Bulwark Takes

Епизоди

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  Russia’s Shadow War Is Spreading Across Europe 20.09.2026 27мин

  Sam Stein and former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos give their takes on the flurry of international headlines over the weekend. The Houthis have escalated attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on Riyadh, while Ukraine has launched a major wave of drone and missile strikes on Moscow and Russian energy infrastructure.They also discuss the Trump administration’s response to the Saudi crisis, the U.S. role in Ukraine, Russia’s escalating attacks and sabotage efforts across Europe, and the prospect of a brutal winter for Ukraine.
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  Tim Miller Goes Off on the GOP's Trainwreck NC Senate Candidate 20.09.2026 15мин

  Tim Miller is back with another installment in his continuing series on the Republican candidates running in key races across the country. This time it’s Michael Whatley, Trump’s handpicked Senate candidate in North Carolina, whose record includes appointing a convicted child sex offender to a state GOP committee, hard-line abortion politics, financial interests tied to policies he supports, and questions about his role in Hurricane Helene recovery. Plus, Tim digs into the ugly story behind an anti-Roy Cooper ad featuring a grieving father who says he was misled about how his story would be used.Explore more in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdXT8ySfDKu0
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  Trump’s Iran Disaster Is Reshaping the World (w/ Robert Kagan) | Bulwark on Sunday 20.09.2026 39мин

  Bill Kristol talks with Robert Kagan about how Trump’s Iran war is accelerating America’s retreat from the world, leaving allies to fend for themselves while China and Russia gain room to maneuver. They also discuss Trump’s unfinished ambitions in Greenland, Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington, and Kagan’s warning that the breakdown of the postwar order could move much faster than Washington is prepared for.
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  Trump Says He’s Banning the ‘Free Press’ From His White House 19.09.2026 18мин

  Donald Trump has banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, and this time, he followed through. Will Saletan and Will Sommer discuss Trump’s escalating attack on the press, his claim that the outlets can return if they start covering him more favorably, and what the crackdown could mean for journalists across Washington.They also discuss the First Amendment implications of viewpoint-based press access, Trump’s broader use of legal and regulatory pressure against media organizations, the FCC’s actions under Brendan Carr, and the White House’s decision to elevate openly partisan right-wing media while shutting out mainstream news organizations.
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  America Nearly Made a Catastrophic Mistake With China | Command Post 19.09.2026 26мин

  Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) break down the latest developments in the Iran war, including reports that AI-generated intelligence nearly led the U.S. military to board a Chinese vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. They discuss the dangers of relying on false intelligence, the importance of human oversight, and what can happen when bad information makes its way into military decision-making.They also examine reports that the Pentagon may be undercounting U.S. military deaths in the Middle East, as well as the growing cost of the Iran war. Plus, sensitive F-35 parts that were supposed to be shipped to the United States somehow ended up in Hong Kong.Finally, Ben and General Hertling fact-check President Trump’s claims about the massive amount of Venezuelan oil the U.S. supposedly secured, including his claim that America got 65 billion barrels of oil and 500 years’ worth of supply. Hertling explains what the deal actually entails and whether it constitutes a war crime.A quick note: Paid members of the Bulwark give us the freedom to follow the news wherever it leads, including stories that don’t just chase an algorithm. That’s why we can spend real time with experts like General Hertling on stories we think deserve your attention. If you think this kind of coverage is worthwhile, please consider becoming a paid members on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or Substack.
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  Trump’s Kennedy Center Fight Is Barreling Toward a Constitutional Showdown (w/ Nathaniel Zelinsky) 19.09.2026 22мин

  Bill Kristol talks with Nathaniel Zelinsky, the lead counsel challenging Trump’s efforts at the Kennedy Center, about the president’s demolition threats, the judge putting new limits on what the administration can do, and what happens if Trump simply refuses to obey a court order. Zelinsky explains why this fight over one building could become a much bigger test of the rule of law.
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  George Conway Goes Live From the Kennedy Center Protest 19.09.2026 1ч 3мин

  Join George Conway, Andrew Egger and Catherine Rampell as they cover the protests at the Kennedy Center.
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  Canada’s Break With Trump Just Got MUCH Bigger | Receipts Live 18.09.2026 50мин

  A note for podcast listeners: Receipts with Catherine Rampell now has its own podcast feed! This is the final episode that will appear in the Bulwark Takes feed, so search for “Receipts with Catherine Rampell” and follow or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don’t miss the next episode.Catherine and JVL take on Canada’s accelerating break with the United States, Trump’s self-inflicted inflation problem, and the dangerous game unfolding between the White House and the Federal Reserve. Plus, DOGE somehow managed to spend $9.5 billion paying federal workers not to work, while government data that could expose tax cheating is quietly disappearing.
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  We Made Will Watch The Daily Wire’s Deranged New Movie 17.09.2026 24мин

  Sam Stein and Will Sommer give their takes to The Daily Wire’s bizarre new movie, Run Hide Fight: Infidels. They dig into the film’s deeply anti-Muslim premise, its portrayal of liberals, LGBTQ students and campus progressives, and the strange political fantasy at the center of the story.Will explains the chaotic plot and bizarre characters to Jonathan Majors’ surprisingly limited role, despite the over-sized marketing. Plus, they discuss the Daily Wire’s response to Will’s review and the wildest moments from the film.Find your next fall favorites at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://www.quince.com/BULWARKTAKES. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too.
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  BREAKING: Trump Threatens Kennedy Center Demolition If His Name Isn’t On It 17.09.2026 37мин

  Trump is threatening the future of the Kennedy Center if he doesn’t get the recognition he wants. Andrew Egger and George Conway give their takes on Trump’s push to put his name on the institution, his talk of demolishing the building, and the surreal image of Trump looking at a mock-up of the Kennedy Center in ruins.They also discuss the growing clash between the Trump administration and the courts, the administration’s conflicting claims about the Kennedy Center’s closure, and why the courts alone may not be enough to check presidential power. Plus, Conway explains why Congress ultimately has to reassert its authority to investigate, supervise, and hold the administration accountable.Find your next fall favorites at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://www.quince.com/BULWARKTAKES. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too.
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  Kash Patel’s Eyebrow Has Gone Rogue | The Trio 17.09.2026 49мин

  Tim Miller, Sam Stein and Will Sommer take on a bizarre collection of stories from MAGA and the Republican Party, including Milo Yiannopoulos’ messy divorce, a GOP nominee’s ties to the Unite the Right rally, Victor Marx’s latest campaign controversies and a Republican candidate who fell for a fake Kai Trump account.Plus, the trio breaks down Kash Patel’s contentious hearing and his eyebrow-raising FBI spending, before meeting a Republican congressional candidate with a 20-song Trump rap album.Find your next fall favorites at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://www.quince.com/BULWARKTAKES. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too.
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  Trump’s Gas Price Problem Is About to Get Much, Much Worse (w/ GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan) 16.09.2026 13мин

  Gas prices are surging and this time, the outlook is getting even uglier. Tim Miller is joined by Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, to break down why oil prices are climbing, why diesel prices are hitting record levels, and why Americans could be facing $7 and $8 diesel this winter.De Haan explains how the escalating conflict in the Middle East, attacks on Russian refineries, tight diesel inventories, and refinery disruptions are squeezing the global fuel market. Forty-two states are already seeing record diesel prices, while the national gas average is creeping back toward this year’s high.With refineries operating at nearly 98% capacity and diesel inventories 15% below their five-year average, De Haan warns there is very little room for another disruption, especially heading into winter. And despite talk of prices coming down after the midterms, he says there’s no magic date when the underlying problems simply disappear.The day always ends well with Casper. Right now save up to 30% on mattresses and up to 35% on everything else when you go to https://Casper.com
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  Command Post: Iran Is Doing More Damage to the U.S. Military Than We Knew 16.09.2026 44мин

  Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) give their takes on the rapidly expanding Iran war, from attacks on U.S. military installations and disruptions to oil supplies to the growing conflict with the Houthis and the strain on American forces across the Middle East. They discuss the potential economic consequences, including the estimated $38 billion already spent on the war and the billions more it could cost each month.Plus, they examine Rep. Thomas Massie’s impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, what the move could mean inside the Pentagon, and the military’s relationship with Congress.Read more from Mark: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-iran-war-is-moving-too-fast-for-washington-trump-houthis-yemen-saudi-arabia-pipeline-bab-mandab-hormuz-oil-iraqThe day always ends well with Casper. Right now save up to 30% on mattresses and up to 35% on everything else when you go to https://Casper.com.
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  BREAKING: JD Vance Privately Advised Hillary Clinton's Campaign in 2016 (w/ Chris Whipple) 16.09.2026 26мин

  Sam Stein is joined by Chris Whipple, who wrote for Vanity Fair about the remarkable political transformation of J.D. Vance, from a young Trump critic at Yale Law School to Trump’s vice president and a potential MAGA successor. They dig into Vance’s behind-the-scenes efforts in 2016 to help Hillary Clinton defeat Trump and examine what drove his dramatic reversal. Was Vance always destined for MAGA, or did something change along the way?Plus, Chris shares what Susie Wiles told him about Vance’s evolution and why she viewed his transformation differently from other Republican politicians.Read more: https://www.vanityfair.com/story/jd-vance-yale-lawThe day always ends well with Casper. Right now save up to 30% on mattresses and up to 35% on everything else when you go to https://Casper.com.
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  Kash Patel’s Senate Hearing Takes an Absolutely Wild Turn (w/ George Conway) 16.09.2026 21мин

  Trump is raging at the Supreme Court after his own appointees helped block his administration’s mail-ballot rules, and George Conway joins Sam Stein to discuss the ruling, Trump’s extraordinary attack on the justices he picked, and what could come next as the midterms approach. Then things take a sharp turn as they watch Kash Patel try to explain one of the strangest—and grossest—FBI controversies you’re ever likely to hear discussed in a Senate hearing.Check your brain and health the way I do. Function provides 160+ lab tests for $1/day and member pricing on advanced imaging. Join at https://functionhealth.com/BULWARKTAKES and use code BULWARKTAKES25 for a $25 credit.
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  Republicans’ "Anti-Communist" Obsession Backfires Spectacularly 15.09.2026 17мин

  Republicans spent their midterm convention warning that communists are coming for America. Will Saletan runs their own definition of “communism” against Donald Trump’s promises of $5,000 checks, government stakes in private companies, admiration for China, and even his jokes about being “the greatest communist in history”—and finds the GOP’s argument collapsing under its own weight.Check your brain and health the way I do. Function provides 160+ lab tests for $1/day and member pricing on advanced imaging. Join at https://functionhealth.com/BULWARKTAKES and use code BULWARKTAKES25 for a $25 credit.
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  Morning Shots: New Poll Shows Major Democratic Lead Ahead of Midterms 15.09.2026 33мин

  Bill Kristol and guest host Ben Parker break down the latest New York Times/Siena polling showing Democrats with a significant advantage on the generic congressional ballot heading into the midterms. They discuss why Democrats are now leading Republicans on the economy, cost of living, immigration, and foreign wars. They also examine the growing political problem Republicans face on artificial intelligence, with voters overwhelmingly opposed to new AI data centers in their communities. Bill explains why Democrats could use Trump’s aggressive stance on AI to put Republicans on the defensive.Plus, the conversation turns to Kash Patel’s bizarre Senate hearing, including questions about the FBI’s hiring rules involving bestiality, and why the absurd exchange distracts from much more serious questions about the FBI. Ben and Bill also discuss Patel’s handling of the Epstein files and why the administration’s refusal to provide meaningful transparency could become a bigger issue in the midterm elections.Check your brain and health the way I do. Function provides 160+ lab tests for $1/day and member pricing on advanced imaging. Join at functionhealth.com/BULWARKTAKES and use code BULWARKTAKES25 for a $25 credit.
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  Trump’s Lies Are Coming Faster Than Anyone Can Track 15.09.2026 15мин

  Tim Miller gives his take on Trump’s latest manic posting spree, from AI and China to oil prices, Iran, Ukraine, and Trump’s repeated promises of tariff-funded “dividend” checks. Tim also takes on Trump’s claim that AI safety concerns are a “hoax” and his push to accelerate AI development with minimal guardrails.Plus, a new federal watchdog report details disturbing conditions at Florida’s now-shuttered “Alligator Alcatraz,” where detainees were confined in small outdoor metal cages that officials described as “calming areas.”Check your brain and health the way I do. Function provides 160+ lab tests for $1/day and member pricing on advanced imaging. Join at functionhealth.com/BULWARKTAKES and use code BULWARKTAKES25 for a $25 credit.
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  BREAKING: Supreme Court REJECTS Trump's Mail-In Ballot Restrictions 15.09.2026 33мин

  Go to https://zbiotics.com/bulwarktakes and use code BULWARKTAKES at checkout for 15% off any first-time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. #adJoin Sam Stein and Andrew Egger as they cover the breaking news that the Supreme Court has blocked Trump's executive order on mail-in ballots.
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  Kennedy Center’s Bizarre Documents Are Pure Trumpian Madness 14.09.2026 25мин

  Go to https://zbiotics.com/bulwarktakes and use code BULWARKTAKES at checkout for 15% off any first-time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. #adCatherine Rampell and Andrew Egger take on the pure Trumpian madness engulfing the Kennedy Center, which could close as early as Tuesday after Trump’s takeover drove away donors, performers, and audiences. Now his handpicked board says Trump may be the only person who can “rescue” it—and has laid out ten different ways the institution could honor him in return.