When did politics stop being about solving problems and start becoming a team sport? Former Republican strategist and The Bulwark host Tim Miller joins Shane Smith for a conversation about the forces that reshaped American politics—from the collapse of the Republican establishment to Donald Trump's takeover, the rise of partisan media, and why our information ecosystem rewards outrage over understanding. Rather than asking who is winning, Shane and Tim explore why politics increasingly feels like entertainment, why Washington failed to understand its own voters, and whether America's institutions can still solve modern problems. Topics include: - Why the Republican establishment misread Trump - The rise of partisan media and algorithm-driven news - Why politics now feels like sports - Can America ever become less polarized? - Is the political center disappearing? - What's actually broken in Washington? - Could another political outsider change everything? If you enjoy long-form conversations about politics, media, culture and the future of democracy, subscribe for new episodes every week. #Politics #TimMiller #ShaneSmith #Trump #TheBulwark #Podcast #PoliticalNews #Media #CurrentEvents #ViceNews #SSHQ #ShaneSmithHasQuestions #VICE Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News Check out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com Follow VICE News here: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vicenews?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicenews Twitter: https://twitter.com/vicenews Instagram: http://instagram.com/vicenews =========================== Chapters: 00:00 Tim Miller on Trump, the GOP and the State of American Politics 02:33 How the Republican Party Became a Blood and Soil Party 05:42 The Backlash to Left-Wing Cultural Hegemony 09:20 How Partisan Media and Tech Platforms Hypercharged Polarization 13:09 Obama's Frustration with a Broken Congress 14:12 The Dysfunctional American Democratic System 18:03 The Likely Future – Pinging Between Authoritarian Right and Socialist Left 21:24 The Democratic Party's Failures and Why They Lost Working-Class Voters 24:07 Who Could Be the Next Democratic Frontrunner? 26:57 Shane's Trip to Iran and the Reality on the Ground 32:34 Why America Is Still the Greatest Place on Earth 34:10 Why So Many Republicans Stay with Trump – Staying in the Mix 37:59 The Power of Political Creators and Commentators 43:54 Should a Young Person Join Politics or Media? 46:22 What Happens When Trump Leaves the Scene? 48:59 Trump's Existential Crisis – What Happens When He Leaves? 56:05 Tim's Positive Thought and What Keeps Him Up at Night ================================ When Politics Became Sports: Tim Miller on Trump, Media & America | Shane Smith Has Questions https://www.youtube.com/@VICENews