The Bulwark Podcast Bill Kristol: What a Bunch of Jackasses
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May 11, 2026 
Bill Kristol, veteran political commentator and editor-at-large, offers sharp takes on foreign policy and conservative politics. He discusses Iran and freedom of navigation, how Trump's worldview reshapes alliances, Russia and Ukraine developments, redistricting and racial gerrymanders, and the spectacle of Trumpian politics. Short, pointed, and often sardonic commentary.
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Iran Strait Closure Is A Strategic U.S. Defeat
- The Iran war and closure of the Strait of Hormuz mark a strategic defeat for the U.S. by undermining freedom of navigation and global confidence.
- Bill Kristol and Tim Miller note Iran proved it can close the strait, shifting Gulf states toward independent deals with Iran and China, eroding U.S. influence.
America First Accelerates End Of Postwar Order
- 'America First' logic yields withdrawal from global public goods like open sea lanes, risking regional arms races and instability.
- Kristol warns this retreat mirrors pre-World War dynamics and accelerates the end of the post‑WWII order after the Iran episode.
Drones And EU Aid Turn The Tide In Ukraine
- Ukraine's recent battlefield gains and drone innovation have shifted momentum despite earlier aid cuts.
- Kristol highlights drones' transformative effect and EU aid (unblocked after Orban's loss) as key to Ukraine taking the fight to Russia.