Bulwark Takes: "The Age of America is Over" – Episode Summary

Release Date: April 5, 2025

In the episode titled "The Age of America is Over," hosts Tim Miller and JVL from The Bulwark delve into a deeply pessimistic analysis of America's current trajectory. Challenging more optimistic viewpoints, particularly those presented by fellow Bulwark team member Sarah Longwell, the hosts explore worst-case scenarios that they believe could signify the decline of American global dominance and internal stability.

1. Introduction to the Episode

The episode opens with Tim Miller expressing his dissatisfaction with the optimistic discussions surrounding America's future. After listening to a secret subscriber-only podcast featuring Sarah Longwell, which offered hopeful strategies for American recovery, Miller felt compelled to explore a darker perspective. He proposes a discussion that focuses on the most dire outcomes for the United States, setting the tone for a candid and sobering conversation.

Tim Miller [00:00]: "I think you titled the secret podcast Dark Something. And I was like, this is going to be just what I need, some darkness to feed my darkness."

2. Critique of Optimistic Narratives

JVL responds by contrasting their viewpoints with Sarah Longwell's optimism. He acknowledges Sarah's admirable intentions but expresses skepticism about the feasibility of recovering from what he perceives as America's current downward spiral.

JVL [01:14]: "I don't believe that's likely."

Miller counters by emphasizing the lack of public awareness regarding the severity of America's situation, suggesting that societal complacency masks the true depth of the crisis.

Tim Miller [01:57]: "I don't think people have come to terms with where we're at, how bad the situation actually is right now."

3. Main Points Raised

a. Lack of Imagination and Vision

Miller introduces Anne Applebaum's "The Captive Mind," highlighting a Polish author's perspective on Eastern Europe's inability to envision alternatives beyond their entrenched social orders. This serves as a metaphor for what he perceives as America's stagnant imagination in facing its challenges.

Tim Miller [02:55]: "I think the lack of imagination right now is really kind of striking."

b. Economic Decline and Reserve Currency Status

The discussion shifts to the potential decline of the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency. JVL speculates that without the dollar's dominance, America could face severe financial instability, allowing other nations like China, the EU, Canada, and Australia to fill the void left by the U.S.'s diminished soft power.

JVL [06:02]: "One of the reasons that Trump likes Putin and Xi and views the Europeans as adversaries is because the Europeans are committed to liberal democracy, and he doesn't want that."

c. International Perception and Relations

Miller and JVL underscore the deteriorating perception of America on the global stage. They cite recent events, such as the State Department's withdrawal from Myanmar amidst a natural disaster, as evidence of America's retreat and the negative message it sends to other nations.

Tim Miller [14:29]: "We're sending the message to, we're sending a big middle finger to like everybody except for Putin and the Saudis and the other like, you know, oil-bearing oil fascists in the Middle East."

d. Domestic Political Dysfunction and Rule of Law

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the erosion of the rule of law in the United States. JVL references incidents in other countries where populist leaders have undermined legal institutions, questioning why America has not followed suit. They debate the fragility of American democratic institutions in the face of rising authoritarianism.

JVL [09:17]: "He runs on, he doesn't hide the football, he just says all the stuff he wants to do and he wins again. At that point. You just simply can't make..."

e. Societal Consensus and Polarization

The hosts examine the fragmentation of American society, noting the inability to achieve consensus on fundamental issues. JVL argues that the lack of unified support for any political faction renders meaningful governance impossible, labeling society as "sick and failing."

JVL [18:10]: "I look at this American society and to me it is so decadent and foolish. I don't believe you can get any sort of consensus."

f. Education and Foreign Students

Miller highlights the exodus of foreign students from U.S. institutions as a symptom of America's declining attractiveness and the financial challenges facing universities reliant on international tuition. This trend, he argues, signals a broader disengagement between America and the global community.

Tim Miller [16:17]: "100 plus thousand foreign students or something have already gone back... they're not going to come here for the next semester."

4. Conclusions and Final Thoughts

As the episode concludes, the hosts reaffirm their bleak outlook on America's future. While acknowledging a slim possibility of recovery, they remain largely unconvinced that the country can overcome its current challenges without significant internal transformation. They emphasize the urgency of recognizing and addressing these issues before deeper decline ensues.

Tim Miller [20:39]: "Covid didn't kind of bring us together in any way and did worse, frankly, makes me not very confident in the prediction that if things go really bad."

JVL [22:16]: "We are going to die in a world that is very different than we spent the first half of our lives in."

Miller wraps up by recommending "The Captive Mind" for listeners seeking to understand the depths of their despair about America's trajectory, highlighting it as a resource for those who share his bleak perspective.

Tim Miller [23:16]: "This was perfect. This is what I was looking for."

Key Takeaways

• Pessimism on America's Future: The hosts present a stark view of America's decline in global dominance and internal stability.

• Lack of Imagination: A significant barrier to recovery is identified as America's inability to envision and implement transformative changes.

• Economic Concerns: The potential loss of the U.S. dollar's reserve status could lead to financial instability and diminished global influence.

• Eroding Rule of Law: Political dysfunction and challenges to legal institutions are seen as critical threats to democracy.

• International Relations: America's retreat from global engagement is damaging its reputation and relationships worldwide.

• Societal Polarization: Deep societal divisions prevent consensus and effective governance, exacerbating national decline.

• Impact on Education: The departure of foreign students signals a waning attractiveness and financial strain on American educational institutions.

Notable Quotes

• Tim Miller [00:00]: "This is going to be just what I need, some darkness to feed my darkness."

• JVL [01:14]: "I don't believe that's likely."

• Tim Miller [07:40]: "The entire world sees it."

• JVL [09:17]: "This is just one thing to sort of broadly illustrate the point that we don't have consensus on anything."

• Tim Miller [20:29]: "Covid really shook me about that notion."

• JVL [18:10]: "We are a sick and failing and degenerating society."

Conclusion

"The Age of America is Over" serves as a cautionary discourse, urging listeners to critically assess the current state of the United States. By exploring worst-case scenarios and highlighting systemic issues, Tim Miller and JVL aim to shed light on what they perceive as imminent threats to America's legacy and global standing. Whether one agrees or disagrees with their assessment, the episode provides a thought-provoking examination of national and international dynamics shaping America's future.