Bulwark Takes

A Quarter of DOJ’s Lawyers Left. What Comes Next Is Worse. (w/ Melissa Murray) | Bulwark Podcast
NYU Law Professor Melissa Murray dissects the Supreme Court's 'evisceration' of the Voting Rights Act, the weaponization of the shadow docket, and the alarming exodus of lawyers from the Department of Justice, arguing these actions undermine American democracy and the rule of law.

Every Lawyer in America is Laughing at Todd Blanche (w/ Kate Shaw) | Illegal News
The Supreme Court's latest ruling effectively dismantles the Voting Rights Act, while the Department of Justice under the current administration exhibits unprecedented politicization through controversial legal filings and actions.

Jon Ossoff: Trump's Son-in-Law Is On the Saudi Payroll (Plus: Luke Thomas) | Bulwark Podcast
Senator Jon Ossoff and combat sports analyst Luke Thomas dissect the systemic political corruption in the US, the politicization of the Justice Department, the disastrous Iran war, and the transactional alliance between Donald Trump and the UFC.

Laura Loomer’s Feud with Candace Owens is BANANAS (w/ Carol Leonnig & Will Sommer) | Bulwark Podcast
This episode exposes the politicization of the Justice Department and Secret Service under the Trump administration, alongside the escalating, bizarre feuds and criminal entanglements within the right-wing media ecosystem.

Kash Patel's Lawsuit Could Backfire—BIG TIME (w/ Andrew Weissmann) | Illegal News
Andrew Weissmann breaks down the legal weaknesses in the SPLC indictment and Kash Patel's defamation lawsuit, while exposing the political motivations behind recent DOJ firings and Trump's immunity claims.

Trump’s Iran War Is Getting More Dangerous, Not Less (w/ Sen. Chris Coons)
Senator Chris Coons dissects the chaotic and ill-defined Trump administration's war in Iran, its unintended consequences, and the broader disarray in US foreign and domestic policy.

From Unconditional Surrender to…Whatever This Is (David French & Rep. Subramanyam) | Bulwark Podcast
This episode dissects the chaotic and strategically flawed US-Iran conflict under Trump, highlighting the degradation of military integrity, the weaponization of the DOJ, and the broader erosion of democratic norms.

Trump is Remaking National Security to Enforce His Agenda (w/ Tom Joscelyn)
Tom Joscelyn and Bill Crystal dissect how the Trump administration is systematically politicizing and weaponizing national security agencies, from the Pentagon to the FBI, to enforce a specific ideological agenda against perceived domestic opposition.

Trump’s Alternate Reality War Speech | The Bulwark Podcast
Tim Miller and Susan Glasser dissect Donald Trump's 'alternate reality' war speech, exposing its lack of a coherent plan, the administration's dysfunction, and the severe global consequences of his 'magical thinking' approach to foreign policy.

Todd Blanche’s Jaw-Dropping Ethics Violation (w/ Andrew Weissmann) | Illegal News
This episode exposes the alarming erosion of legal and ethical norms within the U.S. government, from questionable financial settlements and conflicts of interest to the Pentagon's attempts to control press access and the Department of Defense's coercive tactics against an AI company.

Tariffs Blocked. ICE Held in Contempt. Courts Are Fighting Back. (w/ Elliot Williams) | Illegal News
This episode dissects the legal battles challenging executive power, from Trump's tariff attempts and agency independence to ICE's defiance of court orders and the politically charged FCC equal time rule.

Sen. Mark Kelly: Trump’s DOJ Couldn’t Get a Single Grand Jury Vote
Senator Mark Kelly details the Trump Justice Department's failed attempt to indict him and five other Democratic lawmakers for a video on unlawful orders, highlighting the constitutional crisis and chilling effect on free speech.

Trump Wants JAGs as Immigration Judges. That’s a Disaster. (w/ Margaret Donovan) | Command Post
A former military prosecutor and a retired General explain why deploying military lawyers (JAGs) as civilian immigration judges or prosecutors would be catastrophic for military readiness and the justice system.

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’s DOJ Is Hollowing Itself Out and We’ll Pay for It
The Department of Justice is being systematically hollowed out by political pressure and mass resignations, threatening the rule of law and the ability to prosecute real crimes.

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.

Todd Blanche Broke His Promise to the Senate
The host argues that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche systematically contradicted his own Senate confirmation promises and legal principles to defend Donald Trump's politically motivated actions across immigration, judicial oversight, and targeted prosecutions.

Will There Be ANY Consequences for New Epstein Revelations? | Bulwark on Sunday
The latest Epstein file revelations expose a vast network of powerful men who knowingly associated with a convicted sex offender, while Trump's administration faces new allegations of selling national security for personal financial gain, highlighting a systemic breakdown of accountability.

Buckle Up, There Are MORE Crazy Epstein Emails
New Jeffrey Epstein files reveal extensive connections and alleged misconduct involving prominent figures like Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and former Obama White House counsel Kathy Rumler, exposing widespread hypocrisy and a network of complicity.

Why Was Tulsi Gabbard at an FBI Raid Over the 2020 Election?
A recent FBI raid in Fulton County, Georgia, to seize 2020 election ballots, orchestrated by the current administration, signals an alarming escalation of political weaponization of federal agencies, contrasting sharply with past DOJ refusals and raising concerns about future elections.

Federal Judge Threatens ICE With Contempt (w/ Elliot Williams) | Illegal News
A former DOJ attorney and CNN legal analyst breaks down how ICE and DHS are aggressively challenging established legal norms, from defying federal court orders to asserting unprecedented powers for home entry, sparking judicial outrage and a shift in public opinion.

A Federal Judge Finally Slams the Brakes on ICE
A federal judge in Minnesota issued a significant ruling restricting ICE tactics against peaceful protesters, while the Justice Department simultaneously subpoenaed state officials for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement, sparking concerns about the weaponization of federal power.

Jack Smith Says He Had Trump Dead to Rights (w/ Asha Rangappa) | Illegal News
Legal experts dissect the Trump administration's controversial military actions in Venezuela, Jack Smith's definitive testimony on Trump's criminal intent, and the weaponization of the DOJ against perceived political enemies.

Trump Hits the Gas on Authoritarian Rule (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Bulwark Podcast
Tim Miller and Bill Kristol dissect recent actions by the Trump administration, framing them as an alarming acceleration towards authoritarianism, particularly targeting the Federal Reserve's independence and escalating ICE's use of force.
Want more on department of justice doj?
Explore deep-dive summaries and actionable takeaways from the best minds across different podcasts discussing this topic.
View All Department Of Justice Doj Episodes→Don't see the episode you're looking for?
We're constantly adding new episodes, but if you want to see a specific one from Bulwark Takes summarized, let us know!
Submit an Episode