The Next Level LIVE: Trump Extends Civilian Annihilation Threat For Two Weeks

In a live episode of The Bulwark, hosts JVL, Sarah Longwell, and Tim Miller react to President Donald Trump's sudden announcement of a two-week ceasefire with Iran, following a series of extreme threats to 'annihilate' the country. The hosts express deep frustration and alarm at the chaotic, reality-TV-style nature of the crisis, criticizing Trump’s erratic leadership and the lack of diplomatic structure. They dissect the 10-point deal, which includes lifting U.S. sanctions, recognizing Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz with a $2 million toll per ship, and Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon—while noting the absence of any provisions on Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles, or terrorist funding. The episode highlights the absurdity of Trump’s reliance on personal social media for diplomacy, his apparent desperation to secure a deal (including begging Pakistan’s PM to tweet in support), and the broader implications for American foreign policy. Despite the deal’s catastrophic consequences for U.S. credibility and strategic interests, the hosts reluctantly concede it may have averted a full-scale war and potential global economic collapse. They also reveal a bombshell report from Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan that Netanyahu and Mossad presented a highly optimistic, even fantastical, case for regime change in Iran during a February 11th White House meeting—only for the U.S. intelligence community to dismiss it as 'farcical.' The episode ends with a grim assessment: Trump has damaged his base, but the real danger remains—his unpredictability and the precedent of using existential threats for political theater.