The Bulwark

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Jonathan Cohn sits down with Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to discuss his admiration for Barack Obama, the shortcomings of the Obama presidency, and the lessons he hopes to carry into the Senate. El-Sayed explains why he believes Obama made it possible for people like him to run for office, where he thinks Obama fell short on health care and other issues, and why Democrats need to stop assuming Republicans will negotiate in good faith.Plus, El-Sayed discusses standing up to...

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How do democracies fall apart, and why do the people who could stop it so often look the other way? CNN’s Dana Bash joins Sarah Longwell to examine the elections that changed history, including the fatal miscalculation that helped bring Hitler to power and its disturbing echoes in Trump’s Republican Party. They also explore how a handful of votes might have prevented Trump’s rise, why Democrats need to learn how to win, and which 2026 races could change American politi...

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Donald Trump claims Russia has been “fine” in Ukraine, and Michael Weiss, who has witnessed Russian atrocities firsthand, is furious. Weiss and former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos examine Trump’s increasingly alarming alignment with Putin, reports that Elon Musk interfered with Ukraine’s satellite defenses, Pete Hegseth’s refusal to release desperately needed Patriot missiles, and whether Trump now fits the intelligence definition of a Russian agent of influence.

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Sam Stein and Will Sommer break down the disgusting attack ad targeting Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton, featuring her estranged mother accusing her of lying. When Acton was 12, her stepfather was accused of sexually abusing her and was indicted by a grand jury before he fled with Amy’s mother. The ad appears to be connected to Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign, which has refused to disavow it. Sam and Will explain how the campaign’s smear tactics have backfired, how right...

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Though they deny any involvement, the Trump administration and Elon Musk are apparently helping Putin escalate his campaign of terror against Ukraine. Civilian casualties across Ukraine are rising—including women and children—but Trump said Monday that Russia "has been fine on Ukraine." At the same time, Team Trump looks to be lining up business deals with Russian energy companies. And Marco's whitewashing of it all is sickening. Plus: Zelensky is tired of Trump's games, China is playing a curious role on b...

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A quick note: Will Saletan has a rare gift for methodically dismantling spin, connecting the dots others miss, and building a case so thorough that there’s nowhere left to hide. This kind of analysis isn’t built to please an algorithm. It’s built to help you understand what’s really happening. Support Will and the rest of The Bulwark team by joining.

Will Saletan gives his take on the growing panic inside H...

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Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol give their takes on Trump’s increasingly desperate push to save Republicans two weeks before the midterms. As Trump’s approval rating sinks and Democrats build a major polling advantage, the president is struggling to make the case for his party, resorting to racist attacks, religious bigotry, and bizarre defenses of vulnerable Republicans.

Plus, Trump continues to side with Vladimir Putin as Russia escalates its attacks on Ukraine and Marco Rubio is left defending the...

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Donald Trump can’t seem to stop talking about other men’s bodies, from Republican candidates’ jawlines to their backsides, even as his presidency faces mounting crises. Sam Stein joins Nicolle Wallace on MS NOW to discuss Trump’s bizarre fixation and misplaced priorities, plus why James Talarico’s unconventional campaign against Ken Paxton could rewrite the political playbook in Texas.Watch Deadline: White House on MS NOW: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house

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George Conway welcomes Rick Wilson to discuss Donald Trump’s increasingly strange public appearances, his visible decline, and the chaos surrounding his second term. From Susie Wiles’s uncertain future to the possibility of a historic Republican wipeout in the midterms, Wilson explains why he thinks the GOP is headed for a political apocalypse, with surprising upsets even in deep-red states.

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The vice president had the gall to suggest he didn't know anything about what millions of Americans know: that Trump is using his office to enrich himself and that the administration made major mistakes in executing the war in Iran. But the polls strongly suggest a rebuke of Putin's biggest fan is coming because of the conflict in the Middle East. Plus: The obsession at Fox over Abdul El-Sayed is getting embarrassing, Mike Rogers is a POS, Tim and Bill share...

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Why is Elon Musk pouring hundreds of millions into Republican campaigns, and what is he afraid will happen if Democrats regain power? Kara Swisher joins Catherine Rampell to explain Musk’s increasingly desperate alliance with Trump, how Silicon Valley billionaires are buying political influence, and why Big Tech’s loyalty to MAGA may have an expiration date. Plus, Swisher dishes on JD Vance, her surprising new partnership with Hillary Clinton, and why she’s walking away from CNN.

Show notes...

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Sam Stein and Will Sommer break down the foreign money scandal involving Alina Habba’s new husband, Ric Grenell, and the Kennedy Center. They also examine the protests roiling Albania over Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump’s controversial resort project, and Bari Weiss’s pursuit of right-wing internet conspiracy theories at CBS News.

Plus, the strange cast of characters gathering for a $3,000-a-ticket citizen journalist event at Mar-a-Lago, Laura Loomer’s White House ambitions, and Nick Fuentes’s online dating dra

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Live from Charlotte, the gang welcomes Pete Buttigieg for a night of politics among friends. This recording of Bulwark LIVE is exclusively for Bulwark+ members.

Note: Fast forward to 9:40 for the show start.

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Will is one of the great chroniclers of Lindsey Graham’s career, and his perspective on how we got here is exactly the kind of informed, unsparing analysis we believe is worth supporting. Help us keep bringing you conversations like this by becoming a Bulwark member.

Trump is lifting sanctions on Russian energy, his own energy secretary is contradicting his explanation, and Republicans are scrambling to defend the indefensible. Sam Stein and Will Sa...

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For years, American spies and diplomats have suffered mysterious, debilitating injuries. Was Russia secretly targeting them, and did the CIA cover it up? Former CIA officer Mark Polymeropoulos, whose career was ended by Havana Syndrome, and Michael Weiss welcome 60 Minutes investigative journalist Michael Rey to examine explosive new evidence, a suspected Russian microwave weapon, and the government’s treatment of its own officers. The Havana Syndrome: Secret Weapons, a Government Cover-Up, and the Greatest Spy Mystery of Our Time by Michael Re...

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Tim Miller talks with journalist Caolan Robertson, reporting from Ukraine’s front lines, about disruptions to the satellite communications Ukrainian soldiers depend on, Marco Rubio’s baffling explanation, and the deadly consequences of losing that lifeline. They also discuss Russia’s escalating attacks on civilians, Ukraine bringing the fight to Russian territory, and how Trump’s relationship with Putin is being viewed by Ukrainians.Follow Caolan’s independent reporting from Ukraine: https://caolan.report/

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A legendary Democratic strategist and a legendary Republican strategist, once on opposite sides of the political battlefield, now fighting for the same cause. Only at The Bulwark. Become a paid member to support more conversations like this.

James Carville joins Bill Kristol to explain why he's cautiously optimistic about a massive Democratic wave, with Republicans facing unexpected threats in Florida, Texas, and even the Deep South. They discuss Trump’s disastrous polling, the GO...

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David Frum joins Mona Charen to discuss Trump’s cozy relationship with Putin, the absurdity of his Russian diesel deal, and the damage he’s doing to America’s standing in the world. They also discuss why Wall Street considers the U.S. a riskier borrower than Greece, the failure of Trump’s deadly drug boat strikes, and what it will take to repair the damage after Trump.

Bulwark Book Club pick for October: The Age of Acrimony: How Amer...

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Recorded live in Columbia, South Carolina, on October 16, 2026, Tim Miller, Sam Stein, and Will Sommer take a hilarious tour through the latest MAGA madness: Kimberly Guilfoyle’s increasingly messy scandals, Tucker Carlson’s inexplicable horse commentary, James O’Keefe’s $3,000 journalism awards, the mystery of $60,000 in missing beef, and the growing civil war among young Republicans.

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Gen. Mark Hertling and Ben Parker welcome renowned military strategist Eliot Cohen to discuss what makes great leaders, the dysfunction inside Trump’s Pentagon, and the difficult choices facing military officers. Drawing on lessons from Churchill, Afghanistan, and Iraq, they explore why wars go wrong, how to recognize victory, and what history teaches us about military strategy.

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There are a lot of red states with big elections this year where Democrats are 'sayin' there's a chance,' like Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina, or Iowa, where they may have more than just a chance. The Atlantic's Elaine Godfrey joins Sarah to talk about her travels with Iowa's two leading Democratic candidates, the other long shots Democrats are eyeing in red states, and what disaffected Trump voters are saying about all of it.

Show links:

Sarah's...

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Tim Miller ventures outside the Bulwark bubble for a candid conversation with Mario Nawfal, a Trump-friendly influencer who’s having serious buyer’s remorse. They discuss Trump’s disastrous Iran war, the voters abandoning his coalition, his increasingly dangerous obsession with his legacy, and his willingness to throw Ukraine under the bus to appease Putin.

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For more than 10 years, Trump has been showing us how skilled he is at sowing division and riling people up. Alan sees the kind of tribal mentality that Trump has fostered on his own reality show, "The Traitors," where contestants make incredibly stupid decisions because they don't want to deviate from the pack. The actor takes the opportunity to urge people to vote, protest, and stay vigilant in the face of the Republicans' campaigns of hate against immigrants and trans people...

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This is something you won’t find anywhere else: firsthand reporting from the journalist who investigated the story, paired with the perspective of someone who’s actually worked inside Trump’s White House. Become a Bulwark member to support more conversations like this.

Five days. That’s how long Katie Zachariah lasted as Trump’s White House press secretary before a disastrous debut, questions about her legal credentials, and a wave of West Wing backs...

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A quick note: There’s no shortage of people telling you Trump is corrupt. Catherine brings the numbers, the evidence, and, well, the receipts. Support that kind of journalism by becoming a Bulwark member.

Even Republicans are starting to notice Trump’s staggering corruption. Catherine Rampell and JVL take on the latest scandals engulfing Trump’s inner circle, new polling showing his own voters recognize the grift, and the economic damage being inflicted on ord...

I’m rejoined this week by Matt Roller, the showrunner of Netflix’s Haunted Hotel, to discuss the second season of his hit animated show. We talked about the difficulties of getting a new season done in just one year, how the fandom has reacted to the show (and why he tries to avoid letting the fanfic influence his work), and whether or not season three is on the way. If you haven’t watched Haunted Hotel and are a fan of similar shows like Bob’s Burgers or Futurama, you should really check it out. And if you enjoyed...

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Sarah and JVL talk about:

* The Media obsessing over the wrong problem with Katie Zacharias.

* The Alina Habba - Ric Grenell cage match.

* Kimberly Guilfoyle’s stylist Ruby Rhod Fancy James.

* Another big inflation jump.

And that’s before they get into Senate polling numbers looking really bad for Republicans. You want schadenfreude with a side of hopeium? The best friends have you covered.

Show notes:

* If you...

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Look, we’ll keep this simple: It’s the Trio. Uncut, ad-free, and uncensored. There could not possibly be a better reason to become a paid member of The Bulwark.

Sam Stein, Tim Miller, and Will Sommer give an update on the MAGA influencers caught pushing a false story about Texas Democrat James Talarico, and why those behind the smear may face few consequences. They also examine court documents revealing how Kristi Noem and...

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Let’s be clear about what we’re doing here. The Bulwark exists to fight authoritarianism and defend American democracy. We do that with reporting, analysis, accountability, and by building a community of people who refuse to look away or pretend this is normal. If you believe this fight matters, join Bulwark+ and help us do the work.

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss the FBI raid on Ilhan Omar, Trump’s latest overtu...

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A quick note: If you appreciate two people who have spent years confronting Trump without pulling punches, support independent journalism like this by becoming a Bulwark member.

Mike Johnson sure sounds afraid of what might come out when the House—under Democratic control—actually does its job and investigates the corruption of this administration. Democrats should start with the families of Trump officialdom who've been making bank since Inauguration Day. And as the Guil...

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Tim Miller gives his take on Elon Musk’s return as the biggest campaign donor of the 2026 midterms, funneling $276 million into Republican groups, including $158 million to help Republicans hold the Senate. After threatening to launch his own political party and breaking with Donald Trump, Musk is back in the GOP’s corner.Tim looks at how Musk’s spending, Trump’s return to X, the administration’s dealings with Russia, and Ukraine’s loss of critical Starlink access point to a renewed alig...

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Is Donald Trump about to fire the woman who has kept his White House from descending into chaos? Bill Kristol and Andrew Egger cover reports that Trump is considering replacements for Susie Wiles, his retreat from Pete Hegseth’s planned livestreamed execution, and his increasingly alarming efforts to appease Vladimir Putin at Ukraine’s expense.

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Elon is now pitching in to help POTUS sabotage Ukraine while Trump makes a payout to Putin and works on his next self-enrichment scheme. A Cooper victory in North Carolina would be key to a potential Democratic Senate majority—a first step to reining in Trump—but the former governor warns Tim that Republicans have historically been undercounted in the polls and his lead should not be taken for granted. Plus: Scheiber in his recent book has the backstory on the radi...

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There aren’t many shows where a former CIA officer and an investigative journalist with deep sources in Ukraine and the intelligence community can compare notes like this. Help us bring you more of it by becoming a Bulwark member.

Marc Polymeropoulos and Michael Weiss give their takes on the growing questions surrounding Elon Musk’s Starlink and his company purposely disrupted Ukraine’s war effort. They examine reports of missed Russian missile warnin...

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Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) break down the latest developments in Ukraine, including Russia’s escalating attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, the growing rift between Washington and Kyiv, and how Ukraine is imposing mounting costs on Russian forces. They also examine how the Trump administration’s approach is undermining a critical U.S. ally and what the battlefield’s evolution means for the future of modern warfare.

Then, former military lawyer and federal prosecutor Margaret Donovan joins...

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Tim, Sarah, and JVL are back together for a super-sized, off-the-rails show. They wish Kimberly Guilfoyle well after she was forced out of the Trump administration, dig into the background of our new White House Press Secretary, discuss the DHS raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's home, discuss the right-wing meltdown over James Talarico's absence from the campaign trail, and gloat about the GOP pulling resources out of some key House races.Then, they go behind they paywall, and it REALLY gets...

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Americans are living in a more dangerous world now because of Donald Trump. Not only because of his now-expanding war in the Middle East, but also through his reckless advocacy of AI. And in his desperation over the midterms, he's cut a sinister deal with Putin, the very same man helping Iran to kill Americans. Rice tells Tim this is not the time to be complacent over the good polling numbers. Just go vote. Plus, Democratic strategist Jackie Rosa checks in...

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Sam Stein sits down with Eric Deters, the man whose text messages helped expose Kimberly Guilfoyle’s alleged $100,000 ask and preceded her resignation as U.S. ambassador to Greece. Deters discusses why he believes Guilfoyle was forced out, his plans to sue her for defamation, and why he says her resignation won’t end the congressional and State Department investigations. He also shares his take on the culture of money and influence inside Trump World, and why he believes the fallout from...

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Catherine Rampell is joined by Andrew Egger to discuss Elon Musk’s $276 million effort to rescue Republicans in the midterms, Trump’s DOJ targeting news organizations, and his latest deal with Vladimir Putin.

Then, former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland shares what she learned negotiating with Trump, why appeasing him doesn’t work, and what America’s billionaires should learn from the rise of Russia’s oligarchs.

Show notes:

* Read the latest Receipts newsletter

* Unr...

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Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol give their takes on the news White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia made when she announced on her first day that the White House asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as U.S. ambassador to Greece. Beyond that, Zacharia’s first briefing was remarkably short, with questions from just a few outlets, all of them conservative, yet she still struggled to deliver clear answers and repeatedly returned to praising Trump.

Plus, they examine Trump’s late...