Bill Kristol: Words Are Not Violence

In this episode of The Bulwark Podcast, hosts Tim Miller and Bill Kristol dissect the aftermath of a recent attempted assassination of President Donald Trump, rejecting false flag conspiracy theories and emphasizing that words are not violence. They condemn the use of rhetoric to delegitimize the pro-democracy movement, stressing that peaceful protest and harsh criticism of Trump can coexist. The hosts critique the Trump administration’s exploitation of the incident to push authoritarian policies, including demands for a new presidential ballroom and expanded surveillance powers, while also condemning the hypocrisy of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which they describe as a sham given Trump’s ongoing attacks on the press. They also analyze the ongoing Iran war, calling it a strategic failure that has damaged U.S. credibility, strained global markets, and alienated even some of Trump’s core supporters. The discussion concludes with a sober assessment of the 2026 midterm elections, highlighting the vulnerability of Trump’s base and the potential for Democratic gains in key Senate races, especially in swing states like Iowa, Kansas, and Mississippi, despite the challenges of voter turnout and economic pressures.