The Bulwark Podcast

The massive layoffs at Jeff Bezos's Washington Post involve more than just the financial situation at the paper. The Amazon founder's real priority is keeping Donald Trump happy so the money keeps flowing from his lucrative government contracts. And the man worth $260 billion will do what it takes, even if that means hollowing out a great news organization and potentially turning it into a MAGA-friendly outlet. Maybe having the economy so dependent on government contracts—with an erratic, megalomaniac at the top of the food chain—is not such a good idea. The former executive editor at The Post says Bezos should turn the paper into a nonprofit. Plus, the origin story of "Democracy Dies in Darkness," and the profiteering and corruption in the administration is not getting the press attention it deserves.
Marty Baron joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Marty's book, "Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and The Washington Post"

Tickets on sale Friday for our live shows in Dallas and Austin in March, and our second Minnesota show is selling out. Go to: TheBulwark.com/Events.

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Donald Trump is going to do everything he can to hold onto his near monopoly on power after the midterms. Beyond his scheme to invoke the Insurrection Act through a riot he’s trying to will into being in Minneapolis, he could also declare foreign election interference—or claim there was skullduggery afoot in Los Angeles or Georgia precincts. Anything to stall or stop the new Congress from being seated. Who’s going to stop him? Meanwhile, America will get the short end of the stick under his stupid new National Security Strategy. Plus, Dem elites since 2016 have failed to appreciate the economic despair among so many Americans, and some spiritual guidance for getting back to the moral and political pillars of the Declaration of Independence.
Marianne Williamson and Bob Kagan join Tim Miller.
show notes

Bob's recent piece in The Atlantic

Marianne's Substack

Due to popular demand, we've added a second show in Minneapolis on Wednesday, February 18. Tickets are now on sale at TheBulwark.com/Events.

From dads standing guard at school doors, to Costco moms delivering food to people afraid to leave home, and to the ICE spotters patrolling the streets— everyday Minnesotans have been standing up to the Trump administration’s terror campaign with a vibrant sense of community that Stephen Miller apparently did not even consider a possibility. And while most of the rank-and-file activists are not particularly ideological, leftwing protestors are now creating tensions as they try to play a more visible role with dumpster fires and barricades. Plus, Tim makes an urgent plea to the Democratic candidates in the Texas Senate race to skip the racial politics and focus instead on what voters care about.
 
Minneapolis activist and social media firebrand Will Stancil joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Due to popular demand, we're adding a second show in Minneapolis on Wednesday, February 18. Tickets go on sale Feb 4. Check here: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events)

The Atlantic on the neo-Nazi cartoon where Will is the main character

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JD originally made a name for himself as an economic populist but now spends all his time lying and ignoring the woes of the white working class. Stephen Miller is far more interested in authoritarianism than the American worker. And the biggest MAGA warrior of all, Steve Bannon, was downright smitten with Jeffrey Epstein. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is busy trying to hide the identities of other co-conspirators in the Epstein documents. Plus, the CBP has no business being deployed on the streets of American cities, Tulsi wants foreign election interference, the good news in a Texas special election result, Trump is flailing at another business—the Kennedy Center—and Bad Bunny previews his message for the Super Bowl halftime show.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Monday's "Morning Shots"

Bannon's "interview" with Epstein
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In the wake of the massive winter storm, the power is still out in some places, trees are down, and the death toll continues to rise. And where is FEMA? Don’t pester Trump about it because he is very busy going after political opponents like Don Lemon, re-litigating once again his 2020 loss in Georgia, and keeping up his terror campaign in Minnesota in hopes of invoking the Insurrection Act. Plus, he’s got a side hustle orchestrating the payment of $10 billion in taxpayer money to him and his family. Meanwhile, there’s a pretty stinky smell of corruption around the new Fed chair pick, Lindsey Graham wants in on the grift, and where are all the bros who just had to vote for Trump because of Biden’s supposed reign of cancel culture?
Michael Steele joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes

Michael's show, "The Weeknight"

Tim and Andrew on the FBI raid at the Georgia elections office

Follow "Bulwark Takes" for our weekend coverage

Tickets for our Bulwark LIVE show in Minneapolis

Tim's playlist