The Bulwark Invades Canada (or Is It the Other Way Around?)

Bulwark Takes – September 29, 2025

Host: The Bulwark Team (Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, Sam Stein)
Special Guest: Martin Wendell Jones
Recorded live in Toronto

Episode Overview

In a high-energy, humor-laced live episode recorded in Toronto, the Bulwark crew—Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and Sam Stein—connect with their Canadian audience for the first time outside the US. They riff on the state of US-Canada relations, analyze a dark and chaotic American political news cycle, dissect the Trump administration’s latest scandals, play Canadian trivia, and grapple with the role of media and public resistance in an era of democratic backsliding. The episode also features lighter games, audience Q&A, and reflections on hope and solidarity amid democratic crisis.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. US-Canada Relations & Audience Warmth

• Venue Atmosphere: Tim emphasizes the warmth and openness of the Canadian audience compared to the broader “elbows up” stance Canadians might have toward Americans post-2016.

• Bulwark’s Mission: The team sees themselves as stitching together the "small-l liberal alliance" between the two countries.

  "They know we're one of the good ones... trying to patch things up, trying to keep the liberal, small l, Liberal alliance alive."
  — Tim Miller (00:18)

• Canadian Audience Surprise: Sarah notes surprise at the size of their Canadian following, with their Toronto show’s first venue selling out in 24 hours, necessitating a second event.

2. News Rundown & The State of American Politics

The "Parade of Horribles" (08:59–29:50)

• Escalating Authoritarian Tactics: Indictments against James Comey, ICE targeting public officials, networks caving to White House pressure, and politicized DOJ actions signal a worsening climate.

  "This is about just like, I’m mad at these guys and now I have all the power and I’m going to just mess with people's livelihoods."
  — Sarah Longwell (17:25)

• Trump’s Targeting of 'Enemy' Elites: Focus on the Comey indictment as emblematic of intimidation tactics, with panelists noting that while it’s menacing, it’s also often “clownish and scary at the same time.”

  "These things are simultaneously scary and clownish. Right. At the same time.. This is unprecedented and against the rule of law... and also, like, they are big babies, they're extremely thin skinned and it isn't really working."
  — Tim Miller (18:20)

• Media & Culture War: Trump’s media dominance and “culture war” victories via corporate capitulation (notably the Jimmy Kimmel/FCC story), and the normalization of right-wing narratives by business elites.

  “There is a real lesson here, and it goes kind of unnoticed and maybe unremarked upon because we're just shoveling through the shit. But when there is a popular pushback, he has folded.”
  — Sam Stein (21:46)

• Impact on Institutions & Law Enforcement: Erosion of trust and mass departures within the FBI and DOJ create long-term risks beyond headline-grabbing prosecutions.

The "Worst News of the Month" Lightning Round (43:07–54:03)

• TikTok and Media Takeovers: Alarm over the right’s growing control over major media and digital platforms (e.g. MAGA-friendly billionaires acquiring TikTok), and the shift from a diverse news environment to a consolidated, algorithmically-driven ecosystem friendly to Trump.

  "He controlled a massive information stream. More importantly, he controlled the algorithm... And we are about to live in the world where Trump and all of his allies control all the information that the news receivers are getting. There is a reason that young are now leaning right... there is nothing scarier."
  — Sarah Longwell (50:33)

• Domestic Terror, Corruption & Cabinet Extremism: Stephen Miller's appointment to “combat domestic terrorism” (after labeling Democrats terrorist threats); administrative purges; overt intimidation and lawfare.

• RFK Jr. and “Quackery”: Firing of health officials and embracing anti-science rhetoric by RFK Jr., up to and including linking Tylenol to autism, stoking dangerous public panic and measles outbreaks.

3. Canadian Anthems & Trivia Segment (06:15–41:57)

• "O Canada" Performance: Tim gamely leads the anthem, demonstrating both camaraderie and good humor.

• Canadian Trivia: Hosted by Martin Wendell Jones, the team is quizzed on Canadian history, culture, and quirks—from beavers and “loonies” to football teams and the Bata Shoe Museum.

  • Notable Trivia:
    • Canada’s Confederation: 1867
    • The “loonie” is named for the loon bird on the coin
    • Toronto’s largest museum: shoes

• Canadian/American Stereotypes & Good-Natured Jokes: At several points, the group riffs on cultural differences (e.g., Americans’ ignorance of Canadian politics, Canadian “niceness”).

4. Political Game – “Who's the Most Pernicious Cabinet Member?” (59:39–71:16)

• Top Picks for Worst Trump Cabinet Member:

  • Tim: Switches allegiance from Pam Bondi to Kristi Noem due to DHS actions and general “pain being done in the country.”
  • Sarah: Ultimately selects J.D. Vance, the Vice President, as the most pernicious, riffing on his betrayal of principles and performative, “chronically online” persona.

    "Nobody has ever lowered that office more... J.D. Vance is a breath away from the presidency and he sucks so hard and is doing nothing but propping Trump up."
    — Sarah Longwell (69:48)

  • Sam: Stresses the danger of RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine, anti-science influence.

• Extended Rant on J.D. Vance: Both Sarah and Tim express deep, personal distaste and alarm over Vance’s ambitions and character.

  "I've never felt more disdain from anyone in my life than J.D. Vance... nobody comes close."
  — Tim Miller (67:32)

5. Dream Canadian “Blunt Rotation” Draft (72:02–76:34)

A light-hearted “draft” game where the hosts choose their fantasy group for a weed-smoking session:

• Sarah’s picks: k.d. lang, Megan Follows, Margaret Atwood (winning over the crowd)
• Tim’s picks: Justin Bieber, Michael Cera, Mike Myers
• Sam’s picks: Seth Rogen, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Neil Young

6. Audience Q&A and Final Reflections (76:42–101:44)

• Cross-Border Paranoia: Canadian teacher Corin asks if she should take a burner phone crossing the US border—prompting a candid reflection on the darkness of even needing to consider such precautions.

  "We're in a fucking dark... place that people have to have the conversation... I can't tell you that that's not a legitimate worry... but it is a real thing people have to worry about coming to America now."
  — Tim Miller (95:11)

• Debate on Democratic Party Soul-Searching: Is public Democratic criticism productive or self-defeating? Tim insists on the need for honest intra-party debate, while Sarah calls for clarity of purpose and direction to move forward.

• Media Companies & Cultural Shifts: Discussion of why media companies capitulate to Trump—conclusion: it's about culture, not a “popular mandate.”

• Broader Political Realignment: Sarah warns (and hopes) that the US is experiencing a “backlash to the backlash,” encouraging active engagement rather than giving in to exhaustion.

7. Closing Remarks: Hope, Solidarity, Pushing Back (97:00–101:44)

• The Bulwark’s Origin & Mission: Sarah recounts the platform’s founding in response to the Trumpification of right-wing media, and the unexpected community it's built.

  "They are trying to exhaust us with the constant scandal, the constant corruption, the constant offense... But of course we can do something about it... When you push back, they cave."
  — Sarah Longwell (100:19)

• Don’t Give In to Exhaustion or Fear: The show closes with an optimistic call to resist authoritarian fatigue, calling Trump and Musk “weak men” who succeed if people surrender to fear and weariness.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Do you know all the words to the US Anthem?"
  — Sam Stein (08:19), flipping the ‘anthem’ joke on Tim after the Canadian national anthem
• "I thought all Canadians were nice."
  — Sarah Longwell (02:46), upon encountering a skeptical Canadian VIP
• "The sexual matador."
  — Katie Miller's description of Stephen Miller (44:40 onwards), leading to much hilarity and mockery
• "Sometimes these things are simultaneously scary and clownish."
  — Tim Miller (18:20), on the dual nature of the Trump era
• "Every time they make a paper straw, a Republican gets born."
  — Sarah Longwell (80:22), skewering the “culture war”
• "Don't go to Medieval Times."
  — Tim Miller (101:05), in a parting, tongue-in-cheek warning

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00 — Introduction & reflections on Toronto live audience
• 08:59 — News rundown: Editorials calling for violence, Trump nuttery, Comey
• 16:05 — DOJ/FBI politicization, lawfare, impact on institutions
• 21:45 — Kimmel, cable news, and the possibility of public pushback
• 29:50 — Martin Wendell Jones hosts Canadian Trivia
• 43:07 — Worst “Parade of Horribles” news/game segment
• 50:33 — Tech/media consolidation and the MAGA-aligned media landscape
• 59:39 — “Most Pernicious Cabinet Member” game
• 69:48 — Deep dive roast of J.D. Vance
• 72:02 — Dream Canadian blunt rotation game
• 76:42 — Audience Q&A (including border paranoia, Canadian/US politics, media companies, Democratic Party)
• 97:00 — “Why The Bulwark?” Sarah’s closing remarks on hope and resistance
• 101:44 — Episode close

Takeaways for Non-Listeners

• The Bulwark remains a sharp, fast-talking, sometimes profane safe haven for those alarmed by democratic decay and media capitulation in Trumpian America.
• The episode combines incisive political analysis with irreverent, humor-driven games that both skewer serious subjects and bond the Bulwark with its (surprisingly large!) Canadian audience.
• Despite the darkness of the hour, the hosts insist on hope, pushing back, and solidarity—in politics, in media, and across borders.

End of Summary