Alle afleveringen
500 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
-
David French: Vengeance and Rage
24 januari 2025 · 1 uur 2 min
Trump launched his first week back in office signaling to loyal followers that they are free to break the law on his behalf, while telling political opponents—including John Bolton and Mike Pompeo—that he'll put their lives at risk. Meanwhile, an office full of white faces is not evidence of a meritocracy, a shortage of VA nurses or prosecutors at the DOJ is not government efficiency, and Putin is different from the man he was during Trump's first term. Plus, the dangers of the word "invasion" in the immigration context.
David French joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. Lees meershow notes:
John Mulaney's 'horse in the hospital' skit
Tweet from Dan Crenshaw that Tim referenced
David's latest newsletter (gifted)
Tim's playlist -
Sam Stein and Adrian Carrasquillo: We Are in a Simulation
23 januari 2025 · 1 uur
Emotionally-stunted video game boys, who are also government contractors and/or quasi government officials, are fighting on Twitter, a POTUS who went all the way to SCOTUS to get immunity for presidents now would like the last president investigated, and America's premiere scientific research institution, the NIH, can't tell us about the bird flu—a widespread and potentially deadly virus that could mutate into a human pandemic. Meanwhile, the assault on immigration has stepped up, with raids now permitted at churches and schools. And DHS is targeting anyone who can be deported, regardless of whether or not they're a security threat. Lees meer
Adrian Carrasquillo and Sam Stein join Tim Miller.
show notes
https://x.com/arelisrhdz/status/1881397640849678362 -
Stephanie Ruhle: Unlimited Money and No Rules
22 januari 2025 · 46 min
All those CEOs cartwheeled down to Mar-a-Lago and then dutifully lined up at Trump's inauguration because they were fed up with social justice warriors and labor having more power—even if their bottom lines were never harmed in the process. Now, they want their next adrenaline rush and more government money without any pesky regulations hampering their highfalutin space-exploration dreams. But they may just pine for those DEI training sessions after the coming populist economic backlash. Lees meer
Stephanie Ruhle joins Tim Miller.
-
Tom Nichols: A Farce and a Sham
21 januari 2025 · 1 uur
Trump tried to pencil out literal words in the Constitution and then freed 1,500 violent insurrectionists—while the media attempted to normalize it all. Meanwhile, much attention is being paid to Elon's salute, and not enough to the facts that he has an office at the White House, he's a government contractor, and paid a quarter of a billion dollars to get Trump elected. Plus, other Trump executive orders were pissy and petty, the 80s can no longer be called the decade of greed after Monday's Hunger Games vibe, and the Democrats are going to have a hard time resisting a risky 'eat the rich' path. Lees meer
Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Tom's piece from Monday on the police responding to Jan 6
Tweets about the price of eggs v attending the inauguration, which Tom referenced
LAST DAY: Make The Bulwark your home for coverage of Trump 2.0. Get 2 months FREE on an annual subscription of Bulwark+ now for exclusive content, ad-free commentary and more:
-
Bill Kristol: Resist the Nihilism
20 januari 2025 · 44 min
Trump wants us to believe that nothing matters, so we'll brush off all his corruption and grifting as though everybody does it. That's what aspiring authoritarians always do, including the guy who didn't place his hand on a Bible when he was sworn in today. Meanwhile, Trump just launched probably the biggest scam in the history of the presidency with his memecoin—ordinary people will lose real money, nothing like the small-ball amounts he scoops up with his shoes, mugs, and digital baseball cards. Plus, Biden's pardons, Trump's Day One executive orders, and seizing the means of content production with TikTok. Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes:
Mark Hertling on the challenges of executing "shock and awe"
TODAY AND TOMORROW ONLY: TODAY AND TOMORROW ONLY: Make The Bulwark your home for coverage of Trump 2.0. Get 2 months FREE on an annual subscription of Bulwark+ now for exclusive content, ad-free commentary and more.
https://www.thebulwark.com/subscribe -
Ron Brownstein: Don't Take the Bait
17 januari 2025 · 50 min
Trump governed as a wartime president against blue America, so expect him to keep stirring up culture battles—but the Dems have to avoid getting drawn into them. Kamala and the party were undone in '24 by looking like they cared more about niche issues than putting food on the table. Meanwhile, Biden has left Trump a lot of room to consolidate a bigger coalition than he's ever had. Plus, for Republicans shrugging off climate change and threatening to withhold fire aid to California, here's a news flash: extreme weather is coming to a neighborhood near you. Lees meer
Ron Brownstein joins Tim Miller for the weekend
show notesRon's piece on 'late regime' presidencies
Ron's interviews with Kamala's advisers
Tim's interview with Rep. Jim Himes
The book Ron referenced, "The Politics Presidents Make"
Tim's playlist
-
Melissa Murray and John Avlon: The Dark Legal Clouds Ahead
16 januari 2025 · 57 min
Pam Bondi is likely to sail to confirmation—even if she's an election denier and pretends she was born yesterday—because she meets the simple qualifications of being a lawyer and former prosecutor, and because she's not a frat paddle come to life i.e. Matt Gaetz. But the fact that she wasn't able to clearly state that the U.S. is her client, not Donald Trump, is a giant red flag. Ditto for his personal lawyers also coming on board. Plus, the ominous removal of Mike Turner from the House intelligence committee, how Biden's farewell address stacked up, and what the locked-up shampoo bottles at CVS say about blue-state governance. Lees meer
Melissa Murray and John Avlon join Tim.
show notesJohn's "How to Fix It" podcast
Melissa's "Strict Scrutiny" podcast
Biden's farewell address
John's book, "Washington's Farewell"
-
Adam Kinzinger and Mark Kelly: Dirty Little Secret
15 januari 2025 · 1 uur 4 min
Being secretary of defense is one of the hardest jobs on the planet. But after Pete Hegseth was plucked from a part-time Fox & Friends gig, Republican senators could only kiss his ass and act starstruck during his confirmation hearing—all to ensure he takes their calls when they need military equipment or contracts in their states. Meanwhile, Nancy Mace has been a con artist from the beginning, Trump nominated Nazi-curious Joe Kent to run the National Counterterrorism Center, and Tulsi thinks Edward Snowden is a hero. Lees meer
Sen. Mark Kelly and Rep. Adam Kinzinger join Tim Miller.
show notesTim's piece on Joe Kent courting the racist fringe vote when he ran for Congress
-
Peter Hamby: The Politics of a Firestorm
14 januari 2025 · 1 uur 7 min
Real estate is everything in Los Angeles. Karen Bass's absence from the city when the fires broke out, and now her seeming aloofness, has instantly made her look unfit for the job of mayor. Even Gavin Newsom is distancing himself from Bass. Meanwhile, while we wait on the facts behind the fires, all the Silicon Valley VC guys and Elon need to shut the f*** up. Plus, Mike Johnson is a disgrace, Zuck has no inner core of values, and TikTok Zoomers need to get a better understanding of free speech and fascism. Lees meer
Venice resident Peter Hamby joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Mayor Bass ignoring a reporter's questions
Peter's Puck piece on Karen Bass
"Ecology of Fear" by Mike Davis
Tim's interview with reporter Liz Weil on wildfires
Zuck being awkward at the UFC fight Peter referenced
-
Bill Kristol: Cannons All the Way Down
13 januari 2025 · 52 min
Trump's favorite judge, Aileen Cannon, has been attempting to exercise authority she doesn't have over Jack Smith's required report on his investigations of the Jan 6 case and the hoarding of classified docs—but she'll be a model of loyalty that Trump will expect for all his judicial appointments. Meanwhile, it's a big week of hearings for his nominees, Wray could do more to oppose the politicization of the FBI, and what is up with Fetterman? Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Bob Kagan's Atlantic piece on Ukraine that Bill referenced -
Amanda Carpenter: We Are Team Karen (Pence)
10 januari 2025 · 56 min
"Mother" Pence is owed an apology. She snubbed Trump so hard and so beautifully at Jimmy Carter's funeral—and wasn't about to make nice with the man who was all-in on Jan 6 rioters trying to lynch her husband. Meanwhile, the catturd crowd is mad at Amy Coney Barrett for not falling in line, and running off to Greenland while American neighborhoods are on fire is not America First. Plus, the risks of Trump dominating the battlespace with all the stupid stuff. Amanda Carpenter joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. Lees meer
show notes:
Amanda's and Protect Democracy newsletter
Amanda's book, "Gaslighting America"
Tim's playlist
charity links:
LA Fire Department Foundation
California Fire Foundation
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
United Way
"Watch Duty," the nonprofit app that's been providing invaluable, real-time fire information
-
Derek Thompson and Elizabeth Weil: The Trend Toward Solitude
9 januari 2025 · 1 uur 14 min
Americans have been spending more time alone—and less time doing face-to-face socializing—than we have for at least 60 years. And our alone time is impacting the economy, our politics, and our personalities, particularly among young people. Meanwhile, the fires in Los Angeles are a heartbreaking reminder that the California landscape was meant to burn—and it will keep happening whether we like it or not. Plus, the mystery around the sister of Sam Altman. Lees meer
Derek Thompson and Liz Weil join Tim Miller.
show notes
Derek's piece, "The Anti-Social Century"
Derek's forthcoming book with Ezra Klein, "Abundance"
Arlie Russell Hochschild's book, "Strangers in Their Own Land," referenced by Derek
Hochschild's "Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right"
"Palaces for the People" book Derek mentioned
Liz's ProPublica piece on megafires
Liz's piece, "This Isn't the California I Married"
Liz's reporting on Sam Altman's sister, Annie
-
Liam Donovan and Brendan Boyle: The Great Grift
8 januari 2025 · 1 uur 7 min
Trump talked a lot more about Hannibal Lecter during the campaign than one of his actual top priorities: extending his 2017 tax cuts. With those $4.5 trillion in cuts set to expire by the end of the year, that's the first major item of business for congressional Republicans. But how they get paid for will affect people's lives. Tim takes a deep dive into the reconciliation process that would allow Republicans to make deep cuts to programs without having to work with Democrats. Plus, the billionaire plutocrats staffing the new administration and the potential for corruption. Lees meer
Rep. Brendan Boyle and Liam Donovan join Tim Miller.
-
Charlie Warzel: Zuck Sucks Up to Trump
7 januari 2025 · 56 min
Mark Zuckerberg is doing all he can to get an audience with the big man at Mar-a-Lago, including praising Trump's (faux) free speech bona fides and restructuring Meta to eliminate fact-checking. Maybe it's because Zuck wants to show his middle finger to the mean tech reporters—or maybe it's because Trump threatened to imprison Zuck. Plus, the conspiracies around Jan 6 v 9/11, and the potential threat to our financial system from crypto. Lees meer
Charlie Warzel joins Tim Miller.
show notes:Charlie's piece on internet brain rot
Charlie's piece on crypto and the potential nightmare in Trump 2.0 -
Bill Kristol: The Preposterous and Ridiculous Lies About the FBI
6 januari 2025 · 51 min
Kash Patel's Jan 6 lie requires FBI officials to have been able to see into the future: to *know* that Trump would lose in 2020 and then try to get Congress to reverse the election results. And they also would have to have known they could get thousands of people to attack the Capitol—just to make MAGA look bad. Are GOP senators really going to clear this conspiracy theorist extraordinaire to run the bureau? Plus, the martyrology around Jan 6 and the mass exodus of journalists from The Washington Post. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. Lees meer
show notes:
Tom Jocelyn and Norm Eisen on Kash
Sgt. Gonell's reflection on Jan 6
Michael Kruse on Al Gore and Mike Pence -
Jonathan Martin: A Resilient City
3 januari 2025 · 44 min
New Orleans is the most special city in America, but it's a place that also breaks your heart. Local leaders will have to reassure the world that the French Quarter is safe. Plus, Mike Johnson is bound up in a Gordian Knot, and Democrats are petrified of the wrath of leading progressive interest groups in DC— it's like the Dem Party's version of Trump's Twitter ire. Lees meer
Jonathan Martin joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Glen David Andrews leading a second line to reopen Bourbon Street on Thursday
Jonathan's interview with Sen. Brian Schatz
Tim's playlist -
David Frum: Sociopaths and Political Tribalism
2 januari 2025 · 51 min
Apart from the death and carnage on New Years Day in New Orleans, Americans revealed another darkness once again: an eagerness to pin violence on someone who doesn't share their political world view. Meanwhile, Republicans rushed to attack the FBI as a way to justify confirming Kash Patel. Plus, Trump has tossed populism aside as he preps to be openly oligarchical, and the real threats TV journalists face. Lees meer
David Frum joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Chart shared by Marc Andreessen that Tim referenced
The poem Churchill quoted during WWII that David mentioned
-
Sarah Longwell and Jonathan V. Last: We Are Sticking With the Mission
31 december 2024 · 1 uur 3 min
While some media outlets may be moving to accommodate Trump out of fear he'll target them, The Bulwark will not be recalibrating. We'll keep providing the (sometimes funny) content you expect, we'll try not to chase Trump's bait (Canada, Greenland, Panama), and we'll disaggregate the real from the trolling. Plus, when one of the worst people in the world makes a good point, and how much is Trump stuck with Elon? Lees meer
Sarah and JVL join Tim for the last show of 2024. Happy New Year!
show notes
The NBC News president’s comment on their Nebraska bread story that JVL referenced
NBC segment on the Omaha bakery
-
Bill Kristol: Exploit the Rifts
30 december 2024 · 48 min
MAGA v DOGE, the Christmas gift that keeps on giving, is an early sign of the coming infighting that could diminish Trump's power—we're definitely not seeing signs of an iron fist amid all that golfing and DJ-ing at Mar-a-Lago. Meanwhile, the world he'll be dealing with is far less stable than it was in 2017. Plus, a Carter appreciation, love for Chalamet's Dylan portrayal, and anticipation of a wild January. Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notesTim's Bannon interview
Tim's dispatch from AmericaFest & Kari Lake Part Deux
Bill's conversation with Eric Edelman
The Post on retribution advocate Ivan Raiklin (gifted)
Sonny's review of Chalamet's "A Complete Unknown"
-
'The Hottest Circle of Hell Is for Those Who Stay Neutral'
27 december 2024 · 1 uur 23 min
Do you have to pick a side in politics? That was the question Reason Magazine, the flagship publication of the libertarian movement, invited The Bulwark to debate. In a panel moderated by Reason features editor and Across the Movie Aisle co-host Peter Suderman, Sarah and Tim debated picking sides with Reason editors-at-large Matt Welch and Nick Gillespie. Lees meer
The debate was sharp, occasionally heated, enlightening, and definitely amusing. The results were . . . resounding. Watch for yourself.
-
Jon Favreau: Funny and Horrible
20 december 2024 · 1 uur 5 min
While it's still going to be bad, for the first time since the election we're beginning to see that we may actually have a little fun watching these idiots prove they don't know how to govern. Meanwhile, we've also got aspiring authoritarians on the left who think they're right at any cost. Plus, the challenge of holding on to American ideals, how to reach low-info voters, Tim's take from Phoenix on TPUSA, and can Tim make Jon cry? And one more Biden critique (that comes toward the end)... Merry Christmas. Lees meer
Jon Favreau joins Tim Miller.
show notes:
Jon's piece in The Atlantic
Clip from Stavros Halkias about not voting Trump that Tim referenced
Tim's playlist -
Heather Cox Richardson: The Reality Show-ification of the Government
19 december 2024 · 45 min
We are seeing in real time what it looks like to turn a democracy over to an oligarch, namely the unstable guy from South Africa who thinks he's going to be emperor of the universe. It's also authoritarian for that one unstable guy to threaten members of congress with job loss if they vote to provide hurricane relief or to rebuild part of the interstate highway system. Plus, the need for a pro-democracy media ecosystem, the difference between liberal and left, and the terribleness of the William McKinley era.
Heather Cox Richardson joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Some of Heather's books: Lees meer“Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America"
"Wounded Knee: Party Politics and the Road to an American Massacre"
"West from Appomattox: The Reconstruction of America after the Civil War"
-
Mark Hertling: Putin's Weakness
18 december 2024 · 46 min
Russia is on its weakest footing since it invaded Ukraine: Putin has destroyed his military, his economy is in the toilet, and the North Korean troops who've been deployed to help out are dying in waves on the battlefield. Why would the US bail Putin out? Meanwhile, MAGA world is trying to distract us with phony DEI issues in the military while we're dealing with some of the biggest challenges we've ever faced in the international space. Plus, with 180,000 US troops currently deployed overseas and 100+ Navy ships at sea, the DOD probably needs someone with a little more breadth of experience than a weekend talk show host on Fox. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling joins Tim Miller. Lees meer
Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Hertling's piece on the Army's and America's values
Hertling's piece on North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Ukraine
Tim and Sarah's live event with Reason magazine in DC Wednesday night -
Tom Nichols: Don't Descend into Darkness
17 december 2024 · 58 min
The existential dread has a strong pull, especially since Trump has made a lot of Americans worse people, but we've had other bad, immoral, and creepy presidents who've sullied the office. Meanwhile, Vance is basically the invisible man while Elon lives in Trump's bedroom, and Andreessen is loading up a pile of BS to justify his vote. Plus, a Tim v Tom Christmas playlist. Lees meer
Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller.
show notes:
Tom's audiobook version of "The Death of Expertise"
Tim's Christmas playlist
John Ganz book Tom and Tim referenced -
Bill Kristol: Fake Nicey-Nicey Sh**t
16 december 2024 · 37 min
ABC News and George Stephanopoulos have joined the preemptive capitulation parade by settling Trump's defamation suit—and by conspicuously paying out protection money ahead of the inauguration. The potential chilling effect on a key First Amendment issue is breathtaking. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney backs off of his criticism of Trump and Vance. Plus, the anti-oligarchic, semi-populist grounds for challenging the incoming administration. Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes:
NYT piece Bill mentioned
Bulwark debate on potentially ending Daylight Saving Time
Bill's conversation with Jack Goldsmith -
Anne Applebaum: Planning for a Techno-Oligarchic Regime
13 december 2024 · 43 min
The billionaires rushing to get on board with Trump, and contributing millions for his inauguration, may have missed this key detail: Enhancing the power of a leader—to bend the rules and undermine the rule of law—is often very bad for business. Meanwhile, Team Trump is distracting the media and the public with the firehose of nominations. Plus, election laws v TikTok and Elon, how brutal regimes can quickly die, and the impact of Israel's campaigns on international law during wartime. Lees meer
Anne Applebaum joins Tim Miller.
Show notes:Anne's recent piece on Syria, and potentially other brutal regimes, falling quickly
Video of Clarissa Ward finding a Syrian prisoner who didn't know about the fall of Assad
Tim's playlist
-
Matt Yglesias and Tyler Austin Harper: Popularism v Populism
12 december 2024 · 1 uur 8 min
The origins of the Democratic party's current malaise include ineffective messaging on climate and economic policy, too rigid a tent on cultural issues, and Dem politicians just too scared to speak their mind. Like, Kamala could've turned the trans youth in sports convo into one about parents spending boatloads on sports camps so their kids can get into a good college. Plus, Christopher Wray chose the worst option. Lees meer
Matt Yglesias and Tyler Austin Harper join Tim Miller to hash it out.
show notes:Tyler's new piece in The Atlantic
Matt's "Common Sense Manifesto #4" from Slow Boring
Ben Wittes piece in Lawfare on Chris Wray
Book recommended by Tyler, "The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America"
-
Adam Kinzinger and Pat Ryan: Bring It On
11 december 2024 · 1 uur
Team Trump is trying to intimidate the opposition. Stop showing them your fear. Plus, Gaetz moves from AG nominee to low-rent MAGA cable channel host, and RT's girlfriend, Tulsi, could have access to the identities of our informants in Russia if she is confirmed. Meanwhile, as Dems plot a way forward, they need to be more clear about calling out the heroes and the villains: When you're trying to be everything to everyone, you're nothing. Lees meer
Adam Kinzinger and Rep. Pat Ryan join Tim Miller.
show notes
Kinzinger's Substack response to Trump's jail threat
Jake Tapper's 2017 interview with Tulsi Gabbard after her meeting with Assad -
Susan Glasser: A Lame Lame Duck
10 december 2024 · 50 min
A sense of Biden's irrelevance has descended on Washington, with Trump flying off to Paris and meeting world leaders, and also openly conducting his own foreign policy—often at odds with the current US policy. Meanwhile, following the diminishment of our foes in the Middle East, and after all the assistance America gave to Israel and Ukraine, Biden isn't being given credit—or he's choosing not to take it. Plus, the MAGA media mob is doing all it can to get Trump's nominees through, and a postscript from Tim on the danger of romanticizing someone who was "radicalized" by a bad experience. Lees meer
Susan Glasser joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Susan's most recent column
Cathy's piece last year on the Daniel Penny case
Noah Smith piece on how insurance companies aren't the main villain in the healthcare system -
Bill Kristol and Michael Weiss: Catastrophic Success
9 december 2024 · 57 min
Trump is threatening members of Congress with jail and Republican senators may be circling the wagons around his nominees, but we still need to protect ourselves from a nihilistic mindset. Plus, cautious optimism and uncertainty after the fall of Syria's brutal dictatorship. And no, Tulsi: You were wrong. Assad was our enemy. Lees meer
Bill Kristol and Michael Weiss join Tim Miller.
Show notes:
Tim's Triad piece on fighting a nihilistic mindset -
Jamelle Bouie: Bad at Being President
6 december 2024 · 47 min
Trump may have authoritarian aspirations, but he's very bad at governing and managing—four weeks into the transition, he's had two major Ls. Meanwhile, Democrats have to rebuild their connection to voters with local party clubs, and not wait until an election year. Plus, a reverse cancel culture is silencing any conversation about the role that gender and race played in Kamala's loss. And finding solace in the words of Frederick Douglass. Lees meer
Jamelle Bouie joins Tim Miller.
show notes:
Jamelle's column about one of Frederick Douglass's final speeches
Tim's playlist -
David French: We Are in the Bad Multiverse
5 december 2024 · 1 uur 2 min
Kash Patel is making legal threats to try to silence his critics, and Tulsi Gabbard wouldn't even be able to get a security clearance in the regular job market: The parade of incompetence is so bad that Pete Hegseth is being described as the most unqualified Cabinet nominee in American history—and that's before the rape and alcoholism. Plus, Bluesky v Twitter, Russia is running out of military equipment, and are preemptive pardons a good idea? Lees meer
David French joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Steve Schale's Bulwark piece on the Democratic Party
The Southern Baptist Convention's 1998 "Resolution on Moral Character of Public Officials"
Longer version of Jake Tapper clip -
Rep. Mikie Sherrill: Who Will Be In Charge of Our National Security?
4 december 2024 · 47 min
We're going back to a president who can't be bothered to read his briefing books. So who will be getting in the ear of the man who had the judgment to choose Pete Hegseth in the first place? Plus, blue state governors v Trump, the need for more mid-range housing, the role of women in modern combat, and Tim reads more from the mailbag. Lees meer
New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill joins Tim Miller.
-
Michael Weiss and Thomas Zimmer: Competent and Radical
3 december 2024 · 1 uur 5 min
Russ Vought, Trump's nominee to run the Office of Management and Budget—and a Project 2025 author—believes we are living in a post-constitutional America and that any check on Trump's power would be illegitimate. And what's really scary is that Vought knows how the government works. Meanwhile, jihadi technocrats effortlessly took over Syria's second-largest city because Assad's protectors—Russia and Iran—are a bit distracted. Plus, Ukraine prepares for Trump. Lees meer
Michael Weiss and Georgetown's Thomas Zimmer join Tim Miller.
show notesZimmer's piece on Russ Vought
Michael's piece on the fall of Aleppo
Cathy Young's latest regarding Russia's war on Ukraine -
Bill Kristol and Elaina Plott Calabro: A Sordid Lot
2 december 2024 · 1 uur 14 min
Kash Patel, who could potentially run the FBI, is a compulsive liar who can't keep his facts straight about his work experience or even where he was born. Aside from being a player in the attempted coup, even Trump loyalists are alarmed by his devotion to the president-elect. Meanwhile, by pardoning Hunter, Biden is not only putting his family ahead of the public interest, he's also giving a giant gift to Trump. Plus, more details on Pete Hegseth's disqualifying behavior, and Trump's avenue for getting around the Senate confirmation process. Elaina Plott Calabro and Bill Kristol join Tim Miller. Lees meer
show notes:
Elaina's profile of Kash Patel
Patel's target list
Jack Goldsmith on Trump getting around the Senate confirmation process
Tim and Sam on Biden's pardon of Hunter
Tim and Sam on Pete Hegseth's mom -
Jonathan Chait: A Scary Clown
27 november 2024 · 52 min
Pete Hegseth may have a winning Fox & Friends smile, but his desire to shoot protesters, commit war crimes, and purge non-MAGA leaders from the military aligns with Trump's views—and is probably the reason why he was nominated for defense secretary. Plus, Republicans won without offering a middle-class economic agenda, and the ties between the Democrats' loss and the party's busy-body language police. Lees meer
Jonathan Chait joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Chait's piece on Pete Hegseth
Tim's Thanksgiving playlist -
George Will: Democracy Rests on Persuasion
26 november 2024 · 45 min
For those living under a gray cloud because of what the American electorate has done, it's time to get to work on changing opinions. People who follow the news and read op-eds may be in a minority, but salient minorities have propelled history. On the 50th anniversary of George Will's tenure at The Washington Post, George joins Tim to discuss the power of criticizing presidents and saying what you think. Plus, Tim reads from the mailbag and serves up some advice for dealing with Trump-supporting relatives at the Thanksgiving table. Lees meer
George Will joins Tim Miller
show notes
George on his first 50 years as a columnist
George's first column for The Post
An appreciation of the Iron Man of America's oped pages
Mona's tribute to George
-
Bill Kristol: We Were Right To Be Alarmed
25 november 2024 · 51 min
The danger of Trump's nominees is that the main condition of employment—aside from being on Fox—is their fealty to him, and a willingness to go along with the ideological fervor of Stephen Miller, Russ Vought and JD Vance. Meanwhile, the math may not add up for Tulsi, Sarah McBride shows grace and dignity in response to Nancy Mace, and Trump goes weirdly quiet. Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Clip of Sarah McBride on MSNBC -
Sarah Longwell and Jonathan V. Last: The Lonely Boy Club
22 november 2024 · 58 min
The country is now paying for the pathologies of the oligarchs and baddies who were stuffed into lockers when they were kids. And let's be honest: A chunk of MAGA doesn't mind the sexual assaults at all—they "put women in their place." Meanwhile, Gaetz's replacement, Pam Bondi, was an active member of the attempted coup, Elon's plan to slash the federal workforce would cut a minuscule part of the budget, the oil men don't want to produce more oil, and Democrats have to go back to their 90s-style economic messaging. Lees meer
Sarah and JVL join Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
The Secret Podcast
JVL's Triad newsletter from Thursday
Tim's playlist -
Sam Harris: Our Democracy Is Already Unraveling
21 november 2024 · 58 min
Because Trump wasn't penalized for trying to steal the 2020 election, our democracy has already been damaged. And he was laying the groundwork to do it again in '24, with the assistance of MAGA's opportunistic election fraud lies. Meanwhile, David Sacks & co would never let Trump run any of their businesses, but they're all in on his Alex Jones-grade lies. Plus, was Kamala done in by not responding to the anti-trans ad? And 90% of what's wrong with Elon is his Twitter addiction. Lees meer
Sam Harris joins Tim Miller.
-
Marc Caputo and Dan Goldman: Trump v. the United States
20 november 2024 · 54 min
The incompetent and compromised nominees Trump has assembled at record pace show how little regard he has for the essential functions our government provides. He wants to harness its power for his own ends, in a way that could put Americans and our national security at risk—but he can only do this if Congress is complicit. Meanwhile, the roundly-hated Matt Gaetz is providing cover for the sex abuse allegations against the other nominees, and the House majority margin may be razor thin. Lees meer
Rep. Dan Goldman and Marc Caputo join Tim Miller.
-
Jen Psaki: Don't Speak to Me
19 november 2024 · 42 min
The Democrats focus too much on reaching white college-educated voters, and the threat to democracy was not the right closing message. Plus, Nancy Mace needs to get a life beyond getting MAGA street cred, no one wants to be in the same bathroom with MTG, and Jared Polis may be on to something with the hippie-ish libertarians. Lees meer
Jen Psaki joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Gov. Polis tweet about RFK, Jr.
The governor's follow-up tweet -
Bill Kristol: A Power Play for Autocracy
18 november 2024 · 50 min
Trump is flooding the zone with unqualified nominees who would destroy government norms and standards and create the kind of chaos that would let him do what he wants—and Senate Republicans may be too afraid of him to put up much resistance. Meanwhile, allies are already seeing the third world-style political decay, beyond the orgies and sexual assaults. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. Lees meer
show notes
"Art of the Surge" doc on Apple TV; Ep 5 has debate reaction backstage -
Amanda Carpenter: Lessons from the Tea Party Era
15 november 2024 · 48 min
Ted Cruz and Jim DeMint ground things to a halt in the Senate quite effectively during the Obama era, and Democrats should take a cue from them for Trump's appointments: Demand hearings or hold their own. More broadly, the opposition has to be loud and make a scene, while also staying unified and focused. We are a big country with big ideas, and there are more of us than there are of them. Lees meer
Amanda Carpenter joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Part 1 of the "Behind the Bastards" podcast on RFK, Jr.
Tim's playlist -
Rick Wilson and David Brooks: MAGA to the Max
14 november 2024 · 52 min
Trump's appointments—like degenerate Matt Gaetz and Putin stooge Tulsi Gabbard—are about his raw power and his stupid show, but are also a risk to our nation's security and institutions. Plus, America's diploma divide has trapped us in a caste society, where future leaders are being chosen based on how they performed on standardized tests at age 18. Lees meer
David Brooks and Rick Wilson join Tim Miller.
show notes
Ed Whelan on Trump's recess appointment scheme (gifted)
David's cover story on the Ivy League (gifted) -
Osita Nwanevu: Democrats Need A Better Story
13 november 2024 · 53 min
Republicans have been good at telling a story about the economy and how people should feel about it, and Democrats haven't responded in a sufficiently compelling way. Meanwhile, plucking Pete Hegseth off the Fox & Friends couch to run one of the biggest organizations in the world is a sign of how dumb the next administration will be. Lees meer
Osita Nwanevu joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Osita's forthcoming book -
Jon Lovett: The Worst People Are Happy
12 november 2024 · 53 min
The worst people believe their worldview has been validated, while the best people are uncertain, scared, and angry. But we have to stay focused on the menace, including the threat to officials Trump may target for revenge—and the immigrants whose cheap and willing labor helped build our economy. Lees meer
Jon Lovett joins Tim Miller for a special crosspost with the "Lovett or Leave It" pod.
show notes
Speech by Otto Wels in March 1933
The 'Lovett or Leave It' podcast -
Bill Kristol: A Pro-Putin America First
11 november 2024 · 40 min
The Trump team is moving quickly to sell out Ukraine, but it's not clear yet whether Putin would settle for taking a quarter of the country—or if he intends to crush it, so he can plant the Russian flag in Kiev. Meanwhile, Elon has been at Mar-a-Lago every day, expanding his oligarch résumé to include helping choose the incoming president's Cabinet and advisors. Plus, key Senate Republicans are already prepping to sacrifice their constitutional duties to advise and consent, and the election denialists on the left have to accept reality.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. Lees meershow notes
Charles Gaba's thread on the new 'Stop the Steal' conspiracy
Tim's appearance on the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast -
BONUS EPISODE with James Carville: We Are the Opposition
9 november 2024 · 25 min
It's time to get our opposition organized and develop a narrative about Trump. And one narrative that's likely to emerge is how he betrayed his voters. Plus, did Kamala's interview on "The View" seal her fate? Lees meer
James Carville joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Carville documentary, "Winning Is Everything, Stupid" (post-election recut out 11/14) -
Ben Wittes: Americans Elected a Serial Criminal to Be President
8 november 2024 · 48 min
The Trump trials were a cosmic democratic disaster, and the justice system did not do justice: Trump was not treated in the same way as other people who've stolen classified docs or tried to overthrow the election—and his conviction and indictments made him more qualified in MAGA's eyes. Plus, the Sotomayor/SCOTUS issue, aiding Ukraine before January 20, and avoiding the sound of Trump's voice. Lees meer
Ben Wittes joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Ben's column, "Were the Trump Trials Pointless?"
Tim's playlist