Hanging with Tim Miller

Miller reflects on his recent interview with Sager, acknowledging Sager's deep dive into Epstein conspiracies and his use of false immigration statistics (e.g., 20 million 'illegal immigrants' under Biden). He explains his decision not to push back on the immigration statistic in real-time, presuming Sager was conflating various legal statuses with 'illegal.' Miller emphasizes the importance of engaging with 'Trump curious' individuals, even those with flawed arguments, to understand and potentially sway parts of the MAGA base, which he describes as a 'Trump cult' or 'lifestyle brand' rather than purely ideological.

Host's self-review of Sager interview, discussion of Epstein and immigration stats, and rationale for engaging 'Trump curious' individuals.

Miller expresses significant concern about Senator John Fetterman's mental faculties post-stroke. He recounts a past interview where Fetterman struggled with unscripted questions, leading Miller to feel it would be 'beating up a kid' to press him hard. Miller notes the 'interesting' and 'cliche' observation that Fetterman's cognitive decline coincided with a shift towards hard MAGA positions, including advocating for the elimination of Iranian leadership.

Miller's personal experience interviewing Fetterman, references to a New York magazine story about staff concerns, and Fetterman's recent comments on Iran.

Miller vehemently criticizes the current US-Israel policy towards Iran, calling it 'absolutely moronic' and 'the stupidest [expletive] thing I've ever seen.' He expresses frustration with media outlets like CNN for attempting to frame the aggressive actions against Iran as an 'impressive shock and awe' campaign, likening it to 'shining this turd.' He highlights the predictable escalation and destabilization in the region, referencing a 2010 US Institute of Peace white paper that accurately predicted Iran's response strategies.

Miller's commentary on Iran policy, CNN's framing, and reference to JBL's Triad and the US Institute of Peace white paper.

Miller details the founding of The Bulwark. It emerged after the Weekly Standard was shut down by an owner who opposed its anti-Trump stance. Sarah Longwell, initially running a 'dumb' aggregator site, collaborated with Bill Kristol and former Weekly Standard staff (including JVL) to create The Bulwark. The goal was to establish a Never Trumper media outlet focused on original reporting and commentary, which unexpectedly gained significant traction as a 'side hustle' for many involved.

Miller's explanation of The Bulwark's founding, mentioning Bill Kristol, Sarah Longwell, JVL, and the Weekly Standard.

Miller posits that cultural issues, rather than core policy differences, are the primary impediment to forming a stable anti-Trump coalition between the left and right flanks. He identifies areas like public safety, border policy, and gender/sexuality as flashpoints. While he wouldn't 'moderate on gay marriage' due to its popularity, he suggests moderation on 'giving gays special privileges' as an example. He believes both sides need to moderate on 'shit that isn't core' to their fundamental beliefs.

Miller's response to a question about policy moderation for a stable coalition, citing specific cultural issues.

Miller reacts to a deposition video where a government official struggles to define 'DEI' (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) but justifies blocking a grant for a documentary about female Holocaust survivors because it was 'gender-based' and 'inherently discriminatory' under DEI principles. Miller frames this as 'shameful [expletive]' and an example of bureaucratic absurdity, contrasting it with his own refusal to 'iron his shirt' and waste time on such nonsensical tasks.

Reaction to the deposition video, specific quotes from the official, and Miller's commentary.