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COME JOIN US IN CALIFORNIA!

May 20: Bulwark Live in San Diego at the Balboa Theatre featuring Tim, Sarah, and Sam

Bulwark Live San Diego

May 21: Bulwark Live in Los Angeles at the The Novo featuring Tim, Sarah, and Sam

Bulwark Live Los Angeles

On The Bulwark on Sunday, NYU law professor Ryan Goodman joins Bill Kristol to discuss how surveillance powers could be used—and abused—by the Donald Trump administration. Plus, a broader look at Trump’s escalating clashes with the rule of law and what, if anything, Congress can still do to push back.

Watch on Substack or YouTube at Noon Eastern on Sunday.

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

The best free restaurant bread in America… Come take a journey with Caity Weaver at The Atlantic, as she finds the best free restaurant bread in America. (I’ve had it! It’s good!)

Joe Rogan’s down on Trump and MAGA — but he’s still hardcore MAHA… “The influential podcaster continues to spread RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine gospel — and a new poll shows more Americans are growing comfortable with having measles back…” writes Anthony Fisher at MS NOW.

The Shocking Secrets of Madison Square Garden’s Surveillance Machine… Read Noah Shachtman and Robert Silverman’s amazing cover story at WIRED.

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First of all, thanks to all of you last week for your kind comments and notes about Shane DiGiovanna. Your kind comments, emails, and donations to his charity mean a lot. As longtime readers know, I wear quite a few hats here at The Bulwark. Among my favorite things, aside from writing profiles, is being in the “meatspace” with our people.

A few times a year, we actually get together… at live shows in person, or online for livestreams and at Founders town halls. We’ve got one coming up Monday night. Will we be celebrating the end of Orbánism, among other things? I hope.

These Founders Town Halls are a small thank-you to the folks who pay a little (or a lot) extra to help us make The Bulwark available to anyone, regardless of ability to pay. It’s not top-secret stuff… more a preview of what’s coming, plus a chance for people to ask granular questions and nerd out about how this all works.

At its core, the program is pretty simple: people who can afford to pay a bit more get a few small thank-yous like access to the Founders Lounge chat and invites to Bulwark Live pre-show mixers and these semi-annual Town Halls. Their extra support helps to fuel our growth and cover the cost of the free memberships I give out every day to folks who write in.

Through emails and at live events, I meet a lot of readers who’ve needed that free access, sometimes for a short stretch, sometimes indefinitely. We’re happy to provide it. But what stands out is that many of those same people, the moment it’s within reach, want to pay.

It’s a point of pride, and it says a lot about the kind of community we’ve built. If you’re reading this and need a free membership, just reply to this email. Please.

And if you’ve been thinking about doing more to support the mission, I hope you’ll consider joining before our Town Hall on Monday. We archive them, so if you can’t make it live, or decide to join later, you can always watch it later.

If you’re interested in upgrading but have a tax bill in the mail, hit reply on this email to let us know you’d like to upgrade to a $300 Founders or $1200 Navigators membership on monthly basis. We’ll set this up for you and charge the card on file.

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[Founders and Navigators: Remember to leave us a question or comment here so we know what’s on your mind and to help inform our program for Monday night.]

ICYMI:

🚨OVERTIME🚨

The Deleted Scenes… Our friend and colleague Addison Del Mastro’s Deleted Scenes is celebrating its fifth anniversary. It is one of my favorite sites, probably because Addison and I share a few interests, among them: what did that place used to be? In the latest edition, Addison explores a longtime cheesesteak place in my old Alexandria neighborhood and uncovers a neat untold story of fast food history. If this sort of thing also piques your interests do consider subscribing!

Joakim Noah Faces Cleveland… The retired Chicago Bull spent some time in the Forest City to see if, now that he wasn’t competing with the Cavs, if he could view it in a different light. Worth the quick watch.

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Congrats to… Chris Wilbur, Steve Snyder, and Max Motherway for finishing first, second, and third in the Overtime NCAA Bracket: each had Michigan winning it all. Also, a nod to Jonathan Cohn’s Wolverines (who beat my Billikens) and Sam Stein’s UConn Huskies in a dominant run.

It’s Masters weekend. Will you be watching?

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This week’s Overtime is going to be a bit different. Come with me on a brief journey to remember our friend Shane DiGiovanna.

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SHANE DIGIOVANNA WANTED to be an astronaut. From the time he was a child, reading Cosmos at age 7, Shane was captivated by the same sense of wonder that has driven generations of explorers—from NASA scientists to backyard stargazers.

As I sat on the couch Wednesday in Cincinnati to watch the launch of Artemis II with my daughters—watching them watch in wonder—I couldn’t help but hide a tear or two, as I knew Shane had the best seat in the house. He died Monday, March 31, at the age of 27 and a half.

Shoot for the moon, the saying goes, and you’ll end up among the stars. Shane’s epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a lifelong incurable condition that causes incredibly fragile skin, made becoming an astronaut impossible. But it never stopped him from reaching for it anyway. He experienced more space-related activities than most people ever will: weightless flights with his family; seeing the Mars rover Curiosity in the clean room; meeting the people who built it; standing alongside astronauts Jim Lovell and Gene Cernan at 14 for a press conference announcing the launch of a children’s health fund created in honor of Neil Armstrong at Cincinnati Children’s, the very place that helped make Shane’s extraordinary life possible. Whenever he could, Shane put himself as close to the center of that universe as possible.

Shane wrote: “Star Trek showed me a world where anyone can explore the stars, no matter who you are. It made a big difference to me when I was growing up. I would (and still do) distract myself during my bandage changes and dream of being a Starfleet captain.”

I first met Shane in person after he emailed last spring to mention he’s a big-time Bulwark reader and a fellow Cincinnatian. He told me that space was his “passion,” an early and enduring fascination that clicked with his love of language, learning, and the big questions about how the world works. Whether it was space, politics, political maps (a subject area he was known for commenting expertly about on Twitter), or wanting to selflessly help those afflicted by EB, Shane’s intelligence and passion for life always shined through.

Shane and his mother, Patsy, sat down with me last year for a profile. They gave nearly three hours to me and my friend, Bulwark reader and photographer Aaron Bludworth. Shane was clear-eyed about his health; in addition to his EB, he had been dealing with cancer treatments for a few years. He knew his time was limited. But he wanted to spend his remaining days fighting RFK Jr., Elon Musk, and DOGE, not just for himself, though there was real concern about what their depredations meant for him, but for others like him. Shane carried himself like a Starfleet captain, looking out for his fleet: people with a long road ahead.

We also did a video interview so his fellow Bulwark fans could see his face and hear him speak.

Then, last fall, Shane entered hospice—and took the opportunity to throw himself an amazing celebration of life while he was still in shape to do it. People came from all around the pale blue dot to be there. Despite us all knowing the reason we were there, it was hardly somber; hell, it was more fun than most weddings I’ve ever been to. (You can read Shane’s speech here.)

But Shane was still not done: In the last months of his life, he worked with our congressman, Greg Landsman, on legislation (H.R. 7877) to help others with EB. He got to become texting buddies and zoom with former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Greg said that what stayed with him most from their conversations was simple: “Just do the right thing. Always do the right thing.”

If you’d like to read Shane’s obituary and see the memories from his loved ones, that’d be a great way to honor Shane. And if you’d like do something more concrete to honor his memory, there are two things you might consider:

First, you can donate to his endowment at Cincinnati Children’s: Doggie’s Friends.1 Shane helped start Doggie’s Friends, an effort to get comfort items to children facing the kinds of long, isolating hospital stays Shane knew well. The idea, he said, was to focus on “the kids who are dealt a really bad hand from the beginning”—not the routine injuries, but “the 5-year-old who is in their twenty-seventh surgery . . . and desperately needs a friend to cuddle with and to talk to.”

The other thing you could do doesn’t cost anything: Get your member of the House to cosponsor his namesake bill, H.R. 7877, the Shane DiGiovanna Act.

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IN THE YEAR OR SO I GOT TO KNOW SHANE—in fact, from the very first email he sent—I knew heartbreak was on the horizon. But neither that reality, nor the condition that debilitated Shane, diminished him. Most notably, Shane had his own gravity: He pulled you in. You had no choice if he wanted you in his orbit.

“A short but well lived life” a friend and fellow Bulwark reader observed. “Incredible, the gifts we receive when we finally open our eyes.” Indeed.

Like all who were pulled into Shane’s orbit, either by chance, fate, or luck, I will miss our friend, and won’t forget him. The Bulwark community is richer for having him as a shining part of its tapestry.

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If you’re not, there’s no better time to subscribe to Bulwark+ than today: get the next year of Bulwark+ for just $80—that’s through election day 2026 and beyond. This offer ends Sunday night.

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Read on for what’s going on around The Bulwark this week and some thoughts on growing this community, No Kings and the present moment.

FIRST UP TODAY: JVL, Andrew, Catherine and others are going live at 2 p.m. ET on Substack and YouTube. If you can’t make it to a No Kings Rally, join us online and see what we’re seeing and what members are sharing from their rally!

ON THE SECRET PODCAST THIS WEEK…

JVL and Bill Kristol (filling in for Sarah) discuss escalating Iran conflict, the risky push toward a wider war, and why the real damage may outlast the fighting. They also get into the global fallout—from threats to the petrodollar system to the collapse of U.S. alliances—and what a rushed exit might look like.

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

I’m not going to be able to watch our livestream today and for good reason: I’ll be at the Cincinnati No Kings march downtown myself!

As The Bulwark has grown, newer folks might assume we’ve been livestreaming like this all along. Nope. I remember being behind the scenes, and sometimes on camera, for our early forays. We called it “Thursday Night Bulwark.” It felt like a big production at the time, and honestly, it stressed me out each week, as plenty could go wrong.

But tomorrow? I’m genuinely excited. What I’m most excited about is our ability to feature you and what you’re seeing. That’s something we couldn’t easily do back then, when the whole livestream operation felt like it was held together with tin cans, string and duct tape. If you’re showing up in the streets tomorrow, please send us what you’re seeing, what message you’re sending, and, if you’re willing: a picture of you. We’d love to feature it on our livestream and social.

» 📸 Share pictures in our Members Only Chat 📸 «

In 2026, as we’ve grown here on Substack and on YouTube (where we recently passed one billion views for our work), it’s a near-daily occurrence and not a fire drill.

We go into today’s No Kings fresh off of our four shows in Minneapolis, Dallas, and Austin. The members we met, the stories they told us: harrowing and heartfelt? There is a lot of wind in our sails. If you haven’t, go check out what Sarah wrote yesterday about what motivates us each morning.

And if you’ve been to one of our shows, Sarah often closes with this message: authoritarians want us exhausted. What better way to put wind in your sails (and ours, and others) than by going to a No Kings march, or joining us online?

We’ve always had a strong community, and it’s growing. A lot. And this growth has enabled us to bring more great Bulwark articles and shows to you, and with our ever-growing reach, thanks to you, we’re getting pro-democracy voices into the feeds of our fellow Americans who didn’t even know they were our people.

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ICYMI: At the end of JVL and Tim’s livestream with Katie Couric this week, JVL thanks Katie for helping to give his father-in-law a few more years. If your family has a history, consider getting your colon checked!

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OUR LIVE SHOWS, DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS

🚨OVERTIME🚨

Happy Saturday! While I’m glad to be home to watch my Saint Louis Billikens1 take on Goliath Michigan (we’re coming for you, Jonathan Cohn!), I’ve got plenty of wind in my sails after our live shows in Dallas and Austin this week.

As Sarah reminded us, that’s what authoritarians want: to wear you down. I had the chance to chat with a couple hundred folks—and I left, as I hope you did, with a renewed sense of vigor. And a lot of snacks from Buc-ee’s.

As is usually the case at our events, I got to see old friends. People traveled from Florida and as far north as Lake Superior in Wisconsin, road tripping the whole way with treats in tow. I also got to make a whole bunch of new friends. And I learned that fan merch can be the best merch. (Seriously: Go see why Tim brought Shelby on stage in Austin.)

Whether we’d corresponded on email over an account issue, or we’ve chatted on social media but never met, the best part for me at these is putting a face with a name. Thanks to all who came and said hello.

If you haven’t been to one of these, don’t worry: we’re planning more shows in the near future. We hope to see you!

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Discussion Prompt: Who busted your bracket? For me? Ohio State. Though, as I landed in Kentucky, the Wildcats tied it at the last second to send it to… Overtime. My favorite!

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Happy Saturday! I spent last evening with Martin Sheen and the Cincinnati Pops, performing Peter Boyer’s American Mosaic. Highly recommend.

Both Boyer and Joe Sohm, whose visual work was featured, were in attendance, making the evening all the more special—led by the effervescent John Morris Russell in celebration of America’s 250th. The recording will be released at a later date. You can stream it for free tomorrow afternoon, in fact! Want a sizzle?

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March Madness is here… And boy am I glad I missed the first half of the SLU-GW game! Want to enter the Overtime bracket competition? Let’s see who has the best picks!

The Last Republican… The long-awaited Adam Kinzinger documentary is free to watch. I know nobody likes reliving January 6th, but it is important. Watch it. Share it.

The first AI election is here… Phil Edwards explains.

A Second Heart… Twenty-One Years of Borrowed Time and Earned Life, by Dave Kitzinger.1

IN SEARCH OF BANKSY… “The British street artist’s identity has been debated, and closely guarded, for decades. A quest to solve the riddle took Reuters from a bombed-out Ukrainian village to London and downtown Manhattan — and uncovered much more than a name.” At Reuters, an impressive investigation by Simon Gardner, JamesPearson, and Blake Morrison.

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Happy Saturday! Thanks to all of you who joined me in pre-ordering Sarah’s new book. It’s moving up the ranks thanks to you all. If you haven’t ordered it yet, think of it as a way to help the cause and help make Sarah’s birthday great!

The New Bulwark App… And thanks to all of you who sent kind notes and helpful feedback for our new app, available on Apple and Google Play stores.

Come Join us in Austin! There are still tickets if you’d like to join us in the Lone Star State.

March Madness… Next week in Overtime, we’ll launch the Overtime March Madness Bracket. Congratulations to Miami University on their perfect season! My Saint Louis Billikens won the A10 season, going 27-3. In the chat: Who is going to win the tourney?

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ICYMI: Here are links to each newsletter section so you can quickly get back to that edition you may have missed this week.

Morning Shots - Triad - Huddled Masses - Press Pass - Bulwark Goes to Hollywood - The Opposition - False Flag - The Breakdown - Receipts

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Happy Saturday! Hope early spring weather is coming to you. Go out and enjoy some sports or fun activities if you can.

Why Amazon is full of crap… Phil Edwards takes a deep dive on a problem of Jeff Bezos’s own making.

Fishing The Dung Stream… Matt Labash on withstanding our politics and our turd water, which are often one and the same.

American Culture, Cont… Jay Nordlinger on the Bradys, all-beef patties, merry Oldsmobiles, and more.

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THE MINNESOTA SHOWS

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Happy Saturday! Is this un-liberation day? Is that what we’re calling the post-ruling pause on Trump’s unconstitutional tariffs? He seems intent on doubling down on it, and bold strategy! Let’s see if it pays off for him.

We’re back from Minnesota and our two sold out shows. It was amazing. Inspiring. Eye opening. Beautiful. Especially the snow on Wednesday. It came quickly but so did all of you. The house was packed both nights.

I really appreciated the conversations with Founders in the lobby before the show, and meeting folks in the aisles afterward. While packing up, it occurred to me that I could probably start a small Bulwark Reader Gift Museum at this point. (Though I’m not sure how I’d preserve the trail mixes, award-winning cookies, and other baked goods.)

I left with art, artisan chocolates, a minor league baseball hat, and an impressive supply of home-made Rebel Loon stickers and buttons.

Personally, I love the snow and it made the trip all the more beautiful, but I’d also like to come back again during baseball season in the spring. These trips always put the wind in my sails, but the generosity and hospitality were next level. Thank you all for making it special, friends old and new. Thank you for letting us be with you and see you, and for coming to spend time with us.

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Basketball update… As March approaches, the Miami Redhawks remain undefeated at 26-0, and while my Saint Louis Billikens dropped one to Rhode Island, their comeback win over VCU came with a possible risk of suspension. The Madness is perhaps here early. (And we’ll have a bracket: stay tuned!)

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Happy Valentine’s Day… We hope that if you celebrate, you have a safe, fun and enjoyable holiday!

And with March around the corner… I am pleased to report that my Saint Louis University Billikens are now 24 and 1, and nearby Miami University remains undefeated at 25-0.

A few tickets remain… For our Minneapolis show on the 18th, and more are left for Dallas and Austin. I hope to see you there!

Trump tanked his own polling by not focusing on violent criminals for deportation… Americans supported going after “the worst of the worst.” But less than 14% of the more than 400,000 immigrants arrested by ICE have been charged with or convicted of a violent crime, writes Anthony Fisher at MS Now.

Winners and Losers, &c…. Jay Nordlinger on patriotism, sedition, music, Valentine’s Day, and more.

World’s Dumbest People… Think They Can Solve the Nancy Guthrie Ransom Case With Grok. (Matt Novak, Gizmodo).

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

ICYMI: I was up in Springfield, Ohio, earlier this week, where locals are relieved but clear eyed. If you missed my dispatch in Morning Shots, it’s here. If you missed my video dispatch, you can catch it here.

I’ll have more to report as news happens, but the best place you can donate to help locally there is here, the Haitian Support Center.

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Happy Saturday! And GO BILLIKENS! My alma mater’s basketball team, currently ranked #21, trounced A10 rival Dayton last night in Saint Louis.

What’s a Billiken, you ask? Well, it’s a kind of weird iteration of a once lovable, if slightly creepy mascot dating back to the 1904 World’s Fair. Here’s an archive of my 2016 take on the rebrand, which haunts alumni to this day.

Suffice to say: These Billikens are good. How far can they take it into March? Sound off in the comments: Should we have an Overtime March Madness Bracket?

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The Best of Moira Rose… So many great roles played by Catherine O’Hara, and her work on Schitt’s Creek I think is something I will forever quote. Just had to fold that in there.

In local news… Our recent snow storm brought America a feel good story involving an ODOT snow plow driver and a baby in need of intense medical care. With a happy ending right out a movie.

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Trump’s America is a secret policeman’s paradise… The federal government is rejecting independent investigations into federal agents killing Americans in the streets, while branding observers and dissenters as “terrorists”, writes Anthony Fisher at MS NOW.

A Prayer For The Unjust… Let the hard rain of justice fall, says Matt Labash.

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Substack on TV 📺: Read on for details about how you can watch your favorite Bulwark content on your Smart TV.

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Substack TV… Last year when we started ramping up our video content, we heard from Bulwark+ members looking to get our shows on their TVs. We relayed this to our friends at Substack and at long last, Substack TV is here for smart TVs connected to Apple TV (set top box) and Google’s Play Store.1

Use your Bulwark+/Substack profile to sign in and watch all your favorite Bulwark+ content on your TV from the comfort of your couch. Our videos will show up in the TV app as they are published on the site so you can watch them at your leisure, ad-free. Bulwark on Sunday and other livestreams will also be available live through the app, too.

Substack has written a handy “How to” for subscribers explaining how you can find the Substack TV app and how to get logged-in. Be sure to have your phone or computer handy so you can link your account to your TV.

We’re told more features are coming and more platforms, too. Let me know in the comments how the set up experience goes for you. On Monday, January 26th at 3:30 pm Eastern, I’ll be doing “Office Hours” in the Bulwark Members Chat. My plan is to take your technical Substack / Bulwark questions there for an hour or so.

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The Curious Cult of Aldi… How an 80-year-old German discount chain became America’s hottest grocer. (Businessweek.)

Stop sanewashing Trump’s incoherent monologues… Just read Trump’s actual words and try to ascribe any intelligence to “the weave” argues Anthony Fisher at MS NOW.

‘The Object Of The Game’ to premiere in February… A high school classmate of mine has a 3-part documentary on Amazon about football as seen through our alma mater’s legendary coach, Chuck Kyle. (Deadline).

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The Bulwark on Sunday

Can things get even crazier? Back by popular demand, White House Correspondent and Morning Shots co-author ANDREW EGGER joins BILL KRISTOL at 1:00 PM Eastern Time live on Substack and YouTube.

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ICYMI: Here are links to each newsletter section so you can quickly get back to that edition you may have missed this week.

Morning Shots - Triad - Huddled Masses - Press Pass - Bulwark Goes to Hollywood - The Opposition - False Flag - The Breakdown - Receipts

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Happy Saturday! Good Luck to my neighbors in Indiana in the National Championship!

Trump could be close to unleashing the state violence he’s always wanted… President Trump suggested on Thursday that unrest in Minneapolis might prompt him to invoke the Insurrection Act. He’s wanted to do that for years, writes Philip Bump at MS Now.

Is America Too Dumb For Democracy? Why we shouldn’t give up on what we no longer deserve, argues Matt Labash.

The Ugly American… Trump makes a stereotype appallingly real, observes Jay Nordlinger.

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Yikes… FOX’s Greg Gutfeld says ICE shooting “was a set up” by the left but “they were hoping for a Black woman” (Media Matters)

Rob Manfred needs to retire… Getting rid of the leagues and going geographic? Retire already! (Yahoo Sports)

Congrats to Myles Garrett… Who set the new NFL season sack record, and I got to see it here in the Queen City.

An American and Her Novel… Jay Nordlinger has a conversation with Linda Chavez about her book, The Silver Candlesticks.

Even Democrats who disagree can learn from Zohran Mamdani… At Flux, New York Times contributor and long-time city politics observer Elizabeth Spiers joins Matthew Sheffield on how Mamdani is pointing ways forward for his party.

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This week’s Discussion Prompt: What was the best New Year’s resolution you actually kept? And if resolutions aren’t your thing, what’s one small change you made that turned out to matter?

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The Bulwark on Sunday

Join Bill Kristol and Sarah Longwell as they share their thoughts on possible paths 2026 could take—from a democratic rebound to a far darker slide. The Bulwark on Sunday will start at 9:30 AM Eastern. You can watch on [Substack] or [YouTube] and if you miss it, we’ll post it afterwards!

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Happy Saturday! I was wearing some Bulwark gear at the children’s museum in Indianapolis yesterday and, thanks to that, got to meet a fellow Bulwark member! If you’re looking for an easy way to put The Bulwark out into the world, wearing the merch definitely does the trick. (Just be prepared to talk about it!)

A crowd showed up for a midnight New Year’s Eve fireworks show... It never came. A depressing USA Today story on how AI and social media duped a bunch of would-be fun seekers. A bad omen‽

To understand the Christian right, learn the history of the postwar Christian left... Historian Gene Zubovich joins Matthew Sheffield at FLUX to talk about how liberal Protestants built an America that the radical right has been trying to destroy.

It ain’t Somalis scamming everyday Ohioans... D.J. Byrnes of The Rooster writes about how an Ohio Republican/right-wing ecosystem tried to manufacture a Somali daycare scandal in the Buckeye State, but Gov. DeWine and reality pushed back before it could fully take hold.

2025 Is Finally Over—But Not Soon Enough... Adrian Nguyen leads a conversation with Matt Labash about MAGA media catfights and why they deserve each other, our stuck culture, Drudge as the new Philip K. Dick, AI cannibalism, what inspires us, and much more....

‘To the Wild Sky,’ &c... A New Year’s Day column from Jay Nordlinger with poetry, music, jokes, and so on.

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Discussion Prompt: Taking stock of 2025, what’s one thing you from it you’re definitely keeping around in 2026?1

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ICYMI: Here are links to each newsletter section so you can quickly get back to that edition you may have missed this week.

Morning Shots - Triad - Huddled Masses - Press Pass - Bulwark Goes to Hollywood - The Opposition - False Flag - The Breakdown - Receipts

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Come join me tonight! I’ll be on a Twitter Space with the New Rhino Coalition tonight at 8:30 p.m. Eastern.

Trump officials showed their hostility to the Constitution on Christmas Day… The Trump administration’s overtly religious social media posts appear to forget a key line from the First Amendment, writes Anthony L. Fisher at MS Now.

Good Cheer… Jay Nordlinger on a program of Christmas music.

The Best Things… The Defector staff heard In 2025.

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This week’s discussion prompt: What is something over the holidays that motivated you? (For me: Realizing that Abigail Spanberger is about to become Governor of Virginia in mere days.)

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Happy Saturday! If you’re looking for some last minute non-Bulwark subscriptions to give, may I suggest:

• Matt Labash’s Slack Tide

• Holly Berkley Fletcher’s A Zebra Without Stripes

• Jay Nordlinger’s Onward and Upward

• Steward Beckham’s Stew on This

• Matthew Sheffield’s Flux Community

• Addison Del Mastros’s The Deleted Scenes

• Front Porch AF Podcast with Kelli & Sue

If you’re a regular reader of Overtime, you know that these folks are often featured here. Even if you’re not signing up for paid access, you can treat yourself with free access if you’re not familiar with them. Or, when in doubt:

Give the Gift of Bulwark+

Discussion prompts: If you’re lucky enough to be traveling for the holidays, what’s one thing you’re looking forward to doing while there? BONUS: Something you consider a must-read now but didn’t know about a year ago.

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Tech support questions? Email members@thebulwark.com. Questions for me? Respond to this message.

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Editorial photos provided by Getty Images. For full credits, please consult the article.

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ICYMI: Here are links to each newsletter section so you can quickly get back to that edition you may have missed this week.

Morning Shots - Triad - Huddled Masses - Press Pass - Bulwark Goes to Hollywood - The Opposition - False Flag - The Breakdown - Receipts

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🚨OVERTIME🚨

Happy Saturday! Snow is slated for the Queen City this weekend and I hope if you’re slated for some snow, you’re prepared and it isn’t “bad” snow, but rather the good kind: snow that makes drives and walks pleasant.

I joined my friend and lifelong Cincinnatian Phil Heimlich (whom I profiled a few years ago) on his show Sanity Check for an extended conversation about where Never Trumpers like us stand politically these days. Be sure to watch!

Our friends Kelli and Sue were also kind enough to host my colleague Lauren Egan on Front Porch AF.

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🚨A new ad…🚨 From our friends at Home of the Brave: Tennis star Martina Navratilova is “Pissed Off as Hell” About Donald Trump

Diagnosing America… Jay Nordlinger shares a few notes on the health of our constitutional republic.

Laugh, And the World Laughs With You… And if it doesn’t, laugh at the world anyway—because spite works, too, argues Matt Labash 🔐.

Give the man a prize… Jordan Klepper doing what he does best: learning how Trump voters rationalize all of this.

Discussion Prompt: What’s your favorite winter tradition, or, if no traditions: one winter life hack?

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Tech support questions? Email members@thebulwark.com. Questions for me? Respond to this message.

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Editorial photos provided by Getty Images. For full credits, please consult the article.

Join now

ICYMI: Here are links to each newsletter section so you can quickly get back to that edition you may have missed this week.

Morning Shots - Triad - Huddled Masses - Press Pass - Bulwark Goes to Hollywood - The Opposition - False Flag - The Breakdown - Receipts

Join now

Join now

🚨OVERTIME🚨

Happy Saturday! It was great to be in D.C. this week, catching up with old colleagues and getting to enjoy a snowy capital. My flight was only slightly delayed, but the D.C.-based basketball fans made it to attend the Crosstown shootout (which was a barn burner!)

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Swatch’s New OpenAI-Powered Tool Lets You Design Your Own Watch… The new AI-DADA tool lets you create a unique Swatch design using AI prompts, reports Jeremy White at Wired.

Megyn Kelly’s cruelty and Trump’s racism brought MAGA discourse to new lows this week… The MAGA podcast star called for more pain to be inflicted in the U.S. military’s extralegal killings in the Caribbean, while the president called Somalis “garbage” writes Anthony Fisher at MS Now.

In his second term, Trump’s threats against media and tech companies have gotten real results… Former AFP fact-checker Arthur MacMillan joins Matthew Sheffield at “Theory of Change” to discuss how media conglomerates are worrying more about political offense than telling the full truth.

This week’s comment prompt: Would an “office hours” in the chat feature to help with account issues be useful to you? How else could we use the chat feature?

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Tech support questions? Email members@thebulwark.com. Questions for me? Respond to this message.

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Editorial photos provided by Getty Images. For full credits, please consult the article.