THEBULWARK

Our commander-in-chief and breaker of mores can only muster the energy to beg Republicans to stop talking about Epstein. Where is the blustery guy who's declared that only suckers pay taxes and that he could shoot anyone on 5th Avenue? Because of the lame duck smell he's giving off—and the economic problems Trump himself brought on—he's not getting the support he needs from the outer MAGA media world that's obsessed with Epstein. Meanwhile, he's getting ready to have taxpayers pay off his cronies for trying to help steal the 2020 election. Plus, the four kinds of corruption in the Trump administration, the Caribbean boat bombings have driven down the price of cocaine, and the origins and modern flowering of antisemitism on the left and right. David Frum joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes David's recent episode on the military buildup off the coast of VenezuelaDavid's interview with Sarah this weekTim's playlist