The Next Level

Episodes page 1 of 6

1. 1128: Secret: The Worst Person in the World

   23 Oct 2026 · 30 min · Episode 1128

   The Secret Podcast is exclusively for paid members of The Bulwark. Join on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or Substack. Sarah and JVL talk: Elon dropping another $76m on the election Fake pollsters Trump grifters getting…

2. 1127: Elon Musk Could Face a MOUNTAIN of Subpoenas in 2027

   21 Oct 2026 · 47 min · Episode 1127 · Explicit

   This week’s Next Level starts out as a Secret Podcast episode, before Tim and Sam crash the stage. They discuss Sarah’s interview with Pete Buttigieg, why Jon Ossoff might be history’s choice for 2028 whether he likes…

3. 1126: Secret Podcast: So Many Bad Things

   16 Oct 2026 · 27 min · Episode 1126

   Sarah and JVL talk about: • The Media obsessing over the wrong problem with Katie Zacharias. • The Alina Habba - Ric Grenell cage match. • Kimberly Guilfoyle’s stylist Ruby Rhod Fancy James. • Another big…

4. 1125: Trump Insiders Are Already Trashing the New Press Secretary

   14 Oct 2026 · 53 min · Episode 1125 · Explicit

   Note: We're doing something a little different today. Paid members of the Bulwark get exclusive access to a extra, super, jumbo-sized TNL with a play-by-play breakdown of Katie Zacharia's disastrous press conference.…

5. 1124: Secret Podcast: Elon Musk Came Crawling Back to Trump. JVL Explains Why.

   12 Oct 2026 · 11 min · Episode 1124

   The Secret Podcast is available exclusively to paid members of The Bulwark on Apple Podcasts, Substack and YouTube. Elon Musk threatened to destroy Trump’s Republican allies. Now he’s spending hundreds of millions to…

6. 1123: Secret Podcast: Is He the One We’ve Been Waiting For?

   9 Oct 2026 · 24 min · Episode 1123

   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…

7. 1122: MAGA’s Racism is Blowing Up Its Own Coalition

   7 Oct 2026 · 1 h 06 min · Episode 1122 · Explicit

   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…

8. 1121: Secret Podcast: Tale of Two Interviews

   2 Oct 2026 · 17 min · Episode 1121

   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: -…

9. 1120: Things Are Going So Badly for Trump, Even JVL Has Hope

   29 Sep 2026 · 1 h 11 min · Episode 1120 · Explicit

   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…

10. 1119: Suddenly, Democrats Have a Path to a HUGE Senate Majority

    28 Sep 2026 · 37 min · Episode 1119

    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…

11. 1118: Secret Podcast: Ten Lesbians Walk Into a Bar...

    26 Sep 2026 · 34 min · Episode 1118

    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…

12. 1117: Furious Republicans are Finally Breaking with a Weakened Trump

    22 Sep 2026 · 1 h 08 min · Episode 1117 · Explicit

    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…

13. 1116: Secret Podcast: We’re Living in an Insane Asylum

    18 Sep 2026 · 12 min · Episode 1116

    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…

14. 1115: JVL Has an Idea for How Democrats Can Make MAGA’s Life Hell

    15 Sep 2026 · 1 h 11 min · Episode 1115 · Explicit

    JVL's on the west coast for Sarah's book event, and he, Tim, and Andrew Egger discuss Mitch McConnell's triumphant (?) return to the Senate, Donald Trump casually floating conspiracy theories over the Butler, PA…

15. 1114: Secret Podcast: Trump's 2026 Message: Everything's Fine!

    11 Sep 2026 · 17 min · Episode 1114

    The Secret Podcast is a special bonus just for paid members of The Bulwark. If you like this preview, become a member at thebulwark.com, on YouTube, or through Apple Podcasts. JVL and Bill Kristol look at the…

16. 1113: Trump’s Imaginary Presidency Is Going Just Great

    8 Sep 2026 · 51 min · Episode 1113 · Explicit

    Tim, Sarah, and JVL discuss Trump's Labor Day Weekend with his favorite person, Corey Lewandowski's possible ‘light extortion,’ and whether Trumpworld will circle the wagons around him. Plus: why the GOP's midterm…

17. 1112: Secret Podcast: The Senators Who Suck

    4 Sep 2026 · 22 min · Episode 1112

    Today Sarah and JVL try to figure out who’s worse: John Fetterman or Susan Collins. (Give us your answer in the comments.) Also, the Big Orange Arch is coming. And we chew over Doug Sosnik’s recommendations for the…

18. 1111: Ken Paxton Is Running One of the Worst Campaigns in America

    1 Sep 2026 · 58 min · Episode 1111 · Explicit

    Tim, Sarah, and JVL discuss the U.S. Supreme Court letting Trump’s ballroom go ahead (for now), why JVL thinks John Roberts is the Susan Collins of the Supreme Court, and whether Sarah is warming up to tearing down the…

19. 1110: Secret Podcast: Mark Cuban Thinks He Could Run as a Republican. Tim Has Some Bad News.

    28 Aug 2026 · 31 min · Episode 1110

    Full episodes of The Secret Podcast are a special perk just for paid members of the Bulwark. We put almost every video out for free, because we don't think you can save the country from behind a paywall. This is one of…

20. 1109: All MAGA Media Can Talk About Now is Trans Sports

    25 Aug 2026 · 1 h 15 min · Episode 1109 · Explicit

    Tim, Sarah, and JVL are back together for a JAM-PACKED show. They discuss: -Dolly Parton's passing and her legacy. -America's war (not the Iran war, our trade war with Canada), and why the rest of the world can't…

21. 1108: Secret Podcast: Is Jon Ossoff the One We’ve Been Waiting For?

    22 Aug 2026 · 23 min · Episode 1108

    The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for paid members of the Bulwark on YouTube, Substack and Apple Podcasts. --- Sarah and JVL did a BIG show today. Sample awesome: Sen. Darlene Graham says that…

22. 1107: Melania May Be Behind MAGA’s Natalie Harp Freakout

    18 Aug 2026 · 1 h 07 min · Episode 1107 · Explicit

    Tim, JVL, and Andrew Egger discuss: -(Yet another) story of a former Trump voter seeing a loved one run into the immigration policies he voted for. -The faux outrage from MAGA-world at Sen. Jon Ossoff pointing out that…

23. 1106: Secret Podcast: American Stasi

    15 Aug 2026 · 18 min · Episode 1106

    Full episodes of The Secret Podcast are available only to paid members of The Bulwark. You can join on Substack, YouTube or Apple Podcasts! Lots of stuff this week. (1) There are still balcony seats left for the Best…

24. 1105: Tucker Carlson Learned the Most Dangerous Lesson From Donald Trump

    12 Aug 2026 · 1 h 11 min · Episode 1105 · Explicit

    Tim, Sarah, and JVL are BACK TOGETHER after a month apart. They discuss: -Bill Cassidy’s pathetic, weepy floor speech before casting the deciding vote to confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General. -What Tucker Carlson…

25. 1104: Secret Podcast: The GOAT Episode

    7 Aug 2026 · 20 min · Episode 1104

    Full episodes of The Secret Podcast are available exclusively to paid members of The Bulwark. Join on Substack, Apple Podcast or YouTube! JVL and Tim did a GIANT show this week. • Uncanny Callista Gingrich. • Thom…

26. 1103: Michigan Senate Primary Becomes a Late-Night Nail-Biter

    5 Aug 2026 · 1 h 30 min · Episode 1103 · Explicit

    Sam joins Tim and JVL to discuss: -Live results from the (unexpectedly close) Michigan Senate primary, and discuss what an Abdul El-Sayed or Haley Stevens win would mean for November. -The horrifying child abuse…

27. 1102: Secret Podcast: You Can See the Bush Line from Your House

    31 Jul 2026 · 23 min · Episode 1102

    Sarah and JVL have a It’s a super-sized, instant classic: The Trump administration is using ChatGPT for everything. Why are Cornyn and Tillis even bothering with their fake protest of Todd Blanche? The Dem Senate…

28. 1101: The WHCD Walked Straight Into Trump’s Trap

    28 Jul 2026 · 1 h 09 min · Episode 1101 · Explicit

    Sarah, JVL, and Catherine Rampell discuss: - Mitch McConnell's SECOND proof of life photo, and what's really going on with him. - The White House Correspondents' Dinner do-over, Trump's comments about Kaitlan…

29. 1100: Secret Podcast: The Second Iran War?

    24 Jul 2026 · 19 min · Episode 1100

    Paid members of the Bulwark get access to FULL episodes of the Secret Podcast. You can join via Apple Podcasts, Substack and YouTube. Big show today: It’s the dawn of Streamer JVL? Plus: Some questions for Tom Homan…

30. 1099: This Deranged New Campaign Ad Creeped Us Out!

    21 Jul 2026 · 1 h 02 min · Episode 1099 · Explicit

    Sarah, JVL, and Will Sommer (sitting in for Tim) discuss: • Whether Laura Loomer is one of the adults in MAGA-land? I'm Ron Burgundy? • The state of the Iran War. • The ridiculous AI advertisement being run by a Ted…

31. 1098: Secret Podcast: Trump Voters Say JD Vance Gives Them the Willies

    17 Jul 2026 · 27 min · Episode 1098

    Sarah Longwell and Sam Stein (filling in for JVL) discuss Trump’s tedious (and still scary!) election speech, the documents that undercut his election claims, JD Vance’s cringe appearance on Joe Rogan, Trump voters’…

32. 1097: Sarah’s Latest Focus Group Almost Broke JVL’s Brain

    15 Jul 2026 · 1 h 05 min · Episode 1097 · Explicit

    The whole gang is back together, for the last time until August. Tim, Sarah, and JVL discuss: - Two more killings by ICE officers. JVL asks whether we're getting numb to this. No one on this show is numb. - Trump's…

33. 1096: Secret Podcast: Republicans Screamed About Socialism. Then Trump Did This.

    11 Jul 2026 · 27 min · Episode 1096

    Sarah and JVL are back together, looking at Trump’s NATO disgrace, wondering if Mitch McConnell is really talking to people on the phone about detailed policy questions, and analyzing the factional fight in the…

34. 1095: Even Marjorie Taylor Greene Doesn’t Buy the McConnell Story

    8 Jul 2026 · 1 h 19 min · Episode 1095

    Tim, Sarah, and Sam Stein (filling in for JVL) take on the political stories dominating the headlines: • Mitch McConnell is alive and taking calls (maybe, probably?)—despite Laura Loomer’s reports to the contrary.. •…

35. 1094: Secret Preview: It's 100x Worse Than Watergate—and Republicans Still Won't Quit

    3 Jul 2026 · 32 min · Episode 1094

    Full episodes of the Bulwark Podcast are available to paid members of The Bulwark via YouTube, Substack, and Apple Podcasts. Sarah Longwell and Bill Kristol (filling in for JVL) take on America’s 250th birthday under…

36. 1093: Trump Will Put a PSYCHO on the Court—If He Gets a Chance

    30 Jun 2026 · 1 h 07 min · Episode 1093 · Explicit

    Sarah, Tim, and Andrew Egger (filling in for JVL) discuss: -The Supreme Court's ruling upholding birthright citizenship. -NPR's retracted report that Justice Alito was retiring. -The DSA-aligned Democratic candidates…

37. 1092: Secret Podcast: The Last Temptation of Sarah Longwell

    27 Jun 2026 · 30 min · Episode 1092

    The full episode of Secret Podcast is available to paid members of the Bulwark on YouTube, Substack and Apple Podcasts. It’s a special show this week where JVL gives Sarah a series of impossible choices. Will she…

38. 1091: JD Vance Called His OWN Iran Policy “Complete Idiocy”

    24 Jun 2026 · 1 h 08 min · Episode 1091 · Explicit

    Tim is sick, but he's strapping on his football helmet. Tim, Sarah, and JVL cover: -The mysterious 79 year-old receiving non-public weight loss drugs (and if not Trump, who?) -The latest revelations from Jonathan Swan…

39. 1090: Secret Podcast: JD Vance. Ross Douthat. 'Nuff Said.

    20 Jun 2026 · 20 min · Episode 1090

    The Iran war deal is falling apart (already). Israel is turning on Trump. And the two most insipid trad-Cath poasters in America are podcasting together again. Plus: JVL (finally) explains his disdain for the NYT’s…

40. 1089: Ben Shapiro's Tears Aren't Enough. The Iran War Hawks Owe Us More.

    17 Jun 2026 · 1 h 07 min · Episode 1089

    JVL, Sarah Longwell, and Tim Miller discuss the Iran "deal" that isn't really a deal—a memorandum of understanding that lifts sanctions immediately and hands Iran $300 billion while punting everything else down the…

41. 1088: Secret Podcast: We've Got a Situation

    12 Jun 2026 · 35 min · Episode 1088

    A super-sized Secret this week: • Sarah and JVL are coming to the legendary 92nd Street Y in New York on September 8. Come and hang out with them in JVL’s back yard! It’s possible he’ll have the championship belt!…

42. 1087: LIVE: Booed at the NBA Finals, Stormed Off NBC—Trump Is DOWN BAD

    9 Jun 2026 · 1 h 22 min · Episode 1087

    The gang is back together, and the U.S. and Iran are back at war...maybe? Tim, Sarah, and JVL discuss the latest in Iran, Donald Trump storming off of Meet the Press, the 'stolen election' freakout in Los Angeles, Todd…

43. 1086: Even TRUMP Thinks Netanyahu Went Too Far? | The Next Level

    2 Jun 2026 · 1 h 07 min · Episode 1086

    Tim Miller, Sam Stein, and JVL talk about the week's biggest stories: Trump installs a meme stock grifter as acting Director of National Intelligence, the $1.8 billion weaponization slush fund may be dying (or just…

44. 1085: Secret Podcast: A Cage Fight for America's Soul

    29 May 2026 · 25 min · Episode 1085

    Full episodes of The Secret Podcast are available to paid members of the Bulwark, on Apple Podcasts, Substack and YouTube. Sarah and JVL talk about the ongoing meltdown of Trump’s Freedom 250 event; the…

45. 1084: Texas Primary Results! Megyn Kelly Turns on Trump?!

    27 May 2026 · 1 h 17 min · Episode 1084

    Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller and JVL went live to cover the Texas primary runoff election, Megyn Kelly (maybe?) turning against Trump, and much more. Visit http://upwork.com/THENEXTLEVEL right now and post your job for…

46. 1083: Secret Podcast: The Walls Are Closing In

    23 May 2026 · 28 min · Episode 1083

    Full episodes of The Secret Podcast are available to paid members of The Bulwark via Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Substack. Sarah is in the City of Angels; JVL is in the Big Apple;) and they have A LOT to catch up on.…

47. 1082: Trump Could Tarnish the GOP for YEARS to Come

    22 May 2026 · 51 min · Episode 1082

    Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and Sam Stein debate whether Democrats should just “let Trump cook” as his approval numbers crater, Republicans start breaking ranks, and the MAGA coalition begins to fracture. Plus: Rubio…

48. 1081: Secret Podcast: Trump's $1.7b Friends and Family Fund

    15 May 2026 · 37 min · Episode 1081

    The Secret Podcast is available exclusively to paid subscribers of The Bulwark. You can join on Apple Podcasts, Substack or YouTube! Last night news broke that President Trump would drop his $10b lawsuit against the…

49. 1080: Should the Next Democrat Punish Red States? JVL Says... Maybe

    13 May 2026 · 1 h 25 min · Episode 1080

    JVL, Sarah Longwell, and Tim Miller discuss the Virginia redistricting ruling, what it means for elections this November, and whether Democrats need to start playing as dirty as their opponents. Plus: the Iran war is a…

50. 1079: Secret Podcast Preview: The Primary Was Over Before It Started

    9 May 2026 · 24 min · Episode 1079

    The full episode is available exclusively to paid members of The Bulwark. You can join on Apple Podcasts, Substack or YouTube. Sarah and JVL had a big show planned for you. Lots of different subjects. Important news.…