The Bulwark Podcast

Only six months ago, the wheels felt like they were coming off of America, and our democracy experiment. But since the Epstein case broke wide open, the wheels started to come off Trump instead. And he's not just lost his way in politics but in the broader culture too—with his despicable words about Rob Reiner, his trying to get Jimmy Kimmel fired, and his pedophile cover-up. At the same time, we are likely stuck with his family grift, which will last for generations. Over on the Democratic side, the left has the momentum but there is room for a McCain-style reform candidate. Meanwhile, JD may be too repellant to win the presidency and the expectations for Mamdani are likely unrealistic. Plus, some love for Oasis, Geese, and Cameron Winter—and some hope that people are longing for something tangible in their music again. People need a rock star. John Heilemann joins Tim Miller for the year-end pod. show notes: John's "Impolitic" podcast John's columns at Puck Tim's 2025 Music Year in Review Filmmaker Charles Curran's recut of the Melania trailer with Miss Piggy Shane Gillis on how we got Trump Tim's playlist

The DOJ is releasing random Epstein documents to distract the public, while also intentionally covering the faces of men in images. It's also pulling docs that reveal Trump's name. Epstein's victims think the government's messy release is all designed to protect their not publicly-known perpetrators. Meanwhile, more victims are coming forward to Julie, THE reporter who got the Epstein matter reopened after her investigation of his 2008 deal that no other modern pedophile would ever have received. Ghislaine Maxwell is key to understanding the whole case, Republican donors may be named in the files, and Trump flew on the Epstein plane eight times. Julie K. Brown joins Tim Miller. show notes: Julie's Substack Julie's reporting at the Miami Herald "Perversion of Justice," Julie's investigation into Epstein The NYT on Epstein's wealth Robert Draper on MTG's break with Trump, referenced by Tim

After a campaign built on the promise that Trump was going to look out for his voters, he started his administration getting sidetracked by DOGE and Musk's phony ideas about saving money. After that petered out, he got distracted by his need to put his name all over the place. In the process, he's totally forgotten to help his people—or even fake trying to help them. Meanwhile, Trump is trapped in a Groundhog Day of his own making on Ukraine-Russia. Plus, his bruising has now moved to his left hand, Melania can't speak English, the DOJ is still working to find the 'real' people who made the rioters descend on the Capitol, the withholding of information in the Epstein case is worse than the redactions, and Dems need to forcefully call out the Medicaid fraud in Minnesota. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes: Monday's "Morning Shots," including what Andrew learned from his extended family The 12 Days of Christmas, Bulwark style Addison's piece on America's two Christmases Bill's "Bulwark on Sunday" with Ryan Goodman Phrase Tim and Bill referenced: “Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.” Our listeners get the Harry’s Plus Trial Set for only $10 at https://www.Harrys.com/THEBULWARK #Harryspod

The year started with America's tech overlords kissing the ring at Trump's inauguration, and it's ending with the public fed up with the ostentatiously rich—and more distrustful of Silicon Valley than ever, particularly on AI. Plus, Kara's key role in the revelations about the relationship between RFK, Jr. and Olivia Nuzzi, Trump is giving away the store to China and setting back university research and innovation by a generation, the AI advances in healthcare are mind-blowing, media companies are going to accelerate their consolidation, much of the tech oligarchy has daddy issues, JD is like a Cybertruck, "Pluribus" is great, and "KPop Demon Hunters" is golden. Kara Swisher joins Tim Miller for the holiday weekend pod. show notes Kara’s podcasts: "Pivot," with Scott Galloway" and "On with Kara Swisher" Tim's playlist Tim's Ulimate Christmas Mix "Pluribus" "KPop Demon Hunters" 

Six months ago, MAGA world was strutting around with their chests puffed out. But now, many of them are having a blue Christmas over the infighting, the economy, the DOJ's inability to deliver revenge, and Trump's cover-up of child sex traffickers—one of the key things they really cared about. All Trump can think to do is plaster his name on another large object, including most recently a new fleet of warships. Plus, the bourbon shutdown, Bari's getting burned by Canada also airing "60 Minutes," the president could move Ghislaine out of her cushy prison, and Epstein in his alleged letter to Larry Nassar really sounds like "Access Hollywood" Trump.  Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller. Show Notes: Tom on Trump’s new ‘golden fleet’ of warships Navy Secretary John Phelan Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BULWARK at https://www.oneskin.co/BULWARK #oneskinpod