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The Most Ruthless Thing Newsom’s Ever Done (w/ Peter Hamby) | The Bulwark Podcast

2025-10-17 News & Politics
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The Bulwark
The Bulwark
1.7m subscribers

Bolton Indictment, South American Tensions, and the Battle for Redistricting Control

Gain clarity on the political weaponization of legal action, shifting US foreign policy stances in Latin America, and the high-stakes electoral math driven by state-level redistricting battles ahead of the midterms.

Short Summary

  • Analyze why the John Bolton indictment appears more legally substantial than previous actions against Trump critics, even if politically motivated.
  • Assess the risks of potential US military involvement or regime change pressure in Venezuela, linked to Senator Rubio’s influence.
  • Detail how California's Proposition 50 aims to create Democratic seats via gerrymandering, contrasting with potential massive Republican gains if the Voting Rights Act (VRA) is struck down.
  • Examine the controversial strategy of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) intervening early in primaries in Maine and Michigan.

This discussion breaks down four major political fault lines: a unique legal development involving a former Trump official, escalating US posture toward Venezuela, the technical but critical fight over electoral maps, and internal Democratic primary maneuvering. Understanding these issues is crucial as state and federal politics diverge ahead of the major elections.

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Description

The administration under sticky fingers Trump is now pretending it cares about the sanctity of classified documents, while it seems that Marco Rubio is the one pushing for regime change in Venezuela. In California, the redistricting ballot measure has been seen as one of the most significant battles in the November election, but the Supreme Court may end up disrupting the Dem's effort to retake the House next year. Plus, Democrats are winning the under-covered shutdown fight, but why is Schumer meddling in the Maine and Michigan Senate primary fights? And the right-wingers complaining about Bad Bunny are such nerd losers. Peter Hamby joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes Ben Wittes's Lawfare on the Bolton indictment https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-situation--thoughts-on-the-john-bolton-indictment Book rec from Peter: "Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here" https://bookshop.org/p/books/everyone-who-is-gone-is-here-the-united-states-central-america-and-the-making-of-a-crisis-jonathan-blitzer/d7d4a22ec001c9ff Peter's pod, "The Powers That Be: Daily" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-powers-that-be-daily/id1586269186 Nate Cohn on the SCOTUS case that could hand Republicans the House https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/upshot/supreme-court-voting-rights-gerrymander.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uE8.MjaK.VvCc_pLMj0I2&smid=url-share Tim's playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0dApY6YT48kTh6j9xFDQch Get up to 55% off at https://Babbel.com/BULWARK. Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join

Top Comments (10)

@DaveK385 2025-10-17

I expect Stephen Miller was shut up in a locker in high school. He's obviously never gotten over it.

340 27 replies
@lizbmusic11 2025-10-17

When all this is over, America needs to have its own version of the Nuremberg trials. 🇳🇿

276 10 replies
@MikeW_is_entertained 2025-10-17

I’m all for independent redistricting, but I’m 100% for California making an exception to fight back. It’s unfortunate but necessary.

254 6 replies
@naoise555 2025-10-17

I don't like Prop 50. I wish there were national anti-gerrymandering law. But we have to fight fire with fire and take back the Congress in order to stop tyranny. So, I'm voting Yes.

182 3 replies
@pauladuncanadams1750 2025-10-17

AND YET... violence IS on the right, not the left. Being blamed for 💩 we didn't do.

132 5 replies
@yvonneaustin7224 2025-10-17

Latina here.. all in with the YES Vote on PROP 50!!!!! 💙💙💙💙💙

131 2 replies
@KeelyPace 2025-10-17

Zohran is cool because he doesn't have to try...he's genuine.

96
@davidflorsek9105 2025-10-17

If John Bolton had testified against Trump when he was requested, instead of hawking his book, i might feel sorry for him. If he mishandled classified docs on purpose, he should be punished. Trump should have been prosecuted.

86 1 replies
@alexsandrapowell393 2025-10-17

His ignorance shows his racism, and his racism shows his ignorance.

70
@kaliver517 2025-10-17

You know who has a lot to answer for? These red state governor's who routinely come in in the bottom third of every measurable quality of life statistic known to mankind.

58

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