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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.

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  • August 29 · 16 min

    Inside Trump’s National Security Dumpster Fire (w/ Julia Curlee)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Mona Charen speaks with former CIA officer Julie Curlee about her two decades in intelligence, her removal from the Trump White House, and what she describes as the dangerous erosion of expertise and nonpartisan analysis across the national security apparatus. They examine intelligence politicization, Iran and Venezuela, and why Curlee believes the loss of experienced public servants could take a generation to repair. 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.

  • August 29 · 13 min

    Trump Said He’d Target Illegal Immigration. That Was a Lie. (w/ Doug Rand)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Trump’s immigration crackdown isn’t just targeting people who entered the country illegally—it’s making it harder for legal immigrants, international students, nurses, and highly skilled workers to come to and stay in the United States. Catherine Rampell and Doug Rand, former senior advisor at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, break down how the administration is shutting down legal pathways, imposing massive new barriers on H-1B workers, and driving international talent toward other countries.A quick note: This is the kind of conversation we want to do more of at The Bulwark: bringing in people who have actually worked inside the agencies and understand how these policies operate beyond the headlines. There aren’t many outlets putting substantive conversations with experts like Doug on video, giving them the time to explain what’s changing and why it matters. If you value having that kind of expertise available—and accessible to everyone—becoming a Bulwark member helps us keep making it possible.

  • August 29 · 15 min

    Why Ed Markey May Survive a Revolt Against Old Candidates (with Adam Reilly)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Why is 80-year-old Ed Markey surviving a Democratic revolt against aging politicians? Sarah Longwell and GBH’s Adam Reilly listen to Massachusetts voters explain why Rep. Seth Moulton’s 'new generation' argument isn’t landing—and what the race reveals about what Democratic voters really want.Plus, they discuss Moulton’s attacks on Markey, his damaging comments about trans athletes, and a brutal debate exchange over AI.Nobody else in political media does quite what we do with these focus groups: talking to voters week after week and letting you hear for yourself what’s actually driving their decisions. If you’re able, please considering becoming a paid member of the Bulwark and help keep this one-of-a-kind project going. Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark LIVE: The GOOD FIGHT TOUR with Tim, Sarah, Sam, and JVL is coming to the Southeast in October. Ticket are on sale NOW! Head to TheBulwark.com/Events for details and to get your tickets. How to Eat an Elephant book tour with Sarah Longwell is coming in September. The book drops September 9 but Sarah is kicking off things off with a live show in D.C. with Kara Swisher on Sept 3. Join Sarah and friends at one of these stops: Washington, D.C. | New York City | Boston | Los Angeles | San Francisco | Chicago | Kenyon College Get your tickets for D.C., New York and Kenyon College now! Some shows are already sold out but are offering a livestream option. Head to TheBulwark.com/Events for all the details. 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. Click here to add the show to your player of choice. 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. Click here to set up your private member-only RSS feed on your podcast player of choice or learn more here.

  • August 28 · 8 min

    Karoline Leavitt Is Getting Out. Why Would Anyone Want Her Job? (w/ George Conway)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Karoline Leavitt is leaving the White House and George Conway has a few thoughts about her tenure as Donald Trump’s press secretary. Andrew Egger and George give their takes on Leavitt’s talent for lying, deflecting, insulting reporters, and never losing her cool, even when defending the indefensible. They also look at the potential candidates to replace her, including CNN’s Scott Jennings, and ask whether he has what it takes to become Trump’s next professional gaslighter. Watch as George makes the case as to why replacing Leavitt may be harder than it looks. Ad-free and member-only editions of Bulwark Takes are exclusively available for Bulwark+ members.

  • August 28 · 29 min

    Mark Cuban Thinks He Could Run as a Republican. Tim Has Some Bad News.

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com JVL is out this week, so Tim and Sarah discuss Mark Cuban’s comments that he could run for president as a Republican (and why Tim isn’t buying it), and Sarah’s conversation with the New York Times discussing her book, and what Democratic voters REALLY want right now. They also discuss the race Rob Sand is running for governor in Iowa. Behind the paywall: Kamala Harris’s 2028 strategy, Hasan Piker discourse, and a fun mailbag segment. The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. Upgrade now to watch (or listen) to this episode and join the Secret community in the comments. New shows drop each Friday. Ride with us!

  • August 28 · 21 min

    Ben Rhodes: Is Trump Stumbling into a Wider War?

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com The wars in Iran and Ukraine are increasingly entangled, CIA Director John Ratcliffe had to personally deliver a message to Moscow, and Trump is driving our Gulf allies into the arms of China. Meanwhile, the U.S.-Israel relationship keeps mucking up our domestic politics, particularly in Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign in Michigan. But it also turns out that podcast host (and senator) Ted Cruz seems to be pocketing money from the state of Israel itself. Plus: Some Democrats have finally figured out how to deliver speeches again, Vance is always trying to turn himself into something he’s not, the DSA posters sound a lot like the Resistance 1.0, and Enes Kanter is still a POS. Ben Rhodes joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes: * Ben's Substack * Ben on Enes Kanter * Ben's "Where the Resistance Went Wrong" * The NYT on Russia's sabotage efforts in Moldova that Ben referenced * Tim's playlist 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 28 · 5 min

    Receipts Live: Trump Has Absolutely No Idea How Trade with Canada Works

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Catherine Rampell give their takes on Trump’s escalating trade war with Canada and why Canada may be looking to China and other countries as more reliable partners. Plus, Trump says the Strait of Hormuz is “open.” So why does the actual data tell a very different story? Watch Catherine break it down and share what the administration doesn’t…

  • August 28 · 31 min

    How Copyright Law Is Being Used to Squelch Speech

    This week I’m joined by Puck’s Eriq Gardner to discuss his fascinating piece on Warner Bros.’ efforts to keep a lid on spoilers for their new show, Lanterns, including some potential abuse of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s ability to remove infringing content from the internet. We discussed what’s happening and how it could reflect a broader effort to stifle speech in contexts other than spoiler warnings. You can read Eriq’s reporting on the topic here. And if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to share it with a friend! 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

  • August 28 · 3 min

    Why Did Trump Pick This Loser to Run a Swing State?

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller and Joe Perticone give their takes on Stacy Garrity, Pennsylvania’s Trump-endorsed Republican nominee for governor and one of the country’s most committed election deniers. From her role in the January 5, 2021 rally in Harrisburg to her refusal to back away from Trump’s election lies, Garrity has built her political career around MAGA loyalty. Plus, Joe shares some memorable stories from covering Andy Biggs and explains why some of the nicest politicians can be among the worst for the country. Visit https://upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Read more from Joe: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/we-are-not-prepared-for-election-denying-swing-state-governors Check out these previous episodes in Tim’s “worst Republicans” series. - Mike Collins: - Andy Biggs: - Zach Lahn: Watch TNL for a discussion of the South Carolina primary:

  • August 27 · 16 min

    Sam Stein Used to Be a Thief

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com We’ve hit the August doldrums, so Tim is taking the daily pod on a little excursion. The Bulwark community delivered some epic mailbag questions, one of which prompted Sam to make one of the nerdiest confessions ever. Also, Tim and Sam adjust their cabinet member rankings: Marco is an utter catastrophe, RFK Jr. is failing on all fronts, and Kelly Loeffler is proof that aliens exist. Plus, DeSantis is doing some seemingly dirty dealing down in Florida, ICE arrests are soaring—and here’s hoping that Trump’s super PAC spends millions on ads for the midterms extolling what a great job he’s doing as president.Sam Stein joins Tim Miller. show notes: * NYT on the surge in ICE arrests * Vanity Fair piece on Lutnick that Tim referenced * The Atlantic on Trump's midterms ad campaign * Tim's latest 'Take' on Trump's immigration policy * Sam's 'Take' from May on the DeSantis Medicaid scandal * Alien Kelly Loeffler video 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 27 · 4 min

    BREAKING: Trump Orders Lake Ontario Renamed to "Lake America"

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Andrew Egger went live to cover Trump order to rename Lake Ontario to “Lake America.” They give their takes on the absurdity of it, the cost, and why Trump’s latest map-making stunt is a perfect snapshot of a president who seems increasingly out of ideas and out of touch. Plus, they dig into Trump’s bizarre claims about the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. missile shortages caused by the Iran war, and why the administration is suddenly asking Russia for favors. Good Fight Tour tickets: https://www.thebulwark.com/events

  • August 27 · 2 min

    Talarico’s Texas Surge Should Terrify Republicans

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller joins Katy Tur on MS NOW for his take on Trump’s growing disconnect with voters on the economy and affordability—and why his billionaire bubble may be making that problem worse. Tim breaks down new polling showing a dramatic swing toward Democrat James Talarico in key Texas districts and explains why the Texas Senate race is increasingly within Democrats’ reach. Plus, Trump plans to use his massive super PAC war chest to promote himself ahead of the midterms and that could backfire on Republicans. Watch The Moment with Katy Tur on MS NOW: ms.now/katy-tur-reports

  • August 27 · 6 min

    Trump’s Immigration Policy Is Sending People to Their Deaths

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller gives his take on the intentional cruelty and escalating human cost of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown—from a five-year-old boy detained by ICE on his way to soccer to the father of a U.S. Navy sailor being detained, with the White House defending the decision. Plus, ICE is planning a facility in Louisiana that could hold women and children, developed by the company that operates the state’s notorious Angola prison. Now, immigrants are being sent back to dangerous areas of Haiti and Guatemala, and even deported to countries they aren’t from. In some cases, people sent back to dangerous areas have been killed. Tim breaks down the growing list of horrifying cases and what they reveal about the administration’s immigration policy.

  • August 26 · 27 min

    Trump Is Racing to Build His Ballroom Before the Courts Stop Him (Andrew Weissmann)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss a pair of Supreme Court moves benefiting Trump, including John Roberts allowing construction on the White House ballroom to continue and a ruling affecting Trump’s plans for mail-in voting. They also examine Greg Abbott’s refusal to extradite an ICE officer accused of shooting a man and lying about it, a provocative case involving a traveler who wiped his phone rather than let border agents search it, and the unanswered questions surrounding Natalie Harp’s lack of a security clearance despite her extraordinary access to Trump. 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.

  • August 26 · 19 min

    Neera Tanden: How to Win

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com The only likely way to end the nightmare of Trump—and Republicans supporting him no matter how much he ruins the country—is for Democrats to win in Republican-leaning states and congressional districts. That means giving moderates the grace to compete for people who voted for Trump. Likewise, moderates also need to recognize that the left will be swing voters in key races this election cycle. Plus: the online brawl over Hasan Piker, Scott Jennings’ desperate campaign to be the new White House press secretary, Trump is widening his attack on the First Amendment to research institutions, and Rob Sand is breaking the candidate mold in Iowa.Epic poster and Center for American Progress president Neera Tanden joins Tim Miller. show notes: * The Center for American Progress website * 'Take' on the CIA director's trip to Moscow (with Weiss & Polymeropoulos) * Neera's busy Twitter feed * Jonathan Martin's interview with gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand 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 26 · 18 min

    Command Post: Pete Hegseth Is Hollowing Out the U.S. Military

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) give their takes on Trump’s latest claims that the U.S. has “really dominated” Iran, the Pentagon’s purge of senior military leaders, and reports that a top Army official was pushed out after opening an investigation into the bizarre Kid Rock helicopter flyby. Plus, they discuss reports that the Navy could rename an aircraft carrier planned to honor Doris Miller, the Black sailor and Medal of Honor recipient who became a hero at Pearl Harbor—and name it after Trump instead. Read more from Mark: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-pentagons-purge-at-stars-and-stripes-hegseth-firing-military-newspaper-aircraft-carrier-iran-war

  • August 26 · 12 min

    Wall Street Legend Calls Out Scott Bessent

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Stanley Druckenmiller just delivered a brutal public rebuke of his former protégé, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Catherine Rampell is joined by Bob Elliott, co-founder and chief investment officer at Unlimited, for his take on what’s behind Druckenmiller’s criticism and why Bessent’s bond-market strategy may be making things worse. They also discuss Bessent’s failed attempt to push down long-term interest rates, the erosion of confidence in U.S. economic policymakers, and what Druckenmiller’s intervention says about the growing divide on Trump’s economic team.

  • August 25 · 17 min

    All MAGA Media Can Talk About Now is Trans Sports

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim, Sarah, and JVL are back together for a JAM-PACKED show. They discuss:-Dolly Parton's passing and her legacy.-America's war (not the Iran war, our trade war with Canada), and why the rest of the world can't count on American anymore--even if Democrats win in 2028.-Sarah's Focus Group Podcast episode from Georgia--which Tim found pleasant (for once).-The South Carolina primary runoff, and whether having Donald Trump's endorsement is enough to put a political novice in the Senate.-The first U.S. measles deaths of the year in Pennsylvania.-Does the Trump administration want to demolish the Kennedy Center? Do WE want them to?-Why MAGA media is talking about the WNBA and trans issues so much.-Finally: They discuss JVL's Monday Triad about Trump's completely crazy relationship with Natalie Harp.Read JVL's TriadGet your tickets for The Bulwark's Good Fight Tour this October, coming to Charlotte, Columbia, and Atlanta. Get your tickets to Sarah's How to Eat an Elephant book tour in September! Her Chicago stop with Axe goes on sale for everyone Thursday. Watch, listen, and leave a comment. This ad-free video version of The Next Level is exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Click the learn about setting up this show, ad-free, on your podcast player of choice. Or watch in the new Bulwark App—available now in the Apple and Google App stores.

  • August 25 · 17 min

    What Is Trump’s CIA Director Doing in Moscow?

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s surprise trip to Moscow has raised major questions: Is he there to warn Putin, negotiate over Ukraine, or deliver a message about Russia’s escalating covert attacks across Europe? Reporter Michael Weiss and former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos break down Ratcliffe’s unexpected visit, the intelligence warnings about possible Russian provocations against NATO, and the growing campaign of sabotage and attacks targeting European infrastructure. Plus, they turn to the U.S.-Canada trade war and the extraordinary strain being placed on one of America’s closest allies.

  • August 25 · 16 min

    Tracy Alloway and Will Sommer: A Cabinetful of Clueless Grifters

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Yield curve control has gone mainstream (seriously, just ask the Asheville Beatnik with a message for Scott Bessent), so Tracy Alloway is here to explain the latest economic turmoil to Tim. Bessent’s bond buyback gambit seems to have flopped, but apparently, according to the President, there’s always the option of military intervention to bring the market to heel. In the meantime, consumers are going to pay more interest on everything, and there’s no plan to reduce the federal debt. Then, for some MAGA drama dessert, Will Sommer joins the pod to talk about Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s dud of a pay-for-play road trip video series, the Trump/Tucker beef, and the feud between a Groyper-adjacent Undersecretary of State and an anonymous MAGA propaganda account that your tax dollars are paying for.Will Sommer and Tracy Alloway join Tim Miller. show notes: * Picture of the Asheville protestor with the yield curve sign * Tracy’s Odd Lots podcast * Will and Tim’s DC tour * Will’s False Flag newsletter on Data Republican * Catch Tim, Sarah, and JVL on The Next Level later tonight 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.

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