The Bulwark Podcast Susan Glasser: Trump’s Industrial-Scale Lies
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Feb 25, 2026 
Susan Glasser, New Yorker staff writer and political analyst, offers sharp commentary on Trump’s State of the Union and media maneuvers. She breaks down the speech’s mix of upbeat economic claims and fear-driven immigration rhetoric. They discuss media capture, free speech attacks, shifting Ukraine policy, and dangerous signals on Iran.
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State Of The Union Was Performance Over Policy
- Donald Trump's State of the Union was long, theatrical, and filled with competing narratives rather than coherent policy arguments.
- Susan Glasser says it felt like a Bob Hope–style show: medal ceremonies and crowd-pleasing moments masking a lack of substantive solutions on affordability and Iran.
Two Competing Speeches Undermined Persuasion
- The speech contained two conflicting messages: triumphant economic bragging and fear-mongering about Democrats and immigrants.
- Tim Miller and Susan Glasser note this split undermines persuasion and aims mainly to rally Trump's base, not persuade undecided voters.
Fraud Czar Announcement Was Symbolic Irony
- Trump named J.D. Vance 'fraud czar,' a symbolic move inside an administration rife with self-dealing and pardoned fraudsters.
- Glasser calls it an irony-free zone and suggests Vance's role is a political crumb rather than a genuine anti-corruption push.
