The Next Level

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 do-over, Trump's comments about Kaitlan Collins, why anyone goes to it anymore, and how the whole thing seems to be playing into Trump's hands.
- The drama inside the Democratic National Committee, and how (and whether) having a strong national party committee matters anymore.
- The proposed new primary calendar for the 2028 Democratic primaries.
- The final stretch of the Michigan Senate primary.

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 Streamer JVL? 
Plus: Some questions for Tom Homan about shooting January 6 insurrectionists; Haley Stevens and authenticity; and the Mitch McConnell conspiracy theory. Also, a conversation about raising good men.
But the big topic is the Department of Defense suddenly removing the names of four dead soldiers from the Iran war casualty list because they were killed after Trump declared a ceasefire in April—because there are now apparently two distinct Iran wars. Even though neither of them is, for legal purposes, a “war.”
This episode is sponsored by The New York Times.

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 ridiculous AI advertisement being run by a Ted Cruz-aligned outside group in Florida (and the whacky candidates in the ad).

The unfolding special Republican primary for Senate in South Carolina

The Michigan Senate race...and how all of the online conventional wisdom stacks up with reality.

Get 30% off your entire order with Soul at https://GetSoul.com and use promo code THENEXTLEVEL.
Get 15% off your order with Boll and Branch at https://BollandBranch.com/NEXTLEVEL.

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 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: https://www.92ny.org/event/sarah-longwell-how-to-eat-an-elephant

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 this. No one on this show is numb.
- Trump's aborted plan to toll the Strait of Hormuz--and whether it was an act of war.
- Sarah lets Todd Blanche (and Republican senators) have it.
- After JVL's wifi goes bad, Tim and Sarah discuss Tim's interview with Pete Buttigieg, and why Tim is glad Josh Shapiro isn't wading into intra-Democratic turf wars.
Make laundry day the best day of the week! Get 20% off your entire order @LaundrySauce with code THENEXTLEVEL at https://laundrysauce.com/THENEXTLEVEL #laundrysaucepod
Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to https://Quince.com/THENEXTLEVEL for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.