The Bulwark Podcast

Indictment Time?

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jack Smith is wrapping up his investigation into the Mar-a-Lago classified document collection, and Trump world is bracing for indictments. Plus, defa...

David Frum: Losing the Dominance Primary

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DeSantis claims he doesn't back down, but most of the time, he is flinching and cowering—and now he's allowing Musk to push him around. Plus, Trump ...

Philip Bump: Running Against Reality

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Reality is Kari Lake's biggest opponent, Tim Scott is warmly welcomed into a growing candidate field, Biden gets blamed for guns, and younger voters a...

Will Saletan: Is Tim Scott Running a Potemkin Campaign?

22 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, and Mike Pence really running for the VP slot—or a chance to increase their speaking fees? Plus, Trump is still an extor...

The Bulwark: Live from New York

19 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Charlie Sykes and Tim Miller held court on the Upper West Side Thursday night, weighing in on Rudy's medical experiments on himself, Disney's humiliat...

Steve Vladeck: The Supreme Court's Shadow Docket

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Justice Alito frequently complains that critics of the court are trying to delegitimize it. But it's the Supreme Court's own actions—including its l...

Durham's Fizzle

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

John Durham didn't report anything new, and he took longer to produce less useful material than Mueller did to expose Russian election interference in...

Anne Applebaum: The Case for a Complete Ukrainian Victory

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ukraine's freedom is on the line, but America's role in the world is also at stake. And if a democratic Ukraine can win against autocratic Russia, the...

Will Saletan: We Are Not the Crazy Ones

15 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DeSantis tries to pretend he's normal, James Comer can't find his Biden informants, Republicans are disappointed there's not a bigger crisis at the bo...

Richard Reeves: The Trouble with Boys

12 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Girls are blowing past boys in school, and while most men are poorer than they were 50 years ago, women's incomes have risen across the board. A new k...

Trump vs Law and Order

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From promising a general amnesty to Jan 6 rioters, to re-victimizing E. Jean Carroll on CNN's town hall, and calling a police officer a thug, Trump is...

The Counteroffensive Against Trump—and Putin

10 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Turns out that being a star doesn't allow you to get away with sexual assault after all. The GOP still has an 'Access Hollywood' choice, but now there...

Felix Salmon: The New Not Normal Economy

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Globalism is dead, the remote work revolution is here to stay, and more people are pursuing their big dreams in smaller cities. The Covid pandemic ush...

Will Saletan: A New American Exceptionalism?

08 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Greg Abbott says gun violence is due to a mental health crisis, not guns. So, America is exceptionally crazy? Plus, a bad poll for Biden, Trump's type...

Tim Miller: The Thomas Family Grift

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Clarence and Ginni are enjoying the grift that keeps on giving, Fox's PR moves are not helping, seditious conspiracy doesn't require actually being at...

The Proud Boys: GUILTY

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It was not an Ocean's 11-style conspiracy that convicted the Proud Boys in their sedition case. But the government made a compelling case that the con...

Ben Smith: The Rise and Fall of the Social Media News Age

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The pioneers of the digital media age thought they were building a progressive answer to Drudge—that would help get a Democrat elected in '08. But t...

A.B. Stoddard: Normalizing Trump Again

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time since 2016, Trump will be back on CNN for a live event. It's a huge gift to Trump. Will the media once again center their campaign ...

Will Saletan: The Crassness Is the Point

01 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Greg Abbott chose to be breathtakingly inhumane, MAGA cancel culture is a runaway train, Biden gets in some good digs, Trump is the biggest victim of ...

Tim Miller: Trump Has Already Ball-Gagged Them in the Basement

28 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Republicans are so weak and craven: DeSantis has three bad weeks, and they've thrown in the towel—they're not even trying to try to defeat Trump. Pl...

The Trump Trials

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

State and federal prosecutors may be closing in on Trump, so we've launched a new companion pod—in partnership with Lawfare—that will bring you up...

Benjy Sarlin: The Bud Light Freak-Out

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Conservatives surrendered on gay marriage, but kept their fear about societal change bottled up. And now a beer is a stand-in for transgender people t...

Brian Stelter: Tucker Thought He Was Invincible

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tucker Carlson's firing shocked the media world and Tucker himself. He thought he could say and do anything. What role did Tucker's phony Jan. 6 progr...

Will Saletan: How Many Coups Do You Have to Attempt?

24 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump's negative poll numbers are not high enough, Alito couldn't get other justices to go off the cliff with him, and DeSantis can't stop bossing com...

Tim Miller: Our WWE Politics

21 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Marco Rubio thinks he's in office just to send tweets, No Labels couldn't have picked a worse time for a third-party candidate, and DeSantis' war on w...

Kara Swisher: Musk's Cry for a Giant Hug

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk says that running Twitter is very painful, but it's a pain he brought on himself with firings, stunts, and overpaying for the company. Plus,...

Tina Nguyen: The Cost of Fox’s Lies

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The unsettling Dominion settlement, DeSantis is not fooling MAGA, and the "Taliban 20"—who demanded ransom before Kevin McCarthy could become speake...

Michael Steele: Confronting the Ugliness

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Oklahoma sheriffs pining for lynching, Tennessee legislators trying to teach young Black men a lesson, and Stand Your Ground turning the innocent into...

Will Saletan: What Are You Grooming These Kids to Be?

17 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

At the annual NRA meeting, Kristi Noem bragged about her 2-year-old granddaughter's rifle, while other young kids handled guns. Plus, the GOP is chall...

Dylan Byers: The Media Trial of the Century?

14 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dominion v. Fox is not only about defamation—it's also about the erosion of truth at the network and its impact on our democracy. And with Tucker, H...

Mark Hertling: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Gamer

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The military runs on young soldiers, and sometimes, chatroom braggarts who want to share classified documents get recruited too. Plus, the real world ...

John Harwood: Our Cartoonish Politics

12 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump may excel at firing up resentment in the base, but the party is squandering support from an entire generation of young people. Plus, Alvin Bragg...

Peter Wehner: A Grotesque Leader of a Grotesque Party

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Too many GOP leaders failed to grasp that going along with Trump would increase his hold on the party—and further radicalize the base. Now, the part...

Will Saletan: The GOP’s Abortion Quagmire

10 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Republicans have boxed themselves in on abortion, Elon continues his petulance, the knives are out in the House GOP, and Lindsey Graham sheds tears fo...

Tim Miller: Tennessee’s Idiocracy

07 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Tennessee GOP lives in such a bubble, they thought it was a good idea to expel two Black legislators, who've now become superstars. Plus, the GOP ...

Jeff Sharlet: Scenes from a Slow Civil War

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the parts of the country where Ashli Babbitt is a martyr, pastors glorify guns, and conspiracies thrive, the anticipation of some kind of civil war...

Ben Wittes: The Trump Indictment Is Not Trivial

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump's indictment may be tied to his hush money payments, but it's also bound up with democracy concerns. If one more shoe had dropped after Access H...

Tim Alberta: Trump Has an Evangelical Problem

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump threw the anti-abortion movement under the bus after losses in the midterms — which prompted a ferocious backlash among evangelicals. He has y...

Will Saletan: Individual 1 Gets His Day in Court

03 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump always calls for his enemies to get prosecuted and now he's getting a taste of his own medicine. But will he get to skip the mugshot? Plus, Fox'...

Special Indictment Podcast: Adam Kinzinger, Mona Charen, Will Saletan

31 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump faces a 34-count indictment in New York and more charges may be on the way. But will it hurt him politically, or propel him to the GOP nominatio...

Tim Miller: DeSantis Whiffs on Disney

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"Tiny D" thought he'd puff up his chest to go after Mickey Mouse — only to get outflanked. Plus, loony GOP state legislators, Wisconsin's $45 millio...

Ruy Teixeira: More Tough Love for Democrats

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While Republicans frequently overdo it on cultural issues, Democrats still are vulnerable on race, gender, and drag queen story hour. They need to sto...

Judge Michael Luttig: A Betrayal of America

28 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump's incitement of Jan 6 and his call to terminate the constitution were treason-like. And the Republicans who won't renounce him have betrayed the...

Will Saletan: The Purest Distillation of Trump

27 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Down in Waco, Trump was on double duty: Blowing up the DeSantis' campaign on the launch pad, and clearing up any ambiguity about who he really is. Wil...

Tim Miller: Ron DeSantis Is Scott Walker

24 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

DeSantis gets over his skis on Ukraine, 'Don't Say Gay' escalates, and it's not racist to criticize the CCP. Plus, the crowd that warns of death and d...

Shelby Talcott: DeSantis Sticks His Toe in the Water

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ron DeSantis threw a couple of very small rocks at Trump this week, and he's angling to get to the right of Trump on Covid, and perhaps on abortion as...

Michael Steele: Trump Punked Everybody

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Using a page from his well-worn playbook, Trump framed the narrative about the Manhattan grand jury case on his terms. Plus, the white boy frat party ...

Dana Milbank: It’s the Trump Show Again

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Republican Party had been showing signs it was beginning to move on from Trump, but now it's wrapping itself around him once again — because att...

Susan Glasser: Trump 2024 Is Scarier than Trump 2020

20 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump's rhetoric is more apocalyptic and more confrontational, and the party still can't renounce its addiction to the man. This is Trump without guar...

Tim Miller: Be Alarmed

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump is crystal clear that he wants retribution against the people who wouldn't let him remain in office — and he'll pull us out of NATO too. Plus,...

Philip Bump: The Baby Boom Generation Is Winding Down

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

America has long responded to the needs of Baby Boomers, and the generation reshaped the country as it grew older. But now, its grip on the direction ...

Tom Nichols: Our Fatal Complacency

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Pence warned us about the threat to our democracy, and we shrugged. Plus, Bethany Mandel can't define woke, Fox can't keep its talking points straight...

James Hohmann: DeSantis Joins the Surrender Caucus

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ron DeSantis chose to pander to Tucker Carlson on Ukraine and shows himself as unserious on one of the biggest issues of our time. Plus, socialism for...

Will Saletan: Pence’s Profile in Half-Courage

13 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Pence is trying win over the DC press corps but still refuses to do his part to hold Trump accountable for January 6. Plus, the new too-big-to-fa...

Tim Miller: Be Happy, Make Babies

10 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

People not having kids because of climate change anxiety are not thinking about a future with Josh Hawley having 100 babies. Plus, sad CPAC, the least...

Adrienne LaFrance: The New Anarchy

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The largest threat of extremist violence right now is coming from the rightwing. But 100 years ago, it came from the left. History can teach us about ...

Matt Gertz: Tucker's Trump Derangement Syndrome

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tucker has been dining out on how much the media supposedly despises Donald Trump — when by his own admission, he hates Trump with a passion. And hi...

Tucker’s Latest Lies

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tucker's attempting to white-wash Jan 6, Trump and DeSantis have a thing against prosecutors, Kari says we'll have world peace again with Trump capitu...

Amb. John Bolton: I Thought Trump Would Be Disciplined

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

John Bolton thought he could create a coherent foreign policy for Trump, but now sees he was naive. Plus, Charlie Sykes asks Bolton about his early de...

Rick Wilson: Why Would MAGA Want Trump-Lite?

03 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The base wants the sugar, the fat, and the salt — not someone afraid to say how they're different from Trump. Plus, DeSantis doesn't want to face th...

Mehdi Hasan: How to Win Any Argument

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Master interlocutor Mehdi Hasan says come to a debate prepared — bring receipts and know the other side's best argument better than they do. And Dem...

Jennifer Senior: How Old Are You in Your Head?

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

People over 40 tend to see themselves as about 20% younger than their actual age. Is it because aging is seen as bad — or because they're optimistic...

My Conversation With Paul Ryan

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The former Speaker of the House tells Charlie Sykes a Reagan 2.0 candidate would have a shot in '24. He also discusses his relationship with McCarthy,...

Will Saletan: Dilbert, Free Speech, and Racism

27 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Scott Adams has the right to carry on about white victimhood, and newspapers have the free speech right to drop him. Plus, after the Ohio train wreck,...

Tim Miller: Here's Why You Need to Shut Up

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Georgia jury forewoman needs to stop talking, Norma Desmond took a break from Mar-a-Lago, Charlie and Tim disagree on Roald Dahl, and DeSantis lec...

Brian Rosenwald: Fox Is Afraid of Its Audience

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Fox isn't news, and it isn't propaganda. It's about getting the biggest audience it can, to make the most money it possibly can. And Tucker Carlson an...

Bill Lueders: Wisconsin's High Stakes Supreme Court Race

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With abortion and election integrity on the line, Democrats got the opponent they wanted for the most consequential election of 2023. Plus, Joe Biden ...

Will Sommer: The Power of QAnon

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Conspiracy theories had been gaining ground in the GOP before Trump, but after he became conspiracy-theorist-in chief, many of his fans dove into cons...

Biden’s Kyiv Moment

20 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Biden went to an active war zone, Lindsey Graham shows his old McCain-sidekick self, DeSantis weighs in on Ukraine, the Michigan GOP disconnects from ...

David Frum: The GOP’s Obnoxiousness Problem

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The text messages in the Dominion case show that Fox was intentionally pushing lies about 2020 — lies that led to violence. And Trump is one step aw...

Ben Wittes: Jack Smith at Ramming Speed

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Pence is erasing his own profile in courage by trying to resist special counsel Jack Smith's subpoena, a Mar-a-Lago document prosecution is still...

Michael Kranish: The Trump/Kushner/Saudi Vortex

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In early 2021, both Kushner and Trump needed a game plan for making money. MBS — who both men had helped to consolidate power and literally get away...

Damon Linker: How Not to Fight Wokeness

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Even people who aren't racist and aren't anti-trans can get rubbed the wrong way by the heavy-handed puritanical approach of the woke movement. Plus, ...

Will Saletan: The Weekend of the UFOs

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is flying above us? Is it more than sky garbage? Meanwhile, the House GOP radar is against whatever Joe Biden does. Plus, Trump's opinions about ...

Tim Miller: It Was Dumber than You Might Have Imagined

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The weaponization committee hearing was an embarrassing bust. Plus, James O'Keefe's love of musicals, the karma of calling DeSantis a groomer — and ...

Tom Nichols: The Kook Bench

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The drunken heckling caucus around Marjorie Taylor Greene is not out of control — it did exactly what its voters sent them to do. And Tucker Carlson...

A.B. Stoddard: Dark Brandon Rising

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Biden's shrewd State of the Union address played rope-a-dope with Republicans, and he relished the scrum. Plus, Trump goes classic and pulls the groom...

Mark Hertling: What My Oath Means

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The balloon set off a performance theater among members of Congress that was unbecoming of their rank and office, Lt. Gen Mark Hertling tells Charlie ...

Will Saletan: Popping the Red Balloon

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It wouldn't have mattered how Biden had handled the balloon — Republicans would have said he was weak. Plus, the art of donning an AR-15 pin to trig...

Tim Miller: Never Should Mean Never

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Too many normies STILL won't say "Never Trump," but Paul Ryan may be coming around. Plus, Kari keeps pretending to be governor, Hugh Hewitt is leg-hum...

Elie Honig: Is Trump Untouchable?

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Merrick Garland likes to say that no one is above the law, but the DOJ's own guidelines make it clear that some people are more equal than others. And...

Charlie Savage: The Real Witch Hunt?

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump has longed complained about a deep state plot to smear him with the Russia investigation, but the Durham probe of that investigation comes off a...

Julian Zelizer and Kevin Kruse: History Is Under Assault

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

History became more politicized in the Trump era and the conservative media ecosystem has helped amplify untruths. Princeton's Kevin Kruse and Julian ...

Will Saletan: Policing the Police

30 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Training and diversity are not enough — cops who break the law must be prosecuted. Plus, the normalization of political violence around Jan 6 and th...

Tim Miller: Deep Inside Tucker Carlson's Navel

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Republicans are so out of touch, their public brand is in trouble. Plus, MTG is Queen of the GOP, Schlapp is too sleazy for Gaetz, and party types are...

Michael Weiss: A Watershed Moment for Ukraine

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It took a lot of arm-twisting, but the West has finally committed to arming Ukraine with battle tanks — not only to boost its defenses, but also to ...

Jonathan Alter: How the Documents Hurt Biden

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Biden has been seen as scandal-free, but his classified docs case may cost him a big political asset: the benefit of the doubt. Plus, Trump's map in t...

David Weigel: MAGA v MAGA

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Republicans may have underperformed in the midterms, but the RNC chair fight is not about changing the party's direction. For the base, it's about out...

Will Saletan: It's In Your Nature to Destroy Yourselves

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The pro-life movement, undaunted by the midterms, is pushing for more restrictions— and the political backlash will be severe. Plus, give Ukraine th...

Catherine Rampell: Psychotic Feral Cats with Machetes

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Republicans are back to extortion and holding the debt ceiling hostage after adding $4.7 trillion to the deficit during the Trump years — and that w...

Michael Schmidt: "I Didn't Know They Made People Like That"

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Before John Kelly became chief of staff, he thought the chaos at the White House was due to the people around Trump. Instead, each day was about get...

Bill Kristol: Glimmers of Hope

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The shift in attitudes about defense and foreign policy in Germany has been dramatic since the war in Ukraine began. Plus, will ripping off a dying do...

David French: Our Religious Freedoms Are Not Hanging by a Thread

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

New York Times-bound David French tells Charlie Sykes how he re-thought same-sex marriage, how he felt he was living in a bubble, and how religious li...

Will Saletan: Performative Garbage

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

RonAnon Johnson wanted to get beat up on "Meet the Press" — so he could weaponize it. Plus, the active moving backward from MLK's dream, Trump gets ...

Michael Steele: Slapping Matt Schlapp

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Former RNC Chair Michael Steele had a front-row seat for the start of the ugly transformation at CPAC. Racist rhetoric has now been normalized, and th...

Adam Kinzinger: Detoxing from Congress

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Watching from a distance, former Rep. Kinzinger tells Charlie Sykes that House moderates have a lot of power they're not willing to use, while the Fre...

Aaron Blake: Kevin McCarthy Is Keeping a Secret

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Without his secret pact, Kevin McCarthy likely would not be Speaker. Now, the American public — and members of Congress — are in the dark about th...

Olivia Nuzzi: Has Trump Become Norma Desmond?

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Trump rarely leaves his 'weird' smelling, moldy mansion, he seems bored and tired, and D-List MAGA are his main loyalists now. Plus, Olivia and Charli...

Will Saletan: Expect More Hostage-Taking in the House

09 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

McCarthy paid the ransom, Bannon is openly supporting violence in Brazil, and even normie Republicans are prepared to put the US economy at risk. Plus...

A.B. Stoddard: A Desperate Man

06 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The hijackers have the energy in the House, Biden is quietly succeeding, no-mentum Trump's biggest fear is being ignored, DeSantis is a closet wimp, a...