Bulwark Takes
Reckoning With Trump’s Iran Defeat. Plus: The Meaning of Memorial Day (w/ Michael Wood)
A combat veteran and former Marine officer critically assesses the Trump administration's handling of the Iran conflict as a strategic defeat and expresses deep concern over the politicization of the U.S. military, linking these issues to the solemn meaning of Memorial Day.
Why in the World Are We Pulling Troops out of Poland? | Command Post
The US is systematically undermining its own strategic interests and long-standing alliances by unilaterally withdrawing troops from key European partners like Poland and Germany, signaling weakness to adversaries and eroding trust with allies.
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.
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.
The Greatest War Movies Ever Made, According to a Retired General
A retired General shares his definitive top 10 war movies, revealing profound lessons on leadership, strategy, and the human cost of conflict that extend far beyond the battlefield.
Trump Started a War With No Allies, No Vote, and No Exit Strategy (w/ Seth Moulton) | How to Fix It
Congressman Seth Moulton critiques the current state of US politics and foreign policy, particularly Trump's handling of Iran and China, while proposing a progressive Democratic agenda focused on age limits, term limits, and core human rights like housing, healthcare, and education.
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.
Trump's War Could Cost Him EVERYTHING (w/ Nicholas Kristof) | The Bulwark Podcast
Nicholas Kristof and Tim Miller dissect the catastrophic geopolitical and economic fallout of the Iran war, arguing it has weakened US strategic positions, empowered hardline regimes, and exacerbated global crises, all while highlighting the domestic political implications for the US.
Hegseth's Pentagon Shakeup Gets Even Worse | Shield of the Republic
This episode dissects the multifaceted challenges facing US foreign policy, from internal Pentagon turmoil and the strategic miscalculations in the Iran conflict to shifting European political dynamics and the resilience of Ukraine, all against the backdrop of a perceived decline in US leadership and alliance management.
Trump’s Frightening Late-Night Posting Spree (w/ Michael Weiss) | The Bulwark Podcast
Tim Miller and Michael Weiss dissect Trump's erratic late-night social media activity, the complex US-Iran ceasefire negotiations, and the surprising political upset in Hungary, highlighting shifts in global alliances and domestic political vulnerabilities.
Trump & Hegseth Ignored Experts—Then Tried to Run a War (w/ Tom Nichols) | Command Post
Experts dissect the Trump administration's disastrous handling of the US-Iran conflict, revealing a 'one-sided ceasefire' and strategic incompetence driven by a disregard for expertise and a 'Pentagon purge' of experienced officers.
Trump’s Iran Endgame Fantasy | Shield of the Republic
This analysis dissects the US President's flawed Iran strategy, revealing the high risks and unclear objectives of potential military ground operations and the broader implications for US credibility and regional stability.
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.
Tim Miller, Sam Stein, JVL and Mark Hertling React to Trump's Iran Address
A panel of analysts dissects a recent presidential address on Iran, framing it as an incoherent, contradictory, and strategically damaging 'Truth Social rant' with severe economic and geopolitical consequences.
Possible Ground Troops in Iran, Trump Speech Preview and The Slow-Motion Destruction of NATO
This episode critically dissects the Trump administration's 'flailing' military strategy in Iran and its accelerating 'slow-motion destruction' of NATO, drawing parallels to past military miscalculations.
Trump Says He’s Talking to a “New Regime” in Iran (w/ Sue Gordon)
Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon dissects the US-Iran relationship under the Trump administration, revealing Iran's strategic patience, the degradation of US intelligence, and the limited, problematic off-ramps in the current standoff.
Trump Won’t Stop—Because He Can’t Look Weak | Secret Podcast Preview
Trump's desperate need to avoid appearing weak is driving dangerous escalation in the Iran conflict, threatening the petrodollar system and the collapse of the US-led world order.
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.
Iran War Could Trigger a Global Terror Wave | Shield of the Republic
This episode dissects the US-Iran conflict, criticizing both media coverage and the administration's communication while emphasizing the brutal nature of the Iranian regime and the long-term strategic challenges.
Would You Trust These Idiots With a War? | Secret Podcast Preview
The hosts sharply critique the current US government's perceived incompetence and lack of seriousness in handling the escalating conflict with Iran, drawing stark comparisons to historical leaders like Churchill and the Nuremberg trial figures.
JD Vance Knows the Iran War Is a Disaster—But Can’t Say It (w/ Tom Nichols) | The Bulwark Podcast
This episode dissects the Trump administration's chaotic and ill-conceived Iran war, highlighting its strategic blunders, economic fallout, and the dangerous lack of competent leadership and internal dissent.
Is Trump Already Getting Tired of His Iran War? | Morning Chaser
The hosts dissect the Trump administration's approach to the Iran conflict, arguing Trump is seeking an exit despite maximalist objectives, and then pivot to the emerging political and regulatory challenges of rapidly advancing AI.
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.
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.
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