Bulwark Takes

Episode: Tim Miller: Sorry Sen. Murkowski, This Is Your Party Now
Date: January 20, 2026
Host(s): Tim Miller, Alicia Menendez, Tim O’Brien
Main Guests: Chris Ostrushko (via clip), Lisa Murkowski (via clip)

Episode Overview

This episode of Bulwark Takes centers on the increasingly stark reality of the Republican Party's alignment with Donald Trump and the ongoing accountability void within GOP congressional ranks. Tim Miller and Alicia Menendez, joined briefly by host Tim O’Brien, dissect the party’s unwillingness to challenge President Trump on major issues (specifically the “Greenland” foreign policy controversy and trade tariffs on allies), as well as the performative dissent from a handful of Republican outliers like Senator Lisa Murkowski. The episode also highlights activism and firsthand outrage about ICE mistreatment of citizens in Minnesota through comments from Chris Ostrushko.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Performative Dissent Among Congressional Republicans

• Alicia Menendez’s optimism: She expresses hope, noting “7ish Republicans” spoke out about the “Greenland nonsense.”
• Tim Miller’s pushback (04:59): He isn’t impressed, noting most vocal GOP critics are “retiring,” already sidelined, or “not really in the mainstream of MAGA or the Republican party.” Tim singles out Murkowski, saying,

  “She had to get elected as an independent…she’s not really in the mainstream.” (05:18)

• Rationalization vs. Real Dissent: Tim and Alicia criticize “establishment” Republicans who voice concern but rationalize their inaction, calling out their excuses as empty and avoidance tactics:
  • Alicia: “What else are they doing? Like, Josh Hawley had to wash his hair. Like, that’s why he wasn’t there?” (05:51)
  • Tim: “If he ever invaded Greenland, they’d step up…” referencing the feebleness of their opposition and invoking January 6th for context. (06:09)

2. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s Comments Analyzed

• The two hosts play and react to Murkowski’s excusing GOP non-attendance at a key trip, with Miller’s exasperated take:

  “I don’t understand why I and the people watching the show understand Lisa Murkowski’s colleagues better than she does.” (05:36)

• Murkowski’s remarks (03:37): She insists GOP members’ absence “isn’t an indicator of support or lack of support.”
• Tim and Alicia see this as emblematic denial — the refusal to confront the true Trumpian center of the GOP.

3. Trump, Tariffs, and GOP Enabling

• Tim and Alicia spotlight the upcoming Trump tariff:
  • “Donald Trump is starting a tariff, a 10% tariff on our allies in what, 13 days? In two weeks.” (06:18)
• They articulate what action Congress could take, but note the lack of will:

  “They could bring something up right now that says, no, we’re not going to… They could take back the power of the purse from the president right now… but they’re not going to do that because they don’t actually care.” (06:33, 07:09)

• Ted Cruz quoted as representing the ‘real’ party stance:

  “President Trump is trying to return us to peace through strength…that is good for freedom-loving people around the world.” (Guest Speaker, 07:33)

• Alicia’s sarcasm: “Do you think…John Corbin had a barbecue he had to go to?” skewers excuses for absence. (05:51)

4. Impact of Trumpist Policy on Allies and the World

• Miller and Menendez discuss the damage of new tariffs, the unpredictable harm to U.S. allies (especially the United Kingdom), and play back the “booing at the basketball game in London” as a sign of souring relations. (08:30)

5. Grassroots Outrage: Chris Ostrushko’s Stand in Minnesota

• Tim Miller interviews Chris Ostrushko (08:55), known for a viral outburst against ICE’s mistreatment of citizens.
  • Ostrushko: “I saw American citizens coming out…walking out without jackets because their jackets have been destroyed or taken. And…it’s very cold in Minnesota right now… most people were charged with absolutely nothing.” (08:55–09:37)
• Miller explains why Ostrushko resonates:

  “…somebody that…was looking around what was happening in his community and saying, this is just not normal. This isn’t acceptable. We need to speak out.” (10:07)

• The panel underscores that ICE has detained U.S. citizens without charges—this isn’t a standard “left/right” immigration story, but a basic rule-of-law breakdown.
  • Alicia: “In Minnesota, these ICE agents, CBP agents are going after U.S. citizens and they are roughing them up and they’re detaining them and they’re not charging them, and…harassing them and then letting them go. We should not allow that in a free country.” (10:54–11:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On feckless Republican dissent:

  “What I can’t take is the kind of establishment norms, moderate-type, whatever, Republicans who like rationalize all this, make excuses for it and say it’s wrong, but da, da, da…”
  — Tim Miller (03:01)

• On Lisa Murkowski’s remarks:

  “I don’t understand why...the people watching the show understand Lisa Murkowski’s colleagues better than she does.”
  — Tim Miller (05:36)

• On the coming Trump tariffs:

  “...Donald Trump is starting a tariff, a 10% tariff on our allies in what, 13 days? In two weeks.”
  — Alicia Menendez (06:18)

• On GOP's lack of public courage:

  "I don’t care what they’re saying in private. What matters is what they’re doing in public. And they have an obligation, responsibility to the country.”
  — Alicia Menendez (07:19–07:22)

• Chris Ostrushko on ICE mistreatment:

  “People are usually walking out without jackets because their jackets have been destroyed or taken...they’re not allowed phone calls… most people were charged with absolutely nothing.”
  — Chris Ostrushko (08:55–09:37)

• On activism and accountability:

  “We should not allow that in a free country. And I’m happy that somebody like Chris is out there kind of speaking up for people who may have not been engaged in activism before, but are just outraged by what’s happening.”
  — Tim Miller (11:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:30 — Episode begins, panel introduces post-game reaction topics
• 03:37 — Lisa Murkowski's comments on GOP absence played and analyzed
• 04:59–07:19 — Tim and Alicia debate depth of Republican dissent and congressional inaction
• 07:33 — Ted Cruz's supportive Trump remarks highlighted as mainstream Republican position
• 08:55–09:37 — Chris Ostrushko explains ICE misconduct in Minnesota
• 10:07–11:14 — Reflection on grassroots outrage and the importance of citizen action

Conclusion

This episode sharply critiques the myth of Republican moderation and the idea that private concerns matter more than public actions in national politics. The hosts are deeply skeptical of “outlier” dissenters like Murkowski and instead argue the party’s true face is the one aligned with Trump. The acute focus on ICE abuses in Minnesota further emphasizes the moral and institutional costs of institutionalized avoidance and complicity. For listeners, this is a bracing, unsparing look at party politics, accountability, and the urgency of citizen activism in turbulent times.