Bulwark Takes

Sam Stein, Will Sommer, and Tim Miller unpack another week of MAGA absurdity, from James O’Keefe facing felony charges over an alleged voter fraud stunt to right-wing influencers churning out bizarre AI videos about Democrats and the Cheesecake Factory. The trio also break down a pastor’s bizarre prayer for the deportation of a MAGA commentator, and a Tennessee congressional candidate defending unsolicited nude photos as a “youthful indiscretion” at age 53.
Plus, JD Vance hits the campaign trail for a MAGA rapper in a surprisingly competitive House race, and the Department of Education gets caught up in the internet’s strange obsession with a gender-swapped Draco Malfoy.
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Bill Kristol talks with Ezra Levin, co-director of Indivisible and a leading organizer of No Kings, about why Trump’s attacks on the movement have failed, Meta’s suspicious four-hour shutdown of its Instagram account during a massive early-voting push, and the growing demands for answers from Congress. They also discuss how Trump’s corporate allies enable his authoritarian agenda—and why Democrats can’t afford to return to business as usual if they win in November.
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Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) break down the growing risks of Trump’s Iran war, including the possibility of renewed strikes after the midterms, the danger of pushing Gulf allies toward China, and the military’s growing logistical challenges. They examine why Iran may be preparing to fight back even harder, how the Houthis could threaten American interests long after the Iran war ends, and why Netanyahu’s reported attempt to launch a politically motivated strike raises serious questions about the military’s role in a democracy.
Plus, Ukraine’s latest strikes on Russian weapons factories, Zelensky’s diplomatic maneuvering, and what a potential blue wave could mean for congressional oversight of Trump’s foreign policy.
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Catherine Rampell and Andrew Egger break down Donald Trump’s latest campaign strategy: promising taxpayer-funded benefits to voters and threatening to withhold money from states that don’t deliver Republican victories. From $5,000 checks and billions in potential investments to veterans’ Camp Lejeune settlements, Trump is making government funding conditional on political loyalty. Catherine and Andrew examine how Trump has turned public money into a tool for rewarding allies and punishing perceived enemies, and how this once-unthinkable approach has become the new normal in American politics.
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Will Sommer speaks with Alabama shrimper Maynard Dubuisson, a longtime Donald Trump supporter who says soaring diesel prices are pushing fishermen and small businesses to the brink. The war in Iran has sent fuel costs soaring, forcing shrimpers to conserve fuel and produce less, and threatened the local economy. Dubuisson says working-class Americans aren’t worried about tax cuts. They’re worried about affording groceries and keeping their businesses afloat. Now he’s pleading with Trump to deliver relief before it’s too late.
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