Bulwark+ Takes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com NYU law professor Ryan Goodman joins Bill Kristol to discuss how surveillance powers could be used—and abused—by the Donald Trump administration. Plus, a broader look at Trump's escalating clashes with the rule of law and what, if anything, Congress can still do to push back. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comm...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller takes on fast-moving developments after Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz again and fires on commercial ships—less than a day after Donald Trump said it would "never" close again. Plus: Trump’s appearance with Joe Rogan, his response to the crisis, and his decision to shut down questions from reporters. As a...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller reacts to a jaw-dropping article in The Atlantic which alleges that FBI Director Kash Patel was repeatedly unreachable on the job—including an incident where security considered breaching a locked door to wake him. From a bizarre meltdown over a computer login to allegations of heavy drinking, missed briefi...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller joined Katy Tur on MS Now to walk through the growing gap between what Trump is claiming and what Iran is actually saying—highlighting major sticking points like enriched uranium and the fragile status of the Strait of Hormuz. Is this a real breakthrough… or just another rushed attempt to declare victory. P...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com JVL and Catherine Rampell are going live to cover Trump's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is open, the potential $20B Iran could get from the U.S., and Catherine's latest reporting on the White House blaming corporate greed for their economic woes.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller gives his take to Nicolle Wallace on MS Now about Donald Trump’s escalating feud with Pope Leo. Tim breaks down president's lie that the pontiff said Iran should be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, JD Vance’s public posture on Catholicism, and the White House's easily debunked talking points to justify its...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sarah Longwell gives her take on the state of race in the early contours of the 2026 midterm landscape. Democratic candidates are posting eye-popping Q1 fundraising numbers, dramatically outraising Republican opponents across key Senate and House contests. But the picture is more complicated than candidate fundraising...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com JVL, Mark Hertling and Andrew Egger are going live to cover Trump's announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Hegseth's press conference, and the continuing war of words between GOP figures and the Pope. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams, a...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com In this Command Post edition of Bulwark Takes, Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) examine the growing gap between political messaging and military reality, focusing on how Trump’s public statements often differ from what the military actually executes. They also break down what a “blockade” of the Strait of...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sonny Bunch and Damon Lindelof—the show runner behind Lost, The Leftovers, and Watchmen—discuss the growing backlash to the proposed Paramount–Warner Bros. merger and what it could mean for Hollywood’s future. Lindelof explains why he joined more than a thousand industry professionals in signing a public letter urging...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim is streaming again, JD Vance keeps losing. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams, and event archives exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Add Bulwark+ Takes feed to your player of choice, here .

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Andrew Egger and Catherine Rampell give their takes on Trump latest fight with Jerome Powell, now floating the idea of firing Powell, while a bogus investigation continues to hang over the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, Senator Thom Tillis is refusing to move forward on Trump’s preferred replacement, Kevin Warsh, unless...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com The MAGA energy isn’t what it used to be—and the signs are everywhere. Tim Miller joined Nicolle Wallace, and looked at JD Vance’s empty event, growing fractures inside Trump’s base, and what it says about where things are heading. Plus, why Hungary’s election offers a surprising playbook for pushing back against auth...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman joins Bill Kristol to discuss the stunning defeat of Viktor Orbán and what it reveals about how strongman systems actually fall. They explore how an anti-corruption message, not culture war fights, cut through and built a real movement. The conversation also digs into w...

Jonathan Cohn speaks with Mitt Romney as he reflects on the 20th anniversary of Massachusetts’ landmark health care law. Romney discusses the origins of the plan, its influence on the Affordable Care Act, and why that kind of bipartisan problem-solving has all but disappeared from today’s politics. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonu...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol went live to cover the week's biggest stories.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Andrew Egger and Catherine Rampell break down Donald Trump’s bizarre McDonald’s DoorDash photo op at the White House, meant to highlight his “no tax on tips” policy. What starts as an economic messaging push quickly goes off the rails when Trump presses a DoorDash driver on her vote and veers into culture war territor...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com JVL and Will Saletan went live to cover Trump's bizarre posts, including an image of himself as Jesus and a long screed attacking the Pope.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Trump called into FOX News for an interview to explain the Iran war—and quickly fell apart. Will Saletan methodically breaks down how Trump contradicted himself on Iran’s nuclear program, claimed total victory while admitting ongoing threats, and shrugged off rising gas prices and the economic fallout. As always: Watc...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Bill Kristol is joined by Sarah Matthews to discuss Melania, Donald, and how crazy are things now at the White House. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams, and event archives exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Add Bulwark+ Takes feed to your player of choice...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein is joined by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) to discuss the escalating situation in Iran, warning that after 42 days and tens of billions of dollars, the U.S. is no better off and still lacks a clear strategy. Coons raises concerns about congressional authorization, potential backdoor war funding, and the risks of d...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Ned Brower from The Pitt and Karen Tumlin of the Justice Action Center join The Bulwark's hosts Sonny Bunch and Adrian Carrasquillo to discuss the impact of the "ICE episode"—and the Trump policies that it shone a light on. They discuss the reality behind ICE showing up in hospitals, what changed in U.S. policy, and w...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller gives his take on the heated CNBC Squawk Box exchange between Pete Buttigieg and Joe Kernen over Trump’s economy, gas prices, and the war in Iran. Kernen tries to argue with weak MAGA talking points about Biden-era inflation and partisan blame, but Buttigieg pushes back so well that Kernen's co-host literal...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Catherine Rampell and JVL talk about the the week's financial and economic news. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams, and event archives exclusively for Bulwark+ members. Add Bulwark+ Takes feed to your player of choice, here .

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Will Sommer dive into the latest MAGA meltdown: a rumored DOJ probe into conservative influencers allegedly taking foreign money. From imagined arrests to twisted punishments, MAGA figures from Benny Johnson and Catturd to Laura Loomer are eating their own, accusing each other while ignoring the real ide...