The Bulwark Podcast

Charlie Sykes and guests discuss the latest news from inside Washington and around the world. No shouting, grandstanding, or sloganeering. Conservative, conscientious, and civil.

Bulwark+ members can get a totally ad-free version of the show delivered right to their favorite podcast player. Click here for more information.

News
Politics
News Commentary
76
Mark Leibovich: DeSantis Is Not the Savior
Republicans are big mad about Herschel's loss, but they won't name the guy who got this production off the ground. Meanwhile, low-energy Trump is plotting how to take out the charmless but ruthless DeSantis. Mark Leibovich joins Charlie Sykes on today's podcast.
47 min
77
Kori Schake: Rejecting Authoritarianism
The protesters in Iran have the wind in their sails, China is no longer likely to overtake the US as the world's dominant economy, and Ukraine gets to determine when it's time to negotiate. Kori Schake joins Charlie Sykes on today's podcast.
50 min
78
Will Saletan: Saying the Quiet Part Blaringly O...
Trump has upped the ante from sedition to Nazis and terminating the Constitution — and yet Republicans continue to shrug. Plus, the anti-science fever is spreading, and the genius behind the marketing of Herschel Walker in Georgia. Will Saletan's back with Charlie Sykes for Charlie and Will Monday.
41 min
79
Tim Miller: A Week Full of Nazis
Kanye not only ruined the cover story on Trump's Nazi dinner, he also wrecked Tucker's plan to make him a conservative icon. Plus, prematurely clearing the field for DeSantis, Trump's judge gets slapped down, and Hunter's laptop will be a punchline. Tim Miller's back with Charlie Sykes.
55 min
80
Dana Milbank: Even Kevin McCarthy Doesn't Trust...
If he can round up the support to be speaker, McCarthy is still going to have to fend off Trump trying to muck things up from Mar-a-Lago, as well members of his caucus threatening repeated no-confidence votes.
39 min
81
Ben Wittes: The Worst Story We Told Ourselves W...
January 6 was not merely a conspiracy to break windows and storm the Capitol — for some, it was a conspiracy to resist the lawful authority of the United States. Plus, Musk's vandalism of Twitter is destroying something precious. Ben Wittes joins Charlie Sykes.
50 min
82
Peter Wehner: Turning on Trump for the Wrong Re...
The Republican establishment scolding Trump has little to do with morality and everything to do with power. Peter Wehner joins Charlie Sykes today.
45 min
83
Will Saletan: Dining with a Nazi
Trump had to know of Nick Fuentes before they sat down to dinner — he regards openly racist and antisemitic trolls as a fundamental part of his base. And now Kevin McCarthy needs allies of Fuentes to be speaker. Will Saletan's back with Charlie Sykes for Charlie and Will Monday.
51 min
84
A Thanksgiving Message from Team Bulwark
Bulwarkers join Charlie Sykes to share their thoughts of gratitude for the holiday.
17 min
85
David Priess: Trump's Very Bad Day at Court
A trio of conservative judges sounded very skeptical about Trump's need for a special master in the Mar-a-Lago case, and the Supreme Court basically told him, "No, we are not your justices." Plus, the post-shame culture of Tucker Carlson. David Priess joins Charlie Sykes.
47 min
86
David Frum: House Republicans Aim for a Rerun
The incoming House majority looks like it will repeat the patterns of '94 and 2010 by heading into the fever swamps to indulge its coalition, rather than expand it. Plus, Trump isn't the only one to blame for the midterms. David Frum joins Charlie Sykes on today's pod.
45 min
87
Tom Nichols: A 2016 Flashback?
Once again, the anti-anti-Trumpers are standing back and hoping Trump will run out of tricks, instead of calling him out as an existential threat to democracy. Plus, will McCarthy really get the gavel — and how long could he possibly hold it? Tom Nichols joins Charlie Sykes today.
40 min
88
Tim Miller: Sometimes Reality Sets In
Steve Bannon knows he's lying, irrational exuberance took over Kari Lake HQ, and Mar-a-Lago is in a bubble. Tim Miller joins Charlie Sykes for the weekend pod.
43 min
89
Mark McKinnon: The Message Still Matters
Midterm voters in the middle were deliberative and serious, and were not seduced by the crowds, the media spin, and the polls. Plus, a late Elvis sighting at Mar-a-Lago, and the Republican House makes moves to defend the insurrectionists. Mark McKinnon joins Charlie Sykes today.
41 min
90
David Corn: Trump Is Still a Threat
Trump's 2024 announcement may have been panned, but his base loves the greatest hits — millions just voted for election deniers across the country. And while the GOP underperformed in the election, the anti-reality wing will have a stronger presence in the House. David Corn joins Charlie Sykes.
49 min
91
Adam Kinzinger: Knives Out in the Nutcase Caucus
Matt Gaetz is suddenly attacking Marjorie Taylor Greene, MTG is suddenly a super fan of Kevin's, and Elise Stefanik is scheming over in the corner. Republicans will have a very dysfunctional majority. Adam Kinzinger joins Charlie Sykes on today's podcast.
38 min
92
Will Saletan: Gelded by the Nutcase Caucus
Last Tuesday destroyed Kevin McCarthy — he will be either defeated or humiliated. Meanwhile, Republicans may be figuring out that Trump is electoral poison, and they can't win with him or without him. Will Saletan is back with Charlie Sykes for Charlie and Will Monday.
47 min
93
Michigan Magic with Mallory McMorrow
It was a perfect storm this week for Michigan Democrats, who won control of the legislature for the first time in 40 years and swept the top of the ticket. After all the talk of groomers and drag queen story hour, voters finally reached the limit on crazy. Plus, is a Whitmer v. DeSantis showdown in our future? Mallory McMorrow joins guest host Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
50 min
94
Tim O'Brien: He Will Burn It All Down
Watch out: Trump is embarrassed, cornered and facing defeat. When GOP leaders try to shun him, he will turn the base against them, regardless of how bad it is for the party. Tim O'Brien joins Charlie Sykes on today's podcast.
36 min
95
A.B. Stoddard: We Could've Been the United Stat...
The polls were a mess and the hive mind was wrong — Gen Z saved the Democrats and abortion proved to be a powerful issue. Now, the knives are out and there could be a civil war in the GOP caucus. A.B. Stoddard joins Charlie Sykes on today's podcast.
46 min
96
Barbara Slavin: Fire Under the Ashes
Women's rights and hijab rules are at the center of widespread protests in Iran, but the demonstrations quickly evolved and are now the most serious threat to the regime in decades. Barbara Slavin joins Charlie Sykes on today's podcast.
43 min
97
Will Saletan: Only One God-King at a Time
DeSantis flew too close to the sun, Kellyanne tried out her take on denialism, and Musk — the man who once talked of colonizing Mars — showed in the space of one week how much of a nasty, thin-skinned putz he is. Will Saletan is back with Charlie Sykes for Charlie and Will Monday.
48 min
98
Bill Kristol: Be Alarmed
Republican rhetoric is like rightwing Mad Libs — it's also emboldening Putin over aid for Ukraine. Plus, Kari Lake juniors are surely coming our way, and Trump could get so antsy, he'll announce on Election Day. Bill Kristol joins Charlie Sykes for the weekend pod.
41 min
99
Bart Gellman: The Impeachment of Joe Biden
If Republicans win the House, MAGA voters will expect Republicans to impeach Biden, and Trump will demand it. The rationale won't even matter — and other administration officials are likely to be impeached as well. Bart Gellman joins Charlie Sykes today.
35 min
100
Elizabeth Williamson: It Started with Sandy Hook
The conspiracies and lies around the mass shooting at Sandy Hook were not a one-off — they laid the foundation for the age of disinformation and misinformation we live in. Elizabeth Williamson joins Charlie Sykes today.
36 min