The Next Level Podcast Episode Summary: "He's Back"

Release Date: January 22, 2025
Host Authors: Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, Jonathan V. Last

1. Introduction and Reunion

The episode opens with Jonathan V. Last (JVL) welcoming listeners back to "The Next Level." He highlights the significance of the trio—Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, and himself—coming together for the first time since Donald Trump's inauguration. This reunion serves as the backdrop for their deep dive into the evolving landscape of American politics under Trump's presidency.

2. Trump's Pardons and Democratic Response

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Trump's controversial pardoning of individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol insurrection. Sarah Longwell expresses her distress over the apathy observed among voters regarding these pardons.

• Sarah Longwell [01:26]: "We gotta... this was your episode. Things where you got real low and you're like, I gotta have a focus group, man."

Sarah conducted a focus group comprising Trump-to-Harris voters to gauge their perceptions of the inauguration and subsequent political climate. She notes a troubling sense of resignation among participants:

• Sarah Longwell [01:47]: "It's all like, well, I guess I'm just gonna hold my breath for four years. Or... I'm just gonna do this for four years."

The trio discusses the Democratic Party's muted response to Trump's actions, with Sarah lamenting the lack of strong leadership and overt condemnation from Democrats.

• Sarah Longwell [02:33]: "And also Democrats, like, normally at a time like this, you would see ambitious Democrats be like, this is my time to jump in, show leadership, create contrast. Like, you're not really seeing any of that."

3. Voter Apathy and Political Leadership

Sarah and Tim delve into the pervasive voter apathy, highlighting how Trump's actions have fostered a sense of helplessness among the electorate. Tim Miller shares his personal struggles coping with the political turmoil, noting increased alcohol consumption as a response to the stress.

• Tim Miller [07:24]: "I think this Monday was probably one of the worst days of my life... filled with rage the full day."

Sarah emphasizes the Democratic Party's struggle to galvanize their base, pointing out the absence of significant protests or visible outcry from the public.

• Sarah Longwell [04:49]: "It's a distressing level of apathy question."

4. Law and Order Rhetoric and Its Implications

The hosts explore the often-cynical use of "law and order" rhetoric by Trump, suggesting it's less about genuine support for law enforcement and more about undermining democratic norms.

• JVL [04:49]: "Does this move you in any direction on the idea that law and order is never really about law and order for the people who talk about it like that."

Sarah critiques the manipulation of sacred American values, noting Trump's invocation of divine support to legitimize his actions.

• Sarah Longwell [06:14]: "Trump is using police... to deflect his wrongdoing and pervert that, creating that upside down."

5. The 'Nazi Salute' Controversy with Elon Musk

A heated segment of the podcast addresses allegations that Elon Musk performed a Nazi salute, sparking intense debate among the hosts. Sarah argues that such symbolic gestures detract from addressing more substantive issues like Trump's pardons.

• Sarah Longwell [31:16]: "Points in favor of Nazi salute is big, far right AFD or adfd... But when you are able to make sure."

Tim Miller expresses skepticism, suggesting the possibility of trolling or misunderstandings behind the gesture.

• Tim Miller [31:34]: "I just think, you know, if that's the hill you're going to die on that it was 100% a Nazi salute and he's planning the camps. I just, I don't."

Sarah counters by emphasizing the unpopularity and questionable motives behind such actions, advocating for focusing on Trump's tangible misdeeds.

• Sarah Longwell [35:13]: "Read what the people that Trump is pardoning did."

6. Executive Orders and Their Impact

The trio shifts focus to Trump's executive orders, particularly those perceived as overreaches of presidential power. They discuss the potential long-term implications of these orders, including the controversial Schedule F directive aimed at dampening diversity initiatives within federal agencies.

• JVL [60:03]: "We got it all done."

Sarah criticizes the undermining of constitutional norms, linking it to Biden's administration's perceived demoralization of Democratic supporters.

• Sarah Longwell [54:19]: "It takes away the moral high ground of people who want to criticize Trump for not abiding by the Constitution."

7. Communication Strategies: Democrats vs. Trump

The hosts compare the communication approaches of Democrats and Trump, noting Democrats' focus on data-driven, "kitchen table" issues versus Trump's more transactional and sensational tactics.

• Sarah Longwell [66:16]: "Democrats have to focus on things that people feel like touch their lives."

Tim Miller advocates for Democrats to prioritize authentic outrage over strategized, ideology-driven narratives.

• Tim Miller [43:06]: "I am going to care about the things that piss me off and talk about it and yell about it no matter what."

8. Leadership and Policy Focus: Kitchen Table Issues vs. Symbolic Gestures

Sarah emphasizes the necessity for Democrats to engage with issues that have direct personal impacts on voters, arguing that policy-focused discussions resonate more effectively than symbolic debates.

• Sarah Longwell [68:10]: "People vote on things that have personal consequences to them."

Tim supports this by highlighting the importance of addressing tangible issues like the $9 congestion fee and TikTok bans, which directly affect individuals' lives.

• Tim Miller [43:06]: "We have to respect the traditions... but strategic efforts to undermine him is probably a better."

9. Brief Mentions of Other Topics

Towards the end of the episode, the hosts briefly touch upon the ongoing war in Ukraine, though this segment is not as deeply explored as other topics.

• JVL [68:17]: "Is the war in Ukraine over or is it still going on?"

Conclusion

The episode "He's Back" presents a critical examination of Donald Trump's early actions in his presidency, focusing on pardons, executive orders, and communication strategies. The hosts express concern over voter apathy, the Democratic Party's muted response, and the broader implications for American democracy. They advocate for a more authentic and issue-focused approach to political communication, emphasizing the need to address policies that have direct personal impacts on voters.

Notable Quotes:

• Sarah Longwell [02:33]: "You are not really seeing any of that. Like, I saw my boy from Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, say something today."

• Tim Miller [07:24]: "This is where the reaction is totally aligned. Sarah, I don't like the mass acceptance."

• Sarah Longwell [35:13]: "Whoops! I just can’t believe people tweet about Elon and get in fights with media personalities. That's not effective."

• JVL [55:02]: "The practical effect is because of the asymmetry that you always outline. Democrats care more about being consistent."

• Sarah Longwell [66:16]: "I think that is how you have to do communications now. And I think that's where to Tim's point..."

Timestamp Highlights:

• 00:02-01:00: Hosts' reunion and initial check-in.
• 01:00-04:49: Discussion on voter apathy and Trump's pardons.
• 04:49-06:32: Law and order rhetoric analyzed.
• 05:12-07:24: Transition to law enforcement and political dynamics.
• 17:41-18:09: Advertisement break (skipped).
• 19:00-21:12: Contemplation on legitimizing Harris as president; skipped lines.
• 31:16-44:26: 'Nazi salute' controversy with Elon Musk and subsequent debates.
• 52:03-57:50: Executive orders and their implications; skipped ad.
• 57:50-58:27: HelloFresh advertisement (skipped).
• 59:14-71:12: Continued discussion on executive orders, communication strategies, and brief mentions of Ukraine war.

Note: This summary excludes advertisement segments and non-content interactions to focus solely on the substantive discussions of the podcast episode.