Remember those few weeks when Trump ceded the stage to Kamala and didn't do any campaigning? How glorious it was not to have to talk about him. Meanwhile, Kamala, Liz, and Sarah work to seal the deal with undecided voters, Moldova rejects the vote-buying oligarchs, and Lindsey, you're wrong: It's Trump, not Kamala, who's the most radical candidate in modern American history. Mallory McMorrow was recorded live at our Bulwark event in Detroit, and Bill Kristol joined Tim Miller for a recap of the weekend's political news.
show notes:
Gifted link to John Heilemann's interview with David Plouffe
Mallory McMorrow and Bill Kristol join Tim Miller.
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More McMorrow! I don't know what's going on with Michigan lately, but they have raised such a great crop of politicians.
Everyone should keep an eye on Mallory McMorrow’s political trajectory. She seems to get it. Two weeks from now when America gets over the kink of not voting for a woman president Mallory McMorrow could easily become our third female president. Right after Kamala Harris and Gretchen Whitmer.
Did Mallory praise Kid Rock?!? Iggy Pop could still kick his ass. Michigander in the house.
I loved when Mallory McMurrow suggested not having a -D after her name when it's displayed on TV. One tiny step toward less polarization. Wow. What an inspiration she is! Thanks for having her on.
Mr. Graham,
Re: Your MTP failure this weekend.
Just to be completely clear, you're the problem...not me or people like me.
You try to bully 'us' and treat us like we're stupid. We're not. We've listened to what you've said and there's no consistency. The equivocation is unacceptable. The outright unapologetic lying that YOU are supporting is unacceptable. You know some people actually believe some of that stuff, and you're counting on it to secure those votes. If you told the truth, to someone that could discern it, you'd lose their support. The R party is dependent on the portion of the population that will believe the lies of the party.
There's a bunch of us ex Republicans that KNOW you're not being honest with us and that's what's frustrating. So...what the hell am "I" doing as a Republican voting for Kamala.
It's simple, we're rejecting you and supposed leaders like you.
It was a good question, but a little off target. I'm no longer a Republican and likely to not be one again. It's not because I was particularly attracted to the Dem side. More like I was driven away.
"Leaders" like you and McConnell have put party over country. "Leaders" like you and Rubio have decided to gut back down the bile that's risen in your throat, so you can remain relevant. "Leaders" like you, Halley, and Mace equivocate so you can defend your record of what you said and when you said it.
I have no faith in you telling the truth. You certainly didn't do that Sunday. Your apology is ante for me listening to you with an open mind. I'm not hopeful.
I'm surprised you didn't pick up on the fact that Trump pretending to be a fry cook is the same as Trump pretending to be a business mogul.
JD Vance is a clone of Trump
The pathological, lying and spreading of misinformation so smoothly is unbelievable.
JD Vance Totally supports the 2025 plan. It is clear he is the one the 2025 people want to be the president when Trump is out of the way.
Watching Kamala Harris and Liz Cheney together speaking about country above party is amazing
Too very amazing women
As long as he has breath in his body and a social media presence he will never be irrelevant.
He still commands a solid base of "true believers" who can make or break many Republican politicians at Trumps command.
How much of the RNC will be under his control after 2024?
If there is a Republican majority in both houses of Congress he will have enough influence to shape their legislative response to a Harris administration.
No doubt he will probably never run again but he will definitely determine who his successor will be and there are many preparing and competing for that accession and what better way to do that than to obey his every demand?
Hey Bill, sorry to nitpick but Moldova does not share a border with Russia. It's sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania.
I was going to drop the same comment! At first I thought Bill was referring to the 1500 “Russian” soldiers in Trans-Dniester, but then it was clear his geography was off. Still, there was an interesting story last week about the Russians using the Moldovan port on the Danube to smuggle in operatives and money - so even if they don’t share a border, the Russian malign reach is long.
Lindsey Graham is the worst example of a representative of this country. He glommed onto John McCain when he thought heroic service members would be valued in SC. Now he’s onto Trump because he doesn’t want to be primaried. The man is a disgrace.
Dropping this here again: WE'VE GOT THIS, TEAM. VOTE NOW, reach out to all your networks and hammer this home, voting early and driving the #s in October is the key to winning, keep pushing this to everybody, hit them a few times with it. Also, let's shore up the votes of all the young folks in our lives -- think through all of them, reach out to them, get them to commit to voting early, we can do this, we just need to vote!!!
I doubt Trump knew anything about the German-American Bund having a rally at Madison Square Garden in 1939. I think this is Donnie from Queens fulfilling a lifelong dream, nothing more
There are some indications that Fred Trump (Drumpf) Sr. may have dallied with the Bund or at least businesses associated with the Bund in NYC
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1910/S00036/the-america-of-trumps-father.htm
Loved her statement regarding focusing on party. I’m old enough to remember Newt Gingrich and “party first”. I was young and disliked it. The Republicans took a turn which was not the right way to go back then. Teamwork is the right way to go. We do not all agree but we are all Americans and should work on reaching common goals.
I love Mallory. I wish we could see her on the national stage, but I also love her commitment to her state. She could have been just a single news cycle person. I'm so happy that she's shown herself to be more than that. She's got the talent to go far. Great conversation. 👍
Do you remember Mallory McMorrow's "We Will Not Let Hate Win" speech from April 2022? She is the best of the best!
When Lindsey Graham emotes like he did on NBC, the fuel seems to come from the need to bury his own conscience. See also his performance at the Kavanaugh hearing.
Regarding Lindsey, he should wear a bracelet that says WWJMD. (What would John McCain do) I'm sure John is spinning in his grave.
We're in the midst of a real revolution. The election will only decide who shoots whom first. We must prepare.
No psychoanalysis needed. Elon bought JD.
Folks, let’s roll up our sleeves! ACTION STEPS! It’s dangerous to be over- confident that Kamala will win. In 2016 we were confident Hillary would win, but because 40 million registered Democrats did not vote, Trump won.
Pls join me in reaching out to moderate and low-propensity voters.
We need millions of low-propensity Democrats (a polite term for not motivated to vote), Independents, and undecideds to vote for Kamala. There are also some Republicans who are disgusted with Trump but they don’t want to “become a Democrat” – we need to inform them that voting Blue is in their best interests. WE CANNOT WIN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE WITHOUT MILLIONS OF THEIR VOTES.
Two wonderful organizations - Galvanize Action - https://www.galvanizeaction.org/ - and One For All - https://oneforallcommittee.org/ -- are expert in crafting campaign messages to motivate people to vote Blue. They reach out to moderate women who admire Kamala but are married to Trumpers – giving them a nudge to follow their own common sense and vote for Kamala. Their messages are tried and true - created by veteran campaign experts, social psychologists, and data scientists - and are constantly tested and refined.
Another action step – Pls. support the work of kick-a*s investigative reporter, Justin Glawe. Only $5 a month gives you a subscription to his mighty Substack: “American Doom” - https://www.american-doom.com/p/how-georgia-election-officials-will - Justin does deep investigations into the shenanigans of the Georgia board of elections and has uncovered a lot of malfeasance. GA Republicans are doing everything they can to depress Democratic turnout, even submitting fake Death Certificates to have registered voters removed from the rolls. Much of this is only known due to Justin Glawe’s work. He writes for The Guardian and Rolling Stone; but he’s a freelance writer. Which means, in addition to no regular paycheck, he has to pay for all the FOIA (Freedom of Information) requests on his own. It also means if he’s sued, there’s no publication to cover his legal defense. Please join me in supporting him!
You will never convince me Lindsey Graham isn’t being blackmailed…
I think that lets him off too easy.
I trust Bill to know this, But are you guys sure Moldova shares a border with Russia?
Transnistria is basically a Russian enclave so yes.
Trump was speaking in Latrobe, PA which was Arnold Palmer's home. The airport is named for Palmer. To speak that way about a local hero shows true cluelessness. People under 50 elsewhere may not know of him, but all of western PA certainly does....
We need Bill Kristol next time in Detroit.
I yelled when Mallory McMorrow talked about the focus on state races and the DLCC budget for the country. I submit that part of the reasone Dems are at such a disadvantage is becuase they essentially ignored races for state legislatures and courts while the Republicans organized and focused on state offices. This went on for the better part of two or three decades and allowed the GOP to capture state legislatures and gerrymander their districts in such a way that dems have to get more than 60% of the popular vote to break even in the state house and senate seats.
Nobody below 50 knows who Arnold Palmer is and eats at say Chipotle instead of MickeyD's.
He's old, out date and has no rizz...
"...oversized 3 wood..." 🤣🤣🤣
I think she's right. Close the campaign by bringing the joy back. There is nothing that will persuade Trump supporters away from him, so stop trying. Showcase the alternative! #coconutpower
In your conversation with Mallory McMorrow, she mentioned a world where Donald Trump is irrelevant - ignored! Here’s what ChatGPT had to say about such a world -
In a world where Donald J. Trump is irrelevant, the political landscape has undergone significant transformation. The emergence of new leaders and movements has shifted the focus away from his influence, leading to a more diverse array of voices in politics.
In this scenario, the political discourse is characterized by a greater emphasis on issues such as climate change, social justice, and economic reform. Grassroots movements gain momentum, with younger generations increasingly taking charge and advocating for progressive policies. Political parties adapt to these changes, prioritizing collaboration and bipartisanship over divisive rhetoric.
Media consumption has also evolved, with traditional news outlets declining in power as social media platforms and independent journalism rise. This shift allows for a wider range of perspectives and reduces the sensationalism that once surrounded Trump's persona. Politicians are held accountable through transparency and fact-checking, leading to a more informed public.
In this world, the focus of national and international politics shifts towards global cooperation, with countries working together to address pressing issues like pandemics, migration, and technological advancements. International organizations gain strength as nations recognize the importance of collaboration in tackling shared challenges.
Culturally, art and entertainment reflect this new reality, with a surge in content that promotes inclusivity and challenges the status quo. The public's appetite for authenticity and accountability drives creators to explore themes of resilience, community, and hope.
Overall, in this world where Donald Trump is irrelevant, society trends towards unity, progress, and a shared commitment to building a better future for all, free from the divisions that once characterized the political landscape.
Nice thought, but no. Voters must fully understand the danger of Trump being president again. This is not a normal race with normal stakes. We have to use the final days to make sure (!!!) that voters are appropriately concerned
Mallory McMorrow is freaking awesome! It's going to be great to continue to follow her career and positive impact on America
Thought I'd just mention that Moldova is nestled in between Ukraine and Romania, and contains a communist breakaway nation that hasn't been recognized by the UN inside of it (Transinistra I believe). Congrats to Moldova on moving closer to the EU. :)
Not only was Lindsey's argument with Kristen Welker on MTP a shallow argument, it was (again) the gish gallop strategy -- flood the zone with so many bullshit accussations in a short space of time that there is no way to disentangle and rebutt them, and then interrupt the host when they try to respond.
He seems really panicky to me....it vibes desperation. Which makes me wonder why.
This is what Lindsey The Partisan Hack does whenever he defends the indefensible parts of Trump; he floods the zone so there is no way to formulate a cogent response. But later in the same interview, Welker asked him some questions about Israel and Iran, and he calmed down and spoke rationally. Bad Lindsey/Good Lindsey.
I love Mallory McMorrow. She is so down to earth and lovely.
She really needs a bigger platform, she wows me every time I see her.
She really seems great - hope to see and hear a lot more from her 👍👏
Same. I think she has a really bright future ahead of her in politics.
This was my introduction to Mallory - many thanks! Greatly appreciate her perspectives, insights and energy.
What do you think the effect will be if (when) the Wall Street Journal endorses Trump?
I have loved Mallory McMorrow ever since her “I am a white, straight, Christian suburban mother” speech went viral. I hope her political career takes off.