The Bulwark Podcast

At home, POTUS shows how much he wants to be like an Arab despot, plastering his mug all over the place and deploying the Justice Department to fatuously claim that Comey’s use of seashell art can rise to a crime. But on Iran, he seems to have backed off his promise of a short war, and he’s making pretty wimpy threats against the regime. Plus, Disney’s new CEO is standing by Kimmel, Barney Frank has a warning for Democrats, and recent polling data is not backing up the Dems’ midterms bullishness—even if voter sentiment is very bad for Trump and the Republicans.
John Heilemann joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Subscribe to The Bulwark's YouTube

John's "Impolitic" podcast

Tim’s livestream Wednesday at 8pm ET on Substack or YouTube

Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and in LA on 5/21: TheBulwark.com/Events

Acting AG Todd Blanche, who watched Pam Bondi get fired, knows exactly what his assignment is: Go after every political enemy Trump wants targeted, and charge them—even without evidence of a crime. At the FBI, officials under Kash have pursued dubious or phony leads while career agents are seething over what the director has done to the place. Plus, the podcastistan wars may be doing real harm to the MAGA movement, influencers in the Trump echo chamber are looking pretty lame in comparison to key right-wing figures who are breaking ranks with him, and the latest on post-overdose looksmaxxer Clavicular.
Will Sommer and Carol Leonnig join Tim Miller. 
show notes

Carol's latest reporting on the case of assassination suspect, Cole Allen

Carol's book about the Secret Service, "Zero Fail" and her latest, "Injustice"

Will's new "False Flag" on Clavicular

Will on a wild and unnecessary FBI raid

TNL's live pod from Tuesday

Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and in LA on 5/21: TheBulwark.com/Events

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Trump is a terrible president and he deserves to be criticized, even in personal terms. Our pro-democracy movement has shown time and time again that we can oppose him— and oppose any attempt at violence at the same time. Even putting aside POTUS's own hypocritical calls for violence or his celebrating the deaths of his enemies, Saturday's shooting was related to mental health issues and too easy of access to guns. Plus, Zelensky is the new leader of the free world, Trump looks like he's headed to a humiliating defeat in Iran, the left should work harder to not be false flag cranks, and a look at the Senate map in the context of America Firsters feeling betrayed by Trump's stupid wars and his attempt to redesign D.C. in his image.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes:

Monday's "Morning Shots"

Ken Klippenstein's reporting on the shooting suspect, which Tim referenced

David French on Zelensky (gift)

Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and in LA on 5/21: TheBulwark.com/Events

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Not only is the new hardline regime in Tehran now more likely to go rogue as a nuclear power a la North Korea, ordinary Iranians—who Trump and Bibi initially claimed we were rescuing—are also living under even harsher conditions. At the same time, the war has burned through billions worth of our critical weapons stockpile, a development that surely will figure into China’s calculations vis‐à‐vis Taiwan. This is the moment for Dems to reshape their brand and win back everyday working Americans. Plus, the settlers’ escalating attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, the Trump administration’s depraved treatment of Afghan refugees, any talk of aid for UAE stinks of Trump family corruption, and Dems need to fix their blue places while simultaneously working to win voters in the red ones.
show notes

Nick's nonprofit, Kristof Impact

Nick's NYT column page

Helen Keller International

Kristof Farms

Tim's playlist

Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego and LA in May: TheBulwark.com/Events
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Trump has gone full “1984” with his claim that it’s a good thing that the Strait of Hormuz is closed. He also says that he saved some Iranian women from being executed, which the regime in Tehran called “fake news.” It’s a telling sign of the times when the public can’t figure out whether the White House or the Iranian regime is lying. Speaking of scam artists, Ben joins Tim to discuss his new film on cryptocurrency, "Everyone is Lying to You for Money." The industry is rife with crime, it sorely needs to be regulated, and some of the most unscrupulous people are behind it— including our president.
Ben McKenzie and Sarah Matthews join Tim Miller.
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show notes:

More on Ben's film, "Everyone Is Lying to You for Money"

Tim's interview with Ben from 2023

Tim and Catherine on Tucker's despicable attack on Catherine

David Kirkpatrick on Trump's $4 bil in profiteering off the presidency, mostly from crypto

Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego and LA in May: TheBulwark.com/Events