Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes

Episode: Leaked Texts Show GOP Operatives Using Slurs and Praising Hitler
Date: October 15, 2025
Host/Panel: Tim Miller (host), Will Sommer, Sam Stein

Overview

This episode of Bulwark Takes dives into a disturbing Politico article exposing leaked group chats among prominent Young Republican figures. The texts reveal routine usage of racial slurs, offensive jokes, open admiration for Hitler, and deep-seated bigotry among people ascending within the GOP’s professional ranks. The Bulwark team analyzes the cultural and political ramifications, expresses their alarm, and unpacks how such attitudes have gained traction and legitimacy inside today’s Republican Party.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context & Severity of the Leaked Chat (00:39 – 02:35)

• Tim Miller sets the scene: “The headline tells you all you need to know. Basically, I love Hitler. Leaked messages expose young Republicans, racist chat.” (00:38)

  • The chat includes not just random fringe members, but rising GOP operatives: a Vermont state senator, Young Republican chairs/vice-chairs, a Trump administration advisor, and more.
  • Quote: “This group on this chat is not nothing... So, you know, it's not just random guys on an anonymous Telegram.” — Tim Miller (02:03)

• Will Sommer confirms the central thesis: “These are people who are kind of like the future of the GOP's operative class... these are people with some amount of power who will probably amount amass more power as they get older.” (02:35)

2. Examples of Racism, Antisemitism, and Extremism (03:28 – 07:49)

• The "Jokes":

  • Comments about women of color, body shaming, antisemitic and pro-Holocaust references.
  • Direct usage of the N-word and other slurs; “The N word, Flag it and retarded appear more than 251 times in the chat.” — Tim Miller (00:59)
  • Mockery: Walker, Ginta, and Douglas mock women’s hygiene, body size, and ethnicity.
  • Racial tropes about Black people (chicken, watermelon, Kool-Aid) used by William Hendrix, vice chair of Kansas Young Republicans (05:47).

• Explicit Holocaust References:

  • A female participant references watching people burn in gas chambers (07:08).
  • Quote: “We’ve got to pretend like we like them and say, ‘Hey, come on in, take a nice shower and relax. Boom, they’re dead.’” — Joe Maligno, per Tim Miller (07:36)

• Echoing Republican Figures:

  • Comments mirror public statements by figures like Charlie Kirk, Tucker Carlson, and Donald Trump.
  • “If I see a black pilot, I’m going to be like, boy, I hope he’s qualified.” — Charlie Kirk, quoted (10:22)
  • “I prefer my war heroes not captured.” — Trump, quoted (10:49)

3. Discussion of Factionalism and How The Leaks Surfaced (07:49 – 08:50)

• The chats emerged amidst infighting, with Gavin Wax (NY Young Republican Club) potentially involved in exposing the messages to harm rivals.
• Highlights how internal power struggles overlap with ideological extremism within the party.

4. Analysis: The GOP’s Rightward Drift and Cultural Shifts (09:18 – 12:59)

• Sam Stein: “Everything is downstream from the top... when you elevate people who, you know, dabble in racist or misogynistic or, you know, insidious rhetoric... the younger generation is going to pick it up and realize that that's the key to success.” (10:54)

  • The normalization of slurs and hate is emboldened by figures at the top, notably Trump.

• Tim Miller’s Reflection: The embrace of white nationalist politics is more central now than prior eras of GOP culture, which included fiscal conservatives and social moderates.

  • Quote: “The difference to me... is that the entire worldview... is really centered around... this type of culture war battle, the dehumanization, a lot of white nationalist politics...” (11:40)

• Will Sommer adds: “The people who are being drawn in this young generation to the GOP... It's because of the racism. It's the deportations, the cruelty, you know. And I think that's what we're seeing here.” (12:59)

5. Consequences and Lack Thereof (13:42 – 13:56)

• Even after exposure, few face meaningful repercussions; “A lot of these people probably will suffer very few consequences for their careers.” — Will Sommer (13:42)
• Notable Moment: Even Roger Stone, infamous for dirty tricks in GOP politics, condemned the chats—signaling how extreme the comments were (13:56).

6. Grotesque “Edgelord” Culture & Incel Mentality (14:29 – 15:56)

• Final exchange: weird boasts about “sex is gay,” rape jokes, and competing tacks of incel and predatory misogyny.
  • Quote: “You have kind of the two faces of the groiper TPUSA Young Republican crowd, which is the one that’s like, sex is gay and I’m an incel. And then the other one that's like, rape is cool.” — Tim Miller (15:17)
• The group struggles to comprehend the appeal and logic of this mentality.
  • Sam Stein: “Do they like sex or not like sex? I don't understand.” (15:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If we ever had a leak of this chat, we would be cooked. For real. For real indeed.” — Tim Miller, quoting chat participants’ own warnings (00:59)
• “It's one thing if these were like, you know, random college kids... but it's like another thing if you're seating major Republican offices and then you're on telegr talking about how big a hard on you get watching gas chambers. It's fucking crazy.” — Sam Stein (03:05)
• “The racism would be better if it was original. Like, the shit they're trotting out is just boring.” — Sam Stein (07:02)
• “This shit’s too hot for Roger Stone. If you’re too hot for Roger Stone, we’ve gone way past, you know, being in the realm of sanity here.” — Sam Stein (13:56)
• “Sex is gay.” — Exchange from the chat, highlighted for its absurdity and as an example of “groiper” culture (15:17)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:39] – Main Topic Introduction & Article Context
• [02:35] – Powers and Players Involved
• [03:28] – Examples of vile chat content
• [05:36] – Critique of hypocrisy and self-image
• [07:08] – Holocaust and violence references
• [09:18] – The seriousness of the new GOP generation’s attitudes
• [11:40] – Cultural analysis: How the party changed
• [12:59] – The future of the Republican Party
• [13:56] – Even Roger Stone recoils
• [14:29] – Final, disturbing chat exchange (“sex is gay”)
• [15:53] – Closing bewilderment on incel/groiper logic

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, cutting, often using mockery and gallows humor to cope with disturbing subject matter (“I laugh because I have no other coping mechanism.” – Sam Stein).
• The team toggles between incredulous laughter, serious alarm, and deep concern for the party and country.

Summary

In this urgent and troubling episode, the Bulwark team exposes how open bigotry, antisemitism, and cruelty are not isolated or fringe, but commonplace within a growing cohort of ascendant Republican operatives. The leaked chats demonstrate the normalization of hate, influenced by high-level party rhetoric, and point to a future GOP increasingly defined not by policy debates, but by edgelord posturing and extremism. The trio vacillates between incredulous disbelief, confession of despair, and biting satire—sending a clear warning about the trajectory of the party and, by extension, American politics.