Bulwark Takes

Bulwark Takes

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Trump’s “Shock and Awe” Campaign Blew Up in His Face (w/ Rep. Adam Smith)
Iran WarUS Foreign PolicyMilitary Strategy

Trump’s “Shock and Awe” Campaign Blew Up in His Face (w/ Rep. Adam Smith)

Rep. Adam Smith critiques the Trump administration's Iran policy, labeling its 'shock and awe' campaign a 'massive strategic defeat' that emboldened Iran and lacked transparency.

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Trump Blew Iran War Diplomacy—and Now Everyone’s Furious | Shield of the Republic
Foreign PolicyDiplomacyIran War

Trump Blew Iran War Diplomacy—and Now Everyone’s Furious | Shield of the Republic

This episode dissects the Trump administration's disastrous handling of Iran war diplomacy, the hollowing out of the State Department, and the profound geopolitical shifts reshaping the Middle East and Europe.

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MAGA’s Iran War Is Cracking Apart | Shield of the Republic
US Foreign PolicyIran ConflictGeopolitics

MAGA’s Iran War Is Cracking Apart | Shield of the Republic

This episode dissects the Trump administration's Iran strategy, revealing internal power struggles, geopolitical realignments, and the evolving nature of modern warfare, while questioning the long-term viability of current approaches.

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This is Beyond Mere Incompetence (w/ Robert Kagan) | The Bulwark Podcast
US Foreign PolicyGeopoliticsIran Conflict

This is Beyond Mere Incompetence (w/ Robert Kagan) | The Bulwark Podcast

Robert Kagan details how the ongoing US military action in Iran, initiated under the Trump administration, is dismantling the post-WWII global order, isolating the US, and empowering rivals like China and Russia.

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Trump’s War Is Worse Than the Market Thinks (w/ Jeffrey Goldberg & Joe Weisenthal) | Bulwark Podcast
Iran WarGeopoliticsGlobal Economy

Trump’s War Is Worse Than the Market Thinks (w/ Jeffrey Goldberg & Joe Weisenthal) | Bulwark Podcast

The ongoing Iran conflict exposes critical flaws in US leadership and strategy, while global markets dangerously underestimate its long-term economic fallout, from surging commodity prices to a potential weakening of the dollar's reserve status.

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Trump’s Iran War Narrative Doesn’t Match Reality (w/ Laura Rozen & Sonny Bunch) | Bulwark Podcast
Trump administrationIran policyForeign policy

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.

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Iran's Regional War Strategy is Failing (w/ Norman Roule) | Shield of the Republic
IranGeopoliticsMiddle East

Iran's Regional War Strategy is Failing (w/ Norman Roule) | Shield of the Republic

Former intelligence official Norman Roule details why Iran's current leadership structure makes a US-backed 'Venezuela playbook' for regime change impossible and how Tehran's regional 'messaging attacks' are backfiring, solidifying Gulf state opposition.

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Hegseth’s Press Conference Felt Like an SNL Sketch (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Bulwark Podcast
US-Iran ConflictForeign PolicyTrump Administration

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.

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Trump Goes to War: Iran Strike Breaks Promise of No Regime Change
US Foreign PolicyIran ConflictRegime Change

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.

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What Replaces the Ayatollahs in Iran? (w/ Christiane Amanpour) | How to Fix It
IranRegime ChangeGeopolitics

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.

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