The Next Level

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

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

#31 trending · Politics

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 floatin

Sep 15
1 h 10 min

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

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 Podc

Sep 11
16 min

1113: Trump’s Imaginary Presidency Is Going Just Great

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 wag

Sep 8
50 min

1112: Secret Podcast: The Senators Who Suck

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 che

Sep 4
21 min

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

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

Sep 1
57 min

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

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 t

Aug 28
30 min

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

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 C

Aug 25
1 h 15 min

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

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. Sa

Aug 22
23 min

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

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

Aug 18
1 h 07 min

1106: Secret Podcast: American Stasi

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)

Aug 15
17 min

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

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 Bl

Aug 12
1 h 10 min

1104: Secret Podcast: The GOAT Episode

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 th

Aug 7
19 min

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

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

Aug 5
1 h 29 min

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

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

Jul 31
23 min

1101: The WHCD Walked Straight Into Trump’s Trap

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

Jul 28
1 h 08 min

1100: Secret Podcast: The Second Iran War?

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 St

Jul 24
18 min

1099: This Deranged New Campaign Ad Creeped Us Out!

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 ridicul

Jul 21
1 h 02 min

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

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

Jul 17
27 min

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

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

Jul 15
1 h 05 min

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

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,

Jul 11
27 min

Chart trend

Position in the Politics chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#32#62JunJulAugSep

all-time peak

days in the top 10 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where The Next Level ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 18, 2026).

#49 ▼ 14 News US

#16 ▼ 5 Politics US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I picked up this podcast recently and generally enjoy listening to most of what the group has to say. I especially like Sarah’s focus group research. JVL’s relentless pessimism about the future is really starting to turn me off and does not inspire me to pay for content beyond the paywall. If I want doom and gloom, I’ll save my money and just look around me at what’s happening for free.

Tinava27 · Jul 2026

No matter how busy my week is, I do NOT miss this podcast. The analysis and insight is fantastic, but what I really appreciate about this show in particular is that JVL, Sarah, and Tim don’t leave their passion at the door. They wear their hearts on their sleeve and allow me to do the same in this crazy, scary time, but in a way that’s smart and productive. I’m so appreciative of their hard work. You guys ARE the real deal bulwark of our democracy, thank you.

BlueyMum2024 · Nov 2024

…. Encapsulated my feelings perfectly. I really appreciate this pod. In a less existential moment I would probably not agree with Sarah much in terms of policy but the info, analysis and shared angst is exactly what many of us need right now. You 3 are great.

KerrieMA80 · Oct 2024

Regularly restores my sanity. Do I always agree? No If they played it so safe that no one gets triggered, where would the fun be in that? It’s analysis and opinion, of course it ruffles feathers. Intelligent, experienced and sometimes snarky. It’s like have adults in the room. That there are still sane people in the world who have neither blind loyalty or hatred.

K.Gallant · Sep 2024

The first seven minutes of today’s episode was the Olympics of Sarah interrupting herself. Still my favorite podcast, but didn’t she make a resolution not to do that?

AndyBr1 · Jun 2026

I discovered this podcast via Tim’s interview on Pod Save America. I really enjoy it but the audio quality is terrible! It sounds like they’re speaking into their iPhone mics. Please please invest in better recording equipment! This is a great show but not sure I can keep listening with this current level of sound quality.

snrkgrl · May 2024

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.