Alle afleveringen
500 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Andrew Weissmann: Outlandish and Outrageous
12 juni 2025 · 54 min
Trump is outright fabricating a justification for sending Guard troops into Los Angeles, and his directive is not limited only to LA. So, if someone acts violent during a 'No Kings' protest on Saturday somewhere in America, would he deploy the National Guard there too? The potential chilling effect on our First Amendment rights to protest is enormous. Plus, masks are liberating ICE agents to act with impunity, Kash is a thin-skinned beta cuck, and the new self-appointed chair of the Kennedy Center was greeted with a mix of boos and cheers on the opening night performance of "Les Miz." Lees meer
Andrew Weissmann joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Boos and cheers for Trump at the opening night performance of Les Misérables
If you suddenly need to listen to "Do You Hear the People Sing?"
Andrew's pod, "Main Justice"
For 20% off your first purchase, head to FairHarborClothing.com/BULWARK and use code BULWARK.
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Mark Hertling: Contrary to American Values
11 juni 2025 · 45 min
Trump keeps wrapping himself in the American flag while while behaving in a very anti-American way—like threatening to shut down protests at his $45 million birthday parade or giving a highly partisan speech in front of soldiers in violation of military policy. And as the haphazardly deployed Marines join federalized Guard troops in LA, Trump seems hellbent on escalating his feud with Gavin Newsom—and the giant blue state that rejects him. Plus, Putin looks to gain an advantage in Ukraine while America is distracted, and Tulsi may have disclosed state secrets to the entire world. Lees meer
Gen. Mark Hertling joins Tim Miller.
show notesSam and Tim on Tulsi's creepy nuclear war video
Part One of the 'Behind the Bastards' Pod on Robert E. Lee
The Tom Nichols piece that Gen. Hertling referenced
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Bill Kristol: People Should Be Mad
10 juni 2025 · 52 min
Where is Obama? Where is George W. Bush? A Marine battalion and the National Guard have been deployed in response to a spark Trump set off by sweeping up people who aren't doing anything illegal besides being present here. And the administration may ramp up the tension if it uses the military for domestic law enforcement purposes. At least Gavin is finally angry. Plus, MAGA is built around conspiracists and conspiracy theories, so RFK Jr can do what he wants with vaccines because he's only making doctors and public health experts mad—constituents Trump couldn't care less about. Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notesBill's 'Bulwark on Sunday' interview with Adrian
Focus Group Pod on the Dem primary for governor in NJ
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S2 Ep1060: Ta-Nehisi Coates: A Natural Human Reaction
9 juni 2025 · 1 uur 20 min
Trump and Stephen Miller wanted a backlash against the immigration raids, because even they know that humans will respond when the federal government is snatching people off the street. But the tenor of modern protests is not going to be like the Civil Rights Movement, because activists back then were trained to suppress their natural inclination to defend themselves. Plus, the key role of culture in politics, Dems have to show that the state does good things, and it's the 10th anniversary of Ta-Nehisi's landmark book, “Between the World and Me.” Lees meer
And in a special bonus segment from our live show last Friday, Tim interviews Andry's lawyer and explains why he's been so moved by the case to free Andry from CECOT.
Ta-Nehisi Coates and attorney Lindsay Toczylowski join Tim Miller.
show notes
"Between the World and Me," out in paperback next week
Ta-Nehisi's interview with Obama in Oct. 2016
Last Friday's full "Free Andry" live show
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S2 Ep1059: Sam Stein: The Divorce
6 juni 2025 · 57 min
Elon went nuclear, accusing Trump of being a pedo, taking credit for his election victory, and calling for his impeachment. Trump in return may try to destroy Musk's businesses, or worse. While the public feud is entertaining—Thursday was one of the best days for Twitter and Steve Bannon—their meltdown is also frightening. It shows that we are at the mercy of two emotionally unstable men who can blackmail each other. Of course, Republicans and Fox desperately want the clash to end, because for starters, it could complicate the passage of a tax and spending bill that only Stephen Miller can love. Plus, JD is still a wimp, and Howard Lutnick is still a fool. Lees meer
Sam Stein joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Action for Andry: Protest at SCOTUS at 5pm Friday
Tim's playlist
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S2 Ep1058: Matt Yglesias: Elon's Smash and Grab
5 juni 2025 · 1 uur 6 min
Trump's and Musk's very public breakup may be amusing, but don't lose sight of the fact that DOGE was a failure—despite what the manosphere says. Elon's ego trip found no fraud and cut only a minor amount of spending. But those cuts are meaningfully hurting the global poor as well as scientific research at home. And now, Republicans are trying the same kind of DOGE sleight of hand on their spending bill, largely under the radar. Meanwhile, Megan McCain is getting in on the snake-oil gravy train, and the Epstein conspiracists may have it backwards. Plus, a deep dive into how Dems can win red states, fight the culture wars, and show how they're looking out for the little guy. Lees meer
Matt Yglesias joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Action for Andry: Protest at SCOTUS at 5pm Friday, followed by Free Andry live show
Matt on the failure of DOGE
Lauren on the Dems weighing a high-risk plan to win the Senate
Matt's piece from April on the Dem plan to win the Senate
Matt's Daddy blog piece
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S2 Ep1057: Rahm Emanuel: Trump Is a Chump
4 juni 2025 · 1 uur 5 min
The lovelorn TACO trader has been hanging by the phone at 2am hoping China's Xi will call him to make a tariff deal. But that call is not coming without America paying a very high price— because world leaders know that Trump is a feckless, desperate negotiator. Meanwhile, Republicans are blowing off Elon's take-down of the reconciliation bill and prepping to turn themselves into roadkill in the midterms. Plus, Scranton Joe went missing in the White House, and the Dems need to stop listening to the very smart and very sophisticated (202) babies who think sharing the right pronoun is more important than kids actually knowing what a pronoun is. Lees meer
Rahm Emanuel joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Action for Andry: Protest at SCOTUS at 5pm Friday, followed by Free Andry live show -
S2 Ep1056: Catherine Rampell: Slow Burn
3 juni 2025 · 52 min
Jamie Dimon is spooked about the bond market, business uncertainty about tariffs is dragging the economy, and it seems like no politician will get serious about our nation's debt until it's too late. Meanwhile, Republicans don't even like their own spending bill since they only lie about it—it's just in service of making Trump happy. Plus, Stephen Miller reportedly wants ICE to step up raids at businesses, the immigrant brain drain is bad for America, and the antisemitism coming from the left and right is pretty scary for Jews. Lees meer
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S2 Ep1055: Bill Kristol: The Grotesqueness of It All
2 juni 2025 · 52 min
Mike Johnson and Russ Vought outright lied on camera about the proposed Medicaid cuts and the impact they would have on millions of Americans. Marco Rubio lied about the children who are dying because of USAID cuts. And Joni Ernst is reimagining Christianity to be about Jesus teaching his followers not to care about the sick and the poor because they're going to die anyway. And through it all, Peter Thiel is doing everything in his power not to die—or even age. But one saving grace is that Ukraine kicked some Russian ass this weekend. Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
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S2 Ep1054: Adam Serwer, Lauren Egan, and Justin Jones: The Attack on Knowledge
30 mei 2025 · 1 uur 1 min
The Trump administration is trying to exert ideological control over every knowledge-producing institution in the country. And the assault on colleges is not only about having fewer highly-educated voters, but also depriving Americans of trusted sources of information—much in the way Trump in 2020 wanted to stop counting Covid cases so it looked like he had the pandemic under control. Meanwhile, we're getting too much information about Elon's bladder control problems on his way out the door. Plus, The Bulwark's Lauren Egan and Tennessee's Justin Jones on courage, conscience, fighting a party drunk with power, and the future of the South. Lees meer
The Atlantic's Adam Serwer joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod, with a side serving from our live Nashville show.
show notes
Adam's latest piece in The Atlantic, "The New Dark Age"
Lawfare's Anna Bower on her search for the administrator of DOGE
Adam's book, "The Cruelty Is the Point"
The NYT on Elon's intense drug use
Tim's playlist
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S2 Ep1053: Live from Chicago
29 mei 2025 · 44 min
Adam Kinzinger joined Tim on stage in the Windy City Wednesday night to dis Chicken Trump, who's made bitcoin bros, private prisons, his family and friends—and himself—the main winners in his 'TACO' trade economy. Meanwhile, Obama's nuclear deal with Iran may be getting resurrected, and Trump finally seems to realize that Putin is a warmonger. Plus, Dems should put Qatar and El Salvador on notice that there will be a cost for their free gifts in the future, and we are the guys and girls on the white horse who will save this country. Lees meer
show notes
Trump being asked about 'TACO' trade
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S2 Ep1052: George Packer: JD, Hollow Man
28 mei 2025 · 1 uur 17 min
Our VP used to think his path to power was through the ruling class at Yale Law School. But after 2016, he saw that his route was through Trump, so he swapped one set of elites for another. And now as a lord among the MAGA ruling class, he's embracing his true cruel, lying self—and railing against the globalists who nitpick about this silly due process thing. Meanwhile, even Elon doesn't like the bankruptcy-threatening reconciliation bill, even if it's larded with kickbacks just for him. Plus, America: stay and fight. And the biggest theft in the history of the presidency is happening every day right before our eyes. Lees meer
New Mexico congresswoman Melanie Stansbury and The Atlantic's George Packer join Tim Miller.
show notes
George's profile of the VP, "The Talented Mr. Vance"
Rep. Stansbury being featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
George's piece, "Be A Patriot"
George on Ross Douthat
Plus, tickets for our live show “Free Andry” on June 6 in DC
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S2 Ep1051: Pete Buttigieg: Dream Bigger, Talk More Boldly
27 mei 2025 · 1 uur 4 min
Democrats need vastly more imagination to confront the enormous challenges the country faces politically, economically, and on climate. The party can't just focus on stopping what is happening in Washington. Meanwhile, Trump can't stop insulting the intelligence of the American people, every part of the political spectrum has something to hate about the reconciliation bill, and libertarians need to speak up about a president disappearing people to a foreign black site. Plus, cracking the manosphere, what Biden could've done differently on Covid, and the era of politicians sticking to their talking points is over. Lees meer
Pete Buttigieg joins join Tim Miller.
show notesPete on the “Flagrant” pod on YouTube or on audio
Remaining tickets for the live Bulwark show in Nashville on Thursday
Plus, tickets for our live show “Free Andry” on June 6 in DC
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S2 Ep1050: Bill Kristol: Something Worth Fighting For
26 mei 2025 · 32 min
Despite our missteps in some of our more recent wars, we were fighting to bring freedom, democracy, and self-governance to others. Now, Trump's mercantilist agenda is showing us what it looks like to not have an American-led world order. And even after Russia's largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the war began, he still won't threaten Putin—only Zelensky. Meanwhile, just looking at the math alone, the reconciliation bill is alarming. Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller for a Memorial Day pod.
show notesBill's 'Bulwark on Sunday' interview, "A Marine's Case Against MAGA"
Will Selber on Trump's betrayal of our Afghan allies
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S2 Ep1049: James Comey: Uncomfortably Numb
23 mei 2025 · 50 min
Public corruption used to be a congressman hiding $90,000 in his freezer. Now, we have a president taking "me time" to rake in $40 million from a Chinese crypto billionaire who was facing fraud charges under POTUS 46. And that's just a drop in the bucket of some of Trump's recent haul. Of course, today's FBI will do nothing about it, and his buddies at the top of the bureau are instead focusing on celebrities who are definitely not Team Trump, or a person who posted a benign beach meme about 47. Meanwhile, the FBI has been ordered to redirect resources to deportations, raising serious questions about whether counterterrorism and counterintelligence—the agency's main priorities since 9/11—are being neglected. Lees meer
James Comey joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Comey's latest book, "FDR Drive"
Tim's playlist
Tim's interview with Karen Hao on her Sam Altman book
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S2 Ep1048: Jonathan Chait: House GOP Doesn't Care How Bad the Bill Is
22 mei 2025 · 1 uur 2 min
Republicans moved at such lightning speed that even they don't know how many people would lose health insurance— or how much they'd be spiking the deficit with their highly risky and big, ugly turd of a bill. And they don't care because they're cosmically committed to stopping the government from making rich people pay for healthcare for people who aren't. Plus, Dem leaders have an age culture problem, environmental groups are stuck in a Ralph Nader time-warp, and the danger of radical politics and supporting Hamas hits home on the streets of DC. Lees meer
Jonathan Chait joins join Tim Miller.
show notesJon's new piece on the House GOP bill (gift)
Jonathan Cohn on the proposed Medicaid work requirements
Tim and Patrick Gaspard on Trump's lies about South Africa
Jon's piece on John Fetterman (gift)
Jon on Trump's immoral foreign policy (gift)
Douthat interviewing JD Vance
*Join Tim, Sarah and Crooked's Jon Lovett for a FREE ANDRY live show and fundraiser June 6
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S2 Ep1047: Susan Glasser: American in Name Only
21 mei 2025 · 51 min
On deportations and on foreign policy, the Trump administration is swapping out American values and violating everything the U.S. has stood for in exchange for kleptocracy and transactionalism with the world's worst tyrants. But at the same time, Trump can't even seem to grasp that Putin has been waging war for decades to accomplish his goals and is not interested in cutting a deal to end the bloodshed in Ukraine. Plus, the very dim appointees running our federal agencies, Elon and Marco are now trying to deny they cut food aid, and the unwelcome honorific of being a Trump historian. Lees meer
Susan Glasser joins join Tim Miller.
show notesSusan on Trump's plane envy
The Playboy interview
The president of Finland on a golf course with Trump
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S2 Ep1046: David French: Schizo-in-Chief
20 mei 2025 · 1 uur 8 min
One day Trump sounds like Bernie promising the government will provide for everything. Then the next, he's like Paul Ryan the belt-tightener, prepping for austerity. And Code Pink was the order of the day when Mr. Tough Guy was in Saudi Arabia—attacking the foreign policy of the United States in the land of the 9/11 hijackers. Plus, Trump's SCOTUS appointees show some spine, Marco is truly pathetic, the big, insane reconciliation bill would gut Medicaid and hurt MAGA voters even if Trump denies it, and the DOJ investigates the hiring practices of Chicago's mayor. Lees meer
David French joins join Tim Miller.
show notes
David's podcast, "Advisory Opinions"
Palestinians marching against Hamas in Gaza on Monday
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S2 Ep1045: Bill Kristol: A New Gilded Age
19 mei 2025 · 51 min
No, the Trump administration is not focused on the forgotten man or bringing industrial jobs back. Instead, the real estate developer is handing out threats left and right—fresh off his Middle East trip, where he scored numerous deals with Islamofascists for himself, his family, and his cronies. And no matter what he says, the 'Palace in the Sky' is for him, once taxpayers pony up all the funds for retrofitting. Meanwhile, House Republicans are attempting to ram through their reconciliation bill—which is a huge debt bomb and is a big reason why Moody's downgraded the credit rating of the United States. Plus, Biden's cancer diagnosis, Epstein's 'absolutely crystal-clear' suicide, Trump proves Springsteen's point, and the administration gladly takes some of Mexico's worst. Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Jonathan Cohn on the reconciliation bill's Medicaid cuts
El Chapo's ex-wife and extended family at the US Southern border
Springsteen in Manchester commenting on the current administration
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S2 Ep1044: Peter Hamby: All in Service of Kissing Trump's Ass
16 mei 2025 · 1 uur 27 min
MAGA is having a performative tantrum calling for James Comey to be jailed over a seashell meme because the daily job of Trump's supporters and Cabinet members is to try to warm his heart—that includes Kristi Noem changing her face and Tulsi firing top intel officials because they told the White House the truth it doesn't want to hear. Meanwhile, fentanyl deaths and violent crime fell dramatically last year, and border crossings have plummeted, but the administration keeps hyping a "crisis" to try to justify suspending habeas corpus. Plus, Tim briefly goes back to his comms job, the GOP's bill is not on a glide-path, Dems think their leaders are "spineless," Gavin tries "just win" on for size, Kamala mulls the CA governor's race—and new baby advice!! Lees meer
Peter Hamby joins Tim Miller for a bountiful weekend pod.
show notes
Peter's pod, "The Powers That Be"
Peter on Puck's poll on Dems
Peter's "Good Luck America"
Tim's FYPod (Suzanne Lambert episode out Saturday)
Bulwark piece on how Biden should rethink his post-presidency
Free Andry live show in DC on June 6
Tim's playlist
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S2 Ep1043: Michael Weiss: All Bribes Accepted
15 mei 2025 · 48 min
American taxpayers may have flown Donald Trump to the Middle East, but he's not there to negotiate on behalf of our strategic or national interests—he's on the prowl for goodies, and happy to make policy changes in return. Like, the new Syrian president offering a Trump Tower in Damascus: Zap, sanctions on Syria are over. Or the jumbo jet-giving Qataris requesting that Trump go 'easy' on Iran: 'Not a problem, no sirree.' Sorry to all the hawkish Trump voters out there who thought he'd deliver a maximum pressure campaign on Tehran. Plus, Russia's Potemkin peace talks with Ukraine, and another installment from ICE's cold-blooded deportation campaign. Lees meer
Michael Weiss joins join Tim Miller.
show notesDetails on Qatar's 747 that no one wanted and is now being 'gifted' to Trump
NYT on Trump's expensive mini war vs. the Houthis that achieved nothing (gift)
Rep. Garcia confronting Kristi Noem about Andry, the gay makeup artist
The Triad on the new Afrikaner refugee who has thoughts about Jews
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S2 Ep1042: Leah Litman and Andrew Egger: Grievance All the Way Down
14 mei 2025 · 1 uur 6 min
The five men on the Supreme Court are so easily triggered and seem to be making law based on their emotional needs. Meanwhile, they also see discrimination in some of the best things about America—like equality or the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. And at the White House, the press office got totally bored with the worshipful questions from MAGA media and invited The Bulwark's Andrew Egger over—so Karoline Leavitt could mix it up with a reporter who'd definitely ask tough questions. Plus, Trump's crypto grift reaches new heights, Gorsuch is oddly obsessed with the EPA, and the toadies are getting whipsawed by the constant tariff adjustments. Lees meer
Leah Litman and Andrew Egger join Tim Miller.
show notesLeah's book, "Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes"
Leah's "Strict Scrutiny" podcast
Tuesday's "Morning Shots" newsletter
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S2 Ep1041: Justin Wolfers: Trump's Centrally Planned Economy
13 mei 2025 · 54 min
China sounds downright Reaganesque and is acting like a more stable, attractive trading partner than the country that launched a trade war. And even though Trump loves play-acting businessman, and calling CEOs by their first name, no one on Wall Street and no one who studies economics likes his continuing tariffs—they know they hurt American companies and American consumers. And the uncertainty is paralyzing. Meanwhile, the GOP will use fancy terms to try to paper over their budget, which would hurt the working class and dramatically increase the deficit—all for tax cuts. Lees meer
University of Michigan's Justin Wolfers joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Justin's pod, "Think Like An Economist"
Tim on the "Raging Moderates" podcast
Tim on the podcast, "Breaking Points"
The New Orleans antique store Tim referenced
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S2 Ep1040: Bill Kristol: A Golden 747 from Hamas's Sugar Daddy
12 mei 2025 · 51 min
Trump can't abide flying around in crusty, old Air Force One. Qatar—funder of both Hamas and the leading U.S. college Gaza protest group—just happens to have a spare, pimped-out 747 lying around, which they'd like to gift to Trump so he can use that instead. Pay no attention to the complete hypocrisy of an administration that says that students protesting for Gaza are a threat to our foreign policy. Plus, Trump's fake drug price cap, the White House caves to China on tariffs, Herr Miller becomes the leading voice for disappearing people, and Bill tells Tim he's rethinking his position on "Abolish ICE." Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notesSen. Barrasso dodging NBC's questions on habeas corpus
Tim's FYPod
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S2 Ep1039: Amanda Carpenter: MAGA's Bad Week
9 mei 2025 · 59 min
First, the Vatican chose a Bulwark pope, not an AR-15 loving, immigrant-hating pope. Then, in a major blow to Steve Bannon, Trump pulled his nominee for U.S. attorney in D.C.—forcing the avid TV watcher in the Oval Office to turn to Fox News for the 23rd time to help fill his administration—this time with Jeanine Pirro. And in the North Carolina Supreme Court race, the Stop the Steal candidate finally conceded to his Democratic opponent seven months late. Plus, Trump is acting like a Soviet central planner, the reconciliation bill fight is starting to look ugly, and the economy proves yet again that it does not lie. Lees meer
Amanda Carpenter joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
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show notes
Tim's and JVL's 'Bulwark Take' on the new pope
JVL's Triad on Pope Leo XIV
Damon Linker's tweet about the elderly Fox viewer
Linda McMahon's letter to Harvard
Poster in Josh Hawley's dorm room
Tim and Sam on Trump's fake trade deal with the UK
Tim's playlist
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S2 Ep1038: Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin: The Power of 'No'
8 mei 2025 · 49 min
Protest is the new brunch again. We're witnessing historic levels of pro-democracy grassroots engagement across a broad-based movement of everyday people. The leaders of Indivisible join Tim to discuss how the movement needs to stay focused on what it agrees on— no kings—and to save ideological disputes for another day. Plus, it also needs to get more young people involved. But it definitely should keep ignoring political consultants who tell Dems not to talk about immigration— because it turns out that the federal government kidnapping people off the street is not popular. Lees meer
Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg join Tim Miller.
show notesIndivisible's "No Kings" protest day
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S2 Ep1037: Katie Phang and Greg Casar: Trump & Co Are the Real Flag Burners
7 mei 2025 · 56 min
The Supreme Court is working hard to tend to Mr. Presidential Immunity's wounds because he just can't abide lower federal court judges telling him he can't kick trans people out of the military, or that the 14th Amendment is a real thing. Meanwhile, Kristi Noem is defiling her own birthright citizenship by kidnapping people and sending them to a foreign gulag. Plus, how the Dems should fight the party that only wants to break things—and craft a better economic message that appeals to both moderates and progressives. Lees meer
Rep. Greg Casar of Texas and Katie Phang join Tim Miller.
show notesKatie's Substack
NYT profile of Rep. Casar
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S2 Ep1036: Jonathan V. Last: An Economic Tsunami Is Coming
6 mei 2025 · 1 uur 8 min
Because Donald Trump's stupid trade embargo has us reading shipping charts, we now know that 40% of containership traffic between Asia and the U.S. has been canceled. That means a shortage of consumer goods, which will push prices higher. At the same time, the business environment is too unpredictable for companies to plan. Meanwhile, Trump is reorienting the American economy to a corrupt oligarchy—as he rakes in billions in bribes off his crypto. Plus, Hegseth wants to clear out a chunk of the top brass, U.S. attorney nominee Ed Martin forgot to say he's been on Russian-state media outlets more than 150 times, and the DNC absolutely should not be posting about Kamala at the Met Gala. Lees meer
JVL joins Tim Miller.
show notesHuffPost on the trucking company buying Trump's crypto coin
The NYT on Trump family business deals
JVL on the Ashli Babbitt payout
NPR story on Trump voters in Emmitsburg, MD
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S2 Ep1035: Bill Kristol: A Reckless, Tin-Pot President
5 mei 2025 · 49 min
Trump 2.0 is showing so little concern for his political standing that even Fox made primetime room for Karl Rove to vent about how he's failing at the fundamentals. Our aspiring Gaddafi doesn't care that tariffs aren't popular or that he sounds like Mr. Scrooge when he says kids should have fewer toys. And while belt-tightening is good enough for average Americans, he's throwing himself a giant, ostentatious military parade that will cost tens of millions of dollars. Plus, conservatives in the Anglosphere take another hit, this time down under—and thumbs-up for Maine Gov. Janet Mills, thumbs-down for Gretchen Whitmer. Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notesToday's "Morning Shots"
Jonathan's recent newsletter on Gretchen Whitmer
The Atlantic's recent interview with Trump (gifted)
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S2 Ep1034: Derek Thompson: Trump's War on Dolls
2 mei 2025 · 1 uur 5 min
Just imagine Fox's histrionics if a President AOC had said that American kids have too many dolls and that she's raising the price on them. Now the supposedly pro-family administration is doubling down on 'just pay more’ for toys, while it waits for China to blink on tariffs—an unlikely event given that it makes a lot of the things the world needs and wants. Meanwhile, AI's economic threat may be here for recent college grads, Marc Andreessen has deep thoughts on VC, and the NIH (and future American Nobel Prizes) are being burned to own the libs. Plus, the Dems should zero in on how Trump is making America less affordable—and very much like 2020 again. Lees meer
show notes
Derek's piece on the job market for recent college grads
Derek's podcast, "Plain English"
The book, "Abundance," by Derek and Ezra Klein
Tim's playlist
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S2 Ep1033: Tom Nichols: The Hollow Opportunists
1 mei 2025 · 50 min
Marco Rubio was supposed to be one of the only adults in the room, and now he's become a shell of himself executing Trump's unwinding of the US role in the world. Meanwhile, Pam Bondi just can't keep her blubbering sycophancy under wraps. Plus, Mike Waltz's ouster at NSA, our shakedown of Ukraine with a minerals deal, Trump's pettiness is getting lost in the firehose of his revenge, and even the president of El Salvador doubts the criminality of the people ICE is sending to CECOT. Lees meer
Tom Nichols join Tim Miller.
show notesTim's interview with Rep. Chris Van Hollen
NYT's recent story on the deportations to El Salvador (gift)
The link for tonight's AMA at 8pm ET
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S2 Ep1032: Tony Blinken: America Alone
30 april 2025 · 59 min
For 80 years, the United States built strong economic, military, and political alliances around the world. But in just 100 days, that trust has been dismantled, and our friends are now working without us to forge new relationships. Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken joins Tim to discuss how hard it will be to rebuild after what Trump has done—plus the Biden administration's response to the Gaza protests, and the continuing questions over why Biden did not step aside earlier. And, Alex Wagner joins from Hungary to discuss the mass protests there. Lees meer
Tony Blinken and Alex Wagner join Tim Miller.
show notesAlex's "Trumpland" podcast
Tim on Trump's ABC News interview
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S2 Ep1031: Joe Weisenthal: Everything Screams Recession
29 april 2025 · 51 min
The markets may be hanging in there but they also held strong in early 2020—right up until Covid hit New York. Meanwhile, tariffs are driving consumer confidence down, firms are talking about cutting back on hiring and investments, and Goldman Sachs is predicting that the U.S. will have the highest inflation and lowest growth of any developed economy this year. Plus, Scott Bessent is not a calming influence, and Trump has a real 'War on Christmas' in the works. Lees meer
The Stalwart Joe Weisenthal joins Tim Miller.
show notesJoe and Tracy Alloway's newsletter on how the markets can get things wrong (gift)
Recent 'Odd Lots' pod on the coming empty shelves & the War on Christmas
Joe's Bluesky post on the War on Christmas
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S2 Ep1030: Bill Kristol: Creepy and Wrong
28 april 2025 · 48 min
The Trump administration keeps showing it's sooo tough on immigration that it deported three U.S. citizen children, arrested the wife of a member of the Coast Guard because her visa expired, and perp-walked an allegedly immigrant-concealing Wisconsin judge in handcuffs—instead of showing her the kind of deference Trump received over the course of his four indictments. Plus, the wildly wealthy jackasses behind Trump, the missing cargo ships at the ports, and Scott Pelley at 60 Minutes shows how it's done. Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notesTim on Trump's bad polling numbers for his first 100 days
Adrian on a focus group of Latino men in Arizona who are disappoined in Trump
Bill's 'Bulwark on Sunday' interview with Ryan Goodman
Semafor's piece, "The Group Chats that Changed America"
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S2 Ep1029: Beto O'Rourke: Never Lose Hope
25 april 2025 · 58 min
Since this country's founding, we have been tested. And the Americans before us somehow stood up and fought the good fight. We can't be the generation that loses it all 249 years into this experiment. But that doesn't mean we can't laugh about the stupid clowns—like Trump showing once again that he has no idea how tariffs work. Plus, RFK's dangerous proposed autism registry is selling a cruel fantasy. And Democrats need to lock down what they're selling and listen to what voters want from the government. Lees meer
Beto O'Rourke joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notesBeto's Substack
Beto's "Powered by People"
NY Post story on the Venezualan stylist, Andry, imprisoned in El Salvador
Tim's interview with David Pakman about not traveling abroad
Tim’s book recommendation, "Diary of a Man in Despair"
Tim's playlist
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S2 Ep1028: Cory Booker: A National Crisis and a Global Crisis
24 april 2025 · 51 min
Donald Trump is trying to foist the worst peace deal in the last 100 years on Ukraine, as he gets repeatedly played by foreign leaders on the world stage. At home, he's turned JFK's "Ask not" upside down to 'Ask what you can do for Donald Trump.' But when will the cowardly law firms or CEOs groveling for a tariff exemption stand up for patriotism, our core constitutional values—and America's better vision of itself? Plus, Tim challenges an 11-year-old block from Twitter's golden era, and Booker shares diet & exercise tips. Lees meer
Sen. Cory Booker joins Tim Miller.
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S2 Ep1027: Jonathan Rauch: Focus On the Corruption
23 april 2025 · 57 min
Trump may be brilliant at assaulting us with his daily distractions, but Democrats need to relentlessly target his corruption because that may be his weak spot. He is running the government in a pre-modern way—like it's his own personal piggy bank. And he has replaced rules-oriented bureaucrats with mostly incompetent loyalists who are only there to do his bidding. Meanwhile, Christianity could help heal the country's partisan polarization if it returns to the teachings of Jesus instead of the gospel of Donald Trump. Plus, the constant burden of having to fight the cognitive warfare and sensory overload coming out of the White House. Lees meer
Brookings’ Jonathan Rauch joins Tim Miller.joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Jon's piece on Trump's patrimonialism
Jon's predictions in 2022 about a Trump second term
A Chris Murphy Senate floor speech on Trump's corruption
Mark Hertling piece on the Russian and Ukrainian armies that Tim referenced
Jon's new book, "Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy"
Jon's book, "The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50"
The opening scene of The Godfather
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S2 Ep1026: Michael Steele: Your Voice Matters
22 april 2025 · 58 min
Trump and the people around him are trying to weaken our constitutional protections like due process. But the administration is getting rattled, because people see that the Abrego Garcia story is not about the man, but our rights, and because people keep protesting. We have to keep gumming up the works. Meanwhile, why aren't the Chamber of Commerce and other business groups howling while Trump single-handedly ruins our country's global economic status? Plus, our fully-grown SecDef is blaming the deep state for his troubles, even though they involve his wife, his brother, and his phone. And Dear Charleston: Please un-elect Nancy Mace. Lees meer
Michael Steele joins Tim Miller.
show notesSupport the Jesuit Refugee Service here
More on the Harvard scientist being held in ICE detention
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S2 Ep1025: Bill Kristol: Hegseth Keeps Proving his Unfitness
21 april 2025 · 50 min
Republican senators could have insisted on someone who was even minimally competent to run our military, but because of their spinelessness, we've now got a SecDef who can't resist texting top secret war plans. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court shows it doesn't trust the Trump administration, and judges on lower federal courts have stopped believing what its lawyers say. Plus, Joe Perticone joins from Rome to discuss the passing of Pope Francis. And the uncanny relevance of the American revolutionaries' grievances against King George. Lees meer
Bill Kristol and Joe Perticone joins Tim Miller.
show notesRyan Holiday on the Naval Academy canceling his speech (gift)
List of grievances against King George in the Declaration of Independence
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S2 Ep1024: Anne Applebaum: Everything Is a Game to Trump
18 april 2025 · 49 min
Sen. Van Hollen showed that Congress actually does have agency, and a federal judge finally scorched the administration in crystal-clear language about how it's violating the essence of our constitutional republic. But the White House is just treating the whole Abrego Garcia affair like it's a joke. Meanwhile, Trump is elevating his own businesses over the nation's, and is quickly adopting the kleptocratic models of Russia and China—while overlooking the fact that the Chinese have maintained a functional and competent government. Plus, children all over the world are going to die because Elon wants our money to go to his companies, and Marco signaled that the big talker who promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours is ready to give up and walk away. Lees meer
Anne Applebaum joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Anne's recent piece, "Kleptocracy, Inc."
The Atlantic on Trump ending lifesaving humanitarian aid
JVL's Triad on the mindset of ICE agents
Tim's playlist
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S2 Ep1023: Ben Wittes: Sorry, We Still Have Due Process
17 april 2025 · 55 min
The White House is doubling down on justifying its extra-judicial actions around Abrego Garcia by trying to incriminate him in the court of public opinion. But the government still can't pluck people off an American street and send them to a concentration camp without due process. Plus, Judge Boasberg is not letting Stephen Miller off the hook for defying his order to turn the Salvadoran-bound planes around. And while the administration tries to stir up outrage about one immigrant's marital problems, they admiringly describe the evil, blood-thirsty Vladimir Putin as a good guy. Ben Wittes joins Tim Miller. Lees meer
show notes
CNBC on Chris Krebs leaving his company after being targeted by Trump
Boasberg's probable cause finding to hold the goverment in criminal contempt
Tim's 2019 Bulwark piece that he referenced
Support Lawfare
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S2 Ep1022: Stephanie Ruhle: Only Trump Is Happy
16 april 2025 · 47 min
Manufacturing orders are down, stocks are down, and mortgage rates are up. But Trump and his family are wealthier than they've ever been. He's got his Ponzi-like crypto scheme, his meme coin, and a boatload of big money types showing up at Mar-a-Lago trying to curry favors from him for some cold, hard cash. Meanwhile, Trump is play-acting like he has a strong hand, but he's begging China to make a deal. Plus, the administration is defunding science and our world-renowned medical centers to buy crypto. And the Abrego Garcia kidnapping and imprisonment has touched a nerve in surprising ways. Lees meer
Stephanie Ruhle joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Chuck Grassley getting grilled at town hall over Abrego Garcia
WSJ story on Elon's 'legion of babies,' and their mothers (behind firewall)
Mediaite summary of WSJ piece
Bluesky post on the fake gold medallions in the Oval Office
Bloomberg on United Airlines having two profit scenarios because of the trade war (gifted)
*The Bulwark Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp
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S2 Ep1021: Josh Barro: Total Idiocy
15 april 2025 · 1 uur 12 min
Trump & company want to turn us into Taiwan circa 1985. But the brilliant minds behind the idea of intentionally weakening the dollar are prioritizing making America a good place to manufacture rather than a good place to live. If the administration stays on this track, this country will have lower incomes, higher inflation, and weaker buying power—and more expensive beer and tomatoes. Maybe we were better off with Jared there. Meanwhile, in the Rust Belt, some Dems are arguing for a smarter version of tariffs. Plus, Abrego Garcia's union brothers want him home and Trump wants to fight with Harvard. Lees meer
Rep. Chris Deluzio and Josh Barro join Tim Miller.
show notes
Rep. Deluzio's NYT piece arguing for smarter tariffs
Josh's NYT piece on how Trump is giving Dems a gift with his tariffs
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S2 Ep1020: Bill Kristol: Staring Down the Barrel
14 april 2025 · 46 min
We are here: Trump is openly defying the Supreme Court while sitting side-by-side with a Latin American strongman who openly mocked our judicial system from inside the Oval Office. Trump so badly wants his one-man rule and Republicans keep helping him, while corporate America keeps trying to get on his good side. Meanwhile, the intimidation is chilling free speech on college campuses and within immigrant communities. Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notesJVL's emergency Triad from Sunday
JVL's latest Triad
The latest Focus Group on the fighting mood among Dem voters
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S2 Ep1019: David Frum: It's Too Late to Stop the Pain
11 april 2025 · 52 min
Trump has effectively imposed a trade embargo on China, which means that after the inventory runs out, American retail will soon dry up. And since Europeans are already bypassing U.S. military contractors to beef up their defense spending —El Salvador is our only ally now— Trump is likely to do something desperate, like firing the Fed chair or seizing Greenland. American presidents decades from now will still be cleaning up what Trump did to this country in 2025. David Frum breaks down the insanity and stupidity of the vision behind the tariffs regime as well as the deep feelings of betrayal in Canada. If globalism means peace, prosperity, and commerce, then let's be globalists. Lees meer
David Frum joins guest host Jonathan V. Last for the weekend pod.
show notesDavid's new Atlantic podcast
David on screw manufacturing and the absurdity of Trump's tariffs
David on how the tariffs will make smuggling great again
Tim's playlist
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S2 Ep1018: Andrew Weissmann and Patrick Gaspard: Naked Corruption
10 april 2025 · 1 uur 19 min
Just before he paused the tariffs on Wednesday, an unusual spike in activity on the S&P 500 prompted speculation that Trump was orchestrating an insider trading scheme. After the markets closed, he joked with *the* Charles Schwab about how the financier had made $2.5 billion in trades that day. Meanwhile, Trump ordered the DOJ to investigate two former officials he regards as enemies—this comes on the heels of his efforts to intimidate law firms from taking on clients who oppose him. Plus, Trump's long obsession with white South Africans, and do Democrats listen too much to grassroots activist groups? Lees meer
Andrew Weissmann and Patrick Gaspard join Tim Miller.
show notes
Andrew's Substack
Rep. Steve Horsford questioning whether the tariff pause was market manipulation
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S2 Ep1017: Catherine Rampell: Trump's Tariffmageddon
9 april 2025 · 1 uur 20 min
The White House is pumping out a lot of happy talk about countries wanting to make deals over the tariffs, but the tumult Trump has created has spread to the bond market. And that may be a sign that he has people so spooked about the U.S. economy that our Treasuries are no longer seen as a safe bet. Meanwhile, China has a lot of leverage here and may be using it. Lees meer
Plus, the Democrats' candidate recruiter for the midterms, Colorado's Jason Crow, discusses how to win back working class voters.
Catherine Rampell and Rep. Jason Crow join Tim Miller.
show notes
Catherine's column, "Who will tell Trump he’s naked?"
Catherine's column on the Senate GOP tax plan
NYT profile of Jason Crow
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S2 Ep1016: Jonathan Cohn and Mark Lilla: Lobotomizing America
8 april 2025 · 1 uur 7 min
When it comes to biomedical research, America is already great. We are the world's leader in the field. But the Trump administration is gutting research and innovation on things like cancer, Alzheimer's, and arthritis—and the amputation of our scientific expertise under RFK, Jr. has been about as thoughtful as the tariffs rollout. Meanwhile, when it comes to the developing budget bill, Medicaid is getting some surprising red state support from people like Josh Hawley. Plus, when people willfully choose ignorance as a way to cope with an uncertain world. Lees meer
Professor Mark Lilla and The Bulwark's Jonathan Cohn join Tim Miller.
show notesMark Lilla's new book, "Ignorance and Bliss: On Wanting Not to Know"
Mark's website
Jonathan on Trump's cuts at child-care programs like Head Start
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S2 Ep1015: Bill Kristol: The High Cost of Stupidity
7 april 2025 · 54 min
Part of the reason for the market bloodbath is because the finance wizzes didn't factor in that Trump would actually do the truly moronic thing he kept saying he would. Their shock over his recklessness is intensifying the crash. Meanwhile, a trio of administration fools trying to defend the tariffs—Lutnick, Bessent, and Hassett—showed there is no grand design to the trade war, White House infighting is getting hot enough that even Elon is subtweeting Trump, and the folks we elected over on the Hill could actually do something to try to stop the market carnage. Plus, new reporting on our government's kidnapping of migrants, Republicans in North Carolina are trying to steal a supreme court seat, and where is JD Vance? Lees meer
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
JVL on the end of the American Age
Lauren on the backlash against Dems in major law firms who are bending the knee
60 Minutes segment on migrants sent to the Salvadoran penal colony
Tim's 'Bulwark Take' responding to the 60 Minutes report
Tim talking with AEI's Stan Veuger about Trump's terrible tariff math
The book, "The Captive Mind" by Polish poet Czeslaw Milosz
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S2 Ep1014: Adam Kinzinger: Mortal Damage to the American Empire
4 april 2025 · 53 min
It's been great to live in America since World War II, but Trump is in the process of blowing up that whole order. Even Canada is looking to lead a new alliance, because how can other countries trust us after voters put the stupidest convicted American back in charge? And never forget that Russia is not on the tariff list—despite the fact that the US does more trade with Russia than a number of other countries on the list. Meanwhile, Trump opted to head to a golf tournament instead of attending the dignified return of the four dead servicemen who were killed in Lithuania. Plus, 9/11 truther Laura Loomer is running the National Security Council and we're still bombing the Houthis. Lees meer
Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notesVideo of Lithuanians paying homage to the four American soldiers who died in a training accident
Tim's playlist