The Bulwark Podcast

Charlie Sykes and guests discuss the latest news from inside Washington and around the world. No shouting, grandstanding, or sloganeering. Truth over tribalism. Principles over partisanship.

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News
Politics
News Commentary
126
Dan Vallone: The History Wars Are Not What They...
Americans are less divided than they think about how schools should teach about our nation's history.
26 min
127
Elaina Plott Calabro: MTG Is More Cunning than ...
Marjorie Taylor Greene tried on Jesus and CrossFit before she got to MAGA.
49 min
128
Adam Kinzinger: The Torch Is Now with the DOJ (...
Even with some key figures refusing to testify, the Jan 6 committee still was able to tell the story of crimes that were committed that day.
32 min
129
Tim Miller: Nazis Bad, Constitution Good
Brittney Griner is home, Sinema does the Angus King thing, Republicans pass on a "Get Out of Jail" card, and a huge win for same-sex marriage.
53 min
130
A.B. Stoddard: A Most Delicious Circular Firing...
Republicans need someone to blame besides Trump, so Laura Ingraham is turning on the RNC, Kellyanne is turning on Jared, and a rump group in the Senate is turning on McConnell.
45 min
131
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
132
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
133
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
134
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
135
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
136
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
137
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
138
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
139
A Thanksgiving Message from Team Bulwark
Bulwarkers join Charlie Sykes to share their thoughts of gratitude for the holiday.
17 min
140
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
141
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
142
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
143
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
144
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
145
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
146
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
147
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
148
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
149
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
150
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