Katie Couric LIVE on Trump's AWFUL Polls, GOP's Gerrymander Faceplant, WHCD Drama

In this live episode of The Bulwark, Katie Couric hosts Bill Kristol and JBL in a wide-ranging discussion on the shifting dynamics within the Republican Party and the Trump political dynasty. The conversation opens with a seismic moment: Tucker Carlson’s public admission of guilt over his support for Donald Trump, sparking debate over whether his remorse is genuine or a strategic pivot to position himself as a future Republican contender. The panel explores the implications of this defection, the potential for Trump to run again in 2028 despite the 22nd Amendment, and the possibility of a constitutional crisis if he attempts to remain in power. They also examine the Trump family’s vast financial gains—over $2 billion since 2017—and how the pursuit of power and profit may be driving their political ambitions. The discussion then turns to the ongoing war in the Strait of Hormuz, with the hosts expressing deep concern over Trump’s erratic leadership, the military’s quiet resistance, and the risk of a broader constitutional breakdown. Despite public loyalty among Republican voters, the panel warns that elite defections, strategic failures, and internal military unease could destabilize the movement from within. Key takeaways include: Trump’s obsession with power and image may override constitutional norms; elite media figures like Tucker Carlson may be strategically distancing themselves to position for future roles; the military’s civilian control is under strain but not yet broken; and the war in the Middle East is a strategic failure that benefits Iran. The episode concludes with a sobering assessment: the Republican movement is not monolithic but fracturing, and the real danger lies not in overt authoritarianism, but in the slow erosion of democratic norms through personal ambition and financial self-interest.