The Bulwark Podcast

Obama never thought Trump could win in 2016, perhaps because he underestimated how much the opposition loathed him. At the opening of his new presidential center on Thursday, he spoke of presidents acting with duty, honor, and kindness—even though the current occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is all about destroying things, being mean, hurting people, and starting dumb wars. Indeed, Trump's foreign policy may be more in the American tradition than Obama's. Plus, a debate over whether Kamala's response to Gaza cost her the White House along with her standing in the party. Also, some Knicks love and another installment in the perils and pitfalls of wokeness—this time with some Talarico comments from 2020.
Ta-Nehisi Coates joins Tim Miller for the Juneteenth holiday weekend pod.
show notes

Ta-Nehisi's latest piece in Vanity Fair

Tim's playlist

Donald Trump gave away the store in the second worst treaty signed at Versailles. The bounty POTUS delivered has already started to flow with the lifting of oil sanctions on Iran. The unfreezing of restricted assets—and a $300 billion reconstruction and investment fund—is just around the corner. Trump is even defending Iran's right to have ballistic missiles. He likes to talk tough, but he is a wuss, and the Dems can't let up on calling him out for his cowardice and his stupid war. Plus, gaming which group of Trump supporters got cucked the most, Republicans on the Hill are already rushing to protect Trump on the deal, and a Texas temperature check on Talarico v Paxton.
Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Text of the agreement between the U.S. and Iran 

Kinzinger's Substack 

"The Kinzinger Report" podcast 

Tim's and JVL's reading of Vance's new book

The pro-Israel hawks are still reeling from the terms of Trump's initial deal with Iran, which grants access to funds that had been frozen because of the regime's support of terrorism. The neocons got bamboozled by Trump, like so many before them—in this case believing that he would always have Israel's back. On the domestic front, Trump repeatedly lied when he said taxpayers weren't funding his ballroom, and in an act of revenge, he's keeping down and dirty Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. Plus, the left has a shortage of candidates that can win non-blue states, and a debate over whether social and cultural issues are why Dems often don't resonate with voters.
Krystal Ball joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Krystal's "Breaking Points"

"Krystal Kyle & Friends" pod

Brendan testing a water sample from the algae-covered reflecting pool

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Vance is trying to sell the administration’s initial deal with Iran as a signal that the regime is ready to end its reign of terror and join the community of nations. Never mind that the CIA is outwardly saying that the Iranians can’t be trusted and that the developing agreement looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Also looking pretty naive are the pro-Israel American foreign policy hawks, who thought Trump would be a good war partner with the Israelis. Trump is now on day three of trash-talking Bibi and Israel—this time at the G7. Plus, Sam Forstag, Democratic congressional candidate in Montana, joins Tim to explain how he’s managed to unite the lefties and the centrists behind his campaign, why Dems need to cool it on language that alienates the working class, and how voters are so damn tired of being told to hate each other.
Sam Forstag and Michael Weiss join Tim Miller.
show notes

Sam's campaign website

Michael's Substack

Watch for Tim's and JVL's live reading of Vance's new book Wednesday on YouTube or Substack

Tim's 'Take' with Caolan Robertston in Kyiv re the Russian strike on the Dormition Cathedral 

"The Pulp" interview with Sam

POTUS humiliated himself and our country with a peace “deal” that strengthens Iran’s hand and apparently pays billions to the regime—which it can use to build more weapons and fund its proxy terror groups. We don’t even know if the Strait of Hormuz is open, despite the credulous reporting by numerous media outlets. Meanwhile, Trump’s cage fight at the White House was beyond parody and truly despicable on so many levels, including: taxpayer money being spent to glorify him, the corruption and kickbacks surrounding the fight, and the Saudis underwriting a White House event, even though they share none of our traditions or values. Plus, the Knicks win and the World Cup are serving up real joy and hope, and the Kennedy Center seems to be under orders to hide that Trump’s name has been removed from the building.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
Show notes

Monday's "Morning Shots" 

Hertling on the use and abuse of the military at the UFC fight 

Brendan's interview with Rep. Joyce Beatty, who sued to get Trump's name off the Kennedy Center 

The Bulwark's live coverage from the Kennedy Center Friday eve