The Next Level - Episode 1068: "Kristi Noem’s Husband Isn’t the Problem"

April 1, 2026

Hosts: Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, Jonathan V. Last (JVL)
Podcast: The Bulwark’s The Next Level

Episode Overview

This lively, “super-sized” episode features Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, and JVL navigating the week’s chaotic political headlines with their trademark blend of sharp analysis and irreverent banter. They tackle the sensational Kristi Noem/Brian Noem story, escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, Lindsey Graham’s Disney antics, youth and protest culture, the fading relevance of CPAC, and the phoniness of J.D. Vance’s Catholic conversion. The show highlights hypocrisy in right-wing politics and the dangerous unpredictability of the current administration, wrapped up in a biting, often hilarious tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kristi Noem’s Husband and "Bimbofication" Scandal

Timestamps: 04:46 – 16:35

• Summary:
  The hosts dissect the breaking news that Kristi Noem’s husband, Bryon, has been exposed for an online "bimbofication" fetish, provoking scandal and pleas for privacy from Noem.

• Nuanced Stance on Privacy & Hypocrisy:

  • All agree not to kink-shame ("No kink shaming." — Tim, Sarah, JVL [05:29–05:31]).
  • The scandal becomes fair political fodder not because of private sexual behavior but due to Noem's public career of moralizing and political harm.
  • Sarah: "Of the two Noems, the fact that he is going to be the one to endure shame about this... I do resent having to have spent the last 30 minutes trying to understand what bimbofication is as a distinct kink." [08:24–09:22]
  • Tim: "I will not offer her privacy because she does not merit either. If we're going to pray for anyone in the Kristi Noem universe, I'll pray for Corey Lewandowski’s children." [05:56–06:14]

• Political Repercussions & Power Dynamics:

  • The group discusses whether the leak was politically motivated—possibly by Noem, Lewandowski, or an outside actor [16:39–18:43].
  • JVL: Wonders if the timing—after Noem’s ouster—is a sign that now “they can YOLO.” [17:25]
  • Sarah: Highlights the hypocrisy and notes this is less about the personal weirdness than the public fallout and security risks. [13:12–14:35]
  • Memorable moment: JVL jokes about making himself a WWE-style Webby Award championship belt [04:05]

2. Lindsey Graham at Disney While Iran Crisis Unfolds

Timestamps: 19:25 – 22:24

• Summary:
  Lindsey Graham, an architect of military escalation in Iran, was seen enjoying Disney World with a “Little Mermaid bubble wand” as war broke out.

• Critique of Political Decorum & Accountability:

  • Sarah: Compares it to “Ted Cruz in the middle of the worst storms… hop[ping] a plane for spring break.” [21:16]
  • Tim: Suggests it’s donor VIP access or a strange form of self-indulgence. [19:33–20:43]
  • “No kink shaming… If this is what Lindsay's got to do, that's what Lindsay's got to do.” — JVL [21:53]
  • JVL: “We live in a world without any shame ever anymore.” [21:02]

3. The Iran War & Trump’s Chaotic Foreign Policy

Timestamps: 22:49 – 35:31

• Summary:
  The team discusses rapidly shifting U.S. policy and messaging in the Iran conflict, focusing on confusion, lack of strategy, and the corrosive effect on alliances and public trust.

• Chaos as a Deliberate or Inherent Strategy:

  • Tim: “Trump is all over the place. All weekend it seemed like he was posting about how...he hasn’t lost his resolve... I think back to that PolyMarket bet …” [24:17–25:55]
  • Sarah: “Basically impossible to have a read ... we can't trust our own government is telling us the truth.” [26:05]
  • JVL: “He’s the chaos president. Jeb was right.” [27:17]

• Loss of U.S. Global Standing:

  • Tim: “He has managed to anger every one of our European allies except for Hungary... This is a good case study of our theory.” [27:21]
  • Sarah: “Trump’s numbers [are] falling... indicates the majority of Americans are unhappy with this move and unhappy with the way that's being handled.” [31:44]

4. Protest, Generational Politics, and CPAC’s Decline

Timestamps: 44:10 – 52:22 (CPAC), 44:10 – 51:16 (Protest Culture)

• Protests against Trump (No Kings Movement):

  • Turnout is high, especially among older Americans; youth turnout is lagging.
  • Sarah: "The fact that when it comes to no Kings, the median age has been much higher...because they have a much deeper sense of life before Trump." [46:22]
  • Tim: Youth are weary—"we’ve been protesting since I was 14, things have only got worse." [48:06]

• CPAC’s irrelevance and right-wing youth politics:

  • Sarah: “Turning Point USA has stolen all of CPAC’s juice... Matt Schlapp is creepy and weird.” [54:33–55:53]
  • Tim: “Can you imagine getting hugged by Matt Schlapp?”
  • JVL: Expresses hope that future fresh political voices appealing to youth aren’t toxic, citing AOC and Zoran as possible positive examples [58:25–59:08].

5. J.D. Vance’s Catholic Conversion: Genuineness vs Grift

Timestamps: 68:32 – 77:49

• Summary:
  The group skewers J.D. Vance’s new book about his conversion to Catholicism as a performative, opportunistic maneuver.

• Key Criticisms:

  • Tim: “You don't sound like a Catholic. The book doesn't look like a Catholic book. The church isn’t a Catholic church in the picture. And you don't like the Pope...” [71:20]
  • Sarah: Points to the drastic transformation in Vance’s persona from his “Hillbilly Elegy” days. "In reading it, the thing that is striking is how J.D. Vance is like a different human. Like, it’s like reading a book now when you read it. Knowing J.D. Vance of now—it is a wild ride." [74:24]
  • JVL: Predicts Ross Douthat will write the “most insufferable op-ed column of 2026” praising Vance’s book [78:04].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |---------------|------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:29 | Tim, Sarah, JVL | "No kink shaming." (x3) | | 09:42 | Sarah | "The whole point of being a lesbian is to get away from men who are into bimbofication." | | 21:46 | Tim | "It's kind of a bucket list thing, though. You gotta go around, get to see all the evil queens. Meet Woody." | | 27:17 | JVL | "Oftentimes he’s the chaos president. This is right. Jeb was right." | | 34:05 | Tim | "If really we come out of this place where Iran has a toll booth on the Strait of Hormuz…that seems kind of like the median outcome right now..." | | 54:33 | Sarah | "Turning Point USA has stolen all of CPAC’s juice... Matt Schlapp is creepy and weird." | | 71:20 | Tim | "You don't sound like a Catholic. The book doesn't look like a Catholic book. The church isn’t a Catholic church in the picture. And you don't like the Pope..." | | 74:24 | Sarah | "The thing that is striking is how J.D. vance is like a different human... knowing J.D. Vance of now—it is a wild ride." |

Segment Timestamps

• Webby & intro banter: 01:08–04:44
• Kristi Noem scandal: 04:46–18:57
• Lindsey Graham at Disney: 19:25–22:24
• Iran war & Trump foreign policy: 22:49–35:31
• US allies, NATO, defense: 28:58–32:52
• Protests & CPAC: 44:10–52:22
• J.D. Vance & Catholic grift: 68:32–77:49

Analysis & Takeaways

• Recurring themes of hypocrisy, performative morality, and chaos as a governing strategy are sharply critiqued.
• Hosts repeatedly highlight the dangers of accepting radicalized and unserious political leadership as “normal.”
• Generational divides in political engagement, and the vacuum of inspiring new leaders, are pressing concerns.
• The overall tone is acerbic, energetic, and strongly anti-authoritarian, with hosts riffing off each other in both analysis and comedy.

Summary for Listeners Who Missed the Show:
This episode epitomizes The Next Level’s strength—taking headline-grabbing news (from salacious scandals to existential political drama) and exposing its farcical and dangerous implications, all while providing trenchant, often hilarious context and refusing to shy away from targeting the hypocrisy and chaos plaguing American political culture in 2026.