The Bulwark Podcast Bill Kristol and Jane Fonda: The New 'Fierce Urgency of Now'
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Oct 6, 2025 
Bill Kristol, a seasoned political commentator and editor-at-large, teams up with Jane Fonda, an Oscar-winning actress and activist, to explore pressing political issues. They delve into alarming trends of authoritarianism and the implications of federal troop deployments. Fonda discusses her relaunch of the Committee for the First Amendment, emphasizing the urgent need for nonviolent civic action against repression. Together, they advocate for cross-partisan unity and the importance of protecting free expression in today's charged political climate.
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Rule Of Law Versus Rule Of Trump
- The administration's push to deploy military forces domestically represents a direct clash between 'rule of law' and 'rule of Trump'.
- Bill Kristol warns this marks a new, acute constitutional crisis that must be confronted legally and politically.
Conservative Judge Upholds Limits On Troop Use
- Judge Karin Immergut's injunction against troop deployment framed the issue as long-standing resistance to military intrusion into civil affairs.
- Her opinion is notable because she was appointed by Trump yet robustly defended state and constitutional limits.
Domestic Command Claims Signal Authoritarian Drift
- MAGA rhetoric treating the president as absolute commander domestically exposes a tilt toward authoritarianism.
- Kristol calls this embrace of unchecked power akin to 'Caesarism' and deeply dangerous.