Inviting "populist slut hero" Amber Rose to speak at the Republican convention and adjusting the platform on abortion—Trump is trying to distance himself from MAGA's Christian fundamentalist ranks. Meanwhile, the Christian Nationalist project to turn the constitutional clock back 70 years continues apace. Plus, the effort to get Biden to leave the ticket is not a conspiracy—but the sign of a working party. David French joins Tim Miller. show notes David's recent column on the Supreme Court...
Jul 11, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Top Democrats say they don't see a way for Biden to win, and some are resigning themselves to being the resistance against Trump, despite the threat he poses to our democracy. Batten down the hatches—this interview is a tough listen. Ezra Klein joins Tim Miller. show notes Ezra's piece from February Ezra's book recommendation, "Health and Safety: A Breakdown"...
Jul 10, 2024•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast This is not a moment for a politician's origin story or soaring oratory. Some think that means dancing with the one that brung ya. But maybe it’s a moment for someone who could prosecute the case against Donald Trump—making it a perfect time to reintroduce Kamala Harris to voters. Elaina Plott Calabro and Bakari Sellers join Tim Miller. show notes Elaina's story, "The White House’s Kamala Harris Blunder"...
Jul 09, 2024•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast It would have been nice if Biden had gone on Morning Joe the day after the debate instead of waiting 11 days. But he still is not providing a forward-looking message or explaining why he's the one to beat Trump. Meanwhile, Kamala is showing what an aggressive, proactive campaign looks like. Plus, Project 2025 moves into the spotlight, and the good news for democracy coming from overseas.
Jul 08, 2024•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Housing prices, the cost of insurance, and sticker shock at the supermarket are still stressing Americans out even while the economy is booming. Annie Lowrey joins Tim Miller to discuss the limited housing stock, the economic benefits of immigrant labor, and shrinking income inequality. Plus, the media does shape opinion, but Joe Biden's oldness is self-evident. show notes: Annie's piece on the worst best economy Annie's book on universal basic income, "Give People Money" Annie's piece on inflat...
Jul 05, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Author, poet, and native New Orleanian Clint Smith grew up in the city that was the heart of the domestic slave trade, but realized his understanding of the history within himself and his country was inadequate. So he set out to write the type of book he should have had in high school. On this Independence Day, we pulled a special selection from the Tim Miller Bulwark archive. Plus, love for the Crescent City, and dads getting too much credit for pulling their weight. show notes Clint's book, "H...
Jul 04, 2024•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast The quiet coming from the White House sure suggests that the people around the president don't think Joe at his best can overcome Joe at his worst. Jon Lovett joins Tim Miller to discuss all the possible options as the world waits for Biden to say what he's going to do.
Jul 03, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast No matter how much the Supreme Court pretends that the words 'high crimes and misdemeanors' are not explicitly in the Constitution, Donald Trump is still a disqualified law-breaker and is exactly the kind of guy the Founding Fathers warned us about. Character is now the only real check on presidential power. Plus, if push comes to shove, what are the basic rules that govern a change at the top of the ticket? Ben Wittes and Steven Shepard join Tim Miller.
Jul 02, 2024•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast All Americans who love this country and hate Donald Trump deserve answers about Thursday's abysmal performance—and how we are going to move forward. And do not answer our doubts about Biden and his staff with a MAGA-style blaming-the-press bit. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court recklessly assists Trump yet again, and Bannon goes to the big house. Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller. show notes: Mika Brzezinski on Joe Biden...
Jul 01, 2024•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Secret Pod makes an emergency appearance to work through last night's terrible performance by Biden and to urge the Democratic Party to do the responsible thing in this moment. And Jonathan Martin discusses the strategy behind Biden's failed gamble and whether sitting Democrats would actually publicly push the president to leave the ticket. Sarah Longwell, JVL, and Martin join Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes: Claire McCaskill on Biden's performance David Frum on the debate Tim's p...
Jun 28, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former White House comms director Kate Bedingfield serves up some keen insights into Poppa Joe—he is a night person, he regularly seeks out Jill's opinion, and he is a calming influence. And he's probably not as anxious as Tim Miller is about tonight's debate. Meanwhile, Marc Caputo reports from Magaville on Trump's posturing that he is definitely, absolutely not at all prepping for the debate. Your pre-fight night comfort food to calm the jitters. show notes: Kevin Williamson piece Tim mentione...
Jun 27, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast So many of the people who worked around POTUS 44 think no one will ever be as good as Obama, but Stuart Stevens argues that Democrats need to make the case that Joe Biden is a great president. Meanwhile, Dems on Tuesday showed they are the one party holding their crazy people to account. Plus, Vance is too smart to be Trump's VP pick, more Republicans need to follow Kinzinger's example, and Ole Miss, college sports and civil rights. Tim Miller's show today. show notes: Stuart's latest book, "The...
Jun 26, 2024•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Project 2025 sounds mundane, but it would institutionalize Trumpism, eliminate the Department of Education, mass deport 11 million people, and turn the Department of Health and Human Services into the Department of "Life." Plus, more from the mailbag, and Biden finding the sweet spot between Uncle Joe and punching Trump in the face. Symone Sanders-Townsend joins Tim Miller. show notes: Symone's interview on Project 2025 MSNBC Live: Democracy 2024 event in September Tim's Mount Rushmore of politi...
Jun 25, 2024•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gov. Jared Polis says Biden should focus on what he'll do for the American people in his campaign, rather than getting caught up in the crazy of Trump. Plus, guns, weed, the value of talking across party lines, and how Colorado is trying to avoid California's housing and growth problems. Tim Miller was live with Polis on Friday. And Bill Kristol joined Monday to discuss Trump's penchant for lying and to preview Tuesday's primaries.
Jun 24, 2024•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Trump is not drawing support from black voters because of his criminality—that's just MAGA's bigotry of low expectations. Meanwhile, he's now promising a green card to every foreign Harvard grad to please tech bro donors. Plus, the attempt to create a race war over Caitlin Clark, the annoying liberals on the coasts are creating MAGA reactionaries, and more from the mailbag. Jane Coaston joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes: Reid Hoffman's reply to David Sacks Tim interviews Reid Hoff...
Jun 21, 2024•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast Felon 45 didn't even really like being president and no one is taking his ludicrous tariff plan seriously—but Republicans can't stop tripping over each other to show him their fealty. Plus, Putin's desperate trip to North Korea, Netanyahu shows his ingratitude to Biden, the national debt keeps growing, and Trump's fond memories for his glory days on The Apprentice.
Jun 20, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Phoenix is a microcosm of the big issues in the election and the country generally, including political extremism, climate change, and the border. But when it comes to the state's water crisis, Arizonians are showing signs of sanity—by accepting facts and downplaying partisanship. Could the city be a guide for America's future? George Packer joins Tim Miller. show notes: George's piece on Phoenix George's 2019 piece on his son's education...
Jun 19, 2024•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Justice Alito and his wife seem to have some pretty deep and dark feelings about the people they dislike. Tim Miller also asks Lauren Windsor about the ethics of her undercover recordings. Plus, Ben Wittes shares his predictions for a presidential immunity ruling, his praise for Amy Coney Barrett's handing of the case, and his observations about the criminals Trump unapologetically hangs out with. show notes: Justice Alito's 2022 Notre Dame speech Lawfare's piece on a presidential self-pardon...
Jun 18, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Trump visited an African American church in Detroit and the pews were filled with white people; Republicans keep flooding social media with cropped videos to smear Biden; and foreign policy hawks, like Tom Cotton, now say we should be standing up to our allies, not Putin. MAGA land can't quit its shamelessness. Will Saletan joins Tim Miller, who is back from vacation. show notes: Detroit reporter shared images from Trump's Black church event...
Jun 17, 2024•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Republicans had a tête-à-tête with Trump to remind him how, if he wins, he should extend the tax cuts before he gets tied up with punishing all his enemies. Meanwhile, should Biden suggest extending the tax cuts so CEOs can end their flirtation with authoritarianism? Plus, the value of 'agreeing to disagree' in the pro-democracy coalition. JVL and Protect Democracy's Ben Raderstorf join guest host Amanda Carpenter. show notes: Protect Democracy's "If you can keep it" newsletter JVL's newsletter ...
Jun 13, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast A coalition of Christian lawyers, activists, and politicians methodically and secretly took down Roe, and in the process, outsmarted Democrats who believed they had permanently won on the issue of abortion. And the end of Roe v Wade is just the beginning of an effort to roll back the sexual revolution. Lisa Lerer and Elizabeth Dias join guest host A.B. Stoddard today. show notes: Elizabeth's and Lisa's book, "The Fall of Roe: The Rise of a New America"...
Jun 12, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Pulitzer-Prize winning Jen Senior joins Tim Miller for a free-form conversation about jail-bound, faux martyr Steve Bannon, the debilitating reality of living with long Covid, unearthing a family trauma, and how Americans with differing political persuasions can find their way to back to each other. show notes: Jen's story on her Aunt Adele Jen's "On Grief," originally published as the Pulitzer-winning, "What Bobby McIlvane Left Behind."...
Jun 11, 2024•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Tommy Tuberville's know-nothing appeasement of Putin lines up exactly with where the ex-POTUS is—Biden should be making Trumpworld squirm over that fact. Plus, the antisemitic white nationalists who could be back at the White House next year, the far-right's momentum in Europe, and the curious case of why Trump would be reluctant to release the Epstein file. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
Jun 10, 2024•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Young Latinos are a giant emerging voter bloc with populist leanings—who also favor tougher border security. If Trump was to win reelection, it would ironically be because these voters put him over the top. How can Democrats reach them? Mike Madrid joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. Plus, in a mega-mailbag segment, Tim gets personal and shares the story of his daughter's adoption. show notes: Mike's new book, "The Latino Century" Tim's playlist...
Jun 07, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast This D-Day is a good reminder that the growing nationalist movement across the globe aims to undermine the alliance between free and democratic countries. Meanwhile, Trump gets two stooges on the House Intelligence Committee who will have access to top national defense secrets. Plus, his New York conviction is the Big Lie 2.0, and Biden's executive order on immigration. Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller. show notes: Piece on Jared's anti-NATO memorial The Allahpundit piece Tim mentioned New Republ...
Jun 06, 2024•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Trump and MAGA, with all their banana republic claims, are not being America First—they're being anti-American, and renouncing the country they live in. Meanwhile, the WSJ goes dog bites man on Biden, Europeans are fixated on our election and terrified Trump will win, and the GOP's new Hunter-inspired concern about enforcing gun laws. Plus, will Mitt endorse Joe? McKay Coppins and Will Saletan join Tim Miller. show notes: McKay's piece, "What Europe Fears" JVL's response to Romney Clip from Sein...
Jun 05, 2024•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast Rep. Ritchie Torres joins Tim Miller to discuss how to win working-class voters, his Dickensian upbringing, and Israel under the microscope of 24-hour news. Plus, mental health, Pride, and Trump as the GOP's new lord and savior. Then, Ben Smith talks about Americans fragmenting the media universe, and the Epoch Times grift. show notes: Torres talking about being a Zionist after being heckled New Yorker piece on Guo Wengui that Ben mentioned...
Jun 04, 2024•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is a good moment for Biden to proudly raise the flag right-side up, and share his love of America—even as his Justice Department's prosecution of Hunter gets underway. Meanwhile, the extremism from the country-in-distress crowd continues to be over-the-top, including Felon 45 emboldening vigilante groups to act on his behalf. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes: ABC News video of WWII vets arriving in France Other footage of US vets at Charles-de-Gaulle Airport Vets arriving in Norman...
Jun 03, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump collaborated with a slimy crew to break the law, and it may have swung the 2016 election. Russia's election interference was troubling—and so is the National Enquirer's. And the deranged response from MAGA goons to his conviction only shows how much Trumpworld operates like an organized crime syndicate. Ben Wittes and Ron Filipkowski join Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes: Tim's interview with Ron on The Next Level Tim's playlist Tim's special GUILTY! playlist...
May 31, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast America is currently stuck in a negativity vibe, and it's shaping the media we consume, impacting how we look at the economy, and contributing to the anxiety of our teens. Can we fairly blame it all on Donald Trump? Plus, the brilliance of Victor Wembanyama and the age of the do-it-all center in the NBA. Derek Thompson joins Tim Miller. Show Notes: https://blueprint2024.com/analysis/optimism-pessism-youth-poll/...
May 30, 2024•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
