Bulwark Takes: American ‘Squid Game’ Could Be Coming to Gitmo

Release Date: May 8, 2025
Hosts: Sam Stein, Tim Miller
Podcast Description:
Bulwark Takes delivers concise and insightful analyses of the day's news, featuring perspectives from The Bulwark's team, including notable voices like Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and Bill Kristol.

Introduction to the Proposal

In the episode titled "American ‘Squid Game’ Could Be Coming to Gitmo," Sam Stein and Tim Miller delve into a controversial proposal that has emerged within political and tech circles. The idea involves transforming Guantanamo Bay, historically known for its detention camp, into a “charter city” aimed at facilitating immigration and economic development.

Sam Stein opens the conversation by describing the proposal:

"One of the more outlandish and gobsmacking ideas that I've seen... the United States should turn Guantanamo Bay... into a transformative, prosperous city... using a prosperous charter city to basically put immigrants into work camps, develop it into a tourism and... like one of these Middle Eastern cities." (00:00)

Tim Miller succinctly summarizes the economic ambition:

"An economic engine." (00:42)

Detailed Examination of the Proposal

The hosts dissect the proposal's components, highlighting its multifaceted and unsettling nature. The initiative aims to repurpose Guantanamo Bay into a hub for immigrants, ranging from high-skilled professionals to asylum seekers, with the goal of fostering economic growth and societal contributions.

Tim Miller commends the innovative aspect but criticizes its execution:

"I'm kind of for the concept. The execution in this is fucking horrifying." (01:07)

He emphasizes the problematic language used in the proposal, particularly the term “solution,” which echoes historical atrocities:

"We would only take certain migrants. We would be monitoring them and then even then it's not clear if they, what kind of status they would get. They called it, quote, an ideal sandbox. Solution. It's just a little close to final solution for me." (02:19, 02:23)

Ethical and Historical Concerns

The conversation takes a darker turn as Stein and Miller draw parallels between the proposal and notorious historical events, underscoring the ethical implications of repurposing a site like Guantanamo Bay.

Sam Stein points out the dystopian undertones:

"We are going to do a migrant Truman show where everyone's gonna watch them." (04:20)

Tim Miller further illustrates the grim reality:

"Feels like we're doing a migrant Truman show... it's sick." (04:20)

The proposal's attempt to rebrand Guantanamo Bay as “Freedom Cities” is scrutinized, considering the site's fraught history post-9/11 and its association with controversial detention practices.

Sam Stein remarks on the challenge of changing Guantanamo’s image:

"We're going to pivot from the site synonymous with post-911 controversies to one known for cutting edge tech." (04:38)

Implementation Challenges and Public Perception

The hosts debate the feasibility of the proposal, considering both logistical hurdles and societal reactions. The idea of converting a government-owned detention area into a tourist and tech hub raises questions about public acceptance and the practicality of such transformation.

Tim Miller humorously questions the proposal's attractiveness:

"Government owned vacation." (06:03)
"Not only do you get great beaches, decent food, you can walk the grounds where Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was waterboarded. Who wouldn't want to go?" (06:05)

Sam Stein expresses strong opposition:

"Let's not do this. And I don't think I'll be visiting." (06:32)

The discussion also touches on potential comparisons to historical internment camps, further emphasizing the proposal's insensitive nature.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, Sam Stein and Tim Miller remain critical of the proposal, acknowledging its innovative intent but condemning its execution and ethical ramifications. They highlight the necessity for creative solutions in urban development and immigration but stress that such initiatives must be approached with sensitivity and respect for historical contexts.

Sam Stein concludes with a firm stance against the proposal:

"Let's not do this. And I don't think I'll be visiting." (06:32)

Tim Miller echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations:

"I just think there's other places." (06:37)
"I'm anti communist, so I will not be visiting the Cuban islands." (06:46)

The episode serves as a cautionary tale about the intersection of innovation and ethics, urging listeners to critically evaluate proposals that may inadvertently echo dark chapters of history.

Key Takeaways

• Innovative Concepts vs. Ethical Execution: While the idea of creating futuristic charter cities is intriguing, its implementation must avoid repeating historical injustices.
• Language Matters: Terms like “solution” can carry ominous connotations and should be chosen with care to avoid unintended implications.
• Historical Context is Crucial: Repurposing sites with complex histories requires sensitive handling to honor past experiences and ensure societal acceptance.
• Public Perception Shapes Feasibility: Proposals must consider how the public and affected communities perceive changes, especially when tied to contentious locations like Guantanamo Bay.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sam Stein on the proposal's nature:
  "One of the more outlandish and gobsmacking ideas that I've seen..." – 00:00

• Tim Miller on supporting the concept but criticizing execution:
  "I'm kind of for the concept. The execution in this is fucking horrifying." – 01:07

• Sam Stein on the dystopian aspect:
  "We are going to do a migrant Truman show where everyone's gonna watch them." – 04:20

• Tim Miller highlighting ethical issues:
  "Feels like we're doing a migrant Truman show... it's sick." – 04:20

• Sam Stein's final opposition:
  "Let's not do this. And I don't think I'll be visiting." – 06:32

• Tim Miller on personal stance:
  "I'm anti communist, so I will not be visiting the Cuban islands." – 06:46

This episode of Bulwark Takes effectively combines current events with in-depth analysis, encouraging listeners to critically assess proposals that may seem innovative on the surface but harbor deeper ethical and historical concerns.