Bulwark Takes: "Tim Miller: Cracks May Be Appearing in Trumpworld"

Date: October 14, 2025
Host: Tim Miller (with guest Jacob Soboroff)
Theme:
Examining growing fractures and discomfort within Trumpworld regarding recent immigration crackdowns, the “no Kings” protest movement, and the political ramifications for the upcoming midterm elections. The conversation highlights how aggressive actions against U.S. citizens and veterans are beginning to shake previously steadfast support on the right, and explores whether government intimidation and propaganda efforts are likely to backfire.

Main Topics & Key Insights

1. Cracks in Trump Support Over Immigration Policies

• Tim Miller opens by discussing seeing signs of discomfort and disenchantment among active-duty military, veterans, and even right-leaning media personalities (e.g., Joe Rogan, Marjorie Taylor Greene) about the aggressive immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration.

• Growing unease: The treatment of U.S. citizens and veterans—people who are supposed to be the “in-group”—by government agents is starting to affect perceptions among Trump’s base.

  “I think that the focus on the US citizens, the veterans… I'm also hearing this just kind of behind the scenes from military, from veterans, but also active duty folks... an interesting amount of people that are feeling uncomfortable and discomfort with what the administration's doing and how they're being used.” — Tim Miller [01:32]

• Personal stories as inflection points: Miller references his interview with George Reddes—a U.S. citizen and veteran detained and mistreated during an immigration raid—as a powerful example that pierces the “unreality” for some supporters.

  “This guy… security guard outside the weed farm in California who was a US citizen, a veteran, and he gets targeted, tear gassed, racially targeted, jailed for three days... missed his daughter's birthday. She didn’t know where he was…” — Tim Miller [04:00]

2. Labor Realities and Policy Directions

• Jacob Soboroff brings a practical, grounded perspective on the labor economy and immigration, arguing that simplistic mass deportations are unworkable and don’t acknowledge how much of the American economy relies on undocumented workers.

  • Calls for “smarter plans” over extremist rhetoric.

  “We have a labor force… built on illegal labor. That’s a fact… We have to do something about labor and that needs to be a smarter plan than just rounding up every single person and deporting them.” — Jacob Soboroff [02:17]

3. The “No Kings” Protest Movement and Political Backlash

• Protest momentum: There’s a debate about whether labeling the “no Kings” protests as “antifa” or “un-American” will suppress or energize opposition.

• Historical irony: The protest slogan “No Kings” is, as Soboroff wryly observes, deeply American, and attempts to paint it as radical or anti-American come off as unconvincing.

  “My favorite thing about calling the no Kings protest anti America is it's literally the whole kernel of the idea about America was to not have a king... No Kings is the most American brand for any protest movement that America could ever have.” — Jacob Soboroff [06:40]

• Backfire effect: Tim Miller predicts that efforts to intimidate or smear protesters and suppress votes might actually amplify turnout and engagement:

  “A lot of times these efforts backfire. And we’re seeing that in the streets now… do you think that their efforts to smear the no Kings protesters as antifa… is going to make for smaller protests this week or bigger protests? I think bigger.” — Tim Miller [06:18]

4. Election Ramifications and Optimism Amid Turbulence

• Optimism on voting rights: Tim Miller expresses guarded optimism, arguing that in many key midterm battlegrounds (notably in blue or swing states), local leaders won’t tolerate voter intimidation and that overreach might mobilize opposition.

• Greater worry about post-election chaos: While worried about potential post-election “stop the steal” maneuvers, he suggests that pre-election intimidation often provokes a backlash.

  “…in the lead up to the elections, if we're concerned about, you know, troops being outside voting locations… Gavin Newsom and Kathy Hochul and Governor Pritzker and others could try to counteract that… A lot of times these voter suppression efforts backfire and we’re seeing that in the streets now.” — Tim Miller [05:18]

5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Marjorie Taylor Greene’s “reality” quote:

  “The interesting thing about the Marjorie Taylor Greene quote… was her saying that she's going to live in reality… Welcome to reality talking. That's great. I love that. The water is warm here.” — Tim Miller [02:46]

• On the mainstreaming of “fantastical lies”:

  “What is being tested is sort of the laboratory for fantastical lies... The news value of Rogan and Greene isn't like, oh, look, it's too icky for them. No, because they went along with all of the BS ahead of the election.” — Jacob Soboroff [06:54]

• On the character of no Kings protests:

  “…I went to the no Kings protest in New Orleans in June… It is a lot of fanny packs and NPR tote bags at the crowd. It’s not even attached to reality on every level. It doesn’t work. It’s offensive and a lie. And again, maybe it works in their information silo, but eventually that stuff gets popped if it’s this fantastical and if people see the difference with their own eyes.” — Tim Miller [07:42]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:30] Tim Miller: Overview of recent TV appearance and summary of major topics—alluding to growing unrest and public discomfort over immigration policy and protester treatment.
• [02:17] Jacob Soboroff: Discusses labor market realities and the need for pragmatic immigration reform.
• [02:46] Tim Miller: Dissects Marjorie Taylor Greene’s “reality” comments and describes how real-life consequences are challenging Trumpist narratives.
• [05:13] Soboroff (to Miller): Invites optimism on election security and the prospects for protest backlashes.
• [05:18] Tim Miller: Explains why voting suppression efforts might backfire, with blue state election officials poised to respond.
• [06:40] Soboroff: Wry commentary on “No Kings” as quintessentially American; refutes government smears.
• [07:33] Tim Miller: Expounds on the real demographic makeup of protests and the eventual breaking of propaganda bubbles.

Conclusion

This fast-paced and engaging episode of Bulwark Takes dives into how recent aggressive immigration enforcement and attempts to delegitimize protest movements are sparking unexpected pushback—even within Trump’s core constituencies. Tim Miller brings a note of optimism, positing that backlash to intimidation, both at the polls and in the streets, may empower opposition and reaffirm American democratic values. Jacob Soboroff’s on-the-ground realism complements Miller’s hopeful outlook, creating a clear-eyed, timely discussion about where the cracks in Trumpworld are beginning to show.