Bill Kristol
@billkristolbulwark.bsky.social
Editor at large, The Bulwark.
Director, Defending Democracy Together.
Host, Conversations with Bill Kristol.
Never Trump.
Director, Defending Democracy Together.
Host, Conversations with Bill Kristol.
Never Trump.
You're in the Trump administration, or you're a Republican in Congress. You consider yourself a decent person. You lack the nerve directly to contradict Trump. But you COULD post your own comment on Rob Reiner to make clear Trump wasn't speaking for you.
Has anyone done this?
Has anyone done this?
December 15, 2025 at 6:57 PM
You're in the Trump administration, or you're a Republican in Congress. You consider yourself a decent person. You lack the nerve directly to contradict Trump. But you COULD post your own comment on Rob Reiner to make clear Trump wasn't speaking for you.
Has anyone done this?
Has anyone done this?
“A country can do something about gun violence and mass shootings. If it wants to…A serious country populated by serious people is not helpless to solve its problems.
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
America Is an Unserious Country Filled With Unserious People
Stories about revealed preferences and who we really are.
open.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:59 PM
“A country can do something about gun violence and mass shootings. If it wants to…A serious country populated by serious people is not helpless to solve its problems.
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
"What can one say? We can bow our heads in respect. We can take a moment to reflect. We can vow to remember. And then we can move forward, re-dedicating ourselves to creating a world in which such horrors are less likely in the future."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Shock. Horror. Tragedy.
Murder and terror at opposite ends of the world.
open.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:14 PM
"What can one say? We can bow our heads in respect. We can take a moment to reflect. We can vow to remember. And then we can move forward, re-dedicating ourselves to creating a world in which such horrors are less likely in the future."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
"Later, at a vigil held in lieu of a planned holiday celebration, more than 200 people gathered to light candles and mourn. Two sophomores who had known one of the victims, encapsulated the feeling of helplessness attendant to grief: 'Vigils always help,' one said."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Shock. Horror. Tragedy.
Murder and terror at opposite ends of the world.
open.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:11 PM
"Later, at a vigil held in lieu of a planned holiday celebration, more than 200 people gathered to light candles and mourn. Two sophomores who had known one of the victims, encapsulated the feeling of helplessness attendant to grief: 'Vigils always help,' one said."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
"Alex Kleytman, an 87-year-old Ukrainian Holocaust survivor, was celebrating Hanukkah with his wife of 57 years, Larisa Kleytman, also a Holocaust survivor, when the attack began. He was killed while shielding Larisa from the bullets with his own body."
www.timesofisrael.com/chabad-rabbi...
www.timesofisrael.com/chabad-rabbi...
Chabad rabbis, Holocaust survivor, 10-year-old among victims of Sydney terror attack
At least 15 people were killed when two gunmen opened fire on 'Chanukah by the Sea' event at Bondi Beach. These are some of their stories
www.timesofisrael.com
December 15, 2025 at 1:18 PM
"Alex Kleytman, an 87-year-old Ukrainian Holocaust survivor, was celebrating Hanukkah with his wife of 57 years, Larisa Kleytman, also a Holocaust survivor, when the attack began. He was killed while shielding Larisa from the bullets with his own body."
www.timesofisrael.com/chabad-rabbi...
www.timesofisrael.com/chabad-rabbi...
Reposted by Bill Kristol
🇭🇺Massive demonstrations in Budapest, Hungary against the Viktor Orbán’s regime.
Protesters carried toys and torches under the banner “Protect the children!” showing solidarity with children who became victims of abuse in the state care system
Protesters carried toys and torches under the banner “Protect the children!” showing solidarity with children who became victims of abuse in the state care system
December 14, 2025 at 10:36 PM
🇭🇺Massive demonstrations in Budapest, Hungary against the Viktor Orbán’s regime.
Protesters carried toys and torches under the banner “Protect the children!” showing solidarity with children who became victims of abuse in the state care system
Protesters carried toys and torches under the banner “Protect the children!” showing solidarity with children who became victims of abuse in the state care system
“What is troubling about Hazony’s spin is not that it is, in the precise Frankfurtian sense, bullshit, it is its lack of Jewish self-respect. (The same can be said of progressive Jewish apologists for their antisemitic colleagues.)”
open.substack.com/pub/jewishre...
open.substack.com/pub/jewishre...
Podcasts Full of Straw
Tucker, Fuentes, the algorithm & that good old-fashioned antisemitism. (A Winter Issue preview.)
open.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 11:11 PM
“What is troubling about Hazony’s spin is not that it is, in the precise Frankfurtian sense, bullshit, it is its lack of Jewish self-respect. (The same can be said of progressive Jewish apologists for their antisemitic colleagues.)”
open.substack.com/pub/jewishre...
open.substack.com/pub/jewishre...
"The liberalism in the large sense that the U.S. and Israel share counters antisemitism while forming a broad political framework in which men and women of different faiths and competing interpretations can live together in harmony and prosperity."
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...
www.realclearpolitics.com
December 14, 2025 at 10:46 PM
"The liberalism in the large sense that the U.S. and Israel share counters antisemitism while forming a broad political framework in which men and women of different faiths and competing interpretations can live together in harmony and prosperity."
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...
"The new right’s fomenting of contempt for all things liberal and the swelling antisemitism among its members are of a piece."
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...
www.realclearpolitics.com
December 14, 2025 at 10:40 PM
"The new right’s fomenting of contempt for all things liberal and the swelling antisemitism among its members are of a piece."
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...
I've got to say, this weekend, from students preparing for finals at Brown to Jews celebrating the festival of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach...it felt as if Yeats' awful vision were coming true:
"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned."
"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned."
December 14, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I've got to say, this weekend, from students preparing for finals at Brown to Jews celebrating the festival of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach...it felt as if Yeats' awful vision were coming true:
"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned."
"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned."
Reposted by Bill Kristol
So probable cause is now just...going to an East African restaurant
Armed ICE agents trapped US citizens in a restaurant and demanded their papers. Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN. They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers. Every person present was a US citizen.
Federal agents use chemical irritant on crowd in Somali neighborhood of Minneapolis amid Trump crackdown
Federal agents have used chemical irritant to disperse a crowd in a heavily Somali neighborhood in Minneapolis. This happened Tuesday during a identification checks amid the Trump administration's cra...
www.mprnews.org
December 14, 2025 at 8:18 PM
So probable cause is now just...going to an East African restaurant
Reposted by Bill Kristol
*Literally all investigations of firms with ties to Trump crypto businesses or involving Trump donors have been dropped.
*The pattern of non-enforcement for crypto is different from other SEC cases
*The pattern of non-enforcement for crypto is different from other SEC cases
December 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM
*Literally all investigations of firms with ties to Trump crypto businesses or involving Trump donors have been dropped.
*The pattern of non-enforcement for crypto is different from other SEC cases
*The pattern of non-enforcement for crypto is different from other SEC cases
What's striking about Trump's lies, and those of his apologists, is that they're not even plausible. They don't try to be plausible. As others have noted, that's kind of the point. True authoritarian control and power is telling a blatant and obvious lie, and showing you can get away with it.
Q: Can you explain what's going on with the bandages on Trump's hand?
LEAVITT: We've given you an explanation. The president is literally constantly shaking hands.
LEAVITT: We've given you an explanation. The president is literally constantly shaking hands.
December 14, 2025 at 7:56 PM
What's striking about Trump's lies, and those of his apologists, is that they're not even plausible. They don't try to be plausible. As others have noted, that's kind of the point. True authoritarian control and power is telling a blatant and obvious lie, and showing you can get away with it.
Sam Stein and I reflect on the terrible news from Brown and Sydney. We then turn to some Bulwarkian developments, such as Andrew Egger causing an RNC meltdown, Adrian Carrasquillo annoying the White House, and Sam’s reporting on pediatric cancer funding.
www.youtube.com/live/td3sIrU...
www.youtube.com/live/td3sIrU...
The Bulwark is on Trump’s Naughty List
YouTube video by The Bulwark
www.youtube.com
December 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Sam Stein and I reflect on the terrible news from Brown and Sydney. We then turn to some Bulwarkian developments, such as Andrew Egger causing an RNC meltdown, Adrian Carrasquillo annoying the White House, and Sam’s reporting on pediatric cancer funding.
www.youtube.com/live/td3sIrU...
www.youtube.com/live/td3sIrU...
Who among us hasn’t been the willing (one assumes) occasion for sexual “humor” on the part of a criminal sex predator.
December 13, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Who among us hasn’t been the willing (one assumes) occasion for sexual “humor” on the part of a criminal sex predator.
Release the boat videos.
Release the Epstein files.
Release the ICE and Border Patrol body-cam footage.
Justice Brandeis: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant."
And there's so much the Trump administration's doing that needs disinfecting.
Release the Epstein files.
Release the ICE and Border Patrol body-cam footage.
Justice Brandeis: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant."
And there's so much the Trump administration's doing that needs disinfecting.
December 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Release the boat videos.
Release the Epstein files.
Release the ICE and Border Patrol body-cam footage.
Justice Brandeis: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant."
And there's so much the Trump administration's doing that needs disinfecting.
Release the Epstein files.
Release the ICE and Border Patrol body-cam footage.
Justice Brandeis: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant."
And there's so much the Trump administration's doing that needs disinfecting.
Trump: “Hundreds of people have photos with him, so that's no big deal.”
Dunno, but the display of Trump-labeled gag condoms suggests a degree of familiarity between Epstein and Trump, perhaps a greater degree of familiarity than Epstein had with hundreds of others.
time.com/7340502/jeff...
Dunno, but the display of Trump-labeled gag condoms suggests a degree of familiarity between Epstein and Trump, perhaps a greater degree of familiarity than Epstein had with hundreds of others.
time.com/7340502/jeff...
Trump and Other High-Profile Figures Seen in New Epstein Photos
Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, and Larry Summers also appear in photos from Epstein's estate released by House Democrats.
time.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Trump: “Hundreds of people have photos with him, so that's no big deal.”
Dunno, but the display of Trump-labeled gag condoms suggests a degree of familiarity between Epstein and Trump, perhaps a greater degree of familiarity than Epstein had with hundreds of others.
time.com/7340502/jeff...
Dunno, but the display of Trump-labeled gag condoms suggests a degree of familiarity between Epstein and Trump, perhaps a greater degree of familiarity than Epstein had with hundreds of others.
time.com/7340502/jeff...
Reposted by Bill Kristol
“Post-liberalism” means two things:
1) I like the fascism, but I don’t think of myself as the sort of person who’d be into something so uncouth.
2) The woke made me do it, but since everyone’s opposed to liberty now, why don’t we acknowledge that some races, genders, and religions are lesser.
1) I like the fascism, but I don’t think of myself as the sort of person who’d be into something so uncouth.
2) The woke made me do it, but since everyone’s opposed to liberty now, why don’t we acknowledge that some races, genders, and religions are lesser.
December 13, 2025 at 1:48 PM
“Post-liberalism” means two things:
1) I like the fascism, but I don’t think of myself as the sort of person who’d be into something so uncouth.
2) The woke made me do it, but since everyone’s opposed to liberty now, why don’t we acknowledge that some races, genders, and religions are lesser.
1) I like the fascism, but I don’t think of myself as the sort of person who’d be into something so uncouth.
2) The woke made me do it, but since everyone’s opposed to liberty now, why don’t we acknowledge that some races, genders, and religions are lesser.
"Troops in the Continental Army swore to defend the country against 'King George, his heirs and successors, and his and their abettors, assistants, and adherents.'”
In 1789 the oath became allegiance to the Constitution.
But I like the original too.
#NoKings
open.substack.com/pub/ofthebra...
In 1789 the oath became allegiance to the Constitution.
But I like the original too.
#NoKings
open.substack.com/pub/ofthebra...
Why Today’s Army-Navy Game Is Different
Deploying to US cities is not the mission our soldiers signed up for.
open.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 1:22 PM
"Troops in the Continental Army swore to defend the country against 'King George, his heirs and successors, and his and their abettors, assistants, and adherents.'”
In 1789 the oath became allegiance to the Constitution.
But I like the original too.
#NoKings
open.substack.com/pub/ofthebra...
In 1789 the oath became allegiance to the Constitution.
But I like the original too.
#NoKings
open.substack.com/pub/ofthebra...
"I think of Ernesto Zedillo, probably the best president Mexico has had in modern times. He was asked “What three things does Mexico need most?” He answered, “The rule of law. The rule of law. And the rule of law.” This applies to many countries, including our own."
open.substack.com/pub/jaynordl...
open.substack.com/pub/jaynordl...
Diagnosing America
A few notes on the health of our constitutional republic
open.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:59 PM
"I think of Ernesto Zedillo, probably the best president Mexico has had in modern times. He was asked “What three things does Mexico need most?” He answered, “The rule of law. The rule of law. And the rule of law.” This applies to many countries, including our own."
open.substack.com/pub/jaynordl...
open.substack.com/pub/jaynordl...
Trump: “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy.”
Q: "There were new Epstein photos released today showing you…What was your reaction?"
Trump: “There are hundreds and hundreds of people that have photos with him, so that's no big deal. I know nothing about it.”
Trump: “There are hundreds and hundreds of people that have photos with him, so that's no big deal. I know nothing about it.”
December 13, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Trump: “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy.”
Reposted by Bill Kristol
The Steve Bannon photos with Jeffrey Epstein make a lot of sense from their emails. I wrote them up in order, 2017 until the moment he was arrested, and they were connected at the hip.
#EpsteinFiles
open.substack.com/pub/ellieleo...
#EpsteinFiles
open.substack.com/pub/ellieleo...
The Epstein-Bannon Emails -- 2017
Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon struck up a friendship in early 2017, mostly over email, but also traveling and filming their gonzo documentary with all the biggest names in science, academia, and, l...
open.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The Steve Bannon photos with Jeffrey Epstein make a lot of sense from their emails. I wrote them up in order, 2017 until the moment he was arrested, and they were connected at the hip.
#EpsteinFiles
open.substack.com/pub/ellieleo...
#EpsteinFiles
open.substack.com/pub/ellieleo...
Reposted by Bill Kristol
Steve Bannon’s close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein deserves even more scrutiny.
Every day.
Bannon has manipulated press coverage for years, even while being a superspreader for rightwing extremism and idiotic conspiracy theories.
Reporting every day. Bannon + Epstein.
Every day.
Bannon has manipulated press coverage for years, even while being a superspreader for rightwing extremism and idiotic conspiracy theories.
Reporting every day. Bannon + Epstein.
December 12, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Steve Bannon’s close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein deserves even more scrutiny.
Every day.
Bannon has manipulated press coverage for years, even while being a superspreader for rightwing extremism and idiotic conspiracy theories.
Reporting every day. Bannon + Epstein.
Every day.
Bannon has manipulated press coverage for years, even while being a superspreader for rightwing extremism and idiotic conspiracy theories.
Reporting every day. Bannon + Epstein.
“This is not a case of America having priorities that don’t involve Europe. It is not isolationism. It is America taking sides with Russia against Europe, because one of America’s two political parties now sees Russian autocracy as preferable to European democracy.”
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Trump’s Long-Term Damage
The things we won’t be able to fix even if we wanted to.
open.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:44 PM
“This is not a case of America having priorities that don’t involve Europe. It is not isolationism. It is America taking sides with Russia against Europe, because one of America’s two political parties now sees Russian autocracy as preferable to European democracy.”
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
"In a recent batch of emails released by the committee, Epstein claimed that Trump 'spent hours' with one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, the late Virginia Giuffre. Epstein also wrote in an email that Trump 'knew about the girls.'”
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/p...
New photos released from Epstein’s estate showing Trump, Bannon, Bill Clinton and other high-profile people | CNN Politics
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate Friday showing the many powerful figures in the late sex trafficker’s orbit, including President Donald Tr...
www.cnn.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:19 PM
"In a recent batch of emails released by the committee, Epstein claimed that Trump 'spent hours' with one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, the late Virginia Giuffre. Epstein also wrote in an email that Trump 'knew about the girls.'”
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/p...