# Jonathan V. Last Jonathan V. Last (b. 1974), known professionally as **"JVL,"** is the **editor of [[The Bulwark]]** and one of the anchor voices of the Never Trump conservative movement. Before The Bulwark he spent **21 years at *The Weekly Standard***, ending as a senior/digital editor; when the *Standard* folded in December 2018 he joined the newly launched Bulwark as editor in January 2019. At The Bulwark he writes the daily ***Triad*** newsletter — a running analysis of Republican power, Democratic responses, and threats to democratic norms — which won a 2026 Webby for best email newsletter. Last matters for the KB as **the editorial voice steering establishment conservatism's anti-Trump remnant** and as a frequent author of structural-reform arguments that mainstream conservatism once rejected. On **June 30, 2026**, hours after the Court decided [[Trump v. Barbara]], he published **"The Supreme Court Just Made the Case for Its Own Expansion,"** arguing that because three justices took what he called the "blatantly unconstitutional" side of the birthright-citizenship case — leaving the guarantee intact by a single vote — the Court itself now needs reform, up to and including expansion. The piece is a signature JVL move: reading a nominal rule-of-law victory as evidence of institutional decay. ## See Also - [[The Bulwark]] — the outlet he edits - [[Tim Miller]] — Bulwark colleague and *Bulwark Podcast* host - [[Trump v. Barbara]] — subject of his June 2026 court-expansion argument