The Next Level, Ep. 1052: “Secret Podcast: Trump Begins Arresting Journalists”

Published by The Bulwark on January 30, 2026
Featuring: Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, Jonathan V. Last (JVL)

Main Theme

This episode grapples with the Trump regime’s arrest of journalist Don Lemon—the first arrest of a high-profile reporter under the new administration—and the chilling effect this presents for American civic society. The hosts break down the implications for press freedom, escalating authoritarian tactics, double standards in law enforcement, and the erosion of civil norms. The sense of urgency and righteous anger pervades the discussion, as the hosts aim to process disturbing events in real time and encourage listeners to stay vigilant and unafraid.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Arrest of Don Lemon ([02:16]–[07:48])

• Immediate Reaction:

  • Sarah expresses outrage not just as a commentator but as someone who knows Don Lemon personally:
    • “I just want to make sure that everyone hears me clearly, about. This should have the opposite effect. This should have the opposite effect of making people scared.” — Sarah, [05:13]
  • The hosts note that the regime is “staying on offense” (Sarah, [02:48]), deliberately escalating crises to exhaust public resistance.

• Authoritarian Playbook:

  • JVL compares the situation to Russia:
    • “[Jailing] reporters who are being critical of the regime.... This is Russia.” — JVL, [06:11]
  • Sarah details how the administration is abandoning any pretense of fair practice, referencing an official White House tweet showing Don Lemon with chains emoji:
    • “This is psychotic behavior...people who don’t even want to maintain the slightest facade of abiding by the excessive rules of engagement in a free society.” — Sarah, [06:20]

• Selective Targeting of Journalists:

  • JVL worries about lesser-known reporters like Georgia Fort suffering more severe consequences because they lack Lemon’s visibility, legal, and financial resources ([06:44]).

• Weaponization of “Law and Order” Language:

  • JVL observes:
    • “The people who defend the January 6th insurrection as being totally peaceful... then turn around and say... Don Lemon...is doing a coordinated attack... It’s like living in the Upside Down.” — JVL, [05:17]

2. The Double Standard in Law Enforcement ([08:05]–[11:41])

• Hypocrisy Charges:

  • Sarah highlights the staggering hypocrisy of the administration lionizing figures like Kyle Rittenhouse, while criminalizing mainstream reporters:
    • “They celebrate not just Kyle Rittenhouse who shows up with an AR-15 to a protest and kills people...If you do that...you get photo ops with President Trump. If you’re...just covering...you go to jail.” — Sarah, [08:06]

• Manipulation of DOJ and Media:

  • The administration and its officials (e.g., Pam Bondi) seize every opportunity to escalate, pervert language, and shape narratives for political gain.

3. Conspiracy Theory Corner: Venezuela and 2020 ([09:42]–[10:28])

• JVL floats a theory that the administration will coerce Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro into “confessing” to interference in the 2020 election—on Trump’s behalf—to create future pretexts for crackdowns and justify prior conspiracy narratives.
  • “My crazy theory is that Nicholas Maduro is going to at some point provide testimony that, yes, he did interfere with the 2020 election...then be used as pretense for all sorts of shenanigans.” — JVL, [09:48]

4. Police Culture and the Preddy Shooting ([11:41]–[17:52])

• Alex Preddy & Renee Good:

  • Sarah reflects on the recent shootings of protesters, emphasizing their trust in America’s legal norms moments before their deaths:
    • “Neither of them thought that they would be shot...this is not a country where they would be executed for protesting.” — Sarah, [11:41]

• Focus Group of Police Officers:

  • Sarah discusses findings from structured conversations with police who voted for Harris versus those who voted for Trump:
    • Harris-voting cops: Felt heartbreak, emphasized community protection, widely critical of current leadership (“Kristi Noem should be gone...she’s a clown. She shot a dog.” — Sarah, paraphrased [14:42])
    • Trump-voting cops: More cautious/verbal on Preddy’s shooting, appreciated administration’s pro-police stance.
    • Both groups agreed on the need for better training and preparation.
    • The Trump-leaning group noted the second video of Preddy behaving aggressively, but Sarah points out that even so, escalation to lethal force was neither automatic nor necessary.

• Perverse Incentives and Selective Enforcement:

  • JVL notes that open-carry, aggressive right-wing protests faced minimal police response, creating a double standard and emboldening further extremism:
    • “The problem is that then created a whole set of perverse incentives...for people on the right to believe...we can do anything and they’re not allowed to touch us.” — JVL, [14:10]

5. Political Chaos and Document Dumps ([18:29]–[19:26])

• Trump Administration Tactics:
  • Sudden release of “Epstein files,” and a conveniently exonerating DOJ headline about Trump, seen as distractions amidst the crackdown:
    • “Did you see? …already like a Fox News digital story. DOJ clears Trump of any wrongdoing. Oh, okay. Sure. Again, trust you guys.” — Sarah, [19:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Authoritarians want us tired. And like, this is how they make us tired.” — Sarah, [02:48]
• “This is psychotic behavior...It is the behavior of people who don’t even want to maintain the slightest facade of abiding by the excessive rules of engagement in a free society.” — Sarah, [06:20]
• “It's America now, baby.” — JVL, on the normalization of authoritarian tactics, [11:40]
• “Their [journalist/protesters’] belief [that they were safe]...is something that’s been extinguished.” — Sarah, [11:41]
• “We all know better now.” — JVL, following up on protester shootings, [12:14]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------------------|-------------| | Event overview: Don Lemon arrest | 02:16–07:48 | | Third World comparisons, Putinism | 06:11–06:14 | | Theory about Maduro and the 2020 election | 09:42–10:28 | | Double standards, Kyle Rittenhouse contrast | 08:05–08:24 | | Police focus groups & Preddy shooting | 14:27–17:45 | | Discussion of Epstein files, DOJ headlines | 18:29–19:26 |

Tone & Takeaways

The episode is infused with alarm, urgency, and at times sarcastic resignation in the face of rapid institutional backsliding. The hosts trade quick, bantering remarks amid their shared anger, aiming to both inform and rally their audience—stressing that the answer to intimidation must be louder collective resistance, not retreat.

They blend signature Bulwark analysis with personal frustration and a plea for resolve:

“I just want to make sure that everyone hears me clearly...This should have the opposite effect of making people scared.”
— Sarah Longwell, [05:13]

End of summary.