Trump Wants to Invent a Fake Reality (w/ Anne Applebaum) | The Bulwark Podcast

Putin puppet Viktor Orbán—whose nepotistic and corrupt government in Hungary has become the model for the far-right in America and Europe—is facing his first serious election challenge in 16 years. It turns out that voters get mad when a president steals from the public and tanks the economy. Vance tried to bolster Orbán with Kremlin-esque fake propaganda, but the energy may be with the grassroots campaign of Peter Magyar. Plus, Vance's arrogance and ignorance about Ukraine, Trump still comes up short on his Iran war goals, the administration made some weird threats against Pope Leo, and Kari Lake is still a loser. Anne Applebaum joins Tim Miller. Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/THEBULWARK to find and instantly book a doctor you love today. For a limited time, Wildgrain is offering our listeners $30 off your first box - PLUS free Croissants for life - when you go to https://Wildgrain.com/THEBULWARK to start your subscription today. Show Notes: Anne's piece on Hungary, "The First Post-Reality Political Campaign": https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/03/hungary-first-post-reality-political-campaign/686565/?gift=AO0MhSsTDaHgiP_RxFGfB8quFWywd2gXk18ODmAk_pw&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share Thursday's "Morning Shots": https://open.substack.com/pub/thebulwark/p/iran-schools-trump-in-the-art-of-the-deal-hormuz-war-oil-strait-ceasefire-lebanon-israel?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web Giselle Donnelly's Bulwark piece on how Trump's war is impacting global navigation: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebulwark/p/donald-trumps-unfreedom-of-the-seas-iran-war-hormuz-trade-economy-oil?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web Anne's book, "Twilight of Democracy": https://bookshop.org/p/books/twilight-of-democracy-the-seductive-lure-of-authoritarianism-anne-applebaum/7f9343b67c1e2894 Anne's "Autocracy, Inc." in paperback: https://bookshop.org/p/books/autocracy-inc-the-dictators-who-want-to-run-the-world-anne-applebaum/4edfe860b09ac90f Anne's book recommendation, "Furious Minds: The Making of the Maga New Right": https://bookshop.org/p/books/furious-minds-the-making-of-the-maga-new-right-laura-k-field/c3ab310155a05b89 Letters from Leo on Substack: https://www.thelettersfromleo.com/ Chapters: 00:00:37 Hungary Election Stakes And Orban’s System 00:03:51 How Orban Consolidated Power 00:06:38 Peter Magyar And The Opposition Challenge 00:08:24 Orban’s Post-Reality Campaign 00:10:30 Fake Threats And Disinformation Tactics 00:13:25 Election Manipulation And Voter Tactics 00:15:55 Ad Break - Wildgrain 00:16:53 Can Reality Break Through Propaganda 00:17:50 JD Vance And MAGA Alignment With Orban 00:22:47 Ukraine War Framing And Mischaracterization 00:25:51 Trump, NATO, And Strained Alliances 00:29:43 Ad Break - Zocdoc 00:34:37 Russia, Europe, And Security Risks 00:38:33 Iran Conflict And Failed Strategy 00:45:17 Global Stakes And Maritime Risks 00:49:28 Kari Lake And Collapse Of USAGM Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join