The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell

The Bulwark
The Bulwark
  • 4.9 (3.4K)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

“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.

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  1. 3d ago

    Alex Wagner NUKES Alito’s Defense of the Trump Election Power Grab

    JVL is joined by Alex Wagner to trace how four conservative power brokers built the legal machine that would reshape the Supreme Court decades later, and how that project helped create the politics we’re living with today. Plus, they break down Samuel Alito’s dissent in the Supreme Court’s mail-ballot ruling and Trump’s escalating fight over the Kennedy Center. Alex Wagner’s “The Steal”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250901637/thesteal/ Start your free trial of Perplexity Computer today at https://pplx.ai/illegalnews and experience the next phase of AI. #ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code ILLEGALNEWS at https://www.oneskin.co/ILLEGALNEWS #oneskinpod #ad Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://www.forhers.com/illegalnews to get personalized, affordable care that gets you. Weight Loss by Hers is not available in all 50 states. Wegovy® is the registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. To get started and learn more, including important safety information, Wegovy® clinical study information, and restrictions, visit https://www.forhers.com/illegalnews.

  2. Sep 10

    Sarah Longwell's Message for Everyone Who Thinks We’re Doomed (w/ Andrew Weissmann)

    Andrew Weissmann turns the tables on Sarah Longwell for a conversation about her new book, How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time—and what a post-Trump political future could look like. They get into Trump’s unusual hold on his voters, the right-wing media ecosystem, why Democrats too often let polls dictate what they believe, and what years of listening to voters have taught Sarah about how to build a pro-democracy coalition that can actually win. Factor makes chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals that are ready to eat in just two minutes, with no prep or cleanup. Choose from more than 100 menu items each week, including meals, snacks, and add-ons. Head to https://factormeals.com/illegalnews50off and use code illegalnews50off to get 50% off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026. Weight Loss by Hers offers access to affordable, FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, including the Wegovy® pill and Wegovy® pen, with treatment handled 100% online. Connect with a licensed provider to see if treatment is right for you, and if prescribed, medication is delivered directly to your door. Visit https://forhers.com/illegalnews to get personalized, affordable care that gets you. Weight Loss by Hers is not available in all 50 states. Wegovy® is the registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. To get started and learn more, including important safety information, Wegovy® clinical study information, and restrictions, visit https://forhers.com/illegalnews. Links: Buy Sarah's book, How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Timehttps://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250464170/howtoeatanelephant Giuliano da Empoli, The Hour of the Predatorhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/808353/the-hour-of-the-predator-by-giuliano-da-empoli/ Julia Curlee, “The Wrong Kind of American” — The Atlantichttps://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/10/trump-white-house-transgender-mike-pence/688284/ Julia Curlee interview, “The Trump Administration Wanted Her Expertise, Just Not Her” — The Atlantichttps://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/2026/08/ra-trans-cia/688289/

  3. Sep 3

    Whistleblower Exposes Trump’s Election Chaos Machine (w/ George Conway)

    Sarah Longwell and George Conway discuss Trump’s attempt to overhaul mail-in voting before the midterms—and why Conway thinks the administration’s chaotic new USPS system is likely to lose when it gets back to the Supreme Court. They also cover SCOTUS letting Trump continue construction on his ballroom, the possibility that Democrats could stop the project in January, and the Epstein questions that still aren’t getting enough attention. Ready to reach your weight loss goals? Weight Loss by Hers offers access to personalized, affordable care, including FDA-approved GLP-1 medications such as the Wegovy® pill and Wegovy® pen. Visit https://www.forhers.com/illegalnews to get started and learn more, including important safety information, clinical study information, and restrictions. Weight Loss by Hers is not available in all 50 states. Wegovy® is the registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. Factor makes chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals that are ready in two minutes, with no prep or cleanup. Head to https://FactorMeals.com/illegalnews50off and use code illegalnews50off to get 50% off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026.

  4. Aug 26

    Trump Is Racing to Build His Ballroom Before the Courts Stop Him (w/ Andrew Weissmann)

    Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss a pair of Supreme Court moves benefiting Trump, including John Roberts allowing construction on the White House ballroom to continue and a ruling affecting Trump’s plans for mail-in voting. They also examine Greg Abbott’s refusal to extradite an ICE officer accused of shooting a man and lying about it, a provocative case involving a traveler who wiped his phone rather than let border agents search it, and the unanswered questions surrounding Natalie Harp’s lack of a security clearance despite her extraordinary access to Trump. Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://forhers.com/illegalnews to get personalized, affordable care that gets you. Sleep cooler this summer with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at https://BollandBranch.com/illegalnews with code illegalnews. Exclusions apply. Use code ILLEGALNEWS at https://jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Gift with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/ILLEGALNEWS! #honeylovepod

  5. Aug 20

    Trump Just Ordered the Government to Delete the Receipts (w/ Andrew Weissmann)

    Andrew Weissmann joins Sarah Longwell to discuss the Trump administration’s move to erase corporate ownership records, the latest developments in the Fauci investigation, how a bizarre election controversy in Alaska led to a DOJ investigation, and what Democrats still need to learn about persuasion in the Trump era. Ready to reach your weight-loss goals? Visit https://www.forhers.com/illegalnews to get personalized, affordable care that gets you. Upgrade your everyday with Quince and get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns at https://www.quince.com/IILEGALNEWS. Make laundry day the best day of the week! Get 20% off your entire order with code ILLEGALNEWS at https://laundrysauce.com/ILLEGALNEWS #laundrysaucepod #ad Bulwark LIVE: GOOD FIGHT TOUR with Tim, Sarah, Sam and JVL is coming to the Southeast in October. Tickets go on sale August 21. Paid members of the Bulwark members get early access via our presale NOW. Head to https://www.thebulwark.com/Events for details and to get your tickets.

  6. Aug 12

    Career Prosecutors Wanted NO PART of What Trump’s DOJ Was Doing (w/ Andrew Weissmann)

    Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss the escalating campaign against Anthony Fauci, why his lawyers may see the congressional investigation as a perjury trap, and what happens now that his contempt referral is headed to Trump’s DOJ. They also take on Bill Cassidy’s vote to confirm Todd Blanche, Trump and RFK Jr.’s attacks on vaccines, and a stunning foreign bribery case involving a $10 billion investment offer, career DOJ prosecutors who wanted no part of the dismissal, and a federal judge questioning the administration’s reasons for trying to make the case disappear. Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://forhers.com/illegalnews to get personalized, affordable care that gets you.

  7. Aug 5

    Trump’s Reflecting Pool Case Collapsed in SPECTACULAR Fashion (w/ Andrew Weissmann) | Illegal News

    Sam Stein and Andrew Weissmann discuss the Justice Department’s dismissal of charges over damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, potential recourse for Olympian David Hearn, and Trump’s response. They also examine Todd Blanche’s Senate confirmation prospects, the proposed “anti-weaponization” fund and tax-immunity agreement, Capital One’s anti-money-laundering claims involving Trump Organization accounts, and Anthony Fauci’s decision to invoke the Fifth Amendment before Congress. Head to https://FactorMeals.com/illegalnews50off and use code illegalnews50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026.

  8. Aug 1 • Subscribers Only

    BONUS EPISODE: Trump Fired a Court-Appointed U.S. Attorney in 54 Minutes (w/ Andrew Weissmann)

    This audio-only bonus episode is available exclusively to paid members of The Bulwark. Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss the Trump Justice Department’s subpoenas targeting New York Times reporters and their families, the criminal referral against Jack Smith, and the firing of a Seattle U.S. attorney minutes after a court appointment. They also consider reforms to curb political prosecutions, the courts’ role in checking executive power, and concerns about the integrity of the 2026 and 2028 elections.

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“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.

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