Critique of Male Leadership
The hosts characterize current US leaders as men lacking a center or core, citing examples of Trump, Stephen Miller, and Pete Hegseth.
12The Bulwark Podcast
Sarah Longwell and Bill Kristol: We're Governed by Broken Men
Hosts discuss the character of current US leadership, escalating international conflicts, and domestic political dynamics.
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Sarah Longwell and Bill Kristol: We're Governed by Broken Men
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Ask naturally. GenPod can find a related episode—or make a focused explainer when the right one does not exist.Key takeaways
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Escalation with Iran
The discussion highlights the dangerous escalation of the war between Iran and the U.S.
4Trump and the Tate Brothers
The arrest of the Tate brothers in Miami is presented as an opportunity for Trump to extend his record of supporting sex pests and assaulters.
3Domestic Political Shifts
The episode covers Maine Democrats finding a replacement for Platner and polling suggesting voters are not necessarily gravitating toward Democrats, potentially due to the DSA.
4Ask GenPod next
Keep the question moving.
“How does the characterization of US leaders as 'broken men' influence policy decisions?”
“What are the implications of the escalating war between Iran and the U.S.?”
“How does the DSA impact voter gravitation toward Democrats?”
Background reading
The context behind the episode.
Context
Leadership and Conflict
The conversation addresses the behavior of key political figures, including Trump's attempts to claim valor, Miller's encouragement of ICE violence, and Hegseth's push for macho bullying among soldiers.
1Questions
Questions to carry into the episode.
What is the nature of the conflict with Iran?
Iran and the U.S. are described as dangerously escalating the war.
4How does the episode characterize Trump's stance on the Tate brothers?
It suggests Trump uses their arrest to extend his record of standing by sex pests and assaulters.
3What is the status of Maine Democrats regarding Platner?
Maine Democrats have a replacement for Platner.
4Experts
Voices named in the source.
Sources and disclosure
Where this guide comes from.
Evidence sourced from episode notes and metadata.
- Publisher show notes
Trump tried to steal the limelight and the valor of Spain at the World Cup, even as more troops died overseas; Stephen Miller regularly encourages ICE to be violent while Pete Hegseth pushes soldiers to be macho bullies.
- Publisher show notes
The leaders in this country are men with no center and no core.
- Publisher show notes
Now with the arrest of the Tate brothers in Miami, Trump gets a chance to extend his record of standing by sex pests and assaulters.
- Publisher show notes
Plus: Iran and the U.S. are dangerously escalating the war, ICE is going even more rogue, Maine Dems have a replacement for Platner, and generic ballot polling suggests voters aren't necessarily gravitating to Democrats—and the noisy DSA may have a lot to do with that.
- Publisher show notes
Bill Kristol joins special guest host Sarah Longwell.
- Publisher show notes
Show notes:
- Publisher show notes
• Monday's "Morning Shots" • Sam and Mark Hertling on the Iran strikes on an air base in Jordan • Umberto Eco's "Ur-Fascism" piece • Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code THEBULWARK at https://www.Ridge.com/THEBULWARK #Ridgepod
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