Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Sam Stein and former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos give their takes on Russia’s attempted attacks in Germany, the growing threat of Russian hybrid warfare across Europe, and why Germany’s muted response could invite even more aggression. They also dig into the extraordinary contradiction at the heart of U.S. policy: American intelligence is helping Ukraine fight Russia while the Trump administration cozies up to Putin and welcomes Russia back onto the world stage.
Plus, Sam and Marc take a closer look at the Trump administration’s strange new Venezuela oil deal, the questions it raises about American power and influence, and the increasingly uncomfortable gap between the GOP’s rhetoric about socialism and what the administration is actually doing.
And there’s big news from The Bulwark: Marc and investigative journalist Michael Weiss are launching a brand-new podcast, Reporter and the Spy. The show will explore the fascinating intersection of journalism and espionage, drawing on their firsthand experience reporting from and operating in the world’s most dangerous places.
Subscribe to The Bulwark and turn on notifications so you don’t miss Reporter and the Spy when it launches this fall. If you value independent reporting, sharp analysis, and people who actually know what they’re talking about, become a subscriber today.
For a limited time, Tempo is offering our listeners 60% off your first box! Go to TempoMeals.com/BulwarkTakes
Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join
Sam Stein and former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos give their takes on Russia’s attempted attacks in Germany, the growing threat of Russian hybrid warfare across Europe, and why Germany’s muted response could invite even more aggression. They also dig into the extraordinary contradiction at the heart of U.S. policy: American intelligence is helping Ukraine fight Russia while the Trump administration cozies up to Putin and welcomes Russia back onto the world stage.
Plus, Sam and Marc take a closer look at the Trump administration’s strange new Venezuela oil deal, the questions it raises about American power and influence, and the increasingly uncomfortable gap between the GOP’s rhetoric about socialism and what the administration is actually doing.
And there’s big news from The Bulwark: Marc and investigative journalist Michael Weiss are launching a brand-new podcast, Reporter and the Spy. The show will explore the fascinating intersection of journalism and espionage, drawing on their firsthand experience reporting from and operating in the world’s most dangerous places.
Subscribe to The Bulwark and turn on notifications so you don’t miss Reporter and the Spy when it launches this fall. If you value independent reporting, sharp analysis, and people who actually know what they’re talking about, become a subscriber today.
For a limited time, Tempo is offering our listeners 60% off your first box! Go to TempoMeals.com/BulwarkTakes
Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join
