The Bulwark Podcast

Former FBI Director James Comey joins Tim Miller to discuss the choices he made in 2016, the DOJ's self-sabotaging avoidance of the media, and how to maintain your integrity and principles in the face of a lying, lawless bastard. Plus, Ben Wittes in New York updates the status of the Trump trial, and praises the fairness of Judge Merchan. show notes: Comey's new crime novel Ben on Judge Merchan

The "unified Reich" reference was no accident: Trump is aiming to both fire up the base and court public controversy. Meanwhile, Giuliani is hawking sedition coffee, Marco Rubio is auditioning for secretary of state, and the UN had a dumbass reaction to the Iranian president's death. Rick Wilson joins Tim Miller today. show notes: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-killing-of-roger-fortson

Trump has embraced the culture war on guns and abortion, but he is somehow being painted as a moderate again. Meanwhile, Giuliani and Abbott served up fresh reminders that MAGA thinks law and order doesn't apply to them. And today's authoritarians aren't anti-elite—it's just that the wrong elites are in charge. Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller. show notes: Tom's piece about Carla, the cat

Russia, China, and their authoritarian allies are working overtime to poison the idea of democracy everywhere in the world. It's a theme so heartily embraced by MAGA, their messaging is often the same. Plus, coup sympathizer Samuel Alito, Ukraine's high-tech gains and low-tech losses, and our risk of being outflanked by foreign influence in 2024. Join Tim, Sarah JVL in Denver June 21. Gov Jared Polis is our guest. Tickets at TheBulwark.com/events. show notes: Anne's Atlantic cover story Anne's forthcoming book, "Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who to Run the World." Tim's playlist

This election is about being a grownup and making a choice. One candidate is clearly preferable, and a protest vote sends a message to no one. Meanwhile, Biden is not waiting to take the fight to Trump, and Democrats have to call out culture war ugliness. Plus, another installment of "The Right Stuff." Joe Walsh joins Tim Miller today.

Michael Cohen substantiated 99% of what's needed to prove Trump's hush money reimbursement scheme—and so far, Cohen held his own under the weak defense counsel's cross-exam. Plus, are we past the peak power of the corporate lobbying world? Ben Wittes and the WSJ's Brody Mullins join Tim Miller today. show notes: Brody Mulllins' book, "“The Wolves of K Street: The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government.” Ben on Michael Cohen, Day 2

Joe has to tell campus protesters it's OK to disagree with him—and that they can hold him to account. But if they want to keep the ability to protest, they can't let the knuckle-dragging troglodyte back into power. Plus, pressuring Cornel West, white people are losing their damn minds, again—and is Gen Z really the catastrophic generation? Eddie Glaude joins Tim Miller. show notes: Eddie's latest book, "We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For." Eddie's "Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul."

Today's GOP is not a governing party—it's a grievance and trolling party, and Trump has the nihilist vote all locked up. Meanwhile, Lindsey Graham and others are pushing a Hiroshima model in response to Gaza. And because we all still need to laugh, the pod now has a new segment, "The Right Stuff." Will Saletan joins Tim Miller today. show notes: Jonathan Karl on Johnny McEntee CBS News segment on the mother rescued from Gaza

Mike Johnson may have seen the light in the SCIF, but is he scheming with Trump for Jan 6, 2025? Plus, imagining Gavin Newsom 2028 if we get to keep our elections, Biden's age still makes every supporter nervous, Kevin McCarthy's vendetta, and Nikki, the wild card. Mark Leibovich joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. Show notes: Mark's "Thank You for Your Servitude" Mark's "This Town" Tim's playlist

In New York, we are getting the trial we deserve: It's not about high principles and democracy, but the trashy celebrity culture America let into the White House. Meanwhile, Biden grows more impatient over Israel's plans for Rafah. Plus, the dark overlords of Silicon Valley, and a "new economic patriotism.” Rep. Ro Khanna and Ben Wittes join Tim Miller. show notes: Lawfare Daily podcast episode on Israel/Gaza Full clip from Khanna's conversation with Jewish and Arab students

The ex-POTUS who claims he was taken down by the deep state is looking even smaller in court, getting scolded by the judge and sitting through testimony about how he and Melania don't sleep in the same bed. Plus, RFK Jr.'s brain worm, winning over the still-going Haley voters, and the plan to ban porn. Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller. show notes: Tim's interview with Tammy Baldwin Tim's interview with Colin Allred

Two conservatives describe their break with Trump. Former DHS official Elizabeth Neumann saw both the mafia culture up close and Trump's disinterest in doing the work of being president. He also exploits the rising extremism in the evangelical church. And former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan says he's voting for Biden, and tells Tim Miller that "doing the right thing will never be the wrong thing." show notes: Elizabeth's new book, "Kingdom of Rage: The Rise Of Christian Extremism And The Path Back to Peace.” Geoff's book, "GOP 2.0"

Any apprentice who wants to join Trump's ticket has to prove they won't accept the election results unless Trump wins—and Tim Scott shows he is a willing collaborator. Plus, most students aren't on the side of the protesters, the threat to Biden from the sense of disorder, and the pathology of Kristi Noem. Bill Kristol and Andrew Egger join Tim Miller. show notes: Politico story on nonprofits funding Gaza protests

Will Saletan and (Hubert Humphrey alum) Bill Kristol join Tim Miller before a live audience in Philadelphia to discuss the uncanny parallels to 1968, the big 420 news, and the South now living back in pre-Roe days. Will there be a monster backlash? show notes Tim's playlist

The governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, sits down with Tim Miller in Philly to talk about the kind of language that wins over voters, the campus protests, finding the sweet spot on public safety and crime, and getting sh*t done. show note: This interview was recorded late Wednesday afternoon.

Trump went on the record, explaining how in a second term, his staff would only be (election denying) loyalists, he'd run a massive deportation operation, and states could freely monitor women's pregnancies. Meanwhile, evidence of his election interference in 2016 piles up in New York. Ben Wittes and Eric Cortellessa join Tim Miller. show notes: Trump Makes the Cover of Time magazine Trump interview transcript Lawfare's NY Trial Dispatch, Week 2 The Next Level episode mentioned by Ben

In the very hot summer of George, Breonna, and Ahmaud, we seemed to be on the brink of a third Reconstruction. But that moment from 2020 was lost. Now, we're in a time when people like Tucker and Charlie Kirk talk about racial equality as white oppression. Bakari Sellers joins Tim Miller today. show notes: Bakari's new book, "The Moment: Thoughts on the Race Reckoning That Wasn't and How We All Can Move Forward Now."

Political power often changes the church more than the church changes those in power—the most glaring example is the damage Trump has done to the credibility of the white evangelical world. Plus, Bill Barr is a liar, and the evolution of Mike Johnson. Peter Wehner joins Tim Miller. show notes: AP story on Bill Barr and the Mueller Report Pete's piece on the forgotten radicalism of Jesus Christ

The polling isn't there yet, but Biden is delivering on the job, MAGA is extreme and dangerous, the GOP is a dumpster fire, and Trump is the ugliest political figure in our lifetimes. After a hellish week at SCOTUS, some hopium for the weekend pod from Simon Rosenberg. Plus, Tim Miller reads from the mailbag. show notes: Simon's Hopium newsletter Tim's playlist George Conway's hat Tim on Dan Savage's pod BulwarkPodcast@TheBulwark.com

To Alito, Thomas, Kavanaugh, and Gorsuch, the real threat to democracy is not Trump's attempts to steal the election—but the DOJ's effort to hold him accountable. Plus, the story behind the protesters' masks, activists v Biden, and reading the tea leaves from the Pennsylvania primary. Mark Joseph Stern and Dave Weigel join Tim Miller. show notes: Weigel's mask story Marc Caputo on the Jan 6 case