The Next Level

4.8 (3.2K)
Politics
Updated Weekly

Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, and Jonathan V. Last bring their signature political insight and banter to the masses in The Next Level podcast. Tune in to hear them discuss the news of the week, break down campaigns and elections, and wade into pop culture feuds. www.thebulwark.com

2d ago

Secret Podcast: Is He the One We’ve Been Waiting For?

Full episodes of The Secret Podcast are available exclusively to paid members of The Bulwark. You can join on Apple Podcasts, YouTube and at https://thebulwark.com. If you want to join, you're in luck: We’re running a 30% off October Surprise sale, so it’s a great time to get the full Secret Podcast and all of our members-only reporting. Sarah and JVL break down Jon Ossoff’s Terminator-style destruction of Mike Collins. Seriously: It was so brutal that someone should have stopped the debate.Then it’s off to: The Eric Deters interview that broke our brains. Pete Hegseth tugging it at the prospect of a livestreamed execution. The Pro-Life movement is practicing its strategic silence. Potato discourse. And The Golden Girls! Definitely a top quartile show. Want a Woke Bill Kristol tee? Get it at The Bulwark Store.
5d ago

MAGA’s Racism is Blowing Up Its Own Coalition

Will Sommer joins Sarah and JVL for a wild, wild show. They congratulate Kash Patel on his engagement, discuss JVL's Triad on the White House reporter-turned-press staffer from Real America's Voice. Then: Megyn Kelly's ghoulish rant against Cornell's Jane Doe, and whether we're happy to see John Roberts experiencing public shame. Finally: Two VERY weird campaign ads, one filled with weird innuendo, and the other featuring Angela Paxton announcing her vote for her cheating ex-husband. They wrap up by discussing a long New Yorker article about the Heritage Foundation's groypery turn. show links: Read JVL's Triad Emma Green's New Yorker feature on the Heritage Foundation Head to Brodo.com/THENEXTLEVEL for 20% off your first subscription order and use code THENEXTLEVEL for an additional $10 off. Visit https://Wildgrain.com/THENEXTLEVEL to get $30 off your first box, plus free croissants for life. A quick note: Bulwark+ Memberships are 30% off for our October sale, a discount so large that JVL and Sarah would like it known they personally object to it. Please take advantage of this terrible business decision while you can: https://thebulwark.com/surprise
Oct 2

Secret Podcast: Tale of Two Interviews

Full episodes of The Secret Podcast are available exclusively to paid members of the Bulwark. Join on Substack, YouTube or Apple Podcast. Sarah and JVL are back apart, as God intended. And there’s lots happening: - The new jobs report is bad! - Should Democrats try to impeach Pete Hegseth? - Trump is sending a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East. - And then there are the two interviews. JD Vance seems to be living in one world while mush-brain Donald Trump is living in another reality. Plus: Trump’s DoJ wants to go after the real villains of Watergate: The prosecutors who investigated poor, innocent Richard Nixon. Also: JVL needs help picking a so-bad-it’s-awesome family movie. --- You asked, we listened! Bulwark LIVE: Charlotte featuring Pete Buttigieg & The Gang—will be live streamed on Sunday, October 18 starting at 7pm EDT. Paid Bulwark members will be able to tune in from home for this exclusive members-only live streamed event. At Bulwark LIVE we can promise you a night of politics with lots of laughs—and maybe a few tears too. We’ll keep you sane. If you live in Carolinas or Georgia and want attend one of our Bulwark LIVE: Good Fight Tour stops from Oct 16-20 details and tickets are available at https://TheBulwark.com/Events.
Sep 29

Things Are Going So Badly for Trump, Even JVL Has Hope

Tim, Sarah, and JVL are all together in-studio. It turns out things are so bad for the GOP, even JVL is hopeful. They discuss Marjorie Taylor Greene calling BS on the GOP's 'caravan' tactic, whether Pete Hegseth could be the administration's fall guy for the Iran war, and a new Marist poll showing Democrats with an almost-too-good-to-be-true lead on the generic congressional ballot. Later: Did Scott Jennings REALLY talk to Mitch McConnell for 30 minutes? Can Democrats get to 56 Senate seats? The gang has thoughts on how Democrats should handle oversight investigations in 2027. Plus: Bo French is racist AND wants mass executions, and finally: the gang discusses some interesting rumors about Candace Owens. Read JVL’s Triad.For a limited time, get 60% off your first box from Tempo Meals at https://TempoMeals.com/THENEXTLEVEL. Right now, save up to 20% on mattresses when you go to Casper.com. #sponsored
Sep 28

Suddenly, Democrats Have a Path to a HUGE Senate Majority

Live from benefit supporting the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and JVL dig into the quieter tactics behind Trump’s deportation crackdown, what Sarah’s Ohio focus groups are saying about Vivek Ramaswamy, Sherrod Brown, John Husted, and Amy Acton, and just how big the 2026 Senate map could get. Plus, as conservative media struggles to defend Trump, the trio holds a contest to see who can do a better Scott Jennings impression. You can help, too: https://thebulwark.com/springfield
Sep 26

Secret Podcast: Ten Lesbians Walk Into a Bar...

Full episodes of The Secret Podcast are available exclusively to paid members of the Bulwark on Apple Podcasts, Substack and YouTube. JVL is already in Ohio. Sarah is about to run to the airport. It’s a wheels-off kind of show. This week: - The government seems to have lied to a court again. - JD Vance was the leaker who threatened national security. - Mary Peltola gets caught in context collapse. - Trump had compromat on Susan Collins. - JVL feels guilty about cutting a promo. And then there’s the big one: The story of the Massachusetts lesbian bar that wasn’t woke enough. It’s a solid B-/B episode! ---- Donate here to our Benefit for Springfield—funds go to the Haitian Support Center: http://thebulwark.com/springfield Want that Woke Bill Kristol tee? Get it at The Bulwark Store: https://store.thebulwark.com/collections/insider-collection/products/short-sleeve-t-shirt Sarah’s THANK YOU note to the Bulwark family: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/you-guys-are-the-best How to Eat an Elephant debuted at #2 on the NYT best seller list. We knocked Ted Effing Cruz out of the top spot! Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible. Let’s keep the momentum going: Get Sarah's book on Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-to-eat-an-elephant-one-voter-at-a-time-sarah-longwell/6a0996cb43d2ef5b?ean=9781250464170&bkshp-astro=t ...or get it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/How-Eat-Elephant-Voter-Time/dp/125046417X
Sep 22

Furious Republicans are Finally Breaking with a Weakened Trump

Sarah's back from the book tour! The gang discusses Sarah's Focus Group Newsletter, George W. Bush's fundraiser for Republican Senate candidates (we thought he was staying out of politics?) Then they get into Trump's ban on CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO from the White House press pool, and whether we still care. Sarah also has some words about Zohran Mamdani sharing a podium with Donald Trump. Then, the gang talks about a Wall Street Journal columnist who has "TDS" (maybe not the TDS you're thinking of). Also: The FBI was investigating Susan Collins for bribery, Tim is mad at Jared Golden, and JVL wants to discuss the Department of Defense's "Gender-Affirming Care." Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at https://Bollandbranch.com/NEXTLEVEL with code NEXTLEVEL Go to https://GetSoul.com and use promo code THENEXTLEVEL for 30% off your order. Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/THENEXTLEVEL to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. Show links:Sarah's Focus Group Newsletter about Vivek RamaswamyAmy Acton’s adGerard Baker has TDSPropublica's investigation into Susan Collins and her Super PAC's donors
Sep 18

Secret Podcast: We’re Living in an Insane Asylum

Sarah and JVL are together again and JVL is raging. The president of the United States accused the Democratic party plotting to assassinate him and . . . everyone just pretends it didn’t happen. Diesel prices are going to the moon. Trump wants to demolish the Kennedy Center. Joe Manchin came back from the grave to endorse Susan Collins. And there’s a 90 percent chance that AI doesn’t kill everyone alive. It’s a short show, but a great show. Also: Sarah talks about the book tour and what it’s like to feel the love you guys have shown her. Be careful; it gets a little dusty. Want that Woke Bill Kristol tee? Get it at The Bulwark Store.

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Tim Miller and guests discuss the latest political news for the flagship podcast of the Never Trump movement and the reality-based community. Every weekday we provide insightful analysis, political hot-takes, an unabashed defense of liberal democracy and long-form interviews that cut through the "both-sides" BS. Plus a few laughs to help you wash down the crazy. Bulwark+ members can get a totally ad-free version of the show delivered right to their favorite podcast player.

4.6 (11620)

Politics
The news cycle doesn’t slow down, and neither does The Bulwark. Bulwark Takes brings you bite-sized takes on the news of the day from the entire Bulwark team, including Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and Bill Kristol, and more.

4.7 (1275)

Politics
Unfiltered, uncompromising, unexpected—The Focus Group is a look into what the average voter thinks about politics, policy, and current events. Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark, has conducted hundreds of hours of focus groups all across the country. She and a series of special guests will take you behind the glass to hear what real focus group participants have to say. https://www.thebulwark.com/podcast/focus-group/

4.8 (2604)

Politics
“The Illegal News” is where law meets politics. Each week, Bulwark publisher Sarah Longwell (not a lawyer) sits down with a legal expert to unpack how the latest court filings, rulings, and procedural twists and turns of the Trump era are shaping American democracy. These are conversations about justice without the jargon, giving you context for the biggest developments and surfacing the legal (and illegal) moves not getting enough attention. If you're looking for "George Conway Explains It All to Sarah Longwell," George is off on a new adventure, but Sarah will keep you covered.

4.9 (3397)

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After a great five year run on Beg to Differ, Mona Charen brings you a new show dedicated to deepening your understanding of complex issues and trends facing society. Each week she'll engage an expert for a probing discussion that goes past the day's headlines.

4.5 (1322)

Politics
Here’s the elevator pitch: It’s “Left, Right, and Center” meets “Siskel and Ebert.” Three friends from different ideological perspectives discuss the movies and controversies (or nontroversies!) swirling around them. You'll have to sign up for the Substack to get bonus episodes and you can do that at movieaisle.substack.com.

4.7 (314)

Film Reviews

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Jonathan V. Last

Host
Sarah Longwell

Host
Tim Miller

Host
Andrew Egger

Guest

4.8

out of 5

3,186 Ratings

Gotten

2d ago

Klkruger

so bad with cutesy inane banter I quit my subscription. The opinions are solid. Can’t do the banter. When JVL speaks seriously, especially when he interviews, great. Other than that, sorry, no.
I am JVL?

3d ago

JP830P

I think I am the female version of JVL and I envy Sarah’s composure. Sarah, your new book is as amazing as this podcast. Thank you all.
Expanding the Court

5d ago

Another nickname 457

Packing the court is what McConnell and Trump have done. Could just go back to seven. Let Alito and Thomas knock off…
Best silly story

Oct 3

LoriJNY

Airplane! Love the pod!

Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, and Jonathan V. Last bring their signature political insight and banter to the masses in The Next Level podcast. Tune in to hear them discuss the news of the week, break down campaigns and elections, and wade into pop culture feuds. www.thebulwark.com