The Dispatch Podcast

Steve Hayes is joined by Megan McArdle, Jonah Goldberg, and Mike Warren to discuss the level of Tucker Carlson-philia displayed by Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts and what it means for the right moving forward. The Agenda:—Democrats steal November 4 elections—Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts tries to clean up his mess—Groyper staffers are a problem—Jonah is not unc!—Dick Che...

Steve Hayes invites seasoned conservative Tim Chapman, president of Advancing American Freedom, to discuss the controversy surrounding Tucker Carlson’s recent interview of Nick Fuentes, the current state of the conservative movement, and the impact of populism on the political landscape. The Agenda:—A crisis of consciousness—Populism and the New Right—Nick Fuentes is not a good person—What happene...

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Megan McArdle to discuss the strength of the current U.S. economy, the prospect of an A.I. bubble, and President Donald Trump’s recent trip through Asia. The Agenda:—How's the economy doing?—The A.I. bubble—Why presidents can’t save the economy—American investor confidence—Bonzo goes to Busan—Losing the trade war with China—Trump’s gif...

Steve Hayes interviews Jonathan Karl and our very own executive editor, Declan Garvey, about Karl's new book Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America, which delves into Donald Trump’s 2024 political campaign. The three discuss insights from Steve Bannon’s prison experience, the decisions behind ending President Joe Biden’s campaign, and the authenticity crisis in modern poli...

Join newly minted Dispatch contributor Megan McArdle as she joins Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, and David French to discuss the Trump administration’s strikes against alleged drug runners in Latin America, the confusing messaging over Russia and Ukraine in the space of one week, and the freak out over the East Wing remodel. The Agenda:—Some good news and bad news—Breaking down Article II—Reading th...

Steve Hayes is joined by John McCormack, Mike Warren, and Grayson Logue to discuss their recent reporting for The Dispatch on vaccine skepticism, immigration enforcement in Chicago, and Pam Bondi’s Department of Justice. The Agenda:—Pediatricians and vaccine refusal—2014 measles outbreak—ICE in Chicago—'Operation Midway Blitz'—Climate of fear—Pam Bondi at the DOJ—Young Republicans chat Learn more...

Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Megan McArdle discuss the Trump administration’s planned bailout for farmers, ICE agents’ aggressive tactics, and Jonah’s fight against the cat lobby. The Agenda:—Steve Hayes’ farmer arc—Bailout on the way?—ICE, ICE, no baby—Trump is not Hitler, but he is Juan Perón—‘Hitler could have gotten rid of Obamacare.’—NWYT: The best pieces of their career...

Steve Hayes is joined by C-SPAN CEO Sam Feist to discuss the state of news media and how C-SPAN’s new show might offer a way forward. The Agenda:—News consumption in 2025—Being a “clinician”—C-SPAN’s “Ceasefire”—Challenging the consumer—Camera’s in Washington—C-SPAN’s funding—How C-SPAN is different The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics,...

The OG crew—Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, Sarah Isgur, and David French—discuss President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts on Israel and Gaza, the violent text messages from Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones, and Attorney General Pam Bondi’s performance during a congressional hearing earlier this week. The Agenda:—Is the Gaza war finally over?—Right-wing antisemites—Should the Nobel Pe...

Kevin Williamson is joined by Phillip Rossetti, a contributor to the new Dispatch Energy newsletter and fellow at the R Street Institute. The two dive into the “Abundance” movement and why some traditionally pro-regulation Democrats are rethinking their stance and finding common ground with free-market advocates. Show Notes:—Philip for Dispatch Energy: “The Advent of the ‘Abundance’ Movement”—Subs...

Steve Hayes is joined by Kevin Williamson, Jonah Goldberg, and Mike Warren to discuss the gathering of generals at Quantico earlier this week, debate who is to blame for the government shutdown, and dive into the controversy surrounding a comedic festival in Saudi Arabia. The Agenda:—Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's performance—Blame the Democrats?—Kevin and Newt Gingrich are kindred spirits—Saudi...

Jonathan Martin, senior political columnist at POLITICO, joins Steve Hayes to discuss President Donald Trump’s retribution campaign and the Democratic Party’s messy coalition of convenience that doesn’t stand for anything ideologically. The Agenda:—The role of Trump’s inner circle—Sen. Ted Cruz’s political calculations—Election integrity concerns—The future of Trump’s legal battles—Kamala Harris h...

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, David French, and Mike Warren to discuss President Donald Trump’s recent shift on Ukraine and how the MAGA movement might respond to it before revisiting ABC’s brief suspension of Jimmy Kimmel. The Agenda:—Russia’s rising aggression—The situation on the Ukrainian frontline—MAGA’s response—Trump’s U.N. speech—Free speech under the Trump administration—Trump'...

Kevin Williamson sits down with Adam Lankford, professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Alabama, to delve into the complex factors behind mass violence and ideological killings—from video games and social media to sexual frustrations and extremist ideologies. The Agenda:—Trends in mass shootings—Performative nature of violence—The role of ideology in mass violence—The imp...

Steve Hayes, Kevin Williamson, Sarah Isgur, and Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle discuss the Trump administration’s attempted crackdown on free speech following the assassination of Charlie Kirk before digging into the details of a new TikTok “deal.”Plus: Is fall the best season, or overrated? The Agenda—Jimmy Kimmel gets suspended—The role of the Federal Communications Commission—Obama adm...

AI is racing ahead. Regulation? Not so much. Kevin Williamson talks with Adam Thierer, senior fellow at the R Street Institute, about the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. They dive into the policy fights shaping its future, the role of Big Tech, and how AI could reshape global competition. The Agenda:—Defining AI—Hardware vs. software—Economic and geopolitical implications of AI...

Political activist Charlie Kirk’s tragic and shocking assassination at Utah Valley University on Wednesday has sparked an outpouring of grief, anxiety, and recriminations over how we arrived at this moment. Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, David French, and Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle to unpack what we know (and don’t) about the murder, discuss how we should t...

In a battle of flagship podcasts, Steve Hayes invites Sarah Isgur to share her biggest takeaways from her interview with Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Then, listen in as the Advisory Opinions crew speaks with ACB about the strengths and limitations of originalism, insights from her new book, and her writing style. The Agenda:—Sarah’s takeaways—Lightning round!—Give up, “equity docket,”...

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, David French, and Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle to discuss the chaotic fiefdoms within the Trump administration, from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tenure atop the Department of Health and Human Services to Kash Patel’s leadership of the FBI. Plus: How is The Dispatch crew thinking about artificial intelligence? The Agenda:—Firing Dr. Susan Monarez—The...

Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, Sarah Isgur, and Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle debate whether Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Donald Trump exhibit similar authoritarian tendencies, discuss the role of elites in democracies, and explore the Democratic Party’s ongoing identity crisis. The Agenda:—Trump’s first and second terms—Can the president do whatever he wants?—Historical context of...

In Jamie Weinstein’s final Dispatch Interview Podcast, he invites Matt Lewis, podcaster and columnist for the Los Angeles Times, to grade President Donald Trump's foreign policy, national security, and economic policy objectives. The Agenda:—The raid of John Bolton’s house—The new three legs of conservatism—D.C. crime and the national guard—California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s trolling—Who will be the p...

Steve Hayes invites Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle, and famed New York Times columnist David French to discuss the latest in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and dive into the ingredients for a potential financial collapse. The Agenda:—Post-Alaska analysis—Tease 'em, goad 'em, kill ‘em—Security guarantees—We're in debt!—Tariff rebates—NWYT: Backer inners Show Notes:—Listen to Kevin Williamson's intervie...

Tim Mak, Dispatch contributor and founder of The Counteroffensive, joins Kevin Williamson to discuss the details of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladamir Putin in Alaska. The Agenda:—Life in Kyiv amidst war—Analyzing the outcomes of the summit—Trump’s “diplomatic” approaches—The fragmentation of European unity—Mak’s reporting on human interest stories in Ukraine Show Not...

Steve Hayes returns to the host chair, joined by coastal elitists Jonah Goldberg, Michael Warren, and Megan McArdle to discuss a wild week in Washington. The Agenda:—The crime debate in D.C.—Shifting toward state capitalism—Does the GOP even believe in free markets anymore?—Best- and worst-case scenarios from the Trump-Putin summit—The DC's 4H has to be pretty modest The Dispatch Podcast is a prod...

What happens when America’s Middle East policy collides with conservative skepticism? Jamie Weinstein goes head-to-head with Curt Mills, executive director of The American Conservative, to unpack the politics, power plays, and high-stakes history behind U.S.–Israel relations. The Agenda: —Why some on the right don’t back Israel —Israel-Iran tensions —Israel’s endgame in the region —How U.S. politi...