Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes – "Tulsi Gabbard’s Russia Lies, Exposed"

Episode Overview

In the July 22, 2025 episode of Bulwark Takes, host Will Saletan delves into the controversial appointment of Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Saletan critically examines Gabbard’s qualifications, her history of statements regarding Russia's involvement in U.S. affairs, and her recent actions in her DNI role that purportedly defend Russian interests while undermining American intelligence integrity.

1. Introduction to Tulsi Gabbard’s Appointment as DNI

Will Saletan opens the discussion by questioning the suitability of Tulsi Gabbard for the role of DNI. He asserts that Gabbard lacks the necessary experience and qualifications for such a pivotal position within the U.S. intelligence community.

“She's in this job. She's completely unqualified for it in terms of her experience. So why is she in this job? And the answer is, Donald Trump put her in this job because he doesn't trust the American intelligence community...”
[00:00]

Saletan suggests that Gabbard’s appointment is a strategic move by former President Donald Trump to exert control over intelligence agencies and safeguard his interests, revealing a deeper agenda behind her placement.

2. Gabbard’s Historical Stance on Russia and Ukraine

Saletan traces Gabbard’s longstanding pattern of exonerating Russia regarding its actions in the 2016 U.S. election interference and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. He highlights her attempts to shift blame onto the United States and NATO, portraying Russia’s actions as justified responses to Western policies.

“It could have been avoided if President Biden and NATO had done exactly what you were just talking about... something that is a legitimate security concern for Russia.”
[01:01]

Gabbard argues that U.S. and NATO policies provoked Russian aggression, thereby minimizing Russia’s culpability in initiating conflicts.

“Our leaders are saying, well, hey, we can't do anything. This is all in Putin's hands. Well, guess what? The United States, our leaders, and European leaders are the ones fueling and funding this war.”
[01:31]

These statements reflect Gabbard's narrative that shifts responsibility for geopolitical tensions away from Russia, aligning with pro-Russian talking points.

3. Gabbard’s Recent Claims as Director of National Intelligence

In her role as DNI, Gabbard has issued reports challenging the established intelligence assessments of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections. Saletan vehemently disputes her assertions, labeling them as deceptive and unfounded.

“The intelligence community assessed essentially Russia doesn't have the tools, the capability or the intent to try to change the outcome of the US Presidential election.”
[02:58]

Saletan counters this by clarifying the original intelligence consensus that Russia did attempt to influence the election through various means, including hacking and propaganda.

“That is an absolute lie. The intelligence community never said Russia didn't try to change the outcome of the election. It said Russia did try.”
[03:10]

Gabbard further propagates misinformation by misrepresenting intelligence documents to suggest that Russia’s interference was non-existent, thereby undermining the credibility of U.S. intelligence agencies.

4. Analysis of Gabbard’s Deceptive Tactics

Saletan dissects Gabbard’s strategy of taking partial truths and distorting them into misleading narratives. He argues that her selective use of intelligence data serves to falsely absolve Russia of any wrongdoing.

“She takes intelligence documents that said Russia didn't hack directly into our vote counting systems. And then she uses that to imply that Russia didn't interfere in our election at all, which is totally bogus...”
[01:41]

Saletan references Kathy Young’s comprehensive critique within The Bulwark that thoroughly debunks Gabbard’s claims, emphasizing the abundance of evidence supporting Russia’s active interference through various channels beyond vote counting system hacks.

5. The Broader Implications of Gabbard’s Actions

Beyond protecting Trump, Saletan contends that Gabbard’s actions as DNI also serve to shield Vladimir Putin and Russia from accountability. By spreading false narratives about intelligence findings, she fosters a climate of distrust towards American intelligence institutions.

“When Gabbard spreads this lie, she's not just protecting Trump, she's protecting Russia. She's saying Russia was innocent.”
[03:38]

Additionally, Saletan points out that Gabbard attributes increased U.S.-Russia tensions to the politicization of intelligence under President Obama, further shifting blame away from Russia.

“We had heightened and increased tensions between the United States and Russia... about the consequences of President Obama and his senior cabinet members politicizing intelligence.”
[05:24]

6. Conclusion: The Impact on American Intelligence and Governance

Will Saletan concludes by asserting that Tulsi Gabbard's tenure as DNI represents a significant threat to the integrity of American intelligence and governmental operations. He warns that her persistent defense of Russia and undermining of U.S. intelligence efforts are acts of sabotage against national security.

“She's using her position as director of National Intelligence to sabotage our own government.”
[05:38]

Saletan emphasizes the detrimental effects of Gabbard’s actions on both the credibility of U.S. intelligence agencies and the broader geopolitical stance of the United States.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Bulwark Takes provides a critical examination of Tulsi Gabbard's role and statements concerning Russia's involvement in U.S. political affairs. Through detailed analysis and pointed quotes, Will Saletan underscores the perceived dangers of Gabbard’s influence within the intelligence community, presenting a compelling argument against her qualifications and intentions as the Director of National Intelligence.