Bulwark Takes

Latest Episodes:

BOMBSHELL: FBI Director Reportedly Drinking, Missing Work, Sometimes Unreachable Apr 18, 2026

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Tim Miller reacts to a jaw-dropping article in The Atlantic which alleges that FBI Director Kash Patel was repeatedly unreachable on the job—including an incident where security considered breaching a locked door to wake him. From a bizarre meltdown over a computer login to allegations of heavy drinking, missed briefings, and weekends in Vegas, Tim takes on this shocking report.

Read Sarah Fitzpatrick’s article in The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/04/kash-patel-fbi-director-drinking-absences/686839/

Tim Miller: Trump’s “Deal” Doesn’t Add Up Apr 18, 2026

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Tim Miller joined Katy Tur on MS Now to walk through the growing gap between what Trump is claiming and what Iran is actually saying—highlighting major sticking points like enriched uranium and the fragile status of the Strait of Hormuz. Is this a real breakthrough… or just another rushed attempt to declare victory. Plus, Tim and Jonathan Cohn dig into new signs the White House may be quietly backing away from RFK Jr. as the politics and public health consequences become harder to ignore.

Watch Katy Tur Reports on MS NOW: https://www.ms.now/katy-tur-reports

Trump Says Strait Is Open, Wants to Cut Iran a $20B Check | Receipts LIVE Apr 17, 2026

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JVL and Catherine Rampell are going live to cover Trump's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is open, the potential $20B Iran could get from the U.S., and Catherine's latest reporting on the White House blaming corporate greed for their economic woes.

Read more from Catherine's newsletter here: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/when-all-else-fails-just-blame-corporate-greed-greedflation

Read more from JVL's Triad here: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/a-trump-madman-theory-of-the-stock-market

JD Vance Tries to Lecture the Pope About Theology Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

Tim Miller gives his take to Nicolle Wallace on MS Now about Donald Trump’s escalating feud with Pope Leo. Tim breaks down president's lie that the pontiff said Iran should be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, JD Vance’s public posture on Catholicism, and the White House's easily debunked talking points to justify its Iran messaging. In between his fight with the pope, Trump also spent time trying to downplay sky-high gas prices and try to claim his ballroom is a national security concern.

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Democrats Are CRUSHING GOP in Fundraising—But There’s a Catch Apr 17, 2026

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Sarah Longwell gives her take on the state of race in the early contours of the 2026 midterm landscape. Democratic candidates are posting eye-popping Q1 fundraising numbers, dramatically outraising Republican opponents across key Senate and House contests. But the picture is more complicated than candidate fundraising alone—while Democrats are surging at the individual race level, Republicans maintain a substantial edge in party committees and aligned super PACs.

Refresh your spring wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/BULWARKTAKES for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!

BREAKING: Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire; Hegseth Calls Press "Pharisees" Apr 16, 2026

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JVL, Mark Hertling and Andrew Egger are going live to cover Trump's announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Hegseth's press conference, and the continuing war of words between GOP figures and the Pope.

Refresh your spring wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/BULWARKTAKES for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!

Trump Said “Total Blockade”—That’s Not Happening | Command Post Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

In this Command Post edition of Bulwark Takes, Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) examine the growing gap between political messaging and military reality, focusing on how Trump’s public statements often differ from what the military actually executes. They also break down what a “blockade” of the Strait of Hormuz really involves and why it’s far more complex and risky than it sounds in political rhetoric. Finally, they turn to Ukraine’s evolving war effort, highlighting how drone warfare and battlefield innovation are reshaping modern combat.

Refresh your spring wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/BULWARKTAKES for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!

Ben's book recommendation: https://www.amazon.com/Judgment-Tokyo-World-Making-Modern/dp/1101947101/?tag=bulwark08-20

Damon Lindelof: Hollywood HATES the Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Apr 16, 2026

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Sonny Bunch and Damon Lindelof—the show runner behind Lost, The Leftovers, and Watchmen—discuss the growing backlash to the proposed Paramount–Warner Bros. merger and what it could mean for Hollywood’s future. Lindelof explains why he joined more than a thousand industry professionals in signing a public letter urging scrutiny of the deal. He describes a “chilling effect” across Hollywood, where even speaking out against consolidation can carry professional risk.

Open Letter: 2,500+ Industry Leaders Oppose the Paramount–WBD Merger
https://blockthemerger.com/openletter

Trump’s Truth Social Account Is a Cry for Help | Tim's a Streamer Now! Apr 16, 2026

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Tim is streaming again, and JD Vance keeps losing.

Trump’s Plan to Fire Powell Is Backfiring—Spectacularly Apr 15, 2026

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Andrew Egger and Catherine Rampell give their takes on Trump latest fight with Jerome Powell, now floating the idea of firing Powell, while a bogus investigation continues to hang over the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, Senator Thom Tillis is refusing to move forward on Trump’s preferred replacement, Kevin Warsh, unless that probe is dropped. Plus: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright struggle to explain rising gas prices, walking back earlier optimism as global tensions push costs higher.

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