The Next Level

Latest Episodes:

1057: Trump Wants to Be King of the World (Live from Minneapolis) Feb 21, 2026

Show notes

JVL, Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller and Sam Stein team up, live in Minneapolis, to dish on how Donald Trump kicked off his new Board of Peace by threatening to go to war with Iran and why other countries are holding people accountable in Epstein-related cases while elites in the United States have dealt with few consequences. Plus, Bill Kristol crashes the party to sling some takes about the potential field of Democratic presidential candidates in 2028.

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1056: Secret Podcast: Trump’s DHS Is Eating Itself Alive Feb 14, 2026

Show notes

Sarah and JVL discuss the Wall Street Journal exposé on Kristi Noem, Corey Lewandowski, and the internal fight over whether ICE raids should be loud and viral or quiet and deniable. They talk about why humiliation has become the price of loyalty in Trump World, why Biden is suddenly polling better than Trump on the economy, and what the backlash in Minneapolis tells us about how this moment could turn.

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1055: Trump is Crashing Out And We're LOVING It Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

JVL, Sarah Longwell, and Tim Miller relish Trump’s losing streak—from +6 approval to –14—and why slipping GOP support could signal a Bush-style collapse. They also get into inflation backlash, the White House’s “Don’t Be a Panican” spin, and the early cracks forming inside MAGA. Is this the start of a 2006-level wave?

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1054: Secret Podcast: Divorced Guy Energy Is Ruining America Feb 07, 2026

Show notes

Donald Trump posts an overtly racist video, Republicans briefly squirm, and the usual defenses start to crack. JVL and Sarah Longwell explain why this moment exposed GOP cowardice, how Trump’s vanity and distractions are starting to cost him politically, and what billionaire media self-destruction says about power, accountability, and the institutions being hollowed out.

Paid members of The Bulwark get access to FULL episodes of Secret Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Substack.

1053: The Georgia FBI Raid Was Just a Dry Run Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

JVL, Sarah Longwell, and Tim Miller talk about the new Epstein file releases and what they reveal about elite weakness, Peter Attia’s emails, the effort to rehabilitate Epstein after prison, and why this isn’t “cancel culture.” They also discuss what the FBI's raid of an election center in Georgia and Donald Trump's talk about nationalizing elections means for the midterms and beyond.

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1052: Secret Podcast: Trump Begins Arresting Journalists Jan 30, 2026

Show notes

JVL and Sarah came in hottt today, angry about . . . all of it? Journalists are now being arrested. Masked DHS agents are still terrorizing Minneapolis. The worst “free speech” people you know are building a state media ecosystem. And the Melania movie is here.

Paid members of The Bulwark get access to the FULL episode of The Secret Podcast. Join today on Apple Podcasts, Substack or YouTube.

1051: LIVE REACTION: Lil’ Greg Bovino Sent Home; Tom Homan In Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

Sarah, Tim and JVL join to talk about the fallout in Minnesota after Trump pulls Greg Bovino and installs Tom Homan, how voters are reacting, global blowback on Greenland, and what's next.

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1050: Secret Podcast: Trump Is Now Deeply Unpopular Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

JVL and Sarah Longwell discuss the latest—from Trump's sinking poll numbers and the Greenland spectacle to escalating ICE actions and local resistance. They also talk about new focus-group findings showing Gen Z Trump voters cooling on JD Vance (and warming to Marco Rubio), react to the White House’s use of AI imagery in political messaging, and critique Jared Kushner’s glossy “Dubai for Gaza” redevelopment pitch, with a look at how Michigan protest politics is landing now.

Full episodes of the The Secret Podcast are available to paid supporters of the Bulwark on Substack, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.

1049: LIVE REACTION: Sundowning Trump Stumbles Through Press Event Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

Sarah, JVL and Tim discuss the low-energy, never-ending Trump event and the end of their will to live. They also go deep on how Trump’s obsession with Greenland is threatening to torch America’s relationships with its allies and completely realign the world order.

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1048: The New Rule is "Comply or Die" | Secret Podcast Jan 17, 2026

Show notes

Sarah and JVL discuss the Minneapolis shooting and the growing backlash to ICE tactics, the collapse of public support for Trump across key polls, MAGA’s “comply or die” hypocrisy, a potential split between “MAGA” and “non-MAGA” Republicans, the political damage of masked federal force, and farce surrounding the Trump’s “gift” of a Nobel Peace Prize.

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