Bulwark Takes

Will Salatan argues that a recent Senate hearing attacking Special Counsel Jack Smith is a distraction from the criminal trial Trump never faced.

Bulwark reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin discusses his experience covering a Trump rally in Vandalia, Ohio, where he observed high energy among core…

Katherine Rampell and Bill Kristol analyze the New York Times-Siena poll, which indicates a significant Democratic surge in traditionally Republican states like Texas, Ohio, and Alaska.

Hosts analyze President Trump’s recent Truth Social post, which publicly shared Senator Tom Cotton’s personal phone number to pressure him into supporting the Sunshine Protection Act.

Sarah Longwell discusses strategies for Democrats to handle oversight and accountability without triggering a rally effect, emphasizing popular economic reforms over impeaching Trump.

Sam Stein and Will Summer review the script for "Pawn Shop," a new Daily Wire film currently in production in Livingston, Montana.

Cheeky and Andrew discuss Donald Trump’s latest Time magazine interview, noting his obsession with legacy media prestige and his incoherent claims about his own IQ.

Senator Alyssa Slotkin discusses lessons from her recent trip to Poland and Hungary, highlighting how post-authoritarian nations recover and the…

Hosts discuss a thwarted hijacking attempt on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, where passengers and the pilot subdued an Omani co-pilot attempting a mass casualty attack.

Sam Stein and Ben Parker critique Pete Hegseth’s "State of the Force" address, describing it as delusional and focused on culture war issues like testosterone levels rather than active conflicts.

Leaked audio reveals Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton complaining to donors that Donald Trump’s recent convention hurt his campaign numbers, a…

The episode discusses Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s plan to cut 20% of general and flag officers by 2027, with retired General Hurdle warning…

This episode analyzes the Senate Judiciary hearing where Senator Eric Schmitt attempted to impeach Jack Smith by claiming he was at an Atlanta Hawks game on February 3, 2024.

This episode covers the live testimony of former Special Counsel Jack Smith before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he defends his prosecution…

Michael Weiss and Mark Palmeropoulos discuss the alarming counterintelligence risks posed by the Trump administration, highlighting a viral photo of…

Sam Stein and Will Summer discuss the absurdities of the online right, focusing on Dan Scavino’s AI video which they analyze as a potential QAnon signal.

This episode critiques Attorney General Todd Blanche and Ambassador Mike Waltz for defending the Trump administration's ban on critical news organizations from the White House and Air Force One.

Bill Kristol and Sarah Matthews discuss the chaotic state of the second Trump administration, focusing on his media bans and the absence of a press secretary.

Catherine Rampell and Will Sommer discuss the Trump administration's continued defiance of court orders by barring CNN from Air Force One and replacing it with the "Real America's Voice" pool.

Mark Palomaropoulos and Michael Weiss discuss the recent media frenzy surrounding a CIA briefing that suggested a potential Russian conventional…

This episode analyzes the Georgia Senate and gubernatorial races, highlighting how John Ossoff’s double-digit lead threatens to lock him into his seat and derail his potential 2028 presidential bid.

This episode dissects the hollow rhetoric of Republican candidates who claim to want an end to the Iran war while refusing to support legislative efforts to stop it.

Host Sam Stein and guests Brandon Harnett and Will Summer analyze the White House press pool crisis, where major networks were briefly banned and…

Governor Wes Moore discusses Maryland’s new AI regulatory framework, emphasizing the need for local control over data center construction to address energy costs and environmental concerns.

Tim Miller of The Bulwark joins the show to discuss his disillusionment with the Trump administration, labeling the Iran conflict a catastrophic…

JVL and Ben Wittes discuss the legal challenges to Trump's DC construction projects, focusing on the Supreme Court's standing ruling that blocked the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

This episode critiques the Pentagon's new "Joint Warfighting Evaluation" for promoting senior officers, arguing that its architect, Stu Scheller, lacks the strategic experience to design such a test.

Congressman Mike Turner discusses the counterintelligence risks of Donald Trump Jr.

Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol discuss President Trump's upcoming UN General Assembly address, contrasting his current rhetoric with his optimistic claims from a year ago.

Tim Miller interviews David Pakman, author of the new book *Pay Attention*, to discuss how algorithms and media wars suppress truth and rewire brains.

JVL and Will Summer discuss the immediate backfire of Trump’s ban on major news outlets from the White House, highlighting the lack of audio at a press conference and the administration’s new app.

This episode of Bulwark Takes analyzes the political fallout from Trump banning CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House, noting the subsequent collapse of the TV pool system.

Hosts Sam and Will discuss Donald Trump’s proposal to build a 250-foot military arch near Arlington National Cemetery, highlighting the absurdity of…

Sam Stein and Mark Palmeropoulos discuss escalating global conflicts, focusing on Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the US refusal to intervene, which strains key alliances.

This episode of Bulwark Takes profiles North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley, detailing his controversial tenure as state GOP chair.

Bob Cox analyzes the collapse of the US-led world order under Trump’s second term, arguing that the Iran war and the Houthi crisis expose America’s…

Will Salatan and Will Sommer discuss Donald Trump’s unprecedented ban of CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House, analyzing it as a direct attack on press freedom.

Ben Parker and Lt.

Attorney Nathaniel Beatty joins Bill to discuss the ongoing legal battle over the Kennedy Center, where Judge Cooper has blocked Trump's attempts to…

This emergency Bulwark Take covers Trump’s press conference, where he banned major outlets from the White House pool and claimed a security deal with Greenland.

Katherine Rampell and JVL discuss Canada's strategic pivot toward the EU and China under Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is leveraging his popularity to counter US hostility.

Sam Stein and Will Summer review the Daily Wire film "Run, Hide, Fight: Infidels," starring Jonathan Majors.

This episode of Bulwark Takes examines President Trump’s threats to demolish the Kennedy Center if he cannot rename it, analyzing the move as a…

The trio discusses the escalating AI apocalypse discourse, debating whether humanity should survive or go out with a bang.

Patrick De Haan from GasBuddy joins Tim Miller to analyze the resurgence of oil prices above $100 and record-high diesel costs.

Command Post discusses the escalating Middle East conflict, analyzing satellite imagery of damaged US military installations and the spiraling…

Chris Whipple discusses his Vanity Fair profile of JD Vance’s formative years at Yale Law School, highlighting his mentorship under Amy Chua and the influence of Peter Thiel.

Legal scholar George Conway joins Sam Stein to analyze the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down the mail-in ballot regulation, criticizing Justices Alito and Thomas for their dissenting opinions.

Will Salatan from The Bulwark critiques the recent Republican midterm convention, arguing that the party's anti-communist rhetoric is hypocritical given President Trump's actions.

Ben Parker and Bill Kristol analyze the latest NYT/Siena poll, which shows Democrats leading the generic congressional ballot by eight points and…