Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes

Episode: BOMBSHELL: Leaks Show Trump Officials Floated Sending the 82nd Airborne Into Portland

Host: Sam Stein (The Bulwark)
Date: October 4, 2025

Episode Overview

Sam Stein, Managing Editor at The Bulwark, delivers a solo deep-dive into an explosive Minneapolis Star Tribune report revealing leaked text messages from high-ranking Trump administration officials. The story exposes reckless handling of sensitive government communications and offers a rare inside view of heated deliberations around deploying the U.S. military—including the elite 82nd Airborne Division—into Portland during unrest, along with other contentious policy debates and intra-administration dynamics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Leak and its Verification

• The Minneapolis Star Tribune published a bombshell story about Trump officials discussing military intervention in Portland.
• The core of the report: Text messages, exchanged over the encrypted messaging app Signal, between top Trump administration officials—including Anthony Salisbury (special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations, now Deputy Homeland Security Adviser) and others.
• The Star Tribune “went through incredible lengths” to verify the messages and sources.
  • Quote: “Kudos to the Star Tribune for landing ... and for making sure they could verify that these text messages were real.” (01:34)
• The administration’s indiscreet use of Signal continues, despite prior criticism and known security risks.
  • Quote: “...so cavalier that, you know, you wouldn’t want people working for you who handle sensitive information like that.” (03:25)

2. Discussing Military Deployment in Portland

• Revealed texts show top officials, including Pete Hegseth, actively debating sending the 82nd Airborne Division—a “top tier quick reaction force”—into Portland, Oregon, to address protests Trump called “lawless mayhem.”
  • Quote: “Top officials discussing sending the 82nd Airborne Division to Portland, Oregon. Again, this is a city in the United States, and they’re just sort of openly talking...” (03:57)
• Hegseth is portrayed as hesitant to act without direct presidential backing, highlighting legal and political worries.
  • Quote: “Hegseth seemed... kind of reluctant to do this unless Trump absolutely was going to give him cover to do this.” (05:05)
• Preference for National Guard over regular Army deployment, with clear awareness of likely legal and media fallout.

3. Other Revelations from the Texts

• Discussion in the chats of pursuing criminal cases against unnamed Florida social media influencers accused of “preaching violence”—with J.D. Vance involved.
  • “Apparently, J. D. Vance wanted to pursue a criminal case against two Florida influencers...” (06:44)
• Salisbury’s messages reveal a casual—and sometimes mocking—tone regarding major federal decisions, including firings within the FBI under Director Cash Patel.
  • Memorable Quote: “This is how Cash survives. He will do this stuff for the man. But day-to-day, giant douche canoe.” (08:26)
• Insight into intra-agency debates: Some officials were considering reinstatement of an ICE agent fired for use of excessive force, while border operations and internal politics are also discussed.

4. Reckless Communication Culture and Loose Security

• Stein expresses astonishment at the ongoing carelessness, noting how random observers can photograph officials’ sensitive chats in public, then leak them to the press.
  • Quote: “[They] are just going around casually texting each other in public about sensitive stuff, and people are seeing it.” (12:26)
• The communications reveal not just operational details but underlying factionalism and reluctance among security and military officials about controversial actions.
  • “...internal divisions and wariness and frictions around some of the more aggressive operations... being considered with respect to American cities.” (14:29)

5. Call for Accountability and Transparency

• Stein emphasizes the importance of such leaks for public understanding, but also highlights the sheer dysfunction and recklessness on display.
  • Quote: “If I were the chief of staff at Homeland Security, if I were the chief of staff at the White House, I’d be livid, livid about this shit.” (12:44)
• Praises investigative journalism that brings opaque or concealed government deliberations to light.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the administration’s recklessness:

  “This is both reckless and just absolutely JV shit.” — Sam Stein (02:48)

• On the potential for deploying military domestically:

  “...the 82nd is like our top tier quick reaction force, so it’ll cause a lot of headlines...” — Paraphrasing text messages (06:10)

• Casual and mocking internal tone:

  “But day-to-day, giant douche canoe.” — Quoting Salisbury on Director Cash Patel (08:26)

• On why journalism and leaks matter:

  “...it actually provides some insight into what the hell is going on and how there are actually internal divisions and wariness and frictions around some of the more aggressive operations...” (14:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–02:45: Introduction, summary of leak and verification steps
• 02:45–05:57: Details of Trump officials’ open discussion of deploying military in Portland
• 05:57–08:20: Division among officials, preference for National Guard, concerns about legal cover
• 08:20–10:18: FBI and ICE controversies, further revelations in texts (firings, reinstatements, other operations)
• 10:18–13:09: Broader implications for national security culture, transparency, and journalistic value

Overall Tone & Takeaway

Sam Stein delivers with a blend of incredulity, journalistic curiosity, and dry humor. He regards the discovered behaviors as both dangerous and revealing—condemning the lax security culture while welcoming the light it shines on government operations.

The episode sets a high bar for media scrutiny and transparency, arguing that the public deserves to know about both policy directions and the human factors shaping high-level government actions.

Final Note

Listeners are urged to read the original Star Tribune piece for more depth and to use The Bulwark’s secure tip line for future scoops. Stein ends on a call to vigilance in both reporting and government accountability.