Michael Lewis: Don't Bet Against the Country

Michael Lewis joins Tim Miller to discuss his new book 'Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State,' which examines government employees who have either survived or been pushed out during Trump's DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) initiative. Lewis argues that despite Trump's strategy of destroying trust in government as a source of power, there remain dedicated public servants working in the national interest. The episode explores how DOGE's failures raise questions about Elon Musk's competence to run any enterprise. Lewis and Miller also discuss Trump's rhetoric toward Iran, which they interpret as potentially inviting military action against major Democratic cities, and connect this to recent Republican campaign spending patterns in South Carolina and Kentucky—suggesting these align with predictions Miller and Bill Kristol made about midterm races. The conversation touches on Lewis's broader body of work examining institutional failures and individual integrity, including references to his post-Katrina reporting and his previous Trump-era book 'The Fifth Risk,' as well as his investigation into Sam Bankman-Fried. The episode frames the discussion around whether Americans should maintain faith in government institutions and the people within them, positioning it as a counternarrative to anti-government messaging.

Verdict: A timely conversation with a credible author on current political dysfunction, but limited sourcing detail and apparent one-sided framing prevent a higher score; worth listening if you trust Lewis and want reinforcement of institutional concerns.

News rubric

• Accuracy and sourcing 3/5 20%

  Lewis is a credible journalist and author with established expertise; the episode references his published books and reporting, but show notes don't detail specific factual claims, evidence presented, or how assertions about DOGE or Trump's

• Balance and context 2/5 20%

  The framing appears decidedly critical of Trump and DOGE with no indication of counterarguments or alternative perspectives on government efficiency or the merits of the administration's approach presented.

• Timeliness and relevance 4/5 15%

  Published October 2026 during an active political cycle, discussing current government operations, recent campaign spending, and contemporary threats; clearly timely and relevant to ongoing political debates.

• Substance 3/5 15%

  Show notes indicate solid topical coverage—DOGE performance, government employees, Iran rhetoric, campaign strategy—but without detail on depth of analysis, specific examples, or how thoroughly each topic is explored.

• Delivers on its title 3/5 15%

  'Don't Bet Against the Country' suggests optimism about American institutions; the episode appears to deliver this through Lewis's argument about dedicated public servants, but the title's meaning and how fully it's explored remains unclear

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  49 minutes is moderate length for a single-guest interview; show notes suggest multiple topics covered but don't indicate pacing, tangents, or whether the time is used efficiently.

How we score News

Worth it if you're interested in Michael Lewis's perspective on government dysfunction and want an optimistic counternarrative to anti-government sentiment, or if you follow The Bulwark's political analysis.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.