Republicans Are Walking Into a Buzzsaw in November

In this episode of The Bulwark, hosts JVL and Sarah Longwell discuss the growing political and economic chaos under a potential Trump presidency, focusing on how markets are reacting to perpetual instability. They analyze the paradox of record stock market highs amid escalating global tensions, particularly the Iran crisis and oil supply disruptions, suggesting that markets may now price chaos as normal. The hosts unpack Trump’s recent tweets declaring the Strait of Iran and Strait of Hormuz open for passage while maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports—a move that raises legal and diplomatic concerns. They also examine the recent Democratic victory in New Jersey’s 11th district, where progressive candidate Ana Lilia Mejia crushed a moderate Republican, signaling a deepening Democratic energy and a shift in voter sentiment. The episode highlights a broader trend: Democratic candidates are thriving not because of party infrastructure, but by running as anti-establishment figures who reject both corporate elites and traditional party orthodoxy, creating a new, diverse coalition from progressive firebrands to moderate reformers. This suggests a fractured Republican Party facing a united, energized Democratic base in November.