Bulwark Takes

Епизоди

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  Panicked Republicans Are Trying to Rewrite Their Iran Record 25.09.2026 19мин

  Tim Miller gives his take on the Republican candidates who are suddenly calling for an end to the Iran war after repeatedly supporting it. John James, Mike Rogers, Tom Tiffany and Ashley Hinson are all trying to distance themselves from the war, but Tim asks the obvious question: What is their actual plan to end it? They don't have one.Plus, Tim also looks at Roger Marshall’s attempt to distance himself from the Trump administration’s ICE policies.Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at https://www.BollAndBranch.com/bulwarktakes with code bulwarktakes. Exclusions apply.Springfield Benefit: https://www.thebulwark.com/events?event_id=event-hQcBaHvoEZ
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  The Bulwark’s Cruelest Assignment Yet: 6 Hours of Trump TV 24.09.2026 20мин

  Sam Stein, Brendan Hartnett and Will Sommer discuss the chaos surrounding the White House press corps after CNN, Politico and MS NOW were banned from the White House, then allowed back on the premises but haven't gotten reassurances that CNN would be allowed back into the TV pool.They also take on the right-wing media’s attempt to create its own version of the White House press pool, including technical failures, a lack of basic pool protocol and footage that appeared to show Trump’s motorcade too closely. Plus, they examine the launch of “Trump TV,” a White House livestream featuring hours of looping Trump footage that drew only a small audience.Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at https://www.BollAndBranch.com/bulwarktakes with code bulwarktakes. Exclusions apply.
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  Trump’s AI Push Could Boost His Own Investments (w/ Gov. Wes Moore) 24.09.2026 22мин

  Andrew Egger is joined by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to give his take on Maryland’s new AI regulations, the rapid growth of data centers, and the need for guardrails around increasingly powerful AI models. Moore explains why he believes AI is moving faster than government safeguards, criticizes the White House’s approach, and raises concerns about Trump’s personal financial stake in the AI boom.They also discuss AI safety, potential benefits in government and healthcare, and whether the U.S. should cooperate with China on regulating increasingly powerful AI systems.Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at https://www.BollAndBranch.com/bulwarktakes with code bulwarktakes. Exclusions apply.
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  Even This Former Trump Supporter HATES the War (w/ Brandon Weichert) 24.09.2026 47мин

  Tim Miller steps outside the bubble for a conversation with Brandon Weichert, a former Trump supporter and American Greatness writer who has become deeply disillusioned with the administration. They take on Trump’s Iran war, his growing foreign-policy mess, the GOP’s increasingly dangerous midterm map, and what could happen if Democrats take back Congress.Watch more on Mario Nawfal’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/marionawfalLooking for a different way to unwind? Soul’s Mood Gummies pair precise dosing and clean ingredients with formulas designed for different moods, whether you want to feel uplifted, mellow, or somewhere in between. Get 30% off your entire order at https://getsoul.com with promo code BULWARKTAKES.
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  Trump’s Ballroom May Be Illegal. So Why Can’t Anyone Stop It? (w/ Ben Wittes) 23.09.2026 46мин

  JVL and Lawfare's Benjamin Wittes take on the strange legal fight over Trump’s ballroom and proposed triumphal arch, including why standing may be the biggest obstacle to stopping them and what John Roberts’ dissent could be signaling to future challengers. They also dig into a bigger question: whether Congress, the courts, and the power of the purse can actually constrain a president determined to push ahead anyway.Looking for a different way to unwind? Soul’s Mood Gummies pair precise dosing and clean ingredients with formulas designed for different moods, whether you want to feel uplifted, mellow, or somewhere in between. Get 30% off your entire order at https://getsoul.com with promo code BULWARKTAKES.A quick note: Look, there probably aren’t many media outlets willing to spend 45 minutes going extremely deep on the finer points of standing, appropriations law, and Trump’s ballroom. We are that kind of outlet. If you’re the kind of person who appreciates that, become a paid Bulwark member and help us keep doing this.
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  Command Post: Trump Admits To War Crimes During UN Speech 23.09.2026 46мин

  Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) break down President Trump’s extraordinary comments at the United Nations about Venezuela, including his claim that “to the victor belong the spoils.” Hertling explains why that language raises serious questions under international law and walks through the laws and treaties that prohibit pillage and establish a nation’s sovereignty over its natural resources.They also discuss the growing power of the Houthis in Yemen, Saudi Arabia’s complicated relationship with the United States, and what Riyadh could do if it can no longer rely on American support. Hertling also weighs in on Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new system for evaluating senior military officers and the history Hegseth is invoking to defend it.
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  Even Putin Is Getting Sick of Witkoff and Kushner (w/ Rep. Jim Himes) 22.09.2026 34мин

  Rep. Jim Himes, ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, joins Marc Polymeropoulos and Michael Weiss for his take on the major national security risks surrounding the Trump administration.Himes explains the counterintelligence concerns surrounding the reported Russian financing of Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding and why the access to Trump’s inner circle at the event could have created an unusually soft target for Russian intelligence. They also discuss the intelligence community’s warnings about war with Iran, and the possibility of another Middle East conflict.Plus, Russia’s war in Ukraine, Trump’s negotiations with Vladimir Putin, John Ratcliffe’s role in the talks, and the ongoing investigation into Havana syndrome and anomalous health incidents.Weight Loss by Hims offers access to personalized weight loss treatment, including FDA-approved GLP-1 medications. Learn more and get started at https://www.hims.com/bulwarktakes
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  LIVE REACTION: Trump Delivers Speech To UN Amid War In Iran 22.09.2026 1ч 18мин

  Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol went live to react to Trump’s address to the United Nations, breaking down his claims about Iran, Russia and Ukraine, Venezuela, Greenland, the economy and America’s role in the world.Trump made wild comments about Russia’s war against Ukraine, including a grotesque false equivalence between Ukrainian children abducted into Russia and his claim that Russian children were also abducted into Ukraine. They also examine Trump’s claims about Iran, including his repeated insistence that he had no choice but to launch the war, his promises that a deal is still just around the corner, and the widening gap between his self-image as a president who ends wars and the reality of a conflict he chose to start.Plus, Trump’s vision for artificial intelligence includes renaming it “super intelligence,” and insisting that the United States must stay ahead of China while resisting international efforts to regulate the technology.Weight Loss by Hims offers access to personalized weight loss treatment, including FDA-approved GLP-1 medications. Learn more and get started at https://www.hims.com/bulwarktakes
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  Trump Just Hit His Worst Approval Number EVER (w/ David Pakman) 22.09.2026 29мин

  Ready to be seen? Check that appointment off your to-do list with Zocdoc:https://zocdoc.com/ bulwarktakes #sponsoredTim Miller and David Pakman take on Trump’s plummeting poll numbers, the White House putting Pakman on its official “Media Offenders” list, and the creators who Pakman says are now afraid to interview him because they fear becoming targets themselves. They also discuss how algorithms reward outrage and misinformation, the coming flood of synthetic political content, and Pakman’s new book, Pay Attention, about what the attention economy is doing to our politics and our brains.David Pakman’s new book, Pay Attention: How the Algorithms and Media Wars Are Suppressing Truth and Rewiring Your Brain:https://davidpakman.com/davids-books/The David Pakman Show:https://davidpakman.com/
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  Trump’s War on the Press Just Backfired in the Funniest Possible Way 21.09.2026 13мин

  Ready to be seen? Check that appointment off your to-do list with Zocdoc:https://zocdoc.com/bulwarktakes #sponsoredThe White House is trying to defend Donald Trump’s decision to ban major news organizations from covering the White House and the policy is already producing some pretty absurd results.JVL and Will Sommer discuss Trump’s crackdown on the press, including a Newsmax broadcast where viewers couldn’t hear the president because the press pool wasn’t there to provide audio. They also examine the upcoming court fight over White House press access, the administration’s new White House app, and the question of whether Democrats should respond by restricting access for outlets like Fox News and Newsmax.Plus, JVL and Will debate the broader problem facing the press: Trump’s escalating efforts to favor friendly media, punish outlets he dislikes, and blur the line between journalism and political propaganda.
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  MAGA’s Far-Right Feud Is Spilling Into Turning Point USA | MAGA Mondays 21.09.2026 41мин

  Ready to be seen? Check that appointment off your to-do list with Zocdoc ✅ : https://zocdoc.com/ bulwarktakes #sponsoredWill Sommer and Sonny Bunch take on Trump’s escalating war on the press, the TV networks pushing back on his White House ban, and the growing signs that even some longtime allies are getting sick of the chaos. Plus: Trump’s plan to put snipers in his giant D.C. arch, the bizarre MAGA fight over Indian Americans, Turning Point’s James Fishback problem, and the very questionable Lauren Boebert allegations.
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  Trump’s New Defense Of The Arch Is INCREDIBLY Stupid 21.09.2026 18мин

  Sam Stein and Will Saletan take a look at Donald Trump’s latest architectural fever dream: a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington Cemetery that Trump says will double as a “top grade Military Complex,” complete with drones and snipers. They dig into the bizarre location, the questionable military rationale and Trump’s claim that the project came at the “strong request” of the military. As Sam and Will point out, this is an enormous armed monument sitting near Reagan National Airport, the Pentagon and Arlington Cemetery. What could possibly go wrong?Then they turn to Trump’s escalating crackdown on the press. CNN, MS NOW and Politico lost White House credentials after Trump objected to their coverage, and Republicans defended the move. And if you think the press should simply accept this as the new normal, Sam has a story from the Obama years that offers a different lesson.
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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.