Top 100 most popular podcasts
The pro-Israel hawks are still reeling from the terms of Trump's initial deal with Iran, which grants access to funds that had been frozen because of the regime's support of terrorism. The neocons got bamboozled by Trump, like so many before them?in this case believing that he would always have Israel's back. On the domestic front, Trump repeatedly lied when he said taxpayers weren't funding his ballroom, and in an act of revenge, he's keeping down and dirty Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. Plus, the left has a shortage of candidates that can win non-blue states, and a debate over whether social and cultural issues are why Dems often don't resonate with voters.
Krystal Ball joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Vance is trying to sell the administration?s initial deal with Iran as a signal that the regime is ready to end its reign of terror and join the community of nations. Never mind that the CIA is outwardly saying that the Iranians can?t be trusted and that the developing agreement looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Also looking pretty naive are the pro-Israel American foreign policy hawks, who thought Trump would be a good war partner with the Israelis. Trump is now on day three of trash-talking Bibi and Israel?this time at the G7. Plus, Sam Forstag, Democratic congressional candidate in Montana, joins Tim to explain how he?s managed to unite the lefties and the centrists behind his campaign, why Dems need to cool it on language that alienates the working class, and how voters are so damn tired of being told to hate each other.
Sam Forstag and Michael Weiss join Tim Miller.
show notes
POTUS humiliated himself and our country with a peace ?deal? that strengthens Iran?s hand and apparently pays billions to the regime?which it can use to build more weapons and fund its proxy terror groups. We don?t even know if the Strait of Hormuz is open, despite the credulous reporting by numerous media outlets. Meanwhile, Trump?s cage fight at the White House was beyond parody and truly despicable on so many levels, including: taxpayer money being spent to glorify him, the corruption and kickbacks surrounding the fight, and the Saudis underwriting a White House event, even though they share none of our traditions or values. Plus, the Knicks win and the World Cup are serving up real joy and hope, and the Kennedy Center seems to be under orders to hide that Trump?s name has been removed from the building.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
Show notes
The vice president of the United States called a meeting in the Situation Room last year to discuss the administration's cover-up of the Epstein files. Never mind that there were allegations in the files that Trump had had sex with an underage girl in Epstein's child trafficking ring?and which somehow involved Trump's alleged nipple fetish. The Epstein victims and the underlying crimes were not a priority in the meeting; getting Ghislaine or Vance on a friendly podcast was. Plus, the perception of a deal with Iran seems to be more important than an agreement itself, cuck John Cornyn is not worthy of sympathy, Dems have got to stop walking on eggshells, advice for making the most effective campaign contributions for the midterms, POTUS thinks he is the culmination of what America 250 is celebrating, Tim likes the UFC Claw, and the worst Spencer Pratt takes of all.
Jon Favreau joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Trump shifts his position on the Iran war so often that it sure looks like he is using the same propaganda technique that Putin uses with abandon: Flood people with contradictory stories to confuse and exhaust them so they'll just tune out. That could be helpful for a commander?in-chief running a failed military campaign. At the same time, the only engagement the administration seems to want is from the online world?which they use to create an alternate reality. Plus, Russia is not winning the war in Ukraine and does not know how to, much of Trump's immigration policy is about performative cruelty, political oppression still continues in Venezuela, Kari Lake has a new gig, and new selections for the Anne Applebaum book club.
Anne Applebaum joins Tim Miller.
show notes:
Donald Trump knows he is on target to lose the midterms, so he's busy laying the groundwork now for challenging the outcome in the fall. That's why he seized the 2020 ballots in Fulton County, why he's determined to get hatchet man Bill Pulte in place as director of national intelligence, and why he?s pushing the South to gerrymander back to the dark days of Jim Crow. This is not the time to despair or to outsource the fight for democracy to others. Sen. Warnock also talks about centering ordinary people in politics, the Supreme Court's deeply dishonest Callais ruling, the performative piety of JD Vance and Mike Johnson, the high likelihood that Trump mocks God?and doesn't believe in anything except his own self-enrichment. Plus, Tim on the deliciousness of Nancy Mace's fifth-place showing in the South Carolina governor's race.
Sen. Raphael Warnock joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Trump's approval rating may be near record lows, but tech tycoons and powerhouse CEOs are still all-in with bending the knee to Trump and bearing him gifts. If he turned America into an oligarchy, they'd be OK with that too. Anything to gut regulations and keep their taxes low?even if regular Americans might soon be looking for a pitchfork. Jason tries to explain the view from the tech world to the rest of us. Plus, AI job displacement, Elon's IPO grift, and a counterfactual had Kamala been president.
Jason Calacanis joins Tim Miller
show notes
Todd Blanche did one singular thing that particularly pleased Donald Trump: He organized and executed the Epstein cover-up. Democrats must ruthlessly hang Blanche's dirty work on every Republican senator who's willing to confirm him as AG. That includes his moving Ghislaine Maxwell to a cushier prison, the millions of documents he's not releasing, and his complete disregard for the survivors. Plus, Bill Pulte is the linchpin in Trump's plot to interfere with the midterms, Pratt lost fair and square in LA, Scott Pelley made clear how hard Bari Weiss is working to serve POTUS, and Trump managed to make Iran even stronger over the weekend.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
Show notes
The corruption in the Trump administration is so shameless and so abundant that neither the media nor regular people can keep up. While Ivanka?s purchase of a private ?fixer-upper? island is getting a lot of attention (aside from infuriated Albanians), the private equity deals her husband is making while supposedly negotiating Middle East peace are not. Trump himself has never had so much money?including from the top businesses paying to play?that the corrupt generational wealth he?s creating will even be around for Barron?s great-grandkids to enjoy. Dems need to start connecting the dots now. Plus, Bill Cassidy is putting his future lobbying career ahead of the American people, no one should ever count Pelosi out, and Tim says Platner is looking like a risky choice.
Stephanie Ruhle joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Most of the multibillionaires are not only hoarding their money and failing to contribute to the public good, they're also using their wealth-based power to manipulate the government, the markets, or our elections. Like Elon, for instance, who just manipulated the Nasdaq so all Americans with a 401(k) can help him become the first trillionaire by the end of the year. At some point, there is such a thing as too many billions for one person, and we need to start applying the pre-Reagan tax rate. Plus, 'vanilla' Dems are doing pretty well, maybe not so fast on Pratt 2028, and Trump will never forgive Vance for being right about the Iran war. And Lawfare's Katherine Pompilio discusses her exclusive reporting on the significant number of pardoned J6ers who went on to commit subsequent crimes.
Katherine Pompilio and JVL join Tim Miller.
show notes
After "60 Minutes" veteran Scott Pelley was fired, he said that the new management at CBS News had instructed him to put false information in his political stories. Coupled with the decimation at The Washington Post, it feels like there is a vast rightwing conspiracy to take over the media. Plus, the much-promised ceasefire with Iran is nowhere in sight, Megyn Kelly feels duped by Trump, California's marquee races look like they'll be Dem v. MAGA, and Steve King gets revenge. Also, newly minted Democratic Senate nominee in Iowa, Josh Turek, talks about his prairie populism, how he'll win over Trump voters, the state's farmaggedon, and its growing cancer rate. And three NBA super-fans give their picks for the finals.
Josh Turek and Luke Russert join Tim Miller.
show notes
Republicans never defend Trump?s corruption on the merits. Their lot in life is just to serve up anti-moral excuses for his repeated acts of immorality. And the Dems are currently in a bit of a moral dilemma of their own over the latest Platner revelations, given the moral imperative of having a Senate that obstructs Trump?s worst policies. Questions of morality also surface with AI, particularly if we allow machines to do the thinking for us. Plus, the Dems need a Wemby, an American debt crisis seems inevitable, the global fertility crisis may be too hard to fix, and why is the English-language world the most unhappy?
Derek Thompson joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Another weekend passed without a promised Iran deal. Despite reporting to the contrary, Iran?s negotiators don?t live in caves, and they?re not interested in dealing with the U.S. anymore, at least according to state media. Meanwhile, the president continues to release unhinged midnight bleats on his social media platform, including one targeting not just a judge who ruled against him in the Kennedy Center case but also that judge?s spouse. That?s just one reminder that the authoritarian threat remains, and we should prepare for election meddling if the midterms don?t go Trump?s way. Plus, the White House seems to have soured on JD Vance, the Epstein cover-up continues, there?s more Graham Platner drama, Susan Collins has enabled the worst of Trump 2.0, and Bill outflanks Tim on Pride Month?
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
Show notes
Tim just happened to quote from an official Iranian news agency about how the regime is cleaning up in their negotiations with the Trump administration, and the White House accused him of being a foreign agent. Maybe the administration should take a closer look at all the money the guy sitting behind the Resolute Desk and his family are getting from Mideast dictators if they're really looking for foreign agents. Speaking of massive amounts of corruption, the Dems need to be making the case everywhere just how brazenly corrupt Trump & co. are?and not wait until 2027. Plus, the real freak in the Texas Senate race is Paxton, Platner's struggles and missteps are part of his appeal, the Great American State Fair is another Trump fiasco, and parenting lessons on how to raise kids to push back against bullies.
Lis Smith joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Bezos, Elon, Andreessen and the whole lot are such terrible, tiny, greedy people. They blow off the public?s concerns about AI while living apart from us in their cashmere prisons; they keep talking about things they know nothing about; and they figured out how cheap it is to buy and manipulate a president. The pitchforks are coming. Plus, the SpaceX IPO is all about Elon?s self-dealing, Ellison doesn?t care about CBS News or its journalists?and only bought the network to influence Trump?injectable peptides may not be worth the risks, and some longevity tips from Kara.
Kara Swisher joins Tim Miller.
show notes
The United States lost the Iran war back in March when Trump chickened out and didn?t retaliate against Tehran once it proved it could inflict economic pain on the Gulf states. While much of the mainstream media keeps hyping the negotiations and the ceasefire, Iran is not making concessions and is focused on shaking Trump down for money. But the biggest loser in this debacle may be Israel, which turned itself from a dominant power in the region to a losing power. And Israel, which the administration is likely to turn against, has been irreparably damaged in the U.S. as well. Plus, the post-WWII American-led world order is collapsing, Trump is the worst negotiator, and conquering Cuba will require a major nation-building effort.
Bob Kagan joins Tim Miller.
show notes
As we barrel towards July 4th, Trump wants the celebration of our country's 250th anniversary to be not only about him but also about America as a white republic. But this diverse nation needs to speak up and speak back loudly to drown out that MAGA messaging. In his new book, Glaude lays out the inherent contradiction of America's milestone anniversaries, starting with the one in 1876. Plus, black Mississippians are aiming to top Obama-era turnout numbers, Trump has a pathetic need to be worshipped, and the MMA fight at the White House perfectly encapsulates the decline of seriousness in this country.
Eddie Glaude joins Tim Miller.
show notes:
The master negotiator couldn't have been more clear how badly he wants out of his war, and now the Iranians are enjoying twisting the knife over a murky developing deal that will likely deliver sanctions relief and more. Trump keeps trying to shoehorn the Abraham Accords into the negotiations as a face-saving move, but there's no denying that the U.S. has made Iran a stronger power than it was before the war. Plus, Cuba looks to be in the crosshairs next, the Dems need someone at the DNC who can give donors confidence, and remembering those we've lost in service to this country.
Bill Kristol joins Tim for a holiday pod.
show notes
Bill's "Bulwark on Sunday" with Marine veteran, Michael Wood Mark Hertling on how vets regard Memorial Day Will Selber on remembering the Gold Star families Take Cheers Restore after your last drink or before going to bed and wake up feeling at least 50% better ? or your money back. For a limited time our listeners are getting 20% off their entire order at CheersHealth.com/THEBULWARK. #Cheers #adTrump's killing off of John Cornyn's political career was the last straw for Senate Republicans, who magically found the courage?for the moment?to oppose his thug fund and the cool billion dollars he's demanding for his ballroom. And while the DNC autopsy shows a party not focused on winning, Jeffries and Schumer played a very shrewd hand with their anti-ICE DHS shutdown. Plus, the staggering amount of stock trades from the guy in the Oval Office, blue California's herd mentality may end up sending a man with no message to the governor's mansion, Trump is the Henry Ford of the Chinese auto industry, and Mike makes the case for bulldozing the new East Wing.
Mike Murphy joins Tim Miller for the holiday weekend pod.
show notes
From the state where Trump claims he?d win if Jesus counted the votes, Sarah and Sam joined Tim live on stage in San Diego to debate who is the most cucked Republican and whether Bill Cassidy should get credit for his late-in-the-game YOLO opposition to Trump. Also, Jeff Bezos has Tim rethinking his opposition to socialism, and how could Bibi and Trump have had such an absurd plan for a new Iranian president? At the top of the pod, Amanda Carpenter runs down the thug fund (don?t call it a slush fund) and Trump?s effort to get permanent immunity from any tax liability for himself and his family. Plus, POTUS?s revenge tour may backfire, and the administration may try using Fulton County as a test case for taking over vote counting in Democratic counties.
Amanda Carpenter, Sarah Longwell, and Sam Stein join Tim Miller.
show notes:
Tennessee is on the front lines of the racialized politics that has resurfaced in the South since SCOTUS gutted the Voting Rights Act. Its Jim Crow legislature stripped the people of Memphis of congressional representation for their majority-black city, and Democratic legislators have been punished for protesting the move. The state is looking less like a democracy by the day. Meanwhile, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Louisiana are also working on dismantling black political power in their states. Plus, Trump is the anti-farmer president, Stephen Miller is still running an immigration crackdown, and Tim sees promising signs in Tom Massie?s loss in Kentucky.
Tennessee's Rep. Justin Jones joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Jones on Hannity in January San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and our own MAGA culture expert, Will Sommer, joins the gang on stage at Bulwark Live: San Diego TONIGHT. And on Thursday at Bulwark Live: LA our friends Jane Coaston, Jon Favreau, Erin Ryan from Crooked Media, The Ringer?s Van Lathan and progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen will join Sarah, Tim and Sam on stage. Grab your seats at TheBulwark.com/EventsDonald Trump?as a private citizen?sued our government, which he runs, and then "settled" the lawsuit with $1.8 billion that he stole from the U.S. Treasury. See, he needs a secret fund of taxpayer money so he can pay not only reparations to his band of Jan 6 rioters, but also to incentivize future (election) criming on his behalf. In a special emergency TNL, Tim, Sarah, and JVL break it all down. Plus, Martha explains how Iran?s demands for money may be why Trump won?t officially end the war. And she discusses Zelensky's resiliency, along with her new book about the 9/11 generation that fought our wars.
Martha Raddatz, Jonathan V. Last, and Sarah Longwell join Tim Miller.
show notes
Sadly, it?s taken some time, but voters seem to be figuring out that Trump only cares about himself, his ballroom, his blatant corruption, and his unquenchable desire for revenge. 2026, so far, has been bad for his approval ratings. And his continued weakness on the world stage, especially when it comes to Iran and China, will only drive his numbers down more. At the same time, Trump has done permanent damage to our standing among our allies. Plus, Dems need to get serious about AI as well as a stock-trading ban for public officials?including presidents?Trump has far too many unexplained medical conditions, and Tim explains his support for commuting Tina Peters? prison sentence.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes
If the IRS goes ahead and gives in to Donald Trump's demands for a MAGA slush fund, it would be outright theft of the public's money and corruption on a scale that we've never even contemplated in this country. What would stop him from plundering even more from the American people? Plus, Kash's ghoulish snorkel at Pearl Harbor, the Supreme Court's VRA ruling gave permission to practice discrimination, MAGA loves the racism and sexism of the 1950s, and the penile implant expert managing the Hantavirus outbreak. And in his new book, Weissmann explores whether the lies of politicians and political candidates can be criminalized.
Andrew Weissmann joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Just announced: San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and our own MAGA culture expert, Will Sommer, will join the gang on stage at Bulwark Live: San Diego on May 20.
And on May 21 at Bulwark Live: LA our friends Jane Coaston, Jon Favreau, Erin Ryan from , The Ringer?s Van Lathan and progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen will join Sarah, Tim and Sam on stage.
Grab your seats today at: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events
The Chinese have long envied America's power, influence, and market share. But after Trump's failed trade war, his attacks on allies, and the embarrassment in Iran, the view from Beijing has shifted: It now sees us as a nation in decline. Plus, inflation is creeping back up, the stock market is out of whack, new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is screwed, and the ag community is feeling the pain of Trump's policies. And for the view from the Democratic resistance, Rep. Garcia tells Tim that Dems are not finished with their own redistricting and that Gavin's greatest strength is his obsession with winning. And he says Dems are going to fight like hell to win the House so they can investigate the Trump family's corruption and the Epstein case?the single largest government cover-up in history.
Rep. Robert Garcia and Catherine Rampell join Tim Miller.
show notes
Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BULWARK at https://www.oneskin.co/BULWARK #oneskinpod
p?s recent insomnia-induced, Obama-obsessed posting spree showed a level of paranoia and delusion that should be raising real concerns about the mental health of our commander-in-chief. The new blotch on his neck to go with the giant bruises on his hands is not helping matters. Is the DOJ mulling a $10 billion IRS settlement with Trump to try to ease his emotional distress over his seeming loss in Iran? Plus, Gorka?s half-baked ?official? counterterrorism strategy, Tim did ask Comey about the Hillary email investigation in a previous interview, and the poll numbers for POTUS are worse than they were after Jan 6.
Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller for a special LIVE pod.
show notes
Because Donald Trump has so thoroughly hijacked the Department of Justice, the public can no longer be confident that a criminal investigation or indictment is legitimate. The default assumption is that official DOJ actions are about servicing Trump's needs for validation, power, or retribution?like the latest seashell-related charges against Comey. Acting AG Todd Blanche acts like a mobster, wears his partisanship on his sleeve, and appears to be breaking the law himself. And at the FBI, Kash Patel presides over a smaller and demoralized and distracted staff, which leaves Comey worried for the safety of our country. Plus, the prospects for accountability post-Trump and the stepped-up investigations into journalists reporting news the administration does not like.
James Comey joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Comey's new thriller, "Red Verdict" Just announced: San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and our own MAGA culture expert, Will Sommer, will join the gang on stage at Bulwark Live: San Diego on May 20. And on May 21 at Bulwark Live: LA our friends Jane Coaston, Jon Favreau, Erin Ryan from Crooked Media, The Ringer?s Van Lathan and progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen will join Sarah, Tim and Sam on stage. Grab your seats today at TheBulwark.com/EventsInstead of doing the job Americans have been paying Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for?like trying to alleviate the high price of gas and air travel?he's been shirking his responsibilities on a seven-month-long family road trip paid for by industry lobbyists. And of course, Trump is also being looked after: His ghastly, 22-foot golden sculpture was unveiled, and Republicans promised a billion taxpayer dollars for what was supposed to be a donor-funded ballroom. POTUS needs a little bit of a psychological boost after his apparent defeat in Iran. Plus, Ukraine is gaining ground and Putin sounds like he's winding his war down, Trump has basically ended the post-WWII order, and Tennessee's redistricting was pure racial gerrymandering.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/BULWARK and use promo code BULWARK at checkout.
Tennessee just completely disenfranchised its black voters after the Supreme Court gave red states the green light to rig the midterms by redistricting black majority districts out of existence?as long as lawmakers pretend they don?t see color when they?re doing it. And while partisan gerrymandering is A-OK with Alito & co., it apparently is not alright for Democratic voters in Virginia to do anything like that to Republicans. Sure sounds like the free speech rules of the Trump administration, where people are free to say what Republicans want said. Plus, the burning rage in the Democratic base, the male doomer industry is selling a bill of goods, and Trump?s very Victorian underestimation of Iran?s ability to fight back.
The Atlantic's Adam Serwer joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Trump's corruption is so astonishing, extensive, and overwhelming that most people can't keep up with all the ways he's profiting off his presidency every single day. Isaac examined the reporting on the First Family's self-dealing in Trump's second term, and he's compiled the most exhaustive accounting of it so far. Just two examples: Trump's sons are doing business with a criminal syndicate that stole billions from Americans; and Trump last year branded a cellphone, had it certified by the FCC, and never delivered them to buyers who paid $100 for the device. The Dems are not doing nearly enough to highlight Trump's corruption. Plus, Saudi-paid Jared really needs to testify before Congress, the value of a news source that breaks our algorithmic siloes, and the risk of the Iran war just fading into the background.
Tangle News' Issac Saul joins Tim Miller.
show notes
The regime in Tehran is not as fractured as is commonly portrayed, and it is also pragmatic enough to see the economic opportunities that would follow from a deal with an eager-to-please-the-markets Donald Trump. But the contours of a potential agreement look like a win for Iran?not for the U.S., which has spent billions a day, lost military personnel and assets, and handed Iran new-found leverage over the global economy. Also, in this season of commencement, Jodi has advice for new college grads on how to navigate the tough employment market and a digitized hiring process. Plus, the Supreme Court's embrace of the shadow docket and John Roberts' pivotal role in the shift, what it's like to listen to Harvey Weinstein mansplain, moneyed Iranians apocalypsemaxxing, and examining Zionism through the prism of the nationalism movement at the time of Israel's founding.
The Times?s Jodi Kantor and The Atlantic?s Arash Azizi join Tim Miller.
show notes
Our Constitution is about limited government and restraining the power of the state, but we've got a president asserting powers he lawfully doesn't have, a Supreme Court that largely helps him do so, and a Republican Congress that's just dozing through it all. Americans need a refresher on how our government is supposed to work under the Constitution. Plus, the mifepristone case has brought abortion politics roaring back in time for the midterms, Trump is creating his own libel rules and circumventing press freedoms, and no, SCOTUS, the 14th and 15th Amendments were not designed to be colorblind on the matter of voting rights.
Melissa Murray joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Acting AG Tood Blanche announced over the weekend that basically everybody in America can use the expression "86 47" without fear of prosecution?except James Comey, who Trump yearns to see behind bars. Also, POTUS is still so steamed that NATO is not helping him with the Iran war that he's ordered thousands of U.S. troops withdrawn from Germany?even though the bases there are key to the war effort. Plus, the ceasefire looks to be in trouble, the Dems need to cool it on the 'burn the witch' culture, and Trump's vanity public projects are becoming increasingly grotesque.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes :
Fox News wouldn't shut up about Hunter and Burisma, but its viewers aren't likely to hear any criticism of Eric and Don Jr. raking it in through government contracts approved by the Trump administration. Unlike in Hunter's case, the U.S. government is paying millions of dollars to the president's sons. Plus, Trump is losing the information war on Iran, Bibi is oddly chummy with Putin?given his alliance with Israel's enemy Iran, the nation's debt is larger than our GDP, the governor of Louisiana is outright assaulting democracy, and Kinzinger explains why we need to celebrate heroes. Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
The bombshell voting rights ruling from the Supreme Court may have been years in the making, but Ossoff sees a tie-in to Trump's sore-loserdom and his inability to accept that black voters in Georgia were responsible for his 2020 defeat. And the senator expects a full-court press to get Alito and Thomas to retire so Trump can nominate MAGA fanatics to the court?and impose his most durable legacy on the country. Ossoff also discussed potential limits on aid to Israel, the geopolitical malpractice of the Iran war, and the brazen corruption of the Trump family?s overseas business deals. Plus, Luke Thomas explains the links between MMA and Trump world, the UFC?s key role in rehabilitating Trump after Jan 6, and the sportswashing behind the upcoming fights at the White House. Extra bonus: Tim weighs in on the Maine Senate race.
Sen. Jon Ossoff and Morning Kombat host Luke Thomas join Tim Miller.
show notes:
Ossoff's campaign website Ossoff in 2024, explaining his vote for a resolution that would've blocked arms sales to Israel Luke's "Morning Kombat" Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and in LA on 5/21: TheBulwark.com/Events Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/BULWARK and use promo code BULWARK at checkout.At home, POTUS shows how much he wants to be like an Arab despot, plastering his mug all over the place and deploying the Justice Department to fatuously claim that Comey?s use of seashell art can rise to a crime. But on Iran, he seems to have backed off his promise of a short war, and he?s making pretty wimpy threats against the regime. Plus, Disney?s new CEO is standing by Kimmel, Barney Frank has a warning for Democrats, and recent polling data is not backing up the Dems? midterms bullishness?even if voter sentiment is very bad for Trump and the Republicans.
John Heilemann joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Acting AG Todd Blanche, who watched Pam Bondi get fired, knows exactly what his assignment is: Go after every political enemy Trump wants targeted, and charge them?even without evidence of a crime. At the FBI, officials under Kash have pursued dubious or phony leads while career agents are seething over what the director has done to the place. Plus, the podcastistan wars may be doing real harm to the MAGA movement, influencers in the Trump echo chamber are looking pretty lame in comparison to key right-wing figures who are breaking ranks with him, and the latest on post-overdose looksmaxxer Clavicular.
Will Sommer and Carol Leonnig join Tim Miller.
show notes
Trump is a terrible president and he deserves to be criticized, even in personal terms. Our pro-democracy movement has shown time and time again that we can oppose him? and oppose any attempt at violence at the same time. Even putting aside POTUS's own hypocritical calls for violence or his celebrating the deaths of his enemies, Saturday's shooting was related to mental health issues and too easy of access to guns. Plus, Zelensky is the new leader of the free world, Trump looks like he's headed to a humiliating defeat in Iran, the left should work harder to not be false flag cranks, and a look at the Senate map in the context of America Firsters feeling betrayed by Trump's stupid wars and his attempt to redesign D.C. in his image.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes:
Not only is the new hardline regime in Tehran now more likely to go rogue as a nuclear power a la North Korea, ordinary Iranians?who Trump and Bibi initially claimed we were rescuing?are also living under even harsher conditions. At the same time, the war has burned through billions worth of our critical weapons stockpile, a development that surely will figure into China?s calculations vis?à?vis Taiwan. This is the moment for Dems to reshape their brand and win back everyday working Americans. Plus, the settlers? escalating attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, the Trump administration?s depraved treatment of Afghan refugees, any talk of aid for UAE stinks of Trump family corruption, and Dems need to fix their blue places while simultaneously working to win voters in the red ones.
show notes
Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego and LA in May: TheBulwark.com/Events
Exclusive $25-off Carver Mat at
https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARK. Promo Code THEBULWARK
Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/BULWARK and use promo code BULWARK at checkout.
Trump has gone full ?1984? with his claim that it?s a good thing that the Strait of Hormuz is closed. He also says that he saved some Iranian women from being executed, which the regime in Tehran called ?fake news.? It?s a telling sign of the times when the public can?t figure out whether the White House or the Iranian regime is lying. Speaking of scam artists, Ben joins Tim to discuss his new film on cryptocurrency, "Everyone is Lying to You for Money." The industry is rife with crime, it sorely needs to be regulated, and some of the most unscrupulous people are behind it? including our president.
Ben McKenzie and Sarah Matthews join Tim Miller.
Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code THEBULWARK at https://www.Ridge.com/THEBULWARK #Ridgepod
When life feels overwhelming, therapy can help. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/THEBULWARK.
show notes:
Trump's madman antics got him into a game of chicken with Iran, but he's up against people who are even crazier than he is. And he is not likely to get a deal with Tehran that is any better than Obama's nuclear agreement?which Trump called the worst deal in the world. Plus, the Virginia win is another reminder that Dems can effectively play hardball, Kevin Warsh is looking like an alarming pick for the Fed, the media coverage of the mass shooting in Shreveport was almost non-existent, MAGA is obsessed with Mamdani, Sam and Tim have new Cabinet rankings, and is there a way to stop Kushner from making deals with Sharia law countries?
Sam Stein joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Learn a new language and get up to 60% off your subscription at Babbel.com/BULWARK
Trump keeps jawboning the markets to try to manage the fallout from the war on Iran, but we have yet to see the full economic impact of his foreign policy misadventure. Oil and gas facilities in the Gulf have been critically damaged and will take years to repair?which will inevitably lead to higher fuel prices. And countries are stockpiling commodities and products like fertilizer, which will also feed inflation. Plus, a new book on the social and economic travails of modern American men.
The Ringer's Jordan Ritter Conn and Bloomberg's Tracy Alloway join Tim Miller.
show notes
Just hang tight: Trump is super close to a deal with an enemy that he handed all the leverage to. Absolutely do not read his steady supply of hollow threats as him begging Iran for a face-saving off-ramp. Meanwhile, back in reality, Iran too can see how desperate Trump is, the war is helping China feel emboldened, and some of our closest post-WWII allies think Beijing is more dependable than the U.S. under Trump. Plus, Hegseth has chosen an ideal time to pick a fight with the secretary of the Army, numerous officials at the FBI are alarmed by Kash's alleged alcohol-induced absences, kudos to Ossoff for the way he talked about corruption and kleptocracy, and more Vance-splaining from the newbie Catholic Veep.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes
The U.S. and Israel started dropping bombs on Iran because the regime, amid mass street protests, appeared to be in a weakened state. But the regime has now ended up with a much stronger hand: It's proven its leverage over the global economy with the Strait of Hormuz, and under Trump's offer, Iran will get a huge infusion of cash to rebuild its ballistic missiles program and fund its proxy terror groups. At the same time, Trump has made the United States look like a rogue state?while spending billions for a deal he could have got without a war. Plus, Israelis are likely not happy, the Gulf states realize America can't protect them from Iran's drones, Cuba is readying to be next, Dems should make clear they are the anti-war party now, Trump is fighting his demons from his first term, and JD has a radical and un-American world view.
Ben Rhodes joins Tim Miller for the holiday weekend pod.
show notes
From Trump's sacrilegious use of Jesus, to his massively corrupt pardon scheme, and his desire to plaster his name on every federal building and institution, this country has never had such a bad president. The Dems need to plan now how they will do oversight and also keep his loyalists from helping him cheat in the midterms. Plus, Hegseth really doesn't know his Scripture, Trump is turning America's 250th birthday into a party for himself, and RFK has really got a thing about dead animals.
Amanda Carpenter joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Protect Democracy's website ProPublica's reporting on Trump's effort to "take over" the midterms JVL on driving the stake through the heart of Trumpism Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood?delivered right to your door. Go to: https://www.wildalaskan.com/BULWARKThe Irish are protesting in the streets over the price of fuel, Qatar's GDP is plummeting, and heating bills are skyrocketing in France. And today, every world leader and every CEO of every major corporation is having to address the consequences of this war of choice on Iran?and Trump couldn't care less. Instead, he's working on a new distraction to get the media to talk about something besides his and Bibi's catastrophic error. But European leaders are finally starting to hit back against Trump, and Xi is trolling him on a genius level. Plus, Vance can't stop making a fool of himself, a debate over the merits of Europe v. the United States, and a healthy serving of fresh British insults to try on for size.
Alastair Campbell joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BULWARK at https://www.oneskin.co/BULWARK #oneskinpod
The Iranian regime may be wounded, but it?s likely to seek revenge for the war at some point, maybe even through sleeper cells in the United States. And with a second round of peace negotiations potentially in the works, Iran could rake in billions in return for pausing its nuclear program. On the more uplifting side, the election news out of Hungary has feel-good shades of 1989, and is a reminder that reality and facts can get in the way of a stubborn authoritarian. Plus, Tim on Trump's Jesus post and how he's losing political allies by the minute.
Michael Weiss once again joins Tim Miller.
show notes:
Orbán?s loss in Hungary was so overwhelming he couldn?t cheat his way out of it. But the decisive defeat for both Putin and authoritarianism may also suggest that the vibes they are a changin?. For instance, at home, Trump had to take down his Jesus post because of the backlash from across the political spectrum. People can see he?s flailing on the war and the economy. Plus, Vance has the stink of a loser, Dems can learn some campaigning tricks from Peter Magyar, the Melania-Epstein mystery continues, Trump and Marco are likely to regret those images from the UFC fight, and The Bulwark remains Team Pope Leo.
Bill Kristol joins special guest host, Sarah Longwell.
show notes
No one was really asking about Melania?s ties to Epstein. But after her surprise White House statement to the press on Thursday, the questions are flowing?particularly because a former Brazilian model who moved in both Trump and Epstein circles is posting threats against the First Lady on social media. Tim and Jane break it all down. Plus, Melania does not speak or read English very well, Trump is furious about Tucker & co.?s opposition to the Iran war, Vance?s motives for converting to Catholicism are disgusting and unchristian, and why would Iran permit Saudi-paid Jared to participate in the Islamabad peace talks?
Jane Coaston joins Tim Miller for the holiday weekend pod.
show notes
Putin puppet Viktor Orbán?whose nepotistic and corrupt government in Hungary has become the model for the far-right in America and Europe?is facing his first serious election challenge in 16 years. It turns out that voters get mad when a president steals from the public and tanks the economy. Vance tried to bolster Orbán with Kremlin-esque fake propaganda, but the energy may be with the grassroots campaign of Peter Magyar. Plus, Vance's arrogance and ignorance about Ukraine, Trump is still coming up short on his Iran war goals, the administration made some weird threats against Pope Leo, and Kari Lake is still a loser.
Anne Applebaum joins Tim Miller.
show notes