Bulwark Takes

Latest Episodes:

BREAKING: Trump Misreads Jobs Report, Threatens To Cut Off Trade | Receipts Live Sep 04, 2026

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Catherine Rampell and JVL break down Donald Trump’s latest economic claims—and explain why his understanding of interest rates, inflation, and economic growth is so badly detached from reality.

They also dig into a disturbing new trend: European countries are moving gold and other assets out of the United States as allies increasingly worry that Trump could weaponize America’s financial power against them. From Greenland and tariffs to threats of sanctions and asset seizures, the trust that once made the U.S. dollar the world’s safe haven is starting to erode.

Plus: The Federal Reserve’s looming clash with the White House, the reliability of U.S. economic data, and why boring, predictable leadership might actually be good for the economy.

And there’s big news for Receipts: Catherine is expanding the show with a second weekly episode featuring economists, experts, politicians, and other guests to explain how Trump’s economic agenda affects your everyday life.

Read more from Catherine's newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/europe-gold-fled-the-nazis-now-its-fleeing-trump

Trump’s Endorsement of Ken Paxton Goes Hilariously Wrong Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

Donald Trump wants Ken Paxton in the Senate, but he really wishes Paxton would do something about those ugly outfits. Trump has repeatedly praised Paxton as a loyal ally while taking bizarrely personal shots at his clothes, his appearance, and his interviews.

Joe Perticone and Sonny Bunch give their takes on Trump’s obsession with how people look, the president’s apparent role as America’s new fashion police, and the truly questionable Ken Paxton fit that started it all. We examine the oversized shoes, the golf polo, the $40,000 watch, and why Joe thinks Paxton may have gone straight from the golf course to the campaign trail.

Even Fox News Won’t Hide the Truth About Trump’s Grotesque Oil Deal Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Will Saletan takes on Trump’s Venezuela oil deal, as the president openly brags that Venezuelan oil has already paid for the war “many times over” and Republicans argue that U.S. oil companies deserve benefits for the next 100 years. Saletan follows the money—and shows how the administration is putting oil profits ahead of the free elections it once promised.

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Read Will's article: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-keeping-venezuela-dictatorship-in-business-oil-deal-delcy-rodriguez

A quick note: This is the kind of work Bulwark membership makes possible: not chasing the daily outrage, but giving Will Saletan the space to build a comprehensive case from beginning to end, show you the evidence, and explain exactly how all the pieces fit together. If you appreciate this, please consider paid membership.

Trump’s Election Crackdown Has a Problem: Voters Are Fighting Back Sep 03, 2026

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Tim Miller joins Nicolle Wallace to discuss why the Republican Party can see Trump dragging it toward a midterm disaster but still can’t bring itself to break away. They also discuss the horrifying death of a young Haitian immigrant targeted by Trump’s deportation crackdown and the administration’s escalating efforts to interfere with voting—moves Tim argues could spark a backlash of their own.

Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/bulwarktakes to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you.

Watch Deadline: White House on MS NOW: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house

Read more about Protect Democracy: https://protectdemocracy.org/how-you-can-protect-democracy/

MAGA Pollster Thinks Texas, Ohio and Even KANSAS Could Turn Blue (w/ Rich Baris) Sep 03, 2026

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MAGA pollster Rich Baris joins Tim Miller to explain why Republicans may be underestimating just how competitive the 2026 Senate map could become. Baris says that Michigan and Georgia are effectively locks for Democrats Abdul El-Sayed and Jon Ossoff. He also sees Democratic opportunities in states Republicans have long considered safe—including Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, Texas, and Ohio.

Tim and Rich also talk about why Republican messaging about “socialism” is missing the point. Voters are far more worried about the cost of living, paying their bills, and affording everyday life than they are about scary ideological labels. Rich says it's clear that Trump is betraying the coalition that put him back in the White House. The war, affordability, immigration, and social-media trolling are all alienating voters who once found his approach entertaining and effective.

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Ex-CIA Officer: Scott Bessent Just Gave Putin One Hell of a Talking Point (w/ Marc Polymeropoulos) Sep 02, 2026

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Sam Stein and former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos give their takes on Russia’s attempted attacks in Germany, the growing threat of Russian hybrid warfare across Europe, and why Germany’s muted response could invite even more aggression. They also dig into the extraordinary contradiction at the heart of U.S. policy: American intelligence is helping Ukraine fight Russia while the Trump administration cozies up to Putin and welcomes Russia back onto the world stage.

Plus, Sam and Marc take a closer look at the Trump administration’s strange new Venezuela oil deal, the questions it raises about American power and influence, and the increasingly uncomfortable gap between the GOP’s rhetoric about socialism and what the administration is actually doing.

For a limited time, Tempo is offering our listeners 60% off your first box! Go to https://TempoMeals.com/BulwarkTakes

There’s big news from The Bulwark: Marc and investigative journalist Michael Weiss are launching a brand-new podcast, Reporter and the Spy. The show will explore the fascinating intersection of journalism and espionage, drawing on their firsthand experience reporting from and operating in the world’s most dangerous places.

Subscribe to The Bulwark so you don’t miss Reporter and the Spy when it launches this fall. If you value independent reporting, sharp analysis, and people who actually know what they’re talking about, become a subscriber today.

Command Post: Hegseth’s Generals Gave Him a Dire Warning About the Iran War Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

The USS Abraham Lincoln finally returns to port after nearly 300 days at sea—and the visible wear and tear is a stark reminder of the strain being placed on the U.S. military.

Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) discuss the Navy’s mounting readiness challenges, the Pentagon’s purge of senior Army leaders, and the departure of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. They also break down what leaked Pentagon orders reveal about commanders’ concerns over the sustainability of ongoing operations in Iran and why the warnings coming from inside the military deserve attention.

Plus: Trump’s potential Navy secretary pick, and the Pentagon’s bizarre new plan to fix defense acquisition with a “Shark Tank”-style competition.

Read Mark Hertling’s reporting and analysis: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/leaks-from-hegseth-orders-book-warning-risk-iran-war-hormuz-military-commanders-munitions

For a limited time, Tempo is offering our listeners 60% off your first box! Go to https://TempoMeals.com/BulwarkTakes

What We Did to This 20-Year-Old Is Unforgivable Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

A 20-year-old Haitian college student, Pierre Damas Bel, came to America to study, play soccer, serve in JROTC, and pursue a career in medicine. Instead, he was placed with an ankle monitor, bullied and humiliated by classmates, and made to feel like a criminal despite having committed no crime.

Tim Miller and Sam Stein discuss Pierre’s tragic death, the human cost of Trump’s immigration crackdown, and the cruelty being inflicted on Haitian immigrants by Trump and JD Vance.

Tim and JVL on JD Vance's book: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/a-dramatic-reading-of-jd-vances-awful

For a limited time, Tempo is offering our listeners 60% off your first box! Go to https://TempoMeals.com/BulwarkTakes

We’ll be honest—stories about the human cost of this administration’s policies are devastating. But they matter, and paid Bulwark members give us the freedom to cover them anyway—without having to let the algorithm decide which stories deserve attention. Join us and help make that important work possible.

This Story Has Democratic Insiders Going NUTS Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Sam Stein and Lauren Egan give their takes on the behind-the-scenes scramble for campaign staff, the Democrats already courting operatives in early primary states, and why South Carolina is suddenly such a crucial piece of the 2028 puzzle. They also debate just how massive the Democratic field could get and where the next presidential campaigns may set up shop.

Make today a good day, and get yourself some Soul gummies. Right now, Soul is offering our audience 30% off your entire order! Go to https://GetSoul.com and use the code BULWARKTAKES for 30% off.

A quick note: Lauren’s reporting in The Opposition is already being passed around the group chats of campaign staffers, operatives, and political pros trying to figure out what’s coming next. If you want to read the same reporting insiders are reading, sign up and get The Opposition in your inbox: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/2028-democratic-presidential-primary-is-quietly-raging-staffers

Morning Shots Live: Army Secretary Resigns After Warning Trump About Hegseth Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Andrew Egger has uncovered one of the strangest congressional candidate stories you’ll hear all year: a woman facing federal fraud charges in Illinois appears to have resurfaced as a different candidate in Florida and denied being the same person.

Plus, Dan Driscoll’s stunning resignation exposes the deepening chaos at the Pentagon, Bill Kristol explains why Pete Hegseth may be harder for Trump to get rid of than you think, and the Supreme Court clears the way for Trump’s White House ballroom.

Make today a good day, and get yourself some Soul gummies. Right now, Soul is offering our audience 30% off your entire order! Go to https://GetSoul.com and use the code BULWARKTAKES for 30% off.

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