Bulwark Takes

Putin, Bone Saw, and Gnomes: Inside Trump’s ‘Peace’ Board (w/ Michael Weiss) | The Bulwark Podcast
This episode dissects the Trump administration's chaotic foreign policy, from a Supreme Court ruling against his tariffs to the perplexing 'Board of Peace' and the precarious state of US-European alliances amid escalating tensions with Iran and Russia.

BREAKING: Supreme Court BLOCKS Trump's Tariffs
The Supreme Court struck down former President Trump's 'liberation day tariffs,' citing an overreach of executive power and potentially triggering a massive $175 billion in refunds to businesses, while the administration plans to reconstitute them under different authorities.

"The Alabama Solution" May Change How You See Prisons (w/ Andrew Jarecki & Charlotte Kaufman)
The Oscar-nominated documentary 'The Alabama Solution' reveals the brutal, unconstitutional realities inside Alabama's prisons, exposed by incarcerated individuals using contraband cell phones.

Tina Smith Names the Republicans She Can’t Stand | The Bulwark Podcast
Senator Tina Smith and host Tim Miller dissect the current political landscape, criticizing Republican figures for their 'cruelty' and 'authoritarian project,' while also reflecting on Democratic party missteps and the need for leaders willing to 'rock the boat.'

A Coast Guard Search Mission Cut Short—For Politics
The podcast exposes how political interference undermines military professionalism, from stalled promotions based on loyalty tests to a Coast Guard search mission halted for political optics, and misrepresents the strategic value of US military presence in Europe.

FDA Reverses Decision About Moderna Flu Vaccine
The FDA made an unprecedented reversal on its refusal to review Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine application, signaling significant political interference and creating regulatory uncertainty for the pharmaceutical industry.

RFK Jr. & Kid Rock’s Bizarre HHS Gym Video
This episode dissects a bizarre HHS video featuring RFK Jr. and Kid Rock working out, revealing it as a political messaging stunt to distract from unpopular healthcare policies and appeal to a 'Maha' health agenda.

Trump's About to Start a War. Washington Is Asleep (w/ Mark Leibovich) | The Bulwark Podcast
Mark Leibovich and Tim Miller discuss the Democratic Party's struggle with identity and messaging, contrasting it with Trump's populist appeal and alarming potential actions, including a reported high chance of war with Iran.

Steve Bannon Is in Trouble, and It Has Nothing To Do With Epstein
Steve Bannon faces a new lawsuit over his alleged mismanagement and fraudulent activities with the FJBcoin cryptocurrency, adding to his history of financial scams and raising questions about his diminishing political influence.

The Video That Blew Up ICE’s Story (w/ Andrew Weissmann) | The Illegal News
This episode exposes multiple instances where government agencies, particularly under the Trump administration, allegedly abused power, lied, and undermined the rule of law, from seizing election ballots to unlawfully sharing private tax data and retaliating against critics.

Anderson Cooper Walks Away from CBS and 60 Minutes
CBS's recent controversial editorial and personnel decisions, including Anderson Cooper's departure and the retention of a Jeffrey Epstein associate, are framed as strategic moves by owner David Ellison to appease the Trump administration and facilitate a major media acquisition.

Democrats Are Winning. Don’t Blow It! (w/ Rick Wilson) | The Bulwark Podcast
Political strategists Rick Wilson and Tim Miller dissect the current political landscape, exposing GOP hypocrisy, Democratic strategic missteps, and the alarming erosion of free speech and public health under MAGA influence.

82-Year-Old Democrat NUKES Ted Cruz Online
An 82-year-old Virginia state senator, Louise Lucas, is redefining Democratic social media strategy by aggressively trolling Republicans and employing internet memes, prompting a debate within the party about adopting a more combative online persona.

Colbert Calls Out FCC and His Own Network Over Talarico Censorship
This episode dissects recent political controversies, from media censorship of a Texas Senate candidate to shifting conservative ideologies and federal immigration enforcement tactics, revealing underlying power struggles and citizen resistance.

Trump to Europe: Give Me Greenland… Or Else
The host argues that Donald Trump's actions and rhetoric towards Europe, Venezuela, and Greenland mirror the very 'extortion' tactics Marco Rubio warned against regarding China, undermining the concept of a reliable Western supply chain.

Is George W. Bush a Coward—Or Just Wrong?
The hosts dissect George W. Bush's recent Substack essay on George Washington, arguing it's a weak, apologetic response to current political threats and a symptom of a broader failure among establishment figures to confront authoritarianism directly.

Trump's Polls Are Awful—and the Real Pain Hasn’t Started Yet (w/ Bill Kristol) | Bulwark Podcast
The hosts dissect Marco Rubio's shift to 'blood and soil' nationalism and his endorsement of Viktor Orban, contrasting it with Democratic responses to a changing global order and examining domestic issues like Trump's struggling approval and government agency misconduct.

BREAKING: After Our Story, ICE Freed a Mom With Possible Cancer
A mother with suspected breast cancer and her three children were released from a Texas ICE detention center just hours after a Bulwark story highlighted her plight, exposing systemic issues within immigration detention.

The Real Conflict is Between Decent and Indecent (w/ David French) | Mona Charen Show
David French and Mona Charen analyze how extreme political polarization, tribalism, and a disregard for the rule of law are eroding American democracy and its international standing, advocating for a focus on liberalism over partisan divides.

The Epstein Files Could Blow Up Everything | Shield of the Republic
This episode dissects the US political landscape, the expiration of the New Start treaty, evolving European security, and the far-reaching implications of the Epstein files, highlighting elite incompetence and geopolitical shifts.

Making Sense of MAGA’s Freak Show: Carrie Prejean, Candace Owens, Clavicular
This episode exposes how extreme conspiracy theories, anti-Semitism, and fringe figures have infiltrated and gained mainstream credibility within the modern Republican party, largely due to a lack of internal resistance and the normalizing influence of Donald Trump.

David Frum: The GOP Didn’t Drift Into Trumpism—It Chose It | How to Fix It
David Frum, a former Bush speechwriter, details the Republican Party's deliberate shift into Trumpism, the unprecedented scale of Trump's personal corruption, and the resulting erosion of American alliances and democratic norms.

Trump 2.0 is Trashing Sarah M's Love Life
Gen Z and younger millennials navigate a dating landscape reshaped by political polarization, financial anxiety, social media, and evolving gender roles, leading to a low-commitment culture and a 'male loneliness epidemic'.

Elijah Schaffer's Bizarre Downward Spiral Continues
This episode dissects the internal chaos at Turning Point USA, the public downfall of 'trad husband' Elijah Schaffer, and the alleged corruption and bizarre behavior of Corey Lewandowski and Kristi Noem within the Department of Homeland Security.
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