I know our favorite Managing Editor Sam Stein has been subject to some significant criticism as of late when he is in front of the camera, and it's not lost on me that there are a lot of people who are not fans of him (and I can understand why). I just wanted to say, I used to follow Sam Stein's work when he was with POLITICO, and I started following The Bulwark because he joined. I find him to be funny, insightful, and a strong member of The Bulwark crew/cast. I know I am probably in the minority here and this is likely an unpopular opinion, but Sam, I just wanted you to know that there are some fans of yours out there.

Edit: to be clear, to my knowledge I don't think anyone at The Bulwark has been particularly critical of Sam, it's mostly people online criticizing him. I do know that he once mentioned that he looked at the subreddit once and saw that people were harshing on him, and I wanted to change that to some extent if I can.

I tried finding my violin to play, but I misplaced it because it was so small. Oh well.

Who is sick of seeing the president zonked out during meetings and press events?

Thought experiment:

Pretend you are looking at any other president (Obama, Biden, Reagan, a Bush,Clinton. Then imagine you are seeing a picture like this for the first time. What your reaction be? We need to look at this stuff from "Beginner's Mind." We need to see what he does with fresh eyes, not the eyes of someone whose mind has become acculturated to 10 years of Trump. We should do our best to act from the trusty. We know what is going on but let's not get clouded. Soon, as more and more Trump voters become disgruntled, maybe people we have given up on might start be amenable to see what's happening. Enough of them are waking up to the scam. Help them get fresh eyes.

As has been discussed, the cruelty is the point and Bovino is long gone, but I came across this picture today.

It’s just so crazy that this administration trotted out a 5 ft cosplayer in full on Nazi gear to lead our Immigration enforcement. Like… you coulda wore a tactical vest, a North Face jacket, a leather jacket, or a sport coat. ANYTHING but a Nazi trechcoat, storm trooper boots and slacks, and a German trooper buzz cut.

No surprise to anyone in the Bulwark community, but if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck… Just so profound to look back on.

This is an absolute tragedy. This guy was the exact kind of person we all should want to welcome as an American.

I don’t have any thing else to say.

Jk it's an image from the last cabinet meeting.

I included a bonus image with a super secret tip on how to hack AI for this kind of edgy political content.

(Mods, please feel free to take this down if it violates rule 4, but we thought this might be noteworthy for the group)

Hey guys! In case you hadn't seen--Shield of the Republic has gone independent after five years of being published by the Bulwark & co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

BLUF: We now live at shieldoftherepublic.com and you can follow us @ ShieldPod on Twitter and Instagram. If you were already subscribed via Apple, Spotify, or any major podcast provider you should get new episodes right in that same feed (which should redirect at some point today). If you prefer watching on YouTube you can also find us over there @ ShieldPod.

What does this mean for the show? Well, you can still expect the same free, weekly national security/foreign policy analysis from Eric and Eliot as well as the usual insights from guest journalists, historians, and policy figures. But we're also offering a monthly $5 subscription on Substack that gets you access to exclusive book reviews, hot takes, short essays, Q&A episodes, gift links to the hosts' written work elsewhere and even more planned for the future!

We're really excited to embark on this new chapter of the show and hope you'll consider joining us!

Where are the journalists, cornering Trump, JD, and other republicans about this avoidable, horrible tragedy.

I remember reading it very fast when it first came out, and boy did I miss a lot. One thing is, Tim's a very good writer, even if he hates doing it.

Another is -- this story about Sean Spicer somehow slid past me the first time. Spicer had a staff person whom he enjoyed harassing because her bio photo was too flattering. She didn't look like that IRL, get it?

So that fucker put up a milk-carton-style poster with the flattering picture of her on it, headed by the word, MISSING.

Now that is an asshole.

Anyway, it's a good read.

Milo Yiannopoulos spent years making enemies across the MAGA universe. Then ICE deported him, and the knives came out.

Will Sommer goes inside the spectacular right-wing pile-on, from Laura Loomer claiming credit to old allies celebrating his removal. https://lnk.thebulwark.com/4zUCr0W

Vaccine skepticism and distrust of pharmaceutical companies long predated RFK, Jr.’s 2024 presidential campaign. But the distrust of mainstream medical authority has now grown so deep that the United States can no longer contain the spread of measles. The country’s measles-vaccination rates have dropped below the threshold for herd immunity. Obviously, Trump’s misleading vax ruminations from the Oval Office have not helped the matter. The New Yorker’s Ruby Cramer discusses her reporting on one family’s frightening medical experience after one parent fell down the MAHA rabbit hole.

Plus: The administration has given Big Ag a pass, Democrats should try recapturing health-conscious voters, the overlooked case of an American shot by immigration thugs, and the surprising backstory of Kari Lake becoming ambassador to Jamaica.

Ruby Cramer joins Tim Miller on The Bulwark Daily.

Here is Blumenthal's letter to the Postmaster General and a copy of the whistleblower report:

https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2026-8-31_usps_whistleblower_letter_final_with_disclosure.pdf

The margin of error is also 4. So, this would be great if true.