Bulwark Takes

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.

Tim Miller vs. Rep. Gottheimer: War Debate Gets HEATED
A heated debate between Tim Miller and Rep. Josh Gottheimer exposes deep divisions and frustrations over the US's war with Iran, focusing on the administration's unclear objectives, economic impact, and potential foreign influence.

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.

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.

FBI Director Hacked by Iran in Middle of War
An Iranian hack team breached the personal accounts of FBI Director Cash Patel, exposing embarrassing photos and his resume, raising serious questions about national security and his competence amidst an undeclared 'war' with Iran.

Tim Miller: The GOP’s Florida Problem Is Real
Despite recent Republican dominance, new data and election results suggest Florida is unexpectedly back in play for Democrats, signaling a potential broader blue wave.

The Easy Part of the Iran War Is Over | The Bulwark Podcast
The escalating US-Iran conflict has exposed critical vulnerabilities in American homeland security, strained key alliances, and revealed a profound lack of strategic planning for its long-term geopolitical and economic fallout.

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.

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.

Tucker Says Trump Believes the Iran War Polls at 90%
Tim Miller dissects Donald Trump's perceived rationale for military action in Iran, arguing it's driven by personal financial interests and a misinformed belief in overwhelming public support.

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.

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.

Kleptocrat-in-Chief (w/ Alexander Cooley & Daniel Nexon) | Mona Charen Show
Trump's foreign policy is primarily driven by a kleptocratic impulse for personal enrichment, fusing with far-right ideology to dismantle traditional diplomatic structures and anti-corruption measures.

Why Hasn’t Trump Addressed the Nation?
Despite initiating military action that resulted in American casualties, the Trump administration failed to formally address the nation, relying instead on edited social media videos and maintaining an unusual silence from key officials.

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 Wants To Give Himself a Medal of Honor | Command Post
This episode critically dissects a former President's State of the Union address, exposing its misrepresentations of military achievements and a fundamental misunderstanding of military service and constitutional duty.

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.

The Military’s Silent Rebellion (w/ Kori Schake) | Shield of the Republic
Kori Schake challenges foundational civil-military theories, arguing that the US military's subordination to civilian authority, exemplified by George Washington, is constantly tested by political pressures and the complex legality of orders.

Why Is the Department of Defense Picking Fights With The Scouts? | Command Post
The Department of Defense, under Secretary Hegseth, is threatening to cut support for Scouting America's National Jamboree over the organization's embrace of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and 'gender fluid ideological stances,' sparking sharp criticism from military veterans who view DEI as essential for military strength and organizational effectiveness.

The Administration Is STILL Stonewalling on Epstein (w/ Bill Kristol) | The Bulwark Podcast
The hosts dissect the administration's stonewalling on the Epstein case, the problematic deployment of federal agencies, and the blatant financial corruption surrounding Trump, arguing these issues reveal a deep erosion of democratic norms and public trust.

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.

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.
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