Bulwark Takes

Former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos and national security reporter Michael Weiss take on the attempted hijacking of a flight bound for Tel Aviv, a suspected plot targeting an air base in Britain, and the troubling signs that Iran may be taking its fight abroad. They also ask whether America is prepared for a renewed terror threat as experienced counterterrorism personnel and resources are pulled toward other priorities.

Sam Stein and Ben Parker give their takes on Pete Hegseth’s bizarre State of the Force address, from his “no fatties, no weirdos” vision for the military to his fixation on testosterone, wokeness and American universities.
They also dig into Hegseth’s new Project Meridian, which will bring together Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich to study the future of warfare, as well as his proposal to have governors compete for new troop deployments. Sam and Ben discuss Hegseth’s attacks on the press, his history of purging military leaders and advisory boards, and the growing signs that he may have his eyes on a political future beyond the Pentagon.
Plus, why does Hegseth’s vision seem so focused on domestic political enemies while the U.S. is dealing with actual wars and threats from countries like Iran and China?

Ken Paxton is caught on tape blaming Donald Trump for hurting his Senate campaign, telling a small group of donors that Trump’s Texas convention actually hurt his numbers. The New York Times first reported on the leaked recording, which came from a small Paxton fundraiser where an attendee recorded the conversation. JVL and Andrew Egger break down Paxton’s donor problems, his reliance on Trump’s financial support, and what the recording reveals about his struggling campaign.
They also discuss Paxton’s political baggage, the Texas Senate race against James Talarico, and Angela Paxton’s unusual argument that Republicans should keep the seat “in the family” despite their ongoing divorce.
Plus, why the Paxton campaign’s struggles could reveal deeper problems for Texas Republicans and the MAGA movement.

Ben Parker and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) give their takes on Pete Hegseth’s reported plan to cut 20% of the military’s general and flag officers, and what that could mean for military leadership, congressional oversight, and civilian-military relations. They also discuss Hegseth’s push to remake Department of Defense schools, including curriculum changes and book bans, as well as growing concerns about the Pentagon’s handling of military casualty reporting.
Plus, U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue’s odd comments that Trump reportedly offered to sell U.S. weapons to China and the end of the U.S. military mission in Iraq after more than two decades.

Sam Stein and Andrew Egger give their takes on Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt’s disastrous attempt to catch former special counsel Jack Smith in a perjury trap during a Senate Judiciary hearing. Schmitt thought he had a smoking gun showing Smith was in Atlanta for a Hawks game on the same day as a controversy involving Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. But there was one problem: Smith wasn’t at the Hawks game. The text messages Schmitt’s team found were apparently referring to the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team, who were playing in Maryland that same day.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar quickly pointed out the apparent mix-up, while Schmitt continued to defend his questioning even after accusing Smith of perjury. Sam and Andrew also discuss the poor timing of this faceplant after Axios reported that Eric Schmitt was being floated as a possible running mate for JD Vance in 2028.
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