Bulwark Takes
Trump's Iran Gamble | Shield of the Republic
This episode critically analyzes the Trump administration's strategy and execution in the US-Iran conflict, highlighting the significant, often overlooked, role of Israel as a peer military partner and the potential for miscalculation on all sides.
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.
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.
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.
JD Vance Will Say Absolutely Anything (w/ Seth Jones) | Shield of the Republic
The US defense industrial base, once the 'arsenal of democracy,' has critically atrophied, leaving America unprepared for a protracted conflict against a rapidly militarizing China and facing acute munitions shortages in current skirmishes.
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.
Rahm Emanuel: “It’s time to take a power washer to Washington, DC!” | How to Fix It
Rahm Emanuel, former Chief of Staff and Chicago Mayor, outlines actionable solutions for America's most pressing issues, from education and housing to foreign policy and government corruption, emphasizing a direct, results-oriented approach.
Trump to Europe: Give Me Greenland… Or Else
The host argues that Donald Trump's actions and rhetoric towards Europe, Venezuela, and Greenland mirror the very 'extortion' tactics Marco Rubio warned against regarding China, undermining the concept of a reliable Western supply chain.
The Epstein Files Could Blow Up Everything | Shield of the Republic
This episode dissects the US political landscape, the expiration of the New Start treaty, evolving European security, and the far-reaching implications of the Epstein files, highlighting elite incompetence and geopolitical shifts.
Even a Barrister’s Wig Can’t Save This Garbage Affidavit (w/ Ben Wittes) | The Bulwark Podcast
Ben Wittes reports from Ukraine on a dire humanitarian crisis and unwavering national resolve, contrasting it with America's self-inflicted political 'decadence' and a struggling legal system.
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.
America's New Defense Strategy is Nonsense | Shield of the Republic
This episode dissects the US's 'unserious' National Defense Strategy, Trump's 'tacoing' on Greenland, and the implications of China's military purge and potential action against Iran, highlighting a world increasingly defined by disorder and US fatigue.
Retired General: Minneapolis Exposes Leadership Crisis Among ICE and CBP
Retired General Mark Hertling dissects the critical legal distinctions between military and law enforcement roles, arguing that the deployment of untrained ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis exposed severe leadership failures and risked escalating civil unrest.
How Evil Regimes Cling to Power (w/ Stephen Kotkin) | Shield of the Republic
Historian Stephen Kotkin dissects the inherent vulnerabilities of authoritarian regimes, arguing that their perceived strength is often a facade for deep internal divisions and structural weaknesses that can be strategically exploited.
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.
Trump Looks Unwell on the World Stage (w/ Mike Murphy) | The Bulwark Podcast
Veteran political strategist Mike Murphy and host Tim Miller dissect Donald Trump's erratic international behavior, the Republican Party's complicity, and the dangerous 'short-termism' driving current economic and political decisions.
Europe Is Planning for a Post-America World (w/ Fiona Hill) | The Bulwark Podcast
Fiona Hill details how Europe is actively preparing for a post-America world, driven by US unreliability and Trump's disruptive foreign policy, leading to a "rupture" in global alliances and potential nuclear proliferation.
Retired General Breaks Down Trump’s Davos Speech | Command Post
Retired General Mark Hertling and Ben Parker dissect former President Trump's Davos speech, revealing critical misinterpretations of military strategy, international relations, and domestic troop deployment.
Trump Chickens Out on Greenland After Markets Flinch
The hosts analyze how market pressure, specifically a 'sell America' trade and rising interest rates, forced Trump to back down from his Greenland tariffs, highlighting the long-term damage to US alliances and economic reliability.
BREAKING: Trump Melts Down at Davos, Confuses Iceland and Greenland
Donald Trump's chaotic Davos speech, marked by confusing Iceland for Greenland and threatening allies, exposed the US's eroding global standing and introduced significant economic and geopolitical instability.
Putin Won Davos Without Even Showing Up (w/ Caolan Robertson)
While Kyiv faces a catastrophic winter and European leaders gather in Davos, the focus has shifted from Ukraine to Trump's potential actions, inadvertently benefiting Russia and weakening NATO.
The Worst Interview of the Trump Administration So Far
The host dissects Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant's 'embarrassing' attempts to justify former President Trump's threats against Europe over Greenland, highlighting the administration's aggressive and illogical foreign policy stance.
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.
Don't Count on Trump Coming to the Rescue (w/ Michael Weiss)
This episode dissects the unpredictable and transactional nature of Trump's foreign policy across Iran, Venezuela, and Ukraine, revealing how his personal psychology and covert US intelligence operations shape global events, often independently of stated policy.
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