Bulwark Takes

Sam Stein and Catherine Rampell give their takes on Trump’s decision to buy oil from Putin, just weeks after Trump signed Lindsey Graham’s Russia sanctions bill into law. Instead of increasing pressure on Russia, Trump is opening the door to Russian fuel exports that could help bankroll Putin’s war on Ukraine.
Plus, they examine the bill’s loopholes, whether the deal will actually lower fuel prices, and why Trump is pressuring Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries. As Zelensky pushes back, Trump’s deal risks a major rupture in U.S.-Ukraine relations.

Tim Miller takes a closer look at Ohio Senate candidate John Husted, whose carefully crafted moderate persona masks a record of corruption allegations, MAGA loyalty, and political opportunism. From his ties to Ohio’s utility scandal and donations from Jeffrey Epstein associate Les Wexner to his opposition to releasing the Epstein files, Husted has plenty of explaining to do.
Tim also examines Husted’s role in bringing data centers to Ohio, his support for the Iran war and Trump’s tariffs, his dismissive comments about people living in poverty, and his decision to hire a political director with a history of Nazi imagery and white nationalist associations. As Husted tries to appeal to both MAGA Republicans and swing voters, Tim makes the case for why Ohioans should reject his candidacy and send Sherrod Brown back to the Senate.

Sam Stein and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) give their takes on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter, Nidal Hasan, and why turning an execution into a public spectacle raises serious moral questions. Hertling explains the potential toll on soldiers ordered to carry out the firing squad and warns that the spectacle could inflame tensions rather than deter future attacks.
After we recorded, Vice President JD Vance addressed Hegseth’s plan, saying he wasn’t sure the livestream would actually happen and adding, “If it’s ultimately livestreamed, I’m not gonna be watching it.”
They also break down the latest developments in the Iran war, including Trump’s pledge not to launch new attacks before the midterm elections, the growing risks of further escalation across the region, and newly released footage showing Iranian drone strikes on U.S. military installations in the Middle East. The Pentagon’s $43.6 billion estimate for the cost of the war may dramatically understate the damage as we look at the destroyed military equipment and facilities and the munition supply spent.
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Tim Miller, Sam Stein, and Democratic strategist Lis Smith join a live audience at Dartmouth for a spirited debate about Trump’s collapsing political fortunes, the GOP’s future under JD Vance, the Democrats’ struggle to rebuild their coalition, and the wide-open 2028 presidential race. Plus, a sobering question: What happens if Trump loses Congress and decides to go rogue?

Tim Miller gives his take on JD Vance’s fumbling attempt to define socialism and the hypocrisy at the heart of MAGA’s attacks on Democrats. Asked why socialist candidates are gaining ground across the country, Vance pivots to immigration and transgender athletes instead of explaining what socialism actually means.
But while Republicans warn that Democrats are bringing socialism to America, the Trump administration is expanding government control over the economy, intervening in private enterprise, and using the power of the state to target political enemies. 
Tim explains why the administration’s own policies undermine its anti-socialist rhetoric, how Vance’s answer exposes the weakness of MAGA’s midterm message, and why the word games are more than just a political joke.
This episode is sponsored by The New York Times.