Bulwark Takes

After Trump’s crushing midterm defeat, could Republicans finally decide they’re better off without him? Bill Kristol and veteran Republican strategist Mike Murphy examine the growing turmoil inside Trump’s White House, Stephen Miller’s rise to power, Pete Hegseth’s uncertain future, and the possibility of a Nixon-style collapse. They also look ahead to 2028 and explain why JD Vance may have a much tougher road than anyone expects.

There were so many spectacular Republican failures in 2026 that Tim Miller and Sam Stein decided to turn them into a fantasy draft. From Vivek Ramaswamy and Ken Paxton to the candidates who somehow managed to lose in deep-red states, Tim and Sam compete to assemble the ultimate roster of MAGA losers, reliving the terrible campaigns, astonishing defeats, and self-inflicted wounds along the way.

Trump’s response to a crushing midterm defeat? Putting Stephen Miller in charge of the White House. Bill Kristol and former Trump aide Sarah Matthews discuss why Miller could become the de facto president, how his appointment could reshape the balance of power inside the administration, and whether Pete Hegseth’s desperate displays of loyalty can save his job as the Iran war drags on.

Almost nobody thought Jeff Van Drew’s seat was in play. But Zack Mullock pulled off one of the election’s biggest upsets, defeating the Trump loyalist in a supposedly safe Republican district. The congressman-elect joins Tim Miller to explain how he won over Republican voters, why Trump’s ICE crackdown and Iran war became political liabilities, and what Democrats need to do with their new majority.

She spent just $56,000 to defeat one of North Carolina’s most powerful Republicans—and the man who helped gerrymander his own congressional district. Tim Miller talks with Congresswoman-elect LaKesha Womack about her astonishing upset, her path from a near-death experience to Congress, and the last-minute legal controversy she believes was meant to derail her campaign. Give the gift of quality with Quince! Shop cashmere sweaters starting at $60, premium outerwear, and more. Visit https://www.quince.com/bulwarktakes for free shipping and 365-day returns.

After a crushing midterm defeat, Donald Trump is firing Susie Wiles as chief of staff and replacing her with Stephen Miller. Sam Stein, Andrew Egger, and JVL react to the stunning shakeup, Trump’s search for someone to blame, Miller’s disturbing record, and what his promotion could mean for immigration policy, political retaliation, and Trump’s growing rivalry with JD Vance. Give the gift of quality with Quince! Shop cashmere sweaters starting at $60, premium outerwear, and more. Visit https://www.quince.com/bulwarktakes for free shipping and 365-day returns.

Tim Miller, Sam Stein and Will Sommer are back together to celebrate the midterm results and take a victory lap over MAGA’s spectacular election night failures. They break down JD Vance getting roasted by the manosphere, Tim Pool’s election meltdown, and the humiliating defeats of MAGA candidates like Brandon Herrera. Plus, Laura Loomer and Benny Johnson spiral over the results, Will introduces the trio to one of the internet’s most influential right-wing streamers (and his truly horrifying living conditions), and Russell Brand is convicted of rape and sexual assault after appearing alongside Trump administration officials just weeks before his trial. Give the gift of quality with Quince! Shop cashmere sweaters starting at $60, premium outerwear, and more. Visit https://www.quince.com/bulwarktakes for free shipping and 365-day returns.

Don Leonard just pulled off a stunning upset in Ohio, defeating a Republican incumbent in a district Trump won by 10 points. The congressman-elect joins Tim Miller to discuss how he did it, his arrest at a No Kings protest, his plans to dismantle ICE, Trump’s treatment of Haitian immigrants, and why he believes JD Vance has betrayed his working-class roots. This episode is sponsored by Casper. Get a better night’s sleep with Casper’s comfortable, long-lasting mattresses. Right now, buy a King mattress for the price of a Queen or a Queen mattress for the price of a Full when you visit https://casper.com .

Trump’s midterm shellacking has changed the political equation at home and abroad. Former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos and journalist Michael Weiss discuss the celebrations among America’s allies, what the results mean for Ukraine and the war in Iran, Netanyahu’s costly bet on MAGA, and the congressional scrutiny awaiting Trump’s inner circle. Plus, why JD Vance and Elon Musk may be among the election’s biggest losers. This episode is sponsored by Casper. Get a better night’s sleep with Casper’s comfortable, long-lasting mattresses. Right now, buy a King mattress for the price of a Queen or a Queen mattress for the price of a Full when you visit https://casper.com .

After a historic Democratic midterm victory, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker joins Sam Stein to explain why Democrats can’t afford to waste their newfound power. He lays out his aggressive agenda for Congress, calls out corporate leaders and fellow Democrats who caved to Trump, and unloads on JD Vance for suddenly distancing himself from the Iran war. Plus, why Pritzker thinks the election could finally loosen Trump’s grip on Republicans. Ready to be him? Visit https://hims.com/bulwarktakes to get personalized, affordable care for weight loss, hair loss, sex, testosterone, and more.

Trump and Vance threw everything they had at Abdul El-Sayed, but Michigan voters elected him to the U.S. Senate by seven points. In an exclusive interview with Jonathan Cohn, El-Sayed reflects on the anti-Muslim attacks against him, why he believes Republicans’ strategy failed, and his plans to challenge Trump and shake up Democratic leadership. Ready to be him? Visit https://hims.com/bulwarktakes to get personalized, affordable care for weight loss, hair loss, sex, testosterone, and more.

Sam Stein and Will Sommer break down Donald Trump’s bizarre response to Republicans’ crushing midterm defeat. While Republicans are scrambling to explain what went wrong, Trump headed to the White House ballroom construction site to celebrate chandeliers, kitchen layouts and the final steel beam, seemingly more interested in his vanity project than the political disaster unfolding around him. The spectacle was especially surreal as MAGA turns on itself, with Laura Loomer, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mark Levin, Nancy Mace and other right-wing personalities trading insults and pointing fingers over the losses. The knives are out, and Trump is nowhere to be found. Ready to be him? Visit hims.com/bulwarktakes to get personalized, affordable care for weight loss, hair loss, sex, testosterone, and more.

Andrew Egger and Will Sommer discuss Trump DOJ’s sweeping Election Day deployment of federal monitors, the questions surrounding where they’re being sent, and the growing concerns over federal interference in the midterms. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/bulwarktakes . Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Trustpilot rating as of 8/1/2026.

It’s Election Day, and Donald Trump is making some surprising last-minute moves, including an announcement that he’s cutting off military aid to Israel. Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol break down Trump’s increasingly desperate closing message, the possibility of renewed strikes on Iran, and the decisions that have put Republicans in such a precarious position, from the Minneapolis ICE crackdown to the war in Iran and a seemingly endless parade of corruption scandals. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/bulwarktakes . Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Trustpilot rating as of 8/1/2026.

Ready to be seen? Check that appointment off your to-do list with Zocdoc ✅: https://zocdoc.com/bulwarktakes #sponsored Sam Stein and Andrew Egger give their takes on Trump’s bizarre closing pitch ahead of the midterms: a trip to the Reflecting Pool to brag about algae removal, vandalism that never happened, and his plans to renovate a DC golf course. Instead of making a final appeal to voters, Trump spent his time talking about monuments, promenades, statues and a proposed triumphal arch. Sam and Andrew discuss how Trump’s obsession with beautifying Washington DC has become a fitting symbol of a presidency increasingly consumed by personal passion projects as his broader agenda stalls.

Ready to be seen? Check that appointment off your to-do list with Zocdoc ✅: https://zocdoc.com/bulwarktakes #sponsored Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) break down Tucker Carlson’s alarming claims that the Trump administration could be preparing a nuclear strike on Iran. They dissect Carlson’s claims about Netanyahu, Pickaxe Mountain and the possibility of nuclear escalation, explaining what’s wrong with his analysis and what a nuclear strike would actually mean. They also examine Trump’s fixation on the Iran War casualty counts, the limits of military force and why there is no easy solution to the war with Iran.

Ready to be seen? Check that appointment off your to-do list with Zocdoc ✅: https://zocdoc.com/bulwarktakes #sponsored With Election Day looming, Republicans are showing signs of panic, and some familiar election deniers are resurfacing at the White House. Sam Stein and Will Sommer discuss Roger Stone’s desperate effort to rescue a MAGA candidate, Trump’s fury over Alina Habba’s $50 million pardon controversy, and a MAGA influencer’s spectacularly failed investigation in Alaska. Plus, Tucker Carlson’s alarming nuclear claims, Laura Loomer’s latest feud, and MAGA’s strange obsession with Darth Vader.

In a stunning last-minute reversal, Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens has endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s closely contested Senate race, just days after saying she’d support Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Sam Stein and Lauren Egan discuss the furious reaction from Democrats, the turmoil inside Stevens’ own office, what may have prompted her decision, and whether it could change the outcome of Tuesday’s election.

With Election Day just days away, Sarah Longwell and Bill Kristol explain why they believe Republicans could be headed for a historic defeat. Sarah shares what she’s hearing from disillusioned Trump voters in her focus groups, the two examine surprising opportunities for Democrats in deep-red states, and they react to the stunning news that a Haley Stevens has endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan.

MAGA podcaster Clay Travis bet $1 million that oil prices would fall before the midterms. With his deadline looming and prices nowhere near his prediction, Tim Miller brings the receipts on Travis’s spectacularly wrong calls about Trump’s Iran war, then revisits his increasingly ridiculous Cheesecake Factory obsession.