The Next Level

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. 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!
Read JVL’s Triad newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/thetriad
Read Sarah’s 'The Man Behind the Tatoo': https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-man-behind-the-tattoo-graham-platner-maine-democrat-focus-group
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 https://TheBulwark.com/Events for more announcements.

Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller and Sam Stein (filling in for JVL) discuss the Trump administration’s assertion that the effort to protect ships in the Strait of Hormuz is "separate and distinct" from the larger war effort in Iran. Plus, they get into the drama over Ken Martin’s time as DNC chair, the effect the Supreme Court’s recent voting rights ruling might have on the midterms, the wisdom of Senate Republicans allocating $1 billion for the ballroom Trump promised would be completed without public money and how the Senate battleground his shaping up for Democrats this fall. Bonus: Tim coins a new term for presidents hitting historically bad polling numbers.
Visit https://Upwork.com/THENEXTLEVEL right now and post your job for free.
Head to https://Greenchef.com/50nextlevel and use code 50nextlevel to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months.
Read "The YOLO Presidency" by Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/04/donald-trump-legacy-history/686817/
Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego on 5/20 and in LA on 5/21:
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-events

Full episodes of the Secret Podcast are available to paid members of the Bulwark on Substack, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.
JVL 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.

Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller and JVL want LIVE to cover yet another indictment of Jim Comey by the Trump administration.
NOTE: If you're getting this late—we apologize! Something went wrong and some of you may not have received this episode on the day that it was originally released (Tuesday, April 29). We will try to track down and punish the gremlins responsible.
Make today a good day, and get yourself some Soul gummies. Right now, Soul is offering 30% off your entire order. Go to https://GetSoul.com and use the code THENEXTLEVEL
Head to https://Brodo.com/THENEXTLEVEL for 20% off your first subscription order and use code THENEXTLEVEL for an additional $10 off.
Read Ben Parker’s exclusive reporting on Trump’s plan to put his own face on US passports: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/exclusive-state-dept-finalizing-plan

Read JVL’s Triad newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/thetriad

Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller and JVL are going LIVE to cover yet another indictment of Jim Comey by the Trump administration.
NOTE: If you're getting this late—we apologize! Something went wrong and some of you may not have received this episode on the day that it was originally released (Tuesday, April 29). We will try to track down and punish the gremlins responsible.
Make today a good day, and get yourself some Soul gummies. Right now, Soul is offering 30% off your entire order. Go to https://GetSoul.com and use the code THENEXTLEVEL
Head to https://Brodo.com/THENEXTLEVEL for 20% off your first subscription order and use code THENEXTLEVEL for an additional $10 off.
Read Ben Parker’s exclusive reporting on Trump’s plan to put his own face on US passports: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/exclusive-state-dept-finalizing-plan
Read JVL’s Triad newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/thetriad