Michael Steele: A Total and Complete Schlonging

Beto always had faith that the people of Texas are better than the people in power. And in 2026, Texans overcame voter suppression and election interference to deliver an outcome that better reflects the Lone Star State. It’s a totally different Texas now. Next up: Democrats have to make Trump this century’s Herbert Hoover, the one president he fears being compared to. In Mississippi, voters were fed up with a White House covered in gold and billionaires getting richer. But Wright says Mississippians also chose Scott Colom because they too believe that the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice and that the people in charge are assaulting our country’s values. Even people who didn’t vote for Colom see how important his victory is for Mississippi’s future. Beto O’Rourke and Wright Thompson join Tim Miller for a “soft boy” weekend pod.show notes: Beto's Substack Powered by People, Beto's voter mobilizing group Wright's books, "The Barn" and "Pappyland" "TrueSouth," Wright's television series Sarah crying when the Tarrant County results come in (around the 75 min mark) The book, "Long Division," referenced by Tim  The Bulwark store

Donald Trump is still dangerous, but voters clearly signaled that they had had enough of the moral collapse he ushered in. The electorate yearned for candidates who spoke about their faith-based values—not just Talarico and Hamilton, but Ossoff and El-Sayed as well. The vibe shift is so real that even ICE collaborator Alex Karp wants to be friends with the Democrats again. Ezra also predicts that Dems in the new Congress will be economics-first, with a particular focus on healthcare reform. And the party will end its unstinting support for Israel. Plus: The permitting reform bill will help the Dems make government work better, and AI agents are getting better at lying.Ezra Klein joins Tim Miller.show notes: Ezra’s recent pod interview with Adam Jentleson (includes spanking talk Some of the AI newsletters Ezra recommends: Jasmine Sun's Substack Understanding AI Casey Newton’s Platformer Transformer The Bulwark store For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to Smalls.com/THEBULWARK.

Too many voters in 2024 wanted to be with the bully party. But a lot of them saw how much cruelty that entailed—particularly with ICE and the attempted theft of voting rights. Nick also thinks that more members of the manosphere now recognize that being really mean is not a sign of strength. Plus: the opportunistic sports commentators who are playing to MAGA, Tim’s traumatic Chiefs memories, and Nick’s big miss with Jokić. Also, Tim calls for patience during the lame duck, and he speaks with Anderson Clayton, the young North Carolina Democratic Party chair, about the amazing and surprising wins the party racked up there.Nick Wright and Anderson Clayton join Tim Miller.show notes: Nick’s shows “What’s Wright? With Nick Wright” and “First Things First” The North Carolina Democratic Party website The Bulwark store Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BULWARK at https://www.oneskin.co/BULWARK#oneskinpod

Trump’s loyalist foot soldiers in Congress are still sticking by him but the power of the presidency is ebbing away from him. He’s lost not only the leverage to broker a peace between Russia and Ukraine, the Iranians also saw the results of the midterms—which significantly undercuts Trump’s ability to negotiate a deal favorable to the US. Plus: Vance’s political future is evaporating before our eyes, Thune has been the weakest majority leader in decades, and Trump was clearly living in a delusionary bubble before the midterms (with the help of his giggling assistant). Susan Glasser joins Tim Miller.Susan Glasser joins Tim Miller. show notes: Susan's column on the election results The New Yorker’s ‘Political Scene’ podcast The Bulwark store

Nearly a week after the midterms, Trump made a feeble rigged election claim. He also made a phony offer to work with Democrats on an immigration deal, hoping somehow to distract them from their oversight powers. And like a true mob boss, Trump elevated tough guy Stephen Miller to keep the administration from falling apart—and to protect the grift. But he knows he was swamped in a massive defeat and that the country now has the possibility of a very different future. Still, the ICE terror state is ongoing, and the Dems have to push for the release of nonviolent immigrants from the internment camps. Plus: Now we know Bill had just about the right amount of hopium, the polling misses continued, Trump will play game show host in choosing a successor in ’28, and he sure looks like he subverted our national security interests just for a $25 million bribe for his ballroom. Bill Kristol (Mr. Right) joins Tim Miller.show notes: Sarah on how committed GOP voters are coping Video of Texas voters celebrating Hinojosa’s and Talarico’s wins, which Bill mentioned Scott Colom’s ad featuring the home of Medgar Evers JVL on JD’s options now The Bulwark store Closing Song: MJ Lenderman - “She’s Leaving You”

The MAGA coalition is falling apart, Fox News is flummoxed, and Trump is having to grapple with being rejected by huge swaths of America. Steele only has double birds for Republicans who played along with the 10-year hijacking of the party and are now trying to clean up their act. And in a way, the country gave double birds to the administration over DEI, based on the diverse slate of candidates who’ve won statewide office all over the place. Plus: Texas is the whole enchilada for Republicans, electing the president via the national popular vote is looking more possible, Marco leaving the administration would be consistent with how calculating he’s always been, and Tim’s 2012 autopsy was not wrong, just early.Michael Steele joins Tim for the (much gloating!) weekend pod.show notes: Bill in Friday's "Morning Shots" JVL on the conspiracy to push Trump aside (gift link) Image of the before-and-after of Georgia’s statewide office holders Talarico’s early vote total > Paxton’s overall vote total The Bulwark store 20% OFF FLASH BULWARK+ on Substack for the next year. Go beyond the paywall and get unfettered access to ad-free and member-only video and written content from The Bulwark. Go to: TheBulwark.com/sanitywinsBulwark+ members via Substack can set up their personal RSS feeds on their podcast player of choice to access ad-free and member-only shows. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/BULWARK and use promo code BULWARK at checkout.

Kansas Senator-elect Hamilton was not recruited out of the Democratic Party pipeline. The Methodist pastor chose to challenge Roger Marshall because he didn't like what was happening in the country, including with ICE agents and cuts to healthcare. But he was also bothered by people in DC claiming to be Christian but not acting like it. Plus: Kamala campaign alum Rob Flaherty joins Tim to celebrate some of the biggest midterm stars, the Dems figuring out how to communicate with voters, the massive blowouts in Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania—and how Democrats in the new Congress have to address the growing concerns over AI. Senator-elect Adam Hamilton and Rob Flaherty join Tim Miller.show notes: Hamilton's victory speech Tim’s interview with North Carolina’s Anderson Clayton Gina Hinojosa’s personal “I Chose Her” ad Scott Colom’s “Pick Another Senator” ad Colom talking to Trump voters in line for a Trump rally Rob’s “Nobody Knows Anything” podcast Rob’s piece for The Bulwark on the DNC autopsy The Bulwark store 20% OFF FLASH BULWARK+ on Substack for the next year. Go beyond the paywall and get unfettered access to ad-free and member-only video and written content from The Bulwark. Go to: TheBulwark.com/sanitywinsBulwark+ members via Substack can set up their personal RSS feeds on their podcast player of choice to access ad-free and member-only shows. Get 20% off when you go to trustandwill.com/BULWARK

Republicans are already starting to plan for a post-Trump future after last night's wipeout. Sarah, JVL, and Tim savor the victories, including Talarico's and Hamilton's, which represent a complete rebuke of the politics of the Trump era; and physician-senator Annie Andrews who will actually challenge the quackery of RFK Jr. But there's also time for tears for Elon: After wasting hundreds of millions of dollars to try to buy a senator, JVL reminds him to get an apartment near Capitol Hill (or maybe flee to a country that would want him). Plus, Tim does a little election result porn, reviewing his record on his long shot picks, as well as doing a little penance for underestimating the chances of a couple of candidates to pull off a win. (They're still counting ballots in Jackson, MS.) Sarah Longwell and Jonathan V. Last join Tim Miller.show notes: JVL's emergency Triad Sarah's book, "How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time" 20% OFF FLASH BULWARK+ on Substack for the next year. Go beyond the paywall and get unfettered access to ad-free and member-only video and written content from The Bulwark.  Go to: TheBulwark.com/sanitywins Bulwark+ members via Substack can set up their personal RSS feeds on their podcast player of choice to access ad-free and member-only shows.

If the repudiation of our corrupt president comes through tonight, Democrats are promising to hold everyone to account who helped him turn our government into a playground for profit and vengeance. In addition to exposing the First Crime Family, Rep. Raskin tells Tim that Dems will also focus on impeaching Hegseth and reclaiming public lands that were given away to plunder. In Texas, Ryan says the Trump era has induced people to behave horribly and lean into what's wrong. Plus: Haley Stevens's betrayal seems to have backfired, Trump made nearly a million dollars an hour in 2025, and Tim uttered the nicest words about Ivanka that have ever been said on any Bulwark podcast.Rep. Jamie Raskin and Ryan Holiday join Tim Miller.show notes: The Bulwark’s election night coverage on YouTube and Substack starts at 7pm ET Ryan’s The Daily Stoic The Painted Porch Bookshop Subscribe to The Bulwark The Bulwark store

The Iran war and its impacts at home are major issues in the midterms, but POTUS is not finished with his misadventure in the Middle East. One key Democratic senator who's been briefed on the war plan says it's "insane" and would lead to a "devastating escalation" of the conflict. In rosier news, the polls continue to look good for the Democrats. Bill—who was bullish back in the summer—is even more so now, while Tim remains nervous about the Senate margin. And in a special bonus segment, JVL and Tim break down Haley Stevens's psychotic break over the weekend. Bill Kristol and Jonathan V. Last join Tim Miller.show notes: Monday’s “Morning Shots” Carville’s famous speech in “The War Room”  Anderson Cooper’s full interview with Haley Stevens on Sunday The Bulwark's election night coverage on YouTube and Substack Lauren on the legal planning to counter Trump's election meddlng Closing Song: MJ Lenderman - “She’s Leaving You” The Bulwark store