Bulwark Takes – August 25, 2025

Episode: Sam's Vacation RUINED by Trump's Wes Moore Freakout
Host: The Bulwark Team (featuring Sam Stein & Andrew Egger)

Overview

This jam-packed episode unpacks Donald Trump's escalating feud with Maryland Governor Wes Moore, sparked by Moore’s measured letter regarding federal troop deployments and Baltimore’s crime statistics. Hosts Sam Stein (fresh off vacation) and Andrew Egger dissect Trump’s Truth Social tirade, the constitutional and political chaos of deploying military in U.S. cities, and the broader implications for governance, with detours into infrastructure funding, the Chevron doctrine, and rival Democratic response strategies.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Sam Returns to Mayhem (01:01)

• Sam Stein admits to being checked out and is thrown right back into the political storm, joking:
  "I hated being on vacation. Checked out from the horror show that was the national news." (01:37)

2. The Wes Moore Letter – Calm Pushback vs. Trumpian Fury (01:57–03:42)

• Wes Moore took a measured approach, sending an open letter inviting Trump to visit Baltimore and see improvements firsthand—a sharp contrast to the more combative style of politicians like Gavin Newsom.
• Andrew Egger summarizes:
  "[Moore] is both pushing back strongly on the President's rhetoric, but also remaining kind of...like it's not an all caps tweet that's meant as a mockery. Right. I got you. Okay." (03:37, paraphrased)
• Trump’s Response: Trump lashed out, doubling down on his claims of crime-ridden Baltimore, questioning official statistics, threatening to withhold bridge funding, and promising to send troops if Moore “needs help.”
  • Memorable Trump quote via Truth Social:
    "If Wes Moore needs help, like Gavin News Gum did in LA, I will send in the troops, which is being done in nearby D.C. and quickly clean up the crime...also, I gave West Moore a lot of money to fix his demolished bridge. I will now have to rethink that decision. Questionmark? Question? Thank you for your attention to this matter. Make America great again. President DJT." (Paraphrased at 03:42–04:51)

3. The Legality, Politics, and Consequences of Troop Deployments (05:44–08:23)

• Sam Stein rails against Trump’s threat to pull funding for the Francis Scott Key Bridge:
  "He's acting like a child and saying, I'm going to take back your bridge funds. But what good would that do Trump? ...You're going to actually hamper economic activity in the eastern seaboard because he didn’t like Wes Moore’s letter." (05:44)
• On the precedent of military deployments in U.S. cities:
  "...he’s threatening to, you know, send military into major US Cities...not just, like, borderline fascistic. It's like a playbook from. From a fascistic playbook..." (06:08)
• Bill Kristol cited as early warning voice; Sam admits, “Bill was right.”

4. Effects on Communities, Policy, and Perception (06:08–09:18)

• The hosts detail the short-term drop in crime after military intervention in DC, but emphasize adverse effects—business declines, fear, loss of local autonomy:
  "Of course you’re going to get a reduction in crime. Congratulations. Like, that’s the easiest ever...Doesn’t mean it’s good policy." (07:38)
• Andrew: The unique status of DC allows more federal intervention, but applying this approach to other cities sets a dangerous precedent.

5. Democratic Strategies: Wes Moore vs. Gavin Newsom (12:40–14:19)

• Why did Trump target Moore’s letter?
  • Andrew theorizes that Trump needs to drag opponents to his level, framing all opposition in hostile, transactional terms:
    "He only has the one speed, right? I mean, either he's buttering up an ally or he's like, coming down with thunderbolts on an enemy."
• Democratic responses:
  • Wes Moore: Offers stats and an open invitation, illustrating a more civil, constructive approach.
  • Gavin Newsom: Hit Trump with more direct, mirroring tactics ("putting a mirror up to them").
• Andrew’s take:
  "There is in theory another way to go about this than the total zero sum politics...And I find, I find it very compelling, the sort of Wes Moore approach to this sort of thing..." (18:49)

6. Infrastructure Funding as a Political Football (14:19–16:46)

• Sam ties Trump’s threats to conservative legal fights over executive power:
  "Trump's just basically saying, you know what? This bridge money passed it. I'll have the Department of Transportation cancel it, like, whatever..." (14:19)
• Andrew objects to the transactional politics with infrastructure:
  "...the idea that he just reaches for any fucking thing that he thinks is like a political pain point. And it just doesn't matter what it's for or what it does or who else it hurts..." (15:12)

7. Broader Trends & Final Reflections (16:46–19:48)

• Growing patterns: withholding FEMA/disaster relief from blue states, targeting funding for academic institutions.
• Looking ahead, hosts note both Wes Moore and Gavin Newsom may factor in 2028 Democratic presidential discussions—each representing starkly different approaches to Trump-style politics.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sam Stein, on coming back from vacation:
  "I hated being on vacation. Checked out from the horror show that was the national news." (01:37)

• Andrew Egger, paraphrasing Trump's rhetoric:
  "If Wes Moore needs help, like Gavin News Gum did in LA, I will send in the troops, which is being done in nearby D.C." (03:42)

• Sam Stein, critiquing Trump's threats:
  "He's acting like a child and saying, I'm going to take back your bridge funds. But what good would that do Trump?" (05:44)

• Sam Stein, on militarizing cities:
  "This is like, not just, like, borderline fascistic. It's like a playbook from. From a fascistic playbook. And I remember in the moment being like, is Bill like, you know, maybe Bill's overstating it a little bit. ... Bill was right." (06:08)

• Andrew Egger, on the stakes of abuse of federal power:
  "These are all federal agents who report to the President...D.C. residents barely get a say....if you were to send the military into Chicago...that's. Now we're in like a really bad place." (08:23–09:47)

• Sam Stein, defending Moore's approach:
  "...just walk with me. I do this all the time. Come and see for yourself. Like, you'll see that there is a nuanced approach that is working here..." (17:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:01: Sam’s vacation and the national news horror show
• 01:57: Background on the Trump-Moore Baltimore feud
• 03:42: Trump’s Truth Social tirade
• 05:44: Stein on rescinding bridge money and authoritarianism
• 06:08: Deployment of troops as a fascistic move, referencing Bill Kristol
• 07:38: The real impact of federal troop deployments in major cities
• 09:18: DC’s unique legal status and risks of expanding troop use
• 14:19: Trump’s abuse of executive power for political leverage
• 17:38: Moore’s nuanced approach and reflection on Democratic strategies

Conclusion

This episode delivers a dense but lively breakdown of the Trump–Wes Moore spat as a microcosm for bigger debates: democratic norms, the limits of executive authority, the politics of federal intervention, and the ways Democrats might (or might not) effectively counter Trump. Sam and Andrew blend sharp analysis, wry humor, and concern for legal norms—making it clear that the fallout from these confrontations will reverberate beyond the latest headlines.