Bulwark Takes: Stephen Miller Flips Out Over Tim's Tweet – Detailed Summary

Release Date: May 12, 2025

In the May 12, 2025 episode of Bulwark Takes, hosted by Tim Miller of The Bulwark, a heated exchange unfolds between Tim and Stephen Miller, former Trump administration advisor. The episode delves into the complexities of Trump's tariff policies on Chinese goods, the internal conflicts within conservative circles, and the broader implications for American consumers and manufacturing.

1. Introduction to the Dispute

Tim Miller opens the discussion by addressing a recent conflict sparked by his own tweet criticizing the Trump administration's trade policies. He states:

"[00:00] ...Stephen Miller has come after me on social media over a position that I thought was like a pretty standard free market position. He's calling me, part of the left, for saying this."

This sets the stage for an in-depth analysis of the disagreement between Tim and Stephen Miller, highlighting the unexpected labeling of Tim as "leftist" by a prominent conservative figure.

2. Background: Trump's Tariff Policies and the China Deal

Tim provides context about the Trump administration's fluctuating tariff rates on Chinese imports. He outlines the progression of tariffs:

"[00:00] ...they made the announcement this morning about the deal with China where we've de-escalated the trade war down to 30% tariffs, which is a 20 percentage point higher rate than we were paying before Trump came in on tariffs from China."

Despite the reduction from an ambitious 145% complete embargo, the 30% tariff represents a significant increase, prompting Tim's critical stance.

3. Tim Miller’s Critique of the Tariff Deal

Tim articulates his dissatisfaction with the tariff strategy, emphasizing its arbitrary nature and lack of coherent economic policy. He remarks:

"[02:15] ...this madness and this uncertainty and this like, random, like putting your finger in the wind and deciding what the tariff rate should be today is just insane."

He contrasts this approach with more stable and targeted industrial policies, suggesting that inconsistent tariffs do not effectively promote domestic manufacturing.

4. Stephen Miller’s Response and Labeling Tim as Leftist

In response to Tim's criticism, Stephen Miller accuses him of aligning with the left-wing, a claim Tim finds unfounded and ironic given the right-leaning nature of their policies. Tim highlights:

"[04:45] ...this is Stephen Miller saying that I'm on the left now. I guess I don't take that as an insult if the right is Donald Trump."

This accusation underscores the internal rifts within conservative strategies and the challenges of maintaining ideological purity.

5. Tim Miller’s Defense and Further Arguments

Tim defends his position by arguing that the tariffs disproportionately affect American consumers and lack tangible benefits. He emphasizes the impact on everyday goods:

"[07:30] ...it's going to be mothers and fathers, parents who are going to have to pay more for their strollers and their car seats... clothes, electronics, it's going to be more expensive for them."

Furthermore, he criticizes the administration for failing to present a clear strategy to offset these tariffs with investments in American manufacturing, stating:

"[11:20] ...with no actual strategy associated with it, you know, with no plan to, you know, invest in America to offset it with no real decoupling plan."

6. Implications for American Consumers and Manufacturing

The discussion delves into the broader economic ramifications of the tariff policies. Tim points out that arbitrary tariffs do not stimulate domestic production but instead burden consumers and businesses:

"[14:50] ...this is like a shit throwing monkey, like throwing shit at the wall and being like, ugh, 30, 80, 140. This is not industrial policy. This is not economic policy."

He argues for more thoughtful and targeted measures to genuinely support American manufacturing rather than reactive and inconsistent tariff adjustments.

7. Broader Context: Republican Positions and Internal Criticism

Tim acknowledges that opposition to the tariffs is not widespread among conservatives, citing Rand Paul as a notable exception:

"[19:30] ...Rand Paul, Libertarian Rand Paul, who's been the one principled person talking about this over in the Senate Republican Conference. So kudos to him."

He questions whether Rand Paul’s stance now aligns him with the left, underscoring the blurred lines within conservative debates on economic policy.

8. Conclusion and Takeaways

In wrapping up, Tim reiterates his stance against the 30% tariffs, labeling the deal as ineffective and punitive to consumers without delivering promised economic benefits:

"[25:00] ...we are ensuring that people pay 20% more on goods they get from China on the one side, and on the other side, we get nothing. That's the deal. Great, awesome. Great work. That's conservatism now."

He emphasizes the importance of evaluating policies based on their merits rather than ideological conformity, encouraging listeners to critically assess the administration's economic strategies.

Key Quotes with Timestamps

• Tim Miller on Stephen’s Accusation:

  "[00:00] ...Stephen Miller has come after me on social media... He's calling me, part of the left..."

• Tim on Arbitrary Tariffs:

  "[02:15] ...this madness and this uncertainty and this like, random, like putting your finger in the wind..."

• Tim Defending Against Leftist Label:

  "[04:45] ...this is Stephen Miller saying that I'm on the left now."

• Impact on Consumers:

  "[07:30] ...parents who are going to have to pay more for their strollers and their car seats..."

• Critique of Tariff Strategy:

  "[11:20] ...with no actual strategy associated with it... no decoupling plan."

• On Ineffective Economic Policy:

  "[14:50] ...this is like a shit throwing monkey... This is not industrial policy."

• Acknowledging Rand Paul:

  "[19:30] ...Rand Paul, Libertarian Rand Paul... kudos to him."

• Conclusion on Tariff Deal:

  "[25:00] ...people pay 20% more on goods they get from China... that's conservatism now."

Final Thoughts

This episode of Bulwark Takes provides a critical examination of the Trump administration's tariff policies, spotlighting the internal disagreements within the conservative camp. Through Tim Miller's articulate critique, the conversation underscores the need for coherent and strategic economic policies that genuinely benefit American consumers and industries. The confrontation with Stephen Miller highlights the broader ideological struggles and the quest for practical solutions over partisan labeling. Listeners are encouraged to engage with these debates thoughtfully, recognizing the nuanced challenges of shaping effective economic strategies.

For those interested in the ongoing analysis of conservative policies and internal debates, subscribing to Bulwark Takes offers insightful perspectives from The Bulwark team, including voices like Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and Bill Kristol.