The Bulwark Daily — latest episode summaries
Tim Miller and guests discuss the latest political news for the flagship podcast of the Never Trump movement and the reality-based community. Every weekday we provide insightful analysis, political hot-takes, an unabashed defense of liberal democracy and long-form interviews that cut through the "both-sides" BS. Plus a few laughs to help you wash down the crazy.
About this show
About 5 episodes a week.
Recently covered: Democrats must win on a grand scale by building a big tent coalition that rejects purity tests and embraces ideological flexibility to enact lasting policy and structural reforms, Bill Kristol and Tim Miller both argue that the 2026 midterms will be a wave election driven by dissatisfaction with the incumbent president and the Republican Congress, similar to the dynamics of 2006 and 1994, David French argues that the Trump administration and its allies are systematically undermining American constitutional liberties and democratic norms by targeting non-citizens for political speech, ignoring congressional authority, and preparing for post-election shenanigans, necessitating urgent constitutional reform to restore the founders' original intent of limited executive power and broad protections for all persons.
Episodes
Jessica Tarlov: POTUS Needs Some Moral Support
Adam Jentleson and Pablo Torre: This Country Is Being Scammed
Democrats must win on a grand scale by building a big tent coalition that rejects purity tests and embraces ideological flexibility to enact lasting policy and structural reforms.
Bill Kristol: A Blue Wave vs. the Toxic Red Tide
Bill Kristol and Tim Miller both argue that the 2026 midterms will be a wave election driven by dissatisfaction with the incumbent president and the Republican Congress, similar to the dynamics of 2006 and 1994.
David French: MAGA Is Making America Less Free
David French argues that the Trump administration and its allies are systematically undermining American constitutional liberties and democratic norms by targeting non-citizens for political speech, ignoring congressional authority, and preparing for post-election shenanigans, necessitating urgent constitutional reform to restore the founders' original intent of limited executive power and broad protections for all persons.
Jonathan V. Last: How Much Stupid Can We Possibly Take?
Michael Weiss: The Clown Car at the Pentagon
Ruby Cramer: The Power of MAHA
The MAHA movement attracts people by combining legitimate health concerns with anti-vaccine misinformation, and Democrats struggle to combat it because telling believers to 'trust the science' backfires as condescension.
Bill Kristol: Keep Up the Pressure, Dems
Democrats should avoid playing prevent defense in the midterms and instead maintain maximum pressure on Trump's failed policies, including the war in Iran, the Venezuela oil deal, and cabinet malfeasance, to capitalize on shifting voter sentiment and secure wins in competitive states.
Ben Rhodes: Is Trump Stumbling into a Wider War?
Sam Stein Used to Be a Thief
Neera Tanden: How to Win
Neera Tanden argues that the Democratic Party must build a broad tent that appeals to moderate and working-class voters in swing states by avoiding extreme rhetoric and focusing on economic populism and security, while giving grace to candidates who adapt their messaging to win in Republican-leaning areas.
Tracy Alloway and Will Sommer: A Cabinetful of Clueless Grifters
Bill Kristol: The Weak Bully Keeps Flailing
George Conway: For Trump, Harp Strikes a Chord
David Wallace-Wells: The Politics of AI Are Shifting in Real Time
Julia Curlee and Errin Haines: Cowards Are Running This Country
Tom Nichols: Impotence at the White House
Tom Nichols argues that Trump's erratic behavior, impulsive threats, and chaotic messaging have eroded U.S. credibility with allies and damaged the military's morale. He asserts that the 'madman' strategy has failed, leaving the administration to alienate friends like South Korea while failing to achieve strategic goals against adversaries like Iran.
Andrew Egger: Trump’s Travels with Natalie
Tim Miller repeatedly asserts that Democrats and critics should prioritize strategic victories and effective messaging over internal factionalism or ideological purity, whether by supporting pro-tariff Democrats who are pivoting against Trump or by defending moderate incumbents in competitive districts.
Follow The Bulwark Daily and up to nine more shows. One briefing a day, every claim attributed.
Free for 30 days. No card needed. $4.99 a month after.
Automated summaries of what was said on each show — not claims by DailyDossier and not independently verified.