The Bulwark Podcast David Frum: A Very Bad Time for Bozos to Be in Charge
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Mar 20, 2026 
David Frum, political commentator and Atlantic staff writer, offers sharp takes on U.S. security and conservative politics. He discusses risky DHS picks and homeland vulnerabilities. He explores strained alliances, Denmark’s Greenland contingency, military vs political tracks of the Iran conflict, and long-term geopolitical and Israeli diplomatic consequences.
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Image Over Substance Undermines Authoritarian Consolidation
- Donald Trump confuses image with substance, using vanity gestures like minting living-president coins that provoke public backlash.
- David Frum argues a wiser authoritarian would avoid such theatrics because they create opposition and expose weakness in consolidation of power.
Homeland Security Needs Experts Not Culture Warriors
- The U.S. is at war with the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism while key homeland agencies are led by inexperienced political appointees.
- Frum warns DHS/FBI need career counterterror experts, not officials focused on immigration politics, to protect the homeland.
Use War to Force Accountability on Homeland Security
- Democrats should use the Iran war to press Republicans on national security by arguing the administration has left the homeland vulnerable.
- Frum suggests getting to the right of Trump on terrorism funding while forcing accountability for bad appointments.