Bulwark Takes

MAGA Isn’t a Majority—So Why Is It Winning? (w/ Dan Cantor) | How to Fix It

Explore how fusion voting, a historical electoral system, could depolarize American politics by empowering minor parties and incentivizing compromise, directly challenging the current two-party duopoly.

They Walked Into This War Completely Unprepared (w/ Adam Kinzinger)

Adam Kinzinger and Tim Miller dissect the current administration's unprepared entry into a costly war with Iran, contrasting it with Ukraine aid, and lambasting the hypocrisy of modern Republican leadership.

Trump’s Most Grotesque Comment Yet? After Mueller’s Death

The hosts condemn Donald Trump's 'I'm glad he's dead' comment following Robert Mueller's passing, contrasting it with Mueller's decades of honorable public service.

Trump Has “Haunted” These Young Voters for Years (w/ Anderson Clayton) | The Focus Group

North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton reveals how Gen Z's deep disillusionment with both parties stems from a lack of political 'reach' and tangible local impact, outlining strategies to re-engage young voters through hyper-local issues, social media, and authentic, peer-driven activism.

A Monthlong Closure of Hormuz Will Bankrupt Countries (w/ Sal Mercogliano)

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global trade choke point, is now under de facto Iranian control, leading to economic disruption, humanitarian crises for seafarers, and a potential restructuring of global trade patterns if the closure persists.

Even Trump’s Cheerleaders Are Saying “Oops” | The Next Level

The Bulwark hosts debate the 'stove touching' theory, arguing that current geopolitical and economic crises, exacerbated by political leadership, are a necessary but dangerous learning moment for the American public.

The Easy Part of the Iran War Is Over | The Bulwark Podcast

The escalating US-Iran conflict has exposed critical vulnerabilities in American homeland security, strained key alliances, and revealed a profound lack of strategic planning for its long-term geopolitical and economic fallout.

New Inflation Warnings from Fed; Could Iran War Raise Prices AND Cause Recession?

This episode details a worst-case economic scenario where the Iran war, combined with an AI bubble and private credit risks, could trigger a global recession or depression, leaving policymakers with few effective tools.

Measles Outbreaks Are Changing Minds—Fast (w/ Therese Vogel)

As measles outbreaks resurface, a nurse and 'Grandparents for Vaccines' advocate shares her sister's lifelong struggle with measles-induced disability, revealing how personal stories are now critical to overcoming collective amnesia and vaccine misinformation.

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 Is A Personal Vendetta and Geopolitical Mess (w/ Erin Banco)

Reporter Erin Banco details how former President Trump's decision to initiate military action against Iran was driven by Israeli influence and a personal vendetta, not an imminent threat, leading to a complex regional conflict with unclear objectives and limited off-ramps.

Trump Is About to Own a Disastrous Middle East War | Secret Podcast Preview

The Bulwark hosts dissect the shifting landscape of Democratic political strategy, the unexpected impact of a potential Middle East war on the Republican party, and the surprising resignation of a controversial figure.

James Talarico: I Know EXACTLY Why Voters Stopped Trusting Democrats | The Bulwark Podcast

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico argues that Democrats lost voter trust by taking communities for granted, failing on border security and cost of living, and alienating faith-based voters through cultural insensitivity.

Why Big Media Keeps Caving to Trump (w/ Don Lemon)

Don Lemon details his experience being targeted by the Trump administration, critiques corporate media's failure to challenge political narratives, and warns of the dangers of eroding democratic institutions and the separation of church and state.

Trump’s Base Isn’t As Unified As It Looks (w. Rep. Ro Khanna) |

Representative Ro Khanna discusses how bipartisan coalitions, exemplified by the Epstein files release, can challenge established political narratives and push for accountability, while also critiquing current US policy in Iran and proposing a progressive economic vision for the AI era.

Sen. Rand Paul Slams Sen. Markwayne Mullin at DHS Confirmation Hearing

Senator Rand Paul launched an unprecedented personal attack against DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin during his confirmation hearing, questioning his temperament and fitness for office due to past comments justifying an assault on Paul.

Support for Israel Has Collapsed Among Young Americans

A new NBC poll and focus group data reveal a sharp decline in young Americans' support for Israel, coupled with a disturbing conflation of anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitism, and a widespread desensitization to violence and hate rhetoric.

Tim Miller: Trump Sounds Erratic—Especially on War in Iran

Tim Miller dissects the US-Iran war's dubious origins, its severe economic fallout, and the resulting 'civil war' within the MAGA coalition, framing Trump's erratic leadership as a catalyst for political and economic instability.

Former General Gives Brutally Honest Iran War Assessment | Command Post

General Mark Hertling and Ben Parker dissect the ongoing Iran war, highlighting the critical mismatch between US kinetic military objectives and Iran's asymmetric political and economic warfare, emphasizing the lack of a clear US end state.

Trump’s Half-Baked Border Plan Collides With Legal Reality (w/ Andrew Weissmann) | Illegal News

Legal experts dissect how Trump's politically motivated legal strategies, from targeting Jerome Powell to fabricating border trespassing charges, consistently collide with judicial scrutiny and legal precedent.

From MAGA Influencer to Elon Musk Baby Mama (w/ Ashley St. Clair & Cam Kasky) | Bulwark Podcast

Ashley St. Clair, a former right-wing influencer and mother of one of Elon Musk's children, details her journey out of MAGA and her legal battles against XAI, while youth activist Cam Kasky shares his firsthand account of the West Bank occupation and efforts to pass human rights legislation.

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.

Distracted Trump Rambles While Iran War Expands

Sen. Kennedy Tried to Dunk… And Got Schooled Instead (w/ David Bier)

David Bier, Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, details how Senator John Kennedy's attempt to discredit him with out-of-context social media posts backfired, while highlighting the significant economic benefits of immigration and the extreme nature of current anti-immigrant policies.