Don Lemon: Elon Is a Troll

Trump and his people have used the summer months to up the despot game—sending armed troops into the streets, taking over the police in D.C., and promising to export the same tactics to even more blue cities. And the attempted deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda shows the lengths the administration will go for not submitting to its coercion. At the same time, Vance sounds downright Orwellian on the John Bolton matter, while the White House eyes other major corporations to extort. Plus, Wes Moore punches back, the injustice of the trans military ban, and the emerging signs of a broad Democratic coalition. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes Kinzinger on how Trump is undermining the Second Amendment Bill's 'Bulwark on Sunday' with Col. Bree Fram Mark Hertling on the purging of military and intel leaders Just one of Gov. Moore's recent punchy tweets The book Tim mentioned, "Diary of a Man in Despair" Bulwark Live in DC and NYC at https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events. Toronto is SOLD OUT

25 Aug 202550min

The fears of jack-booted thugs and the military in the streets that filled the fever dreams of numerous people on the right since the 90s have come to pass. Not to mention that these are boom times for private prisons, deportation camps, and huge data centers driving up electricity bills. (We're building things, Marc Andreessen!) Meanwhile, The Bulwark was live on the scene for the FBI raid at John Bolton's house—just the latest installment from Team Trump's pursuit of his enemies. Plus, Alex Jones is worried about Trump's cankles, and Gavin is proving to be a good fighter, but other Dems need to get in the game. Also, Gaza, Israel, and the exaggerated power of AIPAC. Tommy Vietor joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes Bulwark LIVE for FBI raid at Bolton's home (Substack) or YouTube Byron Donalds's Cracker Barrel tweet Third Way's blacklisted words Joe Rogan takedown Peter Thiel's antichrist lecture series Tim's playlist THE BULWARK LIVE in Toronto, D.C. and NYC: Thebulwark.com/events

22 Aug 20251h 9min

While Trump keeps working hard on his own monetization and glorification—and delivers a Watergate practically every hour—the pro-democracy coalition must stay focused on winning next year's midterm elections. Trump is at the point of no return, Congress is becoming the only institution that can stop him, and holding onto that lever of power is his top priority. Meanwhile, not only did Trump look weak in Alaska, he also looked unpresidential. Plus, a new publication focused on the threats from the post-liberal right and left. Jerusalem Demsas and Garry Kasparov join Tim Miller. show notes Garry's Substack, "The Next Move" Jerusalem's "The Argument" Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen slamming the table after losing in June Trump comparing himself to Nixon *** THE BULWARK LIVE in Toronto, D.C. and NYC: Thebulwark.com/events *** Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/BULWARK and use promo code BULWARK at checkout.

21 Aug 20251h 11min

Russia is losing the war in Ukraine. More than 1 million Russian troops have been killed or injured, and it's been estimated that it would take another four years and 2 million more soldiers for Putin to conquer the Donbas region. So no, Ben Shapiro, getting Ukraine to sacrifice the region in return for some kind of security guarantee would not be a "masterstroke" for Trump. Meanwhile, red state governors sending National Guard troops to D.C. are disrupting the lives and families of those troops at back-to-school time—just to please Daddy Trump. Plus, the MAGA socialism around Intel, Dems should advise foreign countries to think twice about doing corrupt deals with Trump, and Hegseth's pull-ups don't cut it in the alpha male world he thinks he's making. Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller. show notes Tim on the Louisiana governor sending the National Guard to D.C. Kinzinger's interview with Jason Riddle Jonathan Martin on Trump giving Putin more time to stall FT on Europeans comparing eastern Ukraine to Florida  *** THE BULWARK LIVE in Toronto, D.C. and NYC: Thebulwark.com/events ***

20 Aug 202556min

Back in the day, Trump used to puff up his wealth to get on the Forbes list. Lately though, he doesn't talk about how much money he has, especially now that he and his family have pocketed an estimated $3.4 billion off his time in the White House. The bulk of those billions comes from various crypto-related ventures—and money from foreign nationals and some adjustments at the S.E.C. have helped grease the wheel. At the same time, the Trump Org is making development deals directly with dictators in the Middle East. Meanwhile, his supporters may think they're helping MAGA by buying hats and beer koozies, but their money is all going to Trump. Plus, the European leaders had their flattery game down in the Oval Office on Monday. The New Yorker's David Kirkpatrick joins Tim Miller. show notes David's piece, "The Number: How Much Is Trump Pocketing off the Presidency?” White House photo of the European's flattery game in action Go to https://zbiotics.com/THEBULWARK and use THEBULWARK at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.

19 Aug 202549min

Militarizing the nation's capital is not a distraction, and Democrats really need to stop using that term. Trump is trying to seize power, intimidate the public, and foment violence in the streets. And it's a purposeful MAGA marketing campaign—the masked federal thugs often have a camera person with them as they tase and tackle people. This is a fight that is central to the pro-democracy coalition, and it must become a political loser for Trump. Meanwhile, European leaders are now the ones defending liberty, and Trump may be laying the groundwork for an attempted federal takeover of our elections. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes Philip Bump's mapping of crime rates in states sending Guard troops to DC  Masked agents NOT patrolling in DC neighborhoods most impacted by crime Bill's 'Bulwark on Sunday' conversation with Eric  Video of a Russian tank with an American flag Bulwark Live in Toronto, DC, NYC at https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events F*%k your khakis and get The Perfect Jean 15% off with the code BULWARK15 at theperfectjean.nyc/BULWARK15 #theperfectjeanpod

18 Aug 202542min

While Donald Trump delivers chaos, cruelty, and corruption—and Republicans play the facts-and-hypocrisy don't matter game— Democrats have to do more rallies, more town halls, and more hearings, on and off the Hill. And if Leader Jeffries gets the gavel after the midterms, he promises investigations into Trump's huge pay-to-play scheme and says that Kristi Noem will be one of the first people hauled up to Congress to answer for the unlawful round-ups and disappearances of law-abiding immigrants. Plus, the currently missing Mamdani endorsement, the D.C. takeover, the redistricting showdown, and leaning hard into Epstein.  Rep. Hakeem Jeffries joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes "Bulwark Takes" feed for updates on the Alaska summit Tim's playlist Get 10% Off your entire order & takeadvantage of Ridge’s Annual Sweepstakes by going to https://www.Ridge.com/THEBULWARK #Ridgepod Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BULWARK at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

15 Aug 20251h

At the Alaska summit, Putin will likely be angling for a sequel of the Helsinki meeting, the infamous tête-à-tête in 2018 where Trump got rolled and cajoled. And because Trump refuses to accept that his charisma and imaginary friendship with Vladimir will never be enough to close a ceasefire deal, the best outcome for Ukraine is that Putin makes Trump mad by not helping him land his long-sought peace prize. Meanwhile, Russian intelligence has been busy recruiting assets to commit acts of terror and foment unrest in Western countries. Plus, the role of Europe in standing up to Trump, and a hurled sandwich becomes an act of resistance to the takeover of DC. Michael Weiss joins Tim Miller. show notes Tim and Bill on the wholesale inflation numbers and Trump's BLS pick Video of the sandwich thrower or on Instagram Double agent Kim Philby

14 Aug 202548min