S2 Ep1024: Anne Applebaum: Everything Is a Game to Trump
Sen. Van Hollen showed that Congress actually does have agency, and a federal judge finally scorched the administration in crystal-clear language about how it's violating the essence of our constitutional republic. But the White House is just treating the whole Abrego Garcia affair like it's a joke. Meanwhile, Trump is elevating his own businesses over the nation's, and is quickly adopting the kleptocratic models of Russia and China—while overlooking the fact that the Chinese have maintained a functional and competent government. Plus, children all over the world are going to die because Elon wants our money to go to his companies, and Marco signaled that the big talker who promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours is ready to give up and walk away.
Anne Applebaum joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes
Anne's recent piece, "Kleptocracy, Inc."
The Atlantic on Trump ending lifesaving humanitarian aid
JVL's Triad on the mindset of ICE agents
Tim's playlist
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48:32
S2 Ep1023: Ben Wittes: Sorry, We Still Have Due Process
The White House is doubling down on justifying its extra-judicial actions around Abrego Garcia by trying to incriminate him in the court of public opinion. But the government still can't pluck people off an American street and send them to a concentration camp without due process. Plus, Judge Boasberg is not letting Stephen Miller off the hook for defying his order to turn the Salvadoran-bound planes around. And while the administration tries to stir up outrage about one immigrant's marital problems, they admiringly describe the evil, blood-thirsty Vladimir Putin as a good guy. Ben Wittes joins Tim Miller.
show notes
CNBC on Chris Krebs leaving his company after being targeted by Trump
Boasberg's probable cause finding to hold the goverment in criminal contempt
Tim's 2019 Bulwark piece that he referenced
Support Lawfare
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56:52
S2 Ep1022: Stephanie Ruhle: Only Trump Is Happy
Manufacturing orders are down, stocks are down, and mortgage rates are up. But Trump and his family are wealthier than they've ever been. He's got his Ponzi-like crypto scheme, his meme coin, and a boatload of big money types showing up at Mar-a-Lago trying to curry favors from him for some cold, hard cash. Meanwhile, Trump is play-acting like he has a strong hand, but he's begging China to make a deal. Plus, the administration is defunding science and our world-renowned medical centers to buy crypto. And the Abrego Garcia kidnapping and imprisonment has touched a nerve in surprising ways.
Stephanie Ruhle joins Tim Miller.
show notes
Chuck Grassley getting grilled at town hall over Abrego Garcia
WSJ story on Elon's 'legion of babies,' and their mothers (behind firewall)
Mediaite summary of WSJ piece
Bluesky post on the fake gold medallions in the Oval Office
Bloomberg on United Airlines having two profit scenarios because of the trade war (gifted)
*The Bulwark Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp
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50:37
S2 Ep1021: Josh Barro: Total Idiocy
Trump & company want to turn us into Taiwan circa 1985. But the brilliant minds behind the idea of intentionally weakening the dollar are prioritizing making America a good place to manufacture rather than a good place to live. If the administration stays on this track, this country will have lower incomes, higher inflation, and weaker buying power—and more expensive beer and tomatoes. Maybe we were better off with Jared there. Meanwhile, in the Rust Belt, some Dems are arguing for a smarter version of tariffs. Plus, Abrego Garcia's union brothers want him home and Trump wants to fight with Harvard.
Rep. Chris Deluzio and Josh Barro join Tim Miller.
show notes
Rep. Deluzio's NYT piece arguing for smarter tariffs
Josh's NYT piece on how Trump is giving Dems a gift with his tariffs
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1:13:04
S2 Ep1020: Bill Kristol: Staring Down the Barrel
We are here: Trump is openly defying the Supreme Court while sitting side-by-side with a Latin American strongman who openly mocked our judicial system from inside the Oval Office. Trump so badly wants his one-man rule and Republicans keep helping him, while corporate America keeps trying to get on his good side. Meanwhile, the intimidation is chilling free speech on college campuses and within immigrant communities.
Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.
show notes
JVL's emergency Triad from Sunday
JVL's latest Triad
The latest Focus Group on the fighting mood among Dem voters
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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