Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes

Episode: Comedy GOLD! Trump’s NYT Lawsuit Is Absolutely Absurd
Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Tim Miller (A)
Guest: Andrew Egger (B), author of the Morning Shots newsletter

Brief Overview

This episode is a satirical and sharp breakdown of Donald Trump's $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, calling out its absurdity and examining the legal document’s over-the-top rhetoric. Hosts Tim Miller and Andrew Egger approach the news with equal parts humor and concern, analyzing both the comedic excesses of the lawsuit and its more troubling implications for free speech and press freedom under Trump.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. An Absurd Legal Filing Driven by Ego (00:00–03:13)

• The lawsuit is described as so lacking in merit it ranges from "very little merit to exceedingly little merit to insanely little merit." [A, 00:11]
• Andrew Egger jokes that the legal document reads more like creative writing intended only to please Trump himself, not to actually win in court.

  "It's to make Donald Trump like the filing a lot. And that comes through in every word because it is written, like, the most ridiculous, just blowing smoke up his butt stuff you have..." — Andrew Egger [00:51]

• The lawsuit’s rationale includes trivial complaints, such as arguing Trump was already famous—evidenced by his roles at WrestleMania and in Home Alone 2—prior to The Apprentice and thus was not made famous by TV producer Mark Burnett.

  "Proof he was at WrestleMania." — Tim Miller [03:04]

2. The Cult of Trump in Legal Language (03:13–06:13)

• The filing includes a lengthy, hyperbolic list of Trump’s supposed achievements, including exaggerated claims about his business empire and political victories.

  "...having handily won the 2024 presidential election, despite defendants’ best efforts to the contrary, is the 47th President of the United States. ...President Trump continues to redefine what is possible in business and media, including...Truth Social." — Read aloud by Andrew Egger [04:18]

• Tim jokes about the insecurity revealed by such bombastic self-praise:

  "...anybody that would need to have that long of a list of accomplishments ... probably has a micropenis." — Tim Miller [05:24]

3. Revealing Nuggets and Ethical Collapse (06:13–08:29)

• The lawsuit lists Trump’s properties as if there has been no ethical separation between the presidency and his business interests.

  "...the complete collapse of sort of like ethical boundaries between the President and all the President's many companies is a sort of long running theme...and it's kind of funny to see it just baldly stated in, in his own lawyer's lawsuit." — Andrew Egger [08:21]

• Trump’s claimed $100 billion net worth is highlighted, raising questions about the credibility of both his claims and the damages sought.

4. The Filing’s Surreal Legal Arguments (08:29–09:46)

• The lawsuit accuses The Times and reporters of libel for writing about Trump’s myth-making without interviewing people who declined requests, like Mark Burnett.

  "...they tried to interview this guy and he did not respond to their requests to comment, it was libelous for them to publish..." — Andrew Egger [09:41]

• The hosts highlight the circular absurdity: suing for libel when sources refused comment.

5. Comparing Other Trump Lawsuits – A Pattern Emerges (09:46–13:26)

• Tim and Andrew compare the NYT lawsuit to past Trump suits, noting a pattern of similarly frivolous, intimidating legal actions.
  • The 60 Minutes lawsuit is discussed, with Andrew concluding that while all are legally weak, this filing is especially preposterous.

  "On their face, all of these are maybe equally preposterous. This filing is more preposterous than a lot of those filings..." — Andrew Egger [11:07]

• The structural difference: Unlike conglomerate-owned networks (CBS, ABC), The New York Times, as an independent paper, is more likely to fight and win in court.

  "...it's nice that we can finally talk about one of these. And it's like, no, he's going to lose it. He's not. He's not going to win. ...we're just going to laugh at him and it will go away." — Andrew Egger [13:11]

6. The Larger Threat: Coordinated Attacks on Speech (13:26–17:22)

• The conversation pivots to concern over Trump’s broader campaign to intimidate the media and silence criticism through constant litigation.
• Tim references Trump’s comments to ABC's John Carl, where Trump equates challenging journalism with hate speech and jokingly (but not really) suggests Pam Bondi should prosecute tough reporters.

  "You have a lot of hate in your heart. Maybe they'll come after ABC. Well, ABC paid me $16 million recently for a form of hate speech. ...So maybe they'll have to go after you." — Donald Trump, played by Tim Miller [15:15]

• Andrew warns that these antics cumulatively create a chilling effect, causing newsrooms to self-censor and always act defensively, which is unhealthy for democracy.

  "...the systemic issue where he has decided that the best way to bring the press to heel is to just sue everybody all the time, constantly on any pretext imaginable...that is a real problem..." — Andrew Egger [15:50]

• They both lament the lack of response from so-called "free speech absolutists" over these clear attacks on press freedom by Trump supporters.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tim Miller [00:12]: "You gotta laugh so you don't cry stories from the Trump era."
• Andrew Egger [00:51]: "...written, like, the most ridiculous, just blowing smoke up his butt stuff you have..."
• Tim Miller [03:04]: "Proof he was at WrestleMania."
• Andrew Egger [08:21]: "...the complete collapse of sort of like ethical boundaries between the President and all the President's many companies is a sort of long running theme..."
• Andrew Egger [11:07]: "...all of these are maybe equally preposterous. This filing is more preposterous than a lot of those filings were, just for all the reasons we've discussed."
• Donald Trump (impersonated/quoted) [15:15]: "'You have a lot of hate in your heart. Maybe they'll come after ABC...'"
• Andrew Egger [15:50]: "...the systemic issue where he has decided that the best way to bring the press to heel is to just sue everybody all the time, constantly on any pretext imaginable..."

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00 – 03:13: Introduction; overview of lawsuit absurdities, WrestleMania reference
• 03:13 – 06:13: Lawsuit’s lavish praise for Trump; comedic riff on self-importance
• 06:13 – 08:29: Net worth exaggerations, business entanglement and corruption
• 08:29 – 09:46: Absurd legal claims about Mark Burnett and defamation
• 09:46 – 13:26: Patterns in Trump’s frivolous lawsuits; discussion on media conglomerates vs. NYT
• 13:26 – 17:22: Broader implications for press freedom; Trump’s "hate speech" threats; chilling effects

Tone & Takeaway

With biting wit and palpable exasperation, Tim and Andrew capture both the ridiculousness and underlying menace of Trump’s legal theater, warning of its erosive effect on journalism and democratic discourse. The episode blends laughter with a serious call for vigilance, underlining that while this lawsuit is a subject of mockery, its intent is deeply concerning.