Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes – Sam & Sarah Read Their Own Hate Mail
Podcast: Bulwark Takes
Hosts: Sam Stein and Sarah Longwell
Episode Date: December 24, 2025
Episode Theme:
A candid, self-deprecating, and often hilarious holiday roast in which hosts Sam and Sarah read and react to mean (and some kind) comments from listeners and internet critics, exploring what it means to be on the receiving end of the modern media hate cycle.
Overview
Sam Stein and Sarah Longwell, two central figures at The Bulwark, spend this episode digging into the best (and worst) of their public hate mail. The conversation, described as “roasting each other like a couple of yule logs” (04:42), is a blend of sharp wit, vulnerability, and honest feedback. Throughout the episode, they reflect on public engagement—both positive and negative—while poking fun at each other and the sometimes-outrageous criticisms they receive.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Premise: Why Read Hate Mail?
- Not their own idea: Sarah claims, “I don’t...somebody handed me a sheet of paper with digs on Sam and they were like, you guys are going to do a take on this.” (03:17)
- Reluctant game: Neither Sam nor Sarah is excited but both accept this as “making fun of ourselves for the enjoyment of our listeners.” (03:42)
- Unfiltered: They confirm neither has seen the comments about themselves beforehand (03:53).
- Important disclaimer: Sam stresses, "We love our commenters. We love our fans and our haters. I actually...revel in the hatred. I find it invigorating. As long as it's not too violent and personal, I'll take it." (04:49)
2. Mean Comments: Reading and Reactions
About Sam Stein
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Sam as “bad at ads”:
- “I’d be disappointed as a sponsor if Sam was reading my ad.” (05:11)
- Sam wonders if maybe taking “a gummy before he does the ad” makes him too giggly (05:32).
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“How many bad takes can Sam have in one video?” (05:49)
- Sam: "Yeah, I need the context for that one, Lolly...What was the take I had?" (05:58)
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Anti-Semitic Comment:
- Sarah hesitates: “This is anti-Semitic...” (06:22)
- Sam replies, “Read it, read it, it's okay...” (06:27), then “I will just say the context is I'm a Jew. All right, I let that one go. I get a lot of those.” (07:05)
- Sam insists on transparency: “People need to know what's out there on the Internet. A lot of anti-Semitism.” (07:19)
- Sarah: “You have a great nose.” (07:30)
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Sam the Interrupter:
- Sarah: “Sam, you can be a jerk.” (12:28)
- “Sam, you’re a bit silly. Where’s Sarah?” (12:44)
- Multiple variations: “Stop interrupting, you dick.” (12:54), “Does Sam Stein ever LET a person finish a sentence?!” (15:43)
- Sam acknowledges, “What am I supposed to do? I got to stop. I got to, like, literally bite my tongue.” (16:09)
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With Andrew Iger:
- “Sam is so bad. Can't you get someone good to interview Andrew? I spent half my time just cringing at Sam's inflated ego.” (09:56)
- Sam responds: “Andrew and I have a very great relationship that's built on a little bit of sort of like fun false adversariness...” (10:19)
- Sarah notes the trend: “There’s a genre of the Andrew tweets: Sam is so patronizing to Andrew. Let him cook or cut him loose to a colleague that respects him.” (10:39)
- Sam’s New Year’s resolution: “I'm going to make a resolution for this new year to be more kind to Andrew.” (11:01)
About Sarah Longwell
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Hair and Appearance Critiques:
- “Sarah, your hair stylist hates you. You had gorgeous hair. Not so much anymore.” (08:02)
- Sarah: “The context of this is that I’m a girl, therefore get lots of comments about my hair when my hairstyle changes, which has been a new experience for me.” (08:14)
- Sam offers support: “That's good. I like the hair.” (08:28)
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Not Enough Seinfeld?
- Sam reads: “First, how could Sarah not have watched Seinfeld?...Sarah needs to keep an open mind and watch Seinfeld.” (08:48)
- Sarah jokes, “This is a form of anti-Semitism...But I’ve seen enough of Seinfeld; like, I get Seinfeld. It’s just not my favorite.” (08:51–09:19)
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Focus Groups & Bothsides-ism:
- Sam: “Please stop wasting time on focus groups, Sarah. That’s why Dems lose all the time...” (11:37)
- Sarah’s retort: “Those ‘stupid people’ vote in jail. Knowing where they are is good for politicians to know...in a democracy, the voters, no matter how stupid, they get to decide who governs them.” (13:25–13:46)
- “Why does Sarah keep presenting the both sides in every situation? ...I hate Sarah. Please stop putting her on this show.” (11:58)
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Sarah “Always Wrong”:
- “When it comes to Democratic strategy, whatever Sarah is against, I am for. She’s always wrong.” (14:07)
- Sarah responds, “I think you could do it: ‘Sarah is always wrong’ T-shirt printing. I think you could do it. Sometimes wrong. But...I’ve had a lot of W’s.” (14:09)
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Mispronouncing Names:
- “Please have Sarah Longwell pronounce Ghislaine Maxwell’s first name correctly.” (17:14)
- Sarah: “If you’ve run a pedophile ring, I do not feel obligated to say your name properly.” (17:24)
3. Self-Reflection & Banter
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Interrupting—A Shared Problem?
- Sam’s issue is interrupting others; Sarah admits she interrupts herself:
- “This is a real thing about me. I interrupt my own line of thinking all the time to backtrack and stuff.” (17:38)
- Sam: “Wait, so you have an interruption problem too?” (17:50)
- Sarah: “I interrupt my own self.” (17:52)
- Sam’s issue is interrupting others; Sarah admits she interrupts herself:
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On Taking Criticism:
- Sam: “This was humbling and important, but I don’t want to do it again.” (19:11)
- Sarah: “You didn't hurt me guys, you didn't hurt me. Try harder.” (19:28)
- Sam: “Most of you, you do need to step up your hate game. I feel like this was too easy to get by.” (19:44)
- Sarah: “Not really, we are people with feelings.” (19:45)
- Sam: “Yeah. It does hurt a little bit inside. I’m masking it.” (19:47)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “We’re gonna roast each other right now like a couple of yule logs.” —Sarah (03:42)
- “I revel in the hatred. I find it invigorating. As long as it’s not too violent and personal, I’ll take it.” —Sam (04:49)
- “Read it, read it, it’s okay...” —Sam (handling anti-Semitic hate) (06:27)
- On tough audience critiques: “You have a great nose.” —Sarah to Sam (07:30)
- “In a democracy, the voters, no matter how stupid, they get to decide who governs them.” —Sarah (13:40)
- “I'm going to make a resolution...to be more kind to Andrew.” —Sam (11:01)
- “If you’ve run a pedophile ring, I do not feel obligated to say your name properly.” —Sarah (17:24)
- “This was humbling and important, but I don’t want to do it again.” —Sam (19:11)
- “You didn't hurt me guys, you didn't hurt me. Try harder.” —Sarah (19:28)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------| | 03:01 | Intro: Why are they reading hate mail? | | 04:49 | Disclaimer on loving fans & haters | | 06:18 | Anti-Semitic comment & handling hate | | 08:02 | Sarah’s hair critiques | | 08:48 | The Seinfeld debate | | 09:56 | Criticisms of Sam’s interviews with Andrew | | 11:37 | Focus groups: why bother? | | 13:25 | Sarah’s defense of focus groups | | 14:07 | “Sarah is always wrong” genre | | 16:09 | Sam on biting his tongue, interruption issue | | 17:14 | Pronouncing “Ghislaine” Maxwell | | 17:38 | Sarah’s confession: interrupts herself | | 19:11 | The wrap-up on reading hate mail | | 19:28 | Final banter and goodbyes |
Tone and Style
The conversation stays irreverent and self-aware, with both hosts comfortable riffing on each other's quirks and the nature of media criticism in the internet era. While the show pokes fun at internet haters, it doesn't shy away from addressing the ugly (anti-Semitic) corners of public comment culture, modeling a resilient but honest response.
For Listeners:
If you’re curious about how media personalities process criticism—or just want a holiday laugh at their expense—this is a can't-miss installment. Sam and Sarah’s chemistry, willingness to be roasted, and deft ability to turn negative energy into entertainment make for a revealing, snappy, and good-natured episode.