As a candidate, Trump knew to steer clear of Project 2025. But as president, he embraced its deeply unpopular policy goals and it has been driving down his poll numbers. Meanwhile, what are we doing with Venezuela? No one in the administration has made a remotely convincing case for the intimidation campaign against President Maduro. And the boat bombings are putting members of our military in legal danger under the guidance of Hegseth. Plus, the threats against legislators in Indiana who aren't going along with redistricting, and the broad-based coalition standing up to ICE—including people in costumes and grannies on scooters—has been one of the most successful responses to Trump's immigration agenda.
Amanda Carpenter joins Tim Miller.
show notes:
Protect Democracy's web site
Amanda's Substack
"If You Can Keep It" on Substack
Take advantage of Ridge’s Biggest Sale of the Year and GET UP TO 47% Off by going to https://www.Ridge.com/THEBULWARK #Ridgepod
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42:23
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42:23
Bill Kristol: A Kleptocratic, Autocratic Cabal
Not only are the opportunities for personal financial gain for Trump and his White House cronies driving the administration’s foreign policy decisions, his tariffs look more and more about grift. Trump also inexplicably granted clemency to a private equity exec who ripped off ordinary Americans in a Ponzi scheme, while he plans a pardon for a former Honduran president who trafficked cocaine to America—even as he orders the bombings of suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, on the immigration front, Border Patrol is moving into NOLA, and the administration is exploiting the heinous and tragic DC Guard shooting to try to rid the country of black and brown immigrants.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Bill's 'Bulwark on Sunday' on Trump's anti-immigrant agenda
Tim's 'Bulwark Take' on Scott Jennings
WSJ's piece, "Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine"
NYT on David Sacks
Andy McCarthy on the killing of two survivors of a missile strike in the Caribbean
Makeup-less Trump at Mar-a-Lago
New Bulwark merch!
Go to https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code BULWARK. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!
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53:45
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53:45
George Packer: Trump Was a Symptom
Americans were already losing touch with basic decency before Trump came along—and he exploited that indecency, distrust, and division to win power. In his new novel, George Packer spins a story of an imaginary country that just collapses, and how ordinary people have to learn to live together again. Fiction has a way of making the real world more clear. Plus, Charlie Kirk’s influence on our political climate before his death, JD’s phoniness and lust for power, Trump may be flailing but he’s still amassed immense power, and how AI moving us away from the written word threatens our democracy.
The Atlantic’s George Packer joins Tim Miller for the holiday weekend pod.
show notes
George’s new book, “The Emergency: A Novel”
Tim's playlist
George’s piece on Arizona and Charlie Kirk from last year
“The Talented Mr. Vance” piece by George
Other books by George:
“The Assassins’ Gate”
“The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America”
“Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal”
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55:24
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55:24
Andrew Weissmann: Just Release the Damn Epstein Files
Trump needs to quit the games and his defamatory accusations about who's in the Epstein files, and just release the 300 gigabytes of data from the Epstein case—even if he has an army of elves trying to redact or whitewash any references or images of Trump himself. Meanwhile, the dismissal of charges against Comey and Tish James show how bad Team Trump is at political retribution. Plus, the commander-in-chief doesn't want members of the military hearing the truth, spies are listening in to Steve Witkoff, and is Weissmann going to sue Trump for defamation?
Andrew Weissmann joins Tim Miller.
show notes:
Andrew's Substack
Andrew and Mary McCord's podcast, "Main Justice"
New Bulwark merch!
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59:21
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59:21
Michael Weiss: Trump's Ukraine Cluster**ck
A troika of foreign policy amateurs—Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and JD Vance—are trying to impose a Russia-drafted peace plan on Ukraine. While Trump was in the loop, other senior officials in the administration were in the dark, even as Kushner was using backchannels to work with a Putin ally. Vance eagerly got on board because he’s desperate to stab Ukraine in the back and declare himself MAGA’s heir apparent for 2028. But rival Marco Rubio—who sees that Russia doesn’t really want peace—is working on an alternative deal.
Michael Weiss joins Tim Miller to break all the machinations down.
Michael's Substack, "Foreign Office"
Michael's reporting at "The Insider"
Today’s Morning Shots
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Exclusive $45-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARK. Promo Code BULWARK
Tim Miller and guests discuss the latest political news for the flagship podcast of the Never Trump movement and the reality-based community. Every weekday we provide insightful analysis, political hot-takes, an unabashed defense of liberal democracy and long-form interviews that cut through the "both-sides" BS. Plus a few laughs to help you wash down the crazy.
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