Bulwark Takes

Episodi

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  The Trump Administration Is on a Legal Losing Streak 24.07.2026 13min

  Sam Stein and Ben Parker give their takes on why the DOJ abruptly withdrew its subpoenas against three New York Times reporters and their family members over reporting on security flaws in Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One. But the losses in court don't stop there, the administration also quietly dropped its demand for a list of Jewish faculty and students at UPenn, and a Trump-appointed judge just blocked the White House from obtaining Kentucky’s voter rolls. Plus, in a scene straight out of Pyongyang: Trump finishes a speech, and the applause just… doesn’t stop. A full uncomfortable minute of a room too scared to be the first one to sit down.
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  We Asked GOP Lawmakers About Their Own Nominee. They Ran Away! 23.07.2026 19min

  Sam Stein and Will Sommer break down the double standard at the heart of the GOP right now: Democrats forced Graham Platner off the ballot over disturbing allegations, while Republicans stand by candidates and members with far more documented records. Texas gun-YouTuber Brandon Herrera made disgusting comments about women and children. Arizona's Mark Lamb is facing sexual misconduct allegations. Sitting Congressmen Cory Mills and Max Miller continue to face domestic abuse allegations. So what does Mike Johnson say when he's asked directly about it? He dodges. 
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  Trump Invents His Own Iran War Polls Because the Real Ones Suck 23.07.2026 23min

  Sam Stein and Andrew Egger give their takes on Trump's new threats of war crimes to Iran, the new polling showing MAGA support for the war cratering, and the new U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement. Plus, they dig into the White House's ever-expanding gold decor of oversized frames, mystery bells, and speculation about Trump's late-night decorating habits.This episode is sponsored by The New York Times.
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  Trump Was Stupid Enough to Tell Iran How to Beat Him 22.07.2026 15min

  Will Saletan breaks down how Donald Trump’s empty threats, reckless boasts, and shifting stories turned his Iran deal into a deadly fiasco—and exposed just how little he understands the war he started.This video is sponsored by The New York Times.
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  Sen. Slotkin: Trump Is Desperate to Escape His Iran War | Command Post 22.07.2026 26min

  Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker are joined by Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) for her take on the state of the Iran war, U.S. military strategy, and the health of American democracy heading into the midterms. Slotkin, a former CIA analyst with three tours in Iraq, pushes back on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's testimony that the U.S. has neutralized Iran's naval threat in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing Iran retains "veto power" over the critical waterway through drones, mines, and fast boats. Plus, Sen. Slotkin explains how her "Protect Our Polls Act" is designed to block the military from being deployed to polling sites during the midterms without congressional approval.This episode is sponsored by The New York Times.
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  MAGA Said The Odyssey Would Flop. Whoops! 22.07.2026 22min

  Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey just pulled in $124.5 million over its opening weekend, the biggest domestic opening for a live-action film this year. So why has MAGA Twitter spent the weekend insisting it's a woke disaster, a box office fraud, and a betrayal of Homer himself?Sam Stein, Sonny Bunch, and Will Sommer give their takes on the right's bizarre backlash: the fake Achilles/Elliot Page casting controversy, the Emily Wilson translation discourse, the conspiracy theories about Rotten Tomatoes being "rigged," and the very online split between guys like Matt Walsh and Elon Musk (furious) and Ben Shapiro and Dave Rubin (actually kind of into it).Your health matters and taking care of yourself shouldn’t be complicated. Find and book the right doctor with Zocdoc. Head to https://Zocdoc.com/BULWARKTAKES to get started and check that appointment off your to-do list!
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  BREAKING: GOP Senators May Turn on Trump’s Attorney General Pick 21.07.2026 31min

  Sam Stein and HuffPost's Arthur Delany went live to cover the brewing dissatisfaction with Trump's nominee for Attorney General, Todd Blanche.Your health matters and taking care of yourself shouldn’t be complicated. Find and book the right doctor with Zocdoc. Head to https://Zocdoc.com/BULWARKTAKES to get started and check that appointment off your to-do list!
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  Pentagon Hid Extent of Americans Wounded in Iran Attacks | Morning Shots 21.07.2026 43min

  Bill Kristol and Andrew Egger went live to cover CNN's reporting that Trump and Elon Musk's cuts through DOGE to the CDC and USAID slowed the response to the cyclosporiasis outbreak, the Pentagon withholding the number of U.S. military injuries from the war with Iran, and why Trump's strategy appears trapped between military escalation and political retreat.Your health matters and taking care of yourself shouldn’t be complicated. Find and book the right doctor with Zocdoc. Head to https://Zocdoc.com/BULWARKTAKES to get started and check that appointment off your to-do list!
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  Can We Get RICH by Watching Hundreds of Trump Speeches? 21.07.2026 18min

  Brendan Hartnett and Will Saletan put their encyclopedic knowledge of Donald Trump to the test by predicting which words he would use in a major speech. The fake bets produce some eerie wins, one brutal near-miss, and a new appreciation for how quickly prediction markets can become addictive.
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  MAGA Mondays: Trump Refuses to Leave World Cup Trophy Ceremony 20.07.2026 56min

  Will Sommer and Sam Stein went live to cover Trump refusing to leave Spain’s World Cup celebrations, the MAGA right questioning Trump’s claim that Iran is “obliterated” after deadly attacks on U.S. bases, the Tate brothers arrested in Florida, and Clavicular explaining “looksmaxxing” to Sean Hannity.Read more from Will: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/can-this-pseudo-journalist-destroy-american-democracy-john-solomon-just-the-news-trump
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  Two American Soldiers Killed as Trump’s Iran War Spirals 18.07.2026 18min

  Sam Stein and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) take on the deadly Iranian strike on a U.S. base in Jordan, the mounting American casualties, and a rapidly widening war with no clear path to de-escalation.
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  Rep. Jim Himes: Tuberville is “participating in a coup d’etat” 18.07.2026 18min

  Sam Stein speaks with Rep. Jim Himes about Trump’s election speech, his attacks on voting systems, and the danger of declaring sitting senators illegitimate. They also examine how Trump’s own foreign-interference files document Russia’s efforts to help him, spread the Burisma story, and create chaos in American politics.
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  Trump Found a New Way to Profit Off the Presidency (w/ Justin Wolfers) | Receipts Live 17.07.2026 38min

  Join Catherine Rampell and Justin Wolfers as they cover the week's biggest economics and finance news.Check out Justin's Substack, Platypus Economics: https://platypuseconomics.com/
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  The Bulwark’s Live Coverage of Trump’s Prime Time Speech 17.07.2026 1h 2min

  Join Sarah Longwell and Sonny Bunch as they cover Trump's July 16, 2026 prime time speech.
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  Trump’s Own People Don’t Want Him to Give This Speech (w/ Erin Banco) 16.07.2026 17min

  Sam Stein speaks with Reuters national security reporter Erin Banco about Trump’s planned election speech, his administration’s moves against federal election officials, and concerns inside his own White House that reviving voting-machine conspiracies could backfire by convincing MAGA voters to stay home.White House weighs releasing controversial intel on China and US elections, sources say: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/white-house-weighs-releasing-controversial-intel-china-us-elections-sources-say-2026-07-15/Foreign Threats to the 2020 US Federal Elections: https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/ICA-declass-16MAR21.pdf
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  Trump Flip Flopped So Fast That Mark Hertling Had to Scrap an Article | Command Post 16.07.2026 29min

  Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker take on the Pentagon's bizarre new testosterone screening program for troops, a promotion list with zero women admirals, and China's quiet power grab as America's alliances crack under Trump.
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  The Trio: “Reporter” Covering Mitch McConnell’s Hospital Stay Has a CRAZY Backstory 16.07.2026 32min

  Buckle up. It’s the last Trio video of July—and it’s a big one. The guys start by reacting to Joe Rogan’s interview of JD Vance, in which the Vice President trafficked in Epstein conspiracy theories. Vance also reflected on more important matters, like who’s cooler: Republicans or Democrats? His expertise on coolness could only come from years of experience getting stuffed into lockers and getting swirlies from bullies. Then, they go deep on New Orleans rapper Boosie’s attempt to get a pardon from the administration with help from an infamous duo of GOP operatives. Plus, an update on Kash Patel’s girlfriend. And the woman who couldn’t walk forward after receiving the flu shot—where is she now?Read Will Sommer's False Flag newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/false-flag
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  BREAKING: Senate Questions Todd Blanche on Epstein, Slush Fund During Confirmation Hearing 15.07.2026 45min

  Join Sam Stein, Bill Kristol and Will Saletan as they cover the Todd Blanche confirmation hearing live.
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  Some Democrats Want Ben Wikler to Run the DNC. Listen to His Answer. 15.07.2026 31min

  Sam Stein speaks with Ben Wikler, former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, about why Trump is not the main character for many voters, how groceries, gas prices, roads, and local relationships shape elections, and his plan for rebuilding Democratic power from the ground up.Buy Ben's book, "This Is The Plan: How to End America's Meltdown and Save Democracy" - https://www.amazon.com/This-Plan-Americas-Meltdown-Democracy/dp/1324131438
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  Mike Lawler Bent the Knee to Trump. Now I’m Coming for His Seat. (w/ Cait Conley) 15.07.2026 18min

  Lauren Egan speaks with Democratic congressional candidate Cait Conley about taking on Mike Lawler, Trump’s broken promise to avoid new wars, and Lawler’s four votes against reining in the administration’s Iran conflict.Make your summer wardrobe easier. Go to https://Quince.com/bulwarktakes for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.