The Bulwark Podcast

The pundit class keeps talking about how Trump hasn't figured out how to respond to Kamala—but she already knows how to deal with him. And the man who's used to controlling the narrative finds himself on the sidelines. Plus, maximizing the efficiency of Kamala's digital campaign over the next 10 weeks.  D.L. Hughley and Teddy Goff join Tim Miller. show notes: D.L.'s radio show, streaming D.L.'s ra...

Rumors have surfaced about Joe feeling sad and resentful about the re-energized party. At the same time, Kamala seems happy to share the limelight with party stars, like Pete Buttigieg. And over at Mar-a-Lago land, the flat-footed Trump campaign still doesn't know how to respond to the change in the Dem ticket. Plus, the mysterious and sketchy way Trump is allocating campaign contributions. Mark L...

Some of the people best suited to make the case against Trump are the jilted Cabinet members and others who worked with him—doing the right thing is never the wrong thing. Plus, McMaster's preposterous spin, appreciating the words Kamala didn't say in her speech, making Trump own RFK, Jr.'s antivax views, and the gamesmanship over the debates. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes: Adam Kinzin...

Kamala delivered a real work of art—a perfect American story filled with love of country, democracy, family, and the pursuit of big dreams. She also spoke to the center of the electorate, and conveyed a strength to take on the bullies and protect the nation, all with a feminine touch. Meanwhile, the sitting black VP has positioned herself as the challenger against an incumbent Trump, infuriating h...

The former senator from Minnesota recounts his early fandom for Tim Walz and how he won an unlikely congressional race in 2006. Plus, Kamala finding her footing, the cowardly Republicans who are shying away from endorsing her, a floundering Trump, and Franken's 70s-era comedy. Al Franken joins Tim Miller. show notes: The 1976 SNL episode featuring Al and Elliott Gould's skit; costs $1.99 to watch

Michelle Obama killed it last night, and did the job that every speaker at the Democratic convention should be doing: persuading the undecided to vote for Kamala. Plus, the inside scoop on her husband's big (... er small) moment, making sure young men know about the toxic crap in Project 2025, and embracing America's great, big, beautiful pluralism.  Jon Favreau joins Tim Miller. show notes: That...

Kamala's genuine smile and Walz's empathetic version of manhood is coming through loud and clear—and may explain the joy that is coursing through the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, Vance remains a popularity sinkhole. Plus, the prospects for Texas ever turning blue, Cancun Cruz, Latino voters, getting the young to the polls, and staying in to fight the good fight. Beto O'Rourke joins Tim Miller. sho...

Kamala's first month as a presidential candidate before the Democratic convention has gone exceedingly well—she's been controlling the narrative, infuriating people like Ben Shapiro, and Trump can't get her pretty face out of his head. Meanwhile, Putin talks a big game, but Ukraine has surprised everyone with its incursion into Russia. Bill Kristol and Michael Weiss join Tim Miller. show notes: Da...

Swapping out Biden for Kamala has been such a big mood boost that consumer confidence among Dems and independents is suddenly surging. Meanwhile, Trump keeps having Potemkin press conferences as a ploy to reclaim the narrative. Plus, Bond-style villains have made hating Project 2025 so easy, and the 'suckers and losers' guy again shows that he doesn't respect the troops.  Brian Beutler joins Tim M...

Two Democratic members of Congress who called on Biden to pass the torch join Tim Miller today. Both Rep. Dean Phillips and Rep. Mikie Sherrill said it was voters who told them they wanted the party to turn the page.  Plus, more Tim Walz insights, and Vance's odd obsession with how females use their bodies throughout their lives.

The anti-MAGA world should keep going on right-wing media platforms, and maybe embarrass their hosts in the process—like Buttigieg on Fox, and Tim on Tomi Lahren's show. Plus, the direct line between Secret Service failures in Butler, PA and the Dallas book depository. And will the FBI ever be able to confirm if Trump took a $10 million bribe from Egypt? Brian Tyler Cohen and Carol Leonnig join Ti...

Trump may be holed up at Mar-a-Lago because he's afraid of another attempt on his life. Meanwhile, he keeps trying to take away Kamala's identity. Plus, the stunningly different way the media is handling hacked campaign docs in 2024, the threat from rando county clerks who may try to block the electoral vote count, and more from the mailbag. Amanda Carpenter joins Tim Miller. show notes: A.B.'s pi...

Biden's departure from the race has put Trump in a real funk. He's in denial about Kamala's crowds, he's publicly pining the loss of his preferred rival, and he's doubling down on his helicopter story—and conflating two different black CA politicians in the process. Plus, filling in the gaps in Kamala's inner circle. Bill Kristol and Chris Cadelago join Tim Miller. show notes: Cadelago's story on...

Kamala is now the star of a story involving a woman called into duty at a moment of crisis with a sitcom dad as a running mate—and Trump can see the danger. Nate Silver joins Tim Miller to explain what his polling model is showing. Plus, the survivorship bias of Elon-world risk takers, and good, old gambling tips. Your weekend pod. show notes: Nate's new book, "On the Edge The Art of Risking Every...

Trump and his supporters don't like America as it currently exists, and their veep pick JD Vance is like the U.S.-hating Code Pink, but in a suit.  Meanwhile, the Democrats have seized the patriotism mantle, à la the Republicans of the 80s. Plus, the sick, unhinged, and inaccurate attack on Tim Walz after his 24 years of service in the National Guard.  Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller. show notes:...

Tim talks to a local Minnesota reporter to get the low-down on Tim Walz's recent political history, including where he falls on the progressive-to-moderate spectrum—as well as his weak spots from his tenure as governor, like the 2020 riots in Minneapolis.  Plus, JD Vance, as a senator, has been texting with a Holocaust-denying far-right fringe character, but won't take calls from high-ranking Ukra...

Tim Walz is a great foil for Kamala's West Coast vibe: He looks like he'll fix your car, then grab an Arby's sandwich before he goes duck hunting. And he's a perfect contrast to JD Vance, the callus-free faux hillbilly who went to Yale. Michael Steele weighs in on the veep pick. Then Rep. Adam Schiff joins Tim Miller to discuss decision to call on Biden to step aside, and "The Biggest Loser: Donal...

Recent polls are showing some pretty significant movement to Harris, and she hasn't even had to play defense yet—though at some point she's going to. Meanwhile, Trump and Vance have had a strategically disastrous three weeks. Plus, RFK, Jr and the poor dead bear cub, the stock market sell-off, and Peter Thiel's lack of appreciation for how he has benefited from liberalism. Bill Kristol joins Tim M...

Donald Trump checks all the boxes of a person with narcissistic personality disorder, but the mainstream press goes out of its way not to cover his apparent pathologies—and ends up normalizing them.  George Conway wants to change the media narrative to stop the guy who only cares about himself from getting back in the Oval Office. Conway joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes: George's A...

We are witnessing a man who thought he was cruising to a landslide who's now afraid he doesn't know how to talk about Kamala—or how to beat her. Plus, he's also worried about that prison issue.  At the same time, the election has quickly shifted from a referendum on Joe Biden to one about the future vs. the past. Dan Pfeiffer joins Tim Miller today. show notes: Dan's Message Box newsletter

Sure sounds like kind words and affection were in short supply in the Trump household in Queens. Perhaps if Donald had been hugged a little more, America would have been spared a lot of trouble—and Trump wouldn't have told his nephew that he wanted his disabled son to die. Meanwhile, Kamala and her team feel like they're in to win it: She's tacking to the center on the border, needling Trump, and...

Republican men used to be stoic and quiet technocrats, but now they're screechy and freaky. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris has a whole crop of strong, silent types to choose from as a running mate.  Plus, a shout-out to Charlie Sykes, movies Tim hasn't seen, and can we quit the identity-oriented Zooms for Kamala? Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller. show notes: Tom's piece on the manliness flip-flop Tom's piec...

Democrats are leaning into the 'Republicans are weird and creepy' talking point—a strategy Tim has long advocated for. JD Vance is Exhibit A for this kind of profile, which explains the rumors about Trump possibly replacing him on the ticket.  Meanwhile, Kamala may have whittled down her veep choices to Shapiro, Kelly, and Walz. Plus, if anyone is going to turn the US into Venezuela, it's Trump, t...

Women candidates get asked different questions than male candidates—that's just a fact. Kamala has a whole team around her ready to handle queries about her ambition and the racist and sexist attacks. But this 100-day sprint also gives Kamala an advantage: an opportunity to show that she is the tougher, stronger, and more prepared leader. Jennifer Palmieri joins Tim Miller. show notes: Jennifer's...

Nancy Pelosi has amassed power through persuasion, and she had the nerve to push a sitting president off the ticket because she prioritized victory. Meanwhile, Kamala's veep pick is key to extending the new generation message—and wouldn't choosing Josh Shapiro be a good way to show she's not on the side of the flag-burning Hamasniks? Plus, mixed emotions for Joe Biden, and jealous Trump is back to...