Bulwark Takes

JVL, Sarah Longwell, Will Sommer, and Andrew Egger talk Trump’s sad, sparsely attended military/birthday parade in Washington DC while ‘No Kings’ protests across the country draw unprecedentedly massive crowds.

Tim Miller returns from the No Kings protests in New Orleans to deliver heartbreaking and shocking news from Minnesota: what appears to be a politically motivated assassination of Democratic leaders. 

Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed, while State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette remain hospitalized after surviving multiple gunshots. The attacks occurred in separate incidents at their homes, reportedly carried out by individuals impersonating police officers. One suspect remains at large.

Adrian catches up with Senator Padilla after he was manhandled and cuffed by Homeland Security security officials as he tried to ask Sec. Kristi Noem at at press conference in LA on Thursday. 

Tim Miller and Will Sommer analyze how the MAGA movement is reacting to Israel’s strike on Iran and what it could mean for Trump’s coalition moving forward.

As tensions rise overseas, deep divisions are surfacing within the far-right. From Jack Posobiec’s warnings about a fractured movement, to Nick Fuentes accusing Trump of betrayal, to Tucker Carlson openly opposing any U.S. involvement. We’re seeing cracks in what is usually a united front. Is the MAGA coalition’s “America First” mantra clashing with pro-Israel hawkishness?

Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller join Nicolle Wallace on MSNBC's Deadline: White House to break down the disturbing footage of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla being forcibly removed, handcuffed, and thrown to the ground at a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Andrew Egger interviews Nathan Sage, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Iowa and former Marine, about ICE enforcement, domestic military use, and national unrest. Sage criticizes President Trump’s rhetoric, addresses immigration and economic inequality, and outlines his strategy to win back working-class voters in a Republican-trending state.

Will Sommer and Sonny Bunch break down Charlie Kirk’s sharp turn on immigration, how far-right figures like Nick Fuentes are driving the conversation, and what it says about the radicalization of the conservative movement.

Read "How the Groypers Won" in The Bulwark

Sam Stein and Sarah Longwell dive into a wave of troubling polling data for Donald Trump, including dismal approval numbers and declining support on key issues like immigration and the economy. We break down what the data reveals about voter sentiment and how Trump’s return to center stage is impacting his numbers.

Senator Alex Padilla was tackled and handcuffed at a DHS press conference in Los Angeles after attempting to ask Secretary Kristi Noem a question. Sam Stein and Tim Miller break down the unprecedented and shocking event.

Sam Stein and Tim Miller break down Trump’s latest unhinged “bleat” on immigration—where he’s suddenly worried about losing hotel and farm workers due to… his own policies. They dissect the political whiplash, Stephen Miller’s likely meltdown, and MAGA voters realizing too late what they signed up for. It’s legal chaos, GOP backroom panic, and plenty of schadenfreude.

Tim Miller and Pablo Torre discuss Donald Trump’s unprecedented call for ICE and DHS agents to patrol the FIFA Club World Cup in Miami, and how his escalating fear tactics impact both players and fans.

Subscribe to Pablo Torre Finds Out on Youtube

Tim Miller and Sam Stein talk about the Defense Department’s shady behavior, the absurd lack of transparency, and what it means when even top-line budgets are kept secret.

California Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a fiery and urgent speech last night in response to Donald Trump's crackdown on protests in Los Angeles—and the growing threat of federal overreach. Sam Stein is joined by Lauren Egan, author of The Opposition newsletter, to break down why this speech matters, how it signals a shift in Democratic messaging, and whether Newsom is positioning himself as the party’s leading voice against authoritarianism.

Andrew Egger and Will Sommer break down Elon Musk’s 3AM apology to Donald Trump after pushing Epstein conspiracy theories. What started as a slapfight turned into a loyalty test and the MAGA influencers are scrambling.

Rep. Jason Crow joins Sam Stein to discuss Trump’s upcoming military birthday parade and the massive cost of the spectacle. They also discuss the administration’s use of force against protesters in Los Angeles and how Democrats can respond in this charged moment.

Tim Miller joins Alex Witt on MSNBC's Katy Tur Reports to unpack Trump's controversial deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles, exposing why Republicans see political advantage in escalating unrest rather than solving it. He also discusses RFK Jr.’s alarming CDC shakeup.

RFK Jr. fired the entire CDC vaccine committee, breaking his promise to GOP senators. Andrew Egger and Joe Perticone discuss how senators like Bill Cassidy and Joni Ernst traded integrity for empty assurances, exposing their desperation to avoid Trump-driven primary challenges.

Tim Miller breaks down the new polling from Economist/YouGov revealing widespread opposition to Trump’s proposed “big beautiful” budget, including among key Republican groups.

See the full polling data here

Tim Miller and Sam Stein deep dive into Director of National Intelligence Tusli Gabbard’s wild and ominous social video on nuclear annihilation following a trip to Hiroshima, Japan.

Ryan Goodman and Sam Stein walk through the little-noticed memo that could allow military force on American streets, even without a governor’s request. They unpack the legal implications, the use of federal troops against civilians, and what it signals about 2025.

Sam Stein and Jonathan Cohn take on RFK Jr's Wall Street Journal op-ed, his lies to Sen. Cassidy, the administration's thinly veiled crusade against science, and what it means for public health in America.

Trump's administration ramps up mass deportations in Los Angeles, triggering intense protests and clashes. Against California’s wishes, Trump deploys the National Guard, raising tensions over immigration enforcement and the role of protests in political resistance. JVL and Sarah Longwell question whether demonstrations effectively challenge policies or inadvertently strengthen Trump's hand.

Tim Miller and Sam Stein talk California Governor Gavin Newsom’s forceful response to Donald Trump and Tom Homan’s threats and deployment of the National Guard on anti-ICE protesters in Los Angeles, and how Democratic lawmakers can learn from his leadership at this defining moment.

Bill Kristol and JVL discuss Trump’s latest moves to expand executive power, including deploying the National Guard, staging a military parade, and laying the groundwork for mass deportations.

Bill Kristol and Sam Stein look at the growing authoritarian impulse behind Trump’s immigration policy, the targeting of journalists, and the political fight with California. The tactics may vary but the strategy is clear and it is accelerating.

Pod Save America’s Jon Lovett, Tim Miller and Sarah Longwell join together for a big, beautiful, gay-as-hell fundraiser at World Pride to support Andry José Hérnandez Romero and other individuals wrongfully deported to El Salvador without due process. Jon, Tim and Sarah open the floor to two people doing the hard, important work for justice: Andry José Hérnandez Romero’s lawyer and President of the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, Lindsay Toczylowski, and Congressman Robert Garcia. Lovett takes us to the library for some good old fashioned reads of the Trump administration with help from the audience. Later, they are...

Bill Kristol talks with Adrian Carrasquillo about the mass arrests in Southern California, the communities fighting back, and the dangerous precedent of military force in American cities. They also explore how Trump and Stephen Miller are using chaos to energize their base and reshape immigration policy.

Will Sommer joins Sonny Bunch to discuss the latest edition of False Flag. Will breaks down the messy, petty feud between MAGA influencers Scott Presler and Brandon Straka. From bogus Amish voter drives and Elon Musk’s $1 million donation to sex scandals, cosplay jail cells, and January 6 fallout, they dive into the clout battles and chaos fracturing the GOP’s influencer class.

Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, Pod Save America’s Jon Lovett and many more joined together to demand that Andry is freed now on the steps of the Supreme Court

Sam Stein, Andrew Egger and Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at American Immigration Council, discuss the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the U.S. after being sent to El Salvadoran prison without due process, and what this case means for the many others wrongly deported to El Salvador.

Senator Chris Murphy joins Lauren Egan to talk his new political action committee, the American Mobilization Project’s $400,000 effort not to fund campaigns, but to fuel grassroots protest and organize resistance to what he calls a looming threat to American democracy.

Tim Miller and Sam Stein discuss the $2M being spent to determine if DEI causes plane crashes, and Trump’s latest travel ban on 12 countries, including Afghanistan while contradictorily lifting protections for refugees.

Elon Musk has gone full scorched earth—and Donald Trump is in the blast zone. Sam, Tim, and Sarah break down Musk's furious Twitter rampage, including the shocking claim that Trump is named in the unreleased Epstein files.

Trump publicly attacks Elon Musk during a White House press conference, accusing him of "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and blaming him for turning hostile. Musk fires back online, claiming Trump owes him credit for GOP victories. The feud exposes personal grudges, ego clashes, and policy tensions, especially over electric vehicle subsidies and a controversial bill. Trump makes a chilling comparison between the Ukraine war and a playground fight, drawing widespread criticism.

Andrew Egger and Adrian Carrasquillo discuss Adrian’s story on a real family caught in the immigration system, where a sudden ICE raid tore their lives apart, leaving a wife behind to navigate fear, lawyers, and an uncertain future.

See the full report and what happened to the family here: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/love-in-the-time-of-self-deportation-part-one?r=5i9ljr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Sam Stein joins Tim Miller to discuss a growing scandal involving a fake assassination threat, a DHS press release that was never corrected, and a system built to punish first and ask questions later.

JVL joins Chris Cillizza to break down the wild Republican race shaping up for 2028—from JD Vance as the Honky Tonk Man, to the dynastic ambitions of Don Jr., and the charisma of Tucker Carlson. They dig into the MAGA base, why traditional Republicans are toast, and whether Trump might just run again.

Watch the full conversation on Chris Cillizza’s Substack!

Elon Musk humiliates Speaker Mike Johnson over a GOP bill. Once allies, the two are now locked in a public feud, with Musk using his platform to torch Johnson—and ignore his calls.

A shady pro-Trump PAC is scamming supporters with fake “Doge Checks,” claiming people can receive $5,000 payouts. In reality, it’s a scam backed by some big names to trick vulnerable donors out of their money.

Morning Shots - A Gross and Brazen ‘DOGE Check’ Scam

Sarah Longwell breaks down the dramatic breakup between Elon Musk and Donald Trump and how this clash could fracture the MAGA coalition and reshape Republican politics.