The Bulwark Podcast

Episode: Bill Kristol: No Kings
Date: March 30, 2026
Host: Tim Miller
Guest: Bill Kristol (Bulwark Editor at Large)

Episode Overview

Tim Miller is joined by Bill Kristol to dig into the latest “No Kings” rallies—grassroots protests against Trump-era authoritarianism and erosion of democratic norms. They explore the shifting political landscape around these rallies, the expanding Iran war and congressional abdication, the economic fallout, Republican fractures, what Democrats could do differently, and end with lessons in dealing with disappointment drawn from college basketball heartbreaks. The conversation is both urgent and wry, suffused with the Bulwark’s signature mix of sober analysis and irreverence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. No Kings Rallies: Atmosphere & Impact

[01:27–07:20]

Events Across America

• Tim describes New Orleans rally: diverse crowd—from communists to ex-Republicans, people in Statue of Liberty garb, local activist groups, and a “superhero” podcast fan.
• Bill discusses Waltham, MA: “A chillier, more lefty crowd, but all sensible… There were a lot of American flags and the signs were 90% homemade… very diverse for that reason.” (Bill Kristol, [02:35])
• Noted positive theme: Community building, registering dissent, organizing for future activism.
• Both agree the in-person, eclectic mix contrasts the narrower way online activism is sometimes portrayed.

Critiques & Threats

• Republican pushback much weaker than in previous protest rounds—a failed “these are antifa radicals” messaging effort fizzled.
• Ominous, Orwellian social media post by Rep. Clay Higgins threatens AI-based surveillance of rally attendees (Tim Miller, [08:13]):

  “We were carefully observing. It was pretty much a flawless operation. We have millions of digital images, billions of identifying data points. Height, weight, shoe size, tattoos, gait, all of it. AI eats that stuff. Success.”

• Bill finds this “genuinely creepy… It shows how unabashedly authoritarian the spirit of the Trump Republican Party is.” ([09:23])

2. Authoritarianism & Executive War Power

[13:34–19:31]

Historical Parallel: Lincoln’s No Kings Letter

• Bill reads from Lincoln’s 1848 letter, denouncing Polk’s unilateral war powers—a direct resonance with today’s executive overreach ([14:44]):

  “Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars… The Constitutional Convention… resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us. But your view destroys the whole matter and places our president where kings have always stood.”

• Bill: “It is weirdly apt for the no kings framing.”

Congressional Abdication

• Nearly a month into the Iran war, still no public hearings or meaningful congressional oversight.

  “Nothing to educate the public… It’s like we’re going to war because one man has decided so… no one has explained for even a minute why we’re doing it or justified it.” (Bill Kristol, [17:21])

• Criticism isn’t only for Republicans; Democrats could do more, both in “stunts” and substantive resistance (Tim Miller, [19:31]).

3. Iran War: Latest Developments & Risks

[19:31–43:10]

White House Messaging and Escalation

• Trump’s contradictory social media posts—oscillating between threats (“obliterating all their electric generating plants”) and claims of “serious negotiations” ([21:56]).
• Sec. of State Rubio hints at secret counterparty in negotiations, but sparseness of info belies real progress.

On-the-Ground Updates

• Expectation of ground operations (per reporting and troop movement)—even Marine reservists warned to be ready ([22:47]).
• Both hosts are alarmed: All available evidence “cuts in the way of at least wanting to show that ground troops are in the area. Maybe it’s all a giant bluff—but some troops are probably going to get used.” (Bill Kristol, [22:54])

Elite (Ex-Official) Skepticism

• Kristol, after chatting with former generals/NSC types, notes:

  “They did not think there was any good case for ground troops and again, none has been made… We are literally going to put hundreds, thousands of soldiers and Marines on the ground in Iran perhaps, and no one has explained for even a minute why.” ([24:49])

Collateral Military & Economic Impacts

• US loses $700 million AWACS plane to Iranian missile ([25:26])
• Questions raised about White House downplaying losses (“Vietnam’s stew…”).
• Global economic ripples: Oil, treasuries up; supply chains constrained; farm bankruptcies rising ([27:30–29:40])
• DeSantis publicly snipes at Trump’s handling of the economy—a potential sign of 2028 GOP maneuvering ([27:50])
• Tim: “I think that the economic consequences are spiraling out of control and people are way too cavalier about it right now.” ([29:40])

4. The Case for War: Rubio’s Best Argument—And Its Holes

[36:40–43:10]

• Rubio’s “best” case: “Now is the time to go after [Iran’s] missiles, take away their navy… so that they can never have a nuclear weapon. That’s why the President made this decision.” ([36:40])
• Israeli commentator: “Our generation’s task is to get this job done. It’s a test of resolve. If you have the resolve, you change the course of history.”
• Tim:

  “I think that like, to actually achieve this, you really would need regime change… That’s the case if we’re going to steal man their best case. But I don’t think it’s going to work.” ([38:15])

• Bill:

  “Finishing the job means regime change. Unless you are occupying the country or have a Venezuela-style chokehold… that’s not going to be the case for a country of 90 million people in the Middle East…” ([39:04])

• No clear plan on post-bombing outcomes or reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz—Rubio’s case “ultimately nuclear-focused… which probably does mean going into… those caves and stuff.” ([42:21])

5. Democratic Leadership: Where Are They?

[43:41–47:36]

• DHS shutdown drama: Senate bipartisan deal rejected by House (and presumably Trump); airports under strain; Democrats urged to do more visible stunts, apply pressure, and hang shutdown solely on Republicans ([43:41]–[47:36]).

• Bill: “When you have that deal in the Senate… for Johnson to do that, that feels like Trump pulling that string and Johnson being the puppet and people should blame Trump for it.” ([45:26])

• Tim vents that Democrats “need more Marjorie Taylor Greene’s and Matt Gaetz’s”—i.e., more aggressive, media-savvy agitators—in order to break through public apathy and congressional lethargy.

  “We are in a crisis right now across multiple vectors… What excuse do you have to not be front and center yelling about this? You don’t have one.” ([47:36])

6. Notable Quotes & Moments

On Civic Joy—and Creepy Threats

• “There were a lot of American flags, upbeat bands… Battle Hymn of the Republic… I came away pretty inspired.” – Bill Kristol ([02:35])
• Rep. Clay Higgins: “We have millions of digital images… AI eats that stuff. Success.” ([08:13])

On Congress Failing Its Duty

• “It’s like we’re going to war because one man has decided so… [with] no congressional nothing.” – Bill Kristol ([17:21])

On Executive Power & Lincoln’s Warning

• “No one man should hold the power of bringing [war] oppression upon us. But your view… places our president where kings have always stood.” – Abraham Lincoln, read by Kristol ([14:44])

On Democratic Messaging

• “Put on a clown costume. I don’t know what you want to do… 24 hours straight of streaming. Give me something. The degree to which the Democrats should feel like they’re politically on offense… should be taken advantage of.” – Tim Miller ([46:50])

On Lessons from Disappointment (March Madness Edition)

• “Life is about disappointment… had my sports heroes at 13 disappointed me… maybe I’d have been…better prepared for adulthood.” – Tim Miller ([58:10])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:27–03:12] – No Kings rally reports from Waltham, MA and New Orleans
• [07:20–09:23] – Rep. Clay Higgins’ surveillance threat and reactions
• [13:34–16:05] – Lincoln’s “no kings” letter and executive authority
• [17:21–19:31] – Congress missing in action on Iran war
• [25:01–28:45] – Iran war military & economic fallout, criticism from within the GOP
• [36:40–41:11] – Rubio’s case for escalation, Israeli perspective, critique of “finish the job” logic
• [43:41–47:36] – DHS shutdown, Republican infighting, Democratic passivity
• [55:26–60:10] – Disappointment lessons for kids (Duke basketball loss)

Final Thoughts

The episode brims with a sense of urgent exasperation at the Trump administration’s escalating Iran conflict and Congress’s abdication of its constitutional role—matched with concrete suggestions for how Democrats must confront these unprecedented times. The No Kings rallies are both symbol and substance—a cross-ideological, bottom-up movement to reassert democratic limits and communal civic spirit in an era where those values face extraordinary pressure. The closing segment on sports heartbreak mirrors the political moment: pain teaches resilience, but only if you stand up and fight harder the next time.