Bulwark Takes
Trump's Iran Ultimatum (w/ Margaret Donovan) | Command Post
A military lawyer and a retired general dissect Donald Trump's threat to bomb Iranian civilian power plants, exposing the profound legal, ethical, and military implications of such an order and the critical role of international law in armed conflict.
Trump’s Story on the Iran War Changed 5 Times in 48 Hours (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Bulwark Podcast
The hosts dissect the Trump administration's chaotic and contradictory handling of the Iran conflict and the DHS shutdown, arguing it led to economic instability and exposed a dangerous level of incompetence and political opportunism.
BREAKING: Trump Blames Hegseth for Iran War, Insults Widower
Donald Trump's erratic handling of the Iran conflict, marked by shifting threats and self-serving narratives, reveals a leadership style detached from geopolitical realities and economic consequences.
Dan Bongino Gets Heated After Heckler Calls Him a “Coward” | MAGA Mondays
The hosts dissect the internal chaos and infighting within the right-wing media ecosystem, highlighting Dan Bongino's public heckling, TPUSA's 'family values' hypocrisy, and James Fishbach's mounting legal and financial woes.
Republicans Don't Even Pretend to Care About Debt (w/ Jessica Riedl) | Mona Charen Show
Both Republican and Democratic parties have abandoned fiscal responsibility, leading the U.S. towards an inevitable debt crisis exacerbated by demographic shifts and ineffective policy approaches.
This War Is Way More Complicated Than You Think (w/ Jason Burke) | Shield of the Republic
This episode dissects the complexities of the ongoing Iran war, critiquing media coverage, analyzing geopolitical ripple effects, and tracing the historical roots of modern terrorism back to the 1970s.
Trump Loyalty Is Breaking Texas Republicans (w/ Rep. Lizzie Fletcher)
Texas Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher details how Republican subservience to Donald Trump is fracturing the party's traditional brand and creating unprecedented opportunities for Democrats in Texas elections, despite aggressive gerrymandering efforts.
Trump’s Plan: War Abroad, Chaos at Home
This episode dissects the Trump administration's chaotic foreign policy regarding Iran's Strait of Hormuz and its controversial domestic move to deploy ICE agents to alleviate airport bottlenecks, highlighting internal contradictions and political motivations.
The Economic Consequences of Trump’s Iran War (w/ Catherine Rampell) | Bulwark on Sunday
This episode dissects the severe economic fallout of a hypothetical Trump-initiated war with Iran, revealing how pre-existing fragilities like inflation and stagnant job growth are exacerbated by disrupted oil supplies and destroyed infrastructure.
MAGA Isn’t a Majority—So Why Is It Winning? (w/ Dan Cantor) | How to Fix It
Explore how fusion voting, a historical electoral system, could depolarize American politics by empowering minor parties and incentivizing compromise, directly challenging the current two-party duopoly.
They Walked Into This War Completely Unprepared (w/ Adam Kinzinger)
Adam Kinzinger and Tim Miller dissect the current administration's unprepared entry into a costly war with Iran, contrasting it with Ukraine aid, and lambasting the hypocrisy of modern Republican leadership.
Trump’s Most Grotesque Comment Yet? After Mueller’s Death
The hosts condemn Donald Trump's 'I'm glad he's dead' comment following Robert Mueller's passing, contrasting it with Mueller's decades of honorable public service.
Trump Has “Haunted” These Young Voters for Years (w/ Anderson Clayton) | The Focus Group
North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton reveals how Gen Z's deep disillusionment with both parties stems from a lack of political 'reach' and tangible local impact, outlining strategies to re-engage young voters through hyper-local issues, social media, and authentic, peer-driven activism.
A Monthlong Closure of Hormuz Will Bankrupt Countries (w/ Sal Mercogliano)
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global trade choke point, is now under de facto Iranian control, leading to economic disruption, humanitarian crises for seafarers, and a potential restructuring of global trade patterns if the closure persists.
Even Trump’s Cheerleaders Are Saying “Oops” | The Next Level
The Bulwark hosts debate the 'stove touching' theory, arguing that current geopolitical and economic crises, exacerbated by political leadership, are a necessary but dangerous learning moment for the American public.
The Easy Part of the Iran War Is Over | The Bulwark Podcast
The escalating US-Iran conflict has exposed critical vulnerabilities in American homeland security, strained key alliances, and revealed a profound lack of strategic planning for its long-term geopolitical and economic fallout.
New Inflation Warnings from Fed; Could Iran War Raise Prices AND Cause Recession?
This episode details a worst-case economic scenario where the Iran war, combined with an AI bubble and private credit risks, could trigger a global recession or depression, leaving policymakers with few effective tools.
Measles Outbreaks Are Changing Minds—Fast (w/ Therese Vogel)
As measles outbreaks resurface, a nurse and 'Grandparents for Vaccines' advocate shares her sister's lifelong struggle with measles-induced disability, revealing how personal stories are now critical to overcoming collective amnesia and vaccine misinformation.
Trump Calls Iran War an “Excursion” and Brings Up Pearl Harbor To Japan
Donald Trump's Oval Office meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister devolved into a series of gaffes, including calling the Iran conflict an 'excursion' and referencing Pearl Harbor when seeking Japan's help.
Trump’s Iran War Is A Personal Vendetta and Geopolitical Mess (w/ Erin Banco)
Reporter Erin Banco details how former President Trump's decision to initiate military action against Iran was driven by Israeli influence and a personal vendetta, not an imminent threat, leading to a complex regional conflict with unclear objectives and limited off-ramps.
Trump Is About to Own a Disastrous Middle East War | Secret Podcast Preview
The Bulwark hosts dissect the shifting landscape of Democratic political strategy, the unexpected impact of a potential Middle East war on the Republican party, and the surprising resignation of a controversial figure.
James Talarico: I Know EXACTLY Why Voters Stopped Trusting Democrats | The Bulwark Podcast
Texas Senate candidate James Talarico argues that Democrats lost voter trust by taking communities for granted, failing on border security and cost of living, and alienating faith-based voters through cultural insensitivity.
Why Big Media Keeps Caving to Trump (w/ Don Lemon)
Don Lemon details his experience being targeted by the Trump administration, critiques corporate media's failure to challenge political narratives, and warns of the dangers of eroding democratic institutions and the separation of church and state.
Trump’s Base Isn’t As Unified As It Looks (w. Rep. Ro Khanna) |
Representative Ro Khanna discusses how bipartisan coalitions, exemplified by the Epstein files release, can challenge established political narratives and push for accountability, while also critiquing current US policy in Iran and proposing a progressive economic vision for the AI era.
Don't see the episode you're looking for?
We're constantly adding new episodes, but if you want to see a specific one from Bulwark Takes summarized, let us know!
Submit an Episode