The Bulwark Podcast

Episode: Bill Kristol: This Is Accelerationist Authoritarianism
Date: January 12, 2026
Host: Tim Miller
Guest: Bill Kristol

Overview

In this explosive episode, Tim Miller and Bill Kristol break down what they call a sharp acceleration toward authoritarianism in the Trump administration. They discuss the past week’s major political controversies, including the federal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, escalating ICE violence following the police killing of Renee Goode in Minnesota, Trump’s questionable moves in Venezuela, and the mounting risks to both democratic norms and basic civil liberties. The tone alternates between grave concern, biting sarcasm, and moments of cautious hope for institutional resistance.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Accelerationist Authoritarianism in Action

[01:06–02:47]

• Tim and Bill both agree the Trump administration’s recent surge of questionable actions marks a step change from performative politics to dangerous authoritarian escalation.
• Bill coins the term “accelerationist authoritarianism” to describe the break-neck pace and intensity of these new actions:
  Bill Kristol [02:14]: “I do feel like the last 10 days we have seen real accelerationist authoritarianism in foreign policy, obviously with ICE and now with Powell... they’ve just decided they don't even have to pretend to be obeying a law that Trump himself signed a couple of months ago.”

2. Attack on Fed Independence: The Jerome Powell Investigation

[02:47–08:14]

• Federal prosecutors are investigating Fed Chair Jerome Powell over a headquarters renovation. Tim frames this as a transparent attempt to punish Powell for resisting Trump’s demands on interest rates.
• They play and dissect Powell’s own video response:
  Jerome Powell [clip relayed by Tim, 04:07]: “The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment... or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation.”
• GOP Senator Thom Tillis comes out quickly against Trump’s move, warning of the end of Fed independence and threatening to block Fed nominations:
  Tillis (quoted by Tim Miller at 06:58): “If there are any remaining doubt whether advisors within the Trump administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Fed, there should now be none.”
• Bill points out even GOP dissenters mostly avoid directly naming Trump, saying “the advisors to Trump are prevailing... as if God forbid you actually say that Donald Trump himself is doing something terrible.” [07:27]

Notable Quote:
Tim Miller [08:14]: “I think all sides pretty much agree that the Department of Justice is now, you know, completely just in service to Donald Trump’s wishes... I don’t even think that Trump is pretending like there’s an independence of the Department of Justice right now.”

3. Could Congress Constrain Trump? (Political Fantasy Draft)

[08:14–11:52]

• Dreams of cross-party resistance: Miller and Kristol riff on scenarios—however “fantasy”— where moderate/retiring GOP Senators could caucus with Democrats to check Trump.
  Tim Miller [11:52]: “No, it’s fantasy. I don’t want people to think that we think it might happen, but it could happen. So it should be stated…”

4. ICE Killing and Escalating Authoritarian Violence

[11:52–21:00]

• The murder of Renee Goode by ICE in Minnesota becomes a galvanizing moment, with Bill comparing ICE violence unfavorably even to Kent State:
  Bill Kristol [12:55]: “I mean, that was terrible, but actually less purposeful than the ICE violence... They are purposely trying to exploit it to further intimidate people.”
• Trump’s response is read aloud:
  Tim Miller [14:05, quoting Trump]: “Law enforcement should not be in a position where they have to put up with this stuff.”
  Both hosts dissect the callousness—almost celebratory—of Trump's framing.
• J.D. Vance promises “absolute immunity” for ICE—a further sign of deliberate escalation:
  Bill Kristol [15:05]: “What does that say? That says... you guys are fine, you guys are free. Go for it.”

Notable Exchange:
Tim Miller [15:29]: “They want it so that they can take more power. They want it for the purpose of accelerationism on their authoritarian mission. And they want it because they hate... the woman. Like they hate the, you know, so lesbian protesting woman who... they don’t like.”

5. ICE Bodycam Footage & GOP/Right-Wing Response

[21:00–31:28]

• The hosts dissect bodycam footage leaked by ICE, appalled at the lack of imminent threat and the reaction (or lack thereof) from other ICE agents:
  Bill Kristol [24:22]: “He wasn’t in danger objectively. And that is one of the legal standards I believe... people have to use before they kill.” Tim Miller [25:03]: “If it was so obviously a dangerous situation, why didn’t any of the other ICE agents pull their weapon in order to protect their colleague?”

• Discussion of a right-wing comedian lampooning ICE as “not well trained,” a rare cultural moment of de-escalatory humor.

• Policy suggestions abound: mandates for ICE agents to have arrest warrants, bans on masks, limits on gun use, border patrol restricted to the border. Chris Murphy (D-CT) steps up with specific legislative proposals.

  Key Tension: Democrats’ struggle with the slogan “Abolish ICE”—should they embrace more radical departures or just focus on the specific abusive actions?

6. Trump’s Venezuela Moves: “President as Strongman”

[37:35–44:08]

• Trump holds a roundtable with oil executives, dreams of a U.S.-run Venezuela. Exxon’s CEO rebuffs him (“they’ve seized our assets twice!”), prompting Trump’s threat to bar Exxon from the country.
  Tim Miller [38:15]: “So I just... Is that the president’s job? Like, does the president of the United States get to decide what companies invest in other countries?”
• Bill notes a related executive order removing the right of companies to sue Venezuela to recover assets—Trump wants to control the payout for himself.
• The hosts mock Trump’s “fantasy” of controlling oil companies, comparing GOP silence to their outrage at much lesser forms of government intervention under Democrats.

7. America First 2028: Cracks in the MAGA Coalition

[44:08–50:30]

• Steve Bannon teases a 2028 presidential run, highlighting schisms within the post-Trump right. Bill and Tim muse about the authenticity of “America First,” with Bannon standing as the “real” Trumpist in contrast to opportunists like J.D. Vance.
• Tucker Carlson’s continued Trump proximity is lampooned, as is the establishment’s inability to decide what “MAGA” actually means.

8. Electoral Countermoves and Mary Peltola’s “Alaska First” Strategy

[50:30–55:24]

• Tim spotlights Mary Peltola’s Alaska Senate campaign as the best example of Democrats leaning into a more populist, “America First” narrative against MAGA authoritarianism: Peltola ad [52:21]: “...teach the rest of the country what Alaska first and really America first looks like.”
• Bill notes Peltola’s proven appeal in a tough state, and flags incumbent Dan Sullivan’s lack of distinction—a potential opening.

9. Foreign Policy: Iran Uprising and U.S. Leverage

[56:37–60:12]

• The recent massive Iran protests and harsh crackdowns prompt hopes for effective U.S. help, but skepticism about the Trump administration’s competence or intentions: Bill Kristol [57:25]: “I think we could do a lot to help them with that [internet], and I’m not sure we are... I think in fact we've disabled parts of the US government that could be pretty good at that.”
• Tim notes the danger of overt support backfiring, a tension in promoting freedom versus avoiding counterproductive interventions.

10. Final Thoughts: The Resist Libs and the Path Forward

[60:12–61:47]

• Bill calls for dropping old divisions, uniting in active resistance: Bill Kristol [60:58]: “Why can’t we just say we’re all resist Lib now?... People need to stop messing around. We need to... stop what Trump is doing, I’m for it.”
• The show closes on a eulogy for Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead—a moment of bittersweet reflection.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Trump DOJ:
  “I think all sides pretty much agree that the Department of Justice is now... completely just in service to Donald Trump’s wishes.” — Tim Miller [08:14]
• On ICE escalation:
  “They want to escalate it... for the purpose of accelerationism on their authoritarian mission.” — Tim Miller [15:29]
• On business community resistance:
  “I don’t have a lot of confidence necessarily that the business community will really go into the kind of resistance mode they should.” — Bill Kristol [04:59]
• On GOP avoidance:
  “He can’t quite say Trump. Right. The advisors... as if God forbid you actually say that Donald Trump himself is doing something terrible.” — Bill Kristol [07:27]
• On the ICE killing:
  “I don’t want to live in a country where a bunch of ill trained thugs are running around with masks on, firing through the side window of a lady’s Honda Pilot. Like, that is not a society that I want to live in.” — Tim Miller [27:13]
• On Venezuela moves:
  “Is that the president’s job? Like, does the president of the United States get to decide what companies invest in other countries? Apparently that’s... the new free market conservatism.” — Tim Miller [38:15]
• On opposition unity:
  “Why can’t we just say we’re all resist Lib now?... As long as they’re going to stop what Trump is doing, I’m for it.” — Bill Kristol [60:58]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:06] — Start of substantive discussion, setting the tone: accelerationist authoritarianism
• [02:47] — Powell investigation and attack on Fed independence
• [11:52] — Possibility of bipartisan resistance in Congress
• [12:55] — ICE killing/Renee Goode, Trump’s law enforcement stance
• [17:52] — Cultural response: Prof David Austin Walsh’s assessment
• [24:22] — Dissection of ICE bodycam footage
• [31:28] — Policy proposals for ICE reform/defunding debate
• [37:35] — Venezuela, Trump’s strongman moves with Exxon and oil
• [44:08] — America First ’28; Bannon, Vance, and the MAGA rift
• [50:30] — Mary Peltola’s populist campaign in Alaska
• [56:37] — Iran protests and possible U.S. response
• [60:58] — Bill Kristol’s closing “resist Lib” unification call

Conclusion

This was a jam-packed hour of urgent, at times darkly comic analysis of a week that saw Trump-world speed through political guardrails—targeting the Fed, inciting and defending authoritarian policing, flexing state control over industry, and leaning into foreign adventurism. Bill Kristol and Tim Miller hold nothing back, making the case that “accelerationism” is no longer just a talking point but the lived condition of American politics—and sounding an unequivocal call for broader, bolder resistance.