September 11 · 25 min
TB
The Bulwark
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.
www.thebulwark.com
www.thebulwark.com
- 179 episodes
- Avg 13 min
- English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
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September 10 · 4 minSarah Longwell and Pedro Gonzalez: Meet the Young MAGA Edgelords—and the One Who Got Away
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com As Sarah explains in her new book, Trump has been so successful teaching a new generation of Republicans about the political value of vice signaling that Nazi talk and racism has become the norm among young MAGA edgelords. Disdain for women is also a key element. One former true believer, Pedro, says the right sees all of Trump's corruption and abuse of power as justified because he's focused on the country's true enemies: brown people, immigrants, and their white allies. And Vance buddying up to the racists shows that he is the real heir apparent to Trump. Plus, Tucker is not well, Trump keeps lying about handing out money, Pence can't seem to come to terms with how he enabled this moment we're in, and Pedro's anti-Tim tweets before his Road to Damascus moment.Sarah Longwell and Pedro Gonzalez join Tim Miller. show notes: * Sarah's book, "How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time" * Pedro's Substack * Pedro's piece in The Nation * The Bulwark, including Tim, live tonight on YouTube or Substack * Cormac McCarthy's "The Road," mentioned by Pedro Bulwark LIVE: Benefit for SpringfieldSome moments require you to step up. Some require you to show up. That’s why The Bulwark is coming to Ohio. Join Tim, Sarah, JVL, Sam and friends Friday, September 25 at the Dayton Masonic Center for an evening of politics and fellowship. All profits from this event will be donated to those in Springfield who are in need. 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.
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September 10 · 7 minTrump Wants to Take the Guardrails Off AI. What Could Go Wrong?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Catherine Rampell and Andrew Egger take on the increasingly hard-to-dismiss warnings about superintelligent AI, after an Anthropic researcher quit over fears that the technology could eventually threaten humanity. They ask whether anyone can actually control increasingly powerful AI, whether the Trump administration is making the problem worse, and why Washington seems so unprepared for what may be coming. Plus: Hunter Biden launches a meme coin—and it goes about as well as you’d expect.Read Andrew's Morning Shots newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/our-orange-napoleon-wants-a-big-arch-arlington-memorial-trump-burgum-ai-openai-anthropic-extinction-risk-911-september-11-canada-trade-warJeff Stein — “Sam Altman Privately Rejected Giving OpenAI Shares to the Government”: https://washingtonsun.com/technology/sam-altman-privately-rejected-open-ai-government-equity
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September 10 · 6 minMAGA Thursdays: Laura Loomer Is Picking Fights at Trump’s MAGA Convention
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Will Sommer and Sam Stein went live for a special Thursday edition of MAGA Mondays. They give their takes on the fallout from Trump’s marathon RNC midterm convention speech, including his bizarre promise to give every American adult a $5,000 “dividend” if Republicans win the midterms. The proposed payout could cost more than $1 trillion, and even some M…
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September 10 · 18 minSarah Longwell's Message for Everyone Who Thinks We’re Doomed (w/ Andrew Weissmann)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Andrew Weissmann turns the tables on Sarah Longwell for a conversation about her new book, How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time—and what a post-Trump political future could look like. They get into Trump’s unusual hold on his voters, the right-wing media ecosystem, why Democrats too often let polls dictate what they believe, and what years of listening to voters have taught Sarah about how to build a pro-democracy coalition that can actually win. How to Eat An Elephant is here! Get your own copy today and help unseat Ted Cruz from the NY Times Best Sellers list. Just announced—Bulwark LIVE: Benefit for Springfield. Some moments require you to step up. Some require you to show up. That’s why The Bulwark is coming to Ohio on September 25 to raise awareness and funds for the Haitian community in Springfield. All profits from this event will be donated to those in Springfield who are in need. Join us Sept 25 at the Dayton Masonic Temple for a Benefit for Springfield. Bulwark LIVE: GOOD FIGHT TOUR with Tim, Sarah, Sam and JVL is coming to the Southeast in October 16-18 with stops in Columbia, Charlotte and Atlanta. Just announced: Pete Buttigieg will join the gang for our stop in Charlotte on October 18. Head to TheBulwark.com/Events for details and to get your tickets. Watch, listen, and leave a comment.
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September 10 · 22 minLive Coverage of Trump's Midterm Convention Speech
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com This is a long one, folks! If you’re not strong enough to endure Trump’s speech, skip to 2:07:00 for post-ordeal commentary. Join Sam Stein, Catherine Rampell, Will Sommer and Sonny Bunch for live coverage of Donald Trump's keynote address to the RNC's midterm convention. If you think Sam, Sonny, Catherine and Will deserve a little bit of compensation for their suffering, consider becoming a Bulwark+ member.
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September 9 · 8 minSteve Witkoff’s Groveling to Putin Was Painful to Watch (w/ Michael Weiss)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Michael Weiss take on Steve Witkoff’s groveling meeting with Vladimir Putin, the growing power struggle inside Trump’s administration over Russia, and why CIA Director John Ratcliffe is emerging as a counterweight to Witkoff’s approach. Plus, Weiss explains why the reality on the battlefield may be considerably worse for Putin than the conventional wisdom suggests. Related Links:Financial Times — US spy chief prepares for greater role in Russia-Ukraine talkshttps://www.ft.com/content/d0557d25-78b5-45d8-bb33-d655e859d803The Wall Street Journal — How Putin Got His Preferred U.S. Envoy: Come Alone, No CIAhttps://www.wsj.com/world/putin-witkoff-russia-envoy-04da229d
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September 9 · 15 minJessica Tarlov: POTUS Needs Some Moral Support
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com With Republicans in tight races stripping Trump’s name off their campaign websites, the president is in need of some love from Republicans he has summoned to Dallas to celebrate him. The fake convention also conveniently serves as a distraction from the surging price of oil. Plus: Vance may be the source who’s leaking about the missile depletions, Fox is giving more leeway for criticism of Trump, anti-Muslim hysteria is driving the complaints about Mamdani attending the 9/11 memorial in NYC, and Jessica from “The Five” has what she’s calling a “survival manual” for how to talk about politics with your MAGA friends and family members. Also, Tim is furious about the lack of media attention on Maryam Tahmasebi and her family, who are being imprisoned because of their bloodline. Jessica Tarlov joins Tim Miller. show notes: * Jessica’s new book, “I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends” * Tim’s piece on the green card-holding family Marco Rubio is imprisoning * NYT on the newly-released 9/11 documents Some moments require you to step up. Some require you to show up. That’s why The Bulwark is coming to Ohio. Join Tim, Sarah, JVL, Sam and friends Friday, September 25 at the Dayton Masonic Center for an evening of politics and fellowship. All profits from this event will be donated to those in Springfield who are in need. 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.
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September 9 · 19 minCommand Post: More Iran Attacks, Oil Problems Worsen, Tanker-for-Tanker Strategy
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) look back at 9/11, Trump’s bizarre remarks at a commemoration, and the lessons Hertling wishes America had learned over the last 25 years. Then they turn to the escalating Iran war, attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, Pete Hegseth’s sidelining of Gen. Christopher Donahue, and the Pentagon’s effort to identify and remove transgender service members through their medical records. Links:Mark Hertling: “A Letter to Myself on 9/11” The New York Times: “Inside the Battle to Save One Pioneering General From Hegseth’s Purge” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/us/politics/hegseth-army-general-donahue.htmlFederal News Network: “Pentagon searching medical records to identify transgender troops” https://federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-main/2026/09/pentagon-searching-medical-records-to-identify-transgender-troops/Military.com: “Pentagon Moves Out on Transgender Ban After Supreme Court Ruling” https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/05/09/about-1000-troops-slated-immediate-separation-under-reinstated-transgender-ban.html
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September 9 · 8 minTrump’s Big Midterm Convention Is Already Looking Like a Flop
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Will Sommer preview Trump’s strangely low-energy midterm convention, where Republicans are skipping town, lawmakers are being asked to cough up $25,000, and even the convention website has become an embarrassment. Plus, they discuss the increasingly bizarre campaign attacks coming from Elon Musk’s PAC and Ken Paxton—and what they say about the GOP’s plan for 2026. A quick note: The Bulwark will be watching the convention so you don’t have to—including live coverage when Vance and Trump take the stage. Join us as a member to support more of the reporting, analysis, and ridicule that goes into making sense of this stuff.
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September 8 · 9 minTrump’s Imaginary Presidency Is Going Just Great
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim, Sarah, and JVL discuss Trump's Labor Day Weekend with his favorite person, Corey Lewandowski's possible ‘light extortion,’ and whether Trumpworld will circle the wagons around him. Plus: why the GOP's midterm convention shows Trump losing his fastball, ABC News's bizarre framing of Rudy Giuliani's Islamophobic comments about Zohran Mamdani, and John Fetterman's total lack of interest in doing the job of a U.S. senator. Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Show links: * Get your tickets for The Bulwark's Good Fight Tour this October, coming to Charlotte, Columbia, and Atlanta. Pete Buttigieg is joining us in Charlotte on October 18. * Get your copy of How to Eat an Elephant and help push Ted Effing Cruz out of the top spot on the NY Times Best Sellers list. This ad-free video version of The Next Level is exclusively for Bulwark+ members.
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September 8 · 9 minAdam Jentleson and Pablo Torre: This Country Is Being Scammed
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com From politics to sports, business, and tech, the rich are breaking the rules, looking out for their friends, and still getting rewarded in the end—maybe with the help of a little trip to the White House with a POTUS gift in hand. For the midterms and beyond, Adam is bullish in his new book about the Dems' prospects to win on a grand scale and pass the kind of policies that help regular people. Part of the trick is cooling it on the purity tests over fraught issues like Israel. And in this Trump era, when accountability is so scarce, Pablo shows with his Pulitzer-winning reporting on the LA Clippers that consequences are still possible. Plus: Trump fatigue seems to be settling in, Fetterman only cares about fighting with other Democrats, the NCAA doesn't like capitalism, and the WNBA may be on the cusp of a heyday. Adam Jentleson and Pablo Torre join Tim Miller. show notes: * Adam’s new book, “Supermajority: How Democrats Can Build Lasting Power” * Sarah’s book out today, “How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time” * Pulitzer-winning reporting by “Pablo Torre Finds Out” on the Clippers * Chris Murphy on the NCAA asking for an antitrust exemption on player salaries * Lane Kiffin’s halftime locker room speech on Saturday * Pablo's episode on Oz the Mentalist and his episode on Rony Seikaly COME HANG WITH THE GANG—Sarah, Tim, JVL, Sam and friends—during our Bulwark LIVE: Good Fight Tour this October 16-20: 🎤Friday, October 16 at The Senate in Columbia, S.C.—Will Sommer joins the gang on stage. Is Columbia ready for the Trio? 🎤Sunday, October 18 at the Carolina Theatre in Charlotte, N.C.—special guest Pete Buttigieg joins the gang with Catherine Rampell and Lauren Eagan. 🎤Tuesday, October 20 at The Eastern in Atlanta, Ga.—Gen. Mark Hertling and the Morning Shots duo—Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol—join the gang for this final stop.Tickets are on sale NOW through the links above or through TheBulwark.com/Events. At Bulwark LIVE we can promise you a night of fellowship and politics with lots of laughs—and maybe a few tears too. We’ll keep you sane. 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.
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September 8 · 21 minMorning Shots Live: Trump Spent the Weekend Posting Truly Unhinged Stuff
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol discuss Donald Trump’s increasingly erratic social media posts, his proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, and the GOP’s Trump-centered midterm convention in Dallas as the elections draw closer. They also consider the expanding Senate battlefield, looming Supreme Court decisions affecting voting, and what a possible wave election could mean for Republicans. Plus, we have huge news about the Bulwark’s Fall tour: Pete Buttigieg will be joining the gang for the Sunday, October 18 show in Charlotte, NC! Get your tickets at https://thebulwark.com/events. Like this video? You’ll love the Morning Shots newsletter
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September 7 · 16 minBill Kristol: Trump Is Turning a Bad Midterm Into a Republican Catastrophe
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com With just under two months until Election Day, Tim and Bill revisit the run-up to the midterms in 2006 and 1994, two major wave election cycles where the bottom just fell out from under the party in power. The 1994 blowout was more about the end of an era, while 2006 was about an unpopular war in the Middle East, a scandal, and a disappointed base. What do those wave elections suggest about the prospects for a big blue year in 2026? Plus: Do not miss either the war stories from Tim as a young Republican operative on the campaign trail or Clinton blaming Bill for helping to tank his health care reform plan. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller for a special holiday pod. show notes: * Tim in 2006 * Bill in "Morning Shots" with his Truman-related advice for the Dems COME HANG WITH THE GANG—Sarah, Tim, JVL, Sam and friends—during our Bulwark LIVE: Good Fight Tour this October 16-20: 🎤Friday, October 16 at The Senate in Columbia, S.C.—Will Sommer joins the gang on stage. Is Columbia ready for the Trio? 🎤Sunday, October 18 at the Carolina Theatre in Charlotte, N.C.—special guest Pete Buttigieg joins the gang with Catherine Rampell and Lauren Eagan. 🎤Tuesday, October 20 at The Eastern in Atlanta, Ga.—Gen. Mark Hertling and the Morning Shots duo—Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol—join the gang for this final stop. Tickets are on sale NOW through the links above or through TheBulwark.com/Events. At Bulwark LIVE we can promise you a night of fellowship and politics with lots of laughs—and maybe a few tears too. We’ll keep you sane. 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.
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September 6 · 8 minKash Patel’s Embarrassing Video Botches the Name of the FBI
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com A quick note: Joe’s reporting from Capitol Hill adds something you won’t get from the headlines—what vulnerable Republicans are actually saying and doing when Trump isn’t nearly as useful to them as he used to be. If you value that kind of reporting, become a Bulwark member and help us keep making more of it. Catherine Rampell and Joe Perticone discuss the growing signs that Republicans see Trump as a midterm liability, from candidates scrubbing his photos and endorsements from their websites to vulnerable members finding excuses to skip his big convention. They also look at the collapse of the MAGA merch business, Trump’s post about renaming New Mexico, and Kash Patel’s embarrassing AI-generated FBI propaganda. Links: Joe Perticone, The Bulwark — “Sorry, Mr. President. I Have a Thing.” New York Times: As Midterms Approach, Republicans Find There Is No Escape From Trump Axios: ‘We’re stuck’: GOP accepts Trump’s all-about-me midterms The Wall Street Journal: In Trump’s Second Term, the MAGA Merchandise Boom Is Going Bust CBS News: At the FBI, a history of hiring prostitutes or stealing from employer may no longer be a barrier to being hired
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September 6 · 10 minReporter Spends 90 Minutes With Trump. It Gets WEIRD. (w/ Ben Terris)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller sits down with New York Magazine’s Ben Terris to discuss his extraordinary reporting on Donald Trump’s obsession with the new White House ballroom. Ben spent 90 minutes with Trump, toured the ballroom construction site, and got a firsthand look at the massive project, which is already employing hundreds of workers.Trump claims the ballroom is being built with “nuclear concrete” strong enough to withstand a nuclear blast. He also opened up to Ben about why he’s so determined to build it, agreeing that nobody else would build monuments to him after he’s gone. Ballroom Blitz. Trump’s obsessive bid for architectural immortality is barreling toward completion.
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September 6 · 50 minSarah Longwell: Trump’s Failures Give Democrats a Once-in-a-Generation Opening | Bulwark on Sunday
Bill Kristol and Sarah Longwell discuss Longwell’s new book, How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time, tracing the origins of The Bulwark and their efforts to oppose Trump while drawing lessons from years of voter focus groups. They consider how the media environment has changed, what Democrats can learn from Republican political infrastructure, how a broad pro-democracy coalition can manage internal disagreements, and what a successful strategy against Trumpism could look like. Help knock Ted Cruz off the NY Times Best Sellers list by ordering your copy of How to Eat an Elephant by Sarah Longwell today: Amazon | Bookshop | Barnes & Nobles | Target | Audible | More HUGE thanks to everyone who pre-ordered How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time. We’re so excited for the book to launch September 8.If you’ve already pre-ordered or are still planning to buy the book and would like to get a signed bookplate for your personal copy, fill out this online form. St. Martin’s Press will mail a signed bookplate to your address after the book is released on September 8 at no additional cost. Sarah spent the summer signing them for this community. Supplies are limited. 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
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September 5 · 31 minTrump Is Wrecking His Own Agenda—and for What?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Mona Charen is joined by Bill Galston, Linda Chavez, and Damon Linker for a "Beg to Differ" reunion! They discuss the Trump administration’s foreign policy and corruption, America’s standing in the world, Israel and Gaza, antisemitism, the Democratic Party’s internal battles over the DSA, and the political significance of upcoming races in Pennsylvania and Michigan. Plus: recommendations for books and TV shows. If you value long-form shows that resist the rush to the next topic and give deeply knowledgeable guests room to explain not just what is happening but why it matters, consider becoming a paid member of The Bulwark. Your support gives us the freedom to keep making conversations with this kind of depth. With a paid membership, you’ll gain unfettered access to ad-free and member-only editions like this one. Bulwark Book Club pick for September: The Odyssey! Join Mona Charen and Sonny Bunch to discuss Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation and Emily Wilson’s translation of the epic poem LIVE with Bulwark+ members on Wednesday, September 16 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. Can’t join in live? A replay will be available as part of the Mona Charen Show. See the film, read the translation or do both! Then drop your questions, comments and thoughts for Mona and Sonny on The Odyssey here.
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September 5 · 10 minFox News FIRES Maria Bartiromo After She Secretly Helped Trump
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller and Sam Stein take on Fox firing Maria Bartiromo after she reportedly shared internal network information with the Trump White House, and revisit some of her most infamous conspiracy-theory moments. Then, they discuss the wild IG report on former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, featuring strip clubs, an alleged affair, drinking on the job, staffers organizing her closet, and a suspiciously convenient trip to Vegas. Plus, Trumpworld unveils a bizarre Apprentice-style competition featuring Nicki Minaj and Dean Cain. Where else are you going to get election conspiracies, government-funded closet organizing, strip clubs, Nicki Minaj, and Dean Cain crawling through an obstacle course—all in under 30 minutes? This is the public service Tim, Sam and (usually) Will provide. So take Sam’s advice: screw football. Subscribe to The Bulwark.
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September 5 · 14 minThe GOP is MIA in North Carolina (with Chris Cooper)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com North Carolina has been a difficult nut for Democrats to crack for nearly two decades. But relatively popular former Gov. Roy Cooper appears to be on the verge of changing that this year, partly because NOBODY knows who his opponent is. Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper joins Sarah to discuss this year's U.S. Senate race, the House landscape in North Carolina and whether some recent successes for Democrats can translate into carrying the state in 2028. Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Show links:By Chris Cooper: Anatomy of a Purple State Just announced: Pete Buttigieg is joining the gang—Tim, Sarah, JVL and Sam—for Bulwark LIVE: Charlotte at the Carolina Theatre on October 18. Head TheBulwark.com/Events for ticket and to learn more about our Good Fight Tour stops in Columbia, S.C, and Atlanta. How to Eat an Elephant is dropping September 9 and Sarah is hitting the road with book talks in: New York City | Boston | Los Angeles | San Francisco | Chicago | Kenyon College Last call for JVL and Sarah in NYC on Tuesday night. San Franciso has a livestream option and Kenyon College is on sale now. Head to TheBulwark.com/Events for all the details. If you are coming to a live event, be sure to tell us in the Bulwark Subscriber Chat where we’ve posted subthreads for each city where you can see us live in September and October.