There were so many spectacular Republican failures in 2026 that Tim Miller and Sam Stein decided to turn them into a fantasy draft. From Vivek Ramaswamy and Ken Paxton to the candidates who somehow managed to lose in deep-red states, Tim and Sam compete to assemble the ultimate roster of MAGA losers, reliving the terrible campaigns, astonishing defeats, and self-inflicted wounds along the way.
Almost nobody thought Jeff Van Drew’s seat was in play. But Zack Mullock pulled off one of the election’s biggest upsets, defeating the Trump loyalist in a supposedly safe Republican district. The congressman-elect joins Tim Miller to explain how he won over Republican voters, why Trump’s ICE crackdown and Iran war became political liabilities, and what Democrats need to do with their new majority.
She spent just $56,000 to defeat one of North Carolina’s most powerful Republicans—and the man who helped gerrymander his own congressional district. Tim Miller talks with Congresswoman-elect LaKesha Womack about her astonishing upset, her path from a near-death experience to Congress, and the last-minute legal controversy she believes was meant to derail her campaign.
After ten years of Trump dominating American politics, we’re finally having a very different conversation about the future. There are fights ahead, but as Tim and Michael remind us, sometimes you have to take a moment to celebrate. And we’re thrilled to be celebrating this one with you.
And you’re in luck—we’re having a 20% off flash sale on membership. Come ride with us.
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:
Image of the before-and-after of Georgia’s statewide office holders
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We know you’ve been waiting for a post-election Trio, and we weren’t about to disappoint. If you love having these three together to laugh through the madness, become a Bulwark+ member and help us keep the Trio coming. And you’re in luck—we’re running a flash sale for 20% off for the next year of Bulwark+. Offer ends soon.
Tim Miller, Sam Stein and Will Sommer are back together to celebrate the midterm results and take a victory lap over MAGA’s spectacular election night failures. They break down JD Vance getting roasted by the manosphere, Tim Pool’s election meltdown, and the humiliating defeats of MAGA candidates like Brandon Herrera.
Plus, Laura Loomer and Benny Johnson spiral over the results, Will introduces the trio to one of the internet’s most influential right-wing streamers (and his truly horrifying living conditions), and Russell Brand is convicted of rape and sexual assault after appearing alongside Trump administration officials just weeks before his trial.
Don Leonard just pulled off a stunning upset in Ohio, defeating a Republican incumbent in a district Trump won by 10 points. The congressman-elect joins Tim Miller to discuss how he did it, his arrest at a No Kings protest, his plans to dismantle ICE, Trump’s treatment of Haitian immigrants, and why he believes JD Vance has betrayed his working-class roots.
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:
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
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We’ve been through a lot these past few years, and after last night, it feels like we’re finally turning a corner. There’s a new generation of political leaders to get to know, plenty of fights still ahead, and a lot to be excited about. We’re looking forward to covering it all, and we hope you’ll be along for the ride. If you’ve been thinking about joining the Bulwark, now’s a pretty great time to come ride with us. And you’re in luck—we’re running a flash sale for 20% off for the next year of Bulwark+. Offer ends this Friday.
The voters have delivered a historic rejection of Trump and MAGA, and the political fallout is only beginning. Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and JVL break down the stunning Democratic victories, what Sarah heard from Trump voters who abandoned Republicans, and JD Vance’s extraordinary attempt to distance himself from Trump’s disastrous Iran war. Plus, the reckoning ahead for Elon Musk, Pete Hegseth, and the rest of MAGA.
In the second half, Sam Stein and Bill Kristol join JVL to examine Vance’s remarkable break with Trump, the possibility of a Republican civil war, and what the election means for the Supreme Court, the next Congress, and the balance of power heading into 2028.
As always: Watch, listen, hit the like button or leave a comment. We want to hear from you.
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Election night delivers a stunning rebuke of Donald Trump as Democrats seize control of Congress and score extraordinary victories in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, Maine, Ohio and beyond. Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, JVL, and the Bulwark team react to the results in real time, joined by Pete Buttigieg, Ro Khanna, Lis Smith and others to break down the races, MAGA’s meltdown, and what comes next for Trump.
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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:
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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:
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 meddling
As always: Watch, listen, hit the like button or leave a comment. We want to hear from you.
Ad-free editions of The Bulwark Daily are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members.
Tim Miller’s Bulwark Daily is available wherever you get podcasts and on YouTube. New shows drop each weekday afternoon. If you like the show, leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐ wherever you listen. Add The Bulwark Daily to your player of choice, here.
MAGA podcaster Clay Travis bet $1 million that oil prices would fall before the midterms. With his deadline looming and prices nowhere near his prediction, Tim Miller brings the receipts on Travis’s spectacularly wrong calls about Trump’s Iran war, then revisits his increasingly ridiculous Cheesecake Factory obsession.
Tim Miller takes on the GOP’s most outrageous midterm candidates, from a MAGA operative facing election fraud allegations to a yacht-owning Republican hiding his wealth, a politically connected congressional hopeful, and Tommy Tuberville’s latest antics. Plus, Tim shares the wild story of how Steve Bannon falsely accused him of orchestrating the allegations against Roy Moore.
Our vice president made up a confusing story about a trip to an emergency room because almost everything he does is a performative act to play to voters he thinks are dumb. Over at the White House, POTUS flip-flopped and un-canceled his Midwest rallies—so there will be more opportunities for the flat-out racism to keep flowing into Election Day. Plus: Polls and early voting numbers are keeping the anxious optimism going, Melania's Epstein press conference in April makes a lot more sense now, a Bulwarky hero deliciously trolled Fox News, and is Nicki Minaj's MAGA fandom all about getting pardons for the two sexual predators in her life?
Jane Coaston joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes:
Sunday’s live election preview with Tim and the rest of the gang on Substack and YouTube.
The Bulwark’s campaign to help the Haitian community of Springfield
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Is it possible Adam Hamilton could be the first Democratic senator elected from Kansas in 94 years? A major new poll is raising hopes there—and in other key Senate races as well. At the same time, the Peltola campaign's unnecessary Sullivan plot is a gift to election deniers. Plus: Performative cruelty is the MAGA initiation rite, Christian Texans who like Talarico are attracted to his decency, Trump gutted the pro-life movement, and Tim makes an impassioned case to Michigan to not vote for religious bigot Mike Rogers.
David French joins Tim Miller.
show notes:
Clip of Tim discussing Renee Good killing on the Charlie Kirk Show
The Bulwark’s campaign to help the Haitian community of Springfield
As always: Watch, listen, hit the like button or leave a comment. We want to hear from you.
Ad-free editions of The Bulwark Daily are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members.
Tim Miller’s Bulwark Daily is available wherever you get podcasts and on YouTube. New shows drop each weekday afternoon. If you like the show, leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ wherever you listen.
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Tim Miller takes a trip into the lion’s den, joining Blake Neff and Andrew Kolvet on The Charlie Kirk Show for a spirited debate about Trump’s record. Tim pushes back on the idea that Trump has delivered, laying out that the president has broken his promises on affordability, foreign wars and draining the swamp. The conversation gets heated as Tim challenges the hosts over immigration enforcement, masked ICE agents and the detention of people without due process. He also makes the case that Trump’s tariffs, war in Iran and corruption are making life harder for Americans.
It’s the Trio. You know them, you love them, and you never quite know where they’re going next. What better reason to become a Bulwark member and support the madness?
Sam Stein, Will Sommer, and Tim Miller unpack another week of MAGA absurdity, from James O’Keefe facing felony charges over an alleged voter fraud stunt to right-wing influencers churning out bizarre AI videos about Democrats and the Cheesecake Factory. The trio also break down a pastor’s bizarre prayer for the deportation of a MAGA commentator, and a Tennessee congressional candidate defending unsolicited nude photos as a “youthful indiscretion” at age 53.
Plus, JD Vance hits the campaign trail for a MAGA rapper in a surprisingly competitive House race, and the Department of Education gets caught up in the internet’s strange obsession with a gender-swapped Draco Malfoy.
Trump's (surprisingly) current favorite pollster shares what he's seeing in the numbers less than one week before Election Day. The first sign of what kind of night the Dems are going to have will come when the polls close in Kentucky. But we may have to wait until the wee hours of the morning to learn what happens with the Senate. The Bulwark will be live at 7pm ET. Plus: The Guardian's Julian Borger explains how fear among Arab Israelis was a huge factor in the Israeli election—and may end up redrawing the country's political landscape. And Brazilian voters who were afraid of the Bolsonaro family being back in power delivered the surprising election result there.
Harry Enten and the Guardian’s Julian Borger join Tim Miller.
show notes:
Julian on the elections in Brazil, Israel, Serbia, and the US
John Couvillon, the Republican who tracks early voting that Tim mentioned
The Bulwark’s campaign to help the Haitian community of Springfield
As always: Watch, listen, hit the like button or leave a comment. We want to hear from you.
Ad-free editions of The Bulwark Daily are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members.
Tim Miller’s Bulwark Daily is available wherever you get podcasts and on YouTube. New shows drop each weekday afternoon. If you like the show, leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ wherever you listen.
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For the final stretch of the election and everything that comes after, become a paid member of The Bulwark for more of Sarah, Tim, and JVL’s unfiltered conversations, members-only Q&As, and election analysis.
Tim, Sarah, and JVL are back together for their last Next Level before Election Day. They discuss Marco Rubio helping Flavio Bolsonaro take refuge in the United States after losing Brazil's presidential election, RFK Jr's wildly racist comments about Arabs in Michigan, and the continued fallout from Vivek Ramaswamy's ghoulish ad against Amy Acton.
Then: a Kansas City Star report finds Roger Marshall’s own hometown turning on him, and Susan Collins is running a snobby ad against Troy Jackson. The gang runs through the whole Senate map and how big the Democratic wave could get, then they react to reports that Pete Hegseth has his eye on Marsha Blackburn’s Senate seat. And finally, after seeing the new Elizabeth Holmes documentary, Tim is soft-on-crime. Again.
Send your political questions or pleas for life advice for future Next Level episodes to nextlevel@thebulwark.com.
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Democrats offered a glimpse of the accountability that's likely coming over the Epstein cover-up: new allegations of rape against Trump and evidence that strongly suggests Epstein introduced Melania to Trump. And of course, POTUS is standing by Vivek's ad with an endorsement from a mother who inflicted a pedophile on her own daughter. Plus: The Bulwark and "Pablo Torre Finds Out" teamed up for a new poll on the intersection of sports and politics, Pablo shares the skinny on how Vivek is exactly the kind of person who would use that ad against Amy Acton, Republicans are using straight racism as their closing message against El-Sayed, Hegseth's High T schtick is landing with no one, Trump can't quit his obsession with Comey, and Clay Travis stole his Cheesecake Factory valor.
Sarah Matthews and Pablo Torre join Tim Miller.
show notes:
Brendan on the new poll from The Bulwark and “Pablo Torre Finds Out”
The petition by Vivek’s high school classmates calling on him to pull the ad
The Bulwark’s campaign to help the Haitian community of Springfield
As always: Watch, listen, hit the like button or leave a comment. We want to hear from you.
Ad-free editions of The Bulwark Daily are available exclusively for Bulwark+ members.
Tim Miller’s Bulwark Daily is available wherever you get podcasts and on YouTube. New shows drop each weekday afternoon. If you like the show, leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ wherever you listen.
Add The Bulwark Daily to your player of choice, here.
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