Bulwark Takes

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 Could Send Prices Soaring (w/ Kenneth Rogoff) | How to Fix It
Harvard Professor Kenneth Rogoff details how escalating US debt, attacks on Federal Reserve independence, and geopolitical instability in the Middle East threaten the dollar's global reserve status and could trigger a domestic economic crisis.

Trump Says Iran Is Finished—Then Asks the World for Backup
The hosts dissect President Trump's contradictory statements on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, alongside FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr's explicit threats to revoke broadcast licenses for 'fake news,' highlighting a perceived authoritarian shift in US foreign policy and media control.

Would You Trust These Idiots With a War? | Secret Podcast Preview
The hosts sharply critique the current US government's perceived incompetence and lack of seriousness in handling the escalating conflict with Iran, drawing stark comparisons to historical leaders like Churchill and the Nuremberg trial figures.

Tim, JVL, and Katie Couric: Trump, Iran and Manosphere Drama
Katie Couric joins Tim Miller and JVL to dissect the Trump administration's chaotic Iran strategy, its domestic political fallout, and the 'manosphere's' surprising reaction to the conflict.

Trump's Swing Voters Don't Want Another Middle East War (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Focus Group
Swing voters who supported Trump in 2024 express deep skepticism about a new Middle East war with Iran and are increasingly influenced by mainstreamed conspiracy theories, particularly concerning the Epstein files and Israel.

Saagar Enjeti on Trump: “Greatest professional disappointment in my life” | Bulwark Podcast
Saagar Enjeti, a prominent right-wing populist, expresses profound disappointment with Donald Trump's foreign policy decisions, particularly on Iran and Israel, framing them as a betrayal of 'America First' principles and a failure of the movement to influence policy.

Joe Rogan Says Trump “Betrayed” His Base Over Iran War
Joe Rogan's perceived betrayal by Trump's Iran policy sparks a discussion on the recurring 'betrayal' narrative among populist supporters and the psychological defenses against admitting misjudgment.

Is Trump Already Getting Tired of His Iran War? | Morning Chaser
The hosts dissect the Trump administration's approach to the Iran conflict, arguing Trump is seeking an exit despite maximalist objectives, and then pivot to the emerging political and regulatory challenges of rapidly advancing AI.

Lindsey Graham Is Out of Control
Lindsey Graham is leveraging his influence with Donald Trump to aggressively push for military interventions across the globe, celebrating regime change and advocating for a broad 'cleaning out' of perceived 'bad guys' without apparent concern for consequences.

Tucker Says Trump Believes the Iran War Polls at 90%
Tim Miller dissects Donald Trump's perceived rationale for military action in Iran, arguing it's driven by personal financial interests and a misinformed belief in overwhelming public support.

Trump Started a War. Congress Just Watched. (w/ Tess Bridgeman) | Illegal News
An expert in international law and national security policy dissects the legal and constitutional violations of the Trump administration's unilateral military actions against Iran, highlighting Congress's failure to assert its war-making authority.

Did Stephen Miller Just Pull Off a Palace Coup? | Secret Podcast Preview
This episode unpacks the dramatic firing of Kristi Noem, a 'palace coup' theory involving Stephen Miller, and a critical analysis of the US's strategic missteps in the war with Iran, contrasting it with Iran's more sophisticated approach.

Mark Hertling and Ruben Gallego: A Rush to War | The Bulwark Podcast
Retired General Mark Hertling and Senator Ruben Gallego critically analyze the US and Israeli military actions against Iran, exposing a lack of clear objectives, inadequate planning, and the high human and financial costs of a rushed intervention.

Did Israel Drag Us Into the Iran War?
The US administration's rationale for its large-scale military action against Iran is critiqued as incoherent and potentially influenced by Israel's independent actions, while a major conflict between the Pentagon and leading AI firm Anthropic highlights the urgent need for congressional regulation on AI's military and surveillance applications.

Tom Nichols: There Are 500 Ways This War Goes Wrong | Mona Charen Show
Tom Nichols and Mona Charen dissect the Trump administration's war strategy in Iran, concluding it's a high-stakes gamble lacking planning, allies, and a realistic path to success.

Why Hasn’t Trump Addressed the Nation?
Despite initiating military action that resulted in American casualties, the Trump administration failed to formally address the nation, relying instead on edited social media videos and maintaining an unusual silence from key officials.

Where Does the Iran War Go From Here?
A retired Lieutenant General and a political analyst break down the military realities, logistical constraints, and domestic political implications of the escalating conflict with Iran.

Trump Goes to War: Iran Strike Breaks Promise of No Regime Change
Donald Trump's administration initiated a major military operation in Iran, contradicting his campaign promises of a 'peace-time presidency' and raising concerns about international legality, domestic political fallout, and the reliability of information in a fragmented media landscape.

Netanyahu Knows Trump Won’t Say No—And That Won’t Last | Secret Podcast
The hosts predict an imminent war with Iran driven by Netanyahu's leverage over Trump, expose a 'command economy' where the US President dictates media acquisitions, and detail the inhumane treatment of migrants by US law enforcement.

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.
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