The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell
The Bulwark“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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 120 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | NewsPoliticsSociety & Culture | |||
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Latest Episodes
Sarah Longwell and Georgetown University Law Center's Steve Vladek discuss the Supreme Court's final day of the term—a narrow 5-4 ruling upholding birthright citizenship, the court gutting independent agency protections (while carving out a suspiciou... more
Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann talk about the Iran nuclear deal—why the "win" Trump is selling actually leaves America with less leverage, fewer allies, and zero nuclear resolution than where we started. Plus: what Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haber... more
Sarah Longwell is joined by law professor and Strict Scrutiny co-host Leah Litman to discuss the White House’s plan to suspend habeas corpus, JD Vance’s push to invoke the Insurrection Act, the Gavin Newsom investigation, and the 19 Supreme Court dec... more
Trump's AG nominee Todd Blanche lost Trump's own criminal trial, built an illegal slush fund, and lied on Fox News—and Republicans are confirming him anyway. Sarah Longwell and Andrew Weissmann discuss what Democrats can actually do at the hearing, w... more
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- 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 Podcasts5Annette the Minnesotan
United States21 days ago - Andrew, cats are good
I know you love dogs, but it wouldn’t hurt you to acquaint yourself with the virtues of the feline species.
That said, I love you both, Sarah and Andrew.
Apple Podcasts5Cats feetUnited Statesa month ago - Wrong messaging
Sarah, please stop saying Trump is not doing anything to lower prices…..It makes him seem disinterested, some innocent bystander, and aloof to the problem……
When the better and factual message should be Trump’s actions (tariffs and Iran war) are the direct causality of the inflation. In sum, Trump is the main culprit behind the inflation.
Dems need to get their act together with this message. N.b., Inflation was heading to 2% when Trump came into office
Apple Podcasts5Prometheus---United States2 months ago - Apology
Have to interrupt my listening to the latest episode to say kudos to Eliot Williams for being so lovely and gracious: THAT was an apology. Coming from a man, an attorney no less, it was beautiful and powerful. Not an if-pology, not an "I didn't mean...", not a rationalization, just clear owning it, here's why it wasn't right, here's who I'm saying sorry to, we continue to strive to do better. This process should be a normal everyday practice of adulting & civility, but unfortunately it's not. ... more
Apple Podcasts5HilpstUnited States3 months ago - Contemptuous grifters
Contemptuous grifters
Apple Podcasts1Robin RobinovitchUnited States3 months ago
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Apple Podcasts | #110 | United States/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #247 | United States/News |
Apple Podcasts | #167 |  United Kingdom/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #183 |  Canada/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #136 |  Italy/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #191 |  Australia/News/Politics |
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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.
Where can I find podcast stats for The Illegal News?
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Which podcasts are similar to The Illegal News?
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 Podcast
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 120 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. Mary McCord
2. Ben Wittes
3. Kate Shaw
4. (John Doe placeholder)
5. Andrew Weissmann
6. Tess Bridgeman
7. Elliot Williams
8. Carol Leonnig
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