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Artwork for The Illegal News

The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell

The Bulwark
Donald Trump
E. Jean Carroll
Supreme Court
January 6 Insurrection
Presidential Immunity
Trump Organization
14th Amendment
Insurrection
Election Interference
Jack Smith
Georgia
Stormy Daniels
Trump
Society For the Rule Of Law
Hush Money Case
Lying and Morality In Politics
Georgia Election Interference Case
Hush Money Payments
Trump Legal Challenges
Espionage Act

“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

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Artwork for The Illegal News

Latest Episodes

Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann explain the legality of Trump’s unhinged Iran threats, the legal reality behind “war crimes” warnings, and the global fallout of a strategy with no clear objective. They also discuss Trump’s push to control electio... more

Sarah Longwell and Elliot Williams explain a series of legal fights that go to the core of how the country operates—from whether birthright citizenship could actually be undone, to a new immigration detention policy that could keep people locked up f... more

JVL (filling in for Sarah Longwell) joins Andrew Weissmann for a wide-ranging breakdown of a system under strain. They discuss the DOJ’s $1.25M payout to Michael Flynn, a surprising leak tied to the Trump investigations, and the backlash that followe... more

YouTube

Andrew Weissmann joins Sarah Longwell to explain Trump’s failed attempt to target Fed Chair Jerome Powell—and why a judge shut it down as harassment. They also discuss the Trump admin's bizarre border strategy that’s collapsing in court, as DOJ lawye... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

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)
Andrew Weissmann
Former federal prosecutor and legal expert
Episode: S2 Ep139: Andrew Weissmann: Epstein Release Looks Like a DOJ Cover-Up
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
Aaron Davis
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
Steve Vladeck
Professor of law at Georgetown and legal expert
Georgetown Law
Episode: S2 Ep132: Trump’s DOJ Lost to a Hoagie (w/ Sam Stein & Steve Vladeck)
Leah Litman
Law professor at the University of Michigan Law School, co-host of the Strict Scrutiny Podcast, and author of 'Lawless.'
University of Michigan Law School
Episode: S2 Ep117: Why The Supreme Court Is Broken (w/ Leah Litman)
Natasha Stoyanoff
Alleged victim of Donald Trump who shared her story in the episode.
Episode: Trump Is a Serial PREDATOR. It’s Time To Talk About It.
Jessica Leeds
Alleged victim of Donald Trump who shared her story in the episode.
Episode: Trump Is a Serial PREDATOR. It’s Time To Talk About It.

Host

Sarah Longwell
Host of The Illegal News; Publisher of The Bulwark

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 4.3k ratings
  • I do not miss an episode

    Just when I was lamenting George Conway leaving the show AW shows up as a guest. Thought provoking and essential for anyone trying to stay connected with this nightmare.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eviews
    United States25 days ago
  • Illegal

    Thank you for saying Il-legal and not e-legal.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VAgrrl
    United Statesa month ago
  • Excellent

    Love the pod generally, and so happy you didn’t cut the audio book discussion with Andrew Weissmann. It was hilarious.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeanienyc
    United Statesa month ago
  • Andrew!

    Thank you for bringing Andrew Weissmann on the show. So much past experience & so enjoyable to listen to him.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Need More Heathers
    United Statesa month ago
  • Two peas in a pod!

    LOVE your shows with Andrew W!! So fun as well as informative. Thank you!!🙏🏼

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jascook
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Confused Attorney regarding the Epstein case, discusses DOJ and accountability issues,5/5
Co-hosts, great dynamic and expertise; some feedback on vocal style,4/5
Too irritated to not comment, strong critiques but balanced with expert guests,4/5
I gotta say...,It's better without Kellyanne's husband.,2/5
Keep Andrew, W has great insight. His experience shines thru,5/5

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#77
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#209
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#94
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#168
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#239
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#148
Australia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S2 Ep148: Is This War Legal? (w/ Tess Bridgeman)
Q: Is this war legal or illegal that we are currently waging?
It is illegal under both domestic and international law, with the international law framing labeling it a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and self-defense justifications not meeting the threshold.
S2 Ep147: Trump’s Face on DOJ Is a Big Deal—Here’s Why (w/ Elliot Williams)
Q: Is there a reason he never tried to do this out of the gate versus the illegal way?
Yes, there is likely a lack of political and congressional support; tariffs are taxes, and achieving bipartisan buy-in would be difficult, so the administration opted for more aggressive approaches that risk court challenges.
S2 Ep147: Trump’s Face on DOJ Is a Big Deal—Here’s Why (w/ Elliot Williams)
Q: So my first question is, how did Trump get around the Supreme Court's decision?
He didn't truly get around it; he used legally bounded avenues like the Trade Act of 1974 that are time-bound and require justification, and the broader path would require congressional authorization. Legal challenges are likely, and the broad, sweeping authority he imagined is not supported by current law.
S2 Ep144: Trump Is Treating Elections Like Crimes (w/ Elliot Williams)
Q: Can Trump actually nationalize elections?
No, the management of elections is explicitly reserved for state and local governments, making Trump's claim legally unsound.
S2 Ep144: Trump Is Treating Elections Like Crimes (w/ Elliot Williams)
Q: Do you think the case against Lemon and Fort will go to trial?
There is a decent chance it gets thrown out due to the ambiguity of their actions as journalists.

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, law-and-politics oriented discussion show that breaks down court rulings, filings, and procedural twists shaping American democracy during the Trump era. Each episode pairs a host with a legal expert to translate complex legal moves into practical implications for governance, elections, and accountability. Expect clear takeaways on executive power, DOJ actions, and the evolving balance between courts and the presidency, with recurring guests who bring high-level legal analysis to current events. A notable strength is the way accessible explanations are paired with real-world implications for policy, media, and civic participation, making it useful for listeners who want to understand how legal developments influence politics and ev... 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. The Bulwark Podcast
4. Bulwark Takes
5. Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast

How many episodes of The Illegal News are there?

The Illegal News launched 2 years ago and published 108 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. Tess Bridgeman
2. Elliot Williams
3. Andrew Weissmann
4. Carol Leonnig
5. Aaron Davis
6. Steve Vladeck
7. Leah Litman
8. Natasha Stoyanoff

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