The Bulwark Podcast

Donald Trump is so enamored with Vladimir Putin he doesn't even know the Russian leader is regularly making fun of him in ways that can’t easily be translated. Trump is also running the White House like it's the Kremlin, with backdoor deals, quick enrichment schemes, nefarious activities, and cronies calling the shots—while people in official positions, like Marco, are just fig leaves. It’s the exact kind of political world where Putin flourishes. And his operation against the United States continues apace. Plus, the backstory on the proposed Venezuela-Ukraine swap, Trump's TACO on Greenland, Canada and Europe have had enough of the U.S. and buying American, Western allies don’t trust Vance’s dependence on tech bros, and hello: Ozempic is a Danish drug.
The one and only Fiona Hill joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Fiona's memoir, " There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century"

Fiona's book, "Mr. Putin: The Operative in the Kremlin"

David Frum's interview with Fiona

In his rambling mess of a speech at Davos, Trump confused Iceland and Greenland, and demonstrated that he doesn't understand how NATO works. The infamous draft-dodger also seemed to call Truman and Eisenhower "stupid" for not just taking Greenland after WWII. Nevertheless, his threat to somehow get the island is undermining our international rules-based order. Plus, the secret, imperfect alliance in Congress that is blocking anti-trans legislation, the growing Dem opposition to the DHS funding bill, and the need to fight the trust deficit in the country —and the anger-tainment that is driving it.
Delaware's Rep. Sarah McBride joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Sam's, JVL's and Andrew's reaction to the Davos speech

McBride's column in Delaware's News Journal

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The Republican Party may be deeply unpopular, but the Democratic Party is even more so. The Dems' brand is weak despite the success of the off-year elections in 2025. To have a shot at winning back the Senate in the midterms, and the White House in 2028, the most successful Dems will be the ones who run against the status quo of their own party. In the meantime, Dems should be aggressively holding Republicans responsible for the tariffs, the threat against Greenland, and the terrorizing of Minnesotans— because they're not stopping the administration. Plus, cowardly CEOs, how to use A.I. as a political issue, and Trump & co's efforts to silence Americans.
 Veteran strategist David Plouffe joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Plouffe's NYT piece

Tim's interview with Ryan Grim, the recent lefty guest Tim referenced

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The president's demented rant that the United States has to take Greenland because the Nobel committee has not awarded him his much coveted peace prize is farcical and embarrassing—we are in 25th Amendment territory. At the same time, Trump's alternate claim that conquering the island is about being tough on Russia is so phony since he's busy trying to help give Ukraine to Putin. Meanwhile, ICE agents' constant videotaping of members of the public may be tied to their use of facial recognition software. Plus, in this particularly horrible period of news, we are remembering the hope and optimism that pushed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to fight for a better America.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Tim's interview with "Minnesota Angry Man," Chris Ostroushko 

The holiday-themed Bulwark Pod with Wright Thompson 

Monday's "Morning Shots"

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Official Mississippi doesn't really want to talk about the murder of Emmett Till—or teach about the murder of Emmett Till. Almost 71 years later, the intentional attempt to erase the crime lives on. On this MLK Day weekend, Wright joins Tim to discuss the role of history and black history in our public consciousness. Meanwhile, Trump and MAGA are busy trying to rewrite the history of modern-day political violence, including the thuggery of ICE agents. Plus, a ranking of the best SEC college towns, a tribute to Bob Weir, the impact of tariffs on farmers—as well as this year's Mardi Gras— and even the White House is starting to get concerned about the optics of Trump's deportation operation.
 ESPN's Wright Thompson joins Tim Miller for the holiday weekend pod.
show notes

Wright's book, "The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi" 

JVL on Trump stashing America's money in Qatar 

Wright's documentary he did with Mickey Hart, "Rhythm Masters" 

Marc Caputo on White House concerns about the optics of deportation 

Tim's playlist

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