The Bulwark Podcast

The Bulwark

Tim Miller and guests discuss the latest political news for the flagship podcast of the Never Trump movement and the reality-based community. Every weekday we provide insightful analysis, political hot-takes, an unabashed defense of liberal democracy and long-form interviews that cut through the "both-sides" BS. Plus a few laughs to help you wash down the crazy. Bulwark+ members can get a totally ad-free version of the show delivered right to their favorite podcast player.

  • 55 minutes 6 seconds
    S.E. Cupp: The Outrage Is the Point
    This time around, Trump has dispensed with the ribbon-cutting side of being president—he's just not giving average Americans anything to feel good about. Instead, his administration is defunding the police, freeing criminals, and welcoming home the alleged sexual predator Tate brothers. Meanwhile, Trump is also shrugging off the economic news even as Maria Bartiromo is raising the threat of a recession. Plus, our allies and trading partners are infuriated, and we've officially become one of the bad guys in Ukraine.


    S.E. Cupp joins Tim Miller.

    show notes

    10 March 2025, 6:20 pm
  • 51 minutes 59 seconds
    Tom Nichols: Covid Trump 2.0
    They end up sounding ridiculous whenever they try—like the treasury secretary saying that access to cheap goods is not part of the American dream. At the same time, Trump’s circle of plutocrats don't seem to mind that the stock market is tanking. And while the administration is cutting Ukraine off from US intelligence to serve up an unjust peace, the Pentagon is on a CTRL-F "gay" delete rampage. Plus, Dems need to skip the kooky TikToks, and the SpaceX rocket explosion was only one part of Elon's very bad day. 

    Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
    show notes

    7 March 2025, 7:48 pm
  • 56 minutes 31 seconds
    Neera Tanden and John Fetterman: They're Playing With People's Lives
    Donald Trump is hurting the American people. The DOGE cuts are not only waging war on jobs, they're also harming the American public and undermining the safety, health, and economic well-being of everyday Americans. And by cowering to his favorite bully in Moscow, Trump is prepping the US to be a subservient partner of Russia. Plus, John Fetterman joins Tim to share his opposition to the campaigns against both transgender athletes and soldiers, and to chastise Dems for the way they received the POTUS in Congress.

    Sen. John Fetterman and Neera Tanden join Tim Miller.

    show notes

    6 March 2025, 7:53 pm
  • 57 minutes 38 seconds
    Jim Acosta: Trump Can't Take the Heat
    Once upon a time, presidents used to take tough questions from the press, but the current White House occupant can't handle any scrutiny from cantankerous reporters. And on his sad and sulking days, he needs warm and fuzzy Newsmax in the press pool to envelop him with flattery. Meanwhile, the joint session of Congress address has become basically pointless, SCOTUS blocks Trump's usurpation of power by one single vote, and at Trump's behest, the CIA is punishing Zelensky because he won't cooperate with the administration's disinfo campaign. 

    Plus, Democrats need to show voters they are genuinely furious. And if you've thought about running for office, now is the time to jump in—particularly in districts the Dems have tended to ignore.

    Amanda Litman and Jim Acosta join Tim Miller.
    show notes
    The Jim Acosta Show
    Amanda's 'Run for Something'
    When reporters rallied around Fox after Obama White House tried to shut it out

    5 March 2025, 7:35 pm
  • 1 hour 5 minutes
    James Carville and Michael Weiss: The Whole Country Could Go Under
    Trump is anti-American and seems to hate this country: How else can his behavior be explained? The tariffs, the austerity, the threat of a default, along with the corruption and grift— it feels like we're at the beginning stage of something that could go very, very bad. Meanwhile, Trump may not have the cards himself on Ukraine. Europe and the rest of the West have the economic might to continue to back Ukraine. And if that coalition maintains a united front, it would have the power to reject a 'peace' deal imposed by the US and Russia. 

    James Carville and Michael Weiss join Tim Miller.
    show notes

    4 March 2025, 7:36 pm
  • 49 minutes 40 seconds
    Bill Kristol: Kleptocrats and Plutocrats
    Trump is trying to chuck the post-WWII order and firmly pivot American foreign policy away from Europe and toward Putin—the poor guy who got dragged into totally-not-a-hoax Russia Russia Russia. And Lil' Marco and Lindsey rushed to defend Trump and JD against Zelensky, who dared to question in the Oval Office whether Putin could be trusted in any ceasefire deal. At the same time, DOGE is putting the lives of malnourished children and pregnant women at risk in the name of cost-cutting while Trump is planning to use taxpayer money to prop up crypto, so he and his cronies can personally profit off it even more.


    Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.

    show notes

    3 March 2025, 7:11 pm
  • 1 hour 23 minutes
    BONUS EPISODE from Tim's New "FYPod"
    Tim has a new Gen Z podcast, co-hosted by Cameron Kasky. The most recent episode is called "Nazi Parties Aren't Ragers," and features guest Joshua Rush, a former Disney Channel star turned political operative.

    Covid-19 locked up Gen Z during their formative years, and the GOP offered them a party. Sure, there’s some Nazism mixed in with the drinks, but during a loneliness pandemic, you take what highs you can get. Tim and Cam discuss how Covid helped push Gen Z right. Plus, Joshua Rush defends the activist tactics of Gen Z and explains how— in the face of nonstop nihilism—he still has optimism for the future of America.

    Joshua Rush joins Tim Miller and Cameron Kasky.

    show notes
    FYPod page

    2 March 2025, 6:38 pm
  • 47 minutes 27 seconds
    David Frum: Both Pro-Jesus and Pro-Sex Trafficking
    Forget the Epstein files hullabaloo. Members of the Trump administration, perhaps at the urging of Barron Trump, seem to have directly intervened to get the travel ban lifted on the Tate brothers, who are charged with rape and sex trafficking in Europe. Meanwhile, a "Keep Christ in Christmas" extravaganza is being planned at the Kennedy Center, where Trump is now chair. Plus, the con behind crypto is going to run out of fools, CEOs are regretting their bet on Trump, Kash wants to run the FBI part-time from Vegas—and the Dems need to try on a little shamelessness and make Trump own the spiraling price of eggs. 


    David Frum joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
    show notes

    28 February 2025, 7:41 pm
  • 1 hour 7 minutes
    Mike Murphy: The Chinese Own Elon
    The not-so-shadow president's largest Tesla plant is in Shanghai, but the People's Republic of China has the pink slip and can take it back at any time. Meanwhile, China—the world's largest automaker—is working hard to eat into our car industry, and Trump, who fooled enough voters that he was a successful business tycoon, is happily talking about killing subsidies in the critical EV market—except for Tesla of course. Plus, bartender AOC is the best AOC, Bezos is one of the biggest corporate welfare profiteers, and Michael Fanone recounts how he dressed down larping Proud Boy trolls. 

    Mike Murphy and Michael Fanone join Tim Miller.
    show notes

    27 February 2025, 7:49 pm
  • 56 minutes 3 seconds
    Ruben Gallego and Zerlina Maxwell: Make Them Own It
    Republicans are aiming to gut Medicaid to pay for trillions in tax cuts for the richest of Americans, and they're trying to hide it. The Dems need to bring the DC conversation home—hold town halls everywhere, tell voters what would happen, especially in rural MAGA areas where hospitals and trauma centers will close. Meanwhile, Trump is turning chaos at the border into chaos in the streets by having ICE grab people who haven't even committed crimes to pump up his deportation numbers. Plus, Elon's insatiable and scandalous quest for more money, the Dems' evolving media strategy, and how to help maintain mental health during these stressful times. 

    Sen. Ruben Gallego and Zerlina Maxwell join Tim Miller.
    show notes
    Zerlina's show on SiriusXM Progress Channel 127
    Zerlina's new Substack
    Will Selber's piece that Tim referenced

    26 February 2025, 7:07 pm
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    Ben Wittes: Who the F*** Are You?
    Trump administration lawyers don't know or won't tell a federal judge who is running DOGE because Elon doesn't formally exist as part of the government he is trying to dismantle. And the administration is likely to lose many of the wrongful termination cases involving forest rangers, researchers, and the like—it will end up paying back wages and not save any money in the process. Meanwhile, we are not exactly confident that the FBI under Kash and meathead Dan will thoroughly investigate the recent bomb threat against Never Trumpers and police officers who defended the Capitol on Jan 6. Ben Wittes breaks it all down. Plus, Lawfare has been crushing it, and it's now out with a new podcast about the history of US-Ukrainian relations, hosted by Nastya Lapatina and Tyler McBrien. 

    Ben Wittes, Anastasiia Lapatina, and Tyler McBrien join Tim Miller.
    show notes

    25 February 2025, 7:56 pm
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