Bulwark Takes – Episode Summary
"Tim Found a Very Special Video From Corey Lewandowski"
Date: February 14, 2026
Host: Tim Miller
Guests: Jonathan V. Last ("JVL"), Will Sommer
Overview
This episode of Bulwark Takes dives into the latest internal chaos at Turning Point USA following Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the conspiracy theories swirling inside the MAGA entertainment ecosystem. The trio then shifts to a wild Wall Street Journal report about the personal and professional entanglements of Secretary Kristi Noem and her advisor Corey Lewandowski, culminating in a legendary Corey cameo video. Throughout, the hosts maintain a sardonic and incredulous tone, dissecting the absurdities of right-wing media and government dysfunction.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Turning Point USA, Conspiracy Mania, & Internal Witch Hunts
(01:28 – 11:42)
- Candace and Erica Saga: Will Sommer updates the group on rumors circulating within TPUSA that Erica (Charlie Kirk’s widow) may have played a role in Kirk’s death, with Candace Owens driving public suspicion.
- “She’s suggesting this is part of some cover up. To me, it’s relatively reasonable to fire someone talking about that. But that’s where we are.” – Will Sommer (03:15)
- Conspiracy as Job Requirement: The panel discusses how belief in election denial or similar conspiracy thinking is essentially a requirement for employment at TPUSA.
- “To become part of Turning Point USA, you have to at the least believe the 2020 election was stolen...Conspiracy theories are like watches. Nobody has one of them.” – JVL (04:44)
- Firing via Uber Gossip: Will relates a story where a longtime TPUSA staffer (Aubrey Leach) was fired after a convoluted tale involving an Uber driver, illustrating paranoia inside the org.
- “On one hand it has a weird witch hunt feel...” – Will Sommer (06:53)
- Irony of Cancel Culture & Labor Protections: The staffers now long for union protections despite the group’s anti-labor stance.
- “It’s cancel culture. There has been a bit of irony here...” – Will Sommer (07:54)
2. Candace, Conspiracies & Right-Wing Pod Worlds
(08:38 – 11:42)
- TPUSA previously cultivated conspiracy talk, normalizing wild speculation, including racism and “exploring ideas the mainstream rejects.”
- Hosts point to the overlap between organizational culture and willingness to consider unhinged theories about their own leadership.
3. The Right-Wing “Trad” Scene – Public Hypocrisy
(11:42 – 17:09)
- Elijah Schaefer Scandal: Former Blaze host Elijah Schaefer leans into “bad boy” behavior following cheating scandals, in stark contrast with his prior trad-husband, family-values persona.
- “I respect just being like, what of it? I like to fuck better than pretending to be pious trying to continue on with the show.” – Tim Miller (11:42)
- Trad Husbands vs. Pickup Bros: Panelists examine how the online “trad” right overlaps with misogynistic pickup artist subcultures.
- “They don’t like women is the thing.” – JVL (16:27)
- Clavicular’s Fate: Speculation that the notorious “looksmax” commenter is “a slightly autistic bisexual to homosexual,” lampooning the drama and masculinity in this scene. (17:19 – 17:36)
4. Kristi Noem & Corey Lewandowski – Power, Scandal, & Absurdity
(17:48 – 33:41)
- WSJ Story Unpacked:
- Noem and Lewandowski’s affair, long rumored, is now public, with numerous professional boundary problems reported, including the use of government resources for personal travel.
- “She could do better than Corey Lewandowski. That is the thing that’s hard for me to understand. Like, why is that weasel-faced, just freak show able to wield this kind of power...” – Tim Miller (19:14)
- Lewandowski’s Outlandish Behavior:
- Attempted to get a government-issued gun; wore a fake badge; fired and rehired a Coast Guard pilot over Kristi Noem’s missing “blankie” (20:43 – 21:10).
- “He fired the Coast Guard pilot...then had to rehire them to get home.” – Tim Miller (20:43)
- Luxurious Government Jet & “Mile High” Implications:
- $70M jet with private rear cabin, hinting at personal use for Noem and Lewandowski.
- “Mile High Club.” – JVL (21:53)
- “…doing Mile High Club with Lil Dicky Corey Lewandowski. That’s happening right now on our taxpayer funded jet.” – Tim Miller (21:55)
- Rules, Corruption, & Accountability:
- Lewandowski exploits loopholes to avoid official employee status, egregiously evading badge-in rules. Hosts underscore how this kind of minor but telling rule-breaking signals deeper corruption (23:10 – 26:23).
- “We live in a society. Same Tim. We’re living in a society.” – JVL (26:20)
- More Absurd Lewandowski Stories:
- Drunken Benihana fundraiser, wild sexual boasts: “I can last eight hours at a time in the sack. I mean can you imagine Corey going at you for a full eight hour shift just breathing on your face?” – Tim Miller (26:57)
- Corruption & Internal Power Struggles:
- Corey hasn’t divested his business interests while at DHS; possible lucrative contracts flying under the radar.
- Noem/Lewandowski at war with department heads, strategically placing loyalists, and generally sowing chaos.
5. Does Kristi Noem Survive?
(30:41 – 32:00)
- Consensus that Trump is reluctant to fire people, and Steve Miller may value Noem and Lewandowski’s loyalty despite their unpredictability.
6. Surprise Ending: The Infamous Corey Lewandowski Cameo Video
(32:00 – 33:57)
- Tim plays an unintentionally hilarious, slightly unsettling video Lewandowski made for Cameo, congratulating a child for toilet training and referencing future support for Trump.
- “Hey, this message is from Mickey. Mickey, your daddy, Papa Dicky, reached out to me and told me that you're toilet training. You must be a very special little boy.” – Corey Lewandowski, Cameo (32:23)
- The hosts crack up, dubbing it “alpha male” behavior and lampooning Corey’s overall trajectory.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On TPUSA’s Culture:
- "Conspiracy theories are like watches. Nobody has one of them.” – JVL (04:54)
- On Right-Wing Trad/PUA Worlds:
- “They don’t like women is the thing.” – JVL (16:27)
- Corey Lewandowski’s Absurdity:
- “I can last eight hours at a time in the sack. I mean can you imagine Corey going at you for a full eight hour shift just breathing on your face?” – Tim Miller (26:57)
- Lewandowski’s Cameo:
- “You must be a very special little boy. But I hear that you’re starting to use the big boy toilet. So congratulations. And you’re doing a great job with your poopies. Congratulations. I know your mom is going to be so happy...” – Corey Lewandowski (33:13)
Important Timestamps
- Candace Owens’ TPUSA Conspiracies: 02:23 – 07:54
- Cancel Culture Irony & Unionizing at TPUSA: 07:54 – 08:38
- Trad Husbands, Pickup Artists & The Schaefer Scandal: 11:42 – 17:36
- Kristi Noem & Corey Lewandowski’s Turbulent Partnership: 17:48 – 26:23
- Wall Street Journal Report Key Takeaways: 19:19 – 24:00
- Lewandowski’s Power Games & Discipline Dodging: 23:10 – 26:23
- Corey’s Cameo Video Surprise: 32:23 – 33:41
Summary Takeaway
This episode skewers the absurd, gossipy meltdown of MAGA-world institutions both inside and outside of government, painting a picture of grift, paranoia, pettiness, and scandal. Whether it’s conspiracy-pilled staffers at Turning Point USA, performative misogyny among “trad” influencers, or the boundary-shattering antics of Corey Lewandowski and Kristi Noem at DHS, the Bulwark crew delivers incisive (and hilarious) commentary on a right-wing landscape spinning ever further into chaos.