The Bulwark Podcast

Most of the multibillionaires are not only hoarding their money and failing to contribute to the public good, they're also using their wealth-based power to manipulate the government, the markets, or our elections. Like Elon, for instance, who just manipulated the Nasdaq so all Americans with a 401(k) can help him become the first trillionaire by the end of the year. At some point, there is such a thing as too many billions for one person, and we need to start applying the pre-Reagan tax rate. Plus, 'vanilla' Dems are doing pretty well, maybe not so fast on Pratt 2028, and Trump will never forgive Vance for being right about the Iran war. And Lawfare's Katherine Pompillio discusses her exclusive reporting on the significant number of pardoned J6ers who went on to commit subsequent crimes.
Katherine Pompilio and JVL join Tim Miller.
show notes

Katherine's reporting on the scores of pardoned J6ers committing new crimes

JVL on how Marco beat out JD for the Trump's Favorite Adopted Son spot

JVL's "Trump Madman Theory’ of . . . the Stock Market"

Lauren on the 'vanilla' dems 

The Secret Podcast 

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After "60 Minutes" veteran Scott Pelley was fired, he said that the new management at CBS News had instructed him to put false information in his political stories. Coupled with the decimation at The Washington Post, it feels like there is a vast rightwing conspiracy to take over the media. Plus, the much-promised ceasefire with Iran is nowhere in sight, Megyn Kelly feels duped by Trump, California's marquee races look like they'll be Dem v. MAGA, and Steve King gets revenge. Also, newly minted Democratic Senate nominee in Iowa, Josh Turek, talks about his prairie populism, how he'll win over Trump voters, the state's farmaggedon, and its growing cancer rate. And three NBA super-fans give their picks for the finals.
Josh Turek and Luke Russert join Tim Miller.
show notes

Turek's campaign website

Luke will be a new co-anchor on MS NOW's "The Weeknight" on June 15

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Republicans never defend Trump’s corruption on the merits. Their lot in life is just to serve up anti-moral excuses for his repeated acts of immorality. And the Dems are currently in a bit of a moral dilemma of their own over the latest Platner revelations, given the moral imperative of having a Senate that obstructs Trump’s worst policies. Questions of morality also surface with AI, particularly if we allow machines to do the thinking for us. Plus, the Dems need a Wemby, an American debt crisis seems inevitable, the global fertility crisis may be too hard to fix, and why is the English-language world the most unhappy? 
Derek Thompson joins Tim Miller.
show notes

“The Next Level” pod will be out later today

Derek’s piece on vicemaxxing

Derek on the great AI cost panic

The “Plain English” pod, hosted by Derek

“Mere Christianity,” by C.S. Lewis

“Pluribus”

Another weekend passed without a promised Iran deal. Despite reporting to the contrary, Iran’s negotiators don’t live in caves, and they’re not interested in dealing with the U.S. anymore, at least according to state media. Meanwhile, the president continues to release unhinged midnight bleats on his social media platform, including one targeting not just a judge who ruled against him in the Kennedy Center case but also that judge’s spouse. That’s just one reminder that the authoritarian threat remains, and we should prepare for election meddling if the midterms don’t go Trump’s way. Plus, the White House seems to have soured on JD Vance, the Epstein cover-up continues, there’s more Graham Platner drama, Susan Collins has enabled the worst of Trump 2.0, and Bill outflanks Tim on Pride Month?
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
Show notes

Bill’s Bulwark on Sunday with Nathaniel Zelinsky

Bill’s Morning Shots from Friday on Trump’s plans for America250

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Tim just happened to quote from an official Iranian news agency about how the regime is cleaning up in their negotiations with the Trump administration, and the White House accused him of being a foreign agent. Maybe the administration should take a closer look at all the money the guy sitting behind the Resolute Desk and his family are getting from Mideast dictators if they're really looking for foreign agents. Speaking of massive amounts of corruption, the Dems need to be making the case everywhere just how brazenly corrupt Trump & co. are—and not wait until 2027. Plus, the real freak in the Texas Senate race is Paxton, Platner's struggles and missteps are part of his appeal, the Great American State Fair is another Trump fiasco, and parenting lessons on how to raise kids to push back against bullies.
Lis Smith joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes

Tim's episode with E. Jean Carroll from last year

Liz's book, "Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story"

Tim's playlist