Rephonic
Artwork for The Illegal News

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
Elon Musk
January 6th Insurrection
Election Interference
National Guard
Congress
Jack Smith
Hush Money Case
DOGE
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes132Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Illegal News

Latest Episodes

JVL is joined by Alex Wagner to trace how four conservative power brokers built the legal machine that would reshape the Supreme Court decades later, and how that project helped create the politics we’re living with today. Plus, they break down Samue... more

Andrew Weissmann turns the tables on Sarah Longwell for a conversation about her new book, How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time—and what a post-Trump political future could look like. They get into Trump’s unusual hold on his voters, the right... more

YouTube

Sarah Longwell and George Conway discuss Trump’s attempt to overhaul mail-in voting before the midterms—and why Conway thinks the administration’s chaotic new USPS system is likely to lose when it gets back to the Supreme Court. They also cover SCOTU... more

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss a pair of Supreme Court moves benefiting Trump, including John Roberts allowing construction on the White House ballroom to continue and a ruling affecting Trump’s plans for mail-in voting. They also examin... more

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Recent Guests

George Conway
Guest expert, commentator
Caribbean location; frequently discusses legal issues around Trump
Episode: S2 Ep170: George Conway: Trump Showed Up to the Trial and Lost $83 Million
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)
Elliot Williams
CNN legal analyst, author of Five Bullets, lawyer
CNN/The Bulwark
Episode: S2 Ep153: Reporters Now Need ESCORTS to Do Their Jobs at the Pentagon (w/ Elliot Williams)
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)
Carol Leonnig
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, co-author of the book "Injustice"
The Washington Post
Episode: S2 Ep133: How the DOJ Turned Its Easiest Case Into Trump’s Escape Hatch

Host

Sarah Longwell
Host of The Illegal News

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 States2 months 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 States2 months ago
  • Well done

    🙏🏼

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Che Block
    United States2 months 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 States2 months 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 States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the strong legal analysis and the engaging banter between hosts and guests.
Criticism often centers on long-form digressions and occasional lack of brevity in legal discussions.
Fans appreciate the expert guests and clear explanations of complex court matters.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#87
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#235
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#117
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#55
Japan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#62
Israel/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#78
Norway/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S2 Ep173: Trump Just Ordered the Government to Delete the Receipts (w/ Andrew Weissmann)
Q: How should Democrats respond to a political environment where facts are contested and misinformation runs rampant?
Weissmann argues for staying anchored to verifiable facts while using narrative discipline and repetition to communicate about corruption, ensuring messages are clear and traceable, and addressing voters with empathy while maintaining accountability.
S2 Ep173: Trump Just Ordered the Government to Delete the Receipts (w/ Andrew Weissmann)
Q: What happens next with the Fauci-related investigations and potential charges?
The guests suggest that given two cooperators already involved and no current charges against Fauci, it is unlikely he will be charged unless new, compelling evidence emerges, and political calculations will influence how aggressively casework progresses.
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.

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?

A sharp, policy-forward discussion that blends legal analysis with political commentary, focusing on high-profile court actions, regulatory changes, and the role of the judiciary in the Trump era. Episodes routinely unpack court filings, Supreme Court decisions, and procedural nuances, while translating complex legal concepts into practical context for listeners who want to understand how legal moves shape democracy. The show's strength lies in pairing a seasoned host with top legal experts to surface insights, critique legal strategies, and occasionally offer behind-the-scenes storytelling from high-stakes cases. Noteworthy elements include candid debates about executive power, accountability, and the intersection of law and media strategy... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Illegal News:

1. The Next Level
2. The Focus Group Podcast
3. Bulwark Takes
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 132 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. Elliot Williams
8. Tess Bridgeman

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