The Bulwark Podcast Bill Kristol: The Cracks in Trump's Power Are Showing
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Nov 24, 2025 
Bill Kristol, a renowned political analyst and conservative commentator, joins Tim Miller to dissect the growing unrest within the MAGA coalition and the waning control of Trump over the Republican Party. They explore how dissent is replacing fear among Republicans as electoral failures intensify. Kristol also critiques the disastrous DOGE initiative and Trump's record of enriching his allies while failing to deliver on promises. Additionally, they debunk the myth of Trump as a true populist and discuss critical political dynamics within Congress.
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Popularity Limits Authoritarian Ambitions
- Trump's approval trend is declining and that decline constrains his ability to convert political power into authoritarian advances.
- Popularity and legislative success together enable or limit authoritarian ambitions.
Cheney Funeral: Private Praise, Public Accommodation
- Bill Kristol recounted interactions and impressions from the Dick Cheney funeral about former officials' accommodation of Trump.
- He noted many attendees privately praised The Bulwark while having publicly accommodated Trump.
Dismantling Without Savings
- DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) caused human harm while producing no real budgetary savings.
- Its biggest tangible result was cutting assistance for vulnerable people without measurable efficiency gains.