Jon Lovett: The Worst People Are Happy

To the people who have actually served in war zones—and been up close and personal in real do-or-die situations—the masked, heavily armed agents who are stalking our streets are thugs and cowards. And they would be nobodies without the badges and guns that have been gratuitously handed to them. Meanwhile, amid all the action around Venezuela, Russia's relentless attacks on Ukraine's power sources in the dead of winter is being overlooked by much of the American media. And Trump's fixation with  Greenland has the Swedes talking about making nuclear weapons. Plus, airstrikes on Iran alone would miss the strategic mark, Trump still hasn't stopped eight-plus wars, and the Havana Syndrome is real.Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling joins Tim Miller.show notes Mark's piece on Iran Mark calling for ICE agents to remove their masks The most recent episode of Sarah's 'Illegal News' pod with Asha Rangappa Follow "Bulwark Takes" to get the latest "Command Post" from Mark Daniel Dale's fact check of Trump Send tips from on the ground in MN to bulwarkpodcast@thebulwark.com Get 50% off 1 month of Trade at drinktrade.com/BULWARK

14 Jan 56min

Trump's low approval ratings may be giving people the idea that he is weak and disempowered. But Trump backed into a corner could well be more unconstrained and more dangerous—and it could also fuel his imperialist ambitions toward Greenland, an island he has been obsessed with owning since his first term. Meanwhile, DHS always knew people would die because of their mass deportation efforts and it still wholly accepted the risk of its military-style operations. But the opposition on the street is building. Plus, a year after the LA fires, a look at the role of disinformation in the disaster, the slow recovery, and the lack of emergency planning by government officials.Jacob Soboroff and Susan Glasser join Tim Miller.show notes Tim on the new videos coming out of Minneapolis Jacob's book, "Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America’s New Age of Disaster" Susan's latest New Yorker column Friday's episode of The New Yorker's 'Political Scene' podcast Susan’s book with Peter Baker, “The Divider” The National Review piece on Greenland Susan referenced Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/BULWARK and use promo code BULWARK at checkout. Get up to 30% off OneSkin with the code BULWARK at https://www.oneskin.co/BULWARK #oneskinpod

13 Jan 1h 9min

Grandpa Trump looked like he was losing the pep in his step at the end of the year. But with him threatening the independence of the Fed, justifying the killing of an American in cold blood for teasing a federal agent, and toying with the idea of taking an ownership stake in oil companies, he's now dramatically ratcheting up his authoritarian tendencies. At the same time, he's losing sight of America First through his Venezuela distraction—and opening the door to challenges from MAGA true believers like Steve Bannon. Plus, Dems are playing a good hand in Alaska with Mary Peltola, Bill is a resist lib, and the heartwarming desire for freedom from the Iranian people.Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.show notes Monday's "Morning Shots," including Mark Hertling's contribution Mary Peltola's Senate campaign launch

12 Jan 59min

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says ICE descended on his city with hopes of rounding up undocumented Somalis. When agents couldn't find any, they started driving around terrorizing people. And now with the killing of Renee Good, they are clearly making the city less safe. But federal officials are also lying about Good's actions before the shooting and her character—and with their bold claims of absolute immunity for ICE agents. More broadly, the administration is trying to intimidate ordinary citizens from documenting the masked agents deployed around the country. Plus, Trump is acting like a conqueror from the Middle Ages when he claims a right to Venezuela's oil, Putin is trying to mask the weakness of Russia's economy, Europeans are back to being anxious over Greenland, and Iranians are taking to the streets again.Anne Applebaum and Mayor Jacob Frey join Tim Miller for the weekend pod.show notes Tim’s ‘Bulwark Take ‘on the new footage from Minneapolis Anne's latest pod episode about how federal agents are violating the rights of Americans Anne's latest piece on Venezuela Tim's interview with George Retes Tim's playlist Anne’s “book club” recommendations: The Captive Mind The Oppermanns The Director The Choice of Comrades What We Can Know

9 Jan 1h 9min

Most law enforcement departments train officers not to stand in front of vehicles—or shoot at moving ones—but masked ICE agents in Minneapolis did just that after descending on Renee Good's Honda Pilot and spitting out conflicting instructions to her. Not only did the president of the United States lie about the condition of the officer who shot her, Vance and Noem disparaged the deceased 37-year-old mother of three. Meanwhile, Americans are not down with the idea of the US running Venezuela. And the manosphere podcast world, which helped Trump win the election, is now feeling disillusioned and embarrassed about his betrayal of his "peace president" promise—along with his handling of the Epstein files. Plus, a discourse on white people, a consideration of Epstein's influence with the rich and powerful, and a meaty exchange over Kamala courting the Liz Cheney wing while bypassing the left's demands on Gaza. Ryan Grim joins Tim Miller.show notes: Drop Site news Ryan's 2022 piece on progressive advocacy groups Get 20% off when you go to trustandwill.com/BULWARK

8 Jan 1h 9min

Biden and Merrick Garland thought Trump would just go away, but malignant narcissists must be made to leave. And with Congress not fulfilling its constitutional obligation to hold Trump accountable for running the country like a mob boss, newly minted congressional candidate George hopes to join those Democrats on the Hill who aren't afraid to investigate—and impeach—the president and his miscreants. Meanwhile, Trump is rambling about postponing the midterms as he orders the military to commit piracy at sea.George Conway joins Tim Miller to discuss his congressional race, his return to New York, Yimbyism, and Mamdani.show notes George's campaign website The latest episode of TNL Snag the hoodie that will bring you comfort for life, the American Giant Classic Full Zip. Go to https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code BULWARK. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!

7 Jan 52min

Trump wanted to alpha male and take some oil, Hegseth wanted to bomb something, Rubio wanted Maduro gone, and aggrieved Stephen Miller wanted to bully the weak. The White House eventually settled on Venezuela as the best place to take out its aggressions and drive home its anti-immigration message. And now the administration finds itself depending on an acting Venezuelan president who has a long history of being extremely anti-American. Jonathan and Tim take a deep dive into the back story of our latest international intervention. Plus, the State Department is trying to deport an activist against online hate as a favor to Elon Musk.Imran Ahmed and The New Yorker's Jon Blitzer join Tim Miller.show notes Jon's reporting on Venezuela's acting president Jon on the administration's chaos in the Caribbean  Imran's Center for Countering Digital Hate  "Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here," Jon's book— recommended by a number of Tim's guests  Bill and Tom Joscelyn's retrospective on the fifth annivesary of Jan 6

6 Jan 1h 16min

Toppling the leader of Venezuela looks to be about greed and Trump's vanity. It's not about national security, and is likely to produce bad outcomes—including more repression of ordinary Venezuelans and more refugees fleeing the country. And even the monetary value of plundering a sovereign country's oil is vastly overstated. Meanwhile, fake imagery of Venezuelans celebrating in response to the US intervention are being shared across social media, and a polymarket bet before the strike smacks of insider trading. Plus, the idiocy of the Donroe Doctrine, JD Vance should shut up, Tim Walz was not ready for national politics, Hegseth looks like a total dork over the censure of Mark Kelly, and Tim reads from the Monday Mailbag. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes Will Saletan's guide on the other countries Trump could target Monday's "Morning Shots," including Mark Hertling on the "belly-button rule"  Tim’s 2025 Music Year in Review  Smalls New Year’s Special - get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to Smalls.com/THEBULWARK. Start your new morning ritual & get up to 43% off your @MUDWTR with code THEBULWARK at mudwtr.com/THEBULWARK! #mudwtrpod

5 Jan 1h 3min