Bulwark Takes

Avsnitt

• Why Republicans Are Nervous About Iowa 02.06.2026 11min

  Sarah Longwell gives her take on the state of the race in Iowa ahead of Tuesday's primary elections. With Donald Trump's approval numbers slipping, farmers feeling the effects of tariffs, and growing frustration with Republican leadership in the state, Democrats believe they have a real opportunity to compete in races that once seemed out of reach. Sarah breaks down what's driving voter anger and looks at Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, the Democratic Senate primary between Josh Turek and Zach Wahls, and why national political observers are suddenly paying close attention to a state that has trended Republican for years. Is Iowa becoming competitive again? And could it be one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 election cycle?Text TAKES to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. By Texting 64000, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Text STOP at any time to opt out. Text HELP for additional Information. No purchase required. Terms apply, available at PocketHose.com/terms.
• BREAKING: Trump Taps Unqualified Hatchet Man As New Intel Chief | Morning Shots 02.06.2026 38min

  Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol went live to react to Trump’s shocking decision to install housing official Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence, despite having no intelligence background. They discuss what the appointment says about Trump’s priorities, growing concerns about the weaponization of government power, signs of Republican resistance on Capitol Hill, and whether Trump’s increasingly frustrated behavior signals deeper problems ahead for his presidency.Text TAKES to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. By Texting 64000, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Text STOP at any time to opt out. Text HELP for additional Information. No purchase required. Terms apply, available at https://PocketHose.com/terms.
• Scott Pelley: Bari Weiss is “Murdering 60 Minutes" 02.06.2026 12min

  JVL and Will Sommer give their takes on the explosive showdown inside CBS News after Scott Pelley confronted new 60 Minutes executive producer Nick Bilton during his first meeting with staff. According to reporting from Oliver Darcy's Status newsletter, Pelley blasted CBS leadership and declared that Bari Weiss is "murdering 60 Minutes." JVL and Will break down what happened in the meeting, why Bilton appeared unprepared for the backlash, the firing of key 60 Minutes staffers, and what the corporate overhaul could mean for the future of the iconic broadcast. They also discuss why many journalists believe the changes have little to do with digital growth and everything to do with control over the newsroom.Read more from Status: https://www.status.news/p/scott-pelley-60-minutes-nick-bilton-bari-weiss
• BREAKING: DOJ Will Follow Order To Pause $1.8 Billion Slush Fund 01.06.2026 16min

  Sam Stein and Andrew Egger give their takes on the breaking news that the Trump administration is reportedly pausing and potentially abandoning the controversial $1.8 billion slush fund for January 6 defendants and other Trump allies. Sam and Andrew walk through how the arrangement came together, why judges are now scrutinizing it, and why even Republican lawmakers are growing uneasy with the implications. But just because they said it's "paused," is it actually over?
• Even Republicans Hate Trump’s America 250 Lineup | MAGA Mondays 01.06.2026 45min

  Will Sommer and Sam Stein went live on Monday at 10am to cover the outrage from Republicans about artists cancelling on America 250 and Trump making it a rally instead, the Proud Boys bringing cookies to a pro-ICE rally, Trump’s former Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino hanging with white nationalists, and James Fishback’s ex-girlfriend speaking out.Read more from Will: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/false-flag
• This Senate Race Just Got VERY Strange 31.05.2026 14min

  Catherine Rampell and Will Sommer take on one of the strangest stories in American politics: a mystery candidate named Dan Sullivan has entered the Alaska Senate race—as a Republican—to run against the incumbent Republican senator also named Dan Sullivan. Who recruited him, why does his photo look AI-generated, and why is a Peltola-aligned strategist's name buried in the press release metadata?
• Trump vs. The Courts (w/ Nathaniel Zelinsky) 31.05.2026 39min

  Nathaniel Zelinsky, lead counsel in the Kennedy Center case against Trump, joins Bill Kristol for Bulwark on Sunday to discuss the current situation with Trump and the courts.Nathaniel Zelinsky is a senior counsel and member of the Washington Litigation Group’s steering committee. He is an appellate lawyer who has handled high stakes cases involving major constitutional questions and multibillion dollar disputes, and has argued at every level of the federal judiciary, including before the Supreme Court.
• Sports Were America’s Last Politics-Free Safe Space (w/ Pablo Torre) 30.05.2026 32min

  Tim Miller and Pablo Torre take on the White House calling Tim an Iranian propagandist, how Trump colonized American sports culture—from SEC stadiums to the White House lawn—and why Democrats keep fumbling the ball on sports politics.
• An Epstein Survivor Grades Pam Bondi’s Testimony (w/ Annie Farmer) 30.05.2026 30min

  Catherine Rampell welcomes Epstein survivor Annie Farmer to discuss Pam Bondi’s closed-door congressional testimony, the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files, and the unanswered questions that continue to fuel demands for transparency. Farmer shares her firsthand perspective on the investigation, the treatment of survivors, concerns about missing documents, and why accountability remains elusive decades after the first warnings about Epstein.
• Judge Orders Trump’s Name Removed From the Kennedy Center 30.05.2026 14min

  Ben Parker and Sonny Bunch give their takes on the news that a federal judge's ruled that Trump's name must be removed from Kennedy Center. They examine the legal battle, the mass exodus of performers, the uncertain future of upcoming seasons, and how Trump's efforts to remake the Kennedy Center may have backfired.Read more from Sonny's piece: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/a-day-and-a-nation-at-the-kennedy-centerWatch Sonny's conversation with Josef Palermo's on the Kennedy Center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rEDNCdqYzg
• Trump Admin Threatens to Disrupt Air Travel Over "Sanctuary" Policies | Receipts LIVE 29.05.2026 39min

  Catherine and JVL are going LIVE at 12:30pm  on Friday.Read Catherine Rampell's 'Receipts' newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/receipts
• The White House Accused Tim of Being a Foreign Agent. Seriously. 29.05.2026 13min

  Tim Miller reacts after the official White House account suggested he should be investigated under FARA over his commentary on the Iran war. He also breaks down the Trump administration’s escalating use of the DOJ against critics, including a criminal investigation against E. Jean Carroll, and explains why he believes the White House is lashing out as the Iran negotiations unravel.
• CBS Fires Top Staffers from 60 Minutes In Newsroom Purge 28.05.2026 15min

  JVL and Sam Stein give their takes on CBS News firing Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega, and top executives at 60 Minutes. Plus, they break down why the changes at CBS News appear tied to corporate merger politics from Trumpworld and what the shakeup says about the future of independent journalism in America.
• Trump’s Pitiful America 250 Event Is Already an Embarrassment 28.05.2026 17min

  JVL and Sonny Bunch take on Trump's "Freedom 250" disaster—the washed-up acts already bailing on the Great American State Fair, the UFC cage being built on the White House lawn, and why the whole spectacle looks less like a birthday party and more like something straight out of The Boys.
• Trump Wants To Put His OWN Face on a $250 Bill | MAGA Thursdays LIVE 28.05.2026 37min

  Sam and Will went live at 11am ET to cover the week's biggest developments in the right wing fever swamp.Get 50% off of a new Bulwark+ subscription for the next year, that’s everything we offer on our website, by going to thebulwark.com/sanity – this is a limited time offer.
• Trump Threatens To Blow Up Oman Amid Negotiations With Iran 27.05.2026 22min

  Andrew Egger and Will Saletan give their takes on Trump’s latest cabinet meeting spectacle, from his bizarre rant about the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, potentially bombing Oman, and Pete Hegseth pitching a staggering $1.5 trillion defense budget. As Trump’s poll numbers slide and Republicans brace for a brutal midterm environment, the White House still seems trapped in a reality-defying loyalty pageant.
• Breaking Down Hegseth’s West Point Address | Command Post 27.05.2026 55min

  Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker went live on Wednesday at 10:30am ET to cover the latest on the war in Iran and Pete Hegseth's graduation speech at West Point where he blamed “foolish and feckless leaders” for promoting diversity.Programming note: On June 8 at 7pm ET, Mona Charen and Mark Hertling will kick off the Bulwark Book Club with a live chat about Mark’s book, If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal. This livestream is for Bulwark+ subscribers on Substack and YouTube.Mark’s book consists of a series of journal entries Mark wrote to his two young sons while he was deployed in the Middle East. You can order Mark's book from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, or buy a signed copy via the publisher.Have question for Mark after reading If I Don’t Return? Drop your questions here or on this members-only post and join us live June 8. Members-only post: https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxLdXeNJIIRiHPOGdVqOZQi2wa5KfRRniYMark's book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1966786727/?tag=bulwark08-20
• Trump Is Not Being Honest About His Health 26.05.2026 18min

  Sam Stein and Will Saletan give their takes on Donald Trump’s latest visit to Walter Reed, the White House’s growing secrecy around his health, and the bizarre effort by the White House to defend footage of the president appearing to fall asleep during meetings. They discuss Trump’s repeated medical checkups, his confusing answers about MRIs and CAT scans, comparisons to the Biden health debate, and why transparency matters when it comes to the president of the United States.
• A Few GOP Senators Tell the Truth About Trump’s Iran Mess (Briefly) | Morning Shots Live 26.05.2026 43min

  Andrew and Bill went live at 10am ET on Tuesday to cover the notable deflections over the weekend from a small group of GOP Senators about a potential deal with Iran, the worsening approval ratings for Trump and the war, and the reported potential plan by the U.S. to have Iran send its enriched uranium to Pakistan, Turkey, Russia, or China.Read more from Morning Shots: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-iran-war-was-a-failure-deal-ceasefire-hormuz-nuclear-program-senators-wicker-graham-cruzGet 50% off of a new Bulwark+ subscription for the next year, that’s everything we offer on our website, by going to https://www.thebulwark.com/sanity – this is a limited time offer.
• Ask JVL: On AI, Iran War, Populism and Should Sarah Run for the Senate? 25.05.2026 19min

  Jasmine poses Triad readers’ questions to JVL: How can we stop Trump's slush fund? Will AI discourse dominate the 2028 campaign? Why does Trump keep turning down Iran's proposals to end the war? What is the true definition of populism? All that and more (like whether JVL thinks his best friend, Sarah Longwell, should run for Senate in Pennsylvania) in this week’s mailbag.Paid members of the Bulwark can get the full episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or Substack.