The Bulwark Podcast

Harris has been watching and learning about the ways of Washington, and she keeps sticking the landing like a gymnast. Meanwhile, Trump is desperately trying to unring the bell on abortion. Plus, what is his plan to delegitimize the election this time? PBS' Margaret Hoover joins Tim Miller for the holiday weekend pod. show notes: Margaret's Firing Line special, "Counting the Vote" on your local PBS station Margaret's Firing Line documentary on YouTube Tim's playlist John Avlon's congressional campaign website

Policy differences pale in comparison to maintaining self-governance and restoring sanity in the country—high time for the anti-Trumpers to endorse the candidate who's not posting crap like a 17-year-old in his parents' basement. Plus, the Arlington incident, jealous Megyn Kelly, and why Russia is freaking out about the Telegram-related arrest. Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller. show notes: Will Selber on the Arlington episode and Section 60 Tickets for The Bulwark LIVE next week in Dallas

The pundit class keeps talking about how Trump hasn't figured out how to respond to Kamala—but she already knows how to deal with him. And the man who's used to controlling the narrative finds himself on the sidelines. Plus, maximizing the efficiency of Kamala's digital campaign over the next 10 weeks.  D.L. Hughley and Teddy Goff join Tim Miller. show notes: D.L.'s radio show, streaming D.L.'s radio show, terrestrial options

Rumors have surfaced about Joe feeling sad and resentful about the re-energized party. At the same time, Kamala seems happy to share the limelight with party stars, like Pete Buttigieg. And over at Mar-a-Lago land, the flat-footed Trump campaign still doesn't know how to respond to the change in the Dem ticket. Plus, the mysterious and sketchy way Trump is allocating campaign contributions. Mark Leibovich and Juleanna Glover join Tim Miller. show notes: Mark's piece on the Buttigieg Bubble Elaina Plott Calabro's piece on Kash Patel Juleanna's essay for The New York Times on Trump's expenditures The "YIMBYs for Harris" event Tim is part of The Apple playlist link for Bulwark Pod music Tim's Spotify list

Some of the people best suited to make the case against Trump are the jilted Cabinet members and others who worked with him—doing the right thing is never the wrong thing. Plus, McMaster's preposterous spin, appreciating the words Kamala didn't say in her speech, making Trump own RFK, Jr.'s antivax views, and the gamesmanship over the debates. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes: Adam Kinzinger on speaking at the Democratic convention Tim on the big fish anti-Trumpers who should endorse Kamala already Bill on the key line in Kamala's speech

Kamala delivered a real work of art—a perfect American story filled with love of country, democracy, family, and the pursuit of big dreams. She also spoke to the center of the electorate, and conveyed a strength to take on the bullies and protect the nation, all with a feminine touch. Meanwhile, the sitting black VP has positioned herself as the challenger against an incumbent Trump, infuriating him in the process. A.B. Stoddard joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes: Elaina Plott Calabro interview about Kamala that Tim referenced Tim's playlist

The former senator from Minnesota recounts his early fandom for Tim Walz and how he won an unlikely congressional race in 2006. Plus, Kamala finding her footing, the cowardly Republicans who are shying away from endorsing her, a floundering Trump, and Franken's 70s-era comedy. Al Franken joins Tim Miller. show notes: The 1976 SNL episode featuring Al and Elliott Gould's skit; costs $1.99 to watch

Michelle Obama killed it last night, and did the job that every speaker at the Democratic convention should be doing: persuading the undecided to vote for Kamala. Plus, the inside scoop on her husband's big (... er small) moment, making sure young men know about the toxic crap in Project 2025, and embracing America's great, big, beautiful pluralism.  Jon Favreau joins Tim Miller. show notes: That big ( ... er small) moment Jon's book 

Kamala's genuine smile and Walz's empathetic version of manhood is coming through loud and clear—and may explain the joy that is coursing through the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, Vance remains a popularity sinkhole. Plus, the prospects for Texas ever turning blue, Cancun Cruz, Latino voters, getting the young to the polls, and staying in to fight the good fight. Beto O'Rourke joins Tim Miller. show notes: Beto's Texas voter registration group, "Powered by People" Beto wrote about visiting Ulysses, Kansas in 2018

Kamala's first month as a presidential candidate before the Democratic convention has gone exceedingly well—she's been controlling the narrative, infuriating people like Ben Shapiro, and Trump can't get her pretty face out of his head. Meanwhile, Putin talks a big game, but Ukraine has surprised everyone with its incursion into Russia. Bill Kristol and Michael Weiss join Tim Miller. show notes: Dan Pfeiffer piece Tim mentioned A.B.'s piece Tim referenced Michael's stories at The Insider WSJ story referenced by Michael (for Journal subscribers)

Swapping out Biden for Kamala has been such a big mood boost that consumer confidence among Dems and independents is suddenly surging. Meanwhile, Trump keeps having Potemkin press conferences as a ploy to reclaim the narrative. Plus, Bond-style villains have made hating Project 2025 so easy, and the 'suckers and losers' guy again shows that he doesn't respect the troops.  Brian Beutler joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes: Brian's piece on mass psychology Tim's playlist

Two Democratic members of Congress who called on Biden to pass the torch join Tim Miller today. Both Rep. Dean Phillips and Rep. Mikie Sherrill said it was voters who told them they wanted the party to turn the page.  Plus, more Tim Walz insights, and Vance's odd obsession with how females use their bodies throughout their lives.

The anti-MAGA world should keep going on right-wing media platforms, and maybe embarrass their hosts in the process—like Buttigieg on Fox, and Tim on Tomi Lahren's show. Plus, the direct line between Secret Service failures in Butler, PA and the Dallas book depository. And will the FBI ever be able to confirm if Trump took a $10 million bribe from Egypt? Brian Tyler Cohen and Carol Leonnig join Tim Miller. show notes: Brian's new book, "Shameless: Republicans' Deliberate Dysfunction and the Battle to Preserve Democracy" Carol's reporting on the $10 mil cash withdrawal from Egypt Carol's book on the Secret Service, "Zero Fail" 8 Times Tim SCHOOLED Right-Wing Tomi Lahren on Her Own Show! Will Selber's piece on the Walz 'stolen valor' claims John Kerry campaign vets on how to respond to the Walz swiftboating Will Selber and Ben Parker video on the Walz 'stolen valor' claims

Trump may be holed up at Mar-a-Lago because he's afraid of another attempt on his life. Meanwhile, he keeps trying to take away Kamala's identity. Plus, the stunningly different way the media is handling hacked campaign docs in 2024, the threat from rando county clerks who may try to block the electoral vote count, and more from the mailbag. Amanda Carpenter joins Tim Miller. show notes: A.B.'s piece on Republican election officials refusing to certify a Harris win Tim's 2021 story on voting machine tampering coming from inside the MAGA house Tweet thread on Florida's smooth election process

Biden's departure from the race has put Trump in a real funk. He's in denial about Kamala's crowds, he's publicly pining the loss of his preferred rival, and he's doubling down on his helicopter story—and conflating two different black CA politicians in the process. Plus, filling in the gaps in Kamala's inner circle. Bill Kristol and Chris Cadelago join Tim Miller. show notes: Cadelago's story on the other black politician who was in a helicopter with Trump that almost crashed Cadelago's story on Kamala's 2020 staffing Cadalago's story on tensions withing Kamala's campaign staff

Kamala is now the star of a story involving a woman called into duty at a moment of crisis with a sitcom dad as a running mate—and Trump can see the danger. Nate Silver joins Tim Miller to explain what his polling model is showing. Plus, the survivorship bias of Elon-world risk takers, and good, old gambling tips. Your weekend pod. show notes: Nate's new book, "On the Edge The Art of Risking Everything," out Tuesday Tim making the "conservative case" for Kamala Tim's playlist 

Trump and his supporters don't like America as it currently exists, and their veep pick JD Vance is like the U.S.-hating Code Pink, but in a suit.  Meanwhile, the Democrats have seized the patriotism mantle, à la the Republicans of the 80s. Plus, the sick, unhinged, and inaccurate attack on Tim Walz after his 24 years of service in the National Guard.  Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller. show notes: Kinzinger on the swiftboating of Walz Kamala clapping back against some Gaza protesters on Wednesday 

Tim talks to a local Minnesota reporter to get the low-down on Tim Walz's recent political history, including where he falls on the progressive-to-moderate spectrum—as well as his weak spots from his tenure as governor, like the 2020 riots in Minneapolis.  Plus, JD Vance, as a senator, has been texting with a Holocaust-denying far-right fringe character, but won't take calls from high-ranking Ukrainian officials.  MinnPost's Peter Callaghan and the Washington Post's Isaac Stanley-Becker join Tim Miller. show notes: Peter's story on how Walz beat the odds to become the VP pick Isaac's story on Vance's texts with Charles Johnson Tim's book, "Why We Did It" 

Tim Walz is a great foil for Kamala's West Coast vibe: He looks like he'll fix your car, then grab an Arby's sandwich before he goes duck hunting. And he's a perfect contrast to JD Vance, the callus-free faux hillbilly who went to Yale. Michael Steele weighs in on the veep pick. Then Rep. Adam Schiff joins Tim Miller to discuss decision to call on Biden to step aside, and "The Biggest Loser: Donald Trump." 

Recent polls are showing some pretty significant movement to Harris, and she hasn't even had to play defense yet—though at some point she's going to. Meanwhile, Trump and Vance have had a strategically disastrous three weeks. Plus, RFK, Jr and the poor dead bear cub, the stock market sell-off, and Peter Thiel's lack of appreciation for how he has benefited from liberalism. Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller. show notes: Joe Weisenthal on the stock market sell-off The bear cub and RFK, Jr.