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Musk Spent $56 Million To Buy a Court—Lost—and Got Booted From the White House (w/ Ben Wikler)

2026-07-15 News & Politics
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The Bulwark
The Bulwark
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Description

Sam Stein speaks with Ben Wikler, former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, about why Trump is not the main character for many voters, how groceries, gas prices, roads, and local relationships shape elections, and his plan for rebuilding Democratic power from the ground up. Buy Ben's book, "This Is The Plan: How to End America's Meltdown and Save Democracy" - https://www.amazon.com/This-Plan-Americas-Meltdown-Democracy/dp/1324131438 Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join Timestamps: 00:00:00 Ben Wikler on His New Book to Save Democracy 00:01:26 Why He Wrote a Book Instead of a Post 00:03:22 The 2008 Obama Wave and the 2010 Backlash 00:05:56 How Republicans Rigged the Maps 00:07:43 Rebuilding the Wisconsin Democratic Party 00:12:59 The Plan to Save American Democracy 00:16:02 Winning Voters Who Hate Politics 00:18:39 Moneyball Politics and Local Organizing 00:21:16 The Roadmap From 2026 to 2029 00:23:25 Elon Musk's Wisconsin Supreme Court Bet 00:27:01 Key State Supreme Court Races to Watch 00:28:37 Would Wikler Ever Run the DNC

Top Comments (10)

@nancychandler367 2026-07-15

Ben Wikler, we wanted you as DNC chair.

85 2 replies
@LuEmanuel 2026-07-15

Ben Wikler, I admire and appreciate your energy, optimism and courage. You go, man!

32
@ZadigV 2026-07-15

The world will improve greatly when musk leaves it.

78 3 replies
@SaraSmit-e8w 2026-07-15

Wikler should have been the chairman of the national DNC.

130 14 replies
@jeffnotch1739 2026-07-15

How on earth was Ken Martin selected over Ben? It is mind boggling..

75 5 replies
@nmswjm 2026-07-15

Ben needs to be in charge of a “Project 2055” committee for the Dem party. The Rep party had their Project 2025, we need long range thinkers like Ben to do that for us. 1000%

69 8 replies
@mgeherman 2026-07-15

Wikler is why I got involved in elections and volunteering for candidates

29 1 replies
@brittanycamp4588 2026-07-15

This is who should be the DNC chair!!

11 1 replies
@YetiMcSweeny 2026-07-15

I am all in to work hard to restore true democracy and chase the racists back into their holes, but those Dems on the top need to act when they have power. If the next democratic president is another pansy promoting bipartisan consensus building then we’ve all wasted our time. Ben we need you on a national level!

32 1 replies
@puppypersonLOTR 2026-07-15

Ben we miss you in Wisconsin

25

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