<![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 Jul 2026 04:17:15 GMT<![CDATA[Trump Voters Say JD Vance Gives Them the Willies]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-voters-say-jd-vance-gives-themhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-voters-say-jd-vance-gives-themFri, 17 Jul 2026 20:16:32 GMTSarah 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’ brutal reactions to Vance, and Democrats’ missed opportunities at the Todd Blanche hearing.

Finally: There are more tickets to see Sarah and JVL on September 8 in NYC! We are about to sell out the orchestra section—but we want to sell out the balcony, too. It’s a point of pride. Come hang with us. Tickets are here.

Sarah + JVL Live in NYC, September 8

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Show notes:

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. The only way through is together.

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]]><![CDATA[Trump Did What? (Evergreen Tweet.)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-did-what-evergreen-tweethttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-did-what-evergreen-tweetFri, 10 Jul 2026 20:31:31 GMTSarah 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 Democratic party between the people trying to elect Democrats and the insurgents focused on displacing the establishment.

Short version: What if Morris Katz is just the left’s Steve Bannon?

Also, there’s some personal stuff at the end.

Finally: There are more tickets to see Sarah and JVL on September 8 in NYC! We are about to sell out the orchestra section—but we want to sell out the balcony, too. It’s a point of pride. Come hang with us. Tickets are here.

Sarah + JVL Live in NYC, September 8

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Show notes:

JVL’s Triad: “Progressives Are Mad at the Wrong People”
Sarah is Wyatt Earp; JVL is Doc Holliday, explained.

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. The only way through is together.

]]><![CDATA[It's 100x Worse Than Watergate—and Republicans Still Won't Quit]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/its-100x-worse-than-watergateandhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/its-100x-worse-than-watergateandFri, 03 Jul 2026 17:02:06 GMTSarah Longwell and Bill Kristol (filling in for JVL) take on America’s 250th birthday under Trump—and how far the GOP has fallen from Reagan’s “you can become an American” to 2,000 ICE arrests a day. They break down the right-wing meltdown over the birthright citizenship ruling, Megyn Kelly’s race to the bottom, why the “socialist takeover” panic misses what Democratic voters actually want, and who’s really rising in the 2028 field.

Read Sarah’s Triad newsletter.

Also: There are more tickets to see Sarah and JVL on September 8 in NYC. We’ve moved to a bigger room at the 92^nd Y and we need to sell it out. So come hang with us. Tickets are here.

Sarah + JVL Live in NYC, September 8

Also, also: If you want JVL to host the Seattle show instead of Tim on September 15, let us know 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. The only way through is together.

]]><![CDATA[The Last Temptation of Sarah Longwell]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-last-temptation-of-sarah-longwellhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-last-temptation-of-sarah-longwellFri, 26 Jun 2026 22:24:38 GMTIt’s a special show this week where JVL gives Sarah a series of impossible choices. Will she choose institutionalism, or Secretary Mayor Pete? Will she endorse the political analysis of [REDACTED]? What will she do when Cletus says that he doesn’t like democracy and wants minority rule?

Come find out!

Also: There are more tickets to see Sarah and JVL on September 8 in NYC. We’ve moved to a bigger room at the 92^nd Y and we need to sell it out. So come hang with us. Tickets are here.

Sarah + JVL Live in NYC, September 8

Also, also: If you want JVL to host the Seattle show instead of Tim on September 15, let us know in the comments.

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show notes:
Catherine Rampell: The Americans Trump Would Rather Not See
JVL’s Traid: What Was Cletus Thinks About Democracy
Jim Swift: Haitians Prepare for Disaster
Agora Institute Study

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. The only way through is together.

]]><![CDATA[JD Vance. Ross Douthat. 'Nuff Said.]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/jd-vance-ross-douthat-nuff-saidhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/jd-vance-ross-douthat-nuff-saidFri, 19 Jun 2026 20:06:51 GMTThe 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 DEI Trump apologist.

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Hit the like button ❤️ and come to the comments so JVL doesn’t get all needy.

show notes:

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. The only way through is together.

]]><![CDATA[We've Got a Situation]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/weve-got-a-situationhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/weve-got-a-situationFri, 12 Jun 2026 20:22:55 GMTA super-sized Secret this week:

Sarah and JVL are coming to the legendary 92^nd 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! (Tickets on sale here.)
JVL actually thinks the Iran deal might be real this time. He’s got a theory.
Sarah has a theory of her own about who leaked to Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan about the Trump administration’s big Situation Room summit on how to handle the Epstein files?
JVL makes progress on his continuing quest to bring Sarah around on “the free market” and court expansion. Is this the week the dam breaks?

It’s a good show, long show. Hit the like button ❤️ and come to the comments so JVL doesn’t get all needy. Again.

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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. The only way through is together.

]]><![CDATA[Sam Stein Wrote a Hit Piece on Sarah?!]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/sam-stein-wrote-a-hit-piece-on-sarahhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/sam-stein-wrote-a-hit-piece-on-sarahFri, 05 Jun 2026 22:34:39 GMTSarah and Sam take on the Graham Platner mess. Plus: is Susan Collins a fraud? The GOP's slush fund cave explained. And Sarah's past as a Republican operative gets dug up—and she's ready for 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. The only way through is together.

]]><![CDATA[A Cage Fight for America]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/a-cage-fight-for-americahttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/a-cage-fight-for-americaFri, 29 May 2026 20:22:49 GMTSarah and JVL talk about the ongoing meltdown of Trump’s Freedom 250 event; the inappropriateness of putting a UFC cage fight on the White House lawn; John Cornyn’s sudden understanding of what Trump is; and Bari Weiss’s murder of 60 Minutes.

It’s a good show / short show because we’re both playing hurt today, so forgive us if we’re not at our most dazzling.

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Read JVL’s Triad newsletter about 60 Minutes here.

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. The only way through is together.

]]><![CDATA[The Walls Are Closing In]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-walls-are-closing-inhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-walls-are-closing-inSat, 23 May 2026 17:35:39 GMTSarah is in the City of Angels; JVL is in the Big Apple;) and they have A LOT to catch up on. Gas is at $4.65. Trump is at -22 in the latest Fox poll. The Senate said no to the billi for his ballroom.

Oh, and maybe we’re going to do regime change in Cuba soon?

Plus: They recap the California live shows and go deep on Tina Peters.

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show notes
Read JVL’s Triad newsletter: here.

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. The only way through is together.

Join now

]]><![CDATA[Trump's $1.7b Friends and Family Fund]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-17b-friends-and-family-fundhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-17b-friends-and-family-fundFri, 15 May 2026 18:19:45 GMTLast night news broke that President Trump would drop his $10b lawsuit against the IRS if the people who work for him at the Justice Department would create a $1.7b fund out of taxpayer dollars and allow him to appoint five commissioners to run this fund and they would award money to anyone they deemed fit.

Oh, and that the list of people given money would be secret. And Trump could replace the commissioners any time he wanted, for no reason.

The Trump administration is positioning this as a “truth and reconciliation commission.” Which is amazing.

For a decade JVL (and to a lesser extent Sarah) have wanted a truth and reconciliation commission to document accounts of what people did during the Trump era. And now the monkey’s paw has granted their wish.

We get a truth and reconciliation commission designed to help the people who did the Trump era.

As you can imagine, Sarah and JVL have a lot to say about this. Strap in.

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show notes

ICYMI: The gang did a bonus episode this week in meat space.
Read JVL’s Triad newsletter: here.

ON SALE NOW: Bulwark Live is coming to San Diego on May 20 and Los Angeles on May 21.

Just announced! We’re adding some chatty friends to the lineups for both shows. Grab your seats now to join Sarah, Tim and Sam for an evening of politics among friends and keep an eye on TheBulwark.com/Events for more announcements.

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. The only way through is together.

Join now

]]><![CDATA[The Platner Variations]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-platner-variationshttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-platner-variationsFri, 08 May 2026 17:56:21 GMTSarah and JVL had a big show planned for you. Lots of different subjects. Important news. Funny stories. The whole nine.

And then everything derailed as they went SUPER deep on Graham Platner and the meta-debate about him. If you think Platner has electoral upside, you love Nazis. If you have concerns about Platner’s populism, you’re a closet Republican. The internet has spoken!

It’s a whole thing.

Also: This marks the first time in the history of the show that Sarah read JVL’s piece and JVL . . . didn’t even realize Sarah had written something? The shoe is on the other foot, my pretties!

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show notes
Read JVL’s Triad newsletter: here.

Read Sarah’s The Man Behind the Tatoo.

ON SALE NOW: Bulwark Live is coming to San Diego on May 20 and Los Angeles on May 21.

Just announced! We’re adding some chatty friends to the lineups for both shows. Grab your seats now to join Sarah, Tim and Sam for an evening of politics among friends and keep an eye on TheBulwark.com/Events for more announcements.

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. The only way through is together.

]]><![CDATA[JVL Wants Every Trump Voter to Know: THIS IS YOUR FAULT!]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/jvl-wants-every-trump-voter-to-knowhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/jvl-wants-every-trump-voter-to-knowFri, 01 May 2026 18:44:56 GMTJVL and Sarah Longwell discuss the signs that voters are starting to regret their Trump vote—and why that doesn’t mean politics is getting any simpler. Gas prices are rising, a gerrymandering arms race is raging and the Supreme Court reshaped the rules. Plus: the Maine race, the rise of populist candidates like Platner, and what The Bulwark actually stands for.

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ON SALE NOW: Bulwark Live is coming to San Diego on May 20 and Los Angeles on May 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. The only way through is together.

]]><![CDATA[Trump’s War Runs on Pure Make-Believe]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-war-runs-on-pure-make-believehttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-war-runs-on-pure-make-believeFri, 24 Apr 2026 21:05:51 GMTJVL and Sarah Longwell talk about the firing of the Navy secretary mid-conflict and the bizarre “Trump-class battleship” saga, exposing a pattern of impossible promises and chaotic leadership. Plus: the Spirit Airlines bailout and what it says about Trump’s commitment to “capitalism.”

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ON SALE NOW: Bulwark Live is coming to San Diego on May 20 and Los Angeles on May 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.

Join now

]]><![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.

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

Read more

]]><![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.

]]><![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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