Bulwark Takes
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.'
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.
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.
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.
Trump’s DHS Is Eating Itself Alive | Secret Podcast Preview
The Bulwark hosts dissect the internal chaos and public perception battle within Trump's DHS, highlighting the strategic blunders of political appointees versus career officials and the broader implications for American democracy.
Trump’s DOJ Is Hollowing Itself Out and We’ll Pay for It
The Department of Justice is being systematically hollowed out by political pressure and mass resignations, threatening the rule of law and the ability to prosecute real crimes.
The GOP Dismantled Its Own Humanitarian Legacy (w/ Peter Wehner) | The Mona Charen Show
Peter Wehner and Mona Charen discuss how the Trump administration dismantled the GOP's humanitarian legacy, particularly PEPFAR, and analyze the psychological underpinnings of MAGA support and the effectiveness of civil resistance.
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.
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.
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.
Sarah & JVL Are Furious | Secret Podcast
JVL and Sarah Longwell express outrage over the weaponization of the Department of Justice, the arrest of journalist Don Lemon, and the broader erosion of democratic norms by the current administration, highlighting dangerous hypocrisy in law enforcement.
Bill Kristol: The Murder of Alex Pretti | The Bulwark Podcast
Hosts Tim Miller and Bill Kristol express profound outrage over the murder of Alex Prey by federal agents in Minneapolis, framing it as an act of state-sponsored lawlessness and a direct assault on fundamental American rights, enabled by political and corporate complicity.
What Replaces the Ayatollahs in Iran? (w/ Christiane Amanpour) | How to Fix It
Veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour dissects the complexities of Iranian uprisings, external interventions, and the profound challenges of achieving lasting regime change, drawing on decades of experience covering the region.
BREAKING: Second Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
Federal agents shot and killed a lawful gun-owning American citizen in Minneapolis, sparking outrage, renewed protests, and a constitutional crisis as local officials demand federal withdrawal and accuse the government of lying and authoritarian tactics.
TNL LIVE: Sundowning Trump Stumbles Through Press Event | The Next Level
The hosts dissect a chaotic, hours-long Trump press conference, revealing it as a desperate attempt to boost declining poll numbers and a dangerous display of unseriousness that accelerates the unraveling of the U.S.-led world order.
An Idiot's Tantrum Is Now U.S. Foreign Policy (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Bulwark Podcast
The hosts dissect how the former president's 'tantrums' and 'idiotic' foreign policy decisions, like demanding Greenland and imposing tariffs on allies, are actively damaging US standing and democratic norms.
Iran’s Regime Hates This Film (w/ Sonny Bunch) | Mona Charen Show
Explore how Iranian dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi's latest smuggled film, 'It Was Only an Accident,' uses a gripping narrative to expose the pervasive corruption and moral dilemmas under an authoritarian regime, challenging viewers to confront universal questions of justice and reconciliation.
Trump's Greenland Text Is Publicly Embarrassing America
President Trump's bizarre text to Norway's Prime Minister, demanding Greenland and linking it to his unreceived Nobel Peace Prize, exposed a 'mob boss' approach to international relations that is driving Europe towards China and dismantling the American-led world order.
Trump’s Polls Are Slipping—So Why Does He Feel More Dangerous Than Ever?
Despite consistently low approval ratings, Donald Trump's administration is accelerating its authoritarian and isolationist policies, alienating allies and potentially solidifying an 'iron wall of opposition' among swing voters.
Trump Says We “Shouldn’t Even Have an Election.”
Donald Trump's 'joke' about canceling elections is framed not as a casual remark, but as a deliberate tactic that normalizes authoritarian ideas and tests the boundaries of political acceptability, echoing a broader pattern of 'half-irony' on the political right.
THIS Is What a Strong Democrat Looks Like | The Next Level
The Bulwark hosts dissect the escalating authoritarian tactics of the Trump administration, from ICE actions in Minneapolis to foreign policy aggression, and analyze effective political responses.
Trump Gave the White House a Tramp Stamp (w/ Susan Glasser & Jacob Soboroff) | Bulwark Podcast
This episode exposes how Donald Trump's unchecked power, enabled by a broad network of individuals and institutions, threatens democratic norms both domestically and internationally, exemplified by his pursuit of Greenland and the militarization of federal agencies.
Trump Hits the Gas on Authoritarian Rule (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Bulwark Podcast
Tim Miller and Bill Kristol dissect recent actions by the Trump administration, framing them as an alarming acceleration towards authoritarianism, particularly targeting the Federal Reserve's independence and escalating ICE's use of force.
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