Bulwark Takes

Tim Miller takes on the ICE raids unfolding in Louisiana, exposing how the operation leans on spectacle, intimidation, and political theatrics instead of real public safety.

Sam Stein talks Donald Trump’s chaotic pardons, from Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar to the Honduran ex-president, and the political mess they’ve left for Republicans to attempt to explain.

Bill Kristol is joined by Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia to discuss the boat strikes, what really happened, and the latest intelligence raising new questions.

Sam Stein highlights 16-year-old cancer patient Mikaela Naylon, who spent her final days lobbying Congress for the Give Kids a Chance Act, helping revive the long-stalled pediatric cancer research bill, with her story inspiring new momentum and raising cautious optimism it could finally pass.Sam's piece from September 2025, "Elon Musk Torpedoed a Beloved Pediatric Cancer Bill. It’s Yet to Recover.": https://www.thebulwark.com/p/elon-musk-pediatric-cancer-bill-congressional-inertia-give-kids-a-chanceSam's piece from December 2024, "Elon Killed the Budget Deal. Cancer Research for Kids Was Collateral Damage.": https://www.thebulwark.com/p/elon-musk-killed-budget-deal-children-cancer-funding-collateral-damage

Sam Stein and Will Sommer take on The Blaze’s spectacular pipe-bomb fiasco—from the bogus gait analysis to the wrongly accused Capitol Police officer and the scramble to retract the story once the real suspect was arrested. They discuss how the piece got published, why it collapsed so fast, and whether a brutal defamation fight is about to hit The Blaze hard.

Ben Parker and Catherine Rampell give their take on the absurdity of Donald Trump receiving the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize, a prize that didn’t exist until it was suddenly handed to the most unlikely recipient imaginable. They walk through the surreal ceremony like the Village People performing, the corruption vibes radiating off every angle of the event, and why FIFA and Trump seem perfectly matched in their mutual need for flattery and image laundering.Find a doctor near you today with ZocDoc at https://Zocdoc.com/BULWARKTAKES.

Tim Miller and JVL take on the wildly conflicting stories coming out of Congress after lawmakers watched the same “double tap” boat strike video—from Jim Himes’ alarm to Tom Cotton’s macho fantasy version.

In a financial crisis, the markets need to trust the Treasury Secretary and the Fed chair. After watching Scott Bessent posture and preen his way through a NYT interview, it’s clear he can’t be trusted with either role. JVL and Tim give their take on just how dangerous it would be if Trump puts someone this political in charge of the Fed.Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKTAKES. Promo Code BULWARKTAKES

Sam Stein and Catherine Rampell take on Corporate America's biggest concern: how to flatter Donald Trump. From Rolex clocks to Diet Coke trophies, and even a resurrected Rush Hour 4, Sam and Catherine walk through the strangest offerings, the economic harm caused by political suck-ups, and why companies would rather bribe a president than run their businesses.Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKTAKES. Promo Code BULWARKTAKES

Sam Stein and Andrew Egger take on Trump’s surreal cabinet meeting—the praise parade, the nodding-off moments, the shifting story on the Venezuela strikes, and the loyalty-pledge Pentagon press corps.Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKTAKES. Promo Code BULWARKTAKES

Sam Stein and Will Saletan take on Trump’s bizarre pardon of the former President of Honduras—how he was nudged into it by friends and fixers, why the story he repeated falls apart, and what this decision means for U.S. credibility, drug enforcement, and the growing pattern of Trump siding with corrupt leaders over the law.Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKTAKES. Promo Code BULWARKTAKES

Jonathan Cohn and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis take on the FDA’s dramatic “vaccine-death” email, the CDC’s autism web page rewrite, and the turmoil inside RFK Jr.’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—getting into how these moves sow panic, undermine science, and threaten real public-health protections.Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKTAKES. Promo Code BULWARKTAKES

Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling take on the alleged kill order at sea, the Pentagon’s denials, Trump’s contradictory comments, and the White House attempt to blame it on Admiral Bradley.Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKTAKES. Promo Code BULWARKTAKES

JVL and Will Sommer give their take on the latest culture-war absurdity: a 650-word psych class reaction paper at the University of Oklahoma that somehow escalated all the way to the governor’s office and right-wing media ecosystem.Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKTAKES. Promo Code BULWARKTAKES

Andrew Egger is joined by law professor and constitutional law expert Leah Litman to discuss why the court rejected Habba’s appointment, how it fits into Trump’s larger strategy to pack DOJ offices with loyalists, and what it could mean if the cases reach the Supreme Court.Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKTAKES. Promo Code BULWARKTAKES

Andrew Egger and Will Saletan take on Trump’s stunning move to pardon Honduras’s ex-president Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted in U.S. court for drug trafficking, and detail Trump’s pattern of protecting criminal allies from around the world.

Bill Kristol and Aaron Reichlin-Melnick discuss Trump’s escalating nativism and the implications of his increasingly aggressive anti-immigrant policies.

Tim Miller takes on Scott Jennings’ pro-Trump turn, breaking down his on-air persona, his shifting claims about conservatism, and why the Bush-McCain-Romney tradition flatly rejects the path Jennings chose.

James Carville, the “Ragin' Cajun,” is back with his view on the Democratic Party and once again, it’s all about the economy. Tim Miller gives his take on Carville’s latest New York Times column, where he argues that Democrats need a clear, unapologetic focus on economic issues to unite the party and win over voters. From government shutdowns to the pitfalls of “performative woke politics,” Tim digs into what Carville calls the era of "economic rage" and why it could be the key to future Democratic victories.

Sam Stein and Will Sommer take on X/Twitter's new geolocation feature and the weekend chaos it caused. MAGA accounts that claimed to be all-American turned out to be from places like Bangladesh, Nigeria, India, and Serbia, sparking a major debate about why political discourse has become so toxic online.Read more from Will's False Flag newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/new-x-twitter-games-location-geolocation-about-right-wing-groypers

JVL and Sarah take on the shooting of two National Guard members in DC, Trump’s escalation, his push for denaturalization and “reverse migration,” the online right’s king-fantasies, the Wall Street Journal’s warning about abandoning allies, and what real leadership demands in moments of national crisis.

Andrew Egger and Catherine Rampell take on the Trump administration’s sweeping push to strip work permits and legal status from hundreds of thousands of immigrants who followed every rule. They cover Stephen Miller's quiet bureaucratic campaign to “de-document” legal workers, what it means for construction, caregiving, and tech, and why states like Florida, Texas, and New York are bracing for major labor shocks.Get 40% off access to Calm’s entire library at https://Calm.com/BULWARKTAKES

Tim Miller sits down with ESPN’s Seth Wickersham to talk football, politics, and Seth’s new book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback. They get into how the NFL became a culture-war stage, the league’s bizarre “socialist” structure, owners who change politics to suit their stadium deals, why evaluating quarterbacks is still a coin flip, the Manning dynasty, race and the rise of black quarterbacks, and the chaos inside college football’s coaching carousel.Get 40% off access to Calm’s entire library at https://Calm.com/BULWARKTAKESBuy American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback: https://www.amazon.com/American-Kings-Quarterback-Seth-Wickersham/dp/1368099181

NOTE: This is a special preview of Tim and Sam's members-only Q&A. To listen to the whole thing, become a paid Bulwark member on Apple Podcasts, Substack or YouTube!Tim Miller and Sam Stein take on Tim’s wild Jubilee experience—the secrecy, the debate tactics, the generational clash, and the moment things actually boiled over.Watch Tim on Jubilee here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSOz63coD7MGet 40% off access to Calm’s entire library at https://Calm.com/BULWARKTAKES

Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) joins Bill Kristol to reflect on what Thanksgiving means for the military, sharing his favorite stories from years of service, including the traditions, the meals, and the special efforts to bring a taste of home to troops and military families.Learn more about Operation Gratitude: https://www.operationgratitude.comRead Mark's article, "How the Military Celebrates Thanksgiving": https://www.thebulwark.com/p/how-the-us-military-celebrates-thanksgiving

Sam Stein and Will Sommer take on the bizarre rise of James Fishback—the 30-year-old ex–hedge fund analyst who inflated his résumé, ran sock-puppet schemes, and is now throwing bombs in Florida’s GOP primary against Trump’s pick, Byron Donalds.Be sure to read Will's newsletter on Fishback: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/james-fishback-ambitious-duplicitous-semi-fictitious-florida-governor-candidate

Tim Miller joins MSNOW’s Deadline: White House to take on the growing alarm inside the GOP as Trump racks up losses and what MTG’s resignation means for the GOP and the 2026 elections.Check out Deadline: White House on MSNOW: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house

Tim Miller and Pablo Torre break down how Riley Gaines went from a college swimmer to a full-blown MAGA political figure—how her story was reshaped by conservative media, why her rhetoric escalated, and why severe abuse allegations inside her own program barely get mentioned.Read the full story at Mother Jones: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/11/riley-gaines-anti-trans-lia-thomas-ncaa-trump/Watch PABLO TORRE FINDS OUT on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PabloTorreFindsOut..and subscribe to PABLO TORRE FINDS OUT on Substack: https://www.pablo.show

Sam Stein, Andrew Egger, and POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney are going live to discuss the dismissal of the indictment against James Comey.

Tim Miller and Will Sommer break down Candace Owens’ continuing conspiracy saga—from her claim that France and Israel sent a hit squad after her, to her bizarre insistence that Charlie Kirk was the “real” casualty of a multinational plot.Read more Will Sommer his newsletter False Flag

Sam Stein is joined by Erin Banco to discuss the 28-point Russia-Ukraine peace plan and the secret Miami hotel meeting sparking confusion in Washington as officials scramble to understand how a Russia-leaning proposal came together.Read Erin’s scoop in Reuters, “Trump officials’ meeting with Russian in Miami spurs questions about Ukraine proposal”

Sam Stein and Jack Cocchiarella take on new polling showing Trump’s economic approval slipping lower than ever, with voters rejecting his spin and his team fumbling explanations on inflation and tariffs.

Tim Miller join MSNOW’s The Weekend (with The Bulwark’s own Catherine Rampell) to discuss Trump’s weird Mamdani meeting, why MTG suddenly bailed on Congress, and what the looming Epstein Files release could shake loose.Check out The Weekend on MSNOW: https://www.ms.now/the-weekend

Bill Kristol and Catherine Rampell talk the real state of the economy, new polling on how voters think Trump is handling it, and why Vance is suddenly diverging from Trump on key economic points.

After the shutdown froze key agencies, the U.S. is now stuck with permanent black holes in the economic record from missing jobs numbers, missing inflation data, and missing surveys that can never be recovered. But this crisis didn’t start with the shutdown. Andrew Egger talks to Catherine Rampell to get her take on the data series that have been deleted, defunded, or censored under Trump.Read Catherine’s article here.

Sarah Longwell and Sam Stein take on Donald Trump's surprisingly friendly meeting with Zohran Mamdani, with Trump praising the future mayor of NYC and Mamdani calling him a fascist to his face. Plus, Sarah and Sam answer your mailbag questions on the future of the Bulwark, Sam's non-traditional management style, and Sarah's possible future run for office.

Sam Stein, JVL and Andrew Egger take on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s shocking resignation announcement: why she did it, why it blindsided GOP leadership, what it says about Trump’s grip on the party, and whether this is the start of something bigger.

Sen. Mark Kelly joins Sam Stein for his take on Donald Trump’s posts calling for him and other lawmakers to be tried for sedition and executed, why the video on unlawful military orders was originally released, and how his wife Gabby Giffords’ survival of a politically-motivated shooting shaped his response.

Bill Kristol and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling discuss why the proposed U.S.–Russia “peace plan” would reward Russian aggression, undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, alienate U.S. allies, and the dangerous misunderstanding of Ukraine’s history.

After Lauren Egan wrote her newsletter Meet the Most Hated Democrat in America (https://www.thebulwark.com/p/meet-the-most-hated-democrat-in-america) about Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson has become the unlikely villain of the left, he reached out and wanted to come on and explain himself.All the attention was because he won’t redraw the state’s congressional map. He argues that pushing for an 8–0 Democratic map could backfire, thanks to a 2021 court ruling that reshaped Maryland’s entire redistricting landscape.

The CDC just updated its website regarding vaccines and autism, backtracking on a promise RFK Jr. made to Senator Bill Cassidy during his confirmation. JVL and Jonathan Cohn explain what the CDC actually said, review the scientific evidence on vaccines and autism, and give their takes on the implications this could have on public trust in health agencies.Get 40% off your order during Soul’s Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale at https://GetSoul.com with promo code BULWARKTAKES

Sarah Longwell sits down with Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher to break down the Texas redistricting ruling and why a Trump-appointed judge delivered a major surprise. They dig into what this means for 2026 and why the fight over fair maps is far from over.Get 40% off your order during Soul’s Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale at https://GetSoul.com with promo code BULWARKTAKESTake our quick survey and help us make The Bulwark even better. https://bit.ly/bulwarkvideo

Trump spent the morning amplifying posts calling for Democratic lawmakers to be hanged for releasing a video reminding service members they don’t have to follow unlawful orders. Sam Stein and Andrew Egger give their take why Trump snapped, what the Democrats actually said, and why this moment is more dangerous than we’ve gotten used to pretending.Get 40% off your order during Soul’s Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale at https://GetSoul.com with promo code BULWARKTAKESTake our quick listener survey and help us make The Bulwark even better. https://bit.ly/bulwarkaudio

Donald Trump hosted a dinner for Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman and America’s billionaire class were all tuxed up, grinning, and taking selfies with a dictator who had a journalist chopped into pieces. Tim Miller gives his take on the most depraved display of American oligarchy we’ve seen yet as Saudi Arabia looks to buy its way into Silicon Valley and Washington.Get 40% off your order during Soul’s Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale at https://GetSoul.com with promo code BULWARKTAKES

Tim Miller takes on Trump’s terrible week—the botched Comey prosecution, the Epstein mess, the gold-plated White House antics, and why even MAGA-friendly voices are calling him a lame duck.Check out Deadline: White House on MSNOW: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house

Trump publicly fantasized about firing Jerome Powell and installing a more compliant Fed chair. Andrew Egger and Catherine Rampell break down why Trump’s threats to seize control of monetary policy could destabilize inflation, markets, and the entire economy—and why Wall Street still seems weirdly calm about it.

JVL and Sam Stein take on Trump’s rambling McDonald’s appearance, the scrambled stories, and the stark drop in his energy compared to last year—and discuss why his team keeps steering him into cushioned, low-pressure settings.Be sure to read JVL's Triad newsletter on the speech: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-not-have-all-the-mentals-cognitive-functioningTake our quick listener survey and help us make The Bulwark even better. https://bit.ly/bulwarkaudio

Sam Stein and Tim Miller take on the genuinely wild day in redistricting. Texas’ GOP-drawn maps were blocked by a federal court as Indiana Republicans revolt against Trump’s pressure campaign, and the whole 2025 gerrymandering project starts wobbling.Take our quick listener survey and help us make The Bulwark even better. https://bit.ly/bulwarkaudio

Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the Oval Office and whatever you were expecting from the press conference — it was worse. JVL and Andrew Egger share their take on Trump's attacks on an American reporter for asking about slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Trump's praise for Saudi Arabia's “human rights" record, and then meltdown when he was pressed about the Epstein files.Take our quick listener survey and help us make The Bulwark even better. https://bit.ly/bulwarkaudio

Description: The House just voted 427–1 to release the Epstein files, a shocking turn after months of GOP resistance, including from President Trump. Sam Stein and Joe Perticone break down how Trump’s flip changed everything, why Mike Johnson lost control of his own conference, and what happens now as the Senate takes over.Take our quick listener survey and help us make The Bulwark even better. https://bit.ly/bulwarkaudio