Bulwark Takes
Tim Miller Can't Stop Talking About Giorgia Meloni (w/ Bill Kristol) | Bulwark Podcast
Tim Miller and Bill Kristol dissect the farcical and menacing aspects of current US politics, from the Reflecting Pool scandal and chaotic Iran negotiations to the performative phoniness of figures like JD Vance, while also exploring surprising shifts in global right-wing leadership like Italy's Giorgia Meloni.
Trump is Drowning Us in Lies—On Purpose (w/ Anne Applebaum) | Bulwark Podcast
Anne Applebaum details how the Trump administration employs a 'firehose of falsehoods' strategy to obscure reality in foreign policy and domestic issues, prioritizing online engagement over real-world outcomes or human impact.
Will the Senate Confirm Thugs Like Bill Pulte & Todd Blanche? (w/ Tom Joscelyn) | Bulwark on Sunday
Trump's recent appointments to key federal agencies, including DNI and AG, are part of a deliberate strategy to install loyalists and consolidate authoritarian control, aiming to subvert future elections and implement extreme agendas like mass deportations.
Someone in the White House Is Leaking Dirt on JD Vance (w/ Bill Kristol) | Bulwark Podcast
Tim Miller and Bill Kristol discuss the stalled Iran deal, Trump's escalating authoritarian rhetoric, and the internal White House leaks targeting JD Vance, highlighting the chaotic state of U.S. politics and foreign policy.
Trump vs. The Courts (w/ Nathaniel Zelinsky) | Bulwark on Sunday
Nathaniel Zelinsky, a former big law attorney now leading a non-profit law firm, details how the Trump administration systematically challenged the rule of law through actions like renaming the Kennedy Center, creating a slush fund from a fake IRS lawsuit, and asserting an absolute 'Article Two' right to fire any federal employee for any reason.
For the First Time Since WWII, Moscow Is Under Attack (w/ Marc Bennetts) | Shield of the Republic
This episode dissects the unpredictable nature of US foreign policy under Trump, the hollowing out of American diplomacy, and offers a grim, first-hand account of Russia's descent into authoritarianism and the pervasive impact of state propaganda.
He Went on Fox News—and Turned Hannity's Script Against Him (w/ Justin Jones) | Bulwark Podcast
Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones exposes how the state's gerrymandering and legislative actions are dismantling Black political power, while also discussing the broader national implications of Trump's influence and the strategy of engaging with Fox News audiences.
Trump Is Drowning—And There’s Nothing the GOP Can Do About It (w/ John Heilemann) | Bulwark Podcast
John Heilemann and Tim Miller argue that Donald Trump's political standing is irrevocably damaged, with nothing the GOP can do to reverse his declining approval, while media companies continue to self-censor out of fear of retribution.
Trump's War Could Cost Him EVERYTHING (w/ Nicholas Kristof) | The Bulwark Podcast
Nicholas Kristof and Tim Miller dissect the catastrophic geopolitical and economic fallout of the Iran war, arguing it has weakened US strategic positions, empowered hardline regimes, and exacerbated global crises, all while highlighting the domestic political implications for the US.
Europe Is Preparing for Life Without America (w/ Richard Stengel) | How to Fix It
As American soft power declines and alliances fray, Europe is actively preparing for a future without consistent US leadership, while recent elections in Hungary offer a surprising blueprint for restoring democracy against authoritarianism.
What Finally Broke Orbán’s Grip (w/ David Pressman)
US Ambassador David Pressman details how Peter Majar's fearless, anti-corruption campaign shattered Viktor Orbán's seemingly unbreakable grip on Hungary, offering critical lessons for other democracies facing authoritarianism.
Hungary Just Humiliated Donald Trump (w/ Sarah Longwell & Bill Kristol) | Bulwark Podcast
The recent overwhelming defeat of Hungary's illiberal leader Viktor Orban serves as a significant repudiation of global authoritarianism and a potential blueprint for challenging Trumpism in the US.
Trump Wants to Invent a Fake Reality (w/ Anne Applebaum) | The Bulwark Podcast
Anne Applebaum details how Hungary's Viktor Orban employs 'post-reality' politics and disinformation to maintain power, a model increasingly adopted by the American far-right, while critiquing Trump's chaotic foreign policy and the breakdown of international relations.
From Unconditional Surrender to…Whatever This Is (David French & Rep. Subramanyam) | Bulwark Podcast
This episode dissects the chaotic and strategically flawed US-Iran conflict under Trump, highlighting the degradation of military integrity, the weaponization of the DOJ, and the broader erosion of democratic norms.
The MAGA Dominos Are Falling (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Bulwark Podcast
Tim Miller and Bill Kristol dissect the Trump administration's erratic and unhinged foreign policy regarding Iran, the moral and political implications of his war threats, and the growing calls for his impeachment from across the political spectrum.
Trump is Remaking National Security to Enforce His Agenda (w/ Tom Joscelyn)
Tom Joscelyn and Bill Crystal dissect how the Trump administration is systematically politicizing and weaponizing national security agencies, from the Pentagon to the FBI, to enforce a specific ideological agenda against perceived domestic opposition.
Trump’s Alternate Reality War Speech | The Bulwark Podcast
Tim Miller and Susan Glasser dissect Donald Trump's 'alternate reality' war speech, exposing its lack of a coherent plan, the administration's dysfunction, and the severe global consequences of his 'magical thinking' approach to foreign policy.
Even Megyn Kelly Calls Trump’s Presidency a “Five-Alarm Fire” (w/ Bill Kristol) | Bulwark Podcast
Tim Miller and Bill Kristol dissect the escalating Iran conflict, the DHS shutdown, and the severe economic repercussions, framing the Trump administration's actions as a 'five-alarm fire' due to congressional inaction and presidential disengagement.
No Kings: What We—and You—Saw at the Rallies (w/ Jim Swift) | Bulwark on Sunday
The hosts share their firsthand observations from the recent 'No Kings' rallies, revealing a surprisingly sober, community-driven, and strategically organized public pushback against authoritarianism.
No Kings Might Be Bigger than Anyone Expected
The 'No Kings' movement has mobilized millions across thousands of protests, aiming to prevent authoritarian power consolidation through organized non-violent resistance and sustained community engagement.
Trump May Be Trapped by His Own War (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Bulwark Podcast
The US's unilateral war in Iran has severely damaged global alliances, triggered significant economic disruption, and exposed deep rifts within the MAGA movement, leaving the Trump administration in a precarious political and strategic position.
Trump Says Iran Is Finished—Then Asks the World for Backup
The hosts dissect President Trump's contradictory statements on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, alongside FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr's explicit threats to revoke broadcast licenses for 'fake news,' highlighting a perceived authoritarian shift in US foreign policy and media control.
Trump Made an Insane Bet on a Risky War (w/ Derek Thompson) | The Bulwark Podcast
Derek Thompson and Tim Miller dissect the Trump administration's foreign policy and domestic governance, revealing a pattern of executive overreach, transactional decision-making, and the weaponization of obscure legal statutes.
Kleptocrat-in-Chief (w/ Alexander Cooley & Daniel Nexon) | Mona Charen Show
Trump's foreign policy is primarily driven by a kleptocratic impulse for personal enrichment, fusing with far-right ideology to dismantle traditional diplomatic structures and anti-corruption measures.
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