The Bulwark Podcast Tom Nichols: There’s Something Wrong with the President
13 snips
May 13, 2026 
Tom Nichols, political scientist and writer who comments on American politics and national security, joins to dissect Trump's late-night posting spree and visible health concerns. They debate Iran intelligence and strike effectiveness. They critique a new counterterrorism strategy and explore political fallout, polling trends, and possible DOJ moves related to Trump.
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Administration Response Reveals Internal Leaks And Disagreement
- Tom Nichols argues the administration’s public reaction to leaks has been to attack the messenger rather than deny substance, suggesting internal disagreement and alarming leaks from defense/intel.
- He notes the gap between public claims of damage and the intelligence reality after weeks of bombing.
Trump Can Declare Wins Domestically But Not In War
- Trump’s tendency to declare victories transforms created problems into accepted realities for his supporters, but a foreign war resists that control and erodes MAGA loyalty.
- Nichols and Miller note Trump’s ability to 'manifest' outcomes worked domestically but failed with Iran, contributing to approval drops.
Nuclear Exfiltration From Iran Is Not A Quick Win
- Extracting Iran’s nuclear material is logistically infeasible during active conflict; Nichols references Operation Sapphire as a permissive precedent that wouldn’t work in wartime.
- He explains buried, specialized nuclear stockpiles require months, equipment, and host cooperation, not a lightning raid.
