Tim and JVL go through various moments from Pam Bondi's hearing in the Congressional Oversight Committee, in which she evades, lies, and covers for Donald Trump. 

The DOJ tried to criminally indict six lawmakers for reminding service members to obey the Constitution, and a grand jury refused to go along. But even after the charges failed, Speaker Mike Johnson suggested they ?probably? should have been indicted. JVL and Andrew Egger discuss what the failed prosecution says about Trump?s Justice Department, the resilience of juries, and the growing willingness of Republican leadership to flirt with red lines that once seemed unthinkable.

Donald Trump claims to be a champion of faith, but his own words tell a different story. Will Salatan puts Trump to the ultimate test: The Bible. From the 10 Commandments to the Sermon on the Mount, see how Trump?s recent speeches stack up against the actual moral instructions of the scripture.

Catherine Rampell, JVL, and Paul Krugman take on the January jobs report.

Follow Paul Krugman on Stubstack at https://paulkrugman.substack.com/

Sam Stein, Tim Miller, and Will Sommer break down the bizarre, disturbing, and increasingly influential world of ?looksmaxxing? and the internet personality at its center, Clavicular. The trio give their takes on how a 20-year-old influencer built a massive following by bone smashing his face, abusing steroids and meth, and livestreaming chaos all while becoming a minor celebrity in right-wing online culture. They explain the strange vocabulary (mogging, jestermaxxing, foids), the overlap with incel ideology, and why figures like Clavicular matter politically, even if you wish you?d never heard of them.

Read more from Will's reporting on Clavicular: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/clavicular-looksmaxxing-streamer-influencer-mogging

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Sam Stein and Catherine Rampell give their takes on why Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faces zero consequences for lying about his contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The files reveal family trips, business deals, and charitable donations between Lutnick and Epstein, contradicting his claims that he cut off contact with him in 2005. They break down how other governments, including the UK, Slovakia, and Norway have forced resignations or investigations over Epstein ties, and why the Trump administration is shrugging off any accountability for Lutnick's lies.

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JVL, Sarah Longwell, and Adrian Carrasquillo give their takes on the record-breaking Super Bowl halftime show by Bad Bunny. The Puerto Rican superstar delivered a joyful, confident, massively popular performance and MAGA promptly lost its mind. The trio break down why Bad Bunny?s show worked, why Kid Rock?s conservative counter-programming flopped, and what it all says about Trump losing his grip on American culture.

Posting a job is now easier than ever with UpWork at https://UpWork.com.

Tim Miller takes on a stunning National Review series that details the scale of Trump?s crypto corruption?dwarfing anything ever alleged about Biden?and explains how Trump?s crypto business operated as a pay-to-play system for foreign money, why Republican oversight collapsed, and why it matters that conservatives are finally starting to say it out loud.

Senior CNN political analyst Ron Brownstein joins Bill Kristol to discuss the Democrats chances of winning the Senate during the 2026 midterms.

Tim Miller, Catherine Rampell, and Will Sommer give their takes on the rise of the infomercial wing of the GOP. From ShamWow and MyPillow to the ambassador selling blood-flow vitamins and miracle sleep aids, they unpack how selling stuff became a political credential and why Trump?s brand of politics made it inevitable.

Andrew Egger and Joe Perticone give their takes on the growing wave of House Republicans announcing their exits as the midterms approach. They break down why Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei and others are heading for the door, how Trump?s iron grip over Congress has made life miserable even for Freedom Caucus hardliners, and why the prospect of being in the minority is driving GOP members to run for the hills.

Tim Miller and Adrian Carrasquillo joined Nicolle Wallace to relish the moment JD Vance was loudly booed at the Winter Olympics. They also talked about MAGA?s meltdown over Bad Bunny to growing signs of global and cultural rejection, and how Trumpworld?s behavior is turning into a real political liability.

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

Sam Stein, Tim Miller, and Andrew Egger react to Trump's racist video last night depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. As the White House defends the post, Republicans like Sen. Tim Scott are "praying it was fake because it?s the most racist thing I?ve seen out of this White House" and calling for it be removed.

Tim Miller and Catherine Rampell give their takes on the crypto crash, why Bitcoin and meme coins are plunging, and what the sell-off says about speculation, interest rates, and the broader economy. They break down why crypto hasn?t held up as an inflation hedge, how rising rates are squeezing risky assets, and why Trump-world?s deep exposure to crypto and speculative stocks suddenly looks a lot more precarious.

Tim Miller, Sam Stein, and Will Sommer give their takes on the chaotic scandal surrounding far-right influencer Elijah Schaefer. After disappearing from his online show, Schaefer reemerged with a black eye, paranoid Rumble rants, and a series of increasingly bizarre videos, including wandering through a flooded hotel. The fallout has pulled in secret audio recordings, trad Catholic influencer drama, Milo Yiannopoulos, online feuds, and renewed scrutiny of Schaefer?s self-styled role as a ?family values? enforcer on the right as he faces a sex scandal.

Read more from Will's reporting: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/shocking-sex-scandal-rocks-trad-right-elijah-schaffer-sarah-stock

Tim Miller joins Katy Tur on MS NOW with his take on what the newly released Epstein documents reveal about Jeffrey Epstein, but about how few powerful adults were willing to say no, draw a line, or walk away when it mattered. Tim also responds to Steve Bannon?s threats for ICE to surround the polls ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and what Stephen Miller?s continued influence inside Trump?s orbit says about the current state of Republican politics.

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

Sam Stein and Andrew Egger react to Trump's latest craziness at the National Prayer Breakfast and his interview with NBC's Tom Llamas.

In this edition of Command Post, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) joins Ben Parker to break down the surprising clash between the Department of Defense and Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts). Secretary Hegseth is threatening to cut support for Scouting America over DEI policies and integrated troops, but is this really what the Pentagon should be focusing on? Hertling explains why the Scouts? values like honor, service, and leadership align with military priorities, and why Hegseth?s fight seems out of touch.

We also also viewer questions questions about Iranian drone threats to U.S. carriers, Canadian-American military cooperation & NORAD, and maintaining global alliances despite political turbulence.

Have a question that you'd like us to consider for a future episode of Command Post? Send an email to [email protected]. Please include your name, how to say it and where you're located.

Tim Miller and Andrew Egger give their takes on why Democrats may actually be winning the fight over DHS and ICE funding, even as critics on both the left and right accuse Democratic leadership of weakness. With a partial government shutdown looming, Democrats managed to fund the rest of the government while isolating DHS, forcing Republicans to defend some of ICE?s most unpopular and constitutionally questionable practices.

Sam Stein, JVL, and Semafor's Max Tani react to the Washington Post laying off roughly one-third of its newsroom staff, cutting entire desks, and shutting down major areas of coverage?including foreign bureaus during an active war. They break down what happened, who made the decisions, and why this collapse didn?t have to happen.

Tim Miller and Sam Stein give their takes on Donald Trump?s explosive White House press conference, where he lashed out at CNN?s Kaitlan Collins, dismissed questions about the Epstein files, and once again showed how comfortable he is attacking female reporters. They explain why Trump?s treatment of Collins was especially revealing, how it fits his long-standing pattern of defending powerful men accused of abuse, and why the press corps? failure to step in matters more than people realize.

They also break down Speaker Mike Johnson openly casting doubt on the legitimacy of U.S. elections while admitting he has no evidence of fraud. Tim and Sam explain why Johnson?s comments are not a slip or rhetorical excess, but a deliberate signal and why the real threat may come on the back end of the election, through stalling, lawsuits, and refusal to seat members.

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Sam Stein gives his take on the good news out of Congress. After years of inexplicable delays, political dysfunction, and gut-wrenching defeats, the Give Kids a Chance Act has finally passed and is set to become law. The bipartisan bill will expand pediatric cancer research by allowing the FDA to study combination drug therapies, opening new funding streams, and cutting bureaucratic red tape that has long slowed progress for kids with cancer. Sam walks through how this widely supported legislation was repeatedly sidelined, including Elon Musk?s intervention, Senate procedural roadblocks, and last-minute objections that left families and advocates devastated.

In the New Year, take ownership of your health with ZocDoc, at https://ZocDoc.com/BULWARKTAKES.

Read Sam's article about the pediatric cancer bill: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/pediatric-cancer-bill-elon-rand-bernie-mikaela-naylon

Tim Miller, Sam Stein, and Will Sommer give their takes on the latest wave of Trumpworld absurdity, as the 2020 election conspiracy crowd suddenly snaps back into focus after an FBI raid in Fulton County, Georgia. They unpack Trump promoting a conspiracy about Italian satellites, the apparent sidelining of Ed Martin, the expose on Rep. Nancy Mace that includes late-night tequila runs and Reddit vanity projects, and Florida long-shot gubernatorial candidate James Fishback deciding to join Tinder to meet ?young female voters.?

In the New Year, take ownership of your health with ZocDoc, at https://ZocDoc.com/BULWARKTAKES.

JVL and Sonny Bunch give their takes on Trump?s sudden decision to shut down the Kennedy Center for two years after politicizing it, slapping his name on it, and driving ticket sales to historic lows. They break down how an iconic, nonpartisan arts institution ended up with pandemic-level attendance, why artists and audiences fled, and how a pathetic vanity project backfired spectacularly.

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Sam Stein and Jonathan Cohn give their takes on the alarming return of measles in the United States. The disease is spreading again, with major outbreaks in South Carolina and hundreds of cases appearing nationwide. They break down why falling vaccination rates are driving this preventable crisis, how government leaders are downplaying the threat, and why vaccine skepticism has become a badge of honor on the right, from RFK Jr.?s influence at HHS to Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo?s push to end vaccine mandates altogether.

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Will Saletan takes on Todd Blanche?s Sunday show appearances, where Trump?s former lawyer?now running the Justice Department?defends mass deportations, self-issued warrants, foreign money flowing to Trump, and openly political prosecutions, despite promising the Senate none of this would happen.

Sam Stein and Sarah Longwell discuss Epstein releases and other news.

Tim Miller and Sarah Longwell react to the ?Greater Than? ad campaign, a polished rebrand of the push to roll back gay marriage. They watch the ads, break down the claims about children and families, and explain why the argument doesn?t hold up?factually, morally, or politically.

Sonny Bunch saw "Melania" so you don?t have to and it?s no surprise that it?s not good. Sonny is joined by JVL to give their takes on why the movie makes no sense as a business proposition, Donald Trump?s central role in shaping its purpose, and the decision to put the project in the hands of Brett Ratner, a director exiled from Hollywood after multiple sexual misconduct allegations, as part of his attempted comeback.

Tim Miller and Sam Stein give their takes on the explosive revelations from the recently released Epstein files. They delve into the disturbing connections of high-profile figures, including Howard Lutnick and Elon Musk, Bondi's lack of involvement in today's presser, and what the latest docs dump says about Trump?s relationship with Epstein.

Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller listen to a rare focus group of 14 law enforcement officers, Trump-voting and Harris-voting, to get honest reactions to ICE?s actions in Minneapolis. Hear more on "The Focus Group" on Saturday morning.

Sam Stein is joined by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) for his take on the rapidly unfolding government shutdown fight and why Democrats are willing to shut down the Department of Homeland Security unless Congress passes real, binding limits on ICE and CBP. Coons explains why Democrats agreed to a short-term DHS extension, what specific statutory reforms they?re demanding, and how Trump?s governing chaos is reverberating beyond U.S. borders.

Sam Stein, Sarah Longwell and Catherine Rampell are LIVE discussing Don Lemon's arrest related to a Minneapolis church protest and Trump tapping Kevin Warsh as the new Fed chair.

Sarah Longwell joins Nicolle Wallace on Deadline: White House, explaining why the Minneapolis shootings?and the Alex Pretti video in particular?have shifted public opinion.

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

JVL is joined by journalist and civil liberties expert Radley Balko for his take on the why the federal response in Minneapolis fundamentally different and far more dangerous than a typical police shooting. Balko explains why this isn?t just a case of bad officers or poor judgment, but a breakdown at the institutional level, where DHS and ICE no longer even pretend to care about legitimacy and may be beyond reform.

Read more from Radley Balko: https://radleybalko.substack.com/

Tim Miller and Sam Stein give their takes on Trump?s latest Cabinet meeting where he dodged questions, ignored controversial Cabinet members, and declared that housing prices should go up as he tried to tout affordability.

Save the date for our 2026 live tour which we will kick off on February 19 to be with our friends in the Twin Cities. Sarah, JVL, Tim, and Sam will be there and then we will head to the Lone Star State for a one-night show in Dallas on March 18 and one in Austin on March 19. Minnesota tickets will go on sale this Friday and both Texas shows will go on sale next week.

Watch your inbox and https://TheBulwark.com/events for more.

Tim Miller and Andrew Egger give their takes on the FBI?s raid of a Georgia elections office on Wednesday as Donald Trump revives ?Stop the Steal? six years after losing the 2020 election.Tim and Andrew break down how it escalates Trump?s long-running election conspiracy into federal law enforcement action, why it looks like a dry run ahead of the midterms, and why Tulsi Gabbard was at the raid.

Save the date for our 2026 live tour which we will kick off on February 19 to be with our friends in the Twin Cities. Sarah, JVL, and Tim will be there and then we will head to the Lone Star State for a one-night show in Dallas on March 18 and one in Austin on March 19. Minnesota tickets will go on sale this Friday and both Texas shows will go on sale next week.

Watch your inbox and https://TheBulwark.com/events for more.

In this edition of Command Post, Bill Kristol and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) give their takes on the federal agents in Minneapolis following the killing of Alex Pretti, explain the dangers of militarizing U.S. cities, and what NATO allies are doing in the Arctic.

Have a question that you'd like us to consider for a future episode of Command Post? Send an email to [email protected]. Please include your name, how to pronounce it and where you're located.

Tim Miller joined Piers Morgan to give his take on Alex Pretti's murder by federal officers in Minneapolis and called out panelists defending state violence, while breaking down what real courage and real masculinity looks like.

Watch the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgHftUYA9rQ

Andrew Egger and Will Saletan give their takes on the attack at an Ilhan Omar town hall in Minnesota, where a man rushed the podium and sprayed her with an unknown substance before being arrested. Donald Trump?s response was to dismiss the attack and blame Omar. Andrew and Will break down the Republican reactions to the attack, including Rep. Randy Fine?s attempt to condemn the violence while justifying it, and what it says about the state of American politics.

Sam Stein and Will Sommer give their takes on the right wing media fallout from the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis after the White House quietly tried to distance themselves from Greg Bovino. Megyn Kelly was grossly indifferent and didn't "feel sorry" about Pretti's death while Tim Pool remains unapologetic and is pushing for the crackdowns to continue.

Adrian Carrasquillo spent several days on the ground in Minneapolis as immigration operations intensified across the city. Drawing on firsthand reporting and eyewitness testimony, the conversation documents how immigration enforcement tactics have reshaped daily life for residents, workers, and small business owners.

Segundo Balboa, co-owner of Galapagos Bar & Grill: A small-business describes ICE arriving in December, families becoming afraid to leave their homes, and neighborhood commerce collapsing as fear spread. He explains the impossible choice between staying safe and continuing to work to pay bills.

Carolina Ortiz, associate executive director of Communities Organizing Latine Power and Action (COPAL): A community organizer and on-the-ground responder, who provides detailed eyewitness accounts of ICE tactics across Minneapolis?agents positioned on nearly every block, unmarked vehicles, covered faces, and arrests carried out through intimidation.

Daniel Hernandez, owner of Colonial Market & Restaurant: He explains sales dropping by nearly 90 percent, the loss of the holiday season, and his efforts to support families through food delivery, recovery of impounded vehicles, and coordination with city officials to keep aid inside the community.

These interviews show how immigration policy is playing out in real time: fear as a tool, force as a default, and an entire community caught in the middle.

Read more about Adrian's experience in Minneapolis:

Portraits of the Minneapolis Resistance: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/portraits-of-the-minneapolis-resistance-dhs-cbp-ice-protests-minnesota

24 Hours Alongside an ICE Protester in Minneapolis: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/24-hours-alongside-an-ice-protester-minneapolis

The Trump White House says Americans can eat healthy meals for about $3 a serving. To test that claim, Jared Poland tried living on the administration?s guidance for three days. He also speaks with Colleen Heflin, a professor at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University who studies food and nutrition policy and social welfare policy.

Tim Miller takes on the Trump administration?s effort to defuse outrage over Minneapolis with PR tweaks and cosmetic changes, arguing that softer language and shuffled personnel don?t address the abuse of power.

Tim Miller is joined by New York magazine Washington correspondent Ben Terris to talk about his reporting on Trump?s health and the increasingly surreal way the White House talks about it. From mysterious MRIs and constantly bruised hands to doctors reading from talking points and Stephen Miller insisting Trump is ?superhuman,? Tim and Ben dive into what we actually know about the president?s health versus what his inner circle wants us to believe.

Sam Stein and Andrew Egger give their takes on the fallout from the White House after top officials like Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, and Greg Bovino called Alex Pretti a ?would?be assassin? and ?domestic terrorist? in the minutes after federal agents shot and killed him in Minneapolis even as video evidence and witness accounts contradicted them. As the Trump team scrambles to change the narrative, Bovino has been moved out of his Minneapolis role.

Fresh off MSNOW's The Weekend with Catherine Rampell, Sarah Longwell explains why the killing of Alex Pretti is breaking through with voters?and why government lies and Second Amendment hypocrisy aren?t holding up.

Watch The Weekend on MSNOW: https://www.ms.now/the-weekend

Will Saletan gives his take on why Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem cannot be trusted to oversee the investigation into her own department. In just three weeks, ICE and Border Patrol agents killed two Americans. In both cases, Noem publicly described the victims as violent ?domestic terrorists.? And in both cases, video evidence flatly contradicts her claims.

Sam Stein speaks with Dr. Aasma Shaukat, Alex Pretti?s former boss, about the moment she learned he?d been killed, and what kind of coworker and caregiver he was.

Sam Stein, The Bulwark's managing editor, takes on Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovino?s Orwellian inversion of reality in the aftermath of the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and intensive care nurse. Sam digs into Bovino?s Sunday interview with CNN?s Dana Bash, where Bovino reframes the victim as the aggressor and dismisses what videos of the killing show.