Sam Stein

Drug Courts Save Lives. That May Not Save Them From Trump. An Alabama man’s recovery story shows what the program can do—and what could be lost.

NEW: The most important Sunday read.

Drug courts are saving lives. Red states love them. People depend on them. But Trump could very well blow it all up

via @citizencohn.bsky.social

www.thebulwark.com/p/drug-treat...

Trump Isn’t Easing the Shutdown Pain—He’s Inflicting It Mike Johnson says the president is protecting Americans from the shutdown. That’s completely wrong.

Mike Johnson says "Every day of this shutdown [Trump] has tried... to lessen the pain as much as possible."

What a crock. Trump openly brags that he's using the shutdown to do mass layoffs, terminate programs, "kill" the Democrats, and inflict pain.

Johnson can't hide the truth: Trump is a sadist.

Mark Kelly: 23 Million Americans Are About to Get Punched in the Face Sen.

NEW: Sen. Mark Kelly says he's tried to contact Adm. Alvin Holsey, who led the US Southern Command, and whose abrupt retirement raised questions about whether he was uncomfortable with the military operations in the Caribbean. He has not been successful

www.thebulwark.com/p/mark-kelly...

The Republican Health Care Trap, Episode 78 As the shutdown drags on, the GOP croons its old tune: replacing Obamacare.

JUST IN TIME!

www.thebulwark.com/p/the-republ...

hey there. need some random help. if you're in Havre de Grace, MD and can do a favor for the Bulwark, please send a DM. thanks!

The CDC Diaspora Fights Back How America’s scientific army is trying to stand up for public health—and stand up for itself.

NEW: Scientists may be more comfortable in labs than on TV. They may prefer medical journals to press releases. They may find research more soothing than advocacy. But as RFK Jr has dismantled the CDC, they are now reorienting their lives around fighting back

via @citizencohn.bsky.social

How a Bizarre Healing-TV-Screen Tycoon Is Funding MAGA Media I had to try it out for myself.

A tour de force that grew increasingly insane with every twist. I felt genuinely bad for the people who think these TV screens will heal them -- and who are funding MAGA media in the process.

www.thebulwark.com/p/bizarre-he...

My Last Day as an Accomplice of the Republican Party Why I’m leaving the GOP and why I’m urging my former colleagues to do the same.

A fascinating piece about life as an in-the-trenches GOP operative in the Trump era and the compromises you have to make. Almost all are now fully bought in. But some remain concerned. This one decided he had enough.

Please read and share!

www.thebulwark.com/p/my-last-da...

Not a lot of urgency on redistricting in IL for some reason…

There’s Something Weirdly Familiar About This New GOP Argument Republicans’ latest attempt to win the shutdown fight shows they still don’t get it on Obamacare.

"It always becomes clear the GOP alternative will mean fewer people with insurance." Same as it ever was.

The latest edition of The Breakdown from @citizencohn.bsky.social: www.thebulwark.com/p/something-...

Trump Is Worrying About the Afterlife. Thank Heaven. “I want to try and get to heaven, if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well.”

"Trump was asked, 'What’s your relationship with God like? And how do you pray?' ...The first words out of his mouth were: 'OK, so I think it’s good. I do very well with the evangelicals.' He bragged about all the people who prayed for him. He said nothing about praying for anyone or anything else."

so true

NEW: Two Nobel-winning economists at MIT (currently embroiled in a fight with the Trump administration) are decamping for the University of Zurich next academic year—a pretty clear illustration of brain drain.

www.thebulwark.com/p/is-he-lyin...

Chuck Around. Find Out. Can Schumer lead the Democrats through the coming shutdown fight?

Chuck Around. Find Out.

www.thebulwark.com/p/chuck-arou...

Elon Musk Torpedoed a Beloved Pediatric Cancer Bill. It’s Yet to Recover. Sometimes, a good piece of legislation fails to become a law for one simple, stupid reason: congressional inertia.

NEW: Nine months ago, Elon Musk's nascent, DOGE effort killed off a beloved pediatric cancer initiative in the govt funding fight. I circled back to see where those bills now stood. What I discovered was less scandalous but no less depressing.

www.thebulwark.com/p/elon-musk-...

NEW: A new payolla scandal is rocking right-wing media circles, with accusations that top influencers have been given cash to try and smooth MAGA relations with India

www.thebulwark.com/p/yet-anothe...

Coming soon to a pod near you

We Found It! The Flimsiest MAGA Conspiracy of All Time. Folks, please. Check the credibility of your sources. They may be a Brazilian national fugitive wanted by the FBI.

NEW: A Brazilian fugitive with a history of forgery, who's wanted by the FBI and who even the Bolsinaros consider nuts, has accused Bill Barr of orchestrating Trump's prosecutions. Crazier still, big MAGA accounts are falling for it.

www.thebulwark.com/p/flimsy-mag...

YouTube video by The Bulwark The Laura Loomer / MTG / Arby’s Scandal That No One Asked For

Dear god

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfzq...

Truly revolting stuff in this Laura Loomer deposition

www.thebulwark.com/p/laura-loom...

QUITE the lede from @citizencohn.bsky.social

www.thebulwark.com/p/rfk-jr-ken...

The Democratic Youth (er, Young Adult) Movement Arrives Plus: Why the redistricting wars probably won’t end any time soon.

The Dem youth movement is actually happening.

www.thebulwark.com/p/democratic...

YouTube video by The Bulwark It Gets UGLY: Right-Wing Influencers Explode on Main

if you need a laugh. and let's be honest, we all do

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wyh...

If you work in the Smithsonian and have some insights into this Trump impeachment decision or the fallout from it, hit me up on signal. Asteinindc.09. or our tips line

thebulwark.com/tips

Candace Owens Is in Some REAL Trouble Her wild attacks on Brigitte Macron have led to a serious defamation suit—and diplomatic trouble.

one of the more batshit
@willsommer.bsky.social joints yet

www.thebulwark.com/p/candace-ow...

The Boy Genius Who Killed 14 Million Poor People What is the moral weight of responsibility for the men who carried out DOGE’s work?

@jvl.bsky.social on Luke Farritor is a must

www.thebulwark.com/p/the-boy-ge...

His Name Is Jesus. He’s a Carpenter. ICE Arrested Him. Seriously.

His Name Is Jesus.
He’s a Carpenter.
ICE Arrested Him.

www.thebulwark.com/p/his-name-i...

A Massive Health Care Shock Is Coming And there is little time—and maybe not enough will from Republicans—to avert it.

Another banger from @citizencohn.bsky.social

www.thebulwark.com/p/a-massive-...

As Starvation Rises, Israeli Minister Says Israel Is ‘Driving Out’ Gazans

I try to avoid the topic in online forums. But I find it impossible to reconcile the judiasm that I was raised on with the acts of leaders in the current Israel government. How one could be so calluous to human suffering is beyond my understanding of our faith

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/w...

Are Dems Gonna Wimp Out on Redistricting? Beneath the bravado are signs the party is skittish.

🚨🚨 Don't look now, but we have some clear signs—and some fresh reporting— that Dems may be going wobbly on doing their own mid-decade redistricting.

www.thebulwark.com/p/are-dems-g...