Tim Miller joined Stephanie Ruhle to take on the anger at GOP town halls, Joni Ernst’s exit from the Senate race, and why Republicans still cling to Trump despite his sinking approval.
I suppose they can’t resist meeting with their fans at the town halls. What do they do with all that adulation?
Poor, poor Joni Ernst! Does the soul just keep getting smaller and smaller until its replaced by an autopilot? I don’t know how she looks at herself in the mirror each morning being a puppet for Trump. I suppose it isn’t all that different from Democrats visiiting Israel after seeing all that starvation and suffering, yet coming back and telling voters with a straight face they fully support Israel. AIPAC money too good to turn down?
Tim, I’m glad you get on MSNBC, but are you ever asked to go on Fox News? It seems like it would be more worth your time and the rest of The Bulwark’s time to try to reach out to the moderate Republicans and Libertarian types to let them know that the Republican Party they think exists or will come back is gone, and it is not coming back. They support an extremist party called MAGA that is just called Republican on the ballot line to curry votes for their extremist policies. The Republican Party is as dead and gone as their hero Ronald Reagan. What is left is an extreme party that is the most fascist yet somehow also most Socialist party America has ever seen. The moderate Democratic Party (which is the vast majority) is now much closer to the 20th century Republican Party than MAGA is. Those are the people we have to convince, and The Bulwark might be some of the few that can reach them based off of some of your prior affiliations.
Energy IS important. Media coverage is important too. There were a lot of Labor Day protest. A hundred people lined the area in front of my deep red county's administration building for two hours yesterday. We did our best. The reactions of drivers were enouraging, one third ignored, one third positive, one third middle fingers, shouting, or gunned engines. Was there even one tiny scrap of media? No. Do we have to make our own media? Maybe. Would take hints on how to do that.
With the town halls, I worry that the anger might be offputting. It's justified, no question But I remember soon after Trump started firing government workers with DOGE and "DEI" cuts, you had veterans talking about losing their jobs and cuts to VA services. It was effective, and it was at a temperature I think enough people not already convinced Trump was a horrible president could hear and get convinced by. Now it seems like there's so much screaming, earnest voices get drowned out and people who might be convinceable get overwhelmed by what people are saying is happening, that seems too horrible to possibly be true.
I don't know what the answer is, because those horrible things *are* true and people have every right to say it. Maybe it is helpful toward getting folks fired up so they'll vote in a mid-year election. I guess I keep remembering that Americans stink in a crisis, and wondering if we're actually motivating most people, or motivating the same small group more and more while leaving most other people thinking we're being hyperbolic and extremist.
II am fearful the town halls are just a few folks out of the whole constituency . But I wonder why there is no one coming to the town halls to defend t***p and his lackeys .
Tim, Fine job representing the Bulwark and yourself. Wish the people at the town halls would ask their Republican representatives if they will insure free and fair elections and then follow up with Texas cheating questions and accepting the results. So Joanie Ernst was coerced into casting her vote? Sorry, but that makes her more of a traitor since she was in the military. What's Cassidy's excuse? Matter of fact, what is every Republican Senator's excuse except protecting their own skin. Traitors all. The 93% Republican approval is so insanely ridiculous that its credibility must be questioned. A Maga senior in Florida can't possibly be for this agenda.
You and Stephanie rule when you get on a roll. Can you get her on a little more often or do some more YouTube videos? Doesn’t have to be her show.
Truth to power, Tim! Thanks for your contextual info.
I suppose they can’t resist meeting with their fans at the town halls. What do they do with all that adulation?
Poor, poor Joni Ernst! Does the soul just keep getting smaller and smaller until its replaced by an autopilot? I don’t know how she looks at herself in the mirror each morning being a puppet for Trump. I suppose it isn’t all that different from Democrats visiiting Israel after seeing all that starvation and suffering, yet coming back and telling voters with a straight face they fully support Israel. AIPAC money too good to turn down?
Town Halls tell us why they're Gerrymandering. Grabby Road. In the Gerrymander Shuffle, your district could be next. https://bsky.app/profile/opsan.com/post/3lw3vjahkmc2u
Dear Joni: We're All Going to Die. https://bsky.app/profile/opsan.com/post/3lqochtmvqk22
Angry Town Halls (from my 100 Daze Series). What did they expect? https://bsky.app/profile/opsan.com/post/3lxmk7tfwbk2b
Some showed up .. other Recess 2025 Town Halls in Red Districts, not so much. https://bsky.app/profile/opsan.com/post/3luqo7dl52c22
Tim, I’m glad you get on MSNBC, but are you ever asked to go on Fox News? It seems like it would be more worth your time and the rest of The Bulwark’s time to try to reach out to the moderate Republicans and Libertarian types to let them know that the Republican Party they think exists or will come back is gone, and it is not coming back. They support an extremist party called MAGA that is just called Republican on the ballot line to curry votes for their extremist policies. The Republican Party is as dead and gone as their hero Ronald Reagan. What is left is an extreme party that is the most fascist yet somehow also most Socialist party America has ever seen. The moderate Democratic Party (which is the vast majority) is now much closer to the 20th century Republican Party than MAGA is. Those are the people we have to convince, and The Bulwark might be some of the few that can reach them based off of some of your prior affiliations.
Energy IS important. Media coverage is important too. There were a lot of Labor Day protest. A hundred people lined the area in front of my deep red county's administration building for two hours yesterday. We did our best. The reactions of drivers were enouraging, one third ignored, one third positive, one third middle fingers, shouting, or gunned engines. Was there even one tiny scrap of media? No. Do we have to make our own media? Maybe. Would take hints on how to do that.
Need the MSM to actually report the news and protests and (Gaza) instead of schilling for ratings and future books.
With the town halls, I worry that the anger might be offputting. It's justified, no question But I remember soon after Trump started firing government workers with DOGE and "DEI" cuts, you had veterans talking about losing their jobs and cuts to VA services. It was effective, and it was at a temperature I think enough people not already convinced Trump was a horrible president could hear and get convinced by. Now it seems like there's so much screaming, earnest voices get drowned out and people who might be convinceable get overwhelmed by what people are saying is happening, that seems too horrible to possibly be true.
I don't know what the answer is, because those horrible things *are* true and people have every right to say it. Maybe it is helpful toward getting folks fired up so they'll vote in a mid-year election. I guess I keep remembering that Americans stink in a crisis, and wondering if we're actually motivating most people, or motivating the same small group more and more while leaving most other people thinking we're being hyperbolic and extremist.
II am fearful the town halls are just a few folks out of the whole constituency . But I wonder why there is no one coming to the town halls to defend t***p and his lackeys .
The question then becomes why can’t the reps make sure supporters are attending too? Its not like MAGA to be wallflowers.
Love your stuff, Tim. Great feed...
Tim, Fine job representing the Bulwark and yourself. Wish the people at the town halls would ask their Republican representatives if they will insure free and fair elections and then follow up with Texas cheating questions and accepting the results. So Joanie Ernst was coerced into casting her vote? Sorry, but that makes her more of a traitor since she was in the military. What's Cassidy's excuse? Matter of fact, what is every Republican Senator's excuse except protecting their own skin. Traitors all. The 93% Republican approval is so insanely ridiculous that its credibility must be questioned. A Maga senior in Florida can't possibly be for this agenda.
big ones in Seattle
93% of Republicans approve of Trump only because the entirety of honest conservatives have left the Republican Party.
When they take those polls they ask if people are Republicans or Democrats and if they say neither they don't count them.