Anne Applebaum: Trump's Firehose of Lies

Anne Applebaum: Trump's Firehose of Lies

From The Bulwark Podcast by The Bulwark

June 11, 2026 · 50 min

About this episode

Anne Applebaum joins Tim Miller to discuss Trump's use of propaganda, the situation in Ukraine, and various political issues including immigration and oppression in Venezuela.

Trump shifts his position on the Iran war so often that it sure looks like he is using the same propaganda technique that Putin uses with abandon: Flood people with contradictory stories to confuse and exhaust them so they'll just tune out. That could be helpful for a commander–in-chief running a failed military campaign. At the same time, the only engagement the administration seems to want is from the online world—which they use to create an alternate reality. Plus, Russia is not winning the war in Ukraine and does not know how to, much of Trump's immigration policy is about performative cruelty, political oppression still continues in Venezuela, Kari Lake has a new gig, and new selections for the Anne Applebaum book club. Anne Applebaum joins Tim Miller. show notes: Anne's latest reporting from Ukraine Phillips O'Brien piece on Iran, "War Crimes Seem To Be Official US Policy Now" A Venezuela opposition leader on the continuing political oppression there Anne's reporting on Kari Lake running Voice of America Anne on Lake being nominated as ambassador to Jamaica Summer novel rec from Anne, "The Time of Cherries" Tim's summer novel rec, "My Tender Matador"

People in this episode

Host: Tim Miller

Guest: Anne Applebaum

Topics covered

  • Trump's propaganda techniques
  • Iran war
  • Russia-Ukraine conflict
  • immigration policy
  • political oppression
  • Kari Lake
  • book recommendations

Keywords

  • Trump
  • Iran
  • Ukraine
  • Kari Lake
  • political oppression
  • immigration policy
  • book club

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Voice of America

Books & works: The Time of Cherries, My Tender Matador

Places: Iran, Ukraine, Venezuela

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