The Next Level: Aileen Cannon's SCOTUS Audition

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Next Level
• Host/Authors: Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, and Jonathan V. Last (JVL) of The Bulwark
• Episode: Aileen Cannon's SCOTUS Audition
• Release Date: January 8, 2025
• Description: Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, and Jonathan V. Last bring their signature political insight and banter to the masses in The Next Level podcast. Tune in to hear them discuss the news of the week, break down campaigns and elections, and wade into pop culture feuds. The Bulwark

Introduction

In this episode of The Next Level, hosts Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, and Jonathan V. Last delve into the latest developments surrounding Aileen Cannon’s audition for the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). While the title focuses on Cannon, the conversation weaves through broader political dynamics, including commentary on former President Donald Trump’s ongoing influence, President Joe Biden’s recent interview, and the implications of Cannon’s legal maneuvers.

Trump’s Continued Influence and its Implications

Jonathan V. Last (JVL) initiates the discussion by highlighting the persistent volatility introduced by Donald Trump’s actions and rhetoric.

• Timestamp [00:02]: JVL remarks on waking up to Trump's unpredictable tweets, referencing a recent press conference where Trump suggested alliances with foreign entities like Canada.

• Quote: JVL states, “We now wake up every morning wondering what insane thing he tweeted out at 3am this morning.” ([00:02])

Tim Miller and Sarah Longwell express their frustration over the anticipated continued political turbulence due to Trump's influence, contemplating the impact of enduring another four years under his shadow.

• Quote (Tim Miller, [01:12]): “I come from a long line of Lebanese that have relatively early deaths. So, you know. Yeah. It’s tough.”

Canadian Reactions and Potential Political Ramifications

The hosts discuss a provocative statement made by a Canadian Member of Parliament regarding Trump’s remarks about annexing Canadian states.

• Quote (JVL, [02:19]): “Canadian mp. That was this woman... I think that we should start to pursue Washington and Oregon and California.”

Tim Miller criticizes the possibility of Trump making such moves, emphasizing the absurdity and potential distraction it poses to Congress.

• Quote (Tim Miller, [04:50]): “I think there are real tangible potential costs to the type of behavior that he is engaging in.”

Impact on US-International Alliances and Legislative Focus

The conversation shifts to the broader impact of Trump’s distractions on legislative processes and international alliances.

• Quote (Tim Miller, [04:50]): “He’s distracting msnbc... like Panama does not have a standing army.”

Sarah Longwell underscores the threat to alliances and the focus required by Congress, pointing out how such distractions hinder progress on critical issues like immigration, taxes, and energy.

• Quote (Sarah Longwell, [04:50]): “The weakening of the alliances is just an inevitable consequence of this.”

Aileen Cannon’s SCOTUS Actions and Democratic Response

The core of the episode centers on Judge Aileen Cannon’s recent legal actions and their implications for SCOTUS and broader judicial processes.

Jonathan V. Last (JVL) highlights Cannon’s injunction against Attorney General Merrick Garland’s plans to release the special counsel’s report, questioning the legitimacy and jurisdiction of her actions.

• Timestamp [40:37]: JVL states, “Eileen Cannon went and yesterday issued an injunction forbidding Merrick Garland from releasing the report...”

• Quote (JVL, [40:37]): “This is the most insane thing. And the reason I wanted to, to bring this up is because this seems to be a case where the Democrats need to understand and learn some lessons.”

Tim Miller criticizes Cannon’s allegiance to Trump, suggesting that her actions are manipulative and detrimental to the integrity of the judiciary.

• Quote (Tim Miller, [42:02]): “Trump outsourced the judge process to Leonard Leo and these Federalist Society guys...”

Sarah Longwell predicts Cannon’s continued influence on SCOTUS, despite potential reversals, and emphasizes the necessity for Democrats to counteract her moves effectively.

• Quote (Sarah Longwell, [43:27]): “She has single-handedly done so much for Trump...”

President Joe Biden’s Reflective Interview

The discussion also touches on President Biden’s recent interview with USA Today, where he reflects on his administration’s performance and interactions with Trump.

• Quote (Tim Miller, [25:27]): “Joe Biden said that he, he thinks that he probably would have won had he stayed in the way in the race.”

• Quote (Sarah Longwell, [26:32]): “Joe Biden was not going to win. He was going to... Kamala Harris saved his ass...”

The hosts express disappointment in Biden’s handling of strategic decisions, attributing failures to his leadership and the influence of his administration’s choices.

The Role of Alliances and Democratic Strategy

Tim Miller and Sarah Longwell debate the strategic missteps of the Democratic Party in handling both internal and external political challenges, stressing the need for a more robust opposition to Trump’s maneuvers.

• Quote (Sarah Longwell, [26:32]): “Joe Biden was the only person who could have beaten Donald Trump in 2020. I didn’t believe a lot of the slurs against him, but he was always deeply imperfect.”

Distraction from Core Issues and Legislative Consequences

The hosts argue that Trump’s continuous distractions prevent Congress from addressing substantial issues, thereby weakening legislative effectiveness and damaging international partnerships.

• Quote (Tim Miller, [04:50]): “If they're focused on Panama, they're not focused on very challenging, complex issues...”

Concluding Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reiterate the importance of strategizing to counteract Trump’s influence and Cannon’s judicial actions. They call for Democrats to engage more effectively in real-time discrediting of Trump’s narratives and to reinforce their legislative priorities without being sidetracked by his antics.

• Quote (JVL, [65:27]): “We gotta get big because that's the only way we're gonna push back against all this insanity...”

Notable Quotes Summary

• JVL ([00:02]): “We now wake up every morning wondering what insane thing he tweeted out at 3am this morning.”
• Tim Miller ([01:12]): “I come from a long line of Lebanese that have relatively early deaths. So, you know. Yeah. It’s tough.”
• JVL ([02:19]): “Canadian mp. That was this woman... I think that we should start to pursue Washington and Oregon and California.”
• Sarah Longwell ([04:50]): “The weakening of the alliances is just an inevitable consequence of this.”
• JVL ([40:37]): “This is the most insane thing. And the reason I wanted to, to bring this up is because this seems to be a case where the Democrats need to understand and learn some lessons.”
• Sarah Longwell ([43:27]): “She has single-handedly done so much for Trump...”
• JVL ([65:27]): “We gotta get big because that's the only way we're gonna push back against all this insanity...”

Conclusion

The episode provides a comprehensive analysis of Aileen Cannon’s recent actions concerning SCOTUS, intertwined with broader political discourse on Trump’s enduring influence and Biden’s leadership challenges. The hosts emphasize the necessity for Democrats to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing judicial maneuvers that could undermine democratic institutions, all while navigating the distractions introduced by high-profile political figures.

Note: Advertisements and non-content segments from the transcript have been omitted to focus solely on the substantive discussions and analyses presented by the hosts.