The Dispatch Podcast

Host Sarah Isgur and contractually obligated Jonah Goldberg are joined by Dispatch contributor Jesse Singal and Mike Pesca, host of The Gist podcast to discuss the Democratic Party's identity crisis. Also: Singal broke news on The Dispatch about the Trump administration's transgender policy. The Agenda:—The cajun rages on—Sarah is smarter than her son—We all know a David Hogg—The Dems should thank...

On this special livestreamed conversation, Steve Hayes and Sarah Isgur discussed our recent acquisition of SCOTUSblog and chatted with the newest Dispatcher, Amy Howe, about our plans to build out an extended universe of legal coverage and all things Supreme Court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie Weinstein is joined by Josh Barro, author of the Very Serious newsletter and co-host of Serious Trouble, to explain everything wrong with Donald Trump’s tariff regime. The Agenda:—You can’t undo uncertainty—What does Trump really believe about tariffs?—Reinventing trade alliances—Political consequences for a recession—Will America rebound?—America’s debt crisis Show Notes:—Flexport CEO Ryan...

Sarah Isgur, David French, Steve Hayes, and Jonah Goldberg discuss President Donald Trump’s foreign policy and his staggered attempts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. The Agenda: —Trump says 'STOP!' to Russia —Of course President Zelensky is being difficult in negotiations —Vice President Mike Pence as an influencer and Vice President J.D. Vance as an enabler —MAGA makes money of...

Jamie Weinstein is joined by sociologist Larry Diamond to explain how democracies rise and fall and what history might tell us about Donald Trump’s slouch towards tyranny. The Agenda: —Signs of a democratic crisis —Weaponizing the government —Missing the forest for the trees —Trump 1.0 vs. Trump 2.0 —‘Trump isn’t a fascist, he’s a golfer’ —All the president’s men —When to be concerned Show Notes:...

Sarah Isgur, Michael Warren, Jonah Goldberg, and Steve Hayes discuss political capital when it comes to re-election prospects and reversing presidential decisions. Will public perception influence Trump’s next moves? The Agenda: —Flash back to the George W. Bush administration —The Trump show —Stop tariffs via courts? Or let Trump sleep in his own bed? —Congress sucks! —Sarah asks a really good qu...

Ryan Peterson, CEO of Flexport, a platform for global logistics, joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss the effects of President Trump’s tariffs and how companies are being swallowed by the trade wars. The Agenda: —Understanding the executive orders —Businesses are devastated by losses —How brands like Walmart are coping —Dealmaking with China —What is the end game? —Invasion of Taiwan and likely trade...

Sarah Isgur, David French, and Jonah Goldberg discuss the sad state of the three branches of government and the wild, wild world of tariffs. The Agenda: —Judicial branch wins for the week —Congress does nothing —The youths yearn for the assembly line —Free trade is good —Abusing emergency powers —Trump's comments on Chris Krebs —Throw cheese slices at your kid? Show Notes: —Our editorial: Slouchin...

GOP Sen. Tom Cotton joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss his news book, Seven Things You Can't Say About China, as well as the looming military threats against Taiwan and the Republican Party’s divided foreign policy views. The Agenda: —Tariff trouble —The China threat is more severe than most Americans realize —Taiwan’s defense spending needs to increase significantly —The foreign-policy divide withi...

Liberation Day has come … and Sarah Isgur is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Steve Hayes, and Michael Warren to help figure out exactly what we’re being liberated from. The Agenda: —Party like it’s 1889 —Tariff myths, debunked —Liberating Republicans from a midterm win —Are the experts right (on tariffs)? —“Every word of Trump's claim is false.” —Democrats win in Wisconsin —NWYT: Third terms The Dispat...

Jamie Weinstein is joined by John Bolton, former ambassador to the United Nations and Donald Trump’s onetime national security adviser, to discuss the Trump administration’s mass deportation program, the “loss of American prestige,” and the Signal saga. The Agenda: —“Loss of American prestige” on the world stage —How to negotiate with Greenland —The Soviet Union won —“The biggest trade deal in his...

The Agenda: —The Atlantic: The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans —The Goldbergs —War plans vs. attack plans vs. whatever —How to handle classified information as a reporter —Hillary was bad, too —Kurt Schlichter: Troll —NWYT: Snow White? Show Notes: —The Dispatch's reporting on Signal —TMD on the Houthi group chat The Dispatch Podcast is a production of The Dispatch, a dig...

Jim Kessler, the executive vice president for policy at the Third Way think tank, joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss the failures of the Biden administration, where Democrats could gain ground, and whether Donald Trump will lose his mojo. The Agenda: —What is Third Way? (00:00) —Did the Democrats botch the government funding fight? (1:48) —Where Trump could lose his mojo (5:00) —Dealing with defeat...

Sarah Isgur is joined by Megan McArdle, Jonah Goldberg, and Steve Hayes to discuss the rise of “Abundance Democrats” and Donald Trump's attack on judicial independence. The Agenda: —Chuck Schumer falls into the John Boehner trap —What are “Abundance Democrats”? —Libs discover supply-side matters —People don’t care about procedure —Did Vladimir Putin laugh at Trump? —Gaza ceasefire breakdown —NWYT:...

Political analyst Juan Williams joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss his new book, New Prize for These Eyes, which argues that America is experiencing a second civil rights movement, distinct from the first. He explores the impact of Barack Obama’s presidency on race relations, the backlash that followed, and the emergence of movements like Black Lives Matter. The Agenda: —Barack Obama’s 2004 speech:...

On today’s episode of The Dispatch Podcast, Sarah Isgur, Michael Warren, Steve Hayes, and David French discuss the battle for the First Amendment. Should Columbia University student protester Mahmoud Khalil be deported over speech? The Agenda: —Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest raises 1A concerns —Shout F.I.R.E and deport Charlie Cooke —How much economic pain will Trump tolerate? —Steve Hayes hardest hit fr...

Former Democratic organizer Brianna Wu joins Adaam James Levin-Areddy for a conversation about her journey from leftist activism to clashing with leftists about antisemitism and the recklessness of transgender politics. Wu opens up on the challenges that come with standing up to one’s own tribe, the importance of defending liberal values, and how to think responsibly—and compassionately—about sex...

To Sarah Isgur's dismay, today's episode is heavy on the foreign policy. Between last week’s humiliation of Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump’s apparent embrace of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, and the remilitarization of our European allies, the outlook for Pax Americana isn’t bright. Sarah, Jonah Goldberg, and Steve Hayes also compare not...

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, thinks it’s time for the organization to reinvent itself. As American Jews face a historic surge in violence, Greenblatt wants the ADL to rethink its old alliances and go on offense, targeting radicals and the education system that creates them. He joins Adaam James Levin-Areddy to discuss the ADL’s newly published “campus antisemitism report...

James Kirchick, author of The End of Europe, joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss Vice President J.D. Vance’s controversial speech at the Munich Security Conference, the recent German elections, and the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The Agenda: —Vice President J.D. Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference —Breaking down Germany’s political parties —Angela Merkel’s...

Yes, the first several weeks of the second Trump administration has feltchaotic. Many a crazy thing has been spoken, declared, and tweeted. But on today’s episode, Sarah Isgur, Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, and David French discuss what Trump has actually done. The Agenda: —NIH cuts causing chaos in the medical field —Foreign policy shift during the recent UN security council vote —Political favori...

Steve Hayes was joined over the weekend by Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, at the 2025 Principles First summit in Washington, D.C. The two discussed why Christie initially endorsed Donald Trump in 2016, the Trump administration’s decision to side with Vladimir Putin, and where the line of a “constitutional crisis” is. Watch the interview here. The Dispatch Podcast is a productio...

MSNBC anchor Joe Scarborough joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss the first month of Donald Trump’s presidency and whether or not we should hit the panic button over the elected “king.” The Agenda: —Separating signal from the noise —The seven-year itch (to ghost) —Will SCOTUS stop President Trump? —Using the Justice Department —The future of the GOP The Dispatch Podcast is a production of The Dispatch...

Sarah Isgur is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Mike Warren, and Steve Hayes to discuss Trump's social media post calling Zelensky a "dictator," the downside of DOGE, and the White House's monarchy "joke." The Agenda: —Zelensky, “a dictator without elections” —Are we now a pro-Russian country? —Good guys vs. bad guys —Banning the Associated Press from the press room —AP name games —The downside of DOGE —...

War correspondent Tim Mak joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss the latest news out of Ukraine following President Donald Trump’s calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Agenda: —What’s on the negotiating table? —Throwing Ukraine to the wolves —Ukraine’s response to the Biden administration’s actions —Russia’s economic issues —Controlling rare earth m...