Bulwark Takes: "The Internet is Bullying Sam Stein!" (January 8, 2026) – Episode Summary
Main Theme / Purpose
In this energetic, freewheeling episode, Tim Miller reunites with Bulwark crew members Sam Stein and Will to dissect the past week’s zanier moments in media and politics. The trio covers internet “bullying” over an Amy Klobuchar joke, the rise of MAGA influencer reality TV, right-wing infighting, Democrats’ embrace of spicy social media tactics, and controversies ranging from OnlyFans visas to Nicki Minaj’s MAGA pivot. As always, it’s delivered with the group's signature irreverence, sharp banter, and cultural snark.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Sam Stein Gets “Fileted” Over an Amy Klobuchar Tweet
- [02:43] The episode kicks off with Tim ribbing Sam for making a joking tweet about Amy Klobuchar (“a comb in every salad, a chicken in every pot”) referencing an infamous staffer incident involving a salad comb.
- Tim describes the online backlash: “Sam's being so mean to Amy Klobuchar. Sam's a misogynist. ...Shut the fuck up. Everybody, shut the fuck up. It's a funny joke.”
- Sam defends himself and notes Klobuchar herself has joked about it, saying: “If the Senator were on here, she would probably come on with the comb and be eating out of a salad with it to make good light of it. And people just need to relax.” [05:19]
Memorable Moment:
"Also, as I've said a million times ...I kind of enjoy Internet hate, and I'm a little upset that I missed it." — Sam Stein [05:19]
2. MAGA Influencer Reality Show
- [06:03] Will introduces a forthcoming "political influencer" reality show, allegedly distributed via Amazon but possibly self-published, starring a cast of right-wing internet personalities (Xavier de Rousseau, “Emily Saves America,” Destiny, Clarkson, etc.).
- The group listens to the trailer together, mocking the cast’s antics and their apparent MAGA rivals and alliances.
- Will notes: “They are like fame balls. They're personalities who are out there ...in terms of their actual influence, I think it's unclear.”
Notable Quote:
“Twitter is a mental hospital. My entire brain. That's enough. You do have to have—” — Tim Miller [10:01]
3. Benny Johnson, Grindr, and the New Rudeness In Democratic Messaging
- [14:57] The trio dissects a recent spat where Gavin Newsom’s press office zinged right-wing provocateur Benny Johnson with a joke about preparing Grindr servers for his visit.
- Sam delights in the sharp-tongued tweet, reflecting on the evolving tone in Democratic communications and the online debate over whether the quip was homophobic.
- Will provides context: Benny Johnson has been subject to allegations about his sexuality, and Newsom’s tweet plays off that ongoing right-wing drama.
- Tim evaluates: “I think it's borderline. I think that how giddy you are about the joke is maybe a little homophobic, Sam, but, like, joking, I. I think it's fine. ...I'm allowing it.” [16:41]
4. Right-Wing Internicine Warfare: Bongino, Matt Gaetz, Milo Yiannopoulos
- [18:08] The show covers ex-FBI agent Dan Bongino’s messy Twitter feuds, particularly with Matt Gaetz and Milo Yiannopoulos.
- Tim reads aloud Milo’s “colorful” description mocking Bongino:
“There is a place beyond constipation, beyond being merely backed up... scrape it out with a spoon after five days on Percocet. Welcome to the Bongino rift.” [19:37] — Milo Yiannopoulos
- Will explains Bongino’s new self-assigned role as “in-fighting” enforcer targeting “grifters, life losers, con artists, and black pillars” within MAGA ranks.
- Will breaks down black-pilled nihilism for the audience: “In the Matrix, you take the red pill... [but if you] think there's no point ...you take the black pill.”
5. Candace Owens, Conspiracy Pipeline, and Right-Wing True Crime
- [23:34] Live on-screen podcast charts reveal Candace Owens’ new branding and status among right-wing media.
- Will narrates the Charlie Kirk assassination conspiracy and Candace’s connections to shady witnesses—reporting a left-to-right fan movement:
- “[My barber said,] ‘I don't like Trump... but what do you think about that Candace Owens? I kind of think she's onto something there with her Charlie Kirk stuff.’” [24:25]
- Tim expresses concern about the left-to-Candace-to-conspiracy pipeline, especially for “normie moms” and points out Candace’s savvy crossover tactics.
6. OnlyFans Models and Artist Visas
- [27:33] The crew reviews a Financial Times / New York Post scoop: OnlyFans influencers are securing U.S. O1B “artist visas,” once reserved for top-tier musicians and actors.
- Will explains Gen Z/Bop house slang and the ideological conflict for conservative “trad” types who abhor porn.
- Tim’s take: “As somebody who's pro immigration... in this case, I think I would say I feel like we have a fill of OnlyFans models here and ...potential willingness to participate in that work. ...Americans would pick fruit... [or] be OnlyFans models if you paid them enough.” [29:47]
7. Tim Miller’s “Plan” to Deport Nicki Minaj
- [31:27] Tim launches a facetious screed arguing Nicki Minaj, after recent MAGA-friendly comments, should be deported under the immigration rules she now champions:
- “I want to deport Nicki Minaj. ...She can go home to Trinidad and Tobago and get in line and come back to the country ...because Nicki Minaj said a couple years ago that she was brought here when she was five.” [32:43]
- Will speculates: “Perhaps there is some, you know, she just sees it as perhaps advantageous to buddy up with the Trump administration... they were really excited to have her at the Turning Point convention.”
- Tim: “The Barbs are, I think, the stupidest of the pop culture, you know, pop music, early fans. ...when Gavin Newsom gets in there and President Newsom kicks Nicki Minaj out of our fucking country.” [34:44]
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- “Sam's being so mean to Amy Klobuchar. ...Shut the fuck up. Everybody, shut the fuck up. It's a funny joke.” — Tim Miller [03:16]
- “If the Senator were on here, she would probably come on with the comb and be eating out of a salad with it to make good light of it. And people just need to relax.” — Sam Stein [05:19]
- “Twitter is a mental hospital.” — Tim Miller [10:01]
- “There is a place beyond constipation, beyond being merely backed up... Welcome to the Bongino rift.” — Milo Yiannopoulos (read by Tim Miller) [19:37]
- “I think it's borderline. I think that how giddy you are about the joke is maybe a little homophobic, Sam, but, like, joking, I. I think it's fine. ...I'm allowing it.” — Tim Miller [16:41]
- “I'm not really a true crime girly, but maybe we could find something like... boy coded for me to care about.” — Tim Miller [25:57]
- “As somebody who's pro immigration... in this case... I feel like we have a fill of OnlyFans models here ...Americans would... be OnlyFans models if you paid them enough.” — Tim Miller [29:47]
- “I want to deport Nicki Minaj... Under the new rules ...someone that was brought here... must go back... and get in line.” — Tim Miller [32:43]
Important Segment Timestamps
- Amy Klobuchar Tweet Controversy: [02:43]–[05:46]
- MAGA Influencer Reality Show: [06:03]–[13:23]
- Newsom vs. Benny Johnson/Grindr: [14:57]–[17:56]
- Right-wing Infighting: Bongino, Gaetz, Milo: [18:08]–[22:26]
- Candace Owens and Conspiracy Pipeline: [23:34]–[25:46]
- OnlyFans Artist Visas: [27:33]–[31:17]
- Nicki Minaj Deportation Rant: [31:27]–[34:44]
Final Tone & Takeaways
The episode pulses with a quick-witted, “inside politics” tone—irreverent, self-aware, and playfully combative. The team mocks internet outrage, right-wing influencer drama, and the unseriousness permeating political media. At heart, it’s a podcast for news junkies who appreciate gallows humor and informed shade, with the Bulwark trio poking fun at themselves as much as their favorite targets. No sacred cows—and no one, from Amy Klobuchar to Nicki Minaj, is safe from a roast.
Closing lines:
“I've got little alerts. I set up this kind of AI thing. Like, anytime the heat at Sam reaches a certain level, Claude sends me a note so I can enjoy it.” — Tim Miller [35:02]
“Thanks so much, buddy. Appreciate it, everyone. Thanks for watch and subscribe to the Bulwark, where you can get great bulwark takes like this...” — Sam Stein [35:18]