The Bulwark

"Just shameful, cowardly, cuckolded behavior from Bill Cassidy, who just two days ago said that the slush fund was designed with explicit intent to be an attack on the democratic foundations of the country." @timmiller.bsky.social slams Cassidy for voting to keep Trump's $1.8B slush fund alive.

Hunter Biden is back online. He’s posting, replying, and diving headfirst into viral Twitter debates. @jvl.bsky.social, @samsteindc.bsky.social, and @sonnybunch.bsky.social give their takes on whether Hunter’s unexpected social media renaissance is just chaos…or something more strategic.

"JD's real problem here is that he was right about Iran, and Trump will never forgive him for that because Iran turned out to be a shit show." @jvl.bsky.social on how Vance committed the one unforgivable sin in Trumpworld by being right in a way that made Trump look wrong.

Lawfare’s Katherine Pompilio found that 97 pardoned J6 insurrectionists — roughly 1 in 15 — have committed more crimes since receiving their pardons. She tells @timmiller.bsky.social how Trump’s continued messaging has emboldened many of them to keep acting out.

.@donie.bsky.social: "I think there's a lot of parallels between Nick and a cult leader, right?" Donie chats with @samsteindc.bsky.social and @willsommer.bsky.social about the rise of groypers.

"The idea that Donald Trump was this great businessman is actually a fiction created by Mark Burnett." @sarahlongwell25.bsky.social explains how 'The Apprentice' laundered Trump’s bankruptcies into a billionaire-boss fantasy, and why America is still trapped inside the reality show.

Trump on acting DNI Bill Pulte: "He's a very smart guy and he may find out some things about the rigged elections, et cetera, et cetera. I think he'd like to do it. I'd like to. I think he wants to do it very much."

Trump announces a new promenade at the Lincoln Memorial: "They wanted to call it the Trump Promenade, but I don't know if I want to do that."

.@cheetah.bsky.social asked DCCC Suzan DelBene about Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz's decision to run in a plurality-Black district under Florida's new congressional map.

Bessent: "I think high discretionary spending is likely what Director Hassett meant." Boyle: "Do you consider spending on groceries discretionary? Or gas discretionary?" Bessent: "I didn't say gas. Did he say gas?" Boyle: "Yes."

Rep. Sanchez: "I think it's pretty safe to say that this is probably the most corrupt Treasury Department in our nation's history." Secretary Bessent: "I'm going to have to take exception to that — that is slanderous!"

Rep. Sanchez: "I think it's pretty safe to say that this is probably the most corrupt Treasury Department in our nation's history." Secretary Bessent: "I'm going to have to take exception to that — that is slanderous!"

Thompson: "Health insurance costs are up 26% — that's not golden. Childcare costs are up 9% — that's not golden. Gas prices are up nearly 50% — that's not golden. Grocery prices are still straining family budgets — that's not golden."

Rep. Angie Craig: "Do you know how much money farmers lost last year?" Brooke Rollins: *doesn't answer* Craig: "It was $28 billion. You're the Secretary of Agriculture."

.@timmiller.bsky.social: Ivanka Trump is like "Veruca Salt, you know, there's a little 'Daddy, give me that, I need that island now.'" The Trio: @samsteindc.bsky.social, @willsommer.bsky.social, and Tim Miller talk about a new private island that Ivanka Trump is buying off the coast of Albania.

Scott Bessent on the DOJ slush fund: "This matter is still subject to ongoing litigation…That means I am also not able to discuss any part of the settlement agreement…Any additional questions about the settlement or the fund should be directed to acting AG Todd Blanche."

"I never thought in a million years that I could say that Tulsi Gabbard being removed from head of DNI actually made us less safe. I would take Tulsi Gabbard over this guy. Do you know how crazy it is for me to say that?" Luke Russert on the insanity of Bill Pulte as DNI.

"As someone who's more moderate, how do you guys think about attentional politics?" @lauren-egan.bsky.social spoke with Jamie Ager and Bobby Pulido about how they're breaking through in the modern information enviornment while running in red districts.

"We're seeing Zelensky and his team are doing not only excessive kinetic strikes and taking the fight to the enemy, but they're messaging extremely well to anyone that feels like they can team up with the Russians." Lt. Gen. @markhertling.bsky.social (Ret.) on Ukraine's strike on St. Petersburg.

"I never thought in a million years that I could say that Tulsi Gabbard being removed from head of DNI actually made us less safe. I would take Tulsi Gabbard over this guy. Do you know how crazy it is for me to say that?" @lukerussert.bsky.social on the insanity of Bill Pulte as DNI.

"We have to address the root cause of this cancer crisis, which is the water quality crisis." Democratic Senate nominee in Iowa @joshturek4iowa.bsky.social says the state’s alarming cancer rates demand a serious response on water quality, public health funding and accountability from state leaders.

Sommer: "Elijah went on [Chad Champion] and he's like... 'Chad, I gotta tell you, brother, you gotta get into having more threesomes with your boys.'" Will Sommer explains Elijah Schaffer, a would-be MAGA commentator had his affair not become public and his recent appearance on Chad Champion.

"One person interjecting themselves without any rationale." Lt. Gen. @markhertling.bsky.social (Ret.) and Ben Parker discuss Pete Hegseth playing politics with military promotions, blocking officers already selected on merit, and why Congress needs to take a hard look.

Kaitlan Collins: "Is the $1.8 billion DOJ fund dead or is it on hold?" Trump: "I'd have to ask the lawyers...The weaponization fund, as far as I'm concerned, was a beautiful thing...People like you have abused our people so badly...you should be ashamed of yourself."

Trump on Jan. 6: "It's the largest crowd I've ever spoken to by twice. The biggest crowd I think, bigger than the inaugurations, bigger than anything, and there was so much love and friendship. It was the most amazing thing. People were crying."

Trump on the war in Iran: "I'm very proud of that detour…Everybody's making a lot of money. Costs are coming down. You know, We took over the highest cost and the highest inflation in the history of our country. Costs are coming down. Everything's good."

Trump: "CNN's a very corrupt organization…with a corrupt reporter standing right there, never smiles…A young, beautiful woman, never smiles. I never see a smile off her face. I see her standing there with hatred in her eyes."

Trump: "That's where Martin Luther King made his great speech with a million people. I had the same amount of people…They said I had 25,000. He had a million, but I had more people."

Rep. Aguilar: "People are working harder just to stay afloat while they watch Trump and his inner circle continue to enrich himself through backroom deals and stock trading and no-bid government contracts. Americans are ready to put an end to the Trump and Republican corruption."

Zeke Emanuel: "The idea that we're going to politicize these grants is ridiculous." @citizencohn.bsky.social speaks with Zeke Emanuel about a major medical breakthrough in the world of medicine and specifically when it comes to research into pancreatic cancer.

Rep. Lieu: “The Supreme Court is out of control, out of touch with the American people…This is the most corrupt Supreme Court we’ve seen in our history, and reform is going to come next year."

Rep. Lieu: “The Supreme Court is out of control, out of touch with the American people…This is the most corrupt Supreme Court we’ve seen in our history, and reform is going to come next year."

@timmiller.bsky.social walks through this recent article from The Guardian about the Delaney Hall ICE Detention Facility and the detestable living conditions that they are putting immigrants in Newark, New Jersey.

Rep. McBride: “I assume you’re aware that Greenland is indeed part of Denmark.” Rubio: “For now.”

TODAY ON THE BULWARK PODCAST: Fresh off his primary win in Iowa last night, Senate candidate @joshturek4iowa.bsky.social joins @timmiller.bsky.social to talk his campaign, how he’ll buck the Dems on immigration and much more. Stay tuned for the full episode dropping in the next few hours.

Sen. Tillis: "Did you actually tell Pulte you were going to punch him in the face?" Bessent: "No, sir. I actually said I was going to kick his ass." Tillis: "Good, I share the emotion…I'm not going to support Pulte for DNI…He lost me when he went after Powell."

Sen. Warren: "Secretary Bessent, you said last year if any private citizen traded the way members of Congress do, 'the SEC would be knocking on their door.' ... should the SEC be knocking on President Trump's door?" Bessent: "I would support you getting your house in order."

Sen. Warnock: "So you agree with the President. You would give the economy an A+++++?" Bessent: "I think we have all the makings for a very strong economy. I think we have a temporary elevated prices that will come back down."

Devine: "The anti-weaponization fund have you dropped that?" Trump: "No, a court ruled against it…These are people that lost their lives over nonsense where the FBI said, 'Go in.'…These were many great people, and I gave them pardons. I'm very proud to have given them pardons."

Rep. Jacobs to Rubio: "It seems like you have an issue admitting facts. You can't say that the president lost the 2020 election…You won't admit that President Trump is losing this reckless war of choice…You couldn't admit that the shoes the president bought you were too big."

Mike Johnson on Democrats not trusting Bill Pulte: "The Democrats wouldn't trust Jesus…They are playing political games…The Democrats are not willing to do anything…because they want to make life hard for the president."

Sen. Hassan: "Mr. Secretary, how does the president's requested billion-dollar ballroom or all of these other vanity products lower costs for American families or help constrain spending?" Bessent: "…It is a national security matter." Sen. Hassan: "That's ridiculous, and I think you know it."

Scott Pelley of "60 Minutes" was fired last night after some comments leaked of his conversation with new executive producer Nick Bilton. Neither @samsteindc.bsky.social nor @maxtani.bsky.social are very surprised by this development and discuss why in the latest episode of Bulwark+ Takes.

Marco Rubio responds to Rep. Meeks's claim that Trump and his allies are making billions while the American people suffer: "The ranking member made accusations against the president that…are completely false."

Marco Rubio when asked if he ever heard Bill Pulte’s name in the context of intelligence: “No.”

"He's genuinely stuck, and I think he's gonna come out the other side of this with basically everybody mad at him, and he's never been in a situation like this." - @timmiller.bsky.social talks with @samsteindc.bsky.social and @jvl.bsky.social on how the Iran war will end on the Next Level.

Mike Johnson on Rep. Andy Ogles's post yesterday saying, "Homosexuality has no place in America." "I haven't had a chance to talk to Rep. Ogles yet, and he's a good guy, and his tweet explained that he pulled it down. He explained that some errant staffer did that."

Sen. Warner: "Mr. Pulte has had a record of not respecting confidential information... and the idea that he's going to suddenly be given the keys to the most classified secrets that keep our country safe."

Q: "Do you think that Bill Pulte is qualified to be the acting director of National Intelligence?" Johnson: "The president obviously has the prerogative and the choice on who he appoints to these positions. And this would be an interim appointment."

Sen. Ron Wyden in response to Bessent's opening statement: "Let's be clear here, nobody is interested in the ramblings of a capo in the most corrupt regime in American history. We want to get some facts about this deal. That's what we're here for."

There is some really huge news in the fight against cancer. @zekeemanuel.bsky.social talked to @citizencohn.bsky.social about this breakthrough — and how Trump’s war on research puts future discoveries at risk.

"Is it about the slush fund itself, or is it about this cosmos of things that's happening around the slush fund that is piercing this impression of invincibility that's surrounded Trump for the last few years?" Derek Thompson and Tim Miller on political gravity starting to hit Trump.

Trump's special envoy to Greenland, Gov. Jeff Landry visited the country to try and charm the citizens of Nuuk. Former Amb. Rufus Gifford and @timmiller.bsky.social say he only really managed to come off as creepy.

@cheetah.bsky.social asked senators in both parties about Ken Paxton, Graham Platner, and whether character still matters when Senate control is on the line. Read all about it in the latest Press Pass: lnk.thebulwark.com/3QfsxEY?utm_...

"This is an organized effort to guy the most important element of broadcast journalism in existence. And he saw it for what it was, and he said, 'I'm not gonna be part of it.' And that's that. Good for him." @samsteindc.bsky.social on Scott Pelley calling out the corporate gutting of '60 Minutes.'

"The notion that we're in a place where the type of thing that those guys are offering is what people want—it's where the juice is in politics. People want somebody that is bucking the status quo." @timmiller.bsky.social on Spencer Pratt, Graham Platner, and what voters are actually craving.

"My grand unifying theory of how to fix our politics is Democrats just need a Wemby." "The Democratic Party needs someone who transcends the problems of the party." @timmiller.bsky.social & @dkthomp.bsky.social say Democrats need more than a better message. They need someone voters can believe in.

"Is it about the slush fund itself, or is it about this cosmos of things that's happening around the slush fund that's piercing this impression of invincibility that's surrounded Trump for the last few years?" @dkthomp.bsky.social & @timmiller.bsky.social on political gravity starting to hit Trump.

Blanche on Trump's $1.8 billion slush fund: "We are not moving forward with the fund." Rep. Meng: "We hope to see this in writing." Blanche: "I think there'll be a transcript of what I say here. So that will be in writing."

Sen. Van Hollen on DHS making false statements under Kristi Noem: "There was a pattern." Mullin: "You say there's a pattern. There's not a pattern." Van Hollen: "I would say three in a row is a pattern." Mullin: No, sir. That's not a pattern."

Rep. Crow on war powers vote: "I think we have a chance of passing this resolution tomorrow. Every time we put these up for a vote, it seems like we pick up some additional Republicans, and I think that's actually a reflection of the fact that Americans are souring on this war."

Mullin: "If we didn't think courts were politicized, then I would probably be able to answer that... [Courts] use their bench for their political opinion, not just the rule of law." ... Murphy: "If you're a Republic or a Democrat on this committee, you should be really, really freaked out."

Mullin in response to Sen. Murphy's opening statement: "When you throw out reckless terms and start referring to our agents as being dangerous, unconstitutional, and lawless – that's why our agents' death threats are up by 8,000%."

Sen. Murphy on DHS: "This agency is spending money like stone-drunk sailors…We swear an oath when we arrive here to ensure that…money is not used to fund unconstitutional or illegal behavior. Every single day this agency is violating the Constitution and the law."

Sen. Murphy: "On 96 occasions, DHS was caught violating the law, was ordered to obey the law, and 96 times ignored the judge in one state. That is stunning, and it should be unacceptable to anyone on this committee who claims to care about the rule of law."

Sen. Murphy to Markwayne Mullin: "You've spent the first two months of your tenure threatening to suspend international arrivals in states represented by Democrats. Not only would that throw our entire air travel system into chaos. It's completely illegal."

What are the prevailing issues for Iowa voters going into this years elections? Well a large issue that's been Republicans achilles heel is the drinking water. Sarah Longwell breaks down the Iowa race and more in the latest Bulwark+ Takes episode.

The new Director of National Intelligence is... William J. Pulte? @eggerdc.bsky.social and @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social discuss how this new replacement for Tulsi Gabbard is severely under qualified and is mostly put in place to try and find a way to subvert the midterm elections.

Q: "The president recently invested in the parent company of UFC. Is it a conflict of interest for him to be promoting this event while he's invested in UFC's parent company?" Oz: "I don't think the president sits in the Oval Office and makes individual investment decisions."

Q: "If the president's in such perfect health, why does he keep going back in for checkups?" Oz: "I think he likes the results. He does really well. He aces the test every single day."

Oz on Trump's medical exams: "If you look at these records, they're spectacular…Many of you get to see him almost every day. That amount of energy and that amount of mental acuity does not exist in a vacuum. You have to have a vessel to carry it."

Sen. Schatz: "It's really shocking to me the degree to which this administration expresses shock that the thing that everybody said was going to happen ended up happening."

Van Hollen to Marco Rubio: "This is your first public hearing since President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu launched an illegal war against Iran. Netanyahu said he's been waiting 40 years to do this...he finally found a president who was both stupid and reckless enough to join him."

Sen. Duckworth: "That's an astonishing figure worth repeating. In just 14 weeks, President Trump will have blown through as much, if not more, money in Iran than he thinks Congress should spend on US diplomacy for the entirety of the next fiscal year."

Sen. Booker: "Our adversary and our enemy, who's causing havoc in the region, who is funding proxies and terrorists, has discovered, thanks to you all, the power of shutting down the Strait of Hormuz." Rubio: "No, they didn't. They knew that a long time ago."

Sen. Booker: "Even our own State Department personnel that I've talked to are saying we're less prepared for a global outbreak than we were before." Rubio: "I don't agree with that assessment. I don't know who told you that at the State Department."

Sen. Coons: "Is it not true that some of the challenges in our NATO relations have only come after President Trump threatened to seize territory from a trusted and reliable…partner?" Rubio: "No. I don't think that's fair."

Sen. Coons: "Did the president offer to condition arms sales to Taiwan in order to placate Xi Jinping?" Rubio: "Well, look, I'm not going to discuss what was the president's words in a meeting or not."

Rubio on distributing Ebola Vaccines: "The president had asked that we allow Secretary Kennedy to play a leading role on the Gavi decision because of the strongly held views with regard to vaccine safety…Right now we're at a stage where we are going to reengage. We need to drive this to an outcome."

Sen. Kaine: "We're 92 days into a war against Iran, and the administration will not let Congress look at the OLC legal opinion justifying the war…you give us the opinion that there's something in there you don't want us to see." Rubio: "I can certainly inquire as to why it has not been available."

Sen. Murphy: "You will not give sanctions relief just in exchange for reopening the strait?" Rubio: "No, that's not been discussed. That has not been offered."