Bulwark Takes

Most CORRUPT Takeover Yet? Trump-Backed Paramount to Buy Warner Bros.
The proposed Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is framed as a politically driven transaction, heavily influenced by Donald Trump's desire to control media narratives, rather than sound financial strategy, leading to market distortions and concerns about media independence.

Did Zohran Mamdani Just Outplay Trump?
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's unexpected meeting with Donald Trump, yielding policy wins and a surprising optical victory, sparks a debate on political strategy and the dangers of engaging with Trump.

ALL the Stories Are Bad for Trump! (w/ Jonathan Chait) | The Bulwark Podcast
This episode dissects Donald Trump's political vulnerabilities, from alleged cover-ups in the Epstein saga and blatant crony capitalism to the strategic missteps of the Democratic Party and the surprising success of education reform in red states.

The Darkest State of the Union in Years (w/ Susan Glasser) | The Bulwark Podcast
This episode dissects Donald Trump's State of the Union address as a performative, policy-empty spectacle, highlighting his administration's escalating attacks on free speech, democratic norms, and media independence, while pursuing contradictory foreign policies.

Tim Miller: Yes, the GOP Has a Nazi Problem.
Tim Miller argues that the Republican Party actively tolerates and even integrates white nationalist and Nazi ideologies into its base and policy, while also critiquing Marjorie Taylor Green's call for political civility as disingenuous.

State of the Union Coverage From the Bulwark (w/ Pete Buttigieg)
The Bulwark panel and guest Pete Buttigieg critically dissect Trump's State of the Union address, highlighting its disconnect from reality, focus on self-aggrandizement, and the Democratic response's strategic pivot to affordability and anti-corruption.

Trump’s Latest Enemies Are His Own People
Donald Trump consistently frames independent actions by his appointees and party members—from Supreme Court justices to state governors—as personal betrayals, expecting absolute loyalty over constitutional duty or independent judgment.

Trump Wants to Be King of the World (Live from Minneapolis) | The Next Level
A live podcast dissects Trump's 'Board of Peace' as a global power grab, exposes America's failing rule of law compared to other nations, and critiques the Democratic Party's timid response to escalating political crises.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Public Meltdowns, Pathetic Affidavits—DOJ’s Credibility Is Shot (w/ Andrew Weissmann) | Illegal News
Former DOJ lawyer Andrew Weissmann and host Sarah Longwell dissect the Department of Justice's credibility crisis, highlighting its mishandling of the Epstein files, Pam Bondi's 'batshit crazy' congressional testimony, and a 'pathetic' Fulton County affidavit.

Pam Bondi LOSES IT In Congressional Hearing
Pam Bondi's congressional testimony on the Epstein documents revealed a Justice Department operating with open contempt for Congress, prioritizing political performance over accountability, and raising serious questions about transparency and competence.

Trump is Crashing Out And We're LOVING It | The Next Level
The hosts dissect recent polling data and unfolding controversies, including the Epstein files and cultural missteps, to argue that Donald Trump is experiencing a significant decline in public and party support.

The Epstein Revelations Keep Getting Worse (w/ Jane Coaston) | The Bulwark Podcast
New Epstein file revelations expose high-profile individuals' hypocrisy and deep ties to financial corruption, highlighting a broader political desire for power without accountability.

If National Review Will Cover This, It’s Bad
A traditional conservative outlet, National Review, is now publishing a series by Andy McCarthy detailing alleged Trump family corruption on a scale far exceeding anything attributed to the Bidens or Clintons, signaling a significant shift in conservative media.

Yes, Democrats Could Win the Senate in 2026 (w/ Ron Brownstein)
Despite a historically challenging Senate map, Democrats have a clear pathway to winning the Senate in 2026, primarily dependent on sustained high disapproval of Donald Trump, especially among working-class white voters.

ShamWow Guy Has America’s Dumbest Campaign Ad
The Bulwark hosts dissect the alarming trend of infomercial pitchmen and 'snake oil salesmen' entering Republican politics, exemplified by figures like the ShamWow Guy, MyPillow's Mike Lindell, and even former officials like Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump himself.

JD Vance Creeps Out Young Trump Voters | Focus Group
Gen Z Trump voters reveal their unexpected skepticism of JD Vance, a deep-seated 'America First' foreign policy stance, and a complex gender divide impacting dating and political identity.

Let’s Play a Little Game, David (w/ David French) | The Bulwark Podcast
Tim Miller and David French dissect the moral compromises within conservative politics, Trump's escalating rhetoric, and the systemic degradation of federal institutions, proposing concrete legal reforms to restore accountability.

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.'

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.
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