Episode Overview

Podcast: Bulwark Takes
Episode: Sarah Longwell: Trump’s DOJ Goes After Bolton—For Doing What Trump Did
Air Date: October 18, 2025
Main Theme:
Sarah Longwell and guests discuss the Department of Justice under Donald Trump targeting John Bolton over his handling of classified material, while Trump himself committed similar infractions. The conversation broadens to examine how Trump's focus on retribution, not governance, affects voters, what it means for American institutions, and the changing identity of the Republican Party.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Public Awareness and Concern About DOJ Weaponization

Timestamps: 00:49–02:05

• Swing Voters’ Priorities:
  Longwell emphasizes that most voters are more worried about the economy and daily life than the DOJ’s targeting of Trump’s enemies.

  "The number one thing we are hearing from voters in terms of what they are frustrated about really, is the economy, prices. And what they see is Donald Trump's failure to focus on those things and instead focus on things like prosecuting his enemies." —Sarah Longwell [01:08]

• Lack of Outrage:
  Outside political junkies and Democrats, few see DOJ weaponization as their top issue; MAGA voters especially are disengaged from this institutional concern.

2. John Bolton, Comey, and Public Sympathy

Timestamps: 02:05–05:01

• Bolton’s Lack of “Constituency”:
  The conversation covers how people like John Bolton or Jim Comey lack a natural base of support, making them vulnerable when targeted.
• Comey vs. Bolton:
  Focus groups show more sympathy for Comey, who many now view as someone who made tough choices under pressure.

  "There's a lot of sympathy for Comey...People feel slightly differently about John Bolton, in part because...he chose to write the book instead of testify against Donald Trump when people felt like it would really matter." —Sarah Longwell [03:07]

• Double Standard in Prosecution:
  Voters notice Bolton is prosecuted for handling classified documents—a crime Trump committed openly—and see the injustice in the double standard.

  “John Bolton is being prosecuted for the very thing that Donald Trump was...absolutely did in plain sight, tried to cover up, and then was reelected president subsequently.” —Sarah Longwell [04:36]

3. Trump’s Focus on Retribution and Voter Discontent

Timestamps: 05:01–07:56

• Trump’s Distractions:
  Trump spends time naming political enemies instead of governing, frustrating swing voters and detracting from economic issues.
• Chaos and “Vibes Over Substance”:
  People sense disorder in the country—shutdowns, National Guard deployments—and blame Trump for focusing on personal grievances over real policy.

  “They see the chaos, right?...The more that side of the ledger of frustration, like, why is all this other stuff happening instead of, you know, them making things cheaper?” —Sarah Longwell [06:17]

• Worsening Poll Numbers:
  Trump’s approval rating has dropped significantly (“down to 37%”), reflecting public dissatisfaction.
• Document Security Crisis:
  The mishandling of classified information (by Trump, Biden, Pence, Bolton) highlights systemic failures and undermines national security.

  “Our OPSEC in America is not clean. We have a problem. And if they're going to prosecute John Bolton for this, then...they use that to reestablish some real guidelines for what people are doing...” —Sarah Longwell [07:14]

4. Institutional and Civic Capitulation

Timestamps: 07:56–09:46

• Failure of American Leadership:
  Longwell laments the silence of business, civic, and military leaders, noting fear of Trump’s retribution.

  “I am just mystified every day by the fact that you don't have business leaders, community leaders, military leaders, everybody talking about what Donald Trump is doing...People are afraid, and they don't want him to turn his eye of Sauron on them...” —Sarah Longwell [08:40]

• Civil Society’s Disappointment:
  Beyond GOP politicians, American societal elites have “rolled over” in the face of Trump’s practices, more disappointing to her even than Republican capitulation in 2018.
• Grassroots Mobilization vs. Elite Complacency:
  While average people plan to protest (“no Kings” march), Longwell criticizes America’s elites for their inaction.

5. Political Risks of Trump’s Retribution Focus

Timestamps: 10:12–13:23

• Trump’s Perilous Momentum:
  Despite seeming “unstoppable,” his single-minded focus on punishing enemies and immigration leaves him politically exposed.
  • Guest Analyst: “It seems like he might be setting himself up...it’s politically risky to be so focused on retribution and to be so focused on immigration...”
• Midterm Oversight as Check on Trump:
  Longwell sees Democratic victory in the 2026 midterms as a chance for real oversight.

  “There is no accountability. And if I were some of these civic leaders who've been letting him off the hook time after time, I would remember that there's a future...All of these things he's doing right now, weaponizing the IRS, these things can come back at them.” —Sarah Longwell [12:37]

• Approval Rates and Historical Judgment:
  If Trump leaves office unpopular due to economic failure and personal vendettas, those who enabled him will face judgment.

6. Racist Young Republicans and the Changing GOP

Timestamps: 13:23–15:56

• Racist Communications Exposed:
  The New York Young Republicans are censured following racist chats, but Longwell points out it’s part of a broader pattern, not an isolated incident.
• Trump’s Influence:
  Trump, through word and deed, has attracted extremists to the GOP and driven out honorable actors.

  “It’s not just that Donald Trump fans the flames of behavior like this, it’s that Donald Trump’s own behavior has now attracted people like this to the party. This is not an isolated incident...” —Sarah Longwell [14:43]

• Transformation of the Party:
  Traditional Republicans (e.g., George W. Bush) are now reviled by the base; Trumpism is ascendant and defines the party’s identity.
• Not ‘Kids Being Kids’:
  The offenders are adults and leaders, not foolish youths, entrenched in the modern Republican institution.

  “These are not kids, they're not children, they're not 17. They are the strivers who are part of the young institutions...” —Sarah Longwell [15:36]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On swing voter fatigue:
  "It's all about him. But what they don't do necessarily...is focus on the institutional problems of Trump weaponizing the Justice Department, going after his enemies." —Sarah Longwell [01:41]
• On the double standard in prosecuting Bolton:
  “It is unfair for John Bolton to be prosecuted...for something that Donald Trump absolutely did in plain sight, tried to cover up, and then was reelected president subsequently.” —Sarah Longwell [04:36]
• On civil society’s collapse:
  "But watching the rest of civil society [capitulate] has been one of the more demoralizing things I've ever seen." —Sarah Longwell [09:41]
• On party identity:
  "This is who Donald Trump has been attracting to the party now for over a decade." —Sarah Longwell [15:47]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Public focus on the economy vs. DOJ weaponization — [01:08]
• Comparisons of Comey and Bolton; double standard discussion — [03:07], [04:36]
• Trump's focus on enemies & plummeting approval — [06:03]
• America’s OPSEC & lack of leadership response — [07:14], [08:40]
• Risks of Trump’s retribution politics — [10:12], [11:14]
• Racist GOP texts & Trump’s influence on party culture — [13:23], [15:36]

Overall Tone

The conversation is urgent, exasperated, and deeply critical of both Trump’s conduct and the broader civil society’s failure to check his abuses. Longwell’s concern is reflected in a mix of analytical detachment (as in focus group findings) and personal frustration with America's current political and cultural moment.