Trump's NATO Summit Logistics
Trump utilized two Air Force Ones for the NATO summit in Turkey: a new Qatari hand-me-down to showcase and the older blue one for safe travel home due to the war in neighboring Iran.
1The Bulwark Podcast
Ben Wittes: Talk About America in Decline
Ben Wittes joins Tim Miller to discuss Trump's NATO summit logistics, FBI resource allocation, military waste in Iran, and the geopolitical impact of Ukraine on Russia.
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Ben Wittes: Talk About America in Decline
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FBI Resource Oversight
Kash Patel's management of taxpayer resources at the FBI has drawn scrutiny, prompting Senator Chuck Grassley to seek answers regarding the extent of the spending.
2Geopolitical Shifts in Iran and Ukraine
The discussion highlights military waste in Iran and notes that Ukraine has created panic in Russia, influencing Trump's perspective on which side to support.
3Government Records Database
Ben Wittes invites the public to test-run a new giant database of government records.
3Ask GenPod next
Keep the question moving.
“What specific military waste in Iran is being highlighted?”
“How does the new government records database function?”
“What are the implications of lawfare on military deployment at the polls?”
Background reading
The context behind the episode.
Context
Lawfare and Military Deployment
The episode touches on lawfare regarding the military's potential deployment at the polls.
7Questions
Questions to carry into the episode.
Why did Trump use two Air Force Ones for the NATO summit?
He used a new Qatari hand-me-down to show off and the older blue one to fly safely home due to the war in neighboring Iran.
1What is the concern regarding Kash Patel at the FBI?
His thievery of taxpayer resources has gotten so out of hand that even Chuck Grassley wants answers.
2How has Ukraine affected Russian panic?
Ukraine has created panic in Russia, which has Trump rethinking which side he wants to root for.
3What new resource is Ben Wittes inviting the public to test?
He invites the public to test-run his new giant database of government records.
3Experts
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Sources and disclosure
Where this guide comes from.
This guide is based on the episode 'Ben Wittes: Talk About America in Decline' from The Bulwark Podcast, published on 2026-07-09.
- Publisher show notes
Trump had to take two Air Force ones to the NATO summit in Turkey: his new bling Qatari hand-me-down that he wanted to show off and the old baby blue one which he had to use to fly safely home—given the war in neighboring Iran.
- Publisher show notes
And at the FBI, Kash Patel’s thievery of taxpayer resources has gotten so out of hand, even Chuck Grassley wants answers.
- Publisher show notes
Plus: Ukraine has created panic in Russia (which has Trump rethinking which side he wants to root for), Dems should be highlighting the massive military waste in Iran, and Ben invites the public to test-run his new giant database of government records.
- Publisher show notes
Oh, and baby elephants are the best.
- Publisher show notes
Ben Wittes joins Tim Miller.
- Publisher show notes
Show notes:
- Publisher show notes
• Lawfare on the military's potential deployment at the polls • Ben’s email: benjamin.wittes@lawfaremedia.org • Ben's Substack, "Dog Shirt Daily" • Get 20% off when you go to trustandwill.com/BULWARK
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