The Next Level

Donald Trump won by aligning with cranks like RFK Jr. Should the Dems follow suit to win? Plus, Rep. Nancy Mace’s bullying of her new trans-coworker and the latest ridiculous picks to join the Trump administration. Sam Stein fills in for Sarah on today’s episode! Head to http://lumen.me/THENEXTLEVEL for 15% off your purchase. Head to GetSoul.com and use code THENEXTLEVEL for 35% off your order now until December 3rd. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code THENEXTLEVEL at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

The gang discuss Donald Trump's "joke" to the House GOP that it's possible he'll run for a third term. Plus, Trump's insane Cabinet nominees, the mistakes of Merrick Garland and Elon Musk's weird, and potentially doomed, relationship with Trump. Go to greenchef.com/nextlevel50 and use code nextlevel50 for 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next two months! For 25% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, head to BollAndBranch.com/nextlevel Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use THENEXTLEVEL to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/THENEXTLEVEL

It’s been three days since Donald Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris to be our 47th president. The gang attempts to start to unravel the question of what the Democratic Party must do to win working class voters, and debate what type of insanity we should root for from a second Trump term. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code THENEXTLEVEL at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Go to zbiotics.com/NEXTLEVEL to learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use NEXTLEVEL at checkout Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freethenextlevel

Sarah and JVL have a lot of thoughts about Trump’s threat against Liz Cheney, Larry Hogan’s latest, and the refusal of some leaders to get off the sidelines. Also about J-Lo and Hustlers. Which is a wildly under-rated movie. Want to hear the whole thing? Full, ad-free episodes of the Secret Podcast are available exclusively to Bulwark+ members. Sign up here: https://www.thebulwark.com/subscribe

The gang assemble for their last official episode before the election on Tuesday. They give their final thoughts on where the race is at, alongside discussion on the closing arguments of both candidates and President Joe Biden’s gaffe last night. This holiday season, give the gift of Soul. Head to GetSoul.com and use code THENEXTLEVEL for 30% off your order.

Sarah and JVL look at the polling and the vibes and come to slightly different conclusions. Then Sarah lets it rip about John Kelly. (Again.) And then JVL goes to the Dark Place. It’s a real journey. Want to hear the whole thing? Full, ad-free episodes of the Secret Podcast are available exclusively to Bulwark+ members. Sign up here: https://www.thebulwark.com/subscribe

The gang reacts to the revelations that Gen. John Kelly, Donald Trump’s former chief of staff during his administration, believe the former president is a fascist and admired Adolf Hitler’s generals. This should be the October surprise, but the media seems incapable of treating it with the time and gravity the news requires. Meanwhile, Trump’s defenders claim Kelly to be a liar or minimize the disqualifying nature of the general’s testimony. Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use THENEXTLEVEL to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/THENEXTLEVEL Go to greenchef.com/nextlevel50 and use code nextlevel50 for 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next two months!

Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and Jonathan V. Last stop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on their swing state tour. They discuss the state of the race, Donald Trump's support from billionaires, RFK Jr. joining the Trump cabinet, the Trump campaign wanting Nikki Haley to help them out while Trump insults her, and why, with the polls indicating a coin clip race, our gang still thinks Kamala Harris will pull out a win. This episode was taped on October 18, 2024*

The gang talks Donald Trump’s bizarre town hall that turned into a concert, and how it presents the clearest closing argument for Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign: the man’s lost his marbles. Plus the media’s insufficient job holding Trump and his surrogates, like Gov. Glenn Youngkin, accountable, and insights into Tim’s interview with tech bro Jason Calacanis. Get 20% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at BollAndBranch.com/nextlevel Go to lumen.me/THENEXTLEVEL to get 15% off your Lumen! Get 15% off OneSkin with the code THENEXTLEVEL at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

You know when someone says something that’s both obvious and profound and it crystallizes something you’ve long felt but couldn’t articulate? That’s what Angela Alsobrooks did to Larry Hogan last night and it was something else. Also: Sarah and JVL talk about the swing-state vibe shift in Trump’s direction and the idea that Trump has a ceiling. Want to hear the whole thing? Full, ad-free episodes of the Secret Podcast are available exclusively to Bulwark+ members. Sign up here: https://www.thebulwark.com/subscribe

MAGA’s lies about hurricanes affecting the U.S. are as ridiculous as they are dangerous, leading some in the GOP to try to debunk the false reality their party created. Plus, Bob Woodward’s new book contains disturbing allegations of Donald Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin, both during and since his time in the White House, and Sarah gives some insights into her recent Nevada focus groups. Details for our Bulwark Live Swing State Swing tour are coming soon to TheBulwark.com/events. Head to ZBiotics.com/NEXTLEVEL and use the code NEXTLEVEL at checkout for 15% off. Get 10 FREE meals at HelloFresh.com/freethenextlevel

Let’s be honest, the gang loathes JD Vance with a burning passion and wanted Tim Walz destroy him. Instead, Walz was Mr. Midwest Nice. Did he miss an opportunity? Or was it exactly what the Harris campaign needed? Plus, the gang give their thoughts on the International Longshoremen’s Association’s strike and Judge Aileen Cannon getting another case related to Donald Trump. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code THENEXTLEVEL at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Sarah can’t stop JVL from talking about the $100,000 Trump Watch. It’s pure candy this week. Also: A look ahead to Walz versus Vance. And is Kamala Harris “doing enough”? Want to hear the whole thing? Full, ad-free episodes of the Secret Podcast are available exclusively to Bulwark+ members. Sign up here: https://www.thebulwark.com/subscribe

The gang discuss Gov. Tim Walz’s lack of media appearances compared to Sen. JD Vance, Vice President Kamala Harris’s media strategy, Sen. Mitt Romney continuing to not endorse Harris, despite being fearful of Donald Trump’s wrath, and the ethics of online gambling! Go to greenchef.com/nextlevelclass for 50% off your first box + 50 FREE Credits with ClassPass!

Republican candidates and boat parades. Want to hear the whole thing? Full, ad-free episodes of the Secret Podcast are available exclusively to Bulwark+ members. Sign up here: https://www.thebulwark.com/subscribe

Post-debate movement is looking promising for Vice President Harris. Is the race still a tossup? It could come down to turnout between Harris’s newly enthused electorate and Donald Trump’s disgruntled male voters. Plus, the Trump campaign’s continued repugnant smears on Haitian migrants are having real-life consequences the ticket just doesn’t seem to care about. Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use THENEXTLEVEL to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/THENEXTLEVEL For FREE breakfast for life go to HelloFresh.com/freethenextlevel

Sarah and JVL go 10 rounds on the the debate, and fact checking, and the proper role of moderators and news organizations in holding candidates accountable for presenting misinformation. Want to hear the whole thing? Full, ad-free episodes of the Secret Podcast are available exclusively to Bulwark+ members. Sign up here: https://www.thebulwark.com/subscribe

Vice President Kamala Harris exceeded all expectations during her debate against a beta Donald Trump. The gang breaks down their thoughts on the debate, swing voter reactions, and potential ways it could affect the race. Plus, Tim gives some insight into his time in the spin room post-debate, including the fiery interactions with Sen. Lindsey Graham and other pro-Trump personalities. Head to lumen.me/THENEXTLEVEL for 15% off your purchase. Head to FACTORMEALS.com/thenextlevel50 and use code thenextlevel50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next month.

Sarah Longwell, Jonathan V. Last, Tim Miller, Sam Stein and AB Stoddard give their immediate reactions to the Harris vs. Trump debate! Watch the full livestream on YouTube here: https://youtube.com/live/-xqxl2ICGPo?feature=share

Plus: Russian operatives and Nazi historians. Want to hear the whole thing? Full, ad-free episodes of the Secret Podcast are available exclusively to Bulwark+ members. Sign up here: https://www.thebulwark.com/subscribe