The Mona Charen Show

Susan Glasser joins Mona Charen to examine the advisers who failed to challenge Trump on his disastrous war in Iran, Pete Hegseth’s potential reckoning before Congress, the stunning collapse in Trump’s hardcore support, and whether Democrats are headed for a historic midterm victory.

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Mona Charen and Will Saletan discuss the GOP’s disastrous attempt to ambush Jack Smith, the political warning signs pushing Republicans away from Trump, and what Democrats should actually do if they win Congress. Plus, would impeaching Trump again hold him accountable—or accidentally give JD Vance exactly the opening he needs?

Bulwark Book Club pick for October: Jon Grinspan’s ‘The Age of Acrimony: How Americans Fought to Fix Their Democracy, 1865–1915.’ Mona Charen and JVL will discuss the book with the author LIVE with Bulwark+ members on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET. Send your questions, comments and thoughts to them on the book through this post: https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkxd2uInylq-1yUJoDeKNd3qLYNJa4GDVjf

Mona Charen talks with Casey Revkin of Each Step Home about what happens to children and families caught inside the immigration detention system, including U.S.-citizen kids separated from their parents, postpartum mothers separated from infants, and families detained after showing up for routine ICE appointments. Revkin also explains how her group gets food, water, medicine, and other basic necessities to families being held at the Dilley detention center.

Each Step Home: https://eachstephome.org/

ProPublica: More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents: https://www.propublica.org/article/immigration-dhs-american-citizens-arrested-detained-against-will

Washington Post: She’s Feeding Hundreds of Kids in ICE Detention Using Commissary Accounts: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/09/02/california-mom-sends-10000-week-buy-food-kids-ice-detention/

Texas Immigration Law Council: https://txilc.org/

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Bulwark Book Club pick for October: Jon Grinspan’s ‘The Age of Acrimony: How Americans Fought to Fix Their Democracy, 1865–1915.’ Mona Charen and JVL will discuss the book with the author LIVE with Bulwark+ members on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET. Send your questions, comments and thoughts to them on the book through this post: http://youtube.com/post/Ugkxd2uInylq-1yUJoDeKNd3qLYNJa4GDVjf?si=Fy14pgN9erXZk9Sb

Mona Charen is joined by Sonny Bunch to talk about The Odyssey for the September edition of The Bulwark Book Club with viewers. Mona and Sonny read Emily Wilson’s translation–the first English translation by a woman–and discuss the differences between the epic poem and Christopher Nolan’s recent film adaptation.

Show notes
Read Sonny Bunch’s review of The Odyssey film here.
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-odyssey-review

Get The Odyssey original motion picture soundtrack by Ludwig Göransson vinyl set
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Mona Charen talks with Adam Isacson and John Walsh of the Washington Office on Latin America about Operation Southern Spear, the Trump administration’s deadly strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats, and the secret legal theory being used to justify them. They examine the killing of survivors in a second strike, Pete Hegseth’s purge of military lawyers, the evidence that the campaign hasn’t reduced the cocaine supply, and why U.S. allies are increasingly wary of sharing intelligence that could be used in the strikes.

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Further reading:

WOLA — Killing Spree: Extrajudicial Executions in the U.S. Boat Strikes Campaign
https://www.wola.org/analysis/killing-spree-extrajudicial-executions-in-the-u-s-boat-strikes-campaign/

The Washington Post — Deadly U.S. boat strikes have failed to curb cocaine supply, Pentagon and DEA officials say
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/07/27/operation-southern-spear-has-not-slowed-cocaine-entering-us/

Reuters — We bought everything needed to make $3 million worth of fentanyl. All it took was $3,600.
https://www.reuters.com/investigations/we-bought-everything-needed-make-3-million-worth-fentanyl-all-it-took-was-3600-2024-07-25/

Mona Charen is joined by Bill Galston, Linda Chavez, and Damon Linker for a "Beg to Differ" reunion! They discuss the Trump administration’s foreign policy and corruption, America’s standing in the world, Israel and Gaza, antisemitism, the Democratic Party’s internal battles over the DSA, and the political significance of upcoming races in Pennsylvania and Michigan. Plus: recommendations for books and TV shows.

Mona Charen speaks with former CIA officer Julie Curlee about her two decades in intelligence, her removal from the Trump White House, and what she describes as the dangerous erosion of expertise and nonpartisan analysis across the national security apparatus. They examine intelligence politicization, Iran and Venezuela, and why Curlee believes the loss of experienced public servants could take a generation to repair.

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If you value long-form interviews that resist the rush to the next topic and give deeply knowledgeable guests room to explain not just what is happening but why it matters, consider becoming a paid member of The Bulwark. Your support gives us the freedom to keep making conversations with this kind of depth.

Mona Charen and Will Saletan discuss the fallout from Trump’s Iran war, his attacks on America’s allies, growing trouble for Republicans ahead of the midterms, and the Democratic message that could capitalize on MAGA’s failures.

Mona Charen is joined by Bill Kristol to discuss Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson for the August edition of The Bulwark Book Club with viewers. Published in 1894, the novel tells the story of two boys—one born into slavery, the other the master’s son—who were switched in the cradle. They’ll discuss how the book relates to our world today, and whether Mark Twain is more relevant than ever.

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Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) joins Mona Charen for a conversation about why character still matters in leadership, how America lost many of the institutions that once helped build it, and what the military can teach about integrity, responsibility, and moral courage in an era of political double standards.

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Programming note: This Wednesday! Join us for the next edition of The Bulwark Book Club. Mona Charen and Bill Kristol will discuss Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson with you LIVE at 1:30 p.m. EDT. Drop your questions, comments, and thoughts on the book in the comments of this post.

Published in 1894, the novel tells the story of two boys–one born into slavery, the other the master’s son–who were switched at birth. 

Watch your inbox for a link on Wednesday to watch the show.