The Bulwark

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Channel • 16 Shows

Film Interviews

Film Interviews

Updated weekly
Film Reviews

Film Reviews

Every two weeks
History

History

Updated weekly
Politics

Politics

Updated daily
Politics

Politics

Updated daily
Politics

Politics

Updated twice weekly
Politics

Politics

Updated weekly

9 JAN

An Age of Cultural Stagnation

On this week’s episode, I’m pleased to be joined by W. David Marx, author of the new book Blank Space: A Cultural History of the Twenty-First Century. Alongside Marx’s Status and Culture, this book is one of the key texts to understanding how and why the culture has shifted so radically so quickly: the combination of “poptimism” (we discuss what, precisely, this is early on) and cultural omnivorism (the merging of all genres and all forms into a sort of equally viable mass entertainment) and the internet’s flattening of culture have led to a stagnant culture and a revanchist counter-counterculture eager to exact revenge and facing no real opposition in that effort. If you enjoyed our conversation, or simply want to understand how we wound up in the world we wake up to every morning, I strongly recommend picking up Marx’s book. And if anything was unclear from our chat, drop me a line in the comments and hopefully I can help clear things up!

9 Jan

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55 min
26 JAN

How Evil Regimes Cling to Power (w/ Stephen Kotkin)

Eric and Eliot welcome Stephen Kotkin, professor emeritus of history at Princeton University and senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and Freeman-Spogli Institute. They discuss his recent Foreign Affairs article, “The Weakness of the Strongmen: What Really Threatens Authoritarians?” Kotkin explores the frailty and resilience of authoritarian regimes through the lens of recent events in Venezuela and Iran, as well as the rise of Russia and China as authoritarian powers. They also discuss potential alternative future paths for Russia and turn to the current authoritarian temptation in the United States, along with the historic reasons for optimism that American democracy is robust enough to weather the depredations of the Trump administration. Eliot’s Latest in The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/trump-greenland-europe-nato/685720/?gift=KGDC3VdV8jaCufvP3bRsPgGy7Ja9UMv_dSH1wXC41Rk&utm_ The Weakness of the Strongmen: What Really Threatens Authoritarians?: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/weakness-strongmen-stephen-kotkin The Five Futures of Russia: And How America Can Prepare for Whatever Comes Next: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/russian-federation/five-futures-russia-stephen-kotkin Stalin: Paradoxes of Power, 1878-1928: https://a.co/d/40CsvHC Stalin: Waiting for Hitler, 1929-1941: https://a.co/d/6IQt4nR Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

26 Jan

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1 hr
6 DAYS AGO

'Game of Thrones' Gets Funny

On this week’s episode, the gang discusses Rose Horowitch’s piece in the Atlantic on film students who can’t watch films. (Goddamn kids, get off my lawn and into a movie theater.) Then they review the first two episode of the new Game of Thrones spinoff, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. A GOT sitcom? What is this world coming to? (Something delightful, apparently.) You’re going to want to listen to Thursday’s episode on Melania, I think. And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!

6 days ago

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55 min
19 JAN

Don't Count on Trump Coming to the Rescue (w/ Michael Weiss)

Eliot's coastal Georgian internet connection holds on just long enough to review the administration's latest jackassery before Eric welcomes journalist Michael Weiss to the show. Their wide-ranging conversation covers the prospects for U.S. strikes in Iran, Trump's Venezuelan adventure, and the latest from the Russia-Ukraine war. Finally, the two discuss recent revelations related to Havana Syndrome and the role Russian military intelligence has likely played in attacks on U.S. intelligence, law enforcement, and foreign service officers overseas. Eric and Frank Miller's Latest on New START:https://open.substack.com/pub/thebulwark/p/time-to-end-the-last-us-russia-nuclear-trreaty-new-start-trump-putin-china-weapons-missiles-ukraine Foreign Office by Michael Weiss:https://macspaunday.substack.com/ Michael's Investigation in The Insider on GRU Links to Havana Syndrome:https://theins.ru/en/politics/270717 Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

19 Jan

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1h 17m
28 JAN

Who Should—and Who Will—Win at the Oscars

On this week’s episode we played Will-Slash-Should. It’s a fun game! Then we reviewed The Rip, a movie that is possibly about stealing from Netflix. Maybe. Fun episode this week, kind of silly as we were all getting a little stir crazy by the time we taped. All fun and no play, well, you’ll have to see what the bonus episode has to say about that.

28 Jan

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51 min
14 JAN

The Top Ten Movies of 2025!

It’s one of our favorite episodes of the year: Our top ten! Jampacked as always and extra-length as always, we bring you our top tens in this (very long) episode. Hope you enjoy! Leave your favorites of the year in the comments or in the chat!

14 Jan

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1h 16m
26/11/2025

'Wicked: For Good' Is Wicked Bad

On this week’s episode, Sonny, Peter, and Alyssa highlight all the problems with the potential buyers of Warner Bros. Then they review Wicked: For Good, a movie that fails on nearly every conceivable level. (Or maybe it doesn’t, make your case in the comments!) Make sure to swing by the site on FRIDAY, not Thursday (Happy Thanksgiving!) for our bonus episode/gift guide. Speaking of gifts: Treat yourself to something nice from the Dashery Store, we’re doing a Black Friday sale! And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend, you’re our best source of new listeners and we need more listeners!

26/11/2025

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44 min
10/12/2025

On Netflix's Big Awards Play: 'Jay Kelly'

On this week’s episode, Sonny, Peter, and Alyssa look at another side of the Netflix/WB deal, namely what will happen to HBO and WB’s more experiential events. Then they review Netflix’s big awards season play, Jay Kelly. A movie about movies: will this help Netflix win that Oscar trophy they’ve been chasing? Make sure to swing by the Substack page on Thursday for our bonus episode on Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair and his idiosyncratic top 20 list. And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!

10/12/2025

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52 min
21 JAN

Take Me to the 'Bone Temple'

On this week’s episode, we say farewell to Kathleen Kennedy, who had a … checkered tenure as the head of Lucasfilm. Then we review 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. It’s like 28 Years Later, but with more flaying and stoner comedy antics. (Seriously.) Make sure to swing by Thursday for even more zombie chatter! And if you enjoyed this episode, hit that like button and restack this post to your friends!

21 Jan

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44 min
15/04/2025

The Gripping Reality of 'Warfare'

On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the myriad ways in which tariffs could hurt (and maybe in one very minor way help) the entertainment business. Then they review Warfare, the latest film from Alex Garland and co-writer/co-director Ray Mendoza. No bonus episode on Friday, but we’ll be back with a full episode on Monday where we’ll be reviewing Sinners. And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!

15/04/2025

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46 min

Sonny Bunch hosts The Bulwark Goes to Hollywood, a new podcast featuring interviews with folks who have their finger on the pulse of the entertainment industry during this dynamic—and difficult—time.

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FILM INTERVIEWS
Here’s the elevator pitch: It’s “Left, Right, and Center” meets “Siskel and Ebert.” Three friends from different ideological perspectives discuss the movies and controversies (or nontroversies!) swirling around them. You'll have to sign up for the Substack to get bonus episodes and you can do that at movieaisle.substack.com.

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FILM REVIEWS
Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. We probe beyond the hive mind of Washington conventional wisdom on national security and foreign affairs.

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HISTORY
Tim Miller and guests discuss the latest political news for the flagship podcast of the Never Trump movement and the reality-based community. Every weekday we provide insightful analysis, political hot-takes, an unabashed defense of liberal democracy and long-form interviews that cut through the "both-sides" BS. Plus a few laughs to help you wash down the crazy. Bulwark+ members can get a totally ad-free version of the show delivered right to their favorite podcast player.

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POLITICS
The news cycle doesn’t slow down, and neither does The Bulwark. Bulwark Takes brings you bite-sized takes on the news of the day from the entire Bulwark team, including Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and Bill Kristol, and more.

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POLITICS
The Michael Steele Podcast is a podcast hosted by former Republican National Committee Chairman and Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele. Each week, Michael moderates a barbershop style discussion about the key political and cultural issues of the day. Michael brings his experience as an MSNBC political analyst and from a lifetime in politics to a podcast which transcends traditional political boundaries in order to dig deep and find real solutions.

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POLITICS