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The Bulwark

The Bulwark is home to Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, Bill Kristol, JVL, Sam Stein, Catherine Rampell and more. We are the largest pro-democracy bundle on Substack for news and analysis on politics and culture—supported by a community built on good faith.

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  • September 4 · 49 min

    A Witness to Film History

    This week I’m joined by Godfrey Cheshire to discuss his new book, Cheshire on Film: Life & Writings. Cheshire is a longtime critic—in addition to writing for Variety and RogerEbert.com, among many other outlets, his stint at the New York Press with Matt Zoller Seitz and Armond White was a legendary run during the golden age of the alt-weeklies and was recently collected in The Press Gang—and his new book highlights a number of his seminal pieces, including interviews with David Lynch and Charlton Heston. But it also functions as a memoir of sorts, a remembrance of a vibrant time in film and film writing that is hard to imagine today. And it serves as a crash course on Iranian and Chinese cinema for those who need one. This is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the world of cinema. You can check out Cheshire’s Substack here. If you’re in North Carolina on September 9, Cheshire will be at the Rialto hosting a Q&A and signing books. And New York City residents should make sure to check out Cheshire’s appearance at the IFC Film Center with filmmaker (and Bill and Ted costar) Alex Winter on Monday, September 21. If you make it out there for either of these shows, please say hi from The Bulwark! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebulwark.com/subscribe

  • September 3 · 8 min

    Trump Is BEGGING Ken Paxton to Fix His Look

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Donald Trump wants Ken Paxton in the Senate, but he really wishes Paxton would do something about those ugly outfits. Trump has repeatedly praised Paxton as a loyal ally while taking bizarrely personal shots at his clothes, his appearance, and his interviews.Joe Perticone and Sonny Bunch give their takes on Trump’s obsession with how people look, the president’s apparent role as America’s new fashion police, and the truly questionable Ken Paxton fit that started it all. We examine the oversized shoes, the golf polo, the $40,000 watch, and why Joe thinks Paxton may have gone straight from the golf course to the campaign trail.

  • September 3 · 5 min

    Even Fox News Won’t Hide the Truth About Trump’s Grotesque Oil Deal

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Will Saletan takes on Trump’s Venezuela oil deal, as the president openly brags that Venezuelan oil has already paid for the war “many times over” and Republicans argue that U.S. oil companies deserve benefits for the next 100 years. Saletan follows the money—and shows how the administration is putting oil profits ahead of the free elections it once promised.Read Will’s article: Trump Is Keeping Venezuela’s Dictatorship in Business A quick note: This is the kind of work Bulwark membership makes possible: not chasing the daily outrage, but giving Will Saletan the space to build a comprehensive case from beginning to end, show you the evidence, and explain exactly how all the pieces fit together. If you appreciate this kind of content, please become a paid member.

  • September 3 · 5 min

    Jonathan V. Last: How Much Stupid Can We Possibly Take?

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Thom Tillis was the pivotal vote to confirm a buffoon to run the Department of Defense, and now he’s shocked about Hegseth’s incompetency. JD wants everyone to know he’s a Catholic now, but he doesn’t seem to have absorbed even the basic teachings of Catholicism. And Susan Collins claims she has influence with her Senate colleagues over Trump’s agenda—even though on almost every occasion she has made sure that her vote won’t matter. Meanwhile, Trump did a coup in Venezuela with an associate of Jeffrey Epstein. Plus: Tim reads from the mailbag, Trump is repulsed by Ken Paxton, the Antichrist might be walking amongst us, and what would happen if armed, leftwing activists created a sanctuary space in Ohio to protect Haitian immigrants? JVL joins Tim Miller. show notes: * JVL’s ‘Triad’ on the illegal Venezuelan oil deal * Tim’s ‘Take’ with MAGA pollster Rich Baris * Pulitzer-winning reporting by “Pablo Torre Finds Out” on the Clippers * Tim’s interview with Ruby Cramer on MAHA * Here’s how you can help the city of Springfield and its Haitian Community: * Support the Haitian Community Help & Support Center, St. Vincent de Paul, and Second Harvest Food Bank Bulwark LIVE: GOOD FIGHT TOUR with Tim, Sarah, Sam and JVL is coming to the Southeast in October. Tickets are on sale NOW. Head to TheBulwark.com/Events for details and to get your tickets. As always: Watch, listen, hit the like button or leave a comment. We want to hear from you. Ad-free editions of The Bulwark Daily are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Tim Miller’s Bulwark Daily is available wherever you get podcasts and on YouTube. New shows drop each weekday afternoon. If you like the show, leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐ wherever you listen. Add The Bulwark Daily to your player of choice, here.

  • September 3 · 20 min

    John Roberts Sounded the Alarm on Trump’s Illegal Ballroom (w/ George Conway)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sarah Longwell and George Conway discuss Trump’s attempt to overhaul mail-in voting before the midterms—and why Conway thinks the administration’s chaotic new USPS system is likely to lose when it gets back to the Supreme Court. They also cover SCOTUS letting Trump continue construction on his ballroom, the possibility that Democrats could stop the project in January, and the Epstein questions that still aren’t getting enough attention. The legal fights are moving fast, and The Illegal News is here to separate the genuinely alarming developments from the scary headlines that don’t tell the whole story. Become a Bulwark member to support more conversations that give you the context—and the lawyers—to know the difference. Bulwark LIVE: GOOD FIGHT TOUR with Tim, Sarah, Sam and JVL is coming to the Southeast in October. Tickets go on sale August 21 at 10am in the East. Head to TheBulwark.com/Events for details and to get your tickets. How to Eat An Elephant is coming! Sarah’s debut book is out September 8 and she is hitting the road in September with stops in New York City, Boston, LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and Kenyon College. She’ll be in DC with Kara Swisher September 3. All the event details and links to secure tickets are here. Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Full ad-supported episodes of The Focus Group are available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Hit that like 🤍 button and share this episode with a friend. Ad-free editions like this one are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members on the site, the Bulwark App, via your member-only RSS feeds, and the Substack mobile and TV Apps. Upgrade now to listen without ads and to join the community in the comments. Ad-free editions like this one are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members on the site, the Bulwark App, via your member-only RSS feeds, and the Substack mobile and TV Apps. Upgrade now to listen without ads and to join the community in the comments.

  • September 3 · 5 min

    Trump’s Election Crackdown Has a Problem: Voters Are Fighting Back

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller joins Nicolle Wallace to discuss why the Republican Party can see Trump dragging it toward a midterm disaster but still can’t bring itself to break away. They also discuss the horrifying death of a young Haitian immigrant targeted by Trump’s deportation crackdown and the administration’s escalating efforts to interfere with voting—moves Tim argues could spark a backlash of their own. Watch Deadline: White House on MS NOW: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-houseRead more about Protect Democracy: https://protectdemocracy.org/how-you-can-protect-democracy/

  • September 2 · 9 min

    MAGA Pollster Thinks Texas, Ohio and Even KANSAS Could Turn Blue (w/ Rich Baris)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com MAGA pollster Rich Baris joins Tim Miller to explain why Republicans may be underestimating just how competitive the 2026 Senate map could become. Baris says that Michigan and Georgia are effectively locks for Democrats Abdul El-Sayed and Jon Ossoff. He also sees Democratic opportunities in states Republicans have long considered safe—including Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, Texas, and Ohio.Tim and Rich also talk about why Republican messaging about “socialism” is missing the point. Voters are far more worried about the cost of living, paying their bills, and affording everyday life than they are about scary ideological labels. Rich says it's clear that Trump is betraying the coalition that put him back in the White House. The war, affordability, immigration, and social-media trolling are all alienating voters who once found his approach entertaining and effective.

  • September 2 · 16 min

    Ex-CIA Officer: Scott Bessent Just Gave Putin One Hell of a Talking Point (w/ Marc Polymeropoulos)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos give their takes on Russia’s attempted attacks in Germany, the growing threat of Russian hybrid warfare across Europe, and why Germany’s muted response could invite even more aggression. They also dig into the extraordinary contradiction at the heart of U.S. policy: American intelligence is helping Ukraine fight Russia while the Trump administration cozies up to Putin and welcomes Russia back onto the world stage.Plus, Sam and Marc take a closer look at the Trump administration’s strange new Venezuela oil deal, the questions it raises about American power and influence, and the increasingly uncomfortable gap between the GOP’s rhetoric about socialism and what the administration is actually doing.And there’s big news from The Bulwark: Marc and investigative journalist Michael Weiss are launching a brand-new podcast, Reporter and the Spy. The show will explore the fascinating intersection of journalism and espionage, drawing on their firsthand experience reporting from and operating in the world’s most dangerous places. Subscribe to The Bulwark so you don’t miss Reporter and the Spy when it launches this fall. If you value independent reporting, sharp analysis, and people who actually know what they’re talking about, become a subscriber today.

  • September 2 · 17 min

    Michael Weiss: The Clown Car at the Pentagon

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com The Army is currently operating without any Senate-confirmed civilian or military leaders at the top. For Navy secretary, Trump is nominating an election-denying veteran who thinks witches and Wiccans are taking over cities. And when Hegseth is not busy purging the DOD’s leadership, he seems to be under the spell of a Rasputin-like character who failed a polygraph and may have taken the supposedly sober defense secretary out for a bender. Meanwhile, Don Jr. got another Pentagon contract, and the administration keeps ignoring the fact that Russia is helping Iran try to kill American soldiers and sailors.Plus: Tim today launched a new series featuring a younger generation of Democratic operatives who are working hard to win the midterms. First up is Biden White House alum Rodericka Applewhaite.New Bulwark pod host Michael Weiss and Rodericka Applewhaite join Tim Miller. show notes: * Tim’s candidate recs (which will be updated soon!) * The Atlantic on Trump being surprised about all the top officers being fired * ProPublica on Don, Jr.’s Pentagon drone contract Bulwark LIVE: GOOD FIGHT TOUR with Tim, Sarah, Sam and JVL is coming to the Southeast in October. Tickets are on sale NOW. Head to TheBulwark.com/Events for details and to get your tickets. As always: Watch, listen, hit the like button or leave a comment. We want to hear from you. Ad-free editions of The Bulwark Daily are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Tim Miller’s Bulwark Daily is available wherever you get podcasts and on YouTube. New shows drop each weekday afternoon. If you like the show, leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐ wherever you listen. Add The Bulwark Daily to your player of choice, here.

  • September 2 · 50 sec

    Follow the Receipts

    Everyone has a take on the economy. Catherine Rampell has the receipts. After getting its start on Bulwark Takes, Receipts is becoming a show of its own—launching September 18 here on our site, Substack, YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Ad-free and member-only editions will be exclusively available for Bulwark+ members on Substack and YouTube. On Receipts, Catherine follows the money, challenges conventional wisdom, and digs into the data behind the biggest economic and political stories of the moment. From tariffs and grocery prices to housing, corruption, and the policies shaping your financial future, she explains what’s actually happening, who’s responsible, and what it means for you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebulwark.com/subscribe

  • September 2 · 7 min

    Command Post: Hegseth’s Generals Gave Him a Dire Warning About the Iran War

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com The USS Abraham Lincoln finally returns to port after nearly 300 days at sea—and the visible wear and tear is a stark reminder of the strain being placed on the U.S. military. Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) discuss the Navy’s mounting readiness challenges, the Pentagon’s purge of senior Army leaders, and the departure of Army Secretary Dan …

  • September 2 · 3 min

    What We Did to This 20-Year-Old Is Unforgivable

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com A 20-year-old Haitian college student, Pierre Damas Bel, came to America to study, play soccer, serve in JROTC, and pursue a career in medicine. Instead, he was placed with an ankle monitor, bullied and humiliated by classmates, and made to feel like a criminal despite having committed no crime.Tim Miller and Sam Stein discuss Pierre’s tragic death, the human cost of Trump’s immigration crackdown, and the cruelty being inflicted on Haitian immigrants by Trump and JD Vance.Tim and JVL on JD Vance's book: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/a-dramatic-reading-of-jd-vances-awful We’ll be honest—stories about the human cost of this administration’s policies are devastating. But they matter, and paid Bulwark members give us the freedom to cover them anyway—without having to let the algorithm decide which stories deserve attention. Join us and help make that important work possible.

  • September 1 · 4 min

    This Story Has Democratic Insiders Going NUTS

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Lauren Egan give their takes on the behind-the-scenes scramble for campaign staff, the Democrats already courting operatives in early primary states, and why South Carolina is suddenly such a crucial piece of the 2028 puzzle. They also debate just how massive the Democratic field could get and where the next presidential campaigns may set up shop. Read more here: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/2028-democratic-presidential-primary-is-quietly-raging-staffers A quick note: Lauren’s reporting in The Opposition is already being passed around the group chats of campaign staffers, operatives, and political pros trying to figure out what’s coming next. If you want to read the same reporting insiders are reading, sign up and get The Opposition in your inbox: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/2028-democratic-presidential-primary-is-quietly-raging-staffers

  • September 1 · 6 min

    Ken Paxton Is Running One of the Worst Campaigns in America

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim, Sarah, and JVL discuss the U.S. Supreme Court letting Trump’s ballroom go ahead (for now), why JVL thinks John Roberts is the Susan Collins of the Supreme Court, and whether Sarah is warming up to tearing down the ballroom in 2029. Plus: Trump says Kristen Welker should be punished for pointing out that his endorsed candidates are losing more often, and JVL wonders whether Republicans will have to be an anti-Canada party now. Later: The gang discusses Bari Weiss’s kinda racist headline about Abdul El-Sayed’s past tweets, why elected Republicans around the country (but especially Ken Paxton) are feeling depressed about their midterm prospects, and an absolutely wild story about a Florida congressional candidates in today’s Morning Shots. If you have pre-ordered Sarah’s book (THANK YOU!) and want a signed bookplate for your copy of How To Eat an Elephant, fill out this online form. Sarah has been signing bookplates all summer and wants to make sure this Bulwark community gets first dibs. St. Martin’s Press will send out bookplates after the book is published on September 8, free of charge. Supplies are limited. Show links: Read JVL’s Triad Read Andrew Egger’s Morning Shots * Get your tickets for The Bulwark's Good Fight Tour this October, coming to Charlotte, Columbia, and Atlanta. * Sarah's How to Eat an Elephant book tour kicks off this week! Last chance for tickets to her D.C book talk with Kara Swisher and NYC show with JVL at 92NY. Watch, listen, and leave a comment. This ad-free video version of The Next Level is exclusively for Bulwark+ members.

  • September 1 · 9 min

    Ruby Cramer: The Power of MAHA

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Vaccine skepticism and distrust of pharmaceutical companies long predated RFK, Jr.’s 2024 presidential campaign. But the distrust of mainstream medical authority has now grown so deep that the United States can no longer contain the spread of measles. The country’s measles-vaccination rates have dropped below the threshold for herd immunity. Obviously, Trump’s misleading vax ruminations from the Oval Office have not helped the matter. The New Yorker’s Ruby Cramer discusses her reporting on one family’s frightening medical experience after one parent fell down the MAHA rabbit hole. Plus: The administration has given Big Ag a pass, Democrats should try recapturing health-conscious voters, the overlooked case of an American shot by immigration thugs, and the surprising backstory of Kari Lake becoming ambassador to Jamaica.Ruby Cramer joins Tim Miller. show notes: * “The Next Level” pod will be out later today * Ruby’s New Yorker piece, “The MAHA Custody Battle” * Ruby’s reporting on the preschool worker who was shot by Border Patrol * Ruby on the DNC’s Ken Martin * Eddington, the film Ruby referenced and Sonny recommends Bulwark LIVE: GOOD FIGHT TOUR with Tim, Sarah, Sam and JVL is coming to the Southeast in October. Tickets are on sale NOW. Head to TheBulwark.com/Events for details and to get your tickets. As always: Watch, listen, hit the like button or leave a comment. We want to hear from you. Ad-free editions of The Bulwark Daily are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Tim Miller’s Bulwark Daily is available wherever you get podcasts and on YouTube. New shows drop each weekday afternoon. If you like the show, leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐ wherever you listen. Add The Bulwark Daily to your player of choice, here.

  • September 1 · 9 min

    Morning Shots Live: Army Secretary Resigns After Warning Trump About Hegseth

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Andrew Egger has uncovered one of the strangest congressional candidate stories you’ll hear all year: a woman facing federal fraud charges in Illinois appears to have resurfaced as a different candidate in Florida and denied being the same person. Plus, Dan Driscoll’s stunning resignation exposes the deepening chaos at the Pentagon, Bill Kristol explains…

  • September 1 · 11 min

    JD Vance’s Latest Speech Sends Tim Miller Over the Edge

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller and a secret guest take on JD Vance’s disastrous trip to Michigan, from his awkward attempt to defend Trump’s deeply unpopular data-center push to an astonishing 9/11 gaffe and an ugly attack on Abdul El-Sayed’s Muslim faith. Tim breaks down the hypocrisy behind Vance’s “populist” persona—and eventually, he blows his lid. If you value having an outlet that can call out this kind of garbage without pulling punches, become a Bulwark member. Your support helps us keep making videos like this every day.

  • August 31 · 4 min

    The President Is Posting Fake Bombings and Threatening Allies

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Donald Trump is posting AI-generated war footage, threatening Canada, spreading dangerous vaccine misinformation, and flooding Truth Social with bizarre content—and Andrew Egger and Catherine Rampell are trying to make sense of it all.From the fake footage showing U.S. strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island to Trump’s bizarre AI videos about Canada, the president’s latest posting binge raises a bigger question: Does Trump know what’s real anymore? And when the president’s information diet is increasingly filled with AI slop designed to flatter his worldview, the consequences go far beyond embarrassing social media posts.Fall Show Tickets: thebulwark.com/events We’re not just cataloguing the latest insane Trump posts, but figuring out what it tells us about the people making decisions in the White House and the political consequences that follow. If you value that kind of independent analysis, becoming a Bulwark member helps us keep doing more of it.

  • August 31 · 7 min

    Trump Took the Bait and Walked Straight Into the Data Center Backlash (with Bill Kristol)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Trump’s war is far from over, top military leaders are warning Hegseth that prolonged ops in the region are unsustainable, and Americans have been financing Pentagon propagandists who’ve been secretly collecting taxpayer money to try to convince us that things are going great in Iran. This is not the time for congressional Democrats to allow Republicans to easily pass a spending resolution that keeps the government open. At the same time, Trump keeps handing gifts to Democrats—like his sell-out to tech oligarchs and his praise of data centers. Plus: The Venezuelan oil deal is a socialist PR stunt, vile Laura Loomer is trying to bring back the normalization of Islamaphobia, Massachusetts voters should recall the risks of sending an 80-year-old back to the Senate, and Marco really is the worst Cabinet member of all Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes: * Monday’s “Morning Shots” * Will Sommer on the taxpayer-supported Pentagon troll army * The Post on the Pentagon propagandists collecting taxpayer money * The WaPo on military leaders warning Hegseth against extended Iran operations * Sam on last week’s show with Tim * Sam and Ben on Trump’s new threats to press freedom * Military Times on the damage done to the U.S. base in Bahrain Bulwark LIVE: GOOD FIGHT TOUR with Tim, Sarah, Sam and JVL is coming to the Southeast in October. Tickets are on sale NOW. Head to TheBulwark.com/Events for details and to get your tickets. As always: Watch, listen, hit the like button or leave a comment. We want to hear from you. Ad-free editions of The Bulwark Daily are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Tim Miller’s Bulwark Daily is available wherever you get podcasts and on YouTube. New shows drop each weekday afternoon. If you like the show, leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐ wherever you listen. Add The Bulwark Daily to your player of choice, here.

  • August 31 · 12 min

    MAGA Mondays: MAGA Influencers Secretly Working for the Pentagon

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Will Sommer went live to cover the Pentagon’s secret army of MAGA influencers, including the government employees allegedly working behind anonymous accounts to attack Pete Hegseth’s critics and target the left. Next, Milo Yiannopoulos has been deported. Watch the video to see Will break down the spectacular feud between Milo and Laura Loo…

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