The recent potential sale of Vox Media highlighted the concerning trend of right-wing billionaires acquiring media outlets, raising fears of further consolidation of news into partisan hands. While the specific purchase by James Murdoch averted this immediate threat, it underscored the broader issue: the unchecked influence of wealthy individuals on public discourse. Rather than focusing on the unattainable reversal of Citizens United, a more practical solution lies in bolstering public financing for elections and exploring journalism vouchers to empower diverse news sources and counter the dominance of billionaire-backed media. This approach offers a viable path to preserve democratic access to information and counter the spread of partisan narratives.
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On May 21, 2026, The Bulwark hosted a live event in Los Angeles featuring Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, Sam Stein, Van Lathan, Brian Tyler Cohen, Jon Favreau, Jane Coaston, and Erin Gloria Ryan. The program included a quiz on obscure political history, commentary on the DNC autopsy and California’s political landscape, and a critical assessment of JD Vance. Exclusively for Bulwark+ members, this event’s highlights are available on the Bulwark+ Takes platform.
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The UK government has released new guidance outlining when transgender individuals can be excluded from single-sex spaces, a move that has sparked significant debate and concern. This guidance follows a court ruling that has, in essence, given businesses and institutions more latitude to restrict access based on biological sex rather than gender identity. The immediate reaction from organizations representing transgender people has been overwhelmingly negative, with one group describing it as a “bathroom ban” and a “huge rollback for human rights in the UK.”
Concerns have been voiced that this guidance represents a regressive step, with one commentator comparing it to Section 28, a historically controversial piece of legislation that restricted the discussion of LGBTQ+ issues.… Continue reading
China’s evolving high-tech policing system, as revealed by a cybersecurity expert, creates “holistic profiles” by fusing data from various sources like facial recognition at ski resorts and train seat assignments to track individuals. This sophisticated surveillance machine, demonstrated by an unsecured police web dashboard, compiles extensive personal details, including travel patterns and social connections, into a comprehensive and predictive social control network. The system disproportionately focuses on foreign nationals, particularly from “Five Eyes” countries, marking them for real-time tracking and preemptive action, posing an existential threat to independent journalism by eliminating the possibility of under-the-radar investigations.
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U.S. intelligence indicates Iran’s supreme leader is operating from an undisclosed, highly secured location with limited external contact, relying on a complex courier system for communication. This isolation contributes to significant delays in negotiations and agreement details emerging, as reaching him for responses can take considerable time. These cautious measures are a direct result of recent strikes that have eliminated other senior Iranian leadership, forcing most officials into fortified bunkers and limiting inter-agency communication. Despite these challenges, broad directions have been issued by the supreme leader on negotiation parameters.
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In principle, Iran has agreed to dispose of highly-enriched uranium in negotiations with the U.S., though a final deal is not expected to be signed this weekend. This agreement, reportedly approved by Iran’s supreme leader, involves a two-step process: the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the U.S. blockade, followed by negotiations on a mechanism for Iran to relinquish parts of its nuclear program. While officials believe this represents a stronger agreement than the 2015 deal, the implementation of any sanctions relief will be directly tied to Iran’s tangible delivery on U.S. national security objectives.
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This article details troubling economic sentiment in the United States, with a recent Gallup poll revealing that only 16 percent of Americans view the economy as excellent or good. This widespread pessimism, with half of respondents describing conditions as poor and 76 percent believing economic conditions are worsening, is linked to inflation and high gas prices driven by the ongoing Iran war. Despite the president’s public focus on foreign policy, internal White House discussions reportedly reveal concerns about the war’s impact on gas prices, which have significantly increased.
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It appears that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is steadily charting a course that could lead to a presidential run in 2028, with a series of actions suggesting a growing ambition for the nation’s highest office. While not explicitly declared, her recent activities, including what’s been described as a national tour—albeit without the official designation—signal a desire to broaden her reach and influence beyond her current House seat. This strategic move to engage with a wider electorate, speaking at rallies and engaging in broader political discourse, is a classic precursor to a presidential campaign, allowing her to build name recognition and lay the groundwork for a national campaign infrastructure.… Continue reading
On Wednesday, a U.S.-born Spanish-speaking mother of four was detained by ICE at a Lafayette checkpoint, despite presenting her valid Louisiana ID and Social Security card. Agents insisted her documents were fake and took her to an ICE processing center, where she was interrogated for hours and shackled. After a lawyer intervened and a neighbor provided additional proof of her citizenship, she was released around 2 a.m. the following morning, though ICE retained her Social Security card and instructed her not to leave the state.
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Prime Minister Péter Magyar has announced substantial reductions to the salaries of Hungary’s political elite, including a significant cut to his own monthly pay. The proposed changes will also affect ministers, Members of Parliament, mayors, and senior executives at state-owned companies. These measures, coupled with the tightening of parliamentary expense allowances, aim to save an estimated HUF 50 billion within parliament alone and signal a commitment to fiscal responsibility and a demonstration of humility during challenging economic times. The government intends to set an example by reducing public spending and reframing politicians and officials as public servants rather than an privileged class.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood