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The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell

The Bulwark
Donald Trump
Supreme Court
Trump Administration
Republican Party
Department Of Justice
Birthright Citizenship
E. Jean Carroll
Kamala Harris
Executive Power
January 6th Insurrection
Elon Musk
Election Interference
National Guard
Congress
Hush Money Case
Doge
Jack Smith
National Security
Paul Weiss
Stormy Daniels

“The Illegal News” is where law meets politics. Each week, Bulwark publisher Sarah Longwell (not a lawyer) sits down with a legal expert to unpack how the latest court filings, rulings, and procedural twists and turns of the Trump era are shaping American democracy. These are conversations about justice without the jargon, giving you context for the biggest developments and surfacing the legal (an... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes126Founded3 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Sam Stein and Andrew Weissmann discuss the Justice Department’s dismissal of charges over damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, potential recourse for Olympian David Hearn, and Trump’s response. They also examine Todd Blanche’s Senate confi... more

Sam Stein and George Conway discuss James Comey’s challenge to the “8647” prosecution, Donald Trump’s Supreme Court bid to overturn E. Jean Carroll’s $83 million defamation judgment, and the administration’s push for new restrictions on mail-in votin... more

Sarah Longwell welcomes George Conway back to The Illegal News to discuss Trump Media’s plan to sell Wall Street firms early access to Trump’s market-moving Truth Social posts. They also talk about DOJ subpoenas targeting New York Times reporters and... more

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Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss on a week that tested both of them: Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing, and Trump's prime-time speech on election interference. Andrew walks through the cross-examination Senate Democrats didn't run—the st... more

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Recent Guests

George Conway
Former campaign adviser and legal commentator on the Trump era
Independent/Attorney (as discussed on show)
Episode: S2 Ep169: George Conway Is Back—and Trump Gave Him PLENTY to Work With
Steve Vladeck
Supreme Court expert, Georgetown Law professor
Georgetown Law
Episode: S2 Ep166: MAGA is Furious at Amy Coney Barrett (w/ Steve Vladeck)
Mary McCord
Former prosecutor in the DC US Attorney's Office, oversaw the National Security Division at DOJ; Georgetown University professor; co-hosts Main Justice (MSNOW)
Georgetown University; Main Justice
Episode: S2 Ep161: Judge Nukes Trump DOJ’s “Vindictive” Prosecution (w/ Mary McCord) | Illegal News
Ben Wittes
Legal analyst and co-host, frequent commentator on law and governance
Lawfare/Brookings Institution
Episode: S2 Ep159: Trump Built a System That Pays People to Break the Law (w/ Ben Wittes)
Kate Shaw
Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School; co-host of Strict Scrutiny
University of Pennsylvania Law School
Episode: S2 Ep157: SCOTUS Profoundly Changed Elections—Mid-Vote! (w/ Kate Shaw)
(John Doe placeholder)
Episode: S2 Ep157: SCOTUS Profoundly Changed Elections—Mid-Vote! (w/ Kate Shaw)
Andrew Weissmann
Former DOJ official, lawyer, author
Department of Justice (former)
Episode: S2 Ep152: Todd Blanche’s Jaw-Dropping Ethics Violation (w/ Andrew Weissmann)
Tess Bridgeman
Co-editor and Chief of Just Security, former White House adviser
Just Security
Episode: S2 Ep148: Is This War Legal? (w/ Tess Bridgeman)
Elliot Williams
CNN legal analyst and author of Five Bullets
CNN
Episode: S2 Ep147: Trump’s Face on DOJ Is a Big Deal—Here’s Why (w/ Elliot Williams)

Hosts

Sarah Longwell
Host of The Illegal News; Bulwark publisher
JVL
Host of The Illegal News (guest-hosted)

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 4.4k ratings
  • Better

    I’m sure George is smart but he rambled so much, interrupted and talked for way too long. Mostly love the rotating experts. Except Rangappa is a poor speaker who can’t get to the point. Weissman is good but now there are too many side topics :) . You need to speak well to be on a podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    nbsfmc
    United States18 days ago
  • Thank you👍🩷

    Thank you so much, Sarah I love you. You’re so comforting and I certainly love George Conway and missed him while he was gone. So happy to have him back, but I absolutely love Andrew Wiseman too. What a great person to have and discuss the top political issues and the legalities or illegalities. Anyway, all three of you always cheer me up and give me hope. Peace and happiness to you always 😊

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ruffian 54
    United States19 days ago
  • Well done

    🙏🏼

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Che Block
    United Statesa month ago
  • Still small voice in ohio

    Exceptional. Lets make our elected officials swear to uphold the constitution and tell the truth. Anyone? Your work gives me hope. Its real love! Call your electeds!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Susanadiana
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love this show

    I look forward to this show every week. Andrew cracks me up with his tangents and stories. Sarah cracks me up with her attempts to stay on topic. These two are a great pairing and their discussions are brilliant and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Annette the Minnesotan
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the clear legal context and practical takeaways from complex cases.
Guests like Weissmann and Wittes are highlighted for deep expertise and engaging banter.
Some listeners critique style or tone in certain episodes, but overall value on important legal topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S2 Ep166: MAGA is Furious at Amy Coney Barrett (w/ Steve Vladeck)
Q: Steve, maybe you can just give us a quick background again on, like, why did the president try, like, why did he fire or try to fire these people that led to these Supreme Court cases?
The president claimed cause for firing some independent-agency commissioners with four-cause removal protections, arguing for accountability, while the court ruled that, generally, removal protections are unconstitutional except for the Fed, where the court found special considerations. This split created a framework where most agencies can be removed for cause, but the Fed remains protected, at least for now.
S2 Ep167: Trump's Own Judge Torched DOJ's Insane Election Subpoena (w/ Andrew Weissmann)
Q: Can you walk me through why you think the Epstein files may never be released?
Weissmann outlines that the combination of standing, the legality of the specific act used, and the strategic timing of disclosures and court decisions all contribute to uncertainty; while a judge could side with release, there are multiple potential appellate hurdles and procedural delays that may keep some documents confidential for longer.
S2 Ep165: The Reflecting Pool is a Symbol of Trump’s Failure (w/ Andrew Weissmann)
Q: Is this PG or is this not PG?
Yes, it's not PG; they are discussing legal and political topics, so expect explicit language and strong opinions rather than kid-friendly content.
S2 Ep157: SCOTUS Profoundly Changed Elections—Mid-Vote! (w/ Kate Shaw)
Q: Can you just give us an overview of the case and what are the facts, how did this get to the Supreme Court, what did they rule?
The case is part of a broader arc where the court has weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act over time; Louisiana's map had a second majority-black district that the court found to be impermissibly race-conscious in the way it was drawn, signaling a shift toward a colorblind interpretation of the Constitution with respect to race in redistricting.
S2 Ep156: Kash Patel's Lawsuit Could Backfire—BIG TIME (w/ Andrew Weissmann)
Q: Why should Kash Patel go to trial instead of settling or moving quickly through motions?
A rapid trial would expose witnesses, contradictors, and the credibility of the allegations in a way that could clarify the record for the public, giving Kash Patel a platform to present his side and potentially deter further media framing until evidence is tested in court.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Illegal News

What is The Illegal News about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program blends legal analysis with political context, unpacking high-stakes developments from the Trump era through accessible conversations with prominent legal minds. Episodes commonly dissect court filings, DOJ actions, Supreme Court decisions, and constitutional mechanisms, while interweaving practical policy takeaways and real-world implications for democracy and accountability. A standout trait is the pairing of sharp legal expertise with clear, conversational storytelling, often punctuated by humor and behind-the-scenes anecdotes that illuminate complex procedures without jargon.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Illegal News:

1. The Next Level
2. Bulwark Takes
3. The Focus Group Podcast
4. The Bulwark Daily
5. Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast

How many episodes of The Illegal News are there?

The Illegal News launched 3 years ago and published 126 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Illegal News?

Recent guests on The Illegal News include:

1. George Conway
2. Steve Vladeck
3. Mary McCord
4. Ben Wittes
5. Kate Shaw
6. (John Doe placeholder)
7. Andrew Weissmann
8. Tess Bridgeman

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