The Bulwark Podcast: Amanda Carpenter on “Fake Emergencies”
Host: Tim Miller
Guest: Amanda Carpenter
Release Date: August 12, 2025

In this episode of The Bulwark Podcast, host Tim Miller engages in a profound discussion with Amanda Carpenter, a writer and editor at Protect Democracy. The conversation delves into the alarming strategies employed by former President Donald Trump to consolidate power through the creation and exploitation of fabricated crises. Below is a detailed summary capturing the key points, insights, and conclusions from their dialogue.

1. Militarization of Washington, D.C.

Amanda Carpenter begins by expressing concern over the increasing military presence in Washington, D.C., highlighting the unsettling nature of seeing troops conducting checkpoints and patrolling the National Mall.

Amanda Carpenter [00:43]:
"It's pretty weird... the idea of troops just kind of rolling around, checking people out, it's not a great feeling."

Tim Miller acknowledges these concerns, referencing specific checkpoints and the deployment of federal forces, suggesting that while these measures may appear as a show of force, they are part of a larger, more sinister agenda.

Tim Miller [01:49]:
"Andrew Egger in the Morning Shots newsletter... 'people come from Iowa, they come from Indiana... Not going to happen.'"

2. Trump’s Power Grab Through Fake Emergencies

The core of the discussion centers around Trump's strategy of inventing crises to justify authoritarian measures. Carpenter emphasizes that these “fake emergencies” are a means for Trump to seize power under the guise of restoring order.

Amanda Carpenter [02:53]:
"Trump is getting away with inventing all these fake emergencies... to send in the troops, to seize economic power through tariffs..."

Miller elaborates on the dual nature of Trump's approach, balancing the portrayal of protecting "real Americans" while undertaking a "power grab."

Tim Miller [02:53]:
"...this is about control. It's about power grabs. It's getting undesirables... so that he can have more control."

3. Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force

Delving deeper, the conversation shifts to internal plans revealed by the Pentagon for a Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force, intended to deploy troops rapidly in response to protests.

Tim Miller [17:59]:
"The Trump administration is evaluating plans that would establish a... domestic civil disturbance quick reaction force... 600 troops on standby."

Carpenter criticizes this initiative, questioning its necessity and legality, especially when targeting peaceful protests.

Amanda Carpenter [19:01]:
"Why would we need a strike force against peaceful protest of US Citizens. Who is this for?"

4. Historical Parallel: Lafayette Square Incident

Miller references the aggressive military response to protests during Trump’s previous administration, drawing a parallel to current plans and expressing concern over repeated patterns of authoritarian behavior.

Tim Miller [21:50]:
"That was the same reason. ... they just wanted to be able to send the troops at his will to accomplish whatever small, big goals he likes."

Carpenter agrees, insisting that such actions are not isolated incidents but part of a systematic approach to enforce Trump's agenda through force.

Amanda Carpenter [22:35]:
"That show of force is absolutely the model. ... it is about having a show of force."

5. Appointment of E.J. Anthony as BLS Commissioner

Shifting focus to economic governance, Miller and Carpenter discuss the controversial appointment of E.J. Anthony as the new Commissioner of Labor Statistics. The consensus is that Anthony's lack of qualifications and extreme partisanship pose a threat to unbiased economic data.

Tim Miller [26:05]:
"E.J. Anthony is disastrously terrible... he has demonstrated no commitment to the truth."

Carpenter warns of the potential for manipulated economic statistics under such leadership, stressing the need for private sector alternatives to ensure data integrity.

Amanda Carpenter [28:42]:
"Once these people get a hold of it, I don't think anything is safe. It's all going to be inflated and bloated..."

6. Economic Concerns: Inflation and AI Chip Policies

The discussion delves into current economic indicators, such as inflation rates, and controversial policies like the imposition of a 15% government share ("golden share") on Nvidia’s sales to China. Miller labels such export taxes as unconstitutional and authoritarian.

Tim Miller [35:26]:
"Export taxes are just flatly unconstitutional... it's abjectly unconstitutional."

Carpenter critiques the lack of transparency and debate surrounding these policies, likening them to bribery and expressing concern over the broader implications for U.S.-China relations and technological dominance.

Amanda Carpenter [37:02]:
"Trump looks at UCLA... and said, I want a billion... that's authoritarian shakedown stuff."

7. Culture Wars: University Shakedowns and DEI

A significant portion of the conversation addresses Trump's strategy of extracting financial concessions from academic institutions, viewing it as a form of ransomware. Carpenter draws parallels to cyberattacks, emphasizing the need for collective action among universities, media, and other sectors to resist these pressures.

Amanda Carpenter [43:09]:
"Trump is successfully isolating the targets and making them compete against each other... these are not business deals, they're shakedowns."

Miller concurs, highlighting the systemic nature of these attacks and the challenges in fostering solidarity among affected institutions.

Tim Miller [46:31]:
"Until these institutions quit viewing each other as competitors... there's going to be systemic catastrophe."

8. Strategies for Combating Authoritarianism

In conclusion, Carpenter advocates for collective action and unity across sectors to effectively counteract Trump's authoritarian tactics. She references the Democracy Atlas series by Protect Democracy as a resource for successful strategies from other countries.

Amanda Carpenter [50:16]:
"The only solution to these attacks is collective action... Organizing different sectors so that they actually stand together..."

Miller echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of proactive resistance to maintain democratic institutions and prevent further erosion of freedoms.

Tim Miller [52:11]:
"We're going to control what you can control. And you can start by controlling your family's future..."

Notable Quotes

• Amanda Carpenter [02:53]:
  "Trump is getting away with inventing all these fake emergencies... to send in the troops, to seize economic power through tariffs."

• Tim Miller [19:34]:
  "We're just looking for a pretext essentially for that."

• Amanda Carpenter [28:42]:
  "Parallel tracks for economic data should absolutely be explored."

• Tim Miller [35:26]:
  "Export taxes are just flatly unconstitutional. It is not allowed."

• Amanda Carpenter [43:09]:
  "Trump is successfully isolating the targets and making them compete against each other."

Concluding Thoughts

The episode underscores the urgent need to recognize and resist the manipulation of crises for political gain. Carpenter and Miller advocate for vigilance, unity, and collective action to safeguard democratic institutions and prevent the normalization of authoritarian measures.

Note: Timestamps correspond to the provided transcript and are included to reference specific points in the discussion.