Bill Kristol
@billkristolbulwark
Editor at large, The Bulwark. Director, Defending Democracy Together. Host, Conversations with Bill Kristol. Never Trump.
Epstein survivors launch a billboard campaign against confirming Blanche as AG. All credit to them. Can the Blanche confirmation become a referendum on his coverup of Epstein?
This billboard is up this week in 16 states around the country, courtesy of @ofthebraveusa.bsky.social.
Trump appoints a totally unqualified political hack who's shown a willingness to violate ethics rules and probably the law to go after Trump's political opponents as Acting Director of National Intelligence (Acting, so no Senate confirmation). A ludicrous appointment, but a very dangerous one.
Two contrasting visions of America were on display yesterday in Washington. At noon, Donald Trump and his Cabinet performed in the White House. Last night, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed at Nationals Park. Brucde Springsteen's America > Donald Trump's America.
And so Trump is off to China, accompanied by his billionaires, all of them going as supplicants to China's dictator whom Trump admires as "a Leader of extraordinary distinction." It would be nice if the American president would speak for America. But in fact he will be kowtowing to Communist China.
To slightly adapt Orwell: The Supreme Court told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was its final, most essential command.
I gather some of our conservative friends are unhappy with the Bulwark. Fine. But I'm proud we have continued to stand athwart Trump, yelling Stop, at a time when so many who were at first inclined to do so quit doing so, and then became annoyed at those of us still standing.
This is the most doth-protest-too-much statement ever protested.
The omission of Hegseth from the list of those Trump directs to work on the ceasefire (and his replacement, as it were, by Caine), along with Driscoll’s embrace of Gen. George earlier today, makes me think Hegseth’s days are numbered.
Note to Donald Trump: In insulting Pope Leo, you're not only antagonizing 1.4 billion Catholics around the world. By going after the man widely known as the Bulwark Pope™️, you're taking on us! An aide to Bridge Colby cited the Avignon Papacy as a precedent. We'd remind you of the Road to Canossa.
If we didn't have a maniac as secretary of defense, a toady as secretary of state, and a nobody as chief of staff, they'd be spending today making sure the military checks in with them before obeying any orders from Trump, and quietly getting in touch with Congress to arrange for his impeachment.
Pretty remarkable statement by the Joint Chiefs. TLDR: We have the highest respect for Gen. Randy George. About the man who fired him, Pete Hegseth, we say nothing.
No Kings rally at the Common in Waltham, MA. When protesters are patriots.
My experience, fwiw: When people in authority yell at you not to panic...panic.
"There is a special providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children and the United States of America." - Bismarck Let's hope so.
Oops. I guess Speaker Mike Johnson's reassurance yesterday that it's not a war, only a "limited operation," is no longer operative.
I taught mid-career military at the Kennedy School. They were great to have in class, not least because the other students learned so much from them. For Hegseth to suggest these impressive men and women are at risk of being "indoctrinated" is demeaning and insulting to them.