Ben Shapiro Declares War on MAGA "Crazies" (w/ David Frum) | The Bulwark Podcast

Of all the images of Trump, the only times he seemed to be authentically smiling in the presence of another person was when he was with Jeffrey Epstein. The two of them had the same interests, and other people in the 80s and 90s assumed they were best friends. Over in MAGA land, a proxy war has broken out among rightwing influencers—like Ben Shapiro, Tucker, and Candace—because the economy and the party are in trouble. Plus, SCOTUS rulings and cryptocurrency have created a public corruption free-for-all, the failed tariffs are masking the shortage of immigrant-built new housing, Trump has illegally added his name to the Kennedy Center, and despite the large military build-up off of Venezuela, the administration seems to be winging it. David Frum joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. Show Notes: JVL's 'Triad' on Trump's Venezuela adventure: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebulwark/p/trump-is-an-idiot-spoiling-for-war?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web Catherine's "Receipts" on the impacts of the immigration crackdown on the construction industry: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebulwark/p/trump-is-walloping-construction-businesses?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web NYT on the friendship between Epstein and Trump: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/us/jeffrey-epstein-donald-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.908.iNlY.Q-LtrdCGDc45&smid=url-share David's most recent podcast episode on crypto: https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/2025/12/the-david-frum-show-will-thomas-crypto/685296/?gift=AO0MhSsTDaHgiP_RxFGfB6EstKpsa4aber6f1_zQE_I&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share David's piece on stablecoins: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/11/cryptocurrency-economy-financial-crisis/684960/?gift=AO0MhSsTDaHgiP_RxFGfBwbwK1nJSUNg-3hj9dYe7mM&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share Tim's playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0dApY6YT48kTh6j9xFDQch Tim's Ultimate Christmas Mix: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5qPRdDI7BcJI5fAgcGHBli?si=aKFWdCEQQGavOQyJCmuNoQ&pi=0Hlq5AsNToS0_%20-- Become a Johnnie by visiting https://sjc.edu. St. John’s College — The Education Democracy Needs This December, start a new tradition, by taking care of you. Our listeners get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/THEBULWARK Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join