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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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??

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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!

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Republican candidates and boat parades.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The gang talk what Kamala Harris needs to do in her debate against Trump to reignite her momentum, Republicans who want Donald Trump to lose to save their party, political yards signs and more!

Check out Tim?s video on Harris?s ?accent changes? here: https://youtu.be/wludyr3riKY

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It's been a month since all three of our gang have recorded the show together, so they're delving deep into the state of the presidential race now that the DNC has concluded. Plus, Tim, Sarah and JVL all get their own rant on what's infuriated them in politics.

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JVL and Bill Kristol talk about the unsettling feeling that the campaign is going . . . really well.

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Apparently, this is the week for so-called moderate Republicans to come out and voice their support for Trump, despite no one asking them too. This included former Sen. Richard Burr, who finds no contradiction between a vote for Trump and his vote to impeach him for Jan. 6.

Plus, what's the best case scenario for Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, and how likely is it we'll get it in November. And JVL, back from vacation, gives his thoughts on Trump's apparent meltdown and the selection of Gov. Tim Walz as Harris's VP.

Sam Stein subs in for Sarah on this weeks episode.

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Vice President Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, and everyone but Never-Trump Republicans is happy! Plus, Donald Trump makes an insane Truth Social post where he fantasizes about President Joe Biden getting back into the race.

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The conservatives who hate Simone Biles and the progressives who don't like Josh Shapiro.

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The campaign has completely turned on its head after Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic Party?s nominee. She?s got the right message, the right mentality, and an excited base that could propel her to a win against Donald Trump in November.

The Trump campaign, by the way, is completely panicking, as shown by its public shunning of Project 2025 and second guessing of Sen. JD Vance as Trump?s running mate.
Plus, the gang weighs in on the veepstakes and, spoiler alert, they?re all on the same page when it comes to who should join the ticket!

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If she crosses over to become a mainstream cultural figure, then watch out . . .

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President Biden stepping off the ticket and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris has led to a huge vibe shift with Democrats. Can Harris ride this wave to November? What are her strengths and weaknesses? And who should she pick as her own veep?

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Trump, Tucker, J.D. Vance, and the beginning of the real campaign.

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The Republican Nation convention is underway, and every former critic still in the party, from Donald Trump?s new veep JD Vance to Nikki, is bending the knee in a show of unity. Plus, the Biden campaign continues to go after critics in the part who think he should step aside, even as the map to victory continues to shrink.

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In some concerning ways, President Biden has taken a page out of Donald Trump?s book some in his party pressure him to leave the ticket, and a few of his supporters are attacking anyone opposed to his place atop the Democratic ticket.

At the same time, some Democrats who publicly, and accurately, call another Trump term a serious threat to democracy don?t really think that?s the case, and their actions show it.

Plus, Sarah gives some focus group insights on how Black voters feel about Vice President Harris leading the ticket, as well as how swing voters are viewing the election post-debate.

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Being in the out-group. Again.

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Voters, not just pundits and donors, are in a panic over whether President Joe Biden should remain atop the ticket, with more and more Americans calling for him to step aside for Democrats to have the best shot of protecting the country from another rump presidency.

Is Vice President Kamala Harris the only person who could replace him? Or should the Democratic Party try to put a popular midwest governor on the ballot.

Either way, SCOTUS has given the next president of the U.S. an enormous amount of power, which could be used to break democracy as we know it.

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Yesterday's primary results kicked out Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman, but welcomed back Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, because the Dems have standards. Plus, polls show more voters, somehow, think Donald Trump will be better for Democracy than President Biden, but can the current president turn things around with tomorrow's debate? Will Saletan subs in for Sarah on today's episode!

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In this special TNL/Dark Side mash-up, JVL & A.B. attempt to break Tim's resolve by discussing President Biden's concerning showing in a new Ann Selzer poll, Black voters? waning support for Biden, the rallying of CEOs to Donald Trump's cause, and the culture war drama surrounding Caitlin Clark.

Note: There will be no new episode of The Next Level until Wednesday, June 26th.

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Hunter Biden's conviction might be beneficial for Joe Biden's campaign, but that hasn't stopped the GOP from dismissing the justice they claim to crave and spreading conspiracies the trial was orchestrated by the "deep state."

Plus, Donald Trump's Truth Social is producing an embarrassingly small amount of money, new inflation numbers, the issue of crime, and Sonny, subbing in for Tim, gives his opposing thoughts on the latest Samuel Alito/SCOTUS drama.

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The GOP continues to be all in on Donald Trump, even after a conviction, choosing to blame the deep state rather than do a single thing to deter the felon's comeback. But have the polls shifted in President Biden's favor since the verdict? Plus, Trump and Biden's dual Time interviews, Biden takes new executive action on immigration and Sen. Joe Manchin leaves the Democratic Party.

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It's the only question that matters.

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Join Sarah, Tim and JVL for a live show in Denver on June 21. Tickets are on sale now at TheBulwark.com/events.

The jury in Trump?s trial is now deliberating, and the gang discusses the impact a conviction, hung jury or acquittal could have on the election. Plus, the scandal surrounding SCOTUS Justice Samuel Alito continues to escalate, and the Democrats are in total freakout mode as polls continue to show Trump winning against President Biden.

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Join Tim, Sarah and JVL for a one-night show in Denver on Friday, June 21. The gang will record an episode of The Next Level and Tim will interview Gov. Jared Polis for the Bulwark Podcast. For tickets and info go to TheBulwark.com/events.

It's been a a chaotic week in GOP politics, with Donald Trump sharing a video hyping up a "United Reich, SCOTUS Justice Alito's upside down flag revelation, and a new MAGA conspiracy making the rounds claiming the FBI tried to assassinate Trump. 

Oh, and voters continue to see the economy as horrendous, while failing to register Trump as a socially conservative radical.

Join Tim, Sarah and JVL for a one-night show in Denver on Friday, June 21. The gang will record an episode of The Next Level and Tim will interview Gov. Jared Polis for the Bulwark Podcast. For tickets and info go to TheBulwark.com/events.

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Sarah and JVL talk about Samuel Alito?s flag, Greg Abbott?s favorite murderer, MTG?s spectacle, and Bob Menendez?s gold bars. The scumbags are ascendent and it is glorious.

Become a Bulwark+ member to listen to the full episode: https://plus.thebulwark.com/s/thesecretpodcast

Join Sarah, Tim and JVL for a live show in Denver on June 21. Tickets are on sale now at TheBulwark.com/events.

The gang was live in D.C. last night to talk President Biden challenging Donald Trump to a debate in June. The former president accepted the early debate, but is it a smart move from the White House?

Plus, the gang dives deep on where they stand on recent polling and the mindset of ?the people,? and ponder whether they would vote for former GOP. Gov. Larry Hogan for the open Maryland senate seat now that the Democratic primary in the state is over.

Sarah and JVL talk about the cross examination of Stormy Daniels, Biden?s move to deny Israel heavy ordinance, Marco Rubio?s VP quest, and all of the anti-anti-Trumpers getting ready to jump back on side. It?s a big episode.

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Stormy Daniels takes the stand in one of Trump's trials, while Judge Aileen Cannon indefinitely delays another! Plus, what's the difference between former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and former Speaker Paul Ryan? One will does the right thing and vote for Joe Biden, while the other can only bring himself to write-in another conservative.

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Also: Trump's first criminal trial is going great.

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The gang went to Philly and hosted a live event where they discussed the terrifying new Time magazine interview with Donald Trump, and why everyone is talking about college protests instead! Plus, a dark deep dive into how Americans can still choose to elect Trump and a debate on which Republican has embarrassed themselves the most auditioning to be his veep.

And it's not clear that the SCOTUS would want to, even if it could.

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David Pecker?s testimony in Trump's trial highlights how his lies and misinformation dominated his 2016 campaign. And Marco Rubio's pathetic attempt to become Trump's veep has led him to vote against funding for Ukraine, but the gang is pretty sure conservative "normies" will eat the selection up. 

Plus, the potential for RFK Jr. to hurt Trump, rather than Biden, the reason why foreign aid finally got done, and protests at Columbia University.

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Join Sarah, Tim and JVL  for a Bulwark Live event in Philly on May 1 and May 15 in D.C. with the George Conway. For information and tickets head to TheBulwark.com/events

Sarah was out of pocket and off the grid all week. JVL was doing his best work in Overtime. So they play a rapid-fire game of catch up on everything Sarah missed.

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