Bulwark+ Takes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein speaks with Rep. Jim Himes about Trump’s election speech, his attacks on voting systems, and the danger of declaring sitting senators illegitimate. They also examine how Trump’s own foreign-interference files document Russia’s efforts to help him, spread the Burisma story, and create chaos in American politi...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Join Catherine Rampell and Justin Wolfers as they cover the week's biggest economics and finance news. Check out Justin's Substack, Platypus Economics: https://platypuseconomics.com/

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Join Sarah Longwell and Sonny Bunch as they cover Trump's July 16, 2026 prime time speech.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein speaks with Reuters national security reporter Erin Banco about Trump’s planned election speech, his administration’s moves against federal election officials, and concerns inside his own White House that reviving voting-machine conspiracies could backfire by convincing MAGA voters to stay home. White House...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker take on the Pentagon's bizarre new testosterone screening program for troops, a promotion list with zero women admirals, and China's quiet power grab as America's alliances crack under Trump. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short vid...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Buckle up. It’s the last Trio video of July—and it’s a big one. The guys start by reacting to Joe Rogan’s interview of JD Vance, in which the Vice President trafficked in Epstein conspiracy theories. Vance also reflected on more important matters, like who’s cooler: Republicans or Democrats? His expertise on coolness...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Join Sam Stein, Bill Kristol and Will Saletan as they cover the Todd Blanche confirmation hearing live.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Lauren Egan speaks with Democratic congressional candidate Cait Conley about taking on Mike Lawler, Trump’s broken promise to avoid new wars, and Lawler’s four votes against reining in the administration’s Iran conflict. As always: Watch, listen, and leave a comment. Bulwark+ Takes is home to short videos, livestreams...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein speaks with Ben Wikler, former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, about why Trump is not the main character for many voters, how groceries, gas prices, roads, and local relationships shape elections, and his plan for rebuilding Democratic power from the ground up. Buy Ben's book, "This Is The Plan: How...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Will Saletan take on Trump's rare triple L: his 20% Strait of Hormuz toll dies within 24 hours, E. Jean Carroll finally collects $5.62 million after his lawyers claimed presidential immunity, and ICE halts vehicle stops after multiple fatal shootings. E. Jean Carroll receives $5.62 million sex abuse, def...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Join Bill Kristol and Ben Parker (filling in for Andrew Egger) as they cover the week's biggest stories.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Jonathan Cohn talks with epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina about the record-breaking cyclospora outbreak, which foods to avoid, why officials still haven’t found the source, and how cuts to public health could make outbreaks like this more common. Follow Katelyn Jetelina and Your Local Epidemiologist on Substack . As al...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Will Sommer take on the conspiracy theories surrounding Lindsey Graham’s death and Mitch McConnell’s hospital “proof of life” photo, Jared and Ivanka Kushner’s scandal-plagued Albanian excursion, Libs of TikTok embedding with ICE, and the latest drama from the online looksmaxxers.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein takes on Trump's escalating war on the press: subpoenas targeting NYT reporters over Air Force One security reporting, a rambling 450-word attack on Maggie Haberman, and the irony of Trump attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner just weeks later—while Mark Zuckerberg stays conspicuously silent. As a...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Tim Miller joined the Deadline: White House panel to discuss Trump’s failed attempt to stop the bipartisan housing bill, the Republican cowardice it exposed, Trump's Qatar jet fiasco, and Graham Platner’s withdrawal from the Maine Senate race. Watch Deadline White House on MS NOW: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-hou...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller take on Donald Trump’s decades-long habit of defending men accused of sexual assault and misconduct. From Roy Moore and Roger Ailes to Mike Tyson and Ghislaine Maxwell, they roll the archival tape and expose the staggering depth of the GOP’s hypocrisy. As always: Watch, listen, and leave...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Catherine Rampell is joined by special guests from Yale's Budget Lab, Natasha Sarin and Martha Gimbel, to break down Trump's refusal to sign a housing bill he once championed, the bipartisan push for tax breaks for seniors, and what happens when the across-the-board 10% tariffs Trump imposed expire later this month.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein, Tim Miller and Will Sommer take on the week's weirdest stories: MAGA Manny changes his story on tape—to a puppet. Colorado GOP frontrunner Victor Marx's confessions keep getting darker, and he's still winning. Meghan McCain posts photographic proof that nobody came to her State Fair broadcast. Students for...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Tim Miller take on JD Vance's rough day in Wisconsin: playing Fraud Czar while his Iran deal implodes, and telling a cookie story that accidentally describes Trump. Plus: Patrick Dempsey passes on a Maine Senate run, and Riley Gaines isn't sure Helen Keller existed. (Will Sommer will be back soon. Pray f...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Catherine Rampell went live to cover the breaking news that Graham Platner has chosen to end his campaign for Senate.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Sam Stein and Adrian Carrasquillo take on the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, shot dead by ICE in the North Houston suburbs. Lorenzo lived in the U.S. for 35 years, built a construction business, and put three sons in college. DHS released a statement nearly identical to the one it issued after Renee Goode's killin...

Catherine Rampell gives her take on Donald Trump's latest attempt to claim credit for Walmart's routine discounts, treating a standard retail promotion like a White House policy victory. From Walmart sales to corporate investment announcements, Trump has repeatedly portrayed business decisions that were already in motion as personal wins for his administration. As always: Watch, listen, and leave...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker went live to cover Trump’s press conference at the NATO Summit where called Iran “scum,” said negotiations were over, warned of “a big attack” on Iran, and said a U.S. aircraft carrier was struck by “the Islamic Republic of Japan.” Plus, Mark and Ben break down Trump’s comm...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Trump's Versailles peace deal feels truly dead. Iran fired missiles at tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. answered with strikes promised to be "more intense" than last month's—and Tim asks the question nobody in the administration can answer: why? Plus: JD Vance's Iran victory lap ages badly, Trump trolls Melon...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.com Donald Trump spent America's 250th birthday celebrating one person: himself. Will Saletan breaks down Trump's July 4th speeches, his bizarre Mount Rushmore post, his obsession with foreign leaders praising him, and why Trump's version of patriotism always revolves around Donald Trump. From claiming America was "dead"...