Loading summary
SpinQuest Advertiser
Forget everything you had planned for this weekend because you are sitting on your couch and winning from the comfort of your own home. I'm here with spinquest where you can play hundreds of slot games, all the table games you love, and you could even win real cash Prizes. New users 30 coin packs are on sale for 10@Spinquest.com SpinQuest is a free
Political Analyst
to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.
Chris
Craving something specific?
Political Analyst
From global flavors to viral snacks, TikTok has it all. If you can dream it, you can
Donald Trump
make it right at home.
Tim Miller
Find your next favorite dish on TikTok.
Political Analyst
Hey, everybody.
Tim Miller
Tim Miller from the bull work. We had breaking news while I was
Political Analyst
live on Ms. Now Donald Trump has decided to endorse Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate primary. I get into on the show what I think the implications are for that Senate race. I think it's good news, mildly for Talarico. It's still going to be an uphill battle. I think that it's telling that Donald Trump feels need that he needs to shore up support with his MAGA base. So we get into all that.
Tim Miller
But what I wanted to focus on here for you guys is how absolutely embarrassingly humiliating this is for John Cornyn. Big John Cornyn. You remember that. Some of you guys might not remember that.
Political Analyst
You might not remember that.
Tim Miller
Let's go find the old video.
Singer/Narrator of 'Big Bad John' Song
He came down off the fence after doing his time he fought heathens and hellions and all kinds of crime he was just getting started and a long ways to go we sent him to Washington to the really big show Big John, Big bad john. The Senate wasn't ready said pay your dues that John said, sit down, friend I got some big news. You see I'm from Texas where we do things quick and the way this place is runs about to make me sick Big John, Big John,
Political Analyst
Big John,
Singer/Narrator of 'Big Bad John' Song
Big Bad John
Tim Miller
Big Bad John, Big John, Big Bad John He's a big guy he's got a schlong he rides on a big horse he's got a big hat He's a man Big Bad John, John Cornyn we can get behind him. He's not a cuck. He is not the president's man bottom he doesn't wear panties He's a man, he's Big Bad John he speaks for himself. Well, Big Bad John has been laying prostrate before the president of the United States, licking his feet, saying, yes, sir, Mr. Trump, sir, whatever you need, sir, I'll be wee Little John for you as long as you endorse me in this primary, I'll do whatever you want. What are some things that Big Bad
Political Analyst
John has done recently?
Tim Miller
Here's a selfie of him pretending to read the Art of the Deal to try to get support from Trump's fanboys and girls. Yeah, Big Bad John, he's not in
Political Analyst
the big hat anymore.
Tim Miller
He's in an oversized jacket, sitting around pretending to page through Trump's book. Because I love you, sir. Love me, too. I'll read your book. If that's not enough. Big Bad John, just one week ago, just one week ago, in order to make Trump happy, said, sir, I have a new bill that will upgrade one of the nation's longest highways here in Texas, because everything's bigger in Texas except for me, and we are going to rename that highway after you. Texas is Trump country, and this bill cements POTUS legacy by designating 1800 miles of open road to forever be known as the Trump Interstate.
Political Analyst
He announced.
Tim Miller
He called Trump in the announcement. The most effective and influential president in our lifetime. He traveled around with him on his plane. He walked behind him. He carried his bags. He did whatever. Whatever you want. I'm no longer Big Bad John. I'm Trump's little bitty John. Whatever you want, sir. Whatever you want. And it got him nothing. It got him nothing. He knew Trump was wrong on January 6.
Political Analyst
He said as much.
Tim Miller
He knew Trump was wrong about the tariffs. He knew Trump was wrong about Ukraine. He knows Trump is corrupt. John Cornyn is not an idiot. But he wasn't a big enough man to stand up for what he knew and say what he thought was right. He was a wee, little, small man. Small, weak John, not big bad John. Small, weak John. And small weak John did what he thought he could do to stay in power because it was so important to him to have this little pin that says, I'm a senator. And he still got fucking boned. He still got stomped on like a little bug. Like a wee little bug. And now it's a unapologetic, corrupt grifter and somebody who's just a total moral
Political Analyst
disgrace, who is the rightful embodiment of the Texas Republican Party. And he will represent them as their nominee for Senate against James Talarico. We'll see how that turns out.
Tim Miller
Stick around for more analysis of this
Political Analyst
breaking news and also how it connects to what's going on in the Kentucky House race.
Tim Miller
We'll be back soon.
Soul Gummies Advertiser
If you've been listening to this show for a while, you already know how much I love Soul's out of Office THC Gummies and their sparkling beverages. Now they've launched something new just in time for the Summer Mood Gummies. Sol is a wellness brand that makes delicious hemp derived CBD and THC products designed to make feeling good simple. Soul's new Mood Gummies have precise dosing, clean ingredients and formulations designed for predictable effects so you can choose how you want to feel while staying in control. And let me tell you, staying in control kind of important. Instead of having a drink, you can take their Uplift gummies for the perfect buzz for a night out or when you're just winding down, take their Mellow gummies for fully unplugging. My personal favorite is the Souls Balance Gummies, the perfect one to take when you're just listening to your favorite podcasts. That's why I take so many of them. I'm always listening to Bulwark Takes Whatever the moment, there's a Soul Mood Gummy to match. Make today a good day and get yourself some Soul gummies. Right now, Seoul is offering our audience 30% off your entire order. Go to get soul.com and use code bulwark takes. That's get soul.com promo code bulwark takes for 30% off.
Chris
So Tim Westmore's office, the Maryland governor went on to say, quote, Marylanders should look to the State Board of Elections for accurate information, not social media misinformation. Information designed to undermine confidence in our elections. But has Trump already accomplished what he wants to accomplish? Created a cloud of doubt that hangs over this election?
Political Analyst
I don't think so. I mean, I think that that strategy could conceivably work when we get into the fall in other states. I think this is a big warning sign that everybody should take seriously. Obviously there's there are going to be very important elections that are held via mail in ballot. California's heavily mail. Colorado, some of the key House races are in states that use a lot of mail in elections, a lot of mail in ballots rather. And I think that he will try to undermine those even though he votes by mail. He voted by mail recently in Florida. The Maryland primary election is not that right. I mean, obviously just the facts are totally wrong. It's not like any wrong ballots came in. It was about the ballots that got sent to people. People can go get a new ballot and this is nothing. There are no fraudulent ballots that have gotten sent in. And again, it's a primary election, not a general election. So to me, this is just Trump trying to create a stir and he's going to continue to do that over and over again, and he will only do it if they lose and he won't do it if they win. We know the playbook by now. One tactic I would think about looking at that Wes Moore response. I agreed with everything he said. I'd maybe add to it, considering the other big news item out today, this $1.8 billion slush fund that Donald Trump has that they're going to hand out to people who were allegedly victimized by Justice Department politicization. It seems like Wes Moore is now a victim of politicization by the Justice Department. They're going after him on false pretenses. And I do think that the people who are victims right now of this Justice Department should be applying for those funds and going to court to try to get those funds to try to highlight the insanity of the corruption that is happening inside the Trump administration.
Chris
Well, and let's not forget, Tim, just a handful of months ago, the president himself voted by mail, remember?
Political Analyst
Yeah.
Donald Trump
Because of the fact that I'm president of the United States. I did a mail in ballot for elections that took place in Florida because I felt I should be here instead of being in the beautiful sunshine, taking
Political Analyst
the last few weekends.
Donald Trump
That's right. And I, Yeah. And I, I decided that I was going to vote by mail in ballot, because I couldn't be there.
Chris
You and I both. He said he couldn't be there, but he agreed that he had been there for the past two weekends. But I guess if you believe that 2020 election was stolen or that there is no election integrity or that anybody who wins who you didn't vote for is suspect. You're not changing minds. Are we at a place of parity? I think, is my question, where you're not changing minds one way or another?
Political Analyst
Look, I think maybe, I think there are people in the Donald Trump maga, you know, who are just committed to that movement and who that movement is part of their identity, that are never going to be convinced by this. But Donald Trump won a lot of new votes in 2024. And I think that looking at all the ways that he's corrupting the system and undermining the system is important for the Democrats win some of those votes back. And that's why I tried to tie this to this $1.8 billion that Trump is stealing from the American taxpayer and giving to his allies and people that stormed the Capitol on January 6th as part of this 2020 election fraud. Like all these things are tied together, including, look Here in Louisiana, thinking about mail in votes and people's votes not being counted, they canceled. They nullified the votes of about 40,000 people that voted via absentee ballot here in a red state in Louisiana. I presume many of those were Republican votes. They canceled those votes because of the Supreme Court ruling in the, in the Voting Rights Act. So, you know, I do think that there's a way to win some people over on this. Obviously, it's frustrating to be continuing to talk about this six years later, but I don't think that, that the right thing to do is just throw up your hands and just deal with the fact that this is inevitable.
Chris
Yeah, this is fascinating. Tim Massey, you heard him, said this could be the biggest revenge loss ever for Trump. Do you think he can win? And if he does, could it potentially pour, I don't know, some cold water on the idea that every Republican has to fear Donald Trump?
Political Analyst
Yeah, well, I think this is an important race for that reason, Chris. I do think it's an uphill battle for Massie. If you look at the polls, he's winning among voters basically under the age of 50, 55, and he's getting absolutely crushed among older voters. I think that probably is not a great sign for him. I like the types of people that turn, you know, tends to be older voters that turn out more, particularly in these kind of midterm primary elections as opposed to a general election. So I think it's going to be tough for him, but I think he's done something really important. And even if he loses close, it's really important, which is he bucked Trump, he stuck to his guns, and he ran a campaign unapologetically about the areas where he and Trump disagree. And nobody's really done that. When Liz Cheney buck Trump, she ran, but it was kind of a quixotic campaign. I don't think she even really thought that she could win. Bill Cassidy totally backed off all of his critiques of Trump and tried to run as a MAGA person. Massie is running a unique experiment here. And I think even if he gets 45% of the vote in a Republican primary, that's pretty telling about Donald Trump losing some political altitude. And as he mentioned, it is a total outrage and telling that the Secretary of War defends Pete Hegseth in the middle of a war. We're in war right now with Iran. Flew to Kentucky to try to primary him. I just, I think that is pretty outrageous. And again, even if Massie loses, telling that they felt like they needed to
Chris
do that so from a 30 second commercial to breaking news, Tim, for you, Donald J. Trump on Truth Social, and it's pretty long has posted that he is endorsing in the Texas Senate runoff Ken Paxton. No huge surprise. The incumbent, John Cornyn, said just yesterday that, you know, that ship has sailed. He was not expecting the endorsement. But it's interesting when you. And I've only skimmed it to be fair, because it was just handed to me. He called Ken a true MAGA warrior who has always delivered for Texas. It's not until paragraph four he brings up John Cornyn where he says, he's a good man. I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough. Which is pretty much Donald Trump's decision making in a nutshell. Support me or else.
Tim Miller
I don't know.
Political Analyst
I think this is pretty telling. It's a little bit of a backdown for Trump. Cornyn won. You know, this is where they're in a runoff now. So in the first round of balloting, Cornyn had the lead. And Trump had said he was going to endorse the person that won the first round of balloting because he didn't want to. This long drawn out primary. Thought it might hurt the eventual nominee against James Talarico. Huge backlash among his supporters, MAGA supporters, to that idea that he would endorse Cornyn. And then he kind of went quiet on the race for a while. For him to now flip and endorse Paxton, who lost in the first round, to me, I think shows it's kind of a similar story to the Massey story. He's worried about losing ground really for the first time in a long time with his MAGA base. And while they might not have a majority in opposition to him, the fact that he feels the need to try to shore that up by endorsing Ken Paxton, a very risky bet, tons of baggage, and very possible that he could lose to James Talarico and that could be the deciding vote in the Senate. I think making such a risky bet to appease his MAGA allies shows you that Trump's worried about losing altitude with his own base.
Chris
There's a new poll from the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey center at Texas Southern University, and what that found was a razor thin margin between the two potential candidates. It found Senator John Cornyn leading Democrat James Talarico by 1%. In a hypothetical matchup, Ken Paxton and James Talarico are tied at 45%. So obviously, these are results within the margin of error. Now, I just got this from Talarico for Texas, which is the statement they put out. And he said, as I said on primary night, it doesn't matter who wins this runoff. We already know what we're running against the billionaire mega donors and their corrupt political system. So I wonder when you take all of that information together, Tim, what you make of it.
Political Analyst
Well, look, I think it's going to be still a tough race for James Tallarico. It's Texas, after all. But this is obviously a preferable opponent and makes sense that he doesn't want to say that, but it helps them make that case against corruption which he's been making on the campaign trail during the primary. And, you know, to have an opponent who is corrupt, who'd been indicted, who's going to be backed by, you know, the big donors in the Epstein class, I think that makes his case much easier. It's going to be a challenging race. But look, I mean, I think the Talarico has run a good campaign so far and recognizes that he's got to win over some Trump voters. And I think the Paxton nomination makes that case a little bit easier for him. And what's going to be a tough race. And just, I just do have to say a really humiliating moment for John Cornyn, who was, you know, at times independent and bipartisan. It's true. On the Hill. But during this campaign, did not do what Thomas Massie did and he sucked up to Trump as much as possible and really groveled in front of Trump to try to get his endorsement and win him over and to have the rug pulled out for him in the end here and for that to be the end of his career, you know, I think is pretty embarrassing.
SpinQuest Advertiser
You know what? It sucks to be bored. But when I get on my phone and play real casino games on spinquest.com, the time flies by. That two hour wait at the DMV seems like 10 minutes. Play your favorite slots. Live blackjack, live preps with a live dealer. New players. $30 coin packs are on sale for 10 bucks. Play spinquest.com and you'll never be bored again.
Political Analyst
Spinquest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.
Donald Trump
Tired of overpaying with DirecTV? Dish offers a reliable low price every month without surprises. Get the TV you love and start watching live sports news and the latest movies, plus your favorite streaming apps, all in one place. Switch to DISH today and lock in the lowest price in satellite TV starting at $89.99 a month. With our two year price guarantee. Call 888 add dish or visit dish.com today.
Episode: "Trump Humiliates John Cornyn With Paxton Endorsement"
Host(s): Tim Miller, Chris
Featured topics: Trump endorses Ken Paxton over John Cornyn, GOP struggles, election integrity, and upcoming Texas Senate race
In this episode, The Bulwark team dissects breaking news that Donald Trump has endorsed Ken Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Senate primary. Tim Miller leads with a biting critique of Cornyn’s attempts to secure Trump’s favor, only to be cast aside. The conversation branches into the implications for the Texas race, what it says about the current state of the Republican Party, MAGA movement dynamics, and broader trends on election integrity and the impact of Trumpian politics nationally.
[00:48–06:14]
“Big Bad John has been laying prostrate before the president... and it got him nothing. He still got fucking boned.” — Tim Miller [05:04]
[06:14–14:26]
“He was a wee, little, small man... And he still got fucking boned. He still got stomped on like a little bug.” — Tim Miller [05:04]
[14:27–16:21]
[07:32–10:40]
[16:21–End]
On Cornyn’s humiliation:
"Big Bad John has been laying prostrate before the president of the United States, licking his feet... And it got him nothing." — Tim Miller [04:57–05:10]
The transactional nature of Trump endorsements:
“In the Truth Social post, it’s not until paragraph four [Trump] brings up Cornyn... pretty much Donald Trump’s decision making in a nutshell. Support me or else.” — Chris [14:26]
Tim Miller on the spectacle:
"He’s worried about losing ground really for the first time in a long time with his MAGA base... making such a risky bet to appease his MAGA allies shows you that Trump’s worried about losing altitude with his own base." — Tim Miller [15:00–15:30]
On Republican resistance:
“Even if Massie loses, telling that they felt like they needed to do that.” — Tim Miller [13:37]
This episode uses the news hook of Trump endorsing Ken Paxton over John Cornyn as a window into the MAGA movement's dominance, the perils of GOP sycophancy, and Trump’s hold on Republican power. Cornyn’s story is treated as a cautionary tale about the futility of sacrificing principle for Trump’s approval, with wider implications for both the GOP and democracy writ large—especially as both parties gear up for more high-stakes contests in Texas and beyond.