Bulwark Takes

Jonathan Cohn sits down with Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to discuss his admiration for Barack Obama, the shortcomings of the Obama presidency, and the lessons he hopes to carry into the Senate. El-Sayed explains why he believes Obama made it possible for people like him to run for office, where he thinks Obama fell short on health care and other issues, and why Democrats need to stop assuming Republicans will negotiate in good faith.
Plus, El-Sayed discusses standing up to Trump, why he believes Americans are less divided than they think, and his philosophy of fighting bullies without becoming one himself.
This video is sponsored by The New York Times.

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Donald Trump claims Russia has been “fine” in Ukraine, and Michael Weiss, who has witnessed Russian atrocities firsthand, is furious. Weiss and former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos examine Trump’s increasingly alarming alignment with Putin, reports that Elon Musk interfered with Ukraine’s satellite defenses, Pete Hegseth’s refusal to release desperately needed Patriot missiles, and whether Trump now fits the intelligence definition of a Russian agent of influence.

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Sam Stein and Will Sommer break down the disgusting attack ad targeting Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton, featuring her estranged mother accusing her of lying. When Acton was 12, her stepfather was accused of sexually abusing her and was indicted by a grand jury before he fled with Amy's mother. Acton’s mother also lost custody of both of her children. The ad appears to be connected to Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign, which has refused to disavow it. Sam and Will explain how the campaign’s smear tactics have backfired, how right-wing influencers rushed to amplify the attack, and why this could be a major political blunder for Vivek.
Plus, a look at Vivek’s history of dirty campaigning and why this latest stunt could be a new low for Ohio politics.

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Will Saletan gives his take on the growing panic inside House Republican leadership as bad polls, shrinking campaign budgets, and vulnerable races threaten the GOP’s hold on Congress. Even friendly voices on Fox News are pressing Mike Johnson, Tom Emmer, and Steve Scalise on why Republicans are struggling ahead of the midterms. From Texas districts where Republican gerrymandering may be backfiring to rising frustration over fuel prices and the Iran war, GOP leaders are running out of explanations.

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Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol give their takes on Trump’s increasingly desperate push to save Republicans two weeks before the midterms. As Trump’s approval rating sinks and Democrats build a major polling advantage, the president is struggling to make the case for his party, resorting to racist attacks, religious bigotry, and bizarre defenses of vulnerable Republicans. 
Plus, Trump continues to side with Vladimir Putin as Russia escalates its attacks on Ukraine and Marco Rubio is left defending the White House’s actions on Ukraine as Trump’s pro-Putin rhetoric grows harder to ignore.