The Bulwark Podcast: "Sarah Longwell and Jonathan V. Last: The Lonely Boy Club" Summary

Release Date: November 22, 2024

Introduction

In this episode of The Bulwark Podcast, host Tim Miller engages in a robust discussion with guests Sarah Longwell (Publisher of The Bulwark) and Jonathan V. Last (Editor of The Bulwark). The conversation delves into the intricacies of recent political developments, focusing on controversial political nominations, the influence of social conservatives, and the evolving strategies of both Republican and Democratic parties.

Scheduling Update and Podcast Format Changes [00:00 – 03:14]

Tim Miller opens the episode by addressing a change in the regular podcast schedule due to a guest's scheduling conflict. He announces a special double-dose episode featuring Sarah Longwell and Jonathan V. Last, replacing the usual content for Bulwark+ subscribers. Miller emphasizes the importance of Bulwark+ subscriptions in sustaining the podcast and hints at upcoming discussions on fear and emotional responses to current events.

Controversial Political Nominations and Sexual Assault Allegations [03:14 – 17:11]

Sarah Longwell and Jonathan V. Last discuss recent political nominations, particularly focusing on figures like Pete Hegseth and Matt Gaetz. Longwell expresses her dismay over the nomination of individuals with credible sexual assault allegations, linking this trend to a disturbing shift within social conservatism.

• Sarah Longwell: "One of the things that eats at me... the idea that not only was Bill Clinton accused of sexual assault and certainly was using his power... That's a real problem for me." [06:36]

Longwell critiques the Republican Party's apparent acceptance of nominees with problematic backgrounds, juxtaposing it with past social conservative values that emphasized sexual morality and character. She laments the rapid erosion of these values over the past two decades, highlighting the inconsistency in conservatives' stance on sexual morality versus the tolerance of sexual misconduct among their representatives.

• Jonathan V. Last: "Are Republican voters fine with it, the sexual assault stuff, or are they into it now?" [10:39]

The discussion extends to the implications of such nominations on workplace environments, especially for women, and the broader societal message it sends about the treatment of women within the party.

Department of Doge and Elon Musk's Influence [36:25 – 43:25]

The conversation shifts to the satirical concept of the "Department of Doge," a fictional government department inspired by Elon Musk's affinity for Dogecoin. Jonathan V. Last critiques this notion, emphasizing its impracticality and the potential for corruption.

• Jonathan V. Last: "The Department of Doge... is some elaborate joke because Elon Musk is obsessed with a meme coin known as dogecoin." [39:27]

Sarah Longwell adds her perspective on Musk's influence, drawing parallels between his management style at Twitter and his hypothetical role in government. She underscores the chaotic and inefficient nature of Musk's leadership, suggesting that such an approach would be detrimental to government operations.

• Sarah Longwell: "Elon Musk is going to do it in some way that is useful or productive is silly, though. It's all completely unserious." [42:36]

The hosts debate whether efforts to reduce government staffing are genuine attempts at efficiency or merely a facade for eliminating nonpartisan bureaucrats and installing politically aligned appointees.

Influence of Oligarchs and Policy Impacts [43:04 – 56:55]

Tim Miller introduces a discussion on the role of oligarchs in shaping policy, specifically referencing a Wall Street Journal article about Trump's oil and gas donors. They explore the paradox of these donors supporting Trump to unlock fossil fuel production while simultaneously fearing the long-term implications on their profits.

• Tim Miller: "Trump's oil and gas donors don't really want to drill, baby drill. Fossil fuel tycoons helped return the President elect to Washington. Now they're seeking to lock in use of their product for years to come." [44:31]

Jonathan V. Last sarcastically comments on the donors' fears regarding tariffs and increased production:

• Jonathan V. Last: "They're terrified about tariffs. They are really, really against raising production because then prices will fall." [47:50]

The discussion highlights the contradictions within the fossil fuel industry's support for policies that ostensibly benefit them while simultaneously being apprehensive about potential negative economic impacts.

Democratic Strategies and Economic Policies [50:22 – 54:45]

The conversation transitions to the Democratic Party's evolving strategies, particularly in appealing to working-class voters. Sarah Longwell emphasizes the necessity for Democrats to focus on economic issues like job creation and reducing educational costs rather than relying solely on cultural issues.

• Sarah Longwell: "Talk about jobs, talk about people's earning potential, talk about helping them, you know, get a leg up. Focus on that relentlessly." [51:21]

Jonathan V. Last adds that Democrats need to address broader economic concerns without alienating specific voter bases:

• Jonathan V. Last: "People love the idea of being given free money to them... What they don't like is money going to groups who they don't like." [55:00]

The hosts critique the Democratic Party's flirtation with policies like student loan forgiveness, arguing that while the idea may be popular, the implementation and perceived fairness can undermine broader support.

Conclusion and Teasers for Upcoming Content [57:11 – 57:49]

As the episode draws to a close, Tim Miller teases upcoming discussions on fears and emotional responses in their next Secret Podcast episode. He invites listeners to subscribe to Bulwark+ for access to additional content, including long-form conversations exploring deeper emotional and psychological facets of the current political climate.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sarah Longwell: "We're going to buck people up." [04:37]

• Jonathan V. Last: "Can I make one part One?" [15:16]

• Sarah Longwell: "I just think that we as a country are having to pay for sort of the lonely boy pathologies of a bunch of broken oligarchs..." [13:24]

• Tim Miller: "This is why I'm saying, like, what's crazy about the scale of badness that JVL is laying out..." [25:31]

• Sarah Longwell: "Only to remind JBL, lest he want to do this later, that crony capitalism is not capitalism..." [48:50]

Final Thoughts

This episode of The Bulwark Podcast offers a critical examination of the current political landscape, highlighting the troubling trends within the Republican Party regarding nominee selections, the satirical yet pointed critique of Elon Musk's potential governmental influence, and the Democratic Party's strategic challenges in addressing working-class voters. Through incisive dialogue and compelling arguments, Tim Miller, Sarah Longwell, and Jonathan V. Last provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the complexities shaping American politics today.