Welcome to the Bull Work Podcast. I'm Charlie Sacks. What a remarkable week. I am old enough

to remember when August used to be the dog days. And I think I've mentioned this several

times. Last August turned out I think to be pivotal for the Biden administration. And this

August certainly has the potential of also being a pivotal month. You're seeing a shift in

the conventional wisdom about the midterm elections. Inflation seems to be cooling a little bit.

The tide may be turning in the war in Ukraine. All of those things are happening. Meanwhile, Joe Biden

and the Democrats are racking up some some pretty big and unexpected legislative wins, whether

they'll matter or not in normal America, we don't know. And we continue to have primary elections

that underline Donald Trump's absolute vice-like grip over the Republican Party as he goes

from strength to the plurable strength. More election deniers move closer to power. You have the

right absolutely on in Fuego after the raid at Mar-a-Lago, Republicans who are rallying. There's a big

raw, raw moment. And yet, because we live in a split-screen universe, which is a nice way of saying

alternative realities, we are also have to acknowledge that Donald Trump has had a hell of a week.

I mean, we could spend the first 10 minutes just going through all the stuff that's happening to him,

whether it's the Fulton County Grand Jury, the investigation in New York, the appeals court ruling

that says that he actually has to turn over his tax returns, which apparently not under-audit

anymore. Turn over his tax returns to Congress, more subpoenas being issued to his henchmen and his

confederates. Pennsylvania Congressman has his phone seized. So to sort out all of this, including

how the hell we got here and whether it will make a difference, we're very lucky to be joined by

Dana Milbank, nationally syndicated columnist for the Washington Post, who is out with a new book

this week, The Destructionists, the 25-year crack-up of the Republican Party. Dana, welcome back to

the podcast. It is great to be with you, Charlie, in this very busy August week when everybody

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