Bulwark Takes: "Trump Responds to the Rob Reiner Family Tragedy With Cruelty"
Podcast: Bulwark Takes
Hosts: JVL & Sarah Longwell
Date: December 15, 2025
Overview
In this emotionally charged episode, JVL and Sarah Longwell respond to the shocking news of Rob Reiner and his wife’s tragic deaths and President Trump’s astonishingly cruel and self-referential public reaction. The discussion grapples with the appropriateness of political figures intervening in personal tragedies, the unique place Reiner held in American culture, and whether Trump's remarks signal anything new or significant in his political standing or the broader MAGA discourse.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Tragedy and Trump's Response
- News Recap: Rob Reiner and his wife were found murdered in their Los Angeles home. Initial reports suggest their son was implicated, though much remains uncertain.
- Trump’s Statement (Truth Social): Trump posted a comment blaming "Trump Derangement Syndrome" for the tragedy, making the incident about himself, and indirectly attributing the murder to Reiner’s political opposition to Trump.
- JVL reads Trump’s post to Sarah, who reacts in real time.
"Even by Trump standards, that is pretty disgusting. What human takes something like this and makes it about himself?"
— JVL [02:58]
2. Weaponizing Tragedy for Political Gain
- MAGA Talking Points: Sarah highlights how prominent right-wing voices (Joey Salads, Brett Weinstein, Jack Posobiec) attempted to distinguish the right’s response from how the left treated deaths of conservative figures, despite Trump’s own depraved remarks.
- Double Standards Noted: The hypocrisy of the right is discussed—claims of dignity are undercut by Trump, the leader of their movement.
"You know, one person did [celebrate the death]. Now, that person happens to be the President of these United States. So I feel like that counts a little more..."
— Sarah Longwell [04:49]
3. Rob Reiner’s Cultural Impact & The Inanity of Political Blame
- Reiner’s Legacy: Rob Reiner produced beloved films across political lines; his activism came later and never wholly defined him in the eyes of the public.
- Disconnect from Reality: The hosts point out there is no plausible link between Reiner’s murder and his political positions or Trump criticism; Trump's statement is complete fabrication.
"Frankly, it looks like this, this horrific murder is not relevant to politics."
— JVL [05:54]
"It's in a make-believe version. It is not the case. We think that this has anything to do with Trump... It's just fantasy land from him."
— Sarah Longwell [07:53]
4. GOP and MAGA World Reaction
- Some GOP Rebukes: Sarah acknowledges a few Republicans who condemned Trump’s post, including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie.
- Thomas Massie’s statement: "Regardless of how you felt about Rob Reiner, this is inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered. I challenge anyone to defend it." [10:22]
- Jenna Ellis and Marjorie Taylor Greene echo this sentiment.
- Broader Silence: Despite these outliers, most elected GOP officials remain silent.
5. What Does This Mean for Trump?
- Degrading Instincts: JVL speculates that this incident might be harmful for Trump, as it exposes potentially deteriorating instincts—his responses are becoming "rotten" and out of touch even with cultural timing.
"This is a kind of thing that actually could be damaging to him because it exposes how like, soft his brain is getting..."
— JVL [10:45]
- Fuel for the MAGA Id: Sarah argues that while normies may find Trump’s behavior horrifying, his most devoted followers crave this transgressive rhetoric, even if unspoken.
"I think there are probably a lot of people in America who would like to say this sort of thing about Rob Reiner because he was a bad person and had bad thoughts about Donald Trump, but they know they're not supposed to... And here he just comes out and says the thing..."
— Sarah Longwell [12:00]
6. Cruelty as a Core Principle
- Pointless Cruelty: The hosts reflect on why Trump would inject himself into a personal, non-political tragedy—concluding that he does it for the thrill of dominance and for his audience that relishes such cruelty.
- Comparison to Previous Incidents: Sarah draws parallel to the right’s reaction over Paul Pelosi’s attack and the outright joy some expressed.
"Why is the President weighing in on this except Trump to dance on their graves? Like, that’s what it feels like."
— JVL [14:08]
7. This Moment in Broader Context
- Emotional Tone: The conversation closes with a sense of weariness and sadness, framing this event as part of a broader period of societal chaos and escalating public indecency.
- Hope or Despair?: The hosts debate whether this moment will matter or be forgotten amid the next outrage.
"This is one of those things like, this is one of those things where only if we let it. Only if we let it. This should be — It's a moment, like, to highlight for people how out of control Donald Trump is, how gross and indecent."
— JVL [15:09]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Sarah (re: Trump's reaction): "It's ghastly. Right. And ghoulish and also insane and also, again, I mean, just wrong." [07:53]
- JVL (on cultural difference): "He was somebody who wanted to work with people who were speaking out against Trump, which was incredibly generous of him at a time when so many other people were unwilling... But he wasn't, as a first order, a political actor." [05:29]
- Sarah (on political cruelty): "If you want more great news like this, hit like, and subscribe. Follow us on the feed. We'll be back. There'll be more. There'll be more terrible news tomorrow." [15:57]
Important Timestamps
- 01:31: JVL and Sarah begin, recap the tragedy and read Trump’s post.
- 02:58: Immediate reaction to Trump’s statement, discussion of blame and misinformation.
- 03:56: Sarah reviews MAGA world reactions on social media.
- 05:29: Reflection on Rob Reiner’s cultural legacy and disconnect from political motives.
- 09:54: First acknowledgments of intra-GOP rebuke (MTG, Massie, Jenna Ellis).
- 10:45: JVL comments on Trump’s declining political instincts.
- 12:00–13:56: Discussion on Trump's transgressiveness and his appeal to the base.
- 14:08: Questioning why Trump would insert himself so nastily in this incident.
- 15:09: JVL calls for holding Trump accountable for such moments.
- 15:57: Episode closes with resigned, ironic call to subscribe.
- 16:08: JVL contextualizes with other tragic news of the week.
Tone and Final Thoughts
The episode is somber, laden with frustration, disbelief, and a sense of cultural grief—both for the personal tragedies under discussion and the political indecency underscored by Trump’s remarks. The hosts’ candid, often incredulous exchanges drive home how abnormal this moment is, even amid the relentless news cycle.
Summary prepared for listeners seeking a thorough yet focused understanding of the episode’s most important discussions and perspectives.