Bulwark Takes

Sam Stein, Marc Polymeropoulos, and Michael Weiss went live to take on the bombshell Wall Street Journal report that reveals Kimberly Guilfoyle’s extraordinary private messages with a Trump donor, including a $100,000 request to pay her Amex bill and repeated warnings to stop creating a paper trail.

Will Saletan breaks down the Maine Senate debate between Republican incumbent Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, and why Collins is struggling to separate herself from Donald Trump in a state where the president remains deeply unpopular.Jackson repeatedly tied Collins to Trump on the Iran war, tariffs, abortion, health care and the Republican tax and spending bill, while Collins tried to emphasize her independence and point to the work she has done for Maine. But with Collins having cast several crucial votes for Trump’s agenda, Will explains why her strategy of distancing herself from the president may be difficult to sell to voters.

A quick note: We’re proud that The Bulwark can make videos like this. Not everything should be built to chase the algorithm. Sometimes you want someone as talented and tenacious as Will Saletan to take the time to dig through the record, connect the pieces, and make the full case. That kind of work takes time and resources, and it’s only possible because our audience supports it.

And if you do want to support us, you’re in luck—Bulwark+ memberships are on sale for a limited time.

A quick note: This is exactly why we want Bulwark reporters out in the field: not just watching the Senate map change from Washington, but talking to the candidates and voters who are changing it. If you value that kind of on-the-ground reporting, you’re in luck: Bulwark+ memberships are 30% for a limited time!

Lauren Egan travels to Kansas to report on one of the most surprising Senate races of the 2026 midterms, where Democrat Adam Hamilton is running neck-and-neck with Republican incumbent Roger Marshall. A new New York Times poll shows the race in a dead heat, and Republicans are now pouring millions of dollars into Kansas as they scramble to defend a seat they once considered safe.

Hamilton, a former pastor, makes the case that rising costs, health care concerns, tariffs and the war in Iran are pushing some Kansas voters away from Republicans. He also argues that Democrats can win back voters in the heartland by moving toward the center and focusing on affordability, dignity and bipartisan problem-solving.

Lauren talks with Hamilton supporters about why they think Kansas could finally be ready to elect a Democrat to the Senate for the first time in nearly a century, and asks Hamilton how he plans to win over Republicans and voters who remain skeptical of the Democratic Party.

Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) and Ben Parker discuss the U.S. decision to pull B-1 bombers out of the United Kingdom over concerns about Iranian drone attacks, and what the move reveals about the changing nature of modern warfare. They examine the growing vulnerability of U.S. military bases, the risks to American forces at home and abroad, and what the…

A quick note: We thought Tim’s message was too important to put behind a paywall, so we’re making it free for everyone. If it speaks to you, please send it to someone who needs to hear it—especially someone feeling paralyzed by despair.

One more thing: Your support is what allows us to make work like this available to everyone. We strongly believe you can’t save democracy from behind a paywall. So if you’re able to support The Bulwark, Bulwark+ memberships are on sale right now for a limited time. Join us—and help us keep getting messages like this out into the world.

A quick note: We thought Tim’s message was too important to put behind a paywall, so we’re making it free for everyone. If it speaks to you, please send it to someone who needs to hear it—especially someone feeling paralyzed by despair.

One more thing: Your support is what allows us to make work like this available to everyone. We strongly believe you can’t save democracy from behind a paywall. Thank you so much for being a member.

Tim Miller takes on Vivek Ramaswamy’s attempt to show off his strength at a campaign event, then turns to Jon Ossoff’s message to young voters about why they can’t afford to give in to despair and the case for turning frustration and rage into political action. Plus: Tim’s thoughts about James Baldwin and the long history of people overcoming seemingly impossible odds.

Reporter Michael Weiss and former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos break down a staggering spy scandal involving the former head of German intelligence, an alleged Iranian plot targeting U.S. bombers in Britain, and the increasingly strange questions surrounding Kimberly Guilfoyle in Greece. Plus: why Russian intelligence operatives are suspected of leaving a particularly vile calling card in politicians’ homes.

A quick note: Michael and Marc bring really rare expertise to stories like these: investigative reporting, knowledge of the intelligence world, and Marc’s firsthand experience in the CIA. If you value having people like this go deep on happening behind the headlines, join Bulwark+ and help us keep making content like this possible.

And if you do want to join, you’re in luck—we’re running 30% sale right now!

Ben Parker and Bill Kristol discuss Donald Trump’s increasingly frantic attacks as Republicans face a surprisingly competitive Senate race in South Carolina, including Trump’s use of an anti-trans slur against Democratic candidate Annie Andrews. They examine what the race says about the Republican Party’s standing heading into the midterms and whether D…

Tim Miller gives his take on the Democrats who are already arguing against investigating Donald Trump’s corporate allies, warning that accountability cannot be sacrificed in the name of avoiding political “retribution.” He argues that companies and executives who participated in or benefited from Trump’s corruption should face scrutiny, and that Democratic oversight in 2027 will be critical to uncovering what actually happened.

If Democrats want to restore the rule of law, he argues, they need to make clear that corruption has consequences, including for the powerful people and companies that helped enable Trump.

Catherine Rampell and Jonathan Cohn give their takes on Donald Trump’s latest checks to Americans, including $500 payments to some ACA marketplace enrollees and $90 payments to certain Medicare recipients. They explain where the money is coming from, why the ACA payments may lack clear legal authority, and how diverting money from healthcare outreach could further undermine the Affordable Care Act.Plus, Catherine and Jonathan discuss reports of a possible plague outbreak in Russia, what is known about the death of a laboratory worker, and why the Trump administration’s retreat from global health programs and international cooperation could leave the U.S. less prepared for the next major outbreak.

Sam Stein and Will Sommer give their takes on Kash Patel’s engagement, Benny Johnson facing a lawsuit from two anti-ICE protesters, and The Daily Wire’s new pro-ICE movie being filmed in Livingston, Montana. The film reportedly recreates the shooting of Renee Good before turning it into a fictionalized action story involving ICE agents, Antifa, MS-13 and a heroic Korean grocer. And you’ll never believe who just joined the film as a producer—especially given the production’s security problems.

Plus, Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign is facing another leaked recording, with the Texas Republican sounding increasingly frustrated by the national party’s control over his campaign.