Bulwark Takes

Red states built up a massive hemp industry and the vote by Congress to reopen the government suddenly set up a deadline to shut it all down. Tim Miller is joined by Politico's Natalie Fertig as they take on the strange coalition forming to save THC seltzers and how Sens. Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, and Rand Paul ended up on opposite sides of the issue. Take our quick listener survey and help us make The Bulwark even better. https://bit.ly/bulwarkaudio

Tim digs into Trump’s ugly attacks on Rep Thomas Massie, the backstory Trump ignores, and what it says about the cracks forming inside MAGA. He also joins Nicolle Wallace to dig into it. Watch Deadline: White House on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-houseTake our quick listener survey and help us make The Bulwark even better. https://bit.ly/bulwarkaudio

JVL and Sam Stein take on Larry Summers’ embarrassing Epstein emails, Summers’ long-running influence in Democratic circles, the fallout inside Harvard and CAP, and the absurdity of a Treasury Secretary asking a convicted predator for dating tips.Take our quick listener survey and help us make The Bulwark even better. https://bit.ly/bulwarkaudio

Sam Stein and JVL take on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s break from Trump, why her sincerity sets her apart from the GOP’s careerist crowd, and what her Epstein-driven pivot says about the party’s collapse into pure performance politics.Take our quick listener survey and help us make The Bulwark even better. https://bit.ly/bulwarkaudio

Sam Stein and Will Saletan dissect Sen. Barrasso’s messy defense of Trump amid new Epstein-related revelations, soaked in both contradictions and political awkwardness.Take our quick listener survey and help us make The Bulwark even better. https://bit.ly/bulwarkaudio

Sam Stein and Jack Cocchiarella take on Trump’s attacks on Rep. Massie hitting a nerve within his own base, as Marjorie Taylor Greene pivots away from Trump on CNN and die-hard MAGA loyalists start calling out the corruption and hypocrisy.

Bill Kristol and Mark Hertling discuss Venezuela’s uncertain path, Europe’s evolving troubles, and growing discontent inside the Pentagon.Pre-order "If I Don't Return" by Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.)

Sam Stein is joined by Sen. Chris Murphy live in Austin, TX to talk the Epstein files fight, Trump’s threats to democracy and abuse of pardons, shutdown politics, and how Democrats should respond. Plus, an audience Q&A on AI, gun violence, and rebuilding a broad pro-democracy coalition.NOTE: There are a few moments when the recording cuts out. We apologize for these issues.

JVL and Andrew Egger take on Donald Trump’s messy public split with Marjorie Taylor Greene and what this rift signals for the future of the MAGA movement.

Sam Stein gives a rapid rundown of a chaotic 24 hours in Trump-world, from corruption allegations and lavish gifts, to meltdown posts, MRI secrecy, and Trump lashing out at critics. It’s all so over the top, even MAGA’s most influential figures are beginning to notice the blatant corruption.

Tim Miller takes on JD Vance’s latest lie, the immigrant scapegoating cycle, and why Trump’s economic crew keeps bending reality on prices, tariffs, and the state of the economy. He also joins Nicolle Wallace to dig into it. Watch Deadline: White House on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house

NOTE: There are a few moments when the video cuts out. We apologize for these issues with the recording.Sam Stein sits down with former Congressman Adam Kinzinger at the Texas Tribune Festival to talk about “The Last Republican,” how the GOP became a personality cult, what January 6 did to his family, McCarthy’s surrender in Mar-a-Lago, the DOJ’s failures, and why winning back ex-MAGA voters means not shaming them. Kinzinger also weighs in on Trump’s $400M Qatar jet deal, corruption, his future in Texas politics, and whether he’d ever take on Ted Cruz.

Tim Miller gives his take on Donald Trump promoting Paul Ingrassia, the racist Twitter troll whose private texts about having a "Nazi streak" were so vile that even MAGA group chats were telling him to dial it back. The Senate refused to confirm him for a previous job and now he's going to be deputy general counsel at the General Services Administration.Watch Tim's video on Ingrassia's texts: https://youtu.be/MInUIlH7sfU

Tim Miller takes on Megyn Kelly and Batya Ungar-Sargon’s appalling attempt to spin Jefferey Epstein’s 15 and 16-year-old victims as nearly-adults, as they try to manipulate the well-documented accusations in effort to rewrite the story to protect Trump.Watch Tim’s conversation with Stacey Williams

Donald Trump has a new message for Americans worried about the economy: you’re wrong. Andrew Egger and Will Saletan share their take on Trump's message, breaking down his bizarre insistence that prices are “way down,” that gas is $2, that groceries are cheaper, and that any reporting to the contrary is just a “manufactured” media conspiracy.

Sam Stein and Will Sommer take on Kash Patel’s government jet scandal, the MAGA pile-on targeting his girlfriend, the absurd “Mossad honeypot” conspiracy, and the escalating lawsuits shaking up the right.Read more in Will Sommer's latest False Flag newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/kash-patel-girlfriend-alexis-wilkins-driving-maga-nuts

The House just hit 218 votes to force a floor vote on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files — a rare bipartisan revolt that Donald Trump tried, and failed, to stop. Sam Stein and Andrew Egger share their take on what's next before the files could be released, why MAGA world is panicking, and what the newly released Epstein emails reveal about Trump’s own connections to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.Get 40% off your subscription to Calm’s entire library at https://Calm.com/BULWARKTAKES

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Egger take on the explosive new Epstein emails that suggest direct links between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein—including messages showing Epstein and Michael Wolff scheming to help Trump, and evidence that Trump knew about “the girls.”Get 40% off your subscription to Calm’s entire library at https://Calm.com/BULWARKTAKES

Atul Gawande joins Jonathan to expose the deadly consequences of Trump’s foreign aid cuts—hundreds of thousands of lives lost, programs dismantled, and America’s moral leadership destroyed. Learn more about the documentary "Rovina's Choice": https://rovinaschoice.com/Check out the PEPFAR Impact Tracker: https://pepfar.impactcounter.com/Get 40% off your subscription to Calm’s entire library at https://Calm.com/BULWARKTAKES

Tim Miller joins Nicolle Wallace on Deadline: White House to discuss Trump’s economic mess and why his “man of the people” act is collapsing under the weight of gold-plated excess and billionaire buddies. Tim explains how Trump lost touch—and why Democrats are finally gaining the upper hand.Watch Nicolle’s on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house

Tim Miller talks with Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman about how Democrats are quietly racking up wins in the redistricting wars—from Utah’s shock court ruling to key shifts in Virginia and California—and what it all means for control of the House in 2026.

Tim Miller takes on Ghislaine Maxwell’s outrageous “Club Fed” treatment with investigative reporter Julie K. Brown. They discuss the newest leaked emails, political cover-ups, and why powerful people keep escaping justice in the Epstein saga.

Sam Stein is joined by Blueprint's chief strategist Alyssa Cass for her take on Blueprint's new poll, unpacking the data behind Trump's actions and what policies voters consider "authoritarian."Blueprint: Authoritarian, Just Unpopular, or Both? Trump’s Actions Under a Microscope: https://blueprint-research.com/polling/authoritarian-test/

Tim Miller takes on the Truth Social AI that accidentally tells the truth. From tariffs to Ivanka to Venezuela, Trump’s own chatbot keeps debunking Trump's lies.

Sam Stein speaks with Former U.S. Pardon Attorney Liz Oyer for her take on Trump's latest round of pardons for Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis and several other top officials who tried to overturn the 2020 election. Liz warns about how Trump's pardons are "blatantly corrupt" and could test how far presidential pardon power can go.You can follow Liz's writing here: https://www.lawyeroyer.com/

Sam Stein, Tim Miller, and Will Sommer share their takes on Nancy Mace’s bizarre feud with Charleston airport security. It started with a tantrum at the Charleston airport before Mace accused her opponent of protecting pedophiles and somehow dragged Senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham into it.

Sam Stein and Joe Perticone discuss the breaking news that it appears the Senate has enough votes to approve a budget and end the government shutdown, moving the pressure over to Mike Johnson and the House of Representatives.

Sam Stein and Jack Cocchiarella take on Scott Bessent’s walk-back of Trump’s bleated announcement of “$2,000 checks” amid the government shutdown that continues to rock the economy.

Recorded live on Friday, November 8, 2025, this Substack conversation between Steven Beschloss (America, America) and Jonathan V. Last takes on the 2025 election results, Trump’s growing authoritarianism, and America’s slide toward economic kleptocracy.

Tim Miller takes on James Talarico's spicy Instagram follows, Candace Owens leaking texts with Charlie Kirk, and Tim's heated panel at Crooked Con.

Sarah Longwell and Catherine Rampell take on consumer sentiment reaching its lowest levels ever, the impending Supreme Court rulings on tariffs, and rising job losses creating even more uncertainty amid a shaken economy.

Tim Miller brings on Dutch economist Stan Veuger for some good news. The Netherlands just elected a young, upbeat, openly gay prime minister who’s talking optimism, growth, and even building new cities, and somehow, it’s working.

Sonny Bunch talks with Atlantic writer and national security expert Tom Nichols about the new Netflix thriller A House of Dynamite—the most realistic nuclear movie in decades.Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join

Jonathan Cohn talks with former White House chef and Obama nutrition advisor Sam Kass about RFK Jr.’s phony “health revolution.” Kass explains how the administration’s obsession with seed oils and food dyes is a smokescreen for dismantling the CDC, FDA, and USDA—and why RFK Jr. has become the biggest threat to public health in modern U.S. history.Go to https://Zocdoc.com/BULWARKTAKES to find and instantly book a doctor today.

Sam Stein and Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO-06) take on the growing backlash to Trump’s chaos politics—and why voters are sending a clear message that they’ve had enough.Go to https://Zocdoc.com/BULWARKTAKES to find and instantly book a doctor today.

JVL and Sarah Longwell take on the absurd “Sandwich Guy” trial—where prosecutors literally made a federal case out of a thrown sandwich.

Sarah Longwell and JVL take on Donald Trump’s hidden unemployment crisis—the million jobs lost, the vanishing economic data, and the chaos of his tariff-driven “businessman” presidency.

Sam Stein, Jonathan Cohn, and former Congresswoman Barbara Comstock take on Nancy Pelosi’s retirement—her unmatched record as Speaker, her behind-the-scenes power, and what her exit means for the Democratic Party.

Rep. Pat Ryan joins Tim to talk takeaways from big wins in New York, New Jersey and Virginia, the path to the House, and why costs still dominate. They also look at sports streaming chaos and why blackouts need fixing.

Democrats notch big wins from New Jersey to Virginia, including a historic first woman governor. Sam Stein joins Nicole Wallace to explain how affordability, real-world prices, and a fading culture war reshaped the map.

Jonathan Cohn and Will Sommer take on Trumpworld’s sudden rush to help Dilbert creator Scott Adams get cancer treatment—while millions lose health coverage under Trump’s own cuts. A look at MAGA’s “healthcare by loyalty” system.

Sarah Longwell talks with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro about what Democrats’ big election wins really mean, how Trump’s tariffs and shutdowns hurt his own voters, why voters are rejecting chaos, and how Democrats can win by simply making people’s lives better. They also discuss the divide over Israel and Gaza, the future of the party, and what moral clarity looks like in politics today.

Sam Stein takes on Tuesday's stunning election results with Senator Tim Kaine, why the Virginia Senator believes putting the economy front and center is key to Democratic victories, and how Trump’s chaos still looms over everything from shutdown talks to foreign policy.

Sam Stein and John Avlon take on the Democrats’ major wins this election — from New York’s historic mayoral race to big centrist victories in Virginia and New Jersey. They break down how Democrats turned affordability and authenticity into a winning message while Trump’s GOP keeps alienating voters.

Tim Miller joins Nicolle Wallace on MSNBC to break down Election Night—from Trump’s intimidation tactics via “election monitors” to the high-stakes battles in Virginia, New Jersey, California and more. He also shares what he’s watching most closely: the Hispanic vote, democracy’s stress test, and whether Democrats can win by enough to make the results undeniable.Watch Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace: https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house

Tim Miller and Sam Stein take on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s latest stop on her makeover tour—The View. She played the victim, dodged her past conspiracies, and even got some applause.

JVL and Bill Kristol reflect on the life and legacy of Dick Cheney—a man who defined a certain strain of Republican politics for half a century, from Ford’s White House to the Trump resistance. They discuss how Cheney went from “Darth Vader” to one of the last serious conservatives, and what his death says about the end of the old GOP.

JVL and Andrew Egger take on Trump’s threat to attack Nigeria over Christian persecution, and how genuine policy gets warped by his “guns blazing” posturing making it unclear what will happen next.

Sam Stein and Sarah Longwell take on Trump’s brutal new polling—approval ratings in the 30s, independents abandoning him, and voters saying he’s making the economy worse.

Tim Miller takes on the MAGA meltdown after the Charlie Kirk assassination—where right-wing influencers and even Senator Mike Lee went after teachers over an innocent Halloween costume, and a Tennessee man was jailed for posting a meme.