More than 10 years in, journalists still have not figured out how to cover Trump. He understands the media environment better than a lot of reporters, and knows his outrageous acts and statements command attention—and that people will not be able to finish processing one outrage before the next one comes down the pike. But now he's laying down the terms of how he expects to be covered, and media orgs are complying by hiring or giving airtime to MAGA avatars. In the process, journalists are failing to hold the powerful to account. Plus, Dems actually went on offense and got their hands on the Epstein birthday book, and Israel is aggressively embracing the age of impunity.
The Economist's James Bennet joins Tim Miller.
show notes
James, in The Economist, on his departure from the NYT over the Tom Cotton op-ed (gifted)
James on the rules for defending democracy under Trump (gifted)
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1:09:06
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1:09:06
Bill Kristol: Escalating the Authoritarian Project
In seven months, Trump has accumulated an astonishing amount of unchecked power. No one inside his administration is challenging his will, and Trump is assuming war powers with barely any explanation—while blacklisting Tom Hanks from West Point. At the same time, in the business world, only one MAGA-friendly hedge fund billionaire has raised mild concerns about the Fed, but top-shelf tech leaders can't thank Trump enough just for existing. But, the resistance is showing up in Chicago and the Dems have a chance to throw their weight around with a potential government shutdown. Plus, Vance is an amazingly succinct liar and the White House Rose Garden has had a Panera patio makeover.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Today's "Morning Shots"
Gov. Pritzker responding to Trump's Chi-pocalypse meme
Backgrounder on the Bobbsey Twins
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53:36
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53:36
David French: Maybe the Tariffs Are the Problem
Last month, Trump fired the "woke" job numbers person after she released weak employment data. Now, we have even worse jobs numbers—and burgeoning signs of a tariffs-triggered manufacturing recession. Meanwhile, the administration may be working on a de facto military policy that would fulfill one of Trump's biggest longtime wishes: summarily executing drug dealers. Plus, a trans gun ban would be grotesquely unconstitutional, the blood-and-soil types at NatCon are missing what the Founding Fathers intended, Tucker can't quit his Putin obsession, and why Gen X enthusiastically embraced helicopter parenting.
David French joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Bulwark's live reaction to RFK hearing, with Sam, Jon Cohn, and Will Saletan
David on Gen X helicopter parenting Gen Z (gifted)
More from James Madison in 1785
Post-recording news: Pentagon is deploying F-35s for a counter-narcotics mission
Tim's playlist
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1:06:13
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1:06:13
Mark Hertling: Performative and Deadly
The lethal U.S. military strike on a speedboat in the Caribbean was more about putting on a show than countering the drug trade out of South America. And it's not even clear that the people killed on the boat were running drugs, or that any contraband was bound for America. Meanwhile, if senators are truly concerned that local police departments are insufficiently staffed, then they should pass a bill to fund more officers instead of pushing the charade that Guard troops can legally do police work. Plus, Russia is running out of ammunition, Ashli Babbitt was no hero, and a dissection of Trump's fatuous 'seven wars' lie.
Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling joins Tim Miller. joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Hertling's piece, "Bombs Won't Win the War on Drugs"
"Honoring Ashli Babbitt Dishonors the Military"
Hertling on the 'perils of yes-men'
Rand Paul on the speedboat bombing
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55:02
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55:02
Lina Khan: The Impunity of the Elites
The economic populists at the Nat Con conference may be talking a lot about elites screwing over the little guy, but the Trump administration itself has been catastrophic for working people—its policies are all about doing special favors for elite interests. And while many loud voices in Silicon Valley cursed the Biden administration for blocking some deals, other start-ups appreciated the efforts to try to level the playing field against the tech giants. Plus, a response to Jason Calacanis, how Dems can shake off their elite vibes, and resisting the temptation to run for office.
Former FTC chair Lina Khan joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Tim's interview last month with Jason Calacanis
This week's TNL
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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.
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