Bulwark Takes

Donald Trump has banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, and this time, he followed through. Will Saletan and Will Sommer discuss Trump’s escalating attack on the press, his claim that the outlets can return if they start covering him more favorably, and what the crackdown could mean for journalists across Washington.
They also discuss the First Amendment implications of viewpoint-based press access, Trump’s broader use of legal and regulatory pressure against media organizations, the FCC’s actions under Brendan Carr, and the White House’s decision to elevate openly partisan right-wing media while shutting out mainstream news organizations.

Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) break down the latest developments in the Iran war, including reports that AI-generated intelligence nearly led the U.S. military to board a Chinese vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. They discuss the dangers of relying on false intelligence, the importance of human oversight, and what can happen when bad information makes its way into military decision-making.
They also examine reports that the Pentagon may be undercounting U.S. military deaths in the Middle East, as well as the growing cost of the Iran war. Plus, sensitive F-35 parts that were supposed to be shipped to the United States somehow ended up in Hong Kong.
Finally, Ben and General Hertling fact-check President Trump’s claims about the massive amount of Venezuelan oil the U.S. supposedly secured, including his claim that America got 65 billion barrels of oil and 500 years’ worth of supply. Hertling explains what the deal actually entails and whether it constitutes a war crime.
A quick note: Paid members of the Bulwark give us the freedom to follow the news wherever it leads, including stories that don’t just chase an algorithm. That’s why we can spend real time with experts like General Hertling on stories we think deserve your attention. If you think this kind of coverage is worthwhile, please consider becoming a paid members on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or Substack.

Bill Kristol talks with Nathaniel Zelinsky, the lead counsel challenging Trump’s efforts at the Kennedy Center, about the president’s demolition threats, the judge putting new limits on what the administration can do, and what happens if Trump simply refuses to obey a court order. Zelinsky explains why this fight over one building could become a much bigger test of the rule of law.

Join George Conway, Andrew Egger and Catherine Rampell as they cover the protests at the Kennedy Center.

A note for podcast listeners: Receipts with Catherine Rampell now has its own podcast feed! This is the final episode that will appear in the Bulwark Takes feed, so search for “Receipts with Catherine Rampell” and follow or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don’t miss the next episode.
Catherine and JVL take on Canada’s accelerating break with the United States, Trump’s self-inflicted inflation problem, and the dangerous game unfolding between the White House and the Federal Reserve. Plus, DOGE somehow managed to spend $9.5 billion paying federal workers not to work, while government data that could expose tax cheating is quietly disappearing.