The Bulwark Podcast

Unless the administration is keeping some closely-guarded secret about why America went to war against Iran, the only thing officialdom is saying out loud is that Netanyahu wanted us to. And now Trump says he's waiting on Netanyahu to end it. But support for the state of Israel cannot make up for the fact that both the president and the prime minister are not to be trusted. Both Trump and Netanyahu are corrupt men who used their power to avoid being held accountable for their corruption. To be skeptical about the aims of the military operation is not antisemitic, but the fact that it is happening at all may contribute to the rising incidence of antisemitism. Plus, JD is in a tight spot, the administration keeps lying about our killing of Iranian schoolchildren, and Sarah's new book advises Democrats on how to win the comms war against Republicans.
Sarah Longwell joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Pre-order Sarah's book, "How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time"

Stream "Memphis Belle," the film Sarah recommended

Tickets for our LIVE show in Austin on March 19: TheBulwark.com/Events.

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Republicans and the Supreme Court have put basically no guardrails on Trump, so he started a global war that is costing taxpayers $1 billion a day. He shrugs about soldiers dying, and he lies about the school full of children that Americans likely killed. And he's downright giddy that because he signed off on all the bombing of Iran, he may get to choose the country's new leader. At the same time, one of the few occasions when Republicans stood up to him resulted in the firing of his first Cabinet member, the scandalous Kristi Noem. Plus, new job loss numbers show how Trump continues to hurt the working class, fuel prices are rising, the administration is again helping Russia in its war on Ukraine, Rand Paul may have an issue with Noem's chosen successor, and have the Dems' chances of retaking the Senate improved?
Neera Tanden, with the Center for American Progress, joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes

The Center for American Progress web site

Catherine on Trump's warflation

NPR on Neera's OMB nomination being pulled because of her tweets about GOP senators

Follow "Bulwark Takes" for breaking news coverage over the weekend

Tim's playlist

Tickets for our LIVE show in Austin on March 19: TheBulwark.com/Events.

Not only is Trump failing to provide any clarity on why the United States went to war against Iran, the administration is also sticking to its habit of declaring an emergency based on some arcane legal provision that supposedly gives the executive branch the power to do whatever it wants. It's almost as though the American legal system can justify authoritarianism if a lawyer can dig deep enough. And Anthropic is currently feeling the sting of this monarchical-style power grab. Meanwhile, the tech overlords wanted free rein on AI under Trump, but they got a Maoist approach instead. Plus, Mamdani's embrace of abundance, the movie industry's troubles, and how parents fall in love with their children.
Derek Thompson joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Derek's interview with Karim Sadjadpour on the "Plain English" pod

Derek's Substack

Tickets for our LIVE show in Austin on March 19: TheBulwark.com/Events.

The starting kit for a unified Democratic Party with the biggest, broadest tent should be calling out the billionaire class that is sabotaging our political system, our healthcare system, and driving up costs. Katz, the young media strategist who helped propel Mamdani to his historic win, says it's not enough for Dems to campaign on just hating Trump. Instead, they should take on Trump for breaking his promises about helping working people and being a peace president. Plus, Talarico's winning message in Texas, the risks of a horseshoe alliance between MAGA and the populist left, the algorithmic pipeline that feeds antisemitism, and Platner's appeal in Maine.
Morris Katz joins Tim Miller.
show notes

Tickets for our LIVE show in Austin on March 19: TheBulwark.com/Events.

The facts on the ground and the ludicrous statements speak for themselves: The administration inadequately planned for the execution of this war. That's likely why six service members were killed in an insufficiently protected facility. It's why our embassy in Riyadh and our consulate in Dubai were hit with drones. And the administration clearly does not have an exit plan. Venezuela had Trump thinking this could be a cakewalk, but in the Middle East, circumstances can change in a heartbeat. Plus, Israel's role in pushing for the military campaign, Marco's effort to pawn off responsibility for the war, and Gallego's endorsement of Graham Platner in the Maine Democratic Senate primary. Sen. Ruben Gallego and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling join Tim Miller.
show notes

Pre-order Hertling's new book, "If I Don't Return: A Father's Wartime Journal"

Watch The Bulwark’s LIVE coverage of the Texas Senate primary on Substack YouTube

Carol Leonnig's reporting on the firing of FBI agents with Iran expertise 

Tickets for our LIVE show in Austin on March 19: TheBulwark.com/Events.