Bulwark Takes

Trump Blew Up His Own Economy (w/ Josh Barro & Paige Cognetti) | Bulwark Podcast
This episode dissects the severe economic fallout from the Trump administration's impulsive war in Iran, alongside insights into local political corruption and the 'adolescent' nature of modern policymaking.

New Inflation Warnings from Fed; Could Iran War Raise Prices AND Cause Recession?
This episode details a worst-case economic scenario where the Iran war, combined with an AI bubble and private credit risks, could trigger a global recession or depression, leaving policymakers with few effective tools.

GOP Senator Tells Americans to Accept Higher Gas Prices
Republicans, who previously blamed Biden for high gas prices, have abruptly shifted their messaging, now telling Americans to accept increased costs due to a 'war in Iran' initiated under Trump, while simultaneously blaming consumers for financial illiteracy.

Rand Paul Could Wreck Trump’s DHS Plan (w/ Neera Tanden) | The Bulwark Podcast
Neera Tanden and Tim Miller dissect the Trump administration's chaotic DHS appointment, the self-inflicted economic downturn, and the escalating, unplanned war in Iran, highlighting a systemic lack of accountability and strategic foresight.

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.

Trump’s Latest Enemies Are His Own People
Donald Trump consistently frames independent actions by his appointees and party members—from Supreme Court justices to state governors—as personal betrayals, expecting absolute loyalty over constitutional duty or independent judgment.

Trump's Poll Numbers Stink. Maybe a Two-Hour Speech Will Help.
Despite a non-disastrous economy, Donald Trump's approval ratings plummeted, facing a skeptical public ahead of his State of the Union address, particularly on tariffs and aggressive immigration enforcement.

JVL Goes Nuclear on “Make-A-Wish Kash Patel” | The Bulwark Podcast
This episode dissects the Trump administration's chaotic foreign policy and domestic actions, from FBI Director Kash Patel's locker room antics to potential war with Iran, foreign aid cuts, and the alarming 'occupation' in Minnesota.

Lindsey Graham Berated Denmark’s Prime Minister (w/ Frank Dikötter) | Shield of the Republic
This episode exposes the fragility of US alliances under populist pressures and re-evaluates the true origins of the Chinese Communist Party's rise, challenging long-held Western narratives.

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.

Putin, Bone Saw, and Gnomes: Inside Trump’s ‘Peace’ Board (w/ Michael Weiss) | The Bulwark Podcast
This episode dissects the Trump administration's chaotic foreign policy, from a Supreme Court ruling against his tariffs to the perplexing 'Board of Peace' and the precarious state of US-European alliances amid escalating tensions with Iran and Russia.

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 Cuts Cabinet Meeting Short, Dodges Questions
Donald Trump's recent cabinet meeting was unusually short, lacked press questions, and featured controversial statements on housing, interest rates, and public health, signaling potential political anxiety and a shift in policy messaging.

Global Investors Are Quietly Dumping U.S. Assets
The US economy, while not a 'hellscape,' is underperforming, marked by low consumer confidence, significant layoffs across diverse sectors, and a growing 'sell America' trend among global investors due to political instability and an unpredictable trade policy.

Trump Chickens Out on Greenland After Markets Flinch
The hosts analyze how market pressure, specifically a 'sell America' trade and rising interest rates, forced Trump to back down from his Greenland tariffs, highlighting the long-term damage to US alliances and economic reliability.

TNL LIVE: Sundowning Trump Stumbles Through Press Event | The Next Level
The hosts dissect a chaotic, hours-long Trump press conference, revealing it as a desperate attempt to boost declining poll numbers and a dangerous display of unseriousness that accelerates the unraveling of the U.S.-led world order.

The Worst Interview of the Trump Administration So Far
The host dissects Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant's 'embarrassing' attempts to justify former President Trump's threats against Europe over Greenland, highlighting the administration's aggressive and illogical foreign policy stance.

America Is Flirting With Mob Rule…Again (w/ Wright Thompson) | The Bulwark Podcast
Journalist Wright Thompson connects the historical erasure of Emmett Till's murder in Mississippi to current political violence and historical revisionism, revealing how silence and self-interest perpetuate societal harm and economic decline.

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’s “Economy” Speech Went off the Rails
An economist dissects Donald Trump's Detroit Economic Club speech, revealing how his economic claims are misleading and his proposed policies are either illegal, ineffective, or counterproductive to affordability.

Is Trump Punishing Colorado? (w/ Gov. Jared Polis)
Colorado Governor Jared Polis details his 'Western Libertarian' approach to governance, balancing fiscal conservatism with progressive social policies, while navigating alleged federal targeting by the Trump administration.

Debunking MAGA Myths about the Economy (w/ Catherine Rampell) | Mona Charen Show
This episode dissects common MAGA economic claims, revealing how policies like tariffs and political interference in the Federal Reserve actively harm US manufacturing, agriculture, and overall economic stability, often exacerbating the very problems they claim to solve.
Want more on tariffs?
Explore deep-dive summaries and actionable takeaways from the best minds across different podcasts discussing this topic.
View All Tariffs 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