Bulwark Takes

Mark Hertling, retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and military analyst, gives a frontline military perspective. He discusses escalation risks, allied reactions, and the challenges of strikes without clear political aims. Short-term tactics versus long-term strategy, regional fallout, and the limits of special operations all come up in concise, urgent conversation.

They discuss Americans leaving the country and the prospect of U.S. population decline. They critique foreign influence tied to high-profile jets and media deals. They examine media consolidation, chilling effects on speech, and conflicts of interest. They review polling that paints a picture of widespread distrust and questions about use of power.

An examination of how voter ID pushes and renewed fraud claims are being used to delegitimize Democratic wins. Traces a line from 2020 rhetoric through January 6 to current plans for rejecting midterm results. Looks at how investigations and sympathetic members of Congress amplify a narrative that Democratic victories are illegitimate.

A surprise takeover of Warner Bros by a Trump-backed Paramount sparks a conversation about the deal's financing, regulatory odds, and the $7 billion backstop. The political motive to control CNN and likely editorial shifts get debated. Discussions also cover which Warner assets really matter, whether Netflix benefits from walking away, and how regulators might respond.

A breakdown of a surprising White House visit where Zohran met with Trump to push housing plans and free detained students. They dissect the viral photo, debating whether Mamdani dominated the optics or played to Trump’s ego. Conversation weighs policy wins against political risks and the moral tradeoffs of cooperating with a controversial figure.

They unpack a wave of conspiratorial investigations that recycle antisemitic tropes and exploit marginalized communities. They dissect a viral “documentary” that strings together birth certificate quirks, Freemason references, marine symbolism, family trees and bee imagery. They argue the piece is optimized for clip-friendly outrage rather than solid evidence and warn about dangerous real-world consequences.

Mark Hertling, retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and military analyst, reflects on the State of the Union’s heavy military pageantry and shaky claims. He and Ben Parker critique grandstanding over clear strategy. They question assertions about Iran and war, probe rushed medal approvals, and discuss what soldiers actually fight for: fellow service members, values, and the Constitution.

Roger Sollenberger, investigative reporter and Substack author known for digging into Epstein-era documents. He walks through DOJ files mentioning an underage accuser linked to Trump. He discusses FBI interviews, a slideshow of 'prominent names,' missing records, and congressional scrutiny over possible withholding of documents.

They dissect a Wall Street Journal scoop about a DC tax expert who profited massively betting federal spending would not be cut. The conversation explains why the wager was nearly risk-free, how the contract and hedges worked, and why entitlement cuts were politically unrealistic. They also examine how prediction markets can be gamed, lead to insider advantage, and produce absurd wagers.

Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Transportation Secretary and 2020 presidential candidate, offers a rapid-fire breakdown of post-State of the Union politics. He challenges claims about affordability and rising costs. He tackles AI and energy, corporate capitulation, immigration rhetoric, corruption and oversight, and what Democrats must change to connect with voters.