Bulwark Takes

Latest Episodes:

BREAKING: JD Vance Privately Advised Hillary Clinton's Campaign in 2016 (w/ Chris Whipple) Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Sam Stein is joined by Chris Whipple, who wrote for Vanity Fair about the remarkable political transformation of J.D. Vance, from a young Trump critic at Yale Law School to Trump’s vice president and a potential MAGA successor. They dig into Vance’s behind-the-scenes efforts in 2016 to help Hillary Clinton defeat Trump and examine what drove his dramatic reversal. Was Vance always destined for MAGA, or did something change along the way?

Plus, Chris shares what Susie Wiles told him about Vance’s evolution and why she viewed his transformation differently from other Republican politicians.

The day always ends well with Casper. Right now save up to 30% on mattresses and up to 35% on everything else when you go to https://Casper.com.

Kash Patel’s Senate Hearing Takes an Absolutely Wild Turn (w/ George Conway) Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Trump is raging at the Supreme Court after his own appointees helped block his administration’s mail-ballot rules, and George Conway joins Sam Stein to discuss the ruling, Trump’s extraordinary attack on the justices he picked, and what could come next as the midterms approach. Then things take a sharp turn as they watch Kash Patel try to explain one of the strangest—and grossest—FBI controversies you’re ever likely to hear discussed in a Senate hearing.

Check your brain and health the way I do. Function provides 160+ lab tests for $1/day and member pricing on advanced imaging. Join at https://functionhealth.com/BULWARKTAKES and use code BULWARKTAKES25 for a $25 credit.

Republicans’ "Anti-Communist" Obsession Backfires Spectacularly Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

Republicans spent their midterm convention warning that communists are coming for America. Will Saletan runs their own definition of “communism” against Donald Trump’s promises of $5,000 checks, government stakes in private companies, admiration for China, and even his jokes about being “the greatest communist in history”—and finds the GOP’s argument collapsing under its own weight.

Morning Shots: New Poll Shows Major Democratic Lead Ahead of Midterms Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

Bill Kristol and guest host Ben Parker break down the latest New York Times/Siena polling showing Democrats with a significant advantage on the generic congressional ballot heading into the midterms. They discuss why Democrats are now leading Republicans on the economy, cost of living, immigration, and foreign wars. They also examine the growing political problem Republicans face on artificial intelligence, with voters overwhelmingly opposed to new AI data centers in their communities. Bill explains why Democrats could use Trump’s aggressive stance on AI to put Republicans on the defensive.

Plus, the conversation turns to Kash Patel’s bizarre Senate hearing, including questions about the FBI’s hiring rules involving bestiality, and why the absurd exchange distracts from much more serious questions about the FBI. Ben and Bill also discuss Patel’s handling of the Epstein files and why the administration’s refusal to provide meaningful transparency could become a bigger issue in the midterm elections.

Check your brain and health the way I do. Function provides 160+ lab tests for $1/day and member pricing on advanced imaging. Join at functionhealth.com/BULWARKTAKES and use code BULWARKTAKES25for a $25 credit.

Trump’s Lies Are Coming Faster Than Anyone Can Track Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

Tim Miller gives his take on Trump’s latest manic posting spree, from AI and China to oil prices, Iran, Ukraine, and Trump’s repeated promises of tariff-funded “dividend” checks. Tim also takes on Trump’s claim that AI safety concerns are a “hoax” and his push to accelerate AI development with minimal guardrails.

Plus, a new federal watchdog report details disturbing conditions at Florida’s now-shuttered “Alligator Alcatraz,” where detainees were confined in small outdoor metal cages that officials described as “calming areas.”

BREAKING: Supreme Court REJECTS Trump's Mail-In Ballot Restrictions Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

Go to https://zbiotics.com/bulwarktakes and use code BULWARKTAKES at checkout for 15% off any first-time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. #ad

Join Sam Stein and Andrew Egger as they cover the breaking news that the Supreme Court has blocked Trump's executive order on mail-in ballots.

Kennedy Center’s Bizarre Documents Are Pure Trumpian Madness Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Go to https://zbiotics.com/bulwarktakes and use code BULWARKTAKES at checkout for 15% off any first-time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. #ad

Catherine Rampell and Andrew Egger take on the pure Trumpian madness engulfing the Kennedy Center, which could close as early as Tuesday after Trump’s takeover drove away donors, performers, and audiences. Now his handpicked board says Trump may be the only person who can “rescue” it—and has laid out ten different ways the institution could honor him in return.

BOMBSHELL: Russian Oligarch Bankrolled Don Jr.’s Wedding Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Go to https://zbiotics.com/bulwarktakes and use code BULWARKTAKES at checkout for 15% off any first-time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. #ad

Marc Polymeropoulos and Michael Weiss give their takes on the ProPublica report that a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin secretly bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s lavish Bahamas wedding. They examine the counterintelligence implications of a Putin-connected figure giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to the president’s son, including the potential for leverage, access, compromise and influence inside Trump’s inner circle.

They also discuss the oligarch’s connections to Russian ultra-nationalist groups and the war in Ukraine, including ties to an organization accused of helping abduct Ukrainian children. Plus, Mark and Michael explore what the FBI, Congress and national security-minded Republicans should do with the revelations and why the growing normalization of Russian influence could pose an even bigger threat.

A quick note: We know Russian counterintelligence isn’t exactly algorithm bait. But when a story like this breaks, we want to be able to call up people who have spent their careers inside this world and give them the time to explain what everyone else is missing. Paid Bulwark members make that kind of work possible: not just chasing the biggest audience, but putting real expertise behind stories that deserve serious attention.

MAGA Mondays: Trump’s Handpicked Prosecutor QUITS After Just Five Months Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

ZBiotics: Go to https://zbiotics.com/bulwarktakes and use code BULWARKTAKES at checkout for 15% off any first-time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. #ad

Sam Stein and Will Sommer dig into the bombshell ProPublica report that a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin secretly bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s lavish Bahamas wedding. Then, they take a critical look at 60 Minutes’ investigation into the booming business of lobbying for presidential pardons, including its undercover sting of Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman. Plus, Will explains the bizarre circumstances surrounding the sudden resignation of Trump ally Joe diGenova’s resignation, and the latest saga involving MAGA influencer Matt Tardio and his bizarre “Antifa got me high” defense.

All that, plus the truly strange story of Jacob Wohl’s dad and a very weird MAGA calendar.

Watch Mike Johnson Squirm Over Trump’s $5,000 Bribe Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Sam Stein and Will Saletan take on Mike Johnson’s defense of Republican congressional candidate Brandon Herrera despite the gun YouTuber’s grotesque comments about women and children—and the stark contrast with how Democrats police their own candidates. They also dissect Donald Trump’s proposed $5,000 payout if Republicans retain Congress, then debate the administration’s lack of urgency as AI insiders warn of catastrophic risks and Johnson invokes competition with China to resist rapid regulation.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected