Podcast Summary: "Tim Miller: Thune May Be the Weakest Senate Leader EVER"
Podcast: Bulwark Takes
Host(s): The Bulwark Team (Tim Miller, Tim O'Brien, others)
Date: September 10, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the ongoing political fallout from the emergence of a birthday note allegedly signed by Donald Trump and sent to Jeffrey Epstein. Tim Miller, joined by Tim O'Brien and others, reflects on the GOP's limp response to the scandal, the performative defenses of Trump by Republican Senate leaders, and the troubling culture of deference within the party. The overarching critique: a Senate leadership so lacking in backbone, particularly John Thune, that it stands as the weakest in modern history.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Pathetic State of GOP Senate Leadership
(00:26–02:58)
- Tim Miller launches into a scathing assessment of Republican Senate leaders.
- He calls John Thune “the most limp, weak, non entity in the history of the United States Senate,” describing him as “a little Hufflepuff,” “a husk of himself,” and “a fake tanned scarecrow.”
“He might as well not even exist.” — Tim Miller (00:57)
- Offers equally dismissive takes on John Barrasso (“a zero from Wyoming”), John Cornyn (so weak, “he's being primaried in his own state”), and James Langford (at least tried to lead a bipartisan immigration deal, but has “no power”).
- Points out the Senate leaders essentially “won't do anything,” characterizing their posturing as pure performative politics.
- Miller’s solution: these senators should “just sit in your office and play Sudoku” rather than pretend to act. (02:19)
- He calls John Thune “the most limp, weak, non entity in the history of the United States Senate,” describing him as “a little Hufflepuff,” “a husk of himself,” and “a fake tanned scarecrow.”
2. Republican Responses to Trump’s “Signature Gate”
(03:00–04:46)
- The hosts dissect the absurd denials from GOP lawmakers regarding whether Trump sent a birthday card to Epstein, despite mounting evidence and signature analysis.
- Republicans offer flimsy excuses (“anyone can do a signature,” “someone could have forged this”), denying the obvious.
- Wide consensus in the panel and by news outlets (NYT, NBC) that the signature is legitimate.
- Host clarifies Trump is “doubling down, denying he signed” the letter and calling Epstein “a dead issue,” while the panel stresses the ongoing pain for Epstein’s victims.
3. The Nature of Trump’s Defense and GOP Loyalty
(05:35–06:56)
- Tim O’Brien offers a reality check about the relationship:
- “They were friends. They're more than friends, they’re close associates.” (05:40)
- References credible testimony of Trump and Epstein’s closeness and evidence from prior events.
- Muses on Trump’s illogical defense and suggests the consistent lying is a way to preempt the revelation of more damaging facts.
-
“To give this bald-faced lie ... indicates somebody that knows he’s guilty, knows there’s more information in there.” — Tim O'Brien (06:21)
4. The MAGA Loyalty Paradox and GOP’s Moral Bankruptcy
(06:56–09:41)
- Hosts examine the psychology and motivations for why even this scandal won't break Trump’s grip on the GOP.
- The “financial shell game” around Epstein is noted, but the true issue is the abuse of young girls under a culture of impunity.
- The refusal of Republican leaders to separate from Trump is framed as a “humiliation ritual”; Miller suggests Trump derives power from getting allies to defend indefensible acts:
“You're going to go out and lie for me ... You're going to tell the most preposterous lie imaginable ... to protect me from my relationship with... the country's probably most notorious child sex trafficker.” — Tim Miller (09:14)
- There’s acknowledgment that MAGA loyalty has been a rational political bet for GOP members, citing the lack of consequences for aligning with Trump.
- The shame is intellectualized as part of a deliberate power play rather than true ideological conviction.
5. John Thune’s Leadership Vacuum
(09:41–11:30)
- A new dissection of John Thune’s lack of leadership in the epilogue of the scandal:
- Clip played of Thune giving an evasive “transparency and trust DOJ” statement. (10:00–10:36)
- Tim O'Brien is flabbergasted, even forgetting Thune’s status as Senate Majority Leader because he’s so invisible.
- The group jokes about Thune being perpetually tanned and ineffective, with one panelist quipping he looks like he’s at a “hostage press conference.” (10:58)
- Thune’s statements are characterized as empty, word-game posturing, conveying zero risk-taking or independence from Trump.
-
“John Thune, I think, is just trying to survive another day without the MAGA guillotine.” — Tim O'Brien (11:26)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Thune’s weakness:
- “At least in my lifetime... we have never [had Senate leaders like this]. Mitch McConnell, Harry Reid... the power broker himself, LBJ in this job. And John Thune is just, I mean, he's like nothing.” — Tim Miller (00:46)
- On Republican inaction:
- “None of y’all are gonna do shit.” — Tim Miller (02:17)
- On playing games in the office:
- “Just sit in your office, play Sudoku, read, listen to some like World War II history podcasts... Just don't do, don't pretend like you're gonna do something. You're not gonna do anything.” — Tim Miller (02:20)
- On the ritualistic humiliation demanded by Trump:
- “You're going to go out and lie for me...to protect me from my relationship with the country's probably most notorious child sex trafficker.” — Tim Miller (09:14)
- On Thune’s avoidance:
- “John Thune, I think, is just trying to, you know, survive another day without the MAGA guillotine.” — Tim O'Brien (11:26)
- On the party’s incentives:
- “They haven’t lost yet by putting their lips on Trump’s behind.” — Tim O'Brien (08:46)
Important Timestamps
- 00:26–00:57: Tim Miller lampoons Senate leadership for their “pathetic” response
- 02:11–02:19: Direct dismissal of any GOP action: “None of y’all are gonna do shit.”
- 03:00–03:35: Hosts dissect Republican attempts to dismiss the Trump-Epstein note
- 05:35–06:56: Tim O’Brien’s reality check on Trump–Epstein relationship and lying
- 09:41–10:36: John Thune’s evasive ‘transparency’ statement played and dissected
- 10:58–11:30: Panel mocks Thune as invisible and hostage-like in his leadership role
Tone and Language
Consistently biting, sarcastic, and frustrated but leavened with humor (especially at the expense of GOP leaders). The language is informal, direct, and irreverent, calling out what the hosts see as the cowardice and absurdity of Senate Republicans and the broader Republican party in maintaining fealty to Donald Trump—even as the Epstein revelations inflict further damage to American politics.
Final Takeaway
This episode labels John Thune as potentially “the weakest Senate leader ever,” skewering the GOP’s performative loyalty to Trump and their unwillingness to confront scandal, even in the face of rock-solid evidence. With sharp wit and undisguised exasperation, the Bulwark crew expresses deep concern over the moral and institutional decay on display. For listeners or readers new to this story, the podcast clearly lays out both the facts of the scandal and the pathetic political game being played by Republican leaders.