The Bulwark Podcast Mike Murphy: We’re Living in a Nightmare
29 snips
Jan 23, 2026 
Mike Murphy, veteran Republican strategist and pollster, offers sharp takeaways on Trump’s Davos 'Board of Peace' theatrics and the geopolitical damage to alliances. He dissects transactional foreign policy, corporate short-termism, threats to the auto and EV sectors, and alarming moves toward government stakes in business. Short, pointed, and often scathing commentary.
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Trump’s Davos Theater Harms U.S. Credibility
- Mike Murphy says Trump's Davos 'Board of Peace' is egotistical theater that flatters dictators and covers corruption.
- He warns this performance undermines U.S. credibility and creates real geopolitical dangers.
Broken Alliances Have Long Tail Costs
- Murphy expects lasting damage to alliances and institutions that future leaders will have to repair.
- He predicts Europeans may seek their own security insurance, increasing global instability.
Transactional Foreign Policy Is Unstable
- Murphy argues Trump's foreign policy is transactional, driven by headlines, ego, and financial gain.
- He says this leads to inconsistent, short-lived engagements rather than sustained strategy.
