Bulwark+ Takes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller join MSNOW’s The Weekend (with The Bulwark’s own Catherine Rampell) to discuss Trump’s weird Mamdani meeting, why MTG suddenly bailed on Congress, and what the looming Epstein Files release could shake loose. Check out The Weekend on MSNOW: https://www.ms.now/the-weekend As always: Watch, listen, and leave...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Bill Kristol and Catherine Rampell talk the real state of the economy, new polling on how voters think Trump is handling it, and why Vance is suddenly diverging from Trump on key economic points. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams, and event archives excl...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com After the shutdown froze key agencies, the U.S. is now stuck with permanent black holes in the economic record from missing jobs numbers, missing inflation data, and missing surveys that can never be recovered. But this crisis didn’t start with the shutdown. Andrew Egger talks to Catherine Rampell to get her take on t...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sarah Longwell and Sam Stein take on Donald Trump’s surprisingly friendly meeting with Zohran Mamdani, with Trump praising the future mayor of NYC and Mamdani calling him a fascist to his face. Plus, Sarah and Sam answer your mailbag questions on the future of The Bulwark , Sam’s non-traditional management style, and...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein, JVL and Andrew Egger take on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s shocking resignation announcement: why she did it, why it blindsided GOP leadership, what it says about Trump’s grip on the party, and whether this is the start of something bigger. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sen. Mark Kelly joins Sam Stein for his take on Donald Trump’s posts calling for him and other lawmakers to be tried for sedition and executed, why the video on unlawful military orders was originally released, and how his wife Gabby Giffords’ survival of a politically-motivated shooting shaped his response. As always...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Bill Kristol and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling discuss why the proposed U.S.–Russia “peace plan” would reward Russian aggression, undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, alienate U.S. allies, and the dangerous misunderstanding of Ukraine’s history. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short video...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com After Lauren Egan wrote her newsletter Meet the Most Hated Democrat in America about Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson has become the unlikely villain of the left, he reached out and wanted to come on and explain himself. All the attention was because he won’t redraw the state’s congressional map. He argues that...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com The CDC just updated its website regarding vaccines and autism, backtracking on a promise RFK Jr. made to Senator Bill Cassidy during his confirmation. JVL and Jonathan Cohn explain what the CDC actually said, review the scientific evidence on vaccines and autism, and give their takes on the implications this could ha...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sarah sits down with Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher to break down the Texas redistricting ruling and why a Trump-appointed judge delivered a major surprise. They dig into what this means for 2026 and why the fight over fair maps is far from over. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Trump spent the morning amplifying posts calling for Democratic lawmakers to be hanged for releasing a video reminding service members they don’t have to follow unlawful orders. Sam Stein and Andrew Egger give their take why Trump snapped, what the Democrats actually said, and why this moment is more dangerous than we...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Donald Trump hosted a dinner for Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman and America’s billionaire class were all tuxed up, grinning, and taking selfies with a dictator who had a journalist chopped into pieces. Tim Miller gives his take on the most depraved display of American oligarchy we’ve seen yet as Saudi Arabia looks...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller takes on Trump’s terrible week—the botched Comey prosecution, the Epstein mess, the gold-plated White House antics, and why even MAGA-friendly voices are calling him a lame duck. Check out Deadline: White House on MSNOW: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment....

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Trump publicly fantasized about firing Jerome Powell and installing a more compliant Fed chair. Andrew Egger and Catherine Rampell break down why Trump’s threats to seize control of monetary policy could destabilize inflation, markets, and the entire economy—and why Wall Street still seems weirdly calm about it. As al...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com JVL and Sam Stein take on Trump’s rambling McDonald’s appearance, the scrambled stories, and the stark drop in his energy compared to last year—and discuss why his team keeps steering him into cushioned, low-pressure settings. Be sure to read JVL’s Triad newsletter on the speech: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Tim Miller take on the genuinely wild day in redistricting. Texas’ GOP-drawn maps were blocked by a federal court as Indiana Republicans revolt against Trump’s pressure campaign, and the whole 2025 gerrymandering project starts wobbling. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is ho...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the Oval Office and whatever you were expecting from the press conference — it was worse. JVL and Andrew Egger share their take on Trump’s attacks on an American reporter for asking about slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Trump’s praise for Saudi Arabia’s...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Description: The House just voted 427–1 to release the Epstein files, a shocking turn after months of GOP resistance, including from President Trump. Sam Stein and Joe Perticone break down how Trump’s flip changed everything, why Mike Johnson lost control of his own conference, and what happens now as the Senate takes...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Red states built up a massive hemp industry and the vote by Congress to reopen the government suddenly set up a deadline to shut it all down. Tim Miller is joined by Politico’s Natalie Fertig as they take on the strange coalition forming to save THC seltzers and how Sens. Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, and Rand Paul ended...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim digs into Trump’s ugly attacks on Rep Thomas Massie, the backstory Trump ignores, and what it says about the cracks forming inside MAGA. He also joins Nicolle Wallace to dig into it. Watch Deadline: White House on MSNBC: https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulw...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com JVL and Sam Stein take on Larry Summers’ embarrassing Epstein emails, Summers’ long-running influence in Democratic circles, the fallout inside Harvard and CAP, and the absurdity of a Treasury Secretary asking a convicted predator for dating tips. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home t...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and JVL take on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s break from Trump, why her sincerity sets her apart from the GOP’s careerist crowd, and what her Epstein-driven pivot says about the party’s collapse into pure performance politics. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos,...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Will Saletan dissect Sen. Barrasso’s messy defense of Trump amid new Epstein-related revelations, soaked in both contradictions and political awkwardness. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams, and event archives exclusively for Bulwark+ member...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Jack Cocchiarella take on Trump’s attacks on Rep. Massie hitting a nerve within his own base, as Marjorie Taylor Greene pivots away from Trump on CNN and die-hard MAGA loyalists start calling out the corruption and hypocrisy. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Bill Kristol and Mark Hertling discuss Venezuela’s uncertain path, Europe’s evolving troubles, and growing discontent inside the Pentagon. Pre-order “If I Don’t Return” by Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) Pre-order If I Don’T Return by Mark Hertling. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home t...