Bulwark Takes – “Trump Has Total Tantrum After Supreme Court Loss Copy”

Date: February 21, 2026
Host: Tim Miller
Guest: Sonny Bunch (Bulwark culture editor)
Topic: Donald Trump’s Supreme Court press conference meltdown after losing his emergency tariffs case

Overview

In this episode, Tim Miller and Sonny Bunch break down Donald Trump’s emotional and chaotic reaction following the Supreme Court’s decision against his emergency tariffs. The hosts blend sharp political analysis, pop culture references, and biting humor to dissect not just the legal and political ramifications, but also the tone and style of Trump’s address. The conversation spotlights Trump’s accusations against Supreme Court justices, the implications for conservative rhetoric on judicial legitimacy, and a series of bizarre, often juvenile tangents from Trump during his press conference.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Trump’s Tantrum and Accusations Against the Supreme Court

• Trump’s reaction as childish and impulsive:
  • Sonny Bunch likens Trump’s behavior to “a 12 year old”:

    “He reacts to everything like he’s a 12 year old…he just starts…freaking out, like, why can’t I play Pokemon anymore?”
    (02:19–02:38)

  • The hosts agree Trump’s response was less about policy details and more about personal affront.
• Grave allegations against Supreme Court Justices:
  • Trump alleged justices are compromised by foreign interests:

    “The President of the United States says that the Supreme Court of the United States has been compromised by foreign agents or assets. And I gotta tell you… I think it’s pretty important to take him literally here.”
    (03:48–04:15, Tim Miller)

• Mocking the idea of clearing the court:
  • Miller sarcastically suggests the Democrats should impeach justices “compromised by foreign assets."

    “Maybe the Democratic Senate, when they come in, [should] impeach them. Something to think about.”
    (04:10–04:23, Tim Miller)

  • Sonny Bunch:

    “You think we should just clear the Supreme Court, start over again?”
    (04:23, Sonny Bunch)

Delegitimizing the Judiciary—Projection and Irony

• Hypocrisy in attacks on court legitimacy:
  • Tim Miller calls out “serious Republicans” who accuse the left of delegitimizing the court, noting Trump’s comments are far more serious:

    “The President of the United States said the court was not legitimate because they’re compromised by foreign assets.”
    (05:04–06:05, Tim Miller)

  • Sonny Bunch calls Trump’s claim “insane,” emphasizing its self-projecting quality:

    “Every accusation is a projection…the idea of Donald Trump being like, these people are too influenced by the foreign communities…it’s very obviously insane.”
    (04:39–05:04, Sonny Bunch)

Trump’s Priorities and Legal Threats

• Tariffs more important than policy for Trump:
  • Bunch notes that Trump’s tantrum is only because tariffs matter personally:

    “The tariff thing matters to him. The real takeaway from this is that he’s just going to push a different tariff button…It’s going to take another year to get back to the Supreme Court.”
    (07:09–07:46, Sonny Bunch)

• Congressional inaction:

  “If there was a real drive by Congress to do something about this, they could…impeach…but that’s not going to happen.”
  (07:46–08:01, Sonny Bunch)

Trump’s Bizarre and Noteworthy Press Conference Moments

“I Can Destroy the Country” (08:22–08:55)

• Trump boasts about executive power:

  “I can destroy the trade. I can destroy the country. I’m even allowed to impose a foreign country destroying embargo…But I can’t charge $1 because that’s not what it says…”
  (08:22–08:55, Donald Trump press conference clip)

• Hosts predict ad fodder:
  • Miller jokes:

    “I think the ‘I can destroy the country’ is probably going to show up in some ads in the midterms.”
    (08:55–09:21, Tim Miller)

Press Conference Esthetics—Lighting and Performance

• The hosts comment on the odd, harsh lighting in Trump’s press appearance, comparing it to scenes in Scorsese’s “Casino.” (09:22–10:32)

“I Want to Be a Good Boy” (10:41–11:01)

• Trump’s submissive phrasing ridiculed:

  “I understand how [the court is] very easily swayed. I want to be a good boy.”
  (10:41–10:58, Donald Trump press conference clip)

• Hosts riff on the subtext:
  • Miller:

    “If you’re into Dom Sub stuff, don’t want you to get horny…”
    (10:32–10:41, Tim Miller)

  • Bunch:

    “I want to be a good boy, sir.”
    (11:00–11:01, Sonny Bunch)

Trump on Gorsuch and Barrett (Nominees Who Crossed Him)

• Refuses to admit mistakes, shifts blame to their parents:

  “I think their decision was terrible. I think it’s an embarrassment to their families… Their parents should feel bad about giving birth to them and putting them on the Supreme Court. It’s a real shame.”
  (12:03–13:00, Donald Trump and Sonny Bunch; Tim Miller adds, “Bad mother. Bad mother.”)

Subplots and Cabinet Scandals

• Howard Nutlik, Commerce Secretary, and Tariff Arbitrage:
  • Miller highlights a little-known angle where Nutlik’s children placed bets on the Supreme Court’s ruling, possibly benefiting from inside knowledge:

    “They were arbitraging…they would have some inside info, I would assume, from their father…it’s an interesting subplot here…”
    (13:25–14:48, Tim Miller)

Trump’s Homoerotic Anecdotes and Awkward Moments

• Story about being offered a kiss by a factory owner:

  “Sir, I want to kiss you.”
  (15:53–16:19, Donald Trump press conference clip)

  • Miller:

    “It’s the second story in two days of an anonymous individual…that wanted to kiss him and that Donald Trump had to say thank you, no homo.”
    (16:19–16:30, Tim Miller)

• Trump’s shout out to Paraguay’s President:

  “President Pena of Paraguay is here…Young, handsome guy. It’s always nice to be young and handsome. Doesn’t mean we have to like you. I don’t like young, handsome men.”
  (18:50–19:13, Donald Trump press conference clip)

  • Sonny Bunch on Pena’s forced reaction:

    “The Paraguayan guy just being like, thumbs up. I don’t know how else to respond to that…”
    (19:13–19:25, Sonny Bunch)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s emotional maturity:

  “What’s the big theory of the modern moment? He’s 12, right? Like he reacts to everything like he’s a 12 year old."
  (02:19, Sonny Bunch)

• On projecting accusations:

  “Every accusation is a projection.”
  (04:39, Sonny Bunch)

• On Trump’s view of executive power:

  “I can destroy the country…I can embargo, I can do anything I want, but I can’t charge $1…”
  (08:22, Donald Trump)

• On being a ‘good boy’ for the court:

  “I want to be a good boy.”
  (10:55, Donald Trump; riffed by both hosts)

• On Gorsuch and Barrett:

  “Their parents should feel bad about giving birth to them and putting them on the Supreme Court.”
  (12:18–13:00, Sonny Bunch)

• On court legitimacy hypocrisy:

  “The President of the United States said the court was not legitimate because they’re compromised by foreign assets.”
  (06:05, Tim Miller)

Pop Culture & Lighthearted Segues

• References to “Casino”, “The Simpsons”, and “Heated Rivalry” aptly merge commentary on Trump’s showmanship with cultural touchstones.
• Discussion of Trump’s “good boy” comment devolves into double entendre and BDSM humor, preserving the podcast’s snarky tone.
• The closing segment shifts to weekend recommendations — Sonny Bunch suggests the somber documentary “The Alabama Solution” while Tim Miller highlights a heartfelt Pablo Torre episode involving Magic Johnson and Rony Seikaly.
  (20:03–21:47)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 01:25: Show proper begins – Tim Miller sets up the discussion
• 02:19: Sonny Bunch on Trump’s “12-year-old” tantrum
• 03:28: Trump accuses Supreme Court of foreign influence
• 04:23: Talk of impeaching justices (sarcastic)
• 05:04: Miller explodes the hypocrisy over court legitimacy
• 08:22: Trump: “I can destroy the country”
• 10:41: Trump: “I want to be a good boy”
• 12:03: Trump on Gorsuch/Barrett (“embarrassment to their families”)
• 13:25: Discussion of Commerce Secretary Nutlik’s family profiteering
• 15:53: Trump describes being propositioned for a kiss
• 18:50: Trump’s awkward praise of Paraguay’s president
• 20:03: Weekend recommendations

Tone and Style

The episode maintains The Bulwark’s trademark blend of irreverence, sharp analysis, and cultural snark, poking fun at Trump’s performance while grounding the reaction in the real dangers of reckless rhetoric from political leaders. Miller and Bunch mix mocking banter with genuine concern, making the episode equal parts scathing political critique and comedic riff.

Summary:
This episode of “Bulwark Takes” dissects Donald Trump’s Supreme Court press conference with a mix of alarm and amusement, calling out the reality-bending dangers of his rhetoric, the hypocrisy of conservative defenders, and the theatrical absurdities of his tirades. The hosts take listeners through the most outrageous soundbites, contextualize the political stakes, and keep the tone lively with pop culture humor and personal asides, making the episode a must-listen for anyone trying to make sense of Trump’s ongoing showmanship at the top of American politics.