Trump Isn’t Policing the World—He’s Looting It
Will Saletan takes on Donald Trump’s vision of American power, arguing that military force is increasingly being used as a tool for profit—through oil, minerals, trade concessions, and economic leverage rather than the defense of allies or democratic values. Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/bulwarktakes to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you.
15m Jun 26
15m
Trump Lied About His Crowd Size—Again!
JVL and Will Sommer give their takes on Trump’s kickoff event for the America 250 celebration and the president’s immediate lie that 45,000 people packed the National Mall and “nobody left” early. They dig into the crowd-size lies, the campaign-style speech at an official government event, Trump’s promises about the White House ballroom, and why the America 250 rollout already feels more focuse...
16m Jun 25
16m
BREAKING: SCOTUS Allows Trump to Deport Hundreds of Thousands of Haitian and Syrian Refugees
Sam Stein and Jonathan Cohn discuss the major SCOTUS decision that would allow the White House to deport more than 350,000 refugees. Read more from Jonathan Cohn: https://www.thebulwark.com/trumps-deportation-agenda-awaits-supreme-court-grandma-haitians-temporary-protected-status-heath-aides Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/bulwarktakes to get a personalized, affordable plan ...
32m Jun 25
32m
Live Coverage of Trump's Freedom 250 Rally
Join Sam Stein, Will Sommer, and Andrew Egger as they cover Trump's "Freedom 250" rally in Washington, DC. Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/bulwarktakes to find and instantly book a doctor you love today.
50m Jun 25
50m
BREAKING: Trump Suddenly Cancels Plans to Sign Bipartisan Housing Bill
Andrew Egger, Catherine Rampell and Joe Perticone are going live to cover Trump's sudden decision not to sign the bipartisan housing bill. Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/bulwarktakes to find and instantly book a doctor you love today.
28m Jun 24
28m
Republicans Rebuke Trump Over Iran, Vote to End War | Command Post
Join Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker as they cover the week's biggest military and foreign policy stories. Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/bulwarktakes to find and instantly book a doctor you love today.
59m Jun 24
59m
Trump’s Deportation Agenda Awaits SCOTUS—With Grandma at Risk
Jonathan Cohn takes on Trump's push to end temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants—following home healthcare worker Maryse, who cares for a 96-year-old in South Florida, and what's actually at stake for the 350,000+ people (and their U.S.-born children) facing deportation as early as July 2nd if the Supreme Court sides with the administration. Read more from Jonathan Cohn: https://ww...
19m Jun 24
19m
Trump's New Guy Asked for a Private Jet and Classified Files (w/ Sen. Mark Warner)
Sen. Mark Warner joins Sam Stein for his take on the chaos surrounding acting DNI Bill Pulte, alarming reports of potential firings inside the intelligence community, and why Warner believes Pulte poses a national security risk. They also dive into explosive questions surrounding former DNI Tulsi Gabbard after reports detailing her ties to a cult and why those revelations surfaced only after sh...
17m Jun 24
17m
Iran is Walking All Over JD Vance | Morning Shots Live
Andrew and Bill went live to talk about Trump's hatchet man Bill Pulte firing people as his first day at DNI, JD Vance getting embarrassed by Iran, the Trump official making the case that taking over Greenland could help Red Lobster, and Trump blames Obama for Trump's poor job renovating the Reflecting Pool. Read more from Morning Shots: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/morningshots
48m Jun 23
48m
Trump Just Hung Scott Jennings Out to Dry
Tim Miller and JVL take a victory lap through some of the most confident predictions from the Iran War's biggest cheerleaders. Scott Jennings, Ben Shapiro, Hugh Hewitt, Mark Levin, and Bari Weiss' bloggers promised total victory, regime change, and a transformed Middle East. Instead, Trump ended up signing a deal with the very regime they said had to be defeated. Now, those same loudest voices ...
43m Jun 23
43m
Trump Melts Down Over Peeling Paint & Algae in Reflecting Pool | MAGA Mondays
Will Sommer and Sam Stein went live as they cover the craziest stories from the right wing fever swamp, including Trump threatening people with a 10-year prison sentence over the Reflecting Pool, the false Candace Owens death conspiracy theory, Tulsi Gabbard being controlled by a cult leader, and Greg Bovino's love for Dracula. Head to Superpower.com and use code BULWARKTAKES at checkout for $...
54m Jun 22
54m
Did JD Vance Get Publicly Humiliated in Switzerland?
Sam Stein and Will Saletan take on the messy first day of U.S.-Iran talks—Trump's threat to seize the Strait of Hormuz and kill negotiators, JD Vance appearing to get publicly snubbed, and the Lebanon clause that may have handed Hezbollah a veto over the whole deal.
20m Jun 21
20m
DeSantis Picked the Wrong Fight in Miami Beach
Jonathan Cohn reports from South Beach on the fight over a beloved LGBTQ landmark, the history of Miami Beach’s queer community, and how a symbol many thought was gone ended up becoming permanent. Read more in The Bulwark (https://www.thebulwark.com/p/how-a-florida-city-saved-its-pride-symbol-from-maga-erasure)
7m Jun 21
7m
Trump Is Hijacking America’s 250th Birthday (w/ Kevin Levin)
Bill Kristol sits down with Civil War historian Kevin Levin to examine Trump’s effort to reshape America’s story ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Read Civil War Memory (https://kevinmlevin.substack.com/)
39m Jun 21
39m
Trump's Reflecting Pool Guy Looks like a Cartoon Mobster
JVL and Sonny Bunch take on the bizarre saga of Washington’s algae-filled Reflecting Pool and John Cafaro the Trump-connected donor who landed the contract to fix it. Plus, an unexpected detour into wrestling history, Paul Bearer, and why this whole scandal feels more like a cartoon than real life. Looking for a Father's Day gift? Consider a membership to The Bulwark's website. Learn more at h...
17m Jun 20
17m
LIVE: Convicted Grifters from SBF to Elizabeth Holmes Are Betting on Trump | Receipts Live
Join Catherine Rampell and JVL live as they cover the week's economic and financial news. The Bulwark makes a fantastic Father's Day gift: Learn more athttps://thebulwark.com/subscribe
47m Jun 19
47m
The Staggering Dishonesty of JD Vance's Iran Deal Spin
Will Saletan takes on JD Vance's TV blitz defending the Iran nuclear deal—and checks his claims against the actual text.
12m Jun 19
12m
The Trio: Fake Badges. A Strip Club. Iran Airstrikes. Two MAGA Weirdos.
Sam Stein, Tim Miller and Will Sommer take on an insane MAGA scandal in DC—fake Secret Service badges, a strip club blowup, tearful confessions about an Iran airstrike that never happened, and an arrest that finally brought the whole charade crashing down. Plus: what exactly is going on with Kari Lake's face? Read Will Sommer's False Flag newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-shocking-a...
30m Jun 19
30m
LIVE: Peeling Paint and Green Water at Trump's "Renovated" Reflecting Pool
Sam Stein, Brendan Hartnett and Sarah Matthews are going live to cover the mess at Trump's renovated Reflecting Pool.
20m Jun 18
20m
A Dramatic Reading of JD Vance’s Awful Book
Tim Miller and JVL attempt to read JD Vance’s new memoir 'Communion' and discover a book full of contradictions, self-owns, political rationalizations, and some very revealing clues about the vice president’s worldview. Buy Vance's new book (or don't!): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTQ68YZN CORRECTION: Talking about a Catholic bookstore in Washington, D.C., on K Street, JVL says it was “Paulin...
51m Jun 18
51m
U.S. Intelligence is Winning the War in Ukraine (w/ Michael Weiss & Marc Polymeropoulos)
Journalist Michael Weiss, editor of The Insider, and retired CIA veteran Marc Polymeropoulous take over The Bulwark for the kind of conversation they have with each other every day about the intelligence world, what the hell is happening in the United States and what it means around the globe. As they started recording, Trump was wrapping his bizarre Wednesday speech at the G7 Summit defending ...
38m Jun 18
38m
BREAKING: Exhausted Trump Rambles Through Parade of Grievances On G7 Stage
Sam Stein, Andrew Egger, and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.), went live to cover Trump's appearance at the G7 conference. Plus, the gang reacts to the U.S. unveiling the text in their official MOU with Iran.
44m Jun 17
44m
Trump Doesn't Understand the War He Just Lost (w/ Tom Nichols) | Command Post
Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker are joined by Tom Nichols to discuss the week's military news. Read more from Tom Nichols: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2026/06/trump-g7-comments-misunderstsand-middle-east/687569/ Buy Mark's book here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1966786727/?tag=bulwark08-20
52m Jun 17
52m
BOMBSHELL: Trump’s Ballroom to Cost Taxpayers $300 Million
Sam Stein and JVL give their takes on a bombshell new report from the Washington Post showing Trump's White House ballroom project could cost more than $600 million with taxpayers footing half the bill. They break down the ballooning price tag, the demolition of the East Wing, and whether a future president should just tear the whole thing down. Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.co...
15m Jun 16
15m
Trump Loses War Against Reflecting Pool Algae (and Iran) | Morning Shots Live
Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol are going live to cover the week's biggest news. Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/bulwarktakes to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you.
39m Jun 16
39m
Trump’s DOJ Has A New Target: Gavin Newsom (w/ Chris Cadelago)
Sam Stein and POLITICO’s Chris Cadelago take on reports that the Trump Justice Department is investigating Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom. They discuss what's actually known about the probe, the long-running Trump-Newsom rivalry, and whether the investigation is a legitimate corruption case or the latest example of Trump targeting his political opponents. Sleep cooler this s...
19m Jun 16
19m
I Watched Kyiv Burn Last Night (w/ Caolan Robertson)
Tim Miller is joined by journalist and YouTuber Caolan Robertson, reporting from Kyiv after one of Russia's most devastating attacks on Ukraine in months. Caolan witnessed the aftermath firsthand as Russian missiles and drones struck the Dormition Cathedral, a historic monastery and church complex more than 1,000 years old and one of the most significant sites in Christian history. They discuss...
21m Jun 15
21m
UFC Fighter Calls Michelle Obama a Man at Trump’s Birthday Party | MAGA Mondays
Will Sommer and Sam Stein went live to unpack last night's gross UFC fight at the White House, Eric Trump's alleged betting scandal, MAGA allies unhappy about a proposed Iran deal, James Fishback calling his opponent Byron Donalds a "slave," and Spencer Pratt now becoming the Joker after losing the LA mayor's race. Sleep cooler this summer with Boll & Branch during their Annual Summer Event. F...
51m Jun 15
51m
BREAKING: Trump Announces Deal With Iran, To Be Signed Friday
Tim Miller and JVL give their takes on Trump's announcement that he's reached a deal with Iran. Pakistan says the deal will be signed on Friday.
28m Jun 14
28m
Trump’s “New Iran Deal” Sounds A Lot Like Obama’s
Will Saletan gives his take on the Trump administration’s victory lap over a potential Iran agreement and explains why the supposed deal sounds remarkably similar to the nuclear deal Trump spent years attacking. After Pete Hegseth and Mike Waltz hit the Sunday shows to sell Trump’s foreign policy “win,” Will examines the White House's contradictions and what the administration may not be tellin...
9m Jun 14
9m
Is Trump's Iran War Legal? (w/ Ryan Goodman)
Bill Kristol and Ryan Goodman discuss Bill Pulte, FISA, Todd Blanche, and the legality of the Iran War.
47m Jun 14
47m
The Congresswoman Who Forced Trump's Name Off the Kennedy Center
The Bulwark's Brendan Hartnett reported live from the Kennedy Center at 2:30 AM on Saturday morning, where Rep. Joyce Beatty—who sued Trump in December after being silenced during the board vote to add his name to the building—joins him to watch it finally come back down, following a federal judge's ruling that only Congress has the authority to rename the memorial.
4m Jun 14
4m
The People Running America Are So Much DUMBER Than You Think (w/ Destiny)
Tim Miller and political streamer Destiny take on Bulwark Podcast clip that radicalized an anti-communist, Elon's first trillion, Trump's kakistocracy cabinet, why Democrats keep walking into far-left media ambushes, and whether the rest of us have any idea what to do about any of it.
46m Jun 13
46m
Holy Cow, These Trump Voters are FURIOUS With Him!
Tim Miller recaps his appearance on Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace, then delivers his personal thoughts about Pride. Watch Deadline: White House on MS NOW: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house
18m Jun 13
18m
Pete Hegseth's Bench Press Is Embarrassing
Pete Hegseth's latest workout video was supposed to showcase strength. Instead, it was sloppy, in poor form, and seems to show Trump administration officials more determined to become fitness influencers than lead a country. Will Sommer and Joe Perticone give their takes on Hegseth's viral bench press session, RFK Jr.'s airport pull-up stunts, Kash Patel's workout videos, and the broader obsess...
14m Jun 13
14m
BREAKING: Judge Denies Trump Request for Stay on Removing Name from Kennedy Center
Bill Kristol, Sonny Bunch and Brendan Hartnett went live to cover the court ordered removal of Trump's name from the Kennedy Center. Watch Sonny's conversation with Kennedy Center whistleblower Josef Palermo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rEDNCdqYzg Read Sonny's piece on the dismantling of the Kennedy Center: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/a-day-and-a-nation-at-the-kennedy-center
26m Jun 12
26m
BREAKING: SpaceX IPO Makes Musk a Trillionaire, Awful Inflation Numbers | Receipts Live
Join Catherine and JVL at 12:30pm on Friday to discuss the week's economic and financial news. Read Catherine's 'Receipts' newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/receipts Read JVL's 'Triad' newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/thetriad
53m Jun 12
53m
The Trio: RFK Jr.'s Podcast Guest Injected Stem Cells Into His WHAT?!
Tim Miller, Sam Stein, and Will Sommer are back and the FBI is coming after Will! How much time is Kash Patel's bureau spending on posting memes than fighting crime? Then, RFK Jr. sits down with a wellness guru whose résumé includes injecting stem cells into his own penis. Naturally, he's now dispensing health advice from the Health and Human Services podcast studio. And finally, the man leadin...
37m Jun 11
37m
BREAKING: Trump Threatens Iran Invasion
Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker are going live to cover President Trump's post threatening an invasion of Iran's Kharg Island. Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat, Aspen, and Walden frames at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKTAKES. Promo Code BULWARKTAKES
36m Jun 11
36m
NYT: Dan Bongino SCREAMED at Pam Bondi Over Epstein Files
Sam Stein, Tim Miller, and Sonny Bunch give their takes on the New York Times bombshell surrounding the Trump White House’s frantic effort to manage the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Behind the several meetings in the Situation Room, JD Vance looks ahead to his own 2028 prospects, Dan Bongino screamed at Pam Bondi, and Susie Wiles and Stephen Chung were left trying to contain damage tha...
27m Jun 11
27m
Trump Says He "Loves" Inflation, Claims to Reveal Military Secrets During Bizarre Press Event
JVL, Andrew Egger and Ben Parker are going live to discuss Trump's June 10th press event where he said he "loves" inflation and claimed to reveal military secrets about oil in Iran. Make today a good day, and get yourself some Soul gummies. Right now, Soul is offering 30% off your entire order! Go to https://GetSoul.com and use the code BULWARKTAKES.
33m Jun 10
33m
US & Iran Restart Attacks, Trump Threatens War Crimes, Army Helicopter Downed | Command Post
Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker are discussing the week's major military and foreign policy news. Make today a good day, and get yourself some Soul gummies. Right now, Soul is offering 30% off your entire order! Go to https://GetSoul.com and use the code BULWARKTAKES.
42m Jun 10
42m
The Bulwark's Primary Election Coverage for Maine, South Carolina, and More
Join Sam Stein and Bill Kristol as they cover the evening's primary elections: Maine, South Carolina, and more. Plus, the latest on Iran and Trump digging his heels in on the appointment of Bill Pulte. Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat, Aspen, and Walden frames at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKTAKES. Promo Code BULWARKTAKES
47m Jun 10
47m
Trump Snoozes as Knicks Lose, GOP's Craziest Election-Fraud Conspiracy Yet | Morning Shots Live
Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol went live to cover Trump falling asleep after getting booed at the NBA Finals, Mike Johnson and the GOP launching back into election-fraud conspiracy theories, and an update to the Pentagon's fighting with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat, Aspen, and Walden frames at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKTAKES (https://www.y...
44m Jun 09
44m
Three Democrats, Three Paths (w/ Mallory McMorrow, Abdul El-Sayed & Haley Stevens)
Jonathan Cohn interviewed all three major Democratic candidates in Michigan’s high-stakes Senate race—Abdul El-Sayed, Mallory McMorrow, and Haley Stevens—to compare their views on healthcare, electric vehicles, government spending, and the future of the Democratic Party. Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat, Aspen, and Walden frames at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARKTAKES. Promo Code BULWARKTAKES R...
29m Jun 09
29m
Trump Gets Mercilessly Booed at NBA Finals
Tim Miller gives his take on Donald Trump's appearance at Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals, where the president was met with a chorus of boos from Knicks fans. Tim breaks down the reaction inside MSG, the even harsher response from fans gathered outside to watch the game, and the attempts by Fox News to spin away what everyone could plainly hear. Why does Trump's movement alwa...
10m Jun 09
10m
Trump’s UFC White House Stunt Could Be Illegal
Sam Stein went on MS Now to give his take on the lawsuit trying to stop Donald Trump’s planned UFC event at the White House, the legal questions surrounding it, and why it’s yet another example of Trump blurring the line between public office and private interests. His longtime ally Dana White is involved, Trump holds a financial stake in UFC’s parent company, it's on federal property, and they...
11m Jun 09
11m
Jared Kushner Makes Hunter Biden Look Like a Boy Scout
Andrew Egger is joined by Casey Michel, author of the forthcoming book United States of Oligarchy: How America's Wealthiest Ally with Dictators, Weaken the U.S., and Destroy Democracy, to examine how Jared Kushner became a walking conflict of interest at the center of American foreign policy. From cultivating relationships with Saudi royals and Gulf autocrats while serving in the White House to...
29m Jun 08
29m
MAJOR MAGA on MAGA Fights | MAGA Mondays
Sam Stein and Will Sommer give their takes on the flurry of stories across the right-wing fever swamp. They discuss: Mike Lee blasting Pete Hegseth for snubbing Mormons, Kash Patel launching attacks against Judicial Watch, Republicans claiming fraud because Spencer Pratt is losing in the LA mayoral race, Lauren Boebert sounding off on a Fox News reporter, and whether Albania’s PM could be ouste...
59m Jun 08
59m
'Pressure' Is a Great Movie With the Wrong Eisenhower
Sonny Bunch and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) review Pressure, the new film about the D-Day weather decision that nearly derailed the largest invasion in history. They discuss what Eisenhower was really up against: a catastrophic dress rehearsal, a ghost army commanded by Patton, alliance politics, and a lone British meteorologist telling him the June 5th launch date would be a disaster. Plus: ...
36m Jun 08
36m