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Bulwark Takes

Bulwark Takes

The news cycle doesn?t slow down, and neither does The Bulwark. Bulwark Takes brings you bite-sized takes on the news of the day from the entire Bulwark team, including Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and Bill Kristol, and more.

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Episodes

Holy Cow, ?The Pitt? Took on ICE!

Sonny Bunch and Adrian Carrasquillo take on The Pitt?s ICE episode?how a single raid transforms the ER, triggers fear across patients and staff, and mirrors real-world reporting on immigration enforcement. They discuss the show?s attempt at ?balance,? the ripple effects of fear, and why dramatized storytelling can land harder than traditional coverage.

They also explore the reaction online, the pressure on Hollywood to soften political edges, and why The Pitt is connecting right now as a rare show that forces viewers to see these issues up close.

Read more here: Why the ICE Raid in ?The Pitt? Matters: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/why-the-ice-raid-in-the-pitt-matters-hbo

2026-03-29
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No Kings Rally Coverage

Join JVL, Catherine Rampell, Andrew Egger, and many, many others from The Bulwark for live "No Kings" rally coverage.
2026-03-28
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Trump Loves Putting His Own People Down

Sam Stein takes on a series of bizarre Trump appearances, ranging from crude jokes and made-up stories to comments that may have revealed something far more serious. The pattern raises a bigger question: when the president speaks, how much of it is real?

2026-03-28
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Tim Miller: If You?re Feeling Hopeless, Hear Me Out

Tim Miller was on MS NOW's Deadline: White House to explain why Trump?s Iran decision may be doing lasting damage to his own coalition. From GOP infighting to failed election interference efforts and another Democratic win in Washington, MAJOR cracks are starting to show.
2026-03-28
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Iran Hacks Kash Patel's Emails

Sam Stein and Tim Miller give their takes on the latest fiasco for FBI Director Kash Patel after Iran-linked hackers breached his email and released a trove of personal messages and photos. From embarrassing photos during a trip to Cuba to serious counterintelligence concerns, it?s another brutal moment for a guy already struggling to prove he?s up for the job.

2026-03-28
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Markets Rattled, Consumer Sentiment Plunges?While Trump Plays Emperor

JVL and Catherine Rampell are going live on Trump?s economic messaging, falling consumer confidence, and rising recession fears driven by oil prices.
2026-03-27
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Why is Kash Patel?s Girlfriend Posting Insane Gibberish?

Tim Miller, Sam Stein, and Will Sommer give their takes on Kash Patel?s girlfriend, a country music ?sensation,? over her bizarre Twitter rant about Michael Flynn, Candace Owens fights with MAGA media darling Nick Shirley, and comedian Druski mocks Erika Kirk in viral video.

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2026-03-27
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We Sat Through a Painful Trump Cabinet Meeting So You Don?t Have To

Sam Stein and Andrew Egger watched an hour-and-a-half long Trump cabinet meeting and it was a mess. From ranting about $1,000 pens and fake gold columns to personal attacks on Gavin Newsom?s dyslexia and Jerome Powell, Trump spent more time complaining about the Kennedy Center than he did on foreign policy. We break down the top five most unhinged things that happened during Thursday's meeting.

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2026-03-27
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No Kings Could Be the Biggest Protest EVER (w/ Ezra Levin)

Tim Miller talks with Ezra Levin?co-founder of Indivisible? about Saturday's ?No Kings? protests. They get into whether protests actually work, how movements grow beyond a single weekend, and why discipline, nonviolence, and even humor can throw off an authoritarian playbook. Plus: the rising threat of political violence, how organizers are preparing for it, and what comes next if this keeps growing.

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2026-03-26
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Tim Miller: Florida Just Shocked Everyone

Tim Miller was on with Katy Tur to take on a surprising shift in Florida politics after Democrats flip a seat in Trump?s own backyard. Is this a one-off?or the start of something bigger? Plus: the corruption questions that still aren?t being investigated?and what it all could mean for 2026.

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2026-03-26
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Karoline Leavitt Thinks We?re All Idiots

JVL and Andrew Egger take on a surreal White House briefing where everything is supposedly ?going great??even as TSA chaos, rising gas prices, and a widening Iran conflict tell a very different story. Plus: how JD Vance is getting boxed into a political no-win situation.

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2026-03-26
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Tim Miller, JVL and Katie Couric on Iran, Airport Lines, CBS and More

Katie Couric joins Tim Miller and JVL to dig into some of the biggest stories so far this week on a special edition of Bulwark Takes happening live on Wednesday at 6:30 PM ET. With Iran rejecting a cease-fire proposal, what will President Trump do next? And why is Iran requesting that Vice President JD Vance come to the negotiating table? Plus, reactions to new reporting from NBC that for the last few weeks, Trump has been shown by his team highlight reels of destruction in Iran. Plus, a look at whether there will be a breakthrough on Department of Homeland Security funding to finally end the growing chaos and delays at U.S. airports, a report from Status that CBS News is seeing its latest ratings of any first quarter this century and Katie has a very important reminder she hopes you and your loved ones to take seriously.

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2026-03-26
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AIPAC Spent $7 Million to Stop Daniel Biss. He Won Anyway.

Daniel Biss joined Lauren Egan to discuss his win in a crowded Democratic primary for Illinois' 9th Congressional District. AIPAC spent more than $7 million trying to stop him. Biss, whose mother is Israeli and whose grandparents are Holocaust survivors, opens up about what it felt like to be personally targeted and why he believes those attacks backfired. He also breaks down the strategy behind his campaign, taking on outside money head-on, defining the race early, and turning a flood of spending into a liability for his opponents.

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2026-03-25
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This Trump Pick Couldn't Stop Talking about Boobs and Hooters

Sam Stein, Joe Perticone, and Will Sommer give their takes on the bizarre rise and abrupt fall of Nick Adams, the self-styled ?alpha male? known for his tweets about boobs, Hooters, and American exceptionalism. Adams saw his ambassador nomination pulled before landing in a made up new State Department role.

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2026-03-25
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Democrats? New Strategy to Win: Hot Candidates

Sam Stein and Lauren Egan take on a real idea circulating among Democratic operatives: run more ?hot? candidates. They discuss what that actually means?youth, charisma, online presence?and whether it reflects a deeper effort to fix the party?s image and win back voters.

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2026-03-24
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Under Pressure, Trump Retreats on Iran and DHS | Morning Chaser

Bill Kristol and Andrew Egger are going live to discuss the DHS funding fight, ICE at America's airports, and Trump's erratic flip-flops in Iran.
2026-03-24
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This Is How the GOP Starts to Crack

Tim Miller was on Deadline: White House to take on the political fallout from Trump?s Iran war, warning that the real backlash hasn?t shown up in polling yet as rising costs start to hit voters. He also looks at growing cracks inside the GOP, where even MAGA voices are struggling to defend a war with no clear objective.

Plus: chaos at U.S. airports after ICE agents are deployed to ?help,? a Supreme Court case that could reshape mail-in voting ahead of the midterms, and Trump?s reaction to Robert Mueller?s death.

Watch Deadline: White House on MS NOW: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house

2026-03-24
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Trump's Iran Ultimatum (w/ Margaret Donovan)

Mark Hertling, Ben Parker, and special guest Margaret Donovan go live at 7:30 p.m. EDT for a Command Post episode on Trump?s threats of massive war crimes against Iran?and the broader ethics and legality of the conflict.

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2026-03-24
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BREAKING: Trump Blames Hegseth for Iran War, Insults Widower

JVL and Andrew Egger are going live to cover the bizarre statements that Trump made at an event this morning in Memphis.

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2026-03-23
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Dan Bongino Gets Heated After Heckler Calls Him a ?Coward? | MAGA Mondays

Sam Stein and Will Sommer go live to talk about Dan Bongino getting heckled for not "taking on the deep state," James Fishback being banned from Mar-a-Lago, and a double dose of TPUSA controversy.

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2026-03-23
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Rep. Lizzie Fletcher: Texas May Finally Be in Play

Sarah Longwell talks with Rep. Lizzie Fletcher about Texas redistricting, the GOP?s push for new seats, and why that strategy could backfire. They discuss the 2026 outlook, the Paxton?Cornyn fight, and why Democrats see a real opening in Texas.
2026-03-23
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Trump?s Plan: War Abroad, Chaos at Home

Sam Stein and Andrew Egger take on Trump?s ?48-hour? threat against Iran and the risk of a wider war, with global oil markets and the global economy hanging in the balance. They also discuss the administration?s push to put ICE in security roles at airports and Sen. Mike Lee?s bizarre SAVE Act post.

2026-03-22
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The Economic Consequences of Trump?s Iran War (w/ Catherine Rampell)

Bill Kristol and Catherine Rampell are going live to talk about the economic fallout from Trump's war in Iran.
2026-03-22
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Tim and Adam Kinzinger Play a Little Game

Tim Miller and Adam Kinzinger were live in Austin, talking about the escalating Iran war, why it?s already going badly, and how Trump?s ?peace candidate? promise unraveled into a costly conflict. Plus: a live ?cuck-off? game (it?s not quite what you?d expect).
2026-03-22
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Trump Celebrates Robert Mueller?s Death

Robert Mueller, the former FBI director and special counsel who led the Russia investigation, has died at 81. A Vietnam veteran and lifelong public servant, Mueller spent decades in service to the country across administrations of both parties earning a reputation for discipline, restraint, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law. Trump responded to Mueller's death with a disgusting message: ?Good. I?m glad he?s dead.? Tim Miller and Bill Kristol reflect on Mueller?s legacy at the FBI and his role investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, contrast it with the reaction from the man he was tasked with investigating. Correction: Robert Mueller died Friday evening, not today (Saturday) as stated in the episode. His family announced the news in a statement on Saturday. 

2026-03-21
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The Global Economy Is Literally Being Choked (w/ Sal Mercogliano)

Andrew Egger and maritime history and shipping expert Sal Mercogliano take on the rapidly escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz?and why it?s far more dangerous for the global economy than most people realize. As Iran tightens its grip on one of the world?s most critical shipping chokepoints, up to 25% of global trade is being disrupted. Tankers are stalled, crews are stranded, and energy markets are already feeling the shock.

Watch more of Sal?s videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT_yBgKSiwb3WP4ACPnF5nA

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2026-03-21
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New Inflation Warnings from Fed; Could Iran War Raise Prices AND Cause Recession?

Catherine Rampell and Sam Stein are going live to cover inflation warnings from the Fed and the worsening economic outlook as the Iran war drives oil prices higher and job growth stalls.

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2026-03-20
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?Just Measles? Left Her Sister Disabled for Life (w/ Therese Vogel)

Sam Stein and Jonathan Cohn talk with Therese Vogel about the return of measles. Therese shares the story of her sister, who contracted measles as a child and suffered permanent brain damage?shaping the rest of her life?and why that led her to join Grandparents for Vaccines.

They discuss why vaccine skepticism has risen, how outbreaks are spreading again as vaccination rates fall, and why many Americans have forgotten how dangerous these diseases once were. They explore the nascent political backlash to anti-vaccine messaging?and how groups like Grandparents for Vaccines are using personal stories to reach people when facts alone aren?t enough.

Learn more about Grandparents for Vaccines: https://grandparentsforvaccines.org/

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2026-03-20
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Trump Calls Iran War an ?Excursion? and Brings Up Pearl Harbor To Japan

Will Saletan gives his take on Donald Trump?s dumb and chaotic Oval Office meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. He called the Iran war an ?excursion,? bragging about demolishing Iran while gas prices doubled, and insulted Japan with a Pearl Harbor reference.

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2026-03-20
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There Was NO Imminent Threat from Iran (w/ Erin Banco)

Sam Stein talks with Reuters national security reporter Erin Banco about how the U.S. ended up at war with Iran?and why the official story doesn?t hold up. Intelligence assessments didn?t show an imminent threat, but the administration moved forward anyway after months of pressure, shifting justifications, and a last-minute decision from Trump.

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2026-03-20
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Don Lemon Responds to Being Arrested and Put On Trump?s ?Enemies List?

Tim Miller moderated a conversation with Don Lemon at the 2026 New Orleans Book Festival. They talked about Lemon?s arrest and time in custody and the broader crackdown on Trump critics. They also discussed the war in Iran, and the failures of the mainstream media during Trump's second term.

2026-03-19
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Sen. Rand Paul Slams Sen. Markwayne Mullin at DHS Confirmation Hearing

Sam Stein and Sonny Bunch went live to give their reactions to Trump nominee Markwayne Mullin at his DHS confirmation hearing.
2026-03-18
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Support for Israel Has Collapsed Among Young Americans

Sam Stein and Rachel Janfaza take on a striking shift among young voters: support for Israel has collapsed, with just 13% of Gen Z viewing it positively. Drawing on new polling and a focus group of students, they discuss how anti-Israel sentiment is spreading?and how it?s increasingly bleeding into something more troubling on campuses and online.

2026-03-18
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Tim Miller: Gas, Food, Rent?It's ALL Going Up Again

Tim Miller joins Nicolle Wallace to talk about the escalating Iran war, the sudden resignation of Trump official Joe Kent, and the growing split inside MAGA. As competing narratives collide, the panel looks at what?s actually driving the conflict?and why even Trump?s allies are breaking ranks.

They also discuss Trump?s erratic messaging, rising concerns about leadership, and the economic fallout already starting to hit Americans?from higher gas and food prices to a broader slowdown that could get much worse by the fall.

Watch Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace on MS NOW: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house

2026-03-18
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Former General Gives Brutally Honest Iran War Assessment | Command Post

In this Command Post edition of Bulwark Takes, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker break down how Trump?s snub of NATO allies is shaping the Iran conflict, and how even spectacular military success against the Iranian government and military won?t necessarily lead to victory.

Have questions about the Iran war? Send them to [email protected] and we?ll try to answer them in the next episode!

Read more from Mark's piece here: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/iran-gets-vote-in-this-war-thormuz-trump-hegseth-israel-strategy

Buy Mark's book, "If I Don't Return: A Father's Wartime Journal": https://www.amazon.com/If-Dont-Return-Fathers-Wartime/dp/1966786727

2026-03-18
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Top Trump Aide Quits Over Iran War | Morning Chaser

Andrew and Bill are going live to discuss Joe Kent's resignation over the war in Iran and other news of the day.
2026-03-17
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Distracted Trump Rambles While Iran War Expands

Tim Miller and Sam Stein take on Trump?s latest Oval Office comments on Iran. They discuss the contradictions, the absence of a clear strategy, and what it signals about how this war is being handled. Plus, JD Vance dodges a simple question about whether he actually supports the operation, raising questions about what?s really happening behind the scenes.

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2026-03-17
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Sen. Kennedy Tried to Humiliate This Witness? It Backfired (w/ David Bier)

Tim Miller talks with Cato?s David Bier about his viral clash with Senator John Kennedy?and what the exchange reveals about today?s immigration debate. They discuss the data on immigrants and the economy, the gap between rhetoric and actual policy, mass deportation proposals, visa bans affecting families, and how enforcement tactics are impacting both immigrants and U.S. citizens.

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2026-03-17
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Laura Loomer Publicly Humiliated Over Racist Statements | MAGA Mondays

Will Sommer and Sam Stein are going live to discuss Laura Loomer?s tense event in New Delhi, Tucker Carlson?s new CIA conspiracy theory, and the ugly feud between Megyn Kelly and Mark Levin.
2026-03-16
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Iran War Consequences: Will Epic Fury be an Epic Failure?

Robert Kagan (Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution) joins Bill to discuss the likely consequences of Trump's war in Iran.
2026-03-15
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Trump Says Iran Is Finished?Then Asks the World for Backup

Sam Stein and Will Saletan take on Donald Trump?s claims that Iran has been ?decimated? even as his administration asks other countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. They discuss the contradictions in Trump?s messaging and what it reveals about the war. They also react to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr?s warning to broadcasters over their coverage.

2026-03-15
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Is This the Sickest MAGA Scandal Yet?

Sam Stein, Tim Miller, and Will Sommer take on one of the strangest scandals to hit the far-right internet: extremist agitator Jake Lang getting caught in a social-media sting run by a self-styled ?predator hunter.? They also talk about the growing war inside conservative media as Megyn Kelly and Ben Shapiro clash publicly.
2026-03-14
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BREAKING: GDP Growth Revised WAY Down

Catherine Rampell and Sam Stein are going live to talk about the revised job numbers and other economic news.
2026-03-13
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Why Iran?s Regime Isn?t Falling (w/ Tim Mak)

JVL is joined by war reporter Tim Mak to discuss the rapidly escalating conflict with Iran and what it means for the United States, Ukraine, and global stability. They examine why the Iranian regime may be more durable than many assume, the strategic limits of military strikes, and how rising oil prices are shaping political decisions in Washington.

Read more from Tim Mak at The Counteroffensive: https://www.counteroffensive.news/

2026-03-13
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Tim, JVL, and Katie Couric: Trump, Iran and Manosphere Drama

In a special live edition of Bulwark Takes, Katie Couric joins JVL and Tim Miller to take on some of the biggest and most interesting stories of the week including the breaking news today out of Michigan where a suspect is dead after ramming a vehicle into Temple Israel synagogue, the latest on the Iran war including the first comments from the country's new supreme leader, what Kash Patel is up to at the FBI and more. Katie also digs in with the Bulwark crew on her latest TV obsession.
2026-03-12
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GOP Senator Tells Americans to Accept Higher Gas Prices

Sam Stein and Catherine Rampell give their takes on the sudden shift in Republican messaging on gas prices after the war with Iran disrupted global oil markets. For years, Republicans blamed Joe Biden for high prices at the pump. Now, with prices rising again under Donald Trump, some GOP lawmakers are telling Americans they need to ?make sacrifices? or even suggesting struggling families just need better financial literacy.

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2026-03-12
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Trump?s Own Fans Are Furious

Tim joined Katy Tur to talk about the backlash from the ?podcast right? over a potential Iran conflict. If those newer, anti-war voters peel away?or simply stay home?it could reshape the politics around Trump?s base. They also discussed immigration, where Republicans are starting to get nervous about the real-world impact of mass deportation policies.

Watch Katy Tur Reports on MS NOW: https://www.ms.now/katy-tur-reports

2026-03-12
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Hanging With Tim Miller

Tim Miller is going live, just because he feels like hanging out. Not everything needs a special occasion.
2026-03-12
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Is This The Dumbest DC Conspiracy Yet?

Sam Stein, Will Sommer, and Andrew Egger give their takes on the new right-wing conspiracy that claims John Thune is secretly controlled by Punchbowl News and that?s why he won?t eliminate the filibuster to pass the SAVE Act. The theory comes from a software engineer known online as ?Data Republican,? who gained prominence during the DOGE era by posting false claims about uncover government waste. Her latest claim hinges on a series of confusing flowcharts that immediately collapses under even minimal scrutiny, but it?s still gaining traction in conservative circles, including Sen. Mike Lee.

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2026-03-11
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Joe Rogan Says Trump ?Betrayed? His Base Over Iran War

Sam Stein and Tim Miller give their takes on Joe Rogan?s surprisingly blunt reaction to Donald Trump?s war with Iran. Rogan says many supporters feel ?betrayed? after Trump campaigned on ending ?stupid wars,? only to launch major strikes that have now killed U.S. troops and raised fears of wider conflict. Sam and Tim dig into Rogan?s political evolution and why this moment is so uncomfortable for the MAGA-friendly podcast world. After years of embracing Trump as the anti-war outsider, figures in the ?podcast bro? ecosystem are now confronting the possibility that they misjudged him.

2026-03-11
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