<![CDATA[The Bulwark: The Secret Podcast]]>

<![CDATA[The Bulwark: The Secret Podcast]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/s/thesecretpodcasthttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QWq4!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7bdbd69-ae32-45de-8348-8913f6966d53_256x256.pngThe Bulwark: The Secret Podcasthttps://www.thebulwark.com/s/thesecretpodcastSubstackSun, 19 Apr 2026 20:26:36 GMT<![CDATA[Republicans Are Walking Into a Buzzsaw in November]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/republicans-are-walking-into-a-buzzsawhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/republicans-are-walking-into-a-buzzsawFri, 17 Apr 2026 20:38:19 GMTJVL and Sarah Longwell discuss a bizarre week where markets surge amid global chaos, Trump feuds with his own allies, and confusion over Iran keeps escalating. They also break down a blowout Democratic win, surging fundraising, and what it all signals for the midterms—plus a growing fight inside the party over Israel and its future direction.

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ON SALE NOW: Bulwark Live is coming to San Diego on May 20 and Los Angeles on Mat 21. Click to join Sarah, Tim and Sam for an evening of politics among friends.

The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

]]><![CDATA[The Podcast Wars]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-podcast-warshttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-podcast-warsSat, 11 Apr 2026 00:37:36 GMTJVL and Sarah discuss the failed ceasefire, Melania’s bizarre Epstein pre-denial, and the growing rift between Trump and “America First” heavyweights like Tucker, Megyn, Candace, and Alex Jones. Is this just another performative feud, or the start of something real? And as AI muddies reality itself, what happens when nobody believes anything anymore?

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Pre-order Sarah’s book, How to Eat an Elephant, coming in September

The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

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JVL’s newsletter, The Triad, has been nominated for a Webby Award in the Best Email Newsletter: Business, News & Technology category. Even if you don’t read it regularly—like some best friends—you can vote to give our very own JVL the W.

Every votes counts: Vote here for Best Email Newsletter

]]><![CDATA[Every Single Person Around Trump Is Expendable]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/every-single-person-around-trumphttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/every-single-person-around-trumpFri, 03 Apr 2026 17:58:02 GMTJVL and Sarah discuss Trump’s rambling, unfocused address that failed to clarify any of the war’s goals, even as evidence mounts that the situation is getting worse. They also talk about the Bondi firing, why it may have been timed to shift attention, and what it says about how this White House handles bad news.

Plus: rising oil prices, market jitters, and new warning signs from voters who are starting to turn against Trump.

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Pre-order Sarah’s book, How to Eat an Elephant, coming in September

The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

JVL’s newsletter, The Triad, has been nominated for a Webby Award in the Best Email Newsletter: Business, News & Technology category. Even if you don’t read it regularly—like some best friends—you can vote to give our very own JVL the W.

Every votes counts: Vote here for Best Email Newsletter

]]><![CDATA[Trump Won’t Stop—Because He Can’t Look Weak]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-wont-stopbecause-he-cant-lookhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-wont-stopbecause-he-cant-lookFri, 27 Mar 2026 18:36:19 GMTJVL and Bill Kristol—filling in for Sarah—discuss escalating Iran conflict, the risky push toward a wider war, and why the real damage may outlast the fighting. They also get into the global fallout—from threats to the petrodollar system to the collapse of U.S. alliances—and what a rushed exit might look like.

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Pre-order Sarah’s book, How to Eat an Elephant, coming in September

The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

]]><![CDATA[On Faith, Joe Kent, Tulsi, No More Wars, and More!]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/on-faith-joe-kent-tulsi-no-more-warshttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/on-faith-joe-kent-tulsi-no-more-warsThu, 19 Mar 2026 22:02:45 GMTJVL and Sarah Longwell discuss the Trump administration’s stumble into an Iranian conflict that betrays its "no more wars" promise. They analyze the sudden resignation of Joe Kent over foreign wars, Tulsi Gabbard’s surreal FBI testimony regarding Fulton County ballots, and the looming "bloodbath" within a fracturing Republican coalition.

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Watch: Tim interview James Talarico live in Dallas

Pre-order Sarah’s book, How to Eat an Elephant, coming in September

The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

]]><![CDATA[The Iran War Could Get Out of Hand]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-iran-war-could-get-out-of-handhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-iran-war-could-get-out-of-handFri, 13 Mar 2026 21:12:53 GMTSarah Longwell and JVL talk about what happens if Trump doesn’t TACO and pull the plug on the Iran ~~war~~ excursion after things go from messy to bad. Not great!

Also: What happens if we know how to reform the system, but the system is so ossified that it can’t be reformed? And are The People, in fact, the worst?

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Order If I Don’t Return by retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling

Pre-order Sarah’s book, How to Eat an Elephant, coming in September

Pre-order Andrew Weissmann’s book, Liar’s Kingdom, coming in May

The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

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]]><![CDATA[Did Stephen Miller Just Pull Off a Palace Coup?]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/did-stephen-miller-just-pull-offhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/did-stephen-miller-just-pull-offFri, 06 Mar 2026 11:02:58 GMTJVL and Sarah Longwell discuss the chaotic firing of Kristi Noem after a disastrous hearing, the MAGA infighting that may have taken her down, and what it says about how Trump runs his administration. They also talk about the war with Iran—why the strategy looks confused, how Tehran may be playing the long game, and why the economic fallout is already hitting gas prices, supply chains, and the global economy.

Bulwark+ members also get to learn Sarah’s secret…

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]]><![CDATA[War with Iran and the Takeover of CNN]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/war-with-iran-and-the-takeover-ofhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/war-with-iran-and-the-takeover-ofSat, 28 Feb 2026 00:56:34 GMTThe U.S. government is ordering employees out of Israel and Iraq, the latest signal that war with Iran is approaching. Larry and David Ellison just bought Warner-Discovery and CNN.

Sarah and JVL also talk about the new John Fetterman in Maine and the primary in Texas. As well as the Kansas law targeting trans people.

Finally, they go deep on DHS, depraved indifference, and accountability. (See the piece JVL talks about here.)

Bonus: Pinball discourse. Help decide JVL’s fate in the comments.

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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

]]><![CDATA[Sarah and JVL: Live from Minneapolis]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/sarah-and-jvl-live-from-minneapolishttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/sarah-and-jvl-live-from-minneapolisFri, 20 Feb 2026 15:01:24 GMTThis week Sarah and JVL did the show with a thousand of their best friends at the Pantages Theater in downtown Minneapolis.

(Photo by Northstar Imagery)

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll never be able to erase the mind picture of Kid Rock and RFK Jr. as Never Nudes. Come and relive the magic with us in the comments.

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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

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]]><![CDATA[Trump’s DHS Is Eating Itself Alive]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-dhs-is-eating-itself-alivehttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-dhs-is-eating-itself-aliveFri, 13 Feb 2026 23:59:41 GMTSarah 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.

Sam Harris podcast with Tim and Sarah

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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

]]><![CDATA[Divorced Guy Energy Is Ruining America]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/divorced-guy-energy-is-ruining-americahttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/divorced-guy-energy-is-ruining-americaFri, 06 Feb 2026 23:36:43 GMTDonald 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.

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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

]]><![CDATA[Trump Begins Arresting Journalists]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-begins-arresting-journalistshttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-begins-arresting-journalistsFri, 30 Jan 2026 23:30:02 GMTJVL 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.

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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or list…

]]><![CDATA[Trump Is Now Deeply Unpopular ]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-now-deeply-unpopularhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-now-deeply-unpopularFri, 23 Jan 2026 19:56:28 GMTJVL 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.

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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

]]><![CDATA[MAGA's New Rule: Comply or Die]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/magas-new-rule-comply-or-diehttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/magas-new-rule-comply-or-dieFri, 16 Jan 2026 19:13:18 GMTSarah 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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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

]]><![CDATA[The Government Keeps Shooting Civilians]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-government-keeps-shooting-civilianshttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-government-keeps-shooting-civiliansFri, 09 Jan 2026 23:20:33 GMTSarah and JVL talk about the new video from the ICE agent as he killed Renee Good. It’s tough and they’re not sure quite where we go from here. Is the rule of law real? Or is everything might makes right?

Also: Trump probably gets away with Venezuela, too. Good times.

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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

]]><![CDATA[The MAGA Crackup?]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-maga-crackuphttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-maga-crackupFri, 19 Dec 2025 19:25:44 GMTSarah and JVL talk about Trump’s big renaming spree and how crazily dystopian everything is. Then they dig in to the big question: Is there a crackup happening in MAGA? And if so, is it being driven by a clash of the elites? Or the amorphous coalition drifting apart?

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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

]]><![CDATA[Fear the Reaper]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/fear-the-reaperhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/fear-the-reaperFri, 12 Dec 2025 21:39:47 GMTSarah and JVL talk about the weakness of corporate media, the greatness of Martina Navratilova, and how Donald Trump is slowly morphing into the Crypt Keeper.

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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

Also: If you haven’t seen Navratilova’s video for Home of the Brave, treat yourself:

]]><![CDATA[The Feelings Show]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-feelings-showhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-feelings-showFri, 05 Dec 2025 18:46:41 GMTSarah and JVL are in meat-space talking about the Donald J. Trump buildings coming soon to a town near you. And also why liberalism needs to fight.

But the big topic is all of the feelings they’ve got from being at the annual Bulwark all-hands get together. Warning: Emo JVL is a bit much.

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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

]]><![CDATA[Turkeys]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/turkeyshttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/turkeysFri, 28 Nov 2025 15:31:01 GMTSarah and JVL talk about Brazil’s ability to prosecute coup plotters, Trump’s ballroom, mortality, and the glories of the Macy’s Day Parade. It’s a super-sized Thanksgiving show cooked up with loads of love.

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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

]]><![CDATA[Legal Orders]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/legal-ordershttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/legal-ordersFri, 21 Nov 2025 19:08:42 GMTTrump crossed a line, again. JVL and Sarah Longwell discuss Trump’s latest tantrum: calling for Democratic senators to be put to death after they released a video reminding service members they don’t have to follow illegal orders. Yes, really.

Then we get into the Epstein-email panic, why Trump suddenly pretended to support releasing documents he fought for years, and what’s really pressuring him behind the scenes, Dick Cheney’s funeral, and the singles vaccine. Don’t worry, Sarah WILL BE GETTING IT!

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The Secret Podcast with JVL and Sarah is exclusively for members of Bulwark+. To watch or listen to future episodes and join the Secret community in the comments become a Bulwark+ member today.

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