Summary of Rep. Sarah McBride: Our President's Drunk History Take

Overview of Rep. Sarah McBride: Our President's Drunk History Take (The Bulwark)

This episode of The Bulwark features host Tim Miller interviewing Rep. Sarah McBride (D‑DE) about her first year in Congress, her recent congressional delegation (CODEL) to Denmark/Greenland, and the immediate fallout from President Trump’s Davos remarks about wanting Greenland. The conversation ranges from geopolitics and NATO risks to domestic budget fights, LGBTQ+ policy strategy, bipartisan work in a polarized Congress, and a closing appeal to defend democracy and civic norms.

Key topics discussed

• Trump’s Davos remarks about Greenland

  • McBride calls the speech “a bad and inaccurate episode of Drunk History.”
  • She explains the real diplomatic and security consequences: offense to Denmark and Greenland, threat to NATO’s credibility, and the potential for a dangerous precedent likened to “this president’s Crimea.”
  • Practical consequences: tariffs and economic coercion that raise U.S. borrowing costs and could produce a hidden taxpayer burden if the U.S. tried to assume responsibility for Greenland’s costs.

• CODEL to Denmark/Greenland

  • McBride describes firsthand impressions: fear and indignity among Danes and Greenlanders, but continued commitment to NATO and U.S.–Danish partnership.
  • Danish/Greenlandic willingness to cooperate short of ceding sovereignty; logistical realities (treacherous terrain, dog sleds, icebreakers) make U.S. “taking” Greenland impractical and costly.

• Domestic political fights and appropriations

  • McBride on budget negotiations: some appropriations contain real protections (e.g., HUD/transportation provisions protecting Section 8 tenants) and guardrails matter.
  • She opposes the DHS appropriations bill and supports isolating DHS to make it the center of debate on immigration/ICE instead of bundling it into broader funding fights.

• Transgender policy and political strategy (“Secret Congress”)

  • Many so‑called anti‑trans riders attached to funding bills were stripped behind the scenes.
  • McBride argues Democrats have not “thrown trans people under the bus” and that pragmatic coalition maintenance (keeping imperfect allies) has prevented egregious anti‑trans provisions from becoming law.
  • Advice for public figures asked “can a man become a woman?”: acknowledge real differences, affirm dignity and respect, and treat policy issues as policy conversations rather than dehumanizing gotchas.

• Congress accomplishments and constituent work

  • McBride lists bipartisan bills she authored/co‑sponsored in her freshman year: consumer protections (credit‑repair predatory practices), small business support, workplace/family‑leave protections, international human‑rights measures, and federal investments for Delaware projects.
  • Her office returned millions to constituents via casework.

• Broader themes

  • The episode opens with Miller’s emotional framing about the ripple effects of elite rhetoric on children and communities (clip of a bullied child).
  • McBride frames current moment as an “inflection point” comparable to historic turning points (an “80‑year” cycle metaphor) and urges defending democratic norms and retaining faith in politics as a force for good.

Main takeaways

• Trump’s Greenland comments matter beyond gaffes: they risk NATO cohesion, create diplomatic offense, and produce real economic instability (higher yields, tariffs) that hits ordinary Americans.
• The Danish and Greenlandic governments are broadly willing to cooperate with the U.S., but will not cede sovereignty; the practical costs and technical challenges of administering Greenland make a U.S. seizure irrational and expensive.
• Pragmatic, coalition‑building tactics inside Congress have so far forestalled major anti‑trans laws; McBride argues for engaging imperfect allies to preserve political leverage and protect vulnerable groups.
• Targeted fights (e.g., isolating DHS funding) can be a strategic way to push back against administration policies without creating unnecessary collateral damage.
• Congress can still deliver concrete wins (legislation and constituent services) even amid dysfunction—McBride emphasizes the importance of small, real results to sustain public faith in democratic institutions.

Notable quotes and lines

• McBride on Davos: “a bad and inaccurate episode of Drunk History.”
• “This president’s Crimea” — describing the Greenland gambit as a precedent that could erode the rules‑based order.
• On political strategy: “You don’t battle on your opponent’s terrain… you don’t die on every single little hill.”
• On trans rights and public discourse: “Trans people exist and trans people are deserving of being treated with dignity and respect.”

Practical facts and context (from the episode)

• Denmark subsidizes much of Greenland’s habitation costs; taking responsibility would impose long‑term costs on U.S. taxpayers.
• Greenland’s terrain is extremely harsh; dog sleds and specialized equipment are essential in many regions—mocking local practices reveals U.S. ignorance.
• Article V (NATO collective defense) remains the cornerstone of deterrence; rhetoric suggesting the U.S. will only defend territory it controls undermines that foundation.
• Some appropriations bills contain protections (e.g., for Section 8 tenants) that Democrats consider worth supporting despite broader political tensions.

Recommendations / action items highlighted or implied

• Pressure Republicans who privately oppose the Greenland rhetoric to speak out publicly to help deter escalation.
• Make the economic costs and practical impracticalities of any Greenland takeover an accessible message for voters (tariff hits, taxpayer subsidy).
• Continue pragmatic coalition‑building within Congress to block extreme policy proposals while keeping the coalition together for future fights.
• Approach public questions about trans people with: clarity on differences where relevant, but insistence on dignity, rights, and policy nuance rather than dehumanizing gotchas.
• Stay attentive to how elite rhetoric affects everyday people—especially children—and hold leaders accountable for the consequences.

Episode notes

• Host: Tim Miller (The Bulwark). Guest: Rep. Sarah McBride (D‑DE).
• Audio: episode recorded with some “gremlins”/audio crackles (noted at the top).
• Ads mentioned in the episode: Rocket Money, Trust & Will, LifeLock.
• Related: Bulwark Takes feed has a fuller breakdown of Trump’s Davos speech and its consequences.