Bulwark Takes

Top Trump Aide Quits Over Iran War | Morning Chaser
A top Trump administration official resigned over the Iran war, exposing deep rifts within the MAGA movement and highlighting the war's destabilizing impact on global alliances and the economy.

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.

JD Vance Knows the Iran War Is a Disaster—But Can’t Say It (w/ Tom Nichols) | The Bulwark Podcast
This episode dissects the Trump administration's chaotic and ill-conceived Iran war, highlighting its strategic blunders, economic fallout, and the dangerous lack of competent leadership and internal dissent.

America’s at War—and Trump’s Dancing to YMCA (w/ Sam Stein) | The Bulwark Podcast
The Bulwark hosts dissect the Trump administration's chaotic Iran war, disastrous immigration policies, and pervasive political idiocy, highlighting a leadership more concerned with personal image than national consequence.

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.

Trump’s Iran War Narrative Doesn’t Match Reality (w/ Laura Rozen & Sonny Bunch) | Bulwark Podcast
This episode dissects the Trump administration's incoherent Iran policy, highlighting a lack of expertise and conflicting interests, then pivots to a critical examination of AI's dystopian impact on society and media consolidation.

Trump Clearly Doesn’t Understand His Own War | The Next Level
The hosts dissect how the Trump administration deliberately obscures the realities of war and manipulates public perception, highlighting the dangerous implications of Jared Kushner's undisclosed role in negotiations and the media's complicity.

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.

Rand Paul Could Wreck Trump’s DHS Plan (w/ Neera Tanden) | The Bulwark Podcast
Neera Tanden and Tim Miller dissect the Trump administration's chaotic DHS appointment, the self-inflicted economic downturn, and the escalating, unplanned war in Iran, highlighting a systemic lack of accountability and strategic foresight.

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.

Trump Made an Insane Bet on a Risky War (w/ Derek Thompson) | The Bulwark Podcast
Derek Thompson and Tim Miller dissect the Trump administration's foreign policy and domestic governance, revealing a pattern of executive overreach, transactional decision-making, and the weaponization of obscure legal statutes.

Thom Tillis Just WENT OFF on Kristi Noem!
Republican Senators Thom Tillis and John Kennedy unexpectedly grilled Kristi Noem during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, sparking a heated debate among hosts about political accountability and the nature of Trump-era governance.

NEW POLLS: Trump’s Iran War is Deeply Unpopular
Early polling indicates broad public disapproval for Trump's military strikes against Iran, particularly among independents and even some of his base, challenging his 'America First' platform.

Hegseth’s Press Conference Felt Like an SNL Sketch (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Bulwark Podcast
The Bulwark hosts and guest Bill Kristol dissect the US-Iran conflict, highlighting the Trump administration's incoherent war objectives, chaotic communication, and the significant domestic political risks involved.

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.

The Hawks Got Their War—Now It’s Trump’s Problem
Republican hawks, led by Lindsey Graham, pushed for military action in Iran without a clear post-conflict strategy, leaving the Trump administration with an escalating situation and vague justifications for 'imminent threat.'

Trump's Poll Numbers Stink. Maybe a Two-Hour Speech Will Help.
Despite a non-disastrous economy, Donald Trump's approval ratings plummeted, facing a skeptical public ahead of his State of the Union address, particularly on tariffs and aggressive immigration 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.

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.

Tim Miller: This Is the Moment That Will End Mike Johnson
Tim Miller asserts that Speaker Mike Johnson's support for jailing Democratic colleagues marks the beginning of the end for his speakership, criticizing Republican cowardice and the misdirection of law enforcement resources.

Pam Bondi’s Hearing Meltdown Was a Disaster for Trump (w/ Adam Kinzinger) | The Bulwark Podcast
Adam Kinzinger and Tim Miller dissect Pam Bondi's disastrous congressional testimony, the disturbing pattern of Trump-pardoned individuals committing child sex abuse, and the right's evolution into a 'whiny victim' culture.

Epstein Connections Could Bring Down the UK Government. Why Does Lutnick Get a Free Pass?
Howard Lutnick, a key figure in the Trump administration, blatantly lied about his extensive connections to Jeffrey Epstein, yet faces no professional repercussions in the US, a stark contrast to the immediate resignations seen in other governments.

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.
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