The Bulwark Daily

Nearly a week after the midterms, Trump made a feeble rigged election claim. He also made a phony offer to work with Democrats on an immigration deal, hoping somehow to distract them from their oversight powers. And like a true mob boss, Trump elevated tough guy Stephen Miller to keep the administration from falling apart—and to protect the grift. But he knows he was swamped in a massive defeat and that the country now has the possibility of a very different future. Still, the ICE terror state is ongoing, and the Dems have to push for the release of nonviolent immigrants from the internment camps. Plus: Now we know Bill had just about the right amount of hopium, the polling misses continued, Trump will play game show host in choosing a successor in ’28, and he sure looks like he subverted our national security interests just for a $25 million bribe for his ballroom. 
Bill Kristol (Mr. Right) joins Tim Miller.
show notes:

Sarah on how committed GOP voters are coping

Video of Texas voters celebrating Hinojosa’s and Talarico’s wins, which Bill mentioned

Scott Colom’s ad featuring the home of Medgar Evers

JVL on JD’s options now

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Closing Song: MJ Lenderman - “She’s Leaving You”

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:

Bill in Friday's "Morning Shots"

JVL on the conspiracy to push Trump aside (gift link)

Image of the before-and-after of Georgia’s statewide office holders

Talarico’s early vote total > Paxton’s overall vote total

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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:

Hamilton's victory speech

Tim’s interview with North Carolina’s Anderson Clayton

Gina Hinojosa’s personal “I Chose Her” ad

Scott Colom’s “Pick Another Senator” ad

Colom talking to Trump voters in line for a Trump rally

Rob’s “Nobody Knows Anything” podcast

Rob’s piece for The Bulwark on the DNC autopsy

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Republicans are already starting to plan for a post-Trump future after last night's wipeout. Sarah, JVL, and Tim savor the victories, including Talarico's and Hamilton's, which represent a complete rebuke of the politics of the Trump era; and physician-senator Annie Andrews who will actually challenge the quackery of RFK Jr. But there's also time for tears for Elon: After wasting hundreds of millions of dollars to try to buy a senator, JVL reminds him to get an apartment near Capitol Hill (or maybe flee to a country that would want him). Plus, Tim does a little election result porn, reviewing his record on his long shot picks, as well as doing a little penance for underestimating the chances of a couple of candidates to pull off a win. (They're still counting ballots in Jackson, MS.)
Sarah Longwell and Jonathan V. Last join Tim Miller.
show notes:

JVL's emergency Triad

Sarah's book, "How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time"

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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:

The Bulwark’s election night coverage on YouTube and Substack starts at 7pm ET

Ryan’s The Daily Stoic

The Painted Porch Bookshop

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