Bulwark Takes – “Trump Can’t Control His Own Base on Iran War”
Podcast: Bulwark Takes
Host: Sam Stein (with Will Chamberlain)
Date: March 2, 2026
Main Theme: MAGA’s fractured response to Trump’s war in Iran – is Trump losing control of his base?
Episode Overview
In this compelling episode of "Bulwark Takes," Sam Stein and Will Chamberlain dive deep into MAGA world’s reactions to the sudden escalation of war between the U.S. and Iran under President Trump. They explore how key right-wing figures and factions are responding—revealing surprising dissent, infighting, and confusion. Moving beyond knee-jerk partisanship, Stein and Chamberlain examine the realignment (and disarray) among Trump’s usually loyal online army, while also poking fun at the absurdities and memes fueling right-wing internet culture during crisis.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. MAGA Monday Takes a Serious Turn
- The show’s usual light touch is overshadowed by the gravity of “a war” in Iran, following the U.S. killing of Iran’s president and the Ayatollah.
- Notable quote:
- Sam Stein (00:30): “We had conceived of this live show...as lighter fare…Obviously, that’s a little bit difficult when you’re in the middle of a war.”
2. Surprise Dissent in MAGA Ranks
- Rather than reflexive support, many high-profile MAGA voices (even war contractors like Erik Prince) have come out against the war.
- Erik Prince’s shocker:
- [03:05]: “I'm not happy about the whole thing. I don't think this was in America's interest...I don't see how this is in keeping with the president's MAGA commitment. I'm disappointed.”
- Stein and Chamberlain note the “mind-blowing” reversal among figures normally favoring intervention.
3. "America First" Isolationism Clashing with New Realities
- The Bannon wing (Bannon, Gaffney) and influencers in Turning Point USA are at odds with Trump’s shift, struggling to rationalize or outright rejecting military escalation.
- Will Chamberlain (04:56): “He [Bannon] wants the deportations...He looks at...a classic Middle East quagmire and says, ‘Geez, this looks like something that’s going to detract from Trump’s political capital.’”
- Sam Stein (05:21): “That was how he distinguished himself from other Republicans. I mean, it was false...But that became defining for the campaign.”
4. Messaging Chaos—and a Lack of Strategy
- Pro-Trump, pro-war pundits try to “trust the plan” but can’t articulate what the plan is.
- Sam Stein (11:19): “What is the plan?”
- Will Chamberlain: “We don’t know. Well, I guess trust Trump.”
- House Foreign Affairs Republicans’ tweet is lampooned for claiming Trump is “ending forever wars by starting a new one.”
- Sam Stein (13:00): “He’s ending forever wars by waging war… Basically.”
5. Right-Wing Internet Infighting & Factionalism
- Infamous figures like Candace Owens, Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG), Laura Loomer, and Tucker Carlson are at each other’s throats—or, in Tucker’s case, apparently sidelined.
- Highlights:
- Candace Owens spins anti-Semitic conspiracies, blaming Jews for “murdering Charlie Kirk so they could get this war.” [18:21]
- Loomer and MTG publicly feud. MTG attacks Loomer for “celebrating the death of American military members” [15:09], and claims Trump is listening to Loomer over her.
- Will Chamberlain on MTG (16:08): “It’s a pretty compelling point…She’s saying Laura Loomer is someone we can recognize as unhinged...and Trump is taking her advice about national security.”
- Tucker Carlson, vocal war opponent, is humiliated: “He has no clout, at least not on this issue.” [17:06]
6. Turning Point USA & Ambivalence
- TPUSA’s base is fractured and reluctant, with leaders like Charlie Kirk vacillating between skepticism and grudging support.
- Charlie Kirk (10:18): “Only President Donald Trump with prudence and practicality…is able to weigh them both, thread the needle and walk the tightrope. President Donald Trump is a man made for this moment.”
- Still, grassroots members and influencers exhibit discomfort and confusion.
7. Gen Z/MAGA Internet Personalities: Alienation & Edge
- Younger right-wing influencers (Sneako, Brylan Hollyhand) and manosphere voices are more overtly hostile, sometimes blending anti-Semitism and conspiracy with anti-war arguments.
- Sneako (30:29): “Trump is 80 years old and would rather sacrifice his own citizens…because he does not want his reputation to be tarnished by the blackmail footage being released from Epstein Island. That’s what type of man is in charge of our country right now.”
- Will Chamberlain (31:13): “Manosphere people are going to be very dissatisfied with it...when you’re saying it’s good that you’re losing support, I don’t think things are working out for you.”
8. MAGA Messaging Meltdown: Factional Infighting Map
- Anti-war: Bannon, Erik Prince, Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, large swathes of TPUSA.
- Pro-war or war-curious: Loomer, some TPUSA, Brylan Hollyhand—often mocked for cheerleading.
- Chamberlain and Stein marvel at Trump’s inability to “whip his base into line” the way previous Republican presidents might have.
9. Social Media Disinfo, Chaos & Humor
- The co-hosts unravel the unreliability and chaos of Twitter as breaking news unfolds.
- Will Chamberlain (20:24): “There are so many of these disinformation accounts...and of course, you can buy a verified check mark. So I think it has become a real mess.”
- Comic Relief:
- Mockery of Ian Miles Chong’s “3am Dubai club” video for its distinctly lifeless party vibes.
- Sam Stein (22:54): “Can they get into it a little bit more than this?...Does that guy look alive or what? This place is alive. That guy...This guy can’t even look up from his phone.”
- The saga of Lindy Lee, Democratic-turned-Trump grifter, now anti-war and distancing herself from Trump: “If you lost Lindy Lee, this is like...the Cronkite moment probably for Trump.” [26:38]
- Mockery of Ian Miles Chong’s “3am Dubai club” video for its distinctly lifeless party vibes.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:30 – Host sets the tone: can’t avoid the war topic
- 03:05 – Erik Prince’s anti-war comments
- 05:21 – MAGA’s roots in anti-interventionism, Bannon’s horseshoe strategy
- 10:18 – Charlie Kirk’s tortured pro-Trump logic
- 13:00 – House GOP’s “forever war” messaging mocked
- 14:43 – Loomer vs. MTG feud
- 18:21 – Candace Owens’ anti-Semitic conspiracy
- 20:24 – Disinformation amplifying on Twitter
- 22:54 – Ian Miles Chong’s “dead club at 3am” video
- 26:38 – Lindy Lee anti-Trump flip; “Cronkite moment” for MAGA
- 30:29 – Sneako’s conspiratorial anti-war take
- 31:13 – Chamberlain: “Manosphere” right deserting Trump
- 32:04 – Speculation that Trump will call in to influencer shows, not MSM
Memorable Moments & Quotes
Erik Prince, ex-defense contractor:
- “[The war] will uncork a significant can of worms and chaos...I don’t see how this is in keeping with the president’s MAGA commitment. I’m disappointed.” [03:05]
Sam Stein, on Trump’s broken promises:
- “That was how he distinguished himself from other Republicans...But that became defining for the campaign.” [05:21]
Will Chamberlain, on the messaging vacuum:
- “They say we’re not going to get into that. There’s no sense of why we’re doing this...already unpopular and only going to get more unpopular.” [06:17]
Charlie Kirk, rationalizing:
- “Only President Trump...is able to weigh them both...President Donald Trump is a man made for this moment.” [10:18]
Will Chamberlain, on the absurdity of pro-Trump war spin:
- “Isn’t this the military that was too woke a year ago, that was just focused on pronouns, and now it’s totally different?” [12:40]
Marjorie Taylor Greene eviscerates Laura Loomer:
- “This bitch is celebrating the death of American military members...But this is who Trump takes late night calls from and laps up her praise and worship.” [15:24]
Will Chamberlain, on Loomer’s influence:
- “She’s someone we recognize as unhinged...and Trump is taking her advice about national security.” [16:08]
Sneako, Gen Z commentator:
- “[Trump] would rather bring us into another war in the Middle east...because he does not want his reputation to be tarnished by the blackmail footage being released from Epstein Island.” [30:29]
Chamberlain, on right-wing Gen Zers:
- “Manosphere people are going to be very dissatisfied with it....at that point, you know, when you’re saying it’s good that you’re losing support, I don’t think things are working out for you.” [31:13]
Takeaways
- Trump’s Iran war has deeply fractured his own base.
- Key factions (Bannonites, TPUSA, influencers) are either opposed, nervous, or in open revolt—with little confidence in the administration’s message or competence.
- Online infighting, conspiracy theories, and public feuds hint at erosion of the “MAGA as one fist” image.
- Social media chaos serves as both a distraction and amplifier for division—and a source of distinctly absurd, sometimes darkly comic moments.
- The episode ends on a serious note: if Trump can’t whip his online loyalists into shape now, support may fall further as the war drags on—a potentially existential threat to his reelection and legacy.