The Bulwark Podcast — "George Conway: Trump Is a Vampire"

Date: January 7, 2026

Host: Tim Miller
Guest: George Conway

Episode Overview

This episode features Tim Miller in conversation with George Conway—lawyer, prominent "Never Trump" voice, and now Democratic Congressional candidate in New York’s 12th District. The discussion centers on Conway’s decision to run for Congress, Donald Trump's presidency, the state of American democracy, accountability, oversight, and what it will take to prevent future autocracy. The tone is urgent, candid, and rich with legal and political insights, peppered with humor and moments of outrage at current events.

Key Discussion Points

1. George Conway’s Congressional Run

• Introduction (05:51):
  Tim Miller welcomes George Conway, noting that both Conway and fellow former Bulwark podcaster Cameron Joseph are running for the same seat in NY-12.

• Conway’s Motivation (07:10):
  Conway describes his return to New York and his drive to run for office at age 62, emphasizing the need for experienced lawyers in Congress to hold Trump accountable:

  "We have a criminal president. He's running the country like a mob boss... We need lawyers in Congress to do something about this." (07:16)

• The Role of Lawyers in Congress (09:22):
  Conway argues that skilled legal professionals are needed for effective investigation and communication to the public about corruption and wrongdoing.

  "People who can interrogate witnesses and know how to conduct investigations, who are really smart and know how to convey what they're finding to the public..." (09:34)

• Conway's Goals:

  • Accountability: Investigate, impeach, and expose wrongdoing.
  • Legislation: Advance laws to prevent future autocratic overreach.

2. The Dangers of Trump’s Presidency

• Urgency of Oversight (12:22):
  Both Miller and Conway lament insufficient Congressional oversight in Trump’s second term, calling for aggressive, persistent investigation.

  • Conway stresses not to "normalize" Trump's conduct or hope he simply disappears:

    "These demented, deranged, personality disordered people do not go away. They don't. You have to make them go away..." (13:10)

  • Miller:

    "He's got plenty of fucking oxygen." (14:10)

• The Case for Impeachment (16:51):
  Conway forcefully advocates that it is Congress’s constitutional duty to impeach executive officials, regardless of the political risks:

  "When you swear to uphold the Constitution...you have a constitutional obligation to remove...executive officials who are committing high crimes and misdemeanors. That is your job." (16:51)

  • He likens Trump to “a vampire” who cannot be ignored or temporarily suppressed:

    "These malignant narcissist psychotypes are like vampires...you cannot stop with this guy, because he doesn't stop." (17:46)

3. Trump’s Administration and Its Enablers

• Lack of Restraint (21:02):
  Conway paints a picture of the current White House as devoid of any moderating influences:

  "Trump is the supermassive black hole of cluster B personality disorders... he can't have anybody around him who gives him sensible advice." (22:22)

  • Miller and Conway discuss the dangers of sycophantic staff and the outlandishness of what now appears on official White House platforms (e.g., Ashley Babbitt, Pence betrayal claims).

• Conway's "Fortune Cookie" About Trump:

  "He is at his most truthful...when he's at his most malevolent, when he is talking out of malevolence, saying bad things he wants to do, that's when he's actually telling the truth." (25:56)

4. Venezuela, Piracy, and U.S. Foreign Policy

• Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Tankers (28:07):

  • Conway denounces recent U.S. military actions as piracy, pointing to the long American tradition against piracy:

    "You cannot just seize a ship on the high seas unless under international law you have some basis to do it...and that's piracy." (28:07)

  • He connects Trump’s transactional, mob-boss mentality to these international incidents, describing them as "extortion" and "protection rackets." (31:39)

• U.S. Relationship with Dictatorships:
  Miller and Conway agree that the administration's dealings in Venezuela are more about extracting resources than promoting democracy:

  "It's extortion is what it is. And Trump is very good, as we have seen, at extortion." (31:39)

5. Candid Policy and Campaign Positions

• Student Loans and Democratic Policy (39:32):

  • Conway criticizes Biden’s student loan forgiveness as politically ill-timed and not broadly beneficial:

    "It just struck me as a little overreaching... I didn't understand the politics of that, and I thought it was a misstep..." (39:45)

• YIMBY vs. NIMBY, Affordability, Housing (45:33):

  • Conway supports increasing housing supply as a basic economic solution to affordability:

    "As a matter of basic economics... you have to increase supply. Okay. And you have to figure out ways to help increase supply." (45:49)

• Israel, Gaza, and NYC Politics (48:19):

  • He expresses support for Israel's right to exist and defend itself but criticizes aspects of the Gaza campaign as crossing ethical and strategic boundaries.

• Addressing Criticism as a Former Republican (41:11):

  • Conway reflects on his political history, emphasizing the difference between past and present Republicanism, particularly for younger progressives questioning his Democratic bona fides.

    "They don't remember a time when there was a Republicanism that wasn't fascistic..." (41:38)

6. Legal Reforms to Prevent Future Autocracy

• Proposed Reforms (52:44):

  • Strengthen and make self-enforcing the War Powers Act.

  • Codify rules for White House–Justice Department interactions to prevent politicized prosecutions.

  • Reform the 25th Amendment process:

    • Suggests creating a non-partisan, expert body that could invoke presidential incapacity, not just the cabinet.

    "Section 4 of the 25th Amendment... allows Congress to legislate a different body...a body of psychiatric and medical experts..." (52:44)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the Trump Presidency:

  "Trump is the supermassive black hole of cluster B personality disorders..."
  — George Conway (22:22)

• On Congressional Duty:

  "You have a constitutional obligation to remove to Impeach and to remove executive officials who are committing high crimes and misdemeanors. That is your job."
  — George Conway (16:51)

• On Accountability:

  "You cannot stop with this guy, because he doesn't stop."
  — George Conway (17:46)

• On Venezuela:

  "It's extortion is what it is. And Trump is very good, as we have seen, at extortion."
  — George Conway (31:39)

• Conway’s "Conway Fortune Cookie":

  "He is at his most truthful and in fact, is truthful when he's at his most malevolent, when he is talking out of malevolence..."
  — George Conway (25:56)

• On Being a Non-traditional Candidate:

  "I should be out skiing somewhere, enjoying myself, walking Clyde... Corgis for Conway..."
  — George Conway (07:16)

Notable Segment Timestamps

• 01:00: Tim Miller's commentary on ICE shooting in Minnesota (current events context)
• 05:51: George Conway’s campaign intro & candidacy explained
• 07:10 – 09:22: Why Conway is running and the case for more lawyers in Congress
• 12:22 – 14:10: Urgency of Democratic oversight and confronting Trumpism
• 16:51: The case for impeachment as Congressional obligation
• 21:02 – 22:22: The dangerous lack of checks on Trump in the White House
• 25:56: Conway’s "fortune cookie" about Trump’s honesty when malevolent
• 28:07 – 33:06: Discussion of U.S. seizure of Venezuelan oil ships and broader foreign policy themes
• 39:32: Conway on what Democrats have gotten wrong (e.g., student loans)
• 45:33: YIMBY/NIMBY, housing, affordability questions
• 48:19: Israel, Gaza, and the NYC mayoral race
• 52:44: Legal reforms needed to prevent future presidential abuses

Tone & Dynamic

• Candid, unvarnished analysis: Both Miller and Conway speak with frankness, often with an exasperated tone about the challenges facing American democracy and the Democratic Party.
• Humor and camaraderie: Banter about guitar playing, corgis, Rangers games, and the Trump Kennedy Center lighten the tone amidst serious content.
• Urgency and resolve: Conway’s arguments are delivered with a sense of high stakes, making the case for fighting hard against autocracy and learning from past Democratic missteps.

Conclusion

This episode delivers a robust, unsparing critique of Trump’s administration and a case for bringing the fight to Congress, emphasizing legal expertise, courage, and structural reform. George Conway makes the case for aggressive oversight and legal accountability—not only as strategy, but as a solemn duty, coupling behind-the-scenes campaign anecdotes with a deep dive on policy and institutional reform.

Fans of the Bulwark’s reality-based, "Never Trump" analysis will find this episode both rousing and illuminating, with Conway’s legal and political sharpness balanced by personal color and pragmatic critique.

For more info on George Conway’s campaign:
www.georgeconwayforcongress.com (52:00, 55:53)

(Summary excludes advertisements and non-content sections. All timestamps in MM:SS.)