Bulwark Takes

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.

Even Megyn Kelly Calls Trump’s Presidency a “Five-Alarm Fire” (w/ Bill Kristol) | Bulwark Podcast
Tim Miller and Bill Kristol dissect the escalating Iran conflict, the DHS shutdown, and the severe economic repercussions, framing the Trump administration's actions as a 'five-alarm fire' due to congressional inaction and presidential disengagement.

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.

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.

BOMBSHELL: Trump Fires DHS Sec. Noem; Sen. Mullin Tapped as Replacement
Donald Trump publicly fired DHS Secretary Christy Gnome via social media while she was on stage, appointing Senator Mark Wayne Mullen as her replacement, a move driven by Gnome's self-promotional spending and perceived disloyalty.

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.

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.

The Crime Was Horrific. The Cover-Up Is Shameful. | The Next Level
This episode dissects alleged government cover-ups, judicial partisanship, and the weaponization of political power, highlighting how these actions undermine democratic institutions and accountability.

Kavanaugh’s Embarrassing Tariff Dissent (w/ Andrew Weissmann) | Illegal News
The Supreme Court struck down Trump's tariffs, reaffirming congressional power over taxation and sparking a critical debate on executive overreach and judicial methodology.

Trump Imposes New Tariff After SCOTUS Loss
The Supreme Court struck down Trump's use of the IEEPA for tariffs, but the former President immediately announced new tariffs under different authorities, signaling a continued era of high tariffs and complex trade negotiations.

Trump Has Total Tantrum After Supreme Court Loss
Following a Supreme Court loss on tariffs, Donald Trump's press conference devolved into a 'total tantrum,' marked by alarming accusations against the judiciary and revealing insights into his motivations.

BREAKING: Supreme Court BLOCKS Trump's Tariffs
The Supreme Court struck down former President Trump's 'liberation day tariffs,' citing an overreach of executive power and potentially triggering a massive $175 billion in refunds to businesses, while the administration plans to reconstitute them under different authorities.

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.

Trump Gives Rambling, Combative Speech at National Prayer Breakfast
Donald Trump's appearance at the National Prayer Breakfast revealed a deeply transactional relationship with his evangelical base, where political identity now supersedes faith, alongside his self-serving legal strategies and disregard for institutional norms.

Trump’s Blueprint for Breaking Elections (w/ Ian Bassin) | Mona Charen Show
Ian Bassin, founder of Protect Democracy, details how Trump's predictable playbook to subvert elections and undermine democratic institutions can be countered through strategic litigation, state-level reforms, and robust citizen engagement.

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.

Judge Says ICE Can’t Retaliate Against Protesters (w/ Asha Rangappa) | Illegal News
A federal court in Minnesota issued a preliminary injunction preventing ICE from using aggressive tactics against peaceful protesters, while the DOJ faces accusations of weaponization and undermining its own credibility.

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 Gave the White House a Tramp Stamp (w/ Susan Glasser & Jacob Soboroff) | Bulwark Podcast
This episode exposes how Donald Trump's unchecked power, enabled by a broad network of individuals and institutions, threatens democratic norms both domestically and internationally, exemplified by his pursuit of Greenland and the militarization of federal agencies.

Trump’s Open Oil Grab | Shield of the Republic
Hosts Eric Edelman and Elliot Cohen dissect the US military operation in Venezuela, framing it as a dangerous 'oil grab' by the Trump administration with severe, unpredictable international consequences and a blatant disregard for international law and congressional oversight.

Lawlessness Is Becoming Policy Under Trump (w/ Andrew Weissmann) | The Illegal News
Andrew Weissmann and Sarah Longwell dissect how the Trump administration's alleged disregard for legal standards, from ICE agent training to court order defiance, is normalizing lawlessness and eroding accountability.

January 6 Was a Dress Rehearsal For Trump, Not a Finale (w/ Tom Joscelyn)
Five years after January 6th, the guest, Tom Joscelyn, argues that the event was a dress rehearsal for a 'post-constitutional' movement, marked by a lack of accountability for Trump and a systematic effort to undermine democratic institutions.

Sen. Mark Warner: Trump Is Talking About Invading U.S. Allies
Senator Mark Warner critically assesses the US operation in Venezuela, highlighting its dangerous precedents for international law and US alliances, and expresses alarm over the administration's 'imperialist whim' extending to potential actions against allies like Greenland.

Andrew Weissmann: The Epstein Releases Are a DISASTER | The Illegal News
Andrew Weissmann details the Department of Justice's mishandling of the Epstein file releases, highlighting a lack of transparency and potential political motivations, alongside an analysis of the Supreme Court's stance on presidential power and the legality of foreign military actions.
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