Trump Gives Rambling, Combative Speech at National Prayer Breakfast
Sam Stein and Andrew Egger react to Trump's latest craziness at the National Prayer Breakfast and his interview with NBC's Tom Llamas.
Feb 05, 2026•30 min•Ep. 584
Bulwark Takes
The news cycle doesn’t slow down, and neither does The Bulwark. Bulwark Takes brings you bite-sized takes on the news of the day from the entire Bulwark team, including Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and Bill Kristol, and more.
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Episodes
Hegseth Threatens to Cut Scouts’ Funding Over “Woke” Policies | Command Post
In this edition of Command Post, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) joins Ben Parker to break down the surprising clash between the Department of Defense and Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts). Secretary Hegseth is threatening to cut support for Scouting America over DEI policies and integrated troops, but is this really what the Pentagon should be focusing on? Hertling explains why the Scouts’ values like honor, service, and leadership align with military priorities, and why Hegseth’s fight seem...
Feb 05, 2026•26 min•Ep. 582
GOP Scrambles After MASSIVE Minneapolis Blowback
Tim Miller and Andrew Egger give their takes on why Democrats may actually be winning the fight over DHS and ICE funding, even as critics on both the left and right accuse Democratic leadership of weakness. With a partial government shutdown looming, Democrats managed to fund the rest of the government while isolating DHS, forcing Republicans to defend some of ICE’s most unpopular and constitutionally questionable practices.
Feb 05, 2026•15 min•Ep. 581
BREAKING: Jeff Bezos is Gutting the Washington Post (w/ Max Tani)
Sam Stein, JVL, and Semafor's Max Tani react to the Washington Post laying off roughly one-third of its newsroom staff, cutting entire desks, and shutting down major areas of coverage—including foreign bureaus during an active war. They break down what happened, who made the decisions, and why this collapse didn’t have to happen.
Feb 04, 2026•30 min•Ep. 580
Trump’s Gross Attack on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins After Epstein Question
Tim Miller and Sam Stein give their takes on Donald Trump’s explosive White House press conference, where he lashed out at CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, dismissed questions about the Epstein files, and once again showed how comfortable he is attacking female reporters. They explain why Trump’s treatment of Collins was especially revealing, how it fits his long-standing pattern of defending powerful men accused of abuse, and why the press corps’ failure to step in matters more than people realize. They ...
Feb 04, 2026•20 min•Ep. 579
IT HAPPENED! Pediatric Cancer Bill To Become Law
Sam Stein gives his take on the good news out of Congress. After years of inexplicable delays, political dysfunction, and gut-wrenching defeats, the Give Kids a Chance Act has finally passed and is set to become law. The bipartisan bill will expand pediatric cancer research by allowing the FDA to study combination drug therapies, opening new funding streams, and cutting bureaucratic red tape that has long slowed progress for kids with cancer. Sam walks through how this widely supported legislati...
Feb 04, 2026•14 min•Ep. 578
Tim Puts on His Tinfoil Hat Over Epstein Rumors
Tim Miller, Sam Stein, and Will Sommer give their takes on the latest wave of Trumpworld absurdity, as the 2020 election conspiracy crowd suddenly snaps back into focus after an FBI raid in Fulton County, Georgia. They unpack Trump promoting a conspiracy about Italian satellites, the apparent sidelining of Ed Martin, the expose on Rep. Nancy Mace that includes late-night tequila runs and Reddit vanity projects, and Florida long-shot gubernatorial candidate James Fishback deciding to join Tinder ...
Feb 03, 2026•24 min•Ep. 577
Is Trump Going to Demolish the Kennedy Center?
JVL and Sonny Bunch give their takes on Trump’s sudden decision to shut down the Kennedy Center for two years after politicizing it, slapping his name on it, and driving ticket sales to historic lows. They break down how an iconic, nonpartisan arts institution ended up with pandemic-level attendance, why artists and audiences fled, and how a pathetic vanity project backfired spectacularly. Get 30% off your entire order with Soul at https://GetSoul.com , promo code BULWARKTAKES....
Feb 03, 2026•18 min•Ep. 576
Measles Is Back and the Government Doesn’t Care
Sam Stein and Jonathan Cohn give their takes on the alarming return of measles in the United States. The disease is spreading again, with major outbreaks in South Carolina and hundreds of cases appearing nationwide. They break down why falling vaccination rates are driving this preventable crisis, how government leaders are downplaying the threat, and why vaccine skepticism has become a badge of honor on the right, from RFK Jr.’s influence at HHS to Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo’s push t...
Feb 02, 2026•21 min•Ep. 575
Todd Blanche Broke His Promise to the Senate
Will Saletan takes on Todd Blanche’s Sunday show appearances, where Trump’s former lawyer—now running the Justice Department—defends mass deportations, self-issued warrants, foreign money flowing to Trump, and openly political prosecutions, despite promising the Senate none of this would happen.
Feb 02, 2026•15 min•Ep. 574
Will There Be ANY Consequences for New Epstein Revelations? | Bulwark on Sunday
Sam Stein and Sarah Longwell discuss Epstein releases and other news.
Feb 01, 2026•45 min•Ep. 573
Watch the Anti-Gay Marriage Ad With Tim and Sarah
Tim Miller and Sarah Longwell react to the “Greater Than” ad campaign, a polished rebrand of the push to roll back gay marriage. They watch the ads, break down the claims about children and families, and explain why the argument doesn’t hold up—factually, morally, or politically.
Jan 31, 2026•20 min•Ep. 572
The Melania Movie Is a $75 Million Bribe
Sonny Bunch saw "Melania" so you don’t have to and it’s no surprise that it’s not good. Sonny is joined by JVL to give their takes on why the movie makes no sense as a business proposition, Donald Trump’s central role in shaping its purpose, and the decision to put the project in the hands of Brett Ratner, a director exiled from Hollywood after multiple sexual misconduct allegations, as part of his attempted comeback.
Jan 31, 2026•24 min•Ep. 571
Buckle Up, There Are MORE Crazy Epstein Emails
Tim Miller and Sam Stein give their takes on the explosive revelations from the recently released Epstein files. They delve into the disturbing connections of high-profile figures, including Howard Lutnick and Elon Musk, Bondi's lack of involvement in today's presser, and what the latest docs dump says about Trump’s relationship with Epstein.
Jan 31, 2026•27 min•Ep. 570
Law Enforcement Says ICE & DHS Are Making Policing Worse
Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller listen to a rare focus group of 14 law enforcement officers, Trump-voting and Harris-voting, to get honest reactions to ICE’s actions in Minneapolis. Hear more on "The Focus Group" on Saturday morning.
Jan 31, 2026•34 min•Ep. 569
Sen. Chris Coons: Democrats Are Willing to Shut Down DHS Over ICE Abuses
Sam Stein is joined by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) for his take on the rapidly unfolding government shutdown fight and why Democrats are willing to shut down the Department of Homeland Security unless Congress passes real, binding limits on ICE and CBP. Coons explains why Democrats agreed to a short-term DHS extension, what specific statutory reforms they’re demanding, and how Trump’s governing chaos is reverberating beyond U.S. borders.
Jan 30, 2026•20 min•Ep. 568
BREAKING: Don Lemon Arrested, Kevin Warsh Trump's Fed Chair Pick
Sam Stein, Sarah Longwell and Catherine Rampell are LIVE discussing Don Lemon's arrest related to a Minneapolis church protest and Trump tapping Kevin Warsh as the new Fed chair.
Jan 30, 2026•50 min•Ep. 567
Sarah Longwell: Cops Are Worried ICE Turned People Against Police
Sarah Longwell joins Nicolle Wallace on Deadline: White House, explaining why the Minneapolis shootings—and the Alex Pretti video in particular—have shifted public opinion. Watch Deadline: White House on MSNOW: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house
Jan 30, 2026•9 min•Ep. 566
The Government Treats Armed Militias Better Than Protesters (w/ Radley Balko)
JVL is joined by journalist and civil liberties expert Radley Balko for his take on the why the federal response in Minneapolis fundamentally different and far more dangerous than a typical police shooting. Balko explains why this isn’t just a case of bad officers or poor judgment, but a breakdown at the institutional level, where DHS and ICE no longer even pretend to care about legitimacy and may be beyond reform. Read more from Radley Balko: https://radleybalko.substack.com/...
Jan 30, 2026•27 min•Ep. 565
Trump Cuts Cabinet Meeting Short, Dodges Questions
Tim Miller and Sam Stein give their takes on Trump’s latest Cabinet meeting where he dodged questions, ignored controversial Cabinet members, and declared that housing prices should go up as he tried to tout affordability. Save the date for our 2026 live tour which we will kick off on February 19 to be with our friends in the Twin Cities. Sarah, JVL, Tim, and Sam will be there and then we will head to the Lone Star State for a one-night show in Dallas on March 18 and one in Austin on March 19. M...
Jan 29, 2026•22 min•Ep. 564
The FBI Just Raided a Georgia Elections Office Over Trump’s 2020 Lies
Tim Miller and Andrew Egger give their takes on the FBI’s raid of a Georgia elections office on Wednesday as Donald Trump revives “Stop the Steal” six years after losing the 2020 election.Tim and Andrew break down how it escalates Trump’s long-running election conspiracy into federal law enforcement action, why it looks like a dry run ahead of the midterms, and why Tulsi Gabbard was at the raid. Save the date for our 2026 live tour which we will kick off on February 19 to be with our friends in ...
Jan 29, 2026•20 min•Ep. 563
Retired General Warns Militarizing Minneapolis Would Be A Disaster | Command Post
In this edition of Command Post, Bill Kristol and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) give their takes on the federal agents in Minneapolis following the killing of Alex Pretti, explain the dangers of militarizing U.S. cities, and what NATO allies are doing in the Arctic. Have a question that you'd like us to consider for a future episode of Command Post? Send an email to commandpost@thebulwark.com . Please include your name, how to pronounce it and where you're located....
Jan 29, 2026•32 min•Ep. 562
Tim Miller: Federal Agents Shot an American And These Ghouls Defended It
Tim Miller joined Piers Morgan to give his take on Alex Pretti's murder by federal officers in Minneapolis and called out panelists defending state violence, while breaking down what real courage and real masculinity looks like. Watch the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgHftUYA9rQ
Jan 29, 2026•18 min•Ep. 561
Man Rushes Ilhan Omar With Syringe at Town Hall
Andrew Egger and Will Saletan give their takes on the attack at an Ilhan Omar town hall in Minnesota, where a man rushed the podium and sprayed her with an unknown substance before being arrested. Donald Trump’s response was to dismiss the attack and blame Omar. Andrew and Will break down the Republican reactions to the attack, including Rep. Randy Fine’s attempt to condemn the violence while justifying it, and what it says about the state of American politics.
Jan 28, 2026•20 min•Ep. 560
Right-Wing Media Won’t Let Trump De-Escalate Minneapolis
Sam Stein and Will Sommer give their takes on the right wing media fallout from the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis after the White House quietly tried to distance themselves from Greg Bovino. Megyn Kelly was grossly indifferent and didn't "feel sorry" about Pretti's death while Tim Pool remains unapologetic and is pushing for the crackdowns to continue.
Jan 28, 2026•15 min•Ep. 559
Trump’s Minneapolis Raids Are Crushing Peoples’ Lives
Adrian Carrasquillo spent several days on the ground in Minneapolis as immigration operations intensified across the city. Drawing on firsthand reporting and eyewitness testimony, the conversation documents how immigration enforcement tactics have reshaped daily life for residents, workers, and small business owners. Segundo Balboa, co-owner of Galapagos Bar & Grill: A small-business describes ICE arriving in December, families becoming afraid to leave their homes, and neighborhood commerce ...
Jan 27, 2026•24 min•Ep. 558
Jared Tried the White House’s $3 Diet
The Trump White House says Americans can eat healthy meals for about $3 a serving. To test that claim, Jared Poland tried living on the administration’s guidance for three days. He also speaks with Colleen Heflin, a professor at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University who studies food and nutrition policy and social welfare policy.
Jan 27, 2026•13 min•Ep. 556
Tim Miller: You Don’t Get a Mulligan for Murder
Tim Miller takes on the Trump administration’s effort to defuse outrage over Minneapolis with PR tweaks and cosmetic changes, arguing that softer language and shuffled personnel don’t address the abuse of power.
Jan 27, 2026•18 min•Ep. 557
Trump’s Health Claims Are Getting Embarrassing (w/ Ben Terris)
Tim Miller is joined by New York magazine Washington correspondent Ben Terris to talk about his reporting on Trump’s health and the increasingly surreal way the White House talks about it. From mysterious MRIs and constantly bruised hands to doctors reading from talking points and Stephen Miller insisting Trump is “superhuman,” Tim and Ben dive into what we actually know about the president’s health versus what his inner circle wants us to believe.
Jan 27, 2026•20 min•Ep. 555
The White House is Scrambling to Contain Fallout Over Minneapolis Killing
Sam Stein and Andrew Egger give their takes on the fallout from the White House after top officials like Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, and Greg Bovino called Alex Pretti a “would‑be assassin” and “domestic terrorist” in the minutes after federal agents shot and killed him in Minneapolis even as video evidence and witness accounts contradicted them. As the Trump team scrambles to change the narrative, Bovino has been moved out of his Minneapolis role.
Jan 26, 2026•13 min•Ep. 554
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