After being a guest on Piers' show numerous times, Tim gets a chance to pin him down for answers. Like, how could he have ever thought Trump in his second term was ready to be a "great president?" And even though Piers is now critical of Trump's tariffs and the war he started in Iran, he still thinks the verdict is out on Trump's obvious corruption?and whether the man can evolve and change the course of his presidency. Plus: Mark Hertling discusses the Air Force major who called for the impeachment of Trump and Vance as well as POTUS's confusion over the role of NATO.

POTUS went on a stock buying spree the day before he paused some of his tariffs last year. The markets rebounded on his tariffs' reversal. On Monday, Trump from the Oval Office encouraged Americans to buy stock in Dell, a company he's heavily invested in. And he defended his children having access to insider information because of his presidency. This is Putin-grade corruption. Meanwhile, McMorrow's withdrawal from the Michigan Senate race shows Tim was right about the risks of encouraging factional fighting among Dems. Plus: Michael Cohen has always worn a "for sale" sign, and is there any experience in America that Trump hasn't tried to ruin? Go Team USA.

Show notes:

Monday's "Morning Shots" Sam and Bill on Trump's July 4 speech

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It's hard to be in a celebratory mood about America 250. The administration only wants to tell a narrow story of the country without all the contradictions and complexities of its history. And for the past 18 months, it has also been a particularly challenging time for black members of the military under Hegseth, who brazenly disregards their service, blocks promotions of black officers, or expunges them from the ranks. But the aspiration of America as a multiracial, multiethnic, multi-faith democracy is a noble one, and our job is to keep trying to build the country we want it to be. Plus: the man who's trying to stop the magafication of the Smithsonian, advice for how to talk to kids about the country's history, and the simple joys of a July 4th cookout.

The Atlantic's Clint Smith joins Tim Miller for the holiday weekend pod.

show notes

Clint?s piece on being black in Hegseth?s military Clint on the man who?s put himself between Trump and the Smithsonian Clint's "How the Word Is Passed" Thursday?s ?Morning Shots? on the words of Gerald Ford Tim?s July 4th playlist This week only, a full Bulwark membership for everything we offer on our website is $86 a year. That's 14 percent off at http://thebulwark.com/july4 

Not only did Trump pocket $2.2 billion last year?vastly increasing his pre-presidency wealth?he shamelessly showed off his new hand-me-down plane from Qatar which Americans paid hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade. Not to mention, there's a massive conflict of interest involved in Trump taking a gift from a country that is directly impacted by his administration's foreign policy decisions. Plus: Vance can't tell a joke to save his life, Trump is the polar opposite of Teddy Roosevelt in almost every way, the Russian casualty count from the war in Ukraine has been catastrophic for the country and potentially destabilizing, and the challenge of celebrating 250 when Trump has inverted the American dream.

Susan Glasser joins Tim Miller.

Show notes:

Susan's 'Political Scene' podcast Tim's July 4th playlist This week only, a full Bulwark membership for everything we offer on our website is $86 a year. That's 14 percent off at http://thebulwark.com/july4

Trump leaves ice cream cartons, potato chip bags, and candy wrappers all over his personal space at the White House. His diet aside, his aides are working overtime to keep the state of his health a secret. And it turns out that his loss in 2020 made him more powerful: He didn't have to deal with post-Covid inflation and the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump also wouldn't have been prosecuted, which ultimately led to him getting his get-out-of-jail free card to break all the laws, courtesy of the Supreme Court. Maggie joins Tim to discuss some of the revelations in her new book, including the pardons Trump is promising and the relationship between POTUS and a young aide who writes him "raw" and "emotional" love notes. Oh, and Marco?who's having the time of his life?was the guy who set up the deal to send people to the gulag at CECOT. Plus: Cam Kasky on why DSA candidates are resonating with voters and how things feel on the ground around Platner in Maine and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.

Cameron Kasky and Maggie Haberman join Tim Miller. 

Show notes:

Maggie's and Jonathan Swan's book, "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump"  This week only, a full Bulwark membership for everything we offer on our website is $86 a year. That's 14 percent off at http://thebulwark.com/july4

SCOTUS did manage, for now, to stop Trump from recreating the American republic, but four of the court's justices believe that the fundamental law of birthright citizenship in the Constitution can just be repealed?along with the very nature of what American citizenship means. But overall, while Trump had some big wins from the Supreme Court this term, he also had massive losses. David runs down some of the latest rulings with Tim. Plus: Mamdani doesn't think the Constitution should be changed so he can run for POTUS (David thinks he's wrong), Platner is not winning over white working-class voters, Dems need a bigger tent but there have to be lines the party won't cross, and the DOJ is (mostly) losing its immigration protest cases.

David French joins Tim Miller.

Show notes:

David's Newsletter on one-party rule David on the purging of Gen. Donahue

More on the Broadview case in Chicago, from David

This week only, a full Bulwark membership for everything we offer on our website is $86 a year. That's 14 percent off at
http://thebulwark.com/july4

The most powerful person in the world repeatedly creates his own narrative about a news event despite what we can see and hear with our own eyes and our own ears. Media organizations that don?t fight like hell in response are failing at doing their most basic job?and they?re failing the country and our democracy as well. That?s what CBS News did when it settled Trump?s frivolous ?60 Minutes? lawsuit and when it tried to change the story of the Minneapolis protests to benefit Trump. Plus: Dems are on the cusp of a big fight, the Iran war is being fought on social media (and on the weekend), Sen. Jon Ossoff is deploying a clever strategy, and why isn?t the left talking about climate change? Oh and this: How do you live a life of value and meaning?

John Dickerson joins Tim Miller from the Aspen Ideas Festival.

show notes

John's Substack John's long-running pod, Slate's "Political Gabfest"

The "eating the cats and dogs" blood libel worked so well that SCOTUS agreed to end humanitarian protections for Haitians. Justice Alito, who complained about the way Italian-Americans were depicted in "The Sopranos," just couldn't see any racism in Trump's repeated disparagement of Haiti or its immigrants. By the way, Megyn Kelly: You didn't do anything to build this country. And while JD thinks Nixon's Watergate crimes are now no big deal, the federal government just sentenced an American to 30 years in prison for moving anarchist zines out of his home. Plus, Jane's nostalgia theory explains why Vanilla Ice thinks the early 90s were the best era, the white male obsession with Caitlin Clark, and the men who can't quit blaming the 19th Amendment for the country's ills.

Jane Coaston joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.

show notes

Jane?s pod, ?What A Day? Roy Cooper?s new ad The reporting on Rep. Hamadeh Tim?s playlist

The POTUS speech to kickoff the "state fair" in honor of America's 250th year was all about how the country is great because of him. Meanwhile, Hegseth is continuing to purge the Pentagon of some of our best warfighters for political and cowardly reasons. Plus, Bill Cassidy caved to Trump yet again, another son-in-law is following in Jared's footsteps and angling to get in on the family's hustle, some love for George Washington, and the administration's levels of corruption are so epic it's like Watergate every day.

Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller.

show notes

Tom on making the 250th "small" Tom on the capitulation to Iran Netflix's "The American Experiment"

The Mamdani sweep in NYC shows that the populist left is winning the arguments about Israel policy and going after billionaires, but it sure seems like there may be limits to their success outside the blue urban core. And Republicans are likely to make hay with at least one of Tuesday?s congressional primary winners?Darializa Avila Chevalier?who wants to end policing and won?t say whether murderers should go to jail. But the GOP colossally screwed up in North Carolina and Georgia, and Tim makes a bold prediction about how the party will respond. Plus, Trump is showing clear signs of aging, another one of his candidates lost on Tuesday, AOC's silence at this moment is noteworthy, and never underestimate the power of charisma in politics.

Peter Hamby joins Tim Miller.

show notes

Peter's podcast, "The Powers That Be" Peter's columns at Puck For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to Smalls.com/THEBULWARK.

The era of hell that we are living through may have been ordained in the 90s by angry Republican voters who felt screwed by the corporate elite?and political leaders who didn?t represent them. Trump watched Pat Buchanan and David Duke and saw how their protectionist, anti-immigrant, culture war messaging was resonating. More recently, Trump returned to his New York wheeler-dealer vibe by getting us in a war because he needed to look strong after SCOTUS struck down his stupid tariffs. Plus, more on Vance?s insincere religious discovery, Platner?s tattoo, the Dems? nerd problem and its incompatibility with the base?s desire for a fighter, the jock/creep administration, and the Dan Goldman coffee shop incident.

John Ganz joins Tim Miller.

show notes

John's book, "When the Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s"  John's Substack  Tim's interview with Jon Ossoff  Start your new morning ritual & get up to 43% off your @MUDWTR with code THEBULWARK at mudwtr.com/THEBULWARK! #mudwtrpod

Trump is so embarrassed by his own personal vandalism of the Reflecting Pool that he's got the Justice Department investigating his latest conspiracy about bad guys that don't exist. Of course Fox News is happy to oblige by menacing journalists who dared to report on the damage POTUS did to the national monument. Meanwhile, Vance's Catholic conversion story is almost more fake than Trump's tough stance against the Iranian regime. Plus, Tulsi has been under the sway of a cult leader, Italy's Meloni is a pleasant surprise, Brexit was stupid and ruined the political careers of British prime ministers, and the World Cup is the perfect patriotic antidote to Trumpism.

Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.

show notes

Monday's "Morning Shots" Tim's and JVL's live reading from Vance's new book Clip from Douthat's interview with JD George Packer's piece, "The Talented Mr. Vance" Jon Swaine's reporting on Tulsi (gift)

Obama never thought Trump could win in 2016, perhaps because he underestimated how much the opposition loathed him. At the opening of his new presidential center on Thursday, he spoke of presidents acting with duty, honor, and kindness?even though the current occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is all about destroying things, being mean, hurting people, and starting dumb wars. Indeed, Trump's foreign policy may be more in the American tradition than Obama's. Plus, a debate over whether Kamala's response to Gaza cost her the White House along with her standing in the party. Also, some Knicks love and another installment in the perils and pitfalls of wokeness?this time with some Talarico comments from 2020.

Ta-Nehisi Coates joins Tim Miller for the Juneteenth holiday weekend pod.

show notes

Ta-Nehisi's latest piece in Vanity Fair Tim's playlist

Donald Trump gave away the store in the second worst treaty signed at Versailles. The bounty POTUS delivered has already started to flow with the lifting of oil sanctions on Iran. The unfreezing of restricted assets?and a $300 billion reconstruction and investment fund?is just around the corner. Trump is even defending Iran's right to have ballistic missiles. He likes to talk tough, but he is a wuss, and the Dems can't let up on calling him out for his cowardice and his stupid war. Plus, gaming which group of Trump supporters got cucked the most, Republicans on the Hill are already rushing to protect Trump on the deal, and a Texas temperature check on Talarico v Paxton.

Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller.

show notes

Text of the agreement between the U.S. and Iran  Kinzinger's Substack  "The Kinzinger Report" podcast  Tim's and JVL's reading of Vance's new book 

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

Krystal's "Breaking Points" "Krystal Kyle & Friends" pod Brendan testing a water sample from the algae-covered reflecting pool Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood?delivered right to your door. Go to: https://www.wildalaskan.com/BULWARK.

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

Sam's campaign website Michael's Substack Watch for Tim's and JVL's live reading of Vance's new book Wednesday on YouTube or Substack Tim's 'Take' with Caolan Robertston in Kyiv re the Russian strike on the Dormition Cathedral  "The Pulp" interview with Sam 

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

Monday's "Morning Shots"  Hertling on the use and abuse of the military at the UFC fight  Brendan's interview with Rep. Joyce Beatty, who sued to get Trump's name off the Kennedy Center  The Bulwark's live coverage from the Kennedy Center Friday eve

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

Jon's 'Offline' podcast Tim's 'Triad' on the most effective campaign contributions Peter Hamby on America 250 Tim's playlist

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:

Anne's latest reporting from Ukraine Phillips O'Brien piece on Iran, "War Crimes Seem To Be Official US Policy Now" A Venezuela opposition leader on the continuing political oppression there Anne's reporting on Kari Lake running Voice of America Anne on Lake being nominated as ambassador to Jamaica Summer novel rec from Anne, "The Time of Cherries" Tim's summer novel rec, "My Tender Matador"

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

Sen. Warnock's new book, "The Crooked Places Made Straight," out next week

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

Jason's "All-In" podcast  Jason's company, Launch  Get 20% off when you go to trustandwill.com /BULWARK

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

Monday's "Morning Shots"  Tim's 'Take' on Trump's "Meet the Press" interview  Bill's "Bulwark on Sunday with Tom Joscelyn  Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat, Aspen, and Walden frames at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARK. Promo Code THEBULWARK

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

Joe on Trump's stock trades 

Tim on Cassidy protecting Trump's $1.8 fund 

Tim's playlist

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

Katherine's reporting on the scores of pardoned J6ers committing new crimes JVL on how Marco beat out JD for the Trump's Favorite Adopted Son spot JVL's "Trump Madman Theory? of . . . the Stock Market" Lauren on the 'vanilla' dems  The Secret Podcast  Join at functionhealth.com/THEBULWARK or use gift code THEBULWARK25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.

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

Turek's campaign website Luke will be a new co-anchor on MS NOW's "The Weeknight" on June 15 For their buy 1 get 1 50% off deal, head to 3DayBlinds.com/THEBULWARK.

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

?The Next Level? pod will be out later today Derek?s piece on vicemaxxing Derek on the great AI cost panic The ?Plain English? pod, hosted by Derek ?Mere Christianity,? by C.S. Lewis ?Pluribus?

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

Bill?s Bulwark on Sunday with Nathaniel Zelinsky Bill?s Morning Shots from Friday on Trump?s plans for America250 Text BULWARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.

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

Tim's episode with E. Jean Carroll from last year Liz's book, "Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story" Tim's playlist

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

Kara's and Scott Galloway's ?Pivot? podcast Kara's "On with Kara Swisher" pod CNN's "Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever" Make laundry day the best day of the week! Get 20% off your entire order @LaundrySauce with code THEBULWARK at https://laundrysauce.com/THEBULWARK #laundrysaucepod

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

Bob on Trump's surrender Bob on the end of the post WWII-order The Next Level LIVE after the Texas primary Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to www.joindeleteme.com/BULWARK and use promo code BULWARK at checkout.

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:

Glaude's new book, "America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries" Glaude's "Begin Again," his study of James Baldwin Baldwin's essay on Faulkner The Bulwark's Memorial Day sale:
Get 50% off of a new Bulwark+ subscription for the next year, that?s everything we offer on our website, by going to thebulwark.com/sanity ? this is a limited time offer.

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 #ad

Trump'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

Joe on the trader in the Oval Office Mike's EV website  Tim's playlist

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:

Jon on how Trump?s global health cuts are undermining the response to the Ebola outbreak Lauren on how the Georgia governor?s race may be the most important one in the country And we still have a few tickets left for TONIGHT at Bulwark Live: LA at 7pm. 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/Events

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/Events
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Donald 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

Pre-order Martha's book, "The Hero Next Door: Stories of Patriotism and Purpose"  Monday's "Morning Shots"  Sarah's ?Illegal News? podcast; interview with Andrew Weissmann out Thursday  San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and our own MAGA culture expert, Will Sommer, will join the gang on stage at Bulwark Live: San Diego this Wednesday. 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 today at TheBulwark.com/Events

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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

Monday's "Morning Shots" Lauren on how the Dems should respond to an aging Trump's health issues Bill's "Bulwark on Sunday" with Rob Flaherty, Kamala's deputy campaign manager San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and our own MAGA culture expert, Will Sommer, will join the gang on stage at Bulwark Live: San Diego this Wednesday. 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 today at TheBulwark.com/Events

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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

Buy Andrew Weissmann?s book, "Liar?s Kingdom." Use code Liar15 at checkout to receive 15% off and a signed bookplate from Weissmann. Offer expires 5/19/26. Click here. "All Roads Lead to the South" for Saturday's National Day of Action for Voting Rights  Sarah's "Illegal News" podcast  Tim's interview this week with Comey  photo from the summit in China and not one woman at the table  Tim's playlist

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

Catherine's newsletter, "Receipts" A grimacing, sweaty Trump getting framemogged by Xi Ezra Klein's town hall with Katie Porter's answer to CA's housing crisis 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.

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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

Tom on the administration's counterterrorism strategy Tim's interview with Comey last year 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/Events Join at functionhealth.com/THEBULWARK or use gift code THEBULWARK25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.

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/Events
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Instead 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

Monday's "Morning Shots" Bill's "Bulwark on Sunday" Cathy on Putin's pathetic parade Politico's Jonathan Martin on Trump's redistricting Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and in LA on 5/21: TheBulwark.com/Events

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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

Adam's response to the Voting Rights Act ruling JVL on the prospects of Platner in 2028 Tim's playlist Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and in LA on 5/21: TheBulwark.com/Events

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

Isaac's compilation of the Trump family's self-dealing Mona's piece on Trump's corruption Isaac on "This American Life" Tangle's home page Just announced! We'll have some chatty friends joining us on stage for Bulwark Live: LA on May 21. For details and to grab your seats head to TheBulwark.com/Events For their buy1 get 1 50% off deal, head to 3DayBlinds.com/THEBULWARK Get 20% off when you go to trustandwill.com/BULWARK

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

Arash on Iran mostly wanting a deal Jodi's new book, "How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work" Arash's book, "What Iranians Want: Women, Life, Freedom" Arash on Zionism and the nationalism movement Jodi and Adam Liptak on the birth of the shadow docket at SCOTUS Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and in LA on 5/21: TheBulwark.com/Events Learn a new Language and get up to 60% off  your subscription at Babbel.com/BULWARK

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

Melissa's new annotated guide to the Constitution  Melissa's "Strict Scrutiny" podcast  The NYT on the Supreme Court's shadow docket  Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and in LA on 5/21: TheBulwark.com/Events Exclusive $25-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARK. Promo Code THEBULWARK

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  :

Monday's "Morning Shots" Bill's "Bulwark on Sunday" with David Baer Tim's 'Bulwark Take' with Marc Elias on the SCOTUS VRA ruling JVL on the risks of Fetterman flipping parties Lauren on how some Dems want Chair Ken Martin to go Mark Hertling on Trump pulling troops out of Germany Eric Edelman on the troop drawdown Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and LA on 5/12: TheBulwark.com/Events

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

Preorder Kinzinger's new children?s book, ?That's What Heroes Do" Kinzinger's Substack FT story on the Trump sons/Kazakhistan company deal WSJ story on Trump sons/drone company deal Tim's playlist Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and LA on 5/12: TheBulwark.com/Events

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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

Subscribe to The Bulwark's YouTube John's "Impolitic" podcast Tim?s livestream Wednesday at 8pm ET on Substack or YouTube Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and in LA on 5/21: TheBulwark.com/Events