The news cycle doesn’t slow down, and neither does The Bulwark. Bulwark Takes brings you bite-sized takes on the news of the day from the entire Bulwark team, including Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and Bill Kristol, and more.
Tim Miller of the Bulwark examines JD Vance's evasive response when asked to define socialism and explain why socialist candidates are gaining traction in America. According to the show notes, Vance pivoted away from the question entirely, instead discussing immigration and transgender athletes—topics unrelated to the…
Worth it if you're already aligned with Bulwark's anti-MAGA perspective and want a quick talking-point critique rather than a rigorous examination of socialism rhetoric.
Sam Stein interviews Eric Deters, the whistleblower behind the Wall Street Journal's investigation into Kimberly Guilfoyle's fundraising practices within Trump circles. Deters recounts his relationship with Guilfoyle, detailing how he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in Trump-world activities based on her…
Worth it if you're following the Guilfoyle fundraising scandal closely or interested in how Trump-world money and influence operate.
Bulwark Takes covers a Wall Street Journal report about leaked text messages from Kimberly Guilfoyle to a Trump donor. The episode features hosts Sam Stein, Marc Polymeropoulos, and Michael Weiss discussing the revelations, which allegedly include Guilfoyle requesting $100,000 to pay her American Express bill and…
Worth it if you want rapid-fire political commentary on breaking news and trust the Bulwark hosts' take on Trump-adjacent scandals, but not if you prefer balanced, in-depth analysis.
Will Saletan analyzes the Maine Senate debate between Republican incumbent Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, focusing on Collins's difficulty distancing herself from Donald Trump despite the president's unpopularity in Maine. The episode examines Jackson's strategy of repeatedly linking Collins to…
Worth it if you're a Maine voter deciding between Collins and Jackson, or a political junkie interested in how Trump's unpopularity affects Republican incumbents in blue-leaning states.
Lauren Egan reports from Kansas on the unexpectedly competitive 2026 Senate race between Democrat Adam Hamilton and Republican incumbent Roger Marshall. A New York Times poll shows the race deadlocked, prompting Republicans to invest millions to defend what was once considered a safe seat. Hamilton, a former pastor,…
Worth it if you're tracking 2026 midterm surprises and want a quick Democratic-leaning take on how the party might reclaim red-state Senate seats.
Bulwark Takes examines recent Pentagon decisions and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's military initiatives through an interview with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.). The episode opens with analysis of the U.S. decision to withdraw B-1 bombers from the United Kingdom, framed as a response to Iranian drone threats.…
Worth it if you follow U.S. military policy closely and want expert perspective on Hegseth's early Pentagon initiatives and their strategic implications.
Bulwark Takes episode featuring reporter Michael Weiss and former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos discussing several international intelligence and political stories. The episode promises to cover a "staggering spy scandal" involving the former head of German intelligence, an alleged Iranian plot targeting U.S.…
Worth it if you follow international intelligence news closely and want quick expert commentary on multiple breaking stories, but skip it if you prefer deep dives into single topics.
Ben Parker and Bill Kristol host this 44-minute episode of Bulwark Takes, focusing on Republican vulnerabilities heading into the midterms. The primary topic is the unexpectedly competitive Senate race in South Carolina, where Republicans are reportedly worried about losing ground in a traditionally red state. The…
Worth it if you're a center-right or anti-Trump listener interested in Republican vulnerabilities and want commentary on midterm implications and foreign policy concerns.
Tim Miller argues that Democrats should not shy away from investigating and holding accountable the corporations and executives who enabled or benefited from Trump's corruption during his administration. The episode frames this as a critical test of whether Democrats genuinely intend to restore the rule of law. Miller…
Worth it if you're a Democrat concerned about accountability and want validation that investigations are justified, or if you follow Bulwark's political commentary regularly.
Bulwark Takes examines Trump's latest voter-targeted payment initiatives ahead of the midterms, featuring economists Catherine Rampell and Jonathan Cohn. The episode focuses on two specific programs: $500 payments to ACA marketplace enrollees and $90 payments to certain Medicare recipients. Rampell and Cohn analyze…
Worth it if you want a critical take on Trump's pre-midterm spending initiatives and are comfortable with a left-leaning perspective on policy legality and electoral strategy.
Sam Stein and Will Sommer host this episode of Bulwark Takes, focusing on three main political stories. First, they discuss Kash Patel's engagement and Benny Johnson's legal troubles after facing a lawsuit from two anti-ICE protesters. The bulk of the episode centers on The Daily Wire's controversial new pro-ICE film…
Worth it if you're a Bulwark regular who trusts the hosts' reporting and wants quick takes on recent political scandals, but newcomers should verify claims independently.
