Bulwark Takes – MAGA Mondays

Episode: Iran War Causes Huge MAGA vs. MAGA Fight

Date: March 9, 2026
Host: Sam Stein
Co-Host: Will Sommer
Notable Voices: Tucker Carlson (clip), Mark Levin (tweet reference)

Episode Overview

This energetic MAGA Mondays episode dives into the intensifying fissures within the MAGA movement as the Iran War drags on. Hosts Sam Stein and Will Sommer dissect the surprising and growing unrest among pro-Trump factions, prominent right-wing media figures’ infighting, and the broader ramifications for the Republican Party—politically, culturally, and electorally. Other highlights include sobering developments in GOP racism scandals, the Trump family’s foray into the drone business, and ongoing commentary on the tactics and optics of Trump’s war messaging.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. MAGA Civil War Over Iran (00:00–11:46)

Unusual MAGA Dissent (02:37)

• Sam Stein notes persistent MAGA support for Trump, but highlights polls showing 14–15% dissent over the Iran war among self-identified MAGA voters, which Stein calls “unprecedented.”
• Comparison to Democratic discontent over the Afghanistan withdrawal (03:20):
  • More Democrats were upset with Biden over Afghanistan than Republicans are now with Trump over Iran, but it’s still a big deal in MAGA circles.

War Messaging and Lost Support (04:41)

• Will Sommer: “This sort of erosion of Republican support points to a larger thing that the administration has really not cared to explain... what’s going on.”
• Trump’s lack of transparent communication echoes throughout the episode; unlike the Iraq war run-up, the administration has “just been like, ‘Yeah, we’re going to war... and there it is.’” (04:44)
• Trump seems more concerned with massaging the media and public perception, making regular, sometimes odd, direct calls to various reporters—not just mainstream, but down to “C-list" conservative bloggers. (05:29)

2. Right-Wing Media Personalities Go to War—With Each Other (07:27–13:28)

Tucker Carlson’s Unease and Influence (08:33)

• Play of a Tucker Carlson clip where he attempts to convince Trump to end the war, blaming “fake polling” and misinformation inside the White House:

  “He’s being shown polling that this war is like a 90/10 win... I don’t know where that polling is coming from. I guess you could make any kind of poll. And he’s watching Fox News, which is telling him the same thing...” — Tucker Carlson [08:33]

• Tucker, undeterred after losing the first round of persuasion, still seeks to pull Trump back, suggesting that Trump is being kept in a pro-war “spell.”

  • Memorable line (on Twitter): “Pray that the spell breaks and the world is saved.” (11:18)
  • Will Sommer’s interpretation: The “wizard” Tucker refers to may be Benjamin Netanyahu, implying the accusation that the war is being driven by interests outside the US.

• Point: Even major MAGA-aligned pundits are not buying the administration's spin.

Mark Levin and Party Purges (12:18)

• Mark Levin calls for expulsion of Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens from the GOP, blaming them for possible midterm election losses and denouncing escalating anti-Semitism.
• Sommer observes that the party’s divisions are now “playing for keeps”—each faction sees the war as an existential (and opportunistic) clash.

3. MAGA, Extremism & Political Fallout (13:28–22:01)

Dan Crenshaw's Primary Loss (14:24–17:27)

• Viral right-wing trolling of Dan Crenshaw’s loss to an ultra-MAGA challenger (see Alex Stein—no relation to Sam—confront Crenshaw), with “simp” and “wimp” slurs hurled for perceived globalism or softness on war.
• Question: Did the Iran war contribute to Crenshaw’s defeat, or was it simply redistricting and persistent MAGA animus?
  • Sommer: “I haven't seen a great argument about [the Iran war causing the loss] myself... A lot of Trump supporters don’t like Dan Crenshaw.” (16:51)

Racist, Extremist Young GOP Scandal (18:10–22:01)

• Young Florida GOP operatives caught exchanging grossly racist, anti-Semitic, and violent texts in a group chat dubbed “Gooning in Agartha.”
• Sommer defines terms: "Gooning" (hypnotic, compulsive behavior) and "Agartha" (mythic, Nazi-linked heaven).
• Rick Scott denounces the behavior, but Sam Stein scathingly points out the hypocrisy given Florida GOP power-brokers’ associations with far-right extremists (e.g., Marco Rubio pictured with Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio).

  “On the one hand you have Rick Scott saying these texts are abhorrent; on the other, Marco Rubio is pictured with Enrique Tario... the message being sent is that they are comfortable with these types of people, just not with the media coverage.” — Sam Stein [22:01]

4. Trump Family Grift & War Profiteering (22:01–24:58)

• Breaking story: The Trump brothers are investing in a new Pentagon-focused drone company, lining up for lucrative contracts following a ban on Chinese drones.

  • Sommer notes: The acquisition is being arranged through a Trump golf company, underscoring the lack of expertise and the blatant merge of Trump business and government interests.

  “This is the world we live in where family business is government business…” — Sam Stein [23:11]

• Questioned if MAGA cares about the Trump family’s enrichment:

  • Sommer: “I think they sort of see it as... the ends justify the means here. If they think Trump is doing other things they want, they're happy to look the other way.”

5. MAGA Media Strategy and the War’s Future (25:03–27:29)

• Discussion of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's macho, WWE-style press moments.
  • Some in the “magasphere” see his style as refreshing, while further-right factions see it as “blowhard” grandstanding.
• Final reflections:
  • Sam Stein emphasizes that dissent—even at 14–15%—among MAGA is significant and could grow if the war drags on or the pain spreads.
  • Hosts ponder when/if other major podcasters (Rogan, Tim Dillon, Theo Von) will take a bold position, indicating just how consequential the MAGA rift could become.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On MAGA Dissent:

  “Can you—I could not think of another issue where self-identified MAGA voters were upset with the president. At least 14% of them were upset. It’s usually like 5%.” — Sam Stein (03:20)

• On Trump’s Focus:

  “I don't get the sense that he's pouring over battle plans and working the phones with Middle East diplomats. He seems to try to be massaging the messaging around the war.” — Sam Stein (06:13)

• On the Right’s Appetite for War:

  “As we're going to talk about, a lot of these right-wing media pundits and talking heads, they're not fooled. They know that this is a sinking ship in terms of the popularity of this war.” — Will Sommer (10:47)

• Tucker Carlson’s Influence Campaign:

  “Pray that the spell breaks and the world is saved.” — Tucker Carlson tweet, discussed at (11:18)

• On GOP Racism Scandals:

  “Rick Scott, distinguished senator from Florida, saying, ‘This is disgusting. It cannot be tolerated...’ Not totally sure if that's true, Rick.” — Sam Stein (19:33) “On one hand you have Rick Scott saying these texts are abhorrent, on the other hand Marco Rubio is pictured with Enrique Tario... mixed messages.” — Sam Stein (22:01)

• On Trump Family Profiteering:

  “This is the world we live in where family business is government business…” — Sam Stein (23:11)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00–02:37] Banter, office conspiracy, transition to Middle East/war news
• [02:37–04:41] MAGA support for Iran war and unusual dissent
• [04:41–06:49] Trump’s messaging strategy, media calls, and priorities
• [07:27–11:46] Tucker Carlson's private & public pushback, MAGA media dynamics
• [11:46–13:28] Mark Levin’s anti-Tucker/Candace ultimatum, intra-party anti-Semitism fight
• [14:24–17:27] Dan Crenshaw’s fall and right-wing influencer hostility
• [18:10–22:01] Florida young GOP racism scandal; Rubio-Proud Boys photo
• [22:01–24:58] Trump brothers’ drone venture and MAGA’s tolerance for grift
• [25:03–27:29] Hegseth’s “WWE” style, war’s effect on MAGA unity, and the podcast landscape
• [27:29–28:08] Closing—Bush "watch this drive" war clip homage

Final Thoughts

While the hosts keep the tone light with inside baseball and media jokes, their discussion underscores a dramatic moment: even as the Iran war rages, MAGA’s “big tent” is fraying, with old lines of loyalty no longer guaranteed. They warn that this rift is more than a blip—15% dissent could balloon and deeply impact the GOP’s future, especially as economic fallout from the war mounts and right-wing infighting escalates.

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