Bulwark Takes
Trump Posts Racist Video Depicting Obamas as Apes
Donald Trump posted a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as dancing apes, sparking outrage and a widely criticized White House defense that invoked 'The Lion King.'
Trump Is Treating Elections Like Crimes (w/ Elliot Williams) | Illegal News
This episode unpacks how Donald Trump's actions, from the Don Lemon arrest to the Kennedy Center's renaming, consistently challenge legal norms and institutional independence, often by exploiting 'kernels of truth' to undermine democratic processes.
Trump’s Crypto Grift Is Imploding
The crypto market, including Trump-linked digital assets, is experiencing a broad-based sell-off driven by rising interest rates and a shift away from speculative investments, with implications for the broader economy.
Shocking Sex Scandal Blows Up the Trad Right
A prominent 'trad right' influencer, Elijah Schaefer, known for promoting 'Christian family values,' faces a public meltdown involving divorce, alleged infidelity with a 'trad Catholic' staffer, and bizarre behavior, exposing deep hypocrisy within the movement.
Why Jeff Bezos No Longer Defends the Washington Post (w/ Marty Baron) | The Bulwark Podcast
Marty Baron, former executive editor of The Washington Post, details how Jeff Bezos's initial vision and investment transformed the paper into a profitable, innovative national force, but now fears Bezos's shift in priorities and the current leadership's strategy are leading to a journalistic retreat.
Tim Miller: Bannon’s Bluff Will Backfire
Tim Miller asserts that Steve Bannon's threats of voter intimidation for the 2026 midterm elections are fake bluster designed to backfire by motivating opposition.
Trump Gives Rambling, Combative Speech at National Prayer Breakfast
Donald Trump's appearance at the National Prayer Breakfast revealed a deeply transactional relationship with his evangelical base, where political identity now supersedes faith, alongside his self-serving legal strategies and disregard for institutional norms.
Why Is the Department of Defense Picking Fights With The Scouts? | Command Post
The Department of Defense, under Secretary Hegseth, is threatening to cut support for Scouting America's National Jamboree over the organization's embrace of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and 'gender fluid ideological stances,' sparking sharp criticism from military veterans who view DEI as essential for military strength and organizational effectiveness.
Marianne Williamson: There Is NO Justifying Trump | The Bulwark Podcast
Marianne Williamson offers a sharp critique of the Democratic Party's elite, arguing their detachment from economic suffering and moral principles paved the way for current political dysfunction, and advocates for a 'spiritual' re-engagement with foundational American values.
GOP Scrambles After MASSIVE Minneapolis Blowback
Democrats achieved a strategic victory by isolating DHS funding for a two-week negotiation, forcing Republicans to confront unpopular ICE practices and potentially secure significant reforms.
Trump is Leading America’s Global Collapse (w/ Robert Kagan) | The Bulwark Podcast
Robert Kagan argues that Trump's 'America First' policies are dismantling the post-WWII global order, pushing the world towards a dangerous multipolar environment where US allies become adversaries and democratic institutions face deliberate subversion.
BREAKING: Hundreds Laid Off at Washington Post (w/ Max Tani)
The Washington Post's recent mass layoffs are attributed to years of executive mismanagement, poor strategic decisions, and a failure to adapt to a changing media landscape, despite significant financial backing from Jeff Bezos.
Trump’s “Smile, Woman” Meltdown in the Oval Office
This episode dissects Trump's demeaning interaction with a female reporter and House Speaker Mike Johnson's alarming comments on election integrity, highlighting a perceived collective failure of the press and political allies to challenge such behavior.
Why It Took Congress Years to Pass a Bill No One Opposed
A universally supported bill aimed at accelerating pediatric cancer research faced years of inexplicable political defeats before finally passing, highlighting both the dysfunction and the possibility of incremental progress in Congress.
New Epstein Files Reveal Pathetic Depths of America’s Elites | The Next Level
The hosts dissect the latest Epstein files, exposing the 'pathetic depths' of elite social climbing and discussing alarming efforts to undermine future elections, alongside a contentious debate on political accountability versus strategic inaction.
When Elon Musk’s Psychotic AI Turned on Will Stancil | The Bulwark Podcast
Activist Will Stancil details Minneapolis's community-led ICE surveillance system and the personal impact of Elon Musk's Grok AI targeting, while the host critiques the Democratic party's primary rhetoric.
Tim Puts on His Tinfoil Hat Over Epstein Rumors
The 'Potato Boys' dive into the latest absurdities of political conspiracy theories, from the 2020 election 'loon gang' to Nancy Mace's bizarre staff demands and the host's 'tinfoil hat' musings on Jeffrey Epstein's death.
Tim Miller: Trump Country Just Snapped in Texas
Tim Miller analyzes the dramatic political shift where Republicans are losing ground on immigration, leading to alarming comments from Trump and significant voter swings in conservative areas.
Is Trump Going to Demolish the Kennedy Center?
Donald Trump's 'Truth announcement' of a two-year closure and renovation for the 'Trump Kennedy Center' is framed by hosts JVL and Sunny Bunch as a politically motivated, ego-driven takeover that has disastrously politicized a cultural institution and tanked its attendance.
RFK Jr. Is Letting Measles Come Back
Measles, once nearly eradicated, is making a dangerous comeback in the U.S. due to declining vaccination rates and a politically charged environment that undermines public health efforts.
The Administration Is STILL Stonewalling on Epstein (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Bulwark Podcast
The hosts dissect the administration's stonewalling on the Epstein case, the problematic deployment of federal agencies, and the blatant financial corruption surrounding Trump, arguing these issues reveal a deep erosion of democratic norms and public trust.
Trump’s Blueprint for Breaking Elections (w/ Ian Bassin) | Mona Charen Show
Ian Bassin, founder of Protect Democracy, details how Trump's predictable playbook to subvert elections and undermine democratic institutions can be countered through strategic litigation, state-level reforms, and robust citizen engagement.
America's New Defense Strategy is Nonsense | Shield of the Republic
This episode dissects the US's 'unserious' National Defense Strategy, Trump's 'tacoing' on Greenland, and the implications of China's military purge and potential action against Iran, highlighting a world increasingly defined by disorder and US fatigue.
Todd Blanche Broke His Promise to the Senate
The host argues that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche systematically contradicted his own Senate confirmation promises and legal principles to defend Donald Trump's politically motivated actions across immigration, judicial oversight, and targeted prosecutions.
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