Tom Nichols: Trump’s Speech Was Pure TRASH | Bulwark Podcast

The POTUS speech to kickoff the "state fair" in honor of America's 250th year was all about how the country is great because of him. Meanwhile, Hegseth is continuing to purge the Pentagon of some of our best warfighters for political and cowardly reasons. Plus, Bill Cassidy caved to Trump yet again, another son-in-law is following in Jared's footsteps and angling to get in on the family's hustle, some love for George Washington, and the administration's levels of corruption are so epic it's like Watergate every day. Tom Nichols joins Tim Miller. Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://Hims.com/THEBULWARK to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you Show Notes: Tom on making the 250th "small": https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/06/trump-250-usa-speech/687682/?gift=AO0MhSsTDaHgiP_RxFGfB7Id7ASmFM9p4fGLlzo8LPg&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share Tom on the capitulation to Iran: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/06/trump-iran-foreign-policy/687683/?gift=AO0MhSsTDaHgiP_RxFGfB8Y9JAMzM0V_DAPBBxjh7kY&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share Netflix's "The American Experiment": https://www.netflix.com/tudum/the-american-experiment Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction & Trump's July 4th Speech Reaction 00:08:37 - Patriotism vs. Nationalism: What Trump Gets Wrong 00:11:28 - The Great American State Fair Spectacle 00:28:46 - War Powers Act & Rand Paul's Flip 00:35:15 - Trump vs. Senator Cassidy Confrontation 00:40:44 - Trump's Iran War Capitulation & $88 Billion Tab 00:47:14 - Rubio's Gulf State Cleanup Tour & Trump Family Corruption 00:53:53 - Rapid Fire: Tulsi, Reflecting Pool, George Conway's Race 01:00:02 - The Air Conditioning Debate (Closing)