The Bulwark Podcast

Episode: Bill Kristol: Authoritarian Takeover
Date: August 18, 2025
Host: Tim Miller
Guests: Bill Kristol (Editor-at-Large), Eric Edelman (Former Ambassador, National Security Expert)

Overview

This episode tackles the intensifying trend of authoritarian tactics in U.S. politics, with particular emphasis on the federal takeover of Washington D.C., threats to fair elections, and the shifting stance of the Trump administration and allies on Ukraine. Tim Miller and Bill Kristol are joined by Eric Edelman for a fast-moving and frank discussion. They dissect the failure of Democrats to meet the moment, the real-time impacts of Trump’s policies on democracy, and Europe’s reaction to recent U.S.-Russia-Ukraine negotiations. The episode maintains Bulwark's signature irreverent, passionate tone throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Democrats’ Messaging Failures and the D.C. Federal Takeover

(03:37 – 13:23; 15:46 – 19:38)

• Bill Kristol’s Viral Critique:
  Bill Kristol lambasts leading Democrats for downplaying the federal takeover of D.C. as a “stunt” or “distraction.”
  • [04:22] Bill Kristol: “It's a rare trifecta of intellectual failure, political stupidity and moral obtuseness.”
• Meta vs. Direct Politics:
  Tim Miller and Kristol agree that Democrats overemphasize meta commentary—opining on which issues matter—rather than fighting all fronts, like Republicans do.
  • [06:19] Tim Miller: “They say that militarizing the nation's capital is a distraction. No, it is not. It is the core of the fight we're up against.”
  • [07:03] Tim Miller: “Just talk like a normal fucking person, okay? You can talk about Epstein and Medicaid and Ukraine. Donald Trump is capable of doing this... Democrats should do [it].”
• Critique of Defensiveness:
  Eric Edelman points out Democrats’ tendency to “throat-clear” and make excuses before addressing issues directly—a political weakness.
  • [10:39] Eric Edelman: “They do a lot of throat clearing on something before addressing the issue at hand. Maybe they should begin with a direct critique...not with the three minutes of self-flagellating and self-excusing.”

Notable Moment

• [08:10] Tim Miller (on Democratic discourse): “It’s like everything’s a distraction from everything else. God forbid they should actually just address an issue, you know?”

Real-World Impact

• The federal “takeover” is visible and chilling—example: a viral video of unidentified federal officers tasing a moped driver on 14th street, sending a message beyond law enforcement; public spaces reportedly empty out in fear.
  • [15:12] Tim Miller: “[People] bars and restaurants empty this weekend. They were saying people don’t want to go out.”

2. Trump’s Use of Authoritarian Tactics: D.C. and Beyond

(16:25 – 19:38; 43:39 – 45:57)

• Intimidation as “Feature Not a Bug”:
  Eric Edelman suggests the pain inflicted on D.C. is intentional, not accidental, by the Trump administration, particularly targeting a blue city as a warning.
• Performative National Guard Deployments:
  Republican governors send National Guard units to D.C. despite higher crime in their own states, purely to demonstrate loyalty and amplify federal control.
  • [17:15] Eric Edelman: “It’s about Trump exerting federal power over the nation’s capital city. It’s not about any empirical dealing with crime at all.”
• Expansion Model:
  Kristol warns: these D.C. tactics could be rolled out elsewhere—Trump is normalizing masked, unaccountable federal agents, potentially applying this template to other “problem” cities.

3. Ukraine, Russia, and Western Leadership Dynamics

(20:44 – 34:33)

• Alaska Summit Fallout:
  The Putin-Trump summit in Alaska is viewed as a disaster for Western security. Trump echoed Russian talking points, offered no pushback, and retreated from Ukraine’s position.
  • [21:45] Eric Edelman: “Putin lectured Trump. Trump didn’t push back...He’s sort of on board the Putin agenda.”
• European Leaders Step In:
  The U.S.’ supposed allies—Macron, Starmer, Merkel, and others—felt compelled to accompany Zelensky to the White House, signaling their lack of trust in Trump and the void in U.S. global leadership.
  • [30:14] Bill Kristol: “The fact that we have the Europeans flying here to beg our president to not be a surrender monkey...Hurts me as someone born in the 80s who grew up believing that America as the leader of the free world was something I had some pride in. Clearly not the leader anymore.”
• No Real Security Guarantees for Ukraine:
  Trump publicly dismisses NATO membership for Ukraine and undermines even the idea of a bilateral security guarantee as empty gestures.
  • [25:03] Eric Edelman: “Trump’s ‘no going into NATO’ undercuts what some people were taking hope from...Trump is basically ruling out any kind of serious security guarantee.”

Notable Quote

• [31:34] Tim Miller: “Trump is a coward that doesn’t like to make big decisions like this. He wants everyone to like him...that’s been the thing that has saved us...in a couple of different areas.”

4. Election Subversion & The Authoritarian Playbook

(35:55 – 45:57)

• Trump's Open Moves Against Mail-in Ballots:
  Trump vows to “get rid of mail-in ballots” and preemptively undermines election legitimacy; he claims states are “merely an agent for the federal government” in elections, suggesting a federal takeover.
  • [35:55] Bill Kristol (quoting Trump): “The states are merely an agent for the federal government…They must do what the federal government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them for the good of our country to do.”
  • [40:15] Eric Edelman: “That sets off huge alarm bells…turning states into agents in this area in ways that have not been the case before. And it’s very dangerous.”
• Federal Control Threats:
  Panelists worry Trump will attempt to interfere with mail-in voting, challenge and potentially throw out unfavorable results, and use “law and order” pretexts to send federal troops to polling places—especially in blue or minority-heavy areas.
  • [44:15] Tim Miller: “They use these things as pretexts and rationale to send in…federal troops, National Guard troops to guard voting places, maybe particularly in blue areas, to intimidate people from coming.”
• Tangible Risks for 2026 and 2028:
  The Republican House could refuse to seat new members from mail-in ballot states, intimidating or disenfranchising Democratic-leaning voters via extraordinary federal interventions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [04:22] Bill Kristol: “It's a rare trifecta of intellectual failure, political stupidity and moral obtuseness.”
• [06:19] Tim Miller: “It's not a distraction. It is the core of the fight we're up against.”
• [13:23] Tim Miller: “At least fucking fight them when they're taking interior police of mass thugs to harass your fellow citizens...That is not a distraction. That is the fight that we have here in the so-called pro-democracy coalition.”
• [21:45] Eric Edelman: "Putin lectured Trump, Trump didn't push back…He’s sort of on board the Putin agenda."
• [25:03] Eric Edelman: “Trump’s ‘no going into NATO [for Ukraine]’ undercuts what some people were taking a little hope from…It’s totally fake.”
• [30:14] Bill Kristol: “The fact that we have the Europeans flying here to beg our president not to be a surrender monkey...Hurts me.”
• [35:55] Bill Kristol (quoting Trump): “The states are merely an agent for the federal government…They must do what the federal government...tells them for the good of our country to do.”
• [40:38] Bill Kristol: “I don't remember Madison...Is that in the Federalist Papers? That the states must do exactly what the federal government tells them for the good of the country?”

Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:37 – 13:23]: Rant on Dems’ meta-commentary, need for head-on engagement
• [15:46 – 19:38]: The chilling reality of the D.C. federal “takeover”
• [20:44 – 34:33]: Dissecting the Alaska Putin-Trump summit, Europe’s response, Ukraine’s abandonment
• [35:55 – 45:57]: Trump’s attack on election integrity, executive overreach, and the template for broad authoritarian expansion

Tone and Style

The episode is fiery and informal, marked by frustration with Democratic messaging and genuine alarm at rising authoritarian threats. The hosts blend political analysis with humor and exasperation (“just talk like a normal fucking person”), maintaining a conversational, sometimes irreverent style throughout.

Summary Takeaway

The episode paints a darkening landscape for American democracy: escalating authoritarian maneuvers by the Trump administration; Democratic leaders who appear flat-footed; real-time clampdowns in D.C.; open threats to elections; and a grim new dynamic where allied European leaders must intervene to preserve Western values in the U.S. The advice: stop dismissing real threats as distractions, engage every fight head-on, and recognize the urgency before authoritarian “takeovers” become the American norm.