Lies, Politics and Democracy: John Bolton (interview) | FRONTLINE

[@frontline]

Watch the full documentary “Lies, Politics and Democracy” here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/emPIhZx7aNBqmtU

[@My2CentsYall]

Another Mueller report denier. They did not subpoena your arse because you would get up there and try to explain away and justify your actions just as you did this entire interview.

[@goldcic]

I was so happy when you walked out on Mega Dem Trump.

[@BortofBelfast]

Is this going to be available to watch on KZbin for those outside of the US?

[@roymaddocks3184]

@@BortofBelfast it is absolutely available on utube in Canada, right now

[@BortofBelfast]

@@roymaddocks3184 Thank you Roy...enjoy your viewing!

[@desertdetroiter428]

Bolton is playing games here. At no point did Al Gore EVER say that he wouldn’t accept the results. There’s no equivalence here, Bolton. Knock it off.

[@pjpredhomme7699]

what exactly did you expect ? You are talking about fundamentally diseased , dishonest people . The only appropriate question that should ever be asked of John Bolton - is - OK so why did you not say something or resign - publicly . Of course he never did that because he is only really ever out for John Bolton or his handlers - these people should hide in shame - scourge of the planet

[@erickborling1302]

And Sanders has never attacked the legitimacy of "institutions" per se; but rather stridently criticizes what constituency is served by gov't power.

[@nettwench]

He's weaving a false narrative during this entire interview. Engaging. Ugh.

[@cnwil4594]

Dude, you are absolutely correct. Al Gore won the popular vote as well, and as you implied Al Gore conceded gracefully, no comparison to the pathological lying like Trump and his minions. Bolton, as you also implied, is nothing but a gaslighter.

[@nettwench]

Enraging, not engaging!

[@MrHeathzilla]

When John Bolton is one of your most sober-minded advisers, you have a problem

[@1burnman]

Exactly in a lot of trouble

[@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO]

Correct: And apparently the creators of Frontline are either advertising or throwing it in the face of the American People, because every one of their "Documentaries" and the people interviewed in the Frontline Series: "Lies, Politics and Democracy", if full of Lies, Political Propaganda, and False Information/ False Narratives.

[@kyle5519]

Bolton is a political genius

[@kyle5519]

@@secretname4190 better than handing the south china sea to China on a silver platter like Obama. Bolton actually stands up for his own country, unlike the left who cut their own balls off

[@kyle5519]

@@secretname4190 its not china's either, so why let them take all these slices of the world when they can be ours? If your a coward, go be a coward but don't spread your nonsense.

[@chicagofineart9546]

If John Bolton thought of himself as the "guard rails" of the administration, that's the time I'd get off the bus. Bolton does Bolton quite well.

[@kateskeys]

Well said!

[@evelinaellinwood9272]

P

[@digitalperson108]

Dood is pretty much pure evil, always has been. He is one of those people behind so much suffering for people all around the world. He hoped he would be able to steer 45 but found his 45’s ego and narcissism more than made up for his lack of intelligence. Ironically, the steering he hoped to do was not good for anyone, not that 45 knew that at all.

[@jameshoffman4778]

Glad to hear his direct and clear analysis of our political situation today. I am in agreement with him on his insightful, clear and accurate thoughts on the current political situation in the US

[@digitalperson108]

@@jameshoffman4778 he outa know…he helped very much to create the mess we have

[@Rohit-oz1or]

Bolton- one of the architects of the Iraq war taking about morality

[@tonywilson4713]

Yeah its a very difficult interview to sit through. His utter contempt for anything he doesn't like is telling. Less than 10 minutes in he's praised his ability to get Trump to tear up the Iran Nuclear Treaty which makes him one of very very few who thought that made the world safer. Plus he claimed Bernie Sanders is so far left he has no respect for institutions in the same manner of Trump. Bernie Sanders was ACTUALLY cheated out of the Democratic nomination TWICE (2016 & 2020) and he accepted the judges (as in the DNC) decision. Then there was that comment about Al Gore and what he did in 2000. ITS ACTUALLY LAW that in elections that close its MANDATORY to recount until they know they have it right. The actual people who broke the law back then was SCOTUS who overruled the election laws. So to claim Al Gore set America onto a negative path for doing nothing more that following the law just shows how much of a narcissist this guy is. And that's just in the first 10 minutes.

[@el80ne]

Not just that, in a freudian slip a few months ago he openly admitted to having planned many coup d'etats. It was a weak backhanded defense of Trump not having been involved in planning a coup because he (Bolton) had been involved in planning numerous coups and it required a "lot of work" which he believed trump was too flighty and disorganized to pull off.

[@janicefredericks7505]

Bush should apologize for the shock and awe killing civilians for a stupid reason of wmds which wasn’t even true

[@richardmccleod9898]

one of pro -isreali spies for lukuid party in Israel,he works for nutyuhu not Americans interest!

[@ГлебВерховский-п2р]

I think most people in Iraq would not want going back to Saddam Hussein's dictatorship.

[@SandraWade666]

Is he SERIOUS? Comparing Stacey Abrams to Donald Trump? I turned the interview off after that

[@gr4608]

She questioned the integrity of an election that she lost. Just like Trump. That’s the similarity. Bolton analyzes Trump better than most.

[@randibgood]

I made a comment about that too. Ridiculous to try to equate the two elections.

[@dkarras]

I begrudgingly watched the whole thing as I typically avoid wasting my time on Bolton like the plague. But because he was for a time ‘inside the room’ I thought he might have some interesting info/insights. I can report it was a waste of time so you didn’t miss anything. At every instance where he’d attempt to offer an insight on how the Dems made the situation worse or contributed to the problem, he’d undermine it w/ false equivalencies like the one you mention. I did enjoy the comedic bit where he accused the Dems “[w]ith respect to the Ukraine impeachment effort against Trump, there was no effort whatever at bipartisanship”. 😂🤣😭😅😰😵‍💫. That 💩was funny. I formally accuse Bolton of being at best naïve based on that statement.

[@rhondah1587]

Not to mention that Stacey Abrams said no such thing. He lied.

[@Nickelini]

@@dkarras thank you . . . I will not bother to finish it. Bolton does not deserve a voice

[@colkoch]

I really wish there had been one or two follow up questions to some of the things Bolton maintains. I'm capable of listening to Bolton's chicken hawk ideology, but when he states Democrats were responsible for Trump's ideas of omnipotence after the first impeachment, I would have liked a follow up question such as: Don't you think Republicans were more responsible since they totally caved, except for Romney? Adam Schiff absolutely pointed this out in his final comments during the impeachment. He warned them.

[@banjohombre]

They didn't cave. Just mindless fealty. Only a slight difference, I know, but like Bolton points out, no personal philosophy.

[@iamlpinthe312]

You have expressed my thoughts exactly. Unlike Kinzinger , Bolton refuses to take any responsibility. Rather he points the finger at the Democrats, says that there wasn’t a proper transfer of power to Trump because ‘ there weren’t people who were in politics for a long time and didn’t know procedures ‘, Trump ( his organization ) kept a small circle of people around him etc. He’s making a lot of excuses. Writing in a name not on the ballot is no different than abstaining to vote. It’s lame . Of all of the “ episodes “ in this series this is the first one where I don’t find myself looking at the person interviewed in a different light.

[@colkoch]

@@banjohombre I disagree. They caved. There have been too many reports of senators saying they had no choice because they were either terrified of being primaried or just scared of the threats that would come to their families. That's not loyalty. That's fear.

[@johnsmith1474]

Adam Schiff is the single biggest liar in the whole government next to whoever is running the CIA.

[@java4653]

LOL. It's Frontline, the folks who blamed the War on Terror...on Obama. They will never ask tough questions of any Republican, that's not "fair".

[@abirch587]

Bolton exudes this air of authority and confidence and frankness. But while he might convince some, he can't fool me. You could hear the bias when he tries to use moral equivalency when comparing the republicans and the democrats, he is very dishonest in his assertions. For example he said that it was problematic for amount connections with Russia and Trump can't admit it because it would have delegitimized his presidency, but then he goes on to sort of suggest that the Mueller investigation didn't conclude that, which is blatantly untrue, even with the amount of obstruction and roadblocks they had to deal with. Not to mention that Rosenstein sabotaged that investigation from the beginning. Next he credits himself with the withdrawal from the Iran deal as though that was a wise decision. America needs a new breed of politicians who are forward thinking and can confront the issues and challenges of the 21st century not has beens and relics of a bygone era

[@ahappyimago]

Yeah or how he blames Pelosi for impeaching Trump when the only reason Trump wasn’t removed is that Republicans flatly refused to hear any evidence against Trump because they only care about Republicans staying in power.

[@danadams6477]

Yes! Thank you. I noticed that too. Bolton is wishy-washy in his response. Very contradicting. Typical conservative double speak, blame-shifting and deflection/redirection.

[@yuriajones]

While I might agree with your overall premise, the example you give about Russia is inaccurate. The Mueller report does NOT conclude that Trump's camp colluded with Russia. It did, however, conclude that Russia and its assets interfered with the campaign and in so doing, they violated US laws. There's no doubt about the interference. Mueller made no conclusions about "collusion" between Trump's camp and the Russians. His investigation revealed dozens of contacts between the two groups, but he was unable to gather enough evidence that would meet the burden of proof that there was a conspiracy or coordination. Mueller also went on to push back against politicians and pundits who asserted that his report concludes that there was "no collusion". This is a deliberate mis-reading of the report, as the report made no conclusions about "collusion". However, since Democrats and the left-leaning media had been harping about "collusion" for months, Mueller's report seemed to fall far short of what they expected and Republicans took it as a win.

[@pikebishop8516]

@@danadams6477 excuse me but don't you think a man who killed 700 000 people in Iraq is not a credible source? No wmd, no nukes, no chemicals weapons, nothing but lies. How can you take that guy seriously?

[@mmmsunshine5367]

He is just dressed up but empty

[@jdocean1]

He just absolves all republican senators who wouldn’t listen to testimony and evidence and let him off strictly along partisan lines. Ignoring the fact that he had actually COMMITTED CRIMES BOLTON!

[@ahappyimago]

Yeah Bolton is a total snake don’t forget. He has moments of honesty because Trump was inexcusably selfish and dumb but Bolton is a partisan hack.

[@Who-r2t]

Yes! Exactly. Some how everything the republicans do is actually the fault of democrats. What Trump did in 2020 is just an extension of Al Gore in 2000. Bolton is awful.

[@kateskeys]

Thank you. Bolton is no hero

[@apharaohamoungkings4086]

That's my take away from this: "Trump didn't have experience in the white house Everything was a mess There was russian collusion He was a present danger to security and friends of the enemies ...but the Democrats sank the ship by bitching"

[@nettwench]

Not to mention the entire game plan for the GOP is to finish up what he started so they control state elections. Difficult to watch Bolton be given a platform to deliberately spread misinformation. For the people who know what he's doing it may be clear, but without pushback or follow-up this is a propaganda piece.

[@jaredmcnamara6874]

Bolton points out that the system was stressed and it held firm. What he misses is that there is work underway to take away the protections and roadblocks to the system and next time it gets stressed, it will fail.

[@erickborling1302]

It's questionable as to whether the system held firm when only Mike Pentz's choice got in Trump's way.

[@bbeight3843]

YES YES YES! Bolton must have his blinders on or is cozying up with the crazy, conspiratorial crowd taking over IF he can ignore _all the election deniers_ that are in a very good chance of unwinding the fabric of our democracy if they win secretary of state positions. There are even fresh laws that have been minted in this past year giving legislative bodies easier paths to accept or reject election results -- like what the heck, Bolton -- wake up to what your gop is doing!

[@johnstallings4049]

@@erickborling1302 the only part the entire GQP© is upset about it is that it failed

[@billyoung9083]

Excellent! Exactly what I was thinking. Bolton continually dismisses the obvious by saying everything turned out alright in the end.

[@karinfroller7403]

And a few people that stood up to Trump: Pence, Raffensberger and some others at the State level. Next time, with more loyalists in the right places, all bets are off.

[@juliansandoval8022]

wasn't this dude the one who started the whole Iraq invasion thing?

[@Javdoc]

This guy (and Barr) are the "broken clock" analogy taking human form.

[@Youdidnthearme]

Anthropology 👍👍

[@luchingerremo293]

He always speaks of national security but doesn‘t see risk for national security right in front of his eyes.

[@melquesedekcastro7480]

Because he is a traitor. RINO. Liz Cheney in pants.

[@karldavidson9767]

1. If I gave an extra 100 dollars to my PBS station during the next fundraiser, could we get the interviewer a microphone that was not used to announce the 1921World Series that doesn’t sound like a rowing coxswain or marching band leader 2. Are we in some kind of parallel dimension where a Barr, a Bolton and the Cheneys are saying things that make sense? Is this the end of the world?

[@MaroonedInDub]

Probably energy crisis cutbacks. Putin is saying that the western world is returning to the medieval world. Next week they are to be using loud hailers.

[@joeblow5087]

Yes. It's the end of the world.

[@oddanneout]

The world will actually end when people stop complaining about perfectly acceptable sound quality. Thank you for keeping us safe.

[@tylerrowe2798]

Lol. Who in the hell mics an interviewer?

[@21972012145525]

Pretty sure these interviews were conducted virtually thus the poor sound quality from the interviewer

[@xt3708]

masterclass on doublespeak

[@leoa4c]

What a massive, career-driven, hypocrite.

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

You have the biggest hypocritical career politician sitting in your White House now with Joe Biden

[@ГлебВерховский-п2р]

Wow, there are so many of you Russian trolls here. It's very impressive, the propaganda effort.

[@vladdrakul7851]

Wow, there are so many of you pro war acolytes here. It's very impressive, the propaganda effort.

[@mikhailbabushkinum]

What a despicable war criminal, I don’t know how does he manage to sleep at night

[@andrewheydt2179]

who are you talking about john bolton

[@mikhailbabushkinum]

@@andrewheydt2179 who else

[@larrysummers5926]

John Bolton for 2024 presidency

[@giannisozo7928]

Stop giving this man airtime

[@mariespi96]

Exactly! He could’ve spoken up a lot earlier. If he had, Trump could’ve been impeached but he didn’t. NOW, he wants to speak up! Too late! Trump already caused so much damage to this country, the role effects will be felt for decades. I have no respect for Bolton!

[@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368]

Why? You don't agree with what he has to say? First Amendment is a bitch.

[@benniecrawford6876]

Bolton is at his core always a weasel.

[@andercoyote4170]

WEASEL. That mustache.

[@larrysummers5926]

John Bolton for 2024 presidency

[@vladdrakul7851]

@@larrysummers5926 *'John Bolton for Der Fuhrer 2024!'* I hope you have at least joined the armed forces to serve as I did, or are you that lowest of creatures, an 'online general'. A Chickenhawk, always willing that others sacrifice themselves or suffer hell on Earth to help Billionaires become Trillionaires as we become just another mercenary Empire. Where lobbyists run everything. You are not only a false patriot, you are on the side of true evil AND are a traitor to liberty, democracy, International law and the human race. WELL DONE (not)!!! Ex Flight Sgt.

[@melquesedekcastro7480]

Please, call him a traitor.

[@vladdrakul7851]

@@larrysummers5926 Why?? Do you actually WANT WW III and M.A.D. (Mutual Assured Destruction)? If so get help! Most of us WANT to live out THIS ONE LIFE! FOOL!

[@dominique217]

The Supremes did affect the 2000 outcome. It stopped the FL recount. There's no question in that. Once the Supremes chose the president in 2000 we saluted sharply and got on with the business of governance. Not at all equivalent to what happened in 2020 unless I missed the Capitol attack back then.

[@randomdude5938]

And this is the problem with the GOP. Even the ones who now recognize the danger of trump still don’t live in reality.

[@ahappyimago]

Yes Bolton is a delusional snake but just compared to Trump he is the voice of reason.

[@randibgood]

@@randomdude5938 Or at least won't acknowledge it. They certainly FELT it on Jan 6.

[@mec8351]

@@randomdude5938 your party believes in hiring people based on skin color, and that men can get pregnant. let me know when YOU start living in reality.

[@dominique217]

@@mec8351 Not that you addressed me, but...many recognize that the uneven playing field in terms of economics, education, housing, etc that segments of Americans endure as a result of hundreds of years of slavery cannot be erased from almost every facet of our daily lives without some type of intervention no matter how imperfect that intervention may be. As for men getting pregnant, when a transgendered male is at certain stages in his transition, not fully physically transitioned, then he can, indeed, become pregnant. This shouldn't be that difficult to comprehend.

[@caseymmmaher]

Thank you Frontline. I’m not sure what we would do without your incredible reporting. I am absolutely over the moon excited and thrilled that we now get to see these longform interviews. Bravo!

[@erickborling1302]

Truth is healing.

[@patriciaaznavourian3014]

Bolton is myopic, comparing Gore to what these Maga magots have done, storming the Capitol Building, denying an election with only " theories" is absurd. Get some eye glasses and look in the mirror.

[@BVonBuescher]

Yes! Bring on more uni-party establishment bureaucrats. It sure was nice of John to take some time away from the swamp!

[@johnpasma6466]

​@@erickborling13028n

[@junkiesuper]

Bolton kinda lied about Abrams, During an interview with CNN's "New Day" on Friday, Abrams said Kemp "won under the rules of the game at the time, but the game was rigged against the voters of Georgia." "I, on November 16, 2018, acknowledged at the top of my speech that Brian Kemp is the governor of Georgia and I even wished him well at the end of the speech," Abrams said. "And in the middle, I talked about the fact we had a system that he managed, that he manipulated, hurt Georgia voters and the responsibility of leaders is to challenge systems that are not serving the people."

[@carbine090909]

true. perhaps not decorous under most circumstances, but the rigged-election ship had sailed by the time of her concession. trump could have followed her example, but obviously chose not to.

[@nettwench]

Agree. He's also lying about Gore in FL.

[@nagone11]

That's why I said, he was not being totally honest here..he's still trying to cover to some degree. Abrams was speaking on the voters that were disenfranchised and purged from the voter rolls before the election. How the secretary of the state of Georgia maybe even illegally removed people from being able to vote.

[@johnstallings4049]

@@nagone11 Because they're gunna keep doing it in every State in every election

[@andercoyote4170]

And they are continuing to rig elections in Georgia!

[@erisgh0sted961]

I had gained a bit of respect for Bolton in the last year, but I really see from this his complacency, and refusal to bear any responsibility. These people are so transparent.

[@leeboriack8054]

I appreciate the journalist not injecting their “feelings” and just asking simple questions and not leading Bolton conversation wise.

[@dannyize]

Yes. The questions were simple and fair. Bolton's least satisfying answer came at the end of this interview. When asked why GOP leaders failed to repudiate Trump after seeing so many red flags, his answer was weasel words. Bolton should have been pressed harder.

[@nettwench]

This is how most journalism was before cable news.

[@songsmithy07]

Trump didn't say he wouldn't accept the outcome if Hillary was elected; he said he would only accept the outcome if he wins. There's a nuanced difference there that seems to be lost on Bolton.

[@dominique217]

Expound.

[@songsmithy07]

@@dominique217 The former might appeal to all the Hillary haters, but he wasn't doing that. He was stating that he would only accept the results if he wins; that's all about himself.

[@vaughn686]

@@songsmithy07 I think that you're right but I also think that you're applying logic to an illogical person. The nuance is there to a rational person, but to Trump, it's just what fell out of his mouth as he was in the moment. He doesn't think that far ahead of if what he is saying is factual, credible or right. "What I say is what I say."

[@nettwench]

That statement illuminates the entire psychological mindset of a sociopath and narcissist. I must win in all circumstances and at all costs. This is exactly what sociopath father Fred pushed him info when instructing him he had to be a "killer."

[@mikefarnsworth772]

From the vantage point of 2022, it is quite clear that Trump will never acknowledge a loss in any election. He claimed that his side was cheated in basically every case for at least the last ten years. He thought Romney was cheated in 2012, that he was cheated by Ted Cruz in 2016. He thought he actually won the popular vote in 2016, and then of course there is 2020. He doesn't care about what actually happened, just who yells "Fraud!" the loudest.

[@YourCritic]

After everything we all saw about Trump in the run-up to the 2016 election, he still voted for Trump instead of Hillary, that's all you need to know about John Bolton. In terms of political ideologies and foreign policy strategies, Bolton is close to being a complete nut-case (seems he never got the memo on blowback) ... but at least he's not shy about speaking candidly about Trump. Though, I wonder whether he would be a little less vocal compared to other Republicans if he was running for political office.

[@erickborling1302]

And Liz Cheney defended Trump in the first impeachment. ouch!

[@nettwench]

His attempt at whitewashing Trump’s criminality is a big fail.

[@kevinrogers8548]

Are you serious. In my opinion now and during the 2016 election I felt Trump and Hillary probably both should already be sharing a jail cell. If the DNCcand Wasserman Schultz didn’t cheat BERNIE and if they wouldn’t have pushed Hillary down the American voters throats Trump never would have been elected. Hillary is just as big a POS as Trump.

[@Krush00]

Glad to see many haven't forgotten about Bolton's ghoulish war policies.

[@kyle5519]

Better than the current idea of giving our tech to all our enemies so they can keep killing people and eventually us

[@larrysummers5926]

John Bolton for 2024 presidency

[@bobwerner1159]

I'm thinking nicely worded BULLSHIT 💩 I'll give him a half star for moments of candor and it was back to BS City just saying

[@DaveT383]

Totally agree. Bolton is a vicious warmongering hack.

[@mmmsunshine5367]

Exactly

[@banjohombre]

@@mmmsunshine5367 But you people are obvious rank partisans. That's not helping others to understand.

[@astridafklinteberg298]

“Donald Trump is not the Republican Party”; “I don’t think he’ll run for president again” -those statements didn’t age well.

[@MakThaNife]

I wonder how he cleans all the egg out of his stupid walrus mustache.

[@gustavomorales9213]

"The US owes Mike Pens", for doing his fkng job .....I don't think so

[@andercoyote4170]

Nope.

[@MillikanVersuch]

Especially considering the fact that he ran with Dump got him all the Evang. voted that allowed him to win to befin with

[@Curtis3366]

Actually. As repulsive as I find Mike Pence for his spineless pursuit of ambition, and his willingness to set aside his ethical and religious convictions, and join Donald Trump and even worship him with puppy dog eyes and even worse, bring along and corrupt the evangelicals, I have to give him credit for holding his ground against the great pressure from Donald trump, even in person, in the Oval Office in the days before January 6th, and then refusing to accept the false electors on January 6th, and then actually carrying through and performing his duty. I hate to say it, but he will go down in history as a man who held the line. And as much as I despise him in other ways, I have to respect him for that. Because it was dangerous at the time, and it was essentially political suicide with the Republican Party. Now, he might have done it from a selfish standpoint, meaning he knew it would be illegal to do otherwise, and he didn't want to go down in history as that guy who facilitated the first coup in the American experiment. Which could essentially lead to the failure of democracy, not just in America, but on a global scale. But even so he did his duty. And the fact that we don't hold that to be too much to expect, speaks to the level of commitment that all American have come to expect from our public servants, exactly because everybody does hold to the same standard of what it means to be an American. Sadly, Donald Trump is changing that. And I don't think that enough people understand just how deeply the damage he is doing goes, or how long, if EVER it might take to undo. After all, country still carries scars and resentments from the Civil War. And, most people don't realize, that after January 6th, Steve Bannon, Mike Flynn, and a group of other people continued carrying the torch of the stolen election for months, taking their s*** show of lies, and turning it into a roadshow, all across America. They held rallies and gatherings in churches, and schools, and towns, preaching their lies and their version of a failed America to THOUSANDS , and thousands of American citizens who now hold it as gospel, and nearly a religion. And once again, they have propped up Donald Trump as their Messiah. And it doesn't matter how spectacularly he fails, or if he goes to prison, or if he crashes and burns. They believe what they believe, and they will always believe it from now until they die, and it is going to be generational. Donald Trump is just the beginning. For us to heal as a nation, and become reunited from the two nations that we currently are, is going to take a lot of time, and a lot of work. Very much like a marriage that has been destroyed by lies and lack of trust. If you don't do the work, it's impossible to repair. So if this gets swept under the rug, just like personal trauma, it will haunt us for decades, and may still eventually destroy us. Especially because while we may not give it attention, there are others out there, bad actors, both inside, and outside the country who are absolutely willing to capitalize on it. And in fact have been feeding it, perhaps even being the original source, all along. Because what we're witnessing right now is a full on attack on America's democratic institutions. And the way they're doing it, is to turn Americans, against America. This isn't over by a long shot. Even if Biden wins. And there's a very good possibility that he might not...

[@Curtis3366]

I would say that we owe all public servants who do their job willingly, and faithfully, performing their duties, and following the law, and enacting, and protecting, and defending the Constitution, and all of our forms of government, federal, state, and local, whether it be the president and the vice president, the members of congress, the members of the judiciary, the military, or teachers, or firefighters, or policeman, or public works employees, or even just everyday government employees who faithfully attend to keeping things running smoothly. We take all that for granted. But many of these people make great sacrifices to do what they do because they believe in public service. So yes, whether it's Mike Pence, or Brad Raspenberger, or Rusty Bowers, or election workers, or just everyday public servants doing their job, and and faithfully executing their duties they deserve our respect and gratitude for their service. ( pretty sure I just repeated myself there 😂) In Mike Pence's case, it's difficult to forgive him, or anybody for carrying Donald Trump's water. But at least in the moment that counted, for whatever reason whether it was bravery, or cowardice, he fulfilled oath of office in that moment, saving America, at least at that moment, and at least for a while, from Donald Trump's attempts to destroy it.

[@tkaeu]

O​@@Curtis3366

[@Langkops]

This series of interviews by Frontline are so important. This one is important for a different reason. John Bolton is a class A fact-spinning piece of sh*t. May his responses here be forever remembered as how one ignores their inner compass and pushes forward into wilful depravity.

[@larrysummers5926]

John Bolton for 2024 presidency 🤞

[@toddbilleci8563]

To those brave souls who continued after the Bush v. Gore remarks, I commend your intestinal fortitude 🥂

[@karinaz8756]

I’m just here for the comments. I’m not listening to a man that ENABLED a monster. Sorry his shitty book didn’t sell. He doesn’t get a chance to rehab his reputation. He is never EVER washing the drop stink off. He had the opportunity to step up and didn’t. Screw this guy.

[@ruthcassidy6052]

I was in the other room or I might've broken my keyboard ;)

[@dargall1]

Bolton spoke many obvious truths but he is also the king of false equivalencies.

[@quedizzle7378]

This is an eye opening documentary! The people at Frontline give you the facts with no political leanings.

[@deadastronaut2440]

lol

[@captainprototype187]

bolton is a politician. He sees many things from hs side if the isle. This interview is full of his politics.

[@ron88303]

You can't be serious.

[@mec8351]

Exactly, Que Dizzle. That's why ALL of the interviews are with people who bad mouth the bad orange man! PBS/NPR are perfectly neutral, even though they get their funding from the federal government blob!

[@BVonBuescher]

Haha! Yea. It was nice of John to leave the swamp for an afternoon. I’m sure they miss him.

[@patj4952]

I love this series and I have enjoyed listening to the guests. I draw the line however, at John Bolton. He served in the administration, he shook his head, he want along with all the corruption and said nothing until he left and wrote a book. I have absolutely no respect for this person.

[@karinaz8756]

Agree. He is DESPERATELY trying to rehab his reputation. He didn’t step up when it counted.

[@kdnick8584]

John Bolton telling us Liz Cheney is a person of great integrity. Where do I begin?

[@kalidescopemind1]

She has more integrity than the rest of the GOP combined. You can begin there.

[@kdnick8584]

@@kalidescopemind1 You may be right. But any elected leader who was behind the Iraq war, based on lies of WMD, begun by her father, that killed over a million people, ( which is 95 percent of them on both sides) , is not my idea of integrity. But you do you.

[@w.d.g.]

is bolton just selling another book? or is he fixing the problems his party is responsible for?

[@mmmsunshine5367]

Selling and trying to polish his pathetic antisocial legacy

[@larrysummers5926]

John Bolton for 2024 presidency

[@ianreed9571]

"How dismal it is to see present day Americans yearning for the very orthodoxy that their country was founded to escape." Christopher Hitchens

[@jim2376]

I wish Hitchens was still alive. He undoubtedly would have skewered the orange jackass mercilessly with his rapier sharp wit.

[@MaroonedInDub]

@Wonderin'Aloud Sometimes I think it still is

[@jesuisdenis5739]

@@brian5001 If by 'we' you mean republicans, 1950s Eisenhower Administration. Reagan was charming but not well informed. GW was a dummy, the last guy is an amoral, mentally ill man with the lexicon of a 5th grade little boy. He dumb as a shovel.

[@T-41]

Bolton reminds me of the old saying “The pot calling the kettle black.”

[@larrysummers5926]

John Bolton for 2024 presidency

[@joanlantis4497]

why anyone would think that leaving the Iran nuclear deal was a good thing is a head-scratcher. that deal gave us permission to go into Iran and keep an eye on what they were up to. now we really have no idea what they are up to.

[@operator9858]

If bolten is at your side you know its all going to go wrong.

[@aclem8246]

Candidates have every right to ask for a re-count. Once that is done and it is verified you have lost you accept the outcome which is exactly what Al Gore did. Trump on the other hand sought to undermine the results. Different kettle of fish entirely.

[@edmallon2851]

How can Bolton compare Gore with Trump??? Gore lost by about 500 votes, Trump lost by almost 8,000,000. Both appealed, but Gore conceded at 33 days and congratulated the winner, Trump still hasn't

[@astridafklinteberg298]

And, had Rehnquist not stopped the vote count, Gore would have been president.

[@MekameanzTV]

Frontline thank you for the great interviews

[@matl.8197]

I freaking hate when people say "don't take what Trump or Stacey Abrams, for example, were saying too literally because it's all politics." Yeah, that's the problem. We've grown accustomed to and have accepted these politicians lying and embellishing the crap they say because it's part of "politics." That right there should show us these people's true colors.

[@banjohombre]

No lying allowed? Gee

[@matl.8197]

@@banjohombre 🤣

[@RawandCookedVegan]

Bolton on Trump, "He's not smart enough to be an authoritarian." And half our electorate voted for this guy. Amazing.

[@cooliekim]

How power hungry are people that they're trying to change our memories of what actually happened at the time and their unsavoury roles in it; while exhorting us to continue to put them in charge?

[@caseyf6513]

“Not smart enough to be an authoritarian” 😂😂😂

[@nettwench]

Yeah, he is full of it. TFG didn't want to give up the presidency, and fought the results of the election, planned a violent insurrection coordinated with neo-Nazis and thugs. He was smart enough to corrupt the government from top to bottom, and then challenge state electors and elections. Attempting to coerce and intimidate poll workers and state governors/AG's. Sent teams of crooked lawyers to attempt to subvert the elections in states where he lost. Wanted to seize voting machines! He's a mob boss, money-launderer, scam artist. He's done business with Russian mafia, US mafia, terrorist countries, expressed his ardent admiration of dictators. Of course he's an authoritarian. And he was a criminal for many years before he ran for the presidency. He had a habit of using threats and intimidation to get what he wanted. And on top of all of that he inherited his father's business and ran it into the ground, with multiple bankruptcies. He bankrupted many contractors who worked with him. He stole his niece and nephew's inheritance. The GOP owns this. They love and idolize their criminals, conspiracy mongers, and pushing incompetent people into government positions. They are getting extremists elected in every state in the country, like Boebert and Greene. I first observed this when Ollie North and Gordon Liddy were treated as GOP heroes after they were convicted. They keep doing it, which displays their total contempt for the rule of law and the constitution. Yes, Trump IS the GOP. They couldn't deny the insurrection or his refusal to accept election results. GOP politicians lie to their own constituents. Trump ran a fundraising scam against his own followers! The elephant in the room here is the effect of billions of dollars of dark money being used by the GOP to sway elections and install activist judges from the Federalist Society. Leonard Leo just got a 1.6 billion dollar donation from ONE man! It started with big money from the Koch Brothers. It steered the party toward almost total corruption. Their politicians and judges are just the hired hands of the interests of billionaire donors with a fetish for authoritarianism. They want to rule, not govern. They are disenfranchising voters and Trump's plan to rig state elections in their favor is ongoing. There is zero distance between the former president's actions and their own plans to game the system.

[@Studeb]

I've always thought this was true, he is not very smart, just a school bully who gets fans who like seeing bullying.

[@Tortilla.Reform]

Also not smart enough to be president, but that still happened. Bolton is playing games with this statement

[@LB-tw7gg]

Did you see how he relished in saying that? This dude has always been an opportunist and always will. Now he’s taking this opportunity to try to rehabilitate his character.

[@LB-tw7gg]

Bolton is indirectly admitting he was only using trump as much as trump was using him.

[@lodunsi]

While I agree about discourse and challenges You need to know when you have lost and should give it up Bolton is talking nonsense to absolve himself In addition the others he mentioned went on to concede defeat not try to stay in power by force

[@gp92510]

Once again, Bolton is EXPERT at ever-so-slightly twisting "facts" to meet his needs... He's made a career out of the gullibility of Americans of that stripe...

[@RedStl]

EXPERT! His slight of hand is amazing.

[@trenthink]

Nevertheless, in just about every single interview in this series, the common statement is essentially; Trump has no moral compass, and he only cares about winning and gathering adulation. It is a little bit scary to realize that the man who was, and now wants to run our country, cares about nothing except if he, personally, can win. This realization goes a long way towards explaining Trump’s actions and what he has really done to our country, and even western civilization in general. It also goes a long way towards explaining why you, and his other supporters, never really got anything close to what you initially were hoping to get. And as much as you might hate to admit it, I ain’t woke, and you and I might actually have very similar goals as far as what we really want and expect to get out of the “American Experiment.”

[@larrysummers5926]

John Bolton for 2024 presidency

[@dominique217]

It's weird that he brought up 2000 when Justice Scalia picked the president.

[@MorganLeFay1]

If recollection serves, after the 2000 election, Gore wanted a recount because the Florida race was so close. Bolton made it sound like Bush was Mr. Innocent in the Florida fiasco involving the Supreme Court which wasn't true. Bush sued to stop the recount (case title Bush v. Gore -- not the other way around). Bush was responsible for those 33 days that Bolton was unhappy about. A subsequent count a year later by the NY Times showed that Gore had, indeed, won the Florida vote. The Supreme Court is not constitutionally empowered to interfere in elections which are the domain of the individual state. Much more could be said on this single issue but suffice it to say Republicons (spelling intentional) cheat!

[@dominique217]

@@MorganLeFay1 Concur. And even after they cheated, Gore graciously conceded the race. There is zero equivalence.

[@erickborling1302]

You nailed it.

[@erickborling1302]

@@MorganLeFay1 Finally some smart people commenting. :)

[@ron88303]

Fast forward to 2020. My how times have changed.

[@TheLion377]

Frontline should do a piece of investigative journalism on the murder of Shireen abu-Akleh. A fellow American journalist assasinated in cold blood by the Israelis.

[@joeblow5087]

@Wonderin'Aloud AFTER they do a documentary about fundamental Christian terrorism.

[@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368]

@@joeblow5087 AFTER they do a documentary about how godlessness has given rise to greed and the destruction of the family unit.

[@roymaddocks3184]

Israel has admitted it was an Isreali armed forces bullet that killed her

[@Hoireabard]

War crimes are war crimes and the guilty should have the courage to stand trial.

[@Barnemans55]

After 23 minutes of gaslighting and downplaying I give up. Bolton is the first one in this series I can't keep on listening to.

[@MakThaNife]

Agreed. I'd rather listen to Sleepy Joe rant and rave gibberish then listen to this neocon piece of trash.

[@theminer49erz]

Wow this guy is a piece of work. I have a feeling he believes all of his nonsense. Granted there are a few bits of truth, but he is a just as much a part of this as many of the things he is talking about.

[@dwdavis5977]

I respect that John Bolton is speaking his mind, but I disagree with him on several points. A book tour is just that. I think he was part of a bad run for our country.

[@jowrjowr]

how many bad runs does he have to be on before he might be a part of the problem?

[@heathersoper6923]

Note how Bolton ducks questions

[@larrysummers5926]

Who doesn’t duct questions or talk in circles when needed! John Bolton for 2024 presidency

[@sosalpha]

Interview with a War Monger

[@MakThaNife]

A war his shriveled old pathetic ass doesn't have to partake in.

[@CaptainNemo279]

Bolton talks like patriotic and brave man, I am surprised he is not enlisted and fighting in trenches in Ukraine.

[@farmer1129]

John Bolton lover of war....

[@kgraham5820]

I thank Mr. Bolton for his candor and honest opinion of his point of view while his time there. It’s greatly appreciated. Parts of this is tremendously difficult to listen to, bc I have always imagined the White House, behind the scenes, to be ran like a fine-tuned piano, with dignity and class. And the people who hold those positions are the best our country has to offer in their fields and work well under presser, Especially the President of the United States. Kinda sad...

[@jb894]

he is a war freak

[@wcolautti]

Well said.

[@joeblow5087]

Bolton didn't speak to Congress when asked. Instead he wrote a book. FU Bolton.

[@francisstanley4325]

Bolton said himself in this interview That Trump’s staff didn’t know what they were doing

[@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368]

Dignity and class? When Clinton was boning Lewinsky and skeeting all over her dress? Or when JFK was letting in his mistresses through the backdoor? Or when Nixon...

[@simplethings3730]

Six minutes in and Bolton brings up Iran. I'm shocked. The fact that he is not smart enough to be an authoritarian doesn't mean he isn't an authoritarian. Faith in institutions was undermined because that is the platform many if not most Republicans have ran on. Most famously by Ronald Reagan who said "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem". Trump's people met with Russian operatives and discussed how to win the election. Whether you call that collusion, conspiracy or just a friendly chat it is unacceptable. Period. I'm out of here.

[@JohnPaulSeklecki]

I will tell you what people. No matter what side you are on - This guy has intergerty and is a honorable person. I respect that 💯 .... John

[@dayers8715]

I like the fact that Bolton is critical of both democrats and republicans

[@kurttuchscherer7706]

From the start , Gore did not claim fraud. There is a huge difference between 2000 and 2020.

[@banjohombre]

Nobody did. That was the point Bolton was making.

[@kurttuchscherer7706]

@@banjohombre Bolton explicitly tried to find an equivalence between Gore and trump. Because the margin in Florida was only 500 + votes ,that by Florida law triggered an automatic recount. During the recount there were many problems found,remember dangling Chads? At no time did Gore cry out fraud or that the election was stolen. He did what the law allows and in the end accepted the final ruling.

[@Baka_Komuso]

I love the interviewer’s staccato. Such a difference from Bolton’s careful , thoughtful speech. You can just about understand it. But , by Bolton’s answers you can understand the the question.

[@yvonnefarrell1029]

Interesting comment about Trump stopping or delaying publication of Bolton's book due to concerns about whether it had confidential information in it. Irony of ironies.

[@pjpredhomme7699]

why would he not be concerned about that - if Bolton had included secret information in his book - it would only hurt the price Trump could get for it - don't consider for one second that Trump was not going to sell secret information - he is pathologically incapable of not doing that

[@erickborling1302]

Everyone is forgetting that from early 2017 to late 2019 Trump and his admin were using non-secure personal Android phones for official business contrary to the express objections of cyberscurity experts. Then there were the hackers parked offshore who tested Mar-A-Lago's internet security and found it easily transgressed. Trump has always been a counterintelligence nightmare.

[@nettwench]

It appears to be the only action he doesn't acquit Trump of doing, or blaming Democrats for.

[@timcaulder6971]

Lies and politics that is the true definition of John Bolton career

[@ritacampbell3833]

Why do you give these lies a forum!

[@2Uahoj]

Problem is that for every problem he blames other people - never himself. He joined the Trump Administration expecting exactly what? That Trump would suddenly change his character?? Then he leaves office in a huge huff and writes a scathing, best selling book about Trump. For all of his smarts, either he was woefully naïve (highly unlikely) or as calculating - in his own way - as Trump.

[@zoundstreetop]

The long-awaited, long forgotten “pivot.” Who believed that was going to happen. It was all gaslighting.

[@nettwench]

By the news media as much as the GOP. The man had a long history of criminal behavior, all of these people knew that and turned a blind eye.

[@500ccRabbit]

If Bolton had his way, we would be involved in no less than 6 wars right now.

[@TyStyckify]

"He [rump] is not smart enough to be an authoritarian" - John Bolton classic

[@will._.x_.861]

best chance that America moves forward in a sound philosophical direction

[@justmyopinion9883]

Thank you, Frontline, for sharing this interview. This is another great series that I will watch over and over again.

[@mannyespinola9228]

Thank you for this video

[@johnstaley6337]

Real time history in the making is leaving him in the dust.

[@dallassmith225]

It's pretty bold of him to accuse the Democrats of emboldening Trump by failing to convict him during the first impeachment while placing zero blame on the Republicans who voted not guilty in the Senate.

[@mondoenterprises6710]

How do you explain Helsinki, John?

[@TexasNightRider]

Great interview with Mr. Bolton. I agree with his opinion of Donald Trump.

[@lindseyc9434]

These are my fav to watch! Thank you!

[@seanmcmanamon3773]

He’s so above petty partisan politics but the Dems are responsible for Trump 🙄

[@jacquelynsmith6259]

I knew in 2016 about Trump. I saw it coming a long time ago. These Republicans were so wrap up with Trump they overlooked what trump was saying

[@pdfarrell]

Very interesting and informative. In the end, a partisan decrying partisanship.

[@nettwench]

Not exactly. A lot of falsehoods in his answers to the questions. He equates asking for a recount (Gore) with a violent insurrection and a nationwide attempt to attack the electoral system and intimidating anyone who didn't fall in line.

[@banjohombre]

I caught that too.

[@NastazyaPhylipovnaTchornaya]

Thank you Ambassador Bolton. When both sides of the political aisle are more interested in slandering you without facts, you're obviously on the right side of history.

[@cherylmccloud8709]

Admire his candor but don't forget his role (standing by)as an enabler to the growth of the "Trump [R] Party" to where it is today in 2022🤬.(*Book Sales! $ his only priority😠)

[@MakThaNife]

TRUMP 2024. MAGA wench.

[@markteague8889]

40:28. Liz Cheney no longer represents the state of Wyoming. This was the choice of the People of Wyoming. I wonder what Mr. Bolton thinks about this reality?

[@petercorbett3794]

So Bolton’s first big contribution to the Trump project was to teach him how to sabotage a treaty! It’s a measure of all things Trumpian that Bolton presents himself as the sensible one.

[@nettwench]

Just like Iran-Contra and the Iraq war. The rot starts with Nixon.

[@thomasoroarke7789]

He is a very clear speaker .Answers questions directly .

[@ARichardP]

He has an air of frankness and of authority, as someone above commented. But it’s an air, a practiced style that frequently becomes untethered from the reality below him. He takes you on a wild, partisan hot air balloon ride. Thus the air of frankness.

[@larrysummers5926]

John Bolton for 2024 presidency

[@OldHeathen1963]

I knew Trump shouldn't have power long before 2016. I grew up iui n the NYC tri-state area ( NJ ) and have been hearing about Trump since the 1980s.

[@pjpredhomme7699]

You and 99.9% of that population - I would have voted for Charles Manson before I would Trump - he would be less destructive - and I am not kidding one bit

[@nettwench]

Believe me the GOP knew that too, but supported him anyway. And those poor suckers who watched "The Apprentice" didn't. Portraying a failed, corrupt businessman as a "success" is something I will always blame Mark Burnett for.

[@pattilunsford492]

We need to realize that the majority for decades won the popular vote so when the vote is that close, I’m gonna say it to probably go to the popular vote

[@markcampbell7577]

When the representative from California explained how the electoral college met without the absentee ballots was shot we were waiting for questions and watching the people on the steps react to the sound of the shot. The bus Bush Gore election results were characterized by hanging chads all over the recount. The recount was not completed due the supreme court decision.

[@bonniespeck]

I’d like to see the full unedited version of this interview. It’s obvious they cut and pasted it.

[@jjames2162]

This is actually excellent- great interview and confirmation of what we all thought all along ….

[@janicefredericks7505]

I’m a registered Republican and don’t see much good in the Republican Party

[@SPIndy72]

“Donald Trump isn’t smart enough to be an authoritarian.“ Poetic irony.

[@francisstanley4325]

Were there no civics classes at the military college Trump went to? Nor in the high school he attended for that matter? Didn’t say that Trump would read her mind didn’t Ivanka say that Trump would read her Mein Kampf aloud? Let’s not be fooled... he indeed had basic civics and basic understanding of how the government works he just didn’t care. Don’t think for one second either that he doesn’t know how to be an authoritarian. He just doesn’t have a Congress or a military force on his side to allow it.

[@fbenbow2197]

If he says all news in his disfavor is fake news, tries to bribe foreign countries to collect dirt on his political adversaries, tells extremist groups to stand by (because another 4 years would postpone his bankruptcy,), regardless of any principles or morality or dignity for the office or intelligence. What is he, mouse or man? I say very non sexy mouse

[@fbenbow2197]

You don't have to be smart, you have to be sexy to be an authoritarian. And he is neither smart nor sexy.

[@kelleengrimm4366]

Unlike Lyndsey Graham and Kevin McCarthy, JOhn Bolton must be given some due credit for refusing to support his President any longer and to stick to his decision and not waver, but serve the Constitution and and the rule of law.

[@MuckoJumbie]

He still ignored their violations of their oaths and continued to blame democrats of worse behavior & voter fraud than the GOP . And that Jan. 6th 2021 was a unfortunate event that got out of hand and did not escalate to an insurrection. Bullshit it didn't ! Still covering for that organized crime mob.

[@randibgood]

Some. That's about all he gets. He twisted himself into a few knots enabling the angry mango.

[@dkarras]

Being better than Graham & McCarthy is an exceedingly LOW bar though.

[@nettwench]

He still attempts to whitewash Trump’s crimes and blame then on Democrats bias and partisanship. He tries to distance the party from Trump, but they supported him every step of the way, and are still denying the insurrection and that Trump lost. The entire GOP game plan is to subvert state elections, it didn't start with TFG and didn't stop with him either. Bolton was just peeved that Trump sued him. But he still can't hold him responsible for anything besides that.

[@glenchabi7850]

Great program. Thanks!

[@Robert-08542]

Bolton is for himself just like 45, and he uses the same arguments such as it's everyone else's fault every time.

[@zusanlist3623]

Frontline hits it out of the park again!