Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes – "Trump Celebrates Robert Mueller’s Death"

Date: March 21, 2026
Hosts: Tim Miller (B), Bill Kristol (C)
Notable Topics: The death of Robert Mueller, Donald Trump’s reaction, Mueller’s legacy, reflections on honor and public service

Episode Overview

This episode responds to the breaking news of Robert Mueller’s death and centers on the stark contrast between Mueller’s legacy of service and President Donald Trump’s venomous reaction to his passing. Hosts Tim Miller and Bill Kristol discuss Mueller's life, his role in public service, his conduct as special counsel, and the broader cultural implications of Trump’s statement. The tone is respectful of Mueller, mournful of the state of political discourse, and contemplative about American values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Remembering Robert Mueller's Life and Career

[01:00-05:29]

• Vietnam Service: Mueller volunteered for the Marine Corps after initially being rejected due to a knee injury—he later resolved the issue and went to Vietnam, where he served honorably.
  • “Many Princeton graduates and many others... found ways to avoid serving in Vietnam. Donald Trump famously being one of them. Robert Mueller volunteered for the Marine Corps.” – Bill Kristol [01:44]
• Career in Public Service: Rose from decorated military service to become FBI Director, serving under presidents from both parties.
  • Kristol emphasizes how genuine public service is often claimed but rarely demonstrated as consistently as Mueller did.
• Role as Special Counsel: Took charge of the Russia probe later in life when he could have declined, stepping into a politically fraught situation at personal cost.

2. The Mueller Investigation – Approach and Impact

[03:49-06:11]

• Mueller’s work is described as diligent and “by the book,” marked by fairness and adherence to the rule of law.
• Despite criticisms—some expecting him to be more aggressive in pushing for Trump’s impeachment—he delivered facts to Congress rather than dictating conclusions.
  • “A real by the book rule of law man.” – Bill Kristol [06:11]
• The investigation exposed real criminality and interference, though not always at levels that could be prosecuted against Trump personally.

3. Trump’s Response to Mueller’s Death

[06:27-07:57]

• Tim Miller reads Trump’s Truth Social post:
  “Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people.” – Donald Trump [06:27]
• Hosts express outrage and sadness at Trump’s public glee over Mueller’s death, calling it perhaps the worst example yet of his lack of decency.
  • “Just to extremely bluntly say, I'm glad he's dead... It's unimaginable that you would say that about anyone.” – Tim Miller [06:44]
• Bill Kristol questions whether any Republican leaders or former Trump administration officials will speak up to defend Mueller’s memory and denounce Trump’s behavior.

4. Reflections on Honor, Character, and Public Life

[07:57-12:58]

• Tim Miller draws an analogy to social consequences in ordinary life, noting that anyone else expressing such celebratory sentiments about someone’s death would face real repercussions.
• Bill Kristol references Yeats’s poem “To a Friend Whose Work Has Come to Nothing,” highlighting the struggle of honorable people in the face of shamelessness:
  • “For how can you compete, being honor bred, with one who, were it proved he lies, were neither shamed in his own nor the neighbor’s eyes?” – Bill Kristol quoting Yeats [09:42]
• Hosts speculate on whether others inspired by Mueller—like Liz Cheney and lesser-known Justice Department officials—will continue to uphold values of truth and integrity.

5. Mueller's Enduring Example and Legacy

[10:47-13:13]

• Despite discouragement in the current environment, Kristol advocates for the idea that Mueller’s example will inspire future generations.
• They encourage younger listeners to review Mueller's biography and legacy, especially for those who may have only vague memories of the Russia investigation.
• Personal anecdote from Kristol meeting Mueller at St. John’s Church, underscoring the humility and dignity with which Mueller conducted himself—even after the investigation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mueller’s character:
  “He really was a public servant. He had a very successful legal career and stepped away from that to take, you know, difficult jobs... Really an admirable man.”
  – Bill Kristol [03:30]

• On Trump's statement:
  “Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people.”
  – Donald Trump (read by Tim Miller) [06:27]

• On public decency:
  “If you're a teacher at a school... posting on social media, cheering on people's deaths... it's just not the type of thing that'd be acceptable in any kind of public position.”
  – Tim Miller [08:27]

• On the struggle for honor:
  “For how can you compete, being honor bred, with one who, were it proved he lies, were neither shamed in his own nor the neighbor’s eyes?”
  – Bill Kristol, quoting Yeats [09:42, 14:47]

• On legacy and the arc of justice:
  “I do think his memory will be a blessing as well, which may not be true for our current president.”
  – Tim Miller [12:29]
  “The arc of the moral universe bends towards justice... One trusts it will bend back in the right way and that most importantly people will see to it that it bends back in the right way.”
  – Bill Kristol [11:45]

Important Timestamps

• [01:00] – News of Robert Mueller’s death announced
• [01:44-03:49] – Discussion of Mueller’s military and professional history
• [03:49-06:11] – Analysis of Mueller’s time as special counsel and his methodical approach
• [06:27] – Tim Miller reads Trump’s reaction post on Mueller’s death
• [09:42] – Bill Kristol shares Yeats poem relevant to Mueller’s legacy
• [12:29] – Reflection on Mueller’s legacy and generational impact
• [13:47-14:47] – Kristol’s personal anecdote about encountering Mueller at St. John’s Church

Conclusion

The episode is a poignant reflection on honor, service, and the tragic coarsening of political discourse. Kristol and Miller mourn the loss of Mueller as a figure emblematic of integrity, and express hope that his example will continue to inspire acts of principle in a time of growing shamelessness at the highest levels of leadership.