Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes – GOP Governors Are Putting Trump First and You LAST

Date: August 19, 2025
Host: Tim Miller, The Bulwark

Overview

In this episode, Tim Miller delivers a scathing critique of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s decision to send 135 Louisiana National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., joining other red-state governors in a gesture portrayed as supporting national security. Miller argues that this move is politically motivated, prioritizing Donald Trump’s interests over the needs of Louisiana citizens, and he examines the local and national implications of diverting state resources for partisan theater.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Governor Landry’s Decision and Statement

• Governor Landry announced the deployment of 135 Louisiana National Guard members to D.C., justified as “assisting in President Trump’s mission of restoring safety and peace.”
• The official rationale cites protecting federal buildings and monuments, invoking “law and order.”
• Miller is outraged by what he calls “an affront to the soldiers,” “an insult to citizens,” and “fakocta mission.”
  • Quote:

    “All this does is serve, you know, Donald Trump's desire to militarize the nation's capital and to gain power for himself. It does absolutely nothing for the citizens of Louisiana or any of these other states.”
    – Tim Miller (01:18)

2. Crime Statistics & Misplaced Priorities

• Miller challenges the notion that D.C.'s crime justifies this deployment, noting Louisiana’s own cities suffer higher crime rates:
  • Homicide rates in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport surpass those in D.C.
• “If we were concerned, as Jeff Landry said, by the need for more safety and peace in our cities... then send them to Shreveport.” (03:11)
• Points out the absurdity of assigning unarmed Louisiana National Guardsmen to protect places like Georgetown Cupcake or Union Station in D.C.

Memorable Moment:

• Quote:

  "It's absurd and, like, it should be laughed out of the room as a suggestion that we should spend our resources and our manpower protecting, you know, Dupont Circle. Insane. Insane."
  – Tim Miller (03:37)

3. Direct Threats at Home Ignored

• Highlights serious recent security concerns in Louisiana, like the largest jailbreak in the country in a century at the Orleans Justice Center, with violent criminals still at large (04:28).
• Notes a terrorist attack occurred on Bourbon Street this year, not in D.C.
  • Critiques the state’s lack of National Guard deployment in response to actual local emergencies.

Notable Quote:

• "Why are we sending 135 National Guardsmen who ostensibly should be called into duty to help protect in those situations across the country to sit outside Union Station doing nothing?" (09:20)

4. Hurricane Season and Emergency Preparedness

• Louisiana National Guard plays a vital role in disaster response, which is especially relevant during hurricane season.
• Miller questions the wisdom of dispatching a significant number of Guardsmen out of state when hurricanes are looming.
• “There’s an Atlantic hurricane that’s developing right now… why would we send over a hundred National Guardsmen across the country during hurricane season for totally uncritical duties?” (10:28)

5. Impact on Guardsmen and Local Communities

• Emphasizes that National Guard members are ordinary citizens with families, jobs, and community obligations.
• The deployment disrupts their lives — especially during “back to school” in Louisiana.

Quote:

"It is fucking offensive to the people that are volunteering to work in this... to be called into duty when there are actual emergencies like the terrorist attack that we had this year in January right here in Louisiana and... hurricanes, which we will probably have to deal with in the weeks and months ahead."
– Tim Miller (11:22)

6. Political Theater and Critique of Motivations

• Miller sees the move as a “military stage play” for Trump and Landry’s political gain, not public safety.
• Calls for citizens to voice opposition to such political stunts.

Quote:

"Sending people to D.C. for show because Jeff Landry wants Daddy Trump to pat him on the head. That is fucking offensive. That is offensive, Jeff Landry."
– Tim Miller (12:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On priorities:
  “If Mississippi had a major hurricane or a terrorist attack, sure. Like, send the National Guard in from Louisiana to help... But sending people to D.C. for show because Jeff Landry wants Daddy Trump to pat him on the head. That is fucking offensive.” (11:42–12:45)

• On the disruption of Guardsmen’s lives:
  “We’re taking away from their businesses, we’re taking them away from their families during back to school to send them to sit outside the Georgetown cupcake. This is ridiculous.” (10:56)

• On political posturing:
  “If Donald Trump wants to dress up FBI agents and DEA agents and whatever and have them run around DC, I’m against that, too, but that’s his problem. There’s no reason that people from Louisiana and other states... should be sent to get involved in this because... the governors... want to make their orange daddy happy. It’s BS.” (14:13)

Important Timestamps

• 00:02–01:18: Miller introduces the story, quotes Gov. Landry’s statement, and sets the tone for outrage.
• 02:33–03:37: Breakdown of local vs. D.C. crime, pointing out logical inconsistencies.
• 04:28–06:00: Criticism of failure to deploy state resources to real emergencies, such as jailbreaks and recent terrorist attacks.
• 07:07–10:28: Analysis of National Guard’s core responsibilities, the urgency of hurricane season.
• 10:34–12:45: Impact on Guardsmen’s families, local economies, and assertion that the deployment is performative.
• 13:29–15:02: Final summary and call to action for citizens to contact their governors.

Tone & Closing Thoughts

Miller adopts a sharp, frustrated, and witty tone throughout, delivering cutting barbs at both Gov. Landry and Trump while remaining deeply concerned for Louisiana’s practical needs and its National Guard members. He ends with a personal appeal for civic engagement, encouraging listeners to protest these political maneuvers:

"Write and call your governors and let them know that you’re pissed because they need to hear about it." (14:56)

Summary Takeaway

Tim Miller argues forcefully that deploying the Louisiana National Guard to D.C. isn’t about public safety but political spectacle — and comes at real cost to Louisiana’s security and its citizen-soldiers. He urges listeners to reject these displays of loyalty to Trump and demand their leaders prioritize local needs over national theatrics.