Finally, some accountability in Washington: Sen. Eric Schmitt’s general counsel and poster-holder is in career limbo after the infamous basketball mix-up in the Jack Smith hearing. And Americans seem to be holding Trump responsible for their economic frustrations—he’s below the Bush Line. Josh Barro explains: We’re not in a recession, but people feel stuck because borrowing costs are higher. Big budget deficits are inflationary, the president’s war of choice is making things worse, and our leaders don’t have a plan to deal with any of it. Plus, JVL explains why the markets are finally pricing in the risk of Trump’s war, and he and Tim discuss the weirdos running our government, Hegseth’s obsession with masculinity, and the importance of shame in a liberal democracy.

Josh Barro and Jonathan V. Last join Tim Miller.
show notes:

• Part one and part two of Tim’s list of Democrats who can win Red America
• TIME’s interview of Trump
• Subscribe to JVL’s Triad
• JVL on oil risk premiums
• Jodi Kantor for The New York Times on the public shaming of John Roberts
• Closing Song: The War on Drugs - Suffering

What is going on with Trump's legs? He appears to be wearing a brace and a recent video shows him standing in a most unnatural way—as though he is mid-exorcism. But his apparent health issues don't seem to be stopping the administration from re-escalating against Iran with an additional 10,000 troops on their way to the region. Meanwhile, Trump's son-in-law, Jared (AKA the point person on the Gaza peace deal) turns out to be a war profiteer heavily invested in Israeli bomb-making companies. Plus: Some of the recent polls have been too rosy for the Dems, Islamophobia may be at play in the Michigan Senate race, Tim makes the case for regime change in Eritrea, and the cabal of guys at the All-In podcast—who bought their access to Trump—are some of the loudest voices pushing for his all gas, no breaks approach to AI.

Tommy Vietor joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod.
show notes:

• Tommy’s “Pod Save the World”
• Recent video of Trump standing
• Closing Song: Orville Peck - “It’s the End of the World”
• The Bulwark’s campaign to help the Haitian community of Springfield
• The Bulwark store
  
  

Elon is now pitching in to help POTUS sabotage Ukraine while Trump makes a payout to Putin and works on his next self-enrichment scheme. A Cooper victory in North Carolina would be key to a potential Democratic Senate majority—a first step to reining in Trump—but the former governor warns Tim that Republicans have historically been undercounted in the polls and his lead should not be taken for granted. Plus: Scheiber in his recent book has the backstory on the radicalization of recent college grads, who tend to support the DSA and think America has too much power. And at a time when even white collar professionals identify with the working class, Trump's economic messaging sounds even more ridiculous.

Roy Cooper and New York Times reporter Noam Scheiber join Tim Miller.

show notes:

• Cooper’s campaign site
• Noam’s book, “Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class”
• JVL on Trump screwing the housing market
• This week’s “The Next Level”
• Link to send to elected Democrats on behalf of Maryam Tahmasebi and her family
• The Jay Kang piece that Tim referenced about Noam’s book
• October Surprise: The Bulwark is 30% off
• Upcoming Bulwark LIVE show in Atlanta on Oct. 20
• The Bulwark’s campaign to help the Haitian community of Springfield
• The Bulwark store
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