Public corruption used to be a congressman hiding $90,000 in his freezer. Now, we have a president taking "me time" to rake in $40 million from a Chinese crypto billionaire who was facing fraud charges under POTUS 46. And that's just a drop in the bucket of some of Trump's recent haul. Of course, today's FBI will do nothing about it, and his buddies at the top of the bureau are instead focusing on celebrities who are definitely not Team Trump, or a person who posted a benign beach meme about 47. Meanwhile, the FBI has been ordered to redirect resources to deportations, raising serious questions about whether counterterrorism and counterintelligence—the agency's main priorities since 9/11—are being neglected.
James Comey joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Comey's latest book, "FDR Drive"
Tim's playlist
Tim's interview with Karen Hao on her Sam Altman book
Take advantage of Ridge’s once-a-year Memorial Day Sale and get UP TO 40% Off right now by going to https://www.Ridge.com/THEBULWARK
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52:59
S2 Ep1048: Jonathan Chait: House GOP Doesn't Care How Bad the Bill Is
Republicans moved at such lightning speed that even they don't know how many people would lose health insurance— or how much they'd be spiking the deficit with their highly risky and big, ugly turd of a bill. And they don't care because they're cosmically committed to stopping the government from making rich people pay for healthcare for people who aren't. Plus, Dem leaders have an age culture problem, environmental groups are stuck in a Ralph Nader time-warp, and the danger of radical politics and supporting Hamas hits home on the streets of DC.
Jonathan Chait joins join Tim Miller.
show notes
Jon's new piece on the House GOP bill (gift)
Jonathan Cohn on the proposed Medicaid work requirements
Tim and Patrick Gaspard on Trump's lies about South Africa
Jon's piece on John Fetterman (gift)
Jon on Trump's immoral foreign policy (gift)
Douthat interviewing JD Vance
*Join Tim, Sarah and Crooked's Jon Lovett for a FREE ANDRY live show and fundraiser June 6
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1:06:45
S2 Ep1047: Susan Glasser: American in Name Only
On deportations and on foreign policy, the Trump administration is swapping out American values and violating everything the U.S. has stood for in exchange for kleptocracy and transactionalism with the world's worst tyrants. But at the same time, Trump can't even seem to grasp that Putin has been waging war for decades to accomplish his goals and is not interested in cutting a deal to end the bloodshed in Ukraine. Plus, the very dim appointees running our federal agencies, Elon and Marco are now trying to deny they cut food aid, and the unwelcome honorific of being a Trump historian.
Susan Glasser joins join Tim Miller.
show notes
Susan on Trump's plane envy
The Playboy interview
The president of Finland on a golf course with Trump
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51:14
S2 Ep1046: David French: Schizo-in-Chief
One day Trump sounds like Bernie promising the government will provide for everything. Then the next, he's like Paul Ryan the belt-tightener, prepping for austerity. And Code Pink was the order of the day when Mr. Tough Guy was in Saudi Arabia—attacking the foreign policy of the United States in the land of the 9/11 hijackers. Plus, Trump's SCOTUS appointees show some spine, Marco is truly pathetic, the big, insane reconciliation bill would gut Medicaid and hurt MAGA voters even if Trump denies it, and the DOJ investigates the hiring practices of Chicago's mayor.
David French joins join Tim Miller.
show notes
David's podcast, "Advisory Opinions"
Palestinians marching against Hamas in Gaza on Monday
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1:11:59
S2 Ep1045: Bill Kristol: A New Gilded Age
No, the Trump administration is not focused on the forgotten man or bringing industrial jobs back. Instead, the real estate developer is handing out threats left and right—fresh off his Middle East trip, where he scored numerous deals with Islamofascists for himself, his family, and his cronies. And no matter what he says, the 'Palace in the Sky' is for him, once taxpayers pony up all the funds for retrofitting. Meanwhile, House Republicans are attempting to ram through their reconciliation bill—which is a huge debt bomb and is a big reason why Moody's downgraded the credit rating of the United States. Plus, Biden's cancer diagnosis, Epstein's 'absolutely crystal-clear' suicide, Trump proves Springsteen's point, and the administration gladly takes some of Mexico's worst.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Jonathan Cohn on the reconciliation bill's Medicaid cuts
El Chapo's ex-wife and extended family at the US Southern border
Springsteen in Manchester commenting on the current administration
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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