# The RNC Convention Was Basically a Trump Cult Meeting

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bulwark-takes-7201724/the-rnc-convention-was-basically-a-trump-cult-meeting
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bulwark-takes-7201724/the-rnc-convention-was-basically-a-trump-cult-meeting.md
Podcast: [Bulwark Takes](https://stenobird.com/podcast/bulwark-takes-7201724)
Published: 2026-09-12T16:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://audioboom.com/posts/8951965
Audio file: https://clrtpod.com/m/pscrb.fm/rss/p/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/audioboom.com/posts/8951965.mp3?modified=1789157292&sid=5149464&source=rss
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/bulwark-takes-7201724/episodes/the-rnc-convention-was-basically-a-trump-cult-meeting
Duration seconds: 1510

## Resource

Sam Stein and Sonny Bunch unpack Sonny’s experience covering the Republican Party’s bizarre midterm convention in Dallas where they almost didn't let him in the arena. Sonny walks through the convention’s strange credentialing saga, the overwhelming focus on Donald Trump, and an event that seemed less like a traditional party convention and more like a celebration of Trump himself. From Trump memorabilia and a pledge to the president to a convention floor united around Trump, Sonny explains what the GOP looks like up close and why the party appears to have no identity beyond Donald Trump. They also discuss the surprising prominence of Charlie Kirk at the convention, JD Vance’s appeal to Kirk’s legacy while defending Trump’s Iran policy, and the one issue that actually appeared to divide attendees.

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## Transcript

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