Bulwark Takes – Summary: “Loomer Calls MTG a ‘Dumb Hick *****’”

Podcast: Bulwark Takes
Hosts: JVL, Andrew Egger
Date: August 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode unpacks a heated and bizarre feud between two right-wing figures: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (“MTG”) and far-right provocateur Laura Loomer. Using the recent “Arby’s” deposition as a jumping-off point, hosts JVL and Andrew Egger explore the deep divides in the MAGA movement—particularly around Trump loyalty, U.S.–Israel policy, and the extent to which the movement is fueled by genuine belief vs. opportunistic hatred. The episode is both a rollicking breakdown of social media spectacles and a surprisingly sharp meditation on what internal disagreements reveal about the underlying ethos of contemporary MAGA politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The MTG vs. Loomer Beef: Escalation & Context

• Arby's Deposition Recap:
  Laura Loomer, under oath, testified she believed MTG “liked to buy Arby’s sandwiches and then shove them down her pants.” (01:04) This episode uses the bizarre accusation as shorthand for the depths of their feud.
• Origins of the Feud:
  Both hosts note the fight began as a schism “over MAGA and a schism over Israel and Zionism.” Loomer, described as “insanely Trumpy” and “very pro-Israel,” blasted the Biden (and Trump) administration for allowing Palestinian children into the U.S. for medical care. Loomer’s activism led to the cancellation of these humanitarian visas, while MTG criticized the move. (02:00–02:58)

2. Israel, “America First,” and Right-Wing Factions

• Israeli Official Scandal:
  An Israeli government official was apprehended in California in a child sex sting, then released on bond and returned to Israel, prompting outcry, especially from anti-Israel corners of the right.
  • “It’s the groomers and pedophilia and Israel stuff. It’s all of their loves combined into one story.” (04:13 – JVL)
• Factional Tensions:
  • Loomer is “classic pro-Israel” Republican.
  • MTG, by contrast, is cast as “much more isolationist… white nationalism curious,” with open skepticism toward foreign aid, including to Israel. (04:22 – Andrew Egger)
• Quote – Andrew Egger on the ideological battle (05:23):

  “These two very prominent women on the right are grabbing these little ideological facets to hurl like javelins at one another as they accuse each other of being traitors and disloyal and bad for the movement.”

3. Internet Firestorms & Outrage Tactics

• Palestinian Children’s Visas Incident:
  The hosts call Loomer’s campaign to cancel medical visas “just flatly insane”—“crazy and horrible and wrong.” (05:37 – Egger)
  • “I’m glad she’s using her crypto white nationalism to stick up for these Palestinian children rather than for doing something evil like she usually does.” (06:10 – Egger)

4. Horseshoe Theory and Unlikely Allies

• Left Meets Far-Right:
  The feud has led left-wing figures like Cenk Uygur to defend MTG—for being “America First” and against foreign entanglements, especially with Israel.
  • Memorable quote:

    “She doesn’t want to go to war with Iran on behalf of Israel… that offends the sensibilities of someone who is like a hardcore Zionist like Laura Loomer.” (08:12 – Cenk Uygur parody)

  • Loomer is branded a “foreign agent” for Israel by detractors on both right and left. (08:39)

5. Loomer’s Personal Grievances

• Loomer’s Rationale:
  Loomer claims she hates MTG because MTG sabotaged her career (planted New York Times hit pieces, failed to help during deplatforming).
  • Choice insult roundup:

    “A dumb hick who is a con woman and a liar…a jealous, subversive Neanderthal.” (09:38)

6. MAGA Schisms: Belief vs. Hatred

• Loomer’s “Superpower”:
  Egger notes that Loomer “is willing to go lower than anybody…she will win any race to the bottom.” (10:36)
• Fun or Significant?
  Egger argues these “catfights” are how the MAGA world processes its genuine policy disagreements, since open dissent is rare.
  • Quote:

    “It’s like an entire movement that can only process its own internal disagreements…through the psychotic lens of this catfight between these two awful women.” (12:40)

• Trump as the Untouchable “Strong Man”:
  All serious disputes are refracted through proxies—no one dares confront Trump himself.
  • “No one can ever disagree with the strong man himself. So you have to frame any disagreements through a proxy.” (13:12 – JVL)

7. Are Any of These People Sincere?

• MTG: “True Believer” or Opportunist?
  • JVL suggests MTG “genuinely believes all of this. And to my mind, I will take somebody like that over Marco Rubio every day of the week…” (14:20)
  • Egger pushes back, finding MTG unkind and unserious as a person, even if she’s sincere (15:47).
• MTG’s Path to Power:
  Her “Eat Pray Love” moment, CrossFit obsession, divorce, and sudden political engagement mark her as an unusual figure among career politicians. (16:25)
  • Elena Plott’s profile (“Why is Marjorie Taylor Greene Like This?”) is recommended for understanding this evolution. (17:42)

8. Final Takes – Choosing Sides

• Team MTG or Loomer?
  Asked to pick sides, both hosts reluctantly back MTG this round, especially on the humanitarian visa episode:
  • Egger: “In this dispute...I’m very much Team Marjorie Taylor Greene. I think what Laura Loomer did there was despicable.” (19:40)
  • JVL: “I’m Team MTG, provisionally…She and I—MTG if you see this, let’s go hang out at an Outback [Steakhouse]…” (20:06)

9. Broader Implications: Israel and the GOP

• JVL’s concluding reflection:
  • The Israeli government’s embrace of the U.S. Republican Party may, long term, carry heavy costs for Israel’s image among Americans.
  • “It seems to me the extent to which the Israeli government has become an appendage of the U.S. Republican Party… is long term, very, very dangerous for Israel.” (20:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Loomer’s tactics:

  “She is willing to go lower than anybody. That is easier said than done… She will win any race to the bottom.” (10:36 – Andrew Egger)

• On the absurdity of the feud:

  “This is both a schism over MAGA and a schism over Israel and Zionism. Okay, it’s not important at all. The reason this is so fun is because…” (01:42 – JVL)

• Humanitarian outrage:

  “It is insane Laura Loomer can whip up an online firestorm so that 10 or 11 Palestinian children have to be turned around at the airport and can’t get the medical care they need… That’s just crazy and horrible and wrong.” (05:37 – Andrew Egger)

• Horseshoe politics:

  “So we then get the horseshoe…the lefty hippie peacenik rush to MTG’s side… calling Loomer a Zionist.” (07:32 – JVL)

• Egger on internal MAGA conflict:

  “This is the only way that MAGA can process internal policy disagreements.” (12:40)

• Proxies and the strongman dynamic:

  “No one can ever disagree with the strong man himself. So you have to frame any disagreements through a proxy.” (13:12 – JVL)

• Picking sides:

  “In this dispute… I’m very much team Marjorie Taylor Greene. I think what Laura Loomer did there was despicable.” (19:40 – Andrew Egger)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Arby’s Deposition Backstory – 01:04
• Origins of Loomer vs. MTG Feud, Political Context – 02:00–02:58
• Discussion of Israeli Official, “Groomers” Fears – 04:13
• Pro-Israel vs America First Factions – 04:22
• Palestinian Children Visa Outrage – 05:37
• Far-Left Chips In (Cenk Uygur, etc.) – 07:32–08:39
• Loomer’s Insults Against MTG – 09:38
• Loomer’s “Superpower” & Internal MAGA Dynamics – 10:36
• Movement’s Inability to Air Policy Disagreements – 12:40
• Trump as the Strongman/Proxy Fights – 13:12
• MTG as “True Believer” – 14:20
• MTG’s Personal and Political Background – 16:25–17:53
• Final Picks: Whose Team Are You On? – 19:40–20:06
• Concerns Over U.S.–Israel Relations – 20:28

Tone & Style

• The hosts embrace a wry, sardonic style, mocking both the triviality and toxicity of the feud while using it as fodder to illuminate deeper ideological currents.
• Language is candid, humorous, and biting, echoing the personalities under discussion.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This episode is part political circus, part psychoanalysis of MAGA’s culture wars, and features sharp, insightful commentary on the way spectacle, notoriety, and personal grievance now drive political disagreement within the Republican right. It’s an engaging listen for anyone curious about the intersection of social media drama, ideological splits, and real human consequences in the Trumpist universe.