Bulwark Takes: "Trump’s 100 Day Rally Goes Off the Rails" – Detailed Summary
Release Date: April 30, 2025
In the April 30, 2025 episode of Bulwark Takes, host Sam Stein, along with Jonathan Cohn and Tim Miller, delves into former President Donald Trump’s 100-day rally held in Macomb County, Michigan. This episode offers a comprehensive analysis of the rally's content, the broader political implications, and the involvement of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
1. Introduction to Trump’s 100-Day Rally
The episode opens with Sam Stein introducing the topic: Trump’s 100-day rally in Macomb County, a region historically known for its ancestral Reagan Democrats. Stein notes that the rally followed an event featuring Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, hinting at the significance of her presence alongside Trump.
Sam Stein [00:00]:
“Trump did his 100 day rally tonight. It was preceded by an event with Michigan's governor, Gretchen Whitmer.”
2. Overview of the Rally’s Content
Stein describes the rally as a "standard" Trump event, highlighting recurring themes such as improvements to water pressure infrastructure, control over trade policies, and criticisms directed at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. A notable moment was Trump showcasing a film about mass deportations, which elicited a strong USA chant from the audience.
Sam Stein [00:30]:
“He went off on Jerome Powell, you know, stuff that would normally be crazy, but it's pretty standard for Trump.”
Stein [00:50]:
“The thing that stood out for me was he played a film about the mass deportations. It was like this classic porn that he plays for his audience about, you know, immigrants that he's sent to foreign countries.”
3. Analysis of Trump's Rhetoric and Messaging
Tim Miller reflects on the rally’s appeal, drawing parallels to the long-running popularity of shows like COPS. He criticizes the current Republican rhetoric for focusing on vengeance and punishment rather than the idealism he associates with Reagan-era politics.
Tim Miller [01:31]:
“What merits a USA chant? What is the USA actually about? And like, sending people out of the country to a foreign gulag because the President says they're bad.”
Miller expresses nostalgia for the more positive, aspirational messages of past Republican leaders, lamenting the shift towards negative campaigning.
Tim Miller [02:32]:
“Is notable and sad. And that's my... that's my.”
Jonathan Cohn echoes this sentiment, contrasting Reagan’s vision of idealism with Trump’s focus on punishment and division.
Jonathan Cohn [04:09]:
“...Reagan was always that idealism, that calling to America to be a greater place. And that's just so absent in Magaland. It's just not a part. It's all vengeance. It's all punishment. It's all putting other people down.”
4. Shift from Idealism to Vengeance in the GOP
The conversation delves deeper into the transformative shift within the Republican Party. Miller and Cohn discuss how contemporary rhetoric under Trump diverges sharply from the hopeful messages of leaders like Reagan and George W. Bush, moving towards a more combative and punitive stance.
Tim Miller [02:08]:
“The whole actual point of the USA is that people were able to come here who are fleeing other countries. And so, you know...”
Jonathan Cohn [04:29]:
“...through Reagan. [...] There's an idealism that's just so absent in Magaland.”
5. Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Role and Participation
Stein shifts focus to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s participation in Trump’s rally. Whitmer’s involvement is scrutinized, particularly her role in securing a new squadron for a Michigan air base, a move with significant economic implications.
Stein [06:40]:
“He chose Michigan. ... Governor Whitmer there, a meeting, President Trump at the tarmac. ... What are your thoughts on how she's handled this so far?”
Cohn explains the bipartisan effort behind the air base’s new mission, emphasizing Whitmer’s lobbying efforts and the economic benefits for her state. However, he critiques Whitmer’s recent interactions with Trump, suggesting a lapse in traditional Democratic idealism.
Jonathan Cohn [08:42]:
“...she gave this big speech, his economic speech, which was surprisingly kind and it had some punches for Trump, but it was very much couched as a kind of I'm going to cooperate. Just felt very much not of the moment.”
6. Economic Policies: Air Base and Tariffs
The discussion transitions to economic policies, particularly Whitmer’s stance on tariffs. Whitmer supports targeted tariffs as a blunt tool for economic protection, yet her alignment with Trump’s broader policies is questioned.
Whitmer’s Speech [08:47]:
“...thank you. I am so, so grateful. That this announcement was made today and I appreciate all the work. Thank you.”
Tim Miller [10:03]:
“I really don't understand. I think it's politically quite dumb...”
Miller criticizes Whitmer for aligning too closely with Trump, potentially jeopardizing her political standing despite the short-term economic gains.
7. Conclusion: Implications and Future Outlook
Stein and Miller express concerns about the long-term political repercussions for Whitmer, suggesting that her cooperation with Trump might alienate traditional Democratic bases and backfire in future elections.
Stein [13:07]:
“Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption. But I am now, right?”
Miller [13:56]:
“...maybe again, I'm open to the fact that from a policy perspective, the, the having the squadron is so important that she just shouldn't have been in JB Pitzker mode.”
The episode wraps up with reflections on the evolving political landscape, underscoring the tension between economic pragmatism and ideological purity within the Democratic Party.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
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Tim Miller [01:31]:
“What merits a USA chant? What is the USA actually about? And like, sending people out of the country to a foreign gulag because the President says they're bad.”
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Jonathan Cohn [04:29]:
“...Reagan was always that idealism, that calling to America to be a greater place. And that's just so absent in Magaland. It's just not a part. It's all vengeance. It's all punishment. It's all putting other people down.”
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Governor Gretchen Whitmer [08:47]:
“...thank you. I am so, so grateful. That this announcement was made today and I appreciate all the work. Thank you.”
Conclusion
This episode of Bulwark Takes provides a critical examination of Trump’s continued influence within Republican rallies, the shifting rhetoric of the party from idealism to vengeance, and the precarious political maneuvers of Democratic leaders like Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Through expert analysis and insightful commentary, Stein, Miller, and Cohn highlight the nuanced challenges facing American politics in the wake of Trump’s enduring presence.