Podcast
The Bulwark Daily
Hosted by The Bulwark · EN
Tim Miller and guests discuss the latest political news for the flagship podcast of the Never Trump movement and the reality-based community. Every weekday we provide insightful analysis, political hot-takes, an unabashed defense of liberal democracy and long-form interviews that cut through the "both-sides" BS. Plus a few laughs to help you wash down the crazy.
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477episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Adam Kinzinger: The United States of Dystopia
Yesterday00:56:44Summary readyWhat a way to run a country: ICE thugs will soon have special gloves that deliver an electric shock to people they’re trying to detain; D.C. residents have to contend with National Guard troops on their streets because the president likes fascist theater; and sailors who’ve been at sea for more than 250 days—for a war that no one understands—are trying to kill themselves by jumping overboard. Plus: Most of the media is ignoring that Republicans are running nutso candidates all over the place, Karoline Leavitt has been a pretty talented liar, and what did Trump smell like when he emerged from the catering cart?Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller. show notes: Kinzinger's Substack Video of the shock gloves being used Bond villain Oddjob
SummaryDave Weigel: Polls Wrong, Hong Gone
2d ago00:51:50Summary readyDemocratic primary voters in Wisconsin didn’t care much for how hard Republicans were working to try to make democratic socialist Francesca Hong the Dems' nominee for governor. That whole strategy helped draw last night’s primary winner, David Crowley, back into the race three weeks ago. Maybe there is not a secret socialist vote in rural America, after all. Plus: the fallout from ICE on key Minnesota races, the Dems are still going to war against their gerontocracy, Nate Silver has some very encouraging polls, and Fetterman could use a Democratic friend. And Tim asks The Bulwark community to help a family of legal immigrants who are currently being held in one of the country’s new internment camps. Dave Weigel joins Tim Miller.show notes: Dave's "Americana" newsletter Letter from legal permanent resident, Maryam Tahmasebi, in The Nation Tim's recent interview with Jonathan Blitzer on our new internment camps Mailbag email Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat, Aspen, and Walden frames at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARK. Promo Code THEBULWARK
SummaryAmanda Carpenter: Audit the White House
3d ago00:51:27Summary readyTrump may have the pardon power, but all those people making bank off of shady contracts from the administration or doing pay-to-play can lose all that money through forfeiture and seizure laws already on the books. Taxpayers are going to want their money back. And why are Chinese nationals continuing to bribe the president of the United States—and does his soft-on-China policies have anything to do with it? Plus: Trump used a catering cart to sneak out of Turkey, the Dems need to do a better job highlighting the fact that the White House is doing socialist-style company takeovers, and the National Guard will now be in DC until 2029.Amanda Carpenter joins Tim Miller.show notes: Amanda's Bulwark piece on undoing Trump's age of corruption Amanda's event with Protect Democracy and Vox on Aug. 19 NYT story on Chinese national who gave $100 million to Trump's cryptocurrency company CATO on the government's ownership stakes in companies
SummaryBill Kristol: Republicans Are a Mess
4d ago00:46:24Summary readyThe party is sticking with Max Miller despite the very credible domestic abuse allegations. Not only is this a gift to his Democratic opponent, Brian Poindexter, in that red district in Ohio, it’s also likely to impact the Senate and governor's races there as well. Meanwhile, Tucker and MTG are talking about creating a third party for 2028. And Trump is losing to Iran so badly he can’t even make a coherent argument about the war for his biggest fans. Plus: the ankle monitoring of Haitian immigrants is very Soviet-era Eastern Bloc, defense contractors don’t want Ukraine making Patriot missiles because they can do it for less money, Trump is literally giving Mexico territory so he can build his corrupt border wall through Big Bend National Park, and Tim keeps his promise and shares some history on bananas.Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.show notes: Tim’s candidate list, including Ohio’s Brian Poindexter Monday’s “Morning Shots” Bill and Eric Edelman on the munition depletions Tim and Isaac Saul on the bulldozing of Big Bend Jim on the governor’s race in Ohio NYT profile of Brian Poindexter Bill’s “Bulwark on Sunday” with Col. Bree Fram Atlantic piece on Ukraine becoming a military powerhouse Go to Dupe.com today and find similar products for less. It’s 100% free to use. Stop wasting money on brand names and start saving with Dupe.com today.
SummarySusan Glasser: The Irredeemable Republicans
1w ago00:59:35Summary readyTim got his hopes up that Bill Cassidy was going to come out against Blanche as AG. But of course, the senator showed once again that Republicans will do anything to stay on Team Trump—including turning our government into a corrupt, gangster oligarchy. Never mind that ordinary Americans are still dealing with the stink bombs Trump dumped on our economy with his tariffs and failed war: We’ve got lousy job numbers and higher prices across the board. Plus: The deportation of legal immigrants is a moral stain on our country, Russia’s energy crisis has backed Putin into a dangerous corner, and Trump is on a goldmaxxing spree. Susan Glasser joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.show notes: Catherine’s latest “Receipts” newsletter Sam and Catherine on the jobs numbers Evan Osnos’ New Yorker piece, “The Future, Made in China” Tim’s playlist
SummarySam Stein and Adam Hamilton: Trump’s Fabricated World Is Crashing
1w ago01:16:06Summary readyPOTUS has always used lies to great advantage, but his fakery can’t disguise the dangerous reality that the United States is running out of missiles. What a time for Trump to don an SNL-grade wig. Meanwhile, AIPAC may be evolving into a Trump super PAC, Max Miller keeps showing everyone he’s a sociopath, the GOP Islamophobia is looking very 2002, and Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo accidentally admits Trump is looking out for the billionaires. Plus: The new Democratic Senate nominee from Kansas, pastor Adam Hamilton, joins Tim to discuss that sleeper race and how incumbent Roger Marshall is all about championing Trump and not the people of Kansas.Sam Stein and Kansas Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Adam Hamilton join Tim Miller.show notes: Inc.'s profile of The Bulwark Adam Hamilton's website Brian Poindexter's website (Dem running against Max Miller.) Trump's new wig
SummaryJane Coaston: Pod Save Michigan
1w ago00:59:22Summary readyThe polling was way off, but suburban Dem voters in Michigan nonetheless showed that they’re sick of the party establishment and enraged by Trump, the war, the lies, and the corruption. AIPAC didn’t read the room. But party leaders are sounding united behind El-Sayed and Jane predicts he’ll bring a Mamdani-like energy to his campaign against Mike Rogers. Meanwhile, Republicans are sticking with sh*tbag Max Miller. Plus: Federal agents are threatening Americans for speaking out against ICE, Vance is always looking for a way to signal that he hates the war, and what other former podcast hosts can try to segue to elected office? Jane Coaston joins Tim Miller.show notes: Jane's podcast, "What A Day" El-Sayed with influencers Monday night Photo of Chuck Edwards Function provides 160+ lab tests for $1/day and member pricing on advanced imaging. Join at functionhealth.com/THEBULWARK and use gift code THEBULWARK25. #FunctionPartner
SummaryCharlie Warzel: The Tech Overlords’ Anti-Humanity Is Catching Up to Them
1w ago01:07:09Summary readySam Altman wants a supercomputer to talk to his kid so he doesn’t have to. Elon thinks Grok can make a better Odyssey than Christopher Nolan. And Silicon Valley has been cultishly hyping AI so much that they’ve lost the plot. Regular people are sick of all the synthetic slop, they don’t trust the tech titans, and their opposition to data centers is just the tip of the iceberg of a growing tech backlash. The political winds are shifting just in time for the midterms, so Elon's dumping more than $100 million to try to overcome them. The Atlantic’s Charlie Warzel joins Tim Miller.show notes: TNL live at 9pm ET on Tuesday's primaries on YouTube or Substack Lauren on data centers in Democratic campaigns Charlie's "The Myth of SpaceX" Politico on the growing backlash against the AI buildout Jasmine Sun on how LLMs don't write well
SummaryBill Kristol: Stop the Stupid Infighting, Dems
2w ago01:11:17Summary readyBoth the left and center-left are acting like the other faction within the party is the enemy—and not Donald Trump. Democrats need to keep their eye on the ball: Trump and the corruption, lying, and incompetence across his administration. In the past couple of days, the massive dishonesty has included Doug Burgum’s doubling down on the Reflecting Pool lies and Todd Blanche’s sham document on the IRS and the J6 weaponization fund. And why is Schumer signing off on a deal with Republicans to keep the government open? Plus: Max Miller is finally a national story, and Tim unloads on getting dragged into the Michigan Senate race as well as AIPAC’s massive spending on behalf of Haley Stevens.Bill Kristol joins back-from-vacation Tim Miller. show notes Monday's "Morning Shots" Bill's "Bulwark on Sunday" with Ron Brownstein Bill's interview with Margaret Donovan on Hegseth last week TNL live tomorrow on Tuesday’s primaries: on YouTube or Substack Tim's candidate list
SummaryBill Kristol and Margaret Donovan: Hegseth Should Be Impeached
2w ago00:48:41Summary readyAt the very least, Hegseth's refusal to acknowledge that it was our Tomahawk missile that killed 120 schoolchildren on the very first day of the war makes him unfit to serve as secretary of defense. Army JAG veteran Margaret Donovan says civilian casualties are a tragic reality in war and the public has the right to know what went wrong. The U.S. military prides itself on its excellence and precision, and that is what separates our fighting forces from those of our enemies. But Hegseth is also dragging this vital institution down because of the munition depletions, the lack of dignity being shown to fallen soldiers, his hare-brained schemes and war crimes in the Caribbean, and his undermining of military discipline by brushing off recent dangerous flyovers in civilian areas.Margaret Donovan joins guest host Bill Kristol.
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