The Bulwark Podcast Bill Kristol: Escalating the Authoritarian Project
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Sep 8, 2025 
Bill Kristol, Editor at Large of The Bulwark and a seasoned political analyst, dives into the alarming concentration of power under Trump. He discusses the spectacle of unchecked military actions, including contentious operations and their moral implications. The podcast also touches on the relationship between business leaders and politics, noting a concerning lack of accountability. Kristol highlights the potential for resistance in Chicago as Democrats prepare to confront a looming government shutdown and critiques the troubling trends toward authoritarianism.
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Authoritarian Project Progressing Rapidly
- Bill Kristol argues Trump's authoritarian project has advanced quickly in seven months and faces little internal resistance.
- He warns that continued institutional intimidation could let Trump consolidate vast power even with weak public popularity.
Middle Ground Is Key To Resistance
- Kristol emphasizes private sector and civil society institutions are the key middle ground between government and public opinion.
- He says intimidating those institutions has been an effective way for Trump to blunt opposition so far.
Corporate Pushback Is Remarkably Sparse
- Business leaders have largely stayed silent or obsequious, with only a mild rebuke from Ken Griffin on Fed independence.
- Kristol calls this paucity of corporate pushback a worrying sign for democratic norms.
