The Bulwark Podcast Michael Weiss: Trump’s Fee-Fees Are Hurt
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Feb 20, 2026 Michael Weiss, investigative reporter on foreign policy and security, joins to unpack Iran, Ukraine, and global geopolitics. They discuss the SCOTUS tariff ruling and who it helped or hurt. Conversation covers U.S. military posture in the Gulf, risks of confrontation with Iran, Europe’s balancing act with Trump, and the fourth anniversary of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Minnesota Protest Visit
- Tim Miller recounts visiting Minnesota protests at the Whipple ICE building and the Good and Preddie memorials.
- He describes persistent local activism and the emotional impact of memorials on his perspective.
Force Posture Creates Momentum
- Assembling forces in the Gulf creates momentum toward kinetic action and is costly to sustain.
- Weiss says deployed assets and long deployments increase the pressure to act, even without a clear endgame.
Paymasters Curb Warmongering
- Financial ties between Trump aides and Gulf states create tension about starting a war with Iran.
- Weiss notes Kushner and Witkoff's regional investments incentivize them to oppose conflict despite Trump's impulses.