Trump's Polls Are Awful—and the Real Pain Hasn’t Started Yet (w/ Bill Kristol) | Bulwark Podcast

Despite a relatively stable economy and the absence of disastrous foreign wars, Donald Trump's approval ratings have remained low (around 41%), down from 50%. This suggests that public dissatisfaction with Trump stems from deeper issues beyond economic or immediate foreign policy outcomes, possibly related to 'human liberty, rights, dignity, and democracy,' as Bill Kristol posits.

Politico Playbook's spin on Trump's performance, noting tariffs 'largely haven't created unbearable levels of pain' and foreign policy 'haven't backfired,' yet approval is down from 50% to 41%.

Senator Marco Rubio has adopted a nationalist rhetoric, asserting that armies fight for 'a people,' 'a nation,' and 'a way of life,' rather than 'abstractions' like liberty or equality. This redefines American identity away from its founding principles, diminishing historical events like the Civil War and World War II, which were fought for abstract ideals.

Rubio's speech: 'Armies do not fight for abstractions. Armies fight for a people. Armies fight for a nation. Armies fight for a way of life.' Bill Kristol counters with Lincoln's explanation of the Civil War being fought for the abstraction that 'all men are created equal.'

Rubio's speech in Munich emphasized a 'common heritage' tied to European cultural figures like Mozart, Beethoven, Dante, Shakespeare, and the Beatles. The hosts criticize this as an 'Anglo-Saxon supremacist' view that ignores America's diverse cultural tapestry and Rubio's own Cuban heritage, attempting to create a narrow, exclusionary definition of American identity.

Rubio's speech: 'It was this continent that produced the genius of Mozart and Beethoven... of Dante and Shakespeare... of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.' Tim Miller points out Rubio's Cuban background and the cultural diversity of Miami, arguing this view is 'white national agitprop.'

Rubio's visit to Budapest and public statement of Trump's 'deep commitment to your success' for Viktor Orban, an authoritarian leader facing an election, is seen as a direct affront to traditional US allies and a betrayal of Hungarian dissidents fighting for a free country. Orban's rhetoric, stating 'those who love freedom should not fear the east but Brussels,' further highlights the ideological alignment with anti-democratic forces.

Rubio's statement in Budapest: 'President Trump is deeply committed to your success.' Orban's speech: 'We must get used to the idea that those who love freedom should not fear the east but Brussels.' Bill Kristol notes Rubio 'steps on those people' fighting Orban.

Mark Kelly directly attributes the breakdown of the 'old world order' to Donald Trump, leading to allies' distrust and increased Chinese influence. AOC, meanwhile, articulates a 'working-class centered politics' that also defends the 'rules-based order,' suggesting a fusion of domestic economic concerns with liberal internationalist foreign policy, a departure from typical democratic socialist isolationism.

Mark Kelly: 'When Secretary Rubio said the old world order was dead... it's dead because Donald Trump blew it up.' AOC: 'We have to have a working-class centered politics if we are going to succeed and also if we are going to stave off the scourges of authoritarianism.'

The Pentagon is considering designating Anthropic, an AI company, as a 'supply chain risk' because its CEO prioritizes ethical safeguards against mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. This indicates a government preference for military utility over AI safety and ethical development, potentially stifling responsible innovation.

Pete Hegseth is 'close to cutting all ties with Anthropic and designating the AI company a supply chain risk' because its CEO 'wants to ensure that tools aren't used to spy on Americans... or develop weapons that fire with no human involvement.'

The military is reportedly making it harder for service members to attend top law schools, including Harvard, Princeton, and MIT, due to concerns about 'wokeness.' This policy is criticized as insulting to the intelligence and seriousness of military personnel and detrimental to their professional development.

Hegseth is 'making it harder... for members of the military... to go to... the 30 top law schools in the US basically because they're so woke.' Bill Kristol calls it 'so insulting to these serious people.'

In Minneapolis, felony assault charges against two Venezuelan migrants were dismissed after newly discovered evidence was 'materially inconsistent' with claims that ICE officers were beaten with a broom handle and snow shovel, leading to an officer shooting one of the migrants. This case highlights a pattern of alleged dishonesty and misconduct within DHS agencies.

District court judge Paul Magnuson dismissed felony assault charges against two Venezuelans accused of 'beating an ICE officer with a broom handle and a snow shovel.' Newly discovered evidence was 'materially inconsistent with the allegations.'