Sarah Isgur drags David French and Jonah Goldberg into the podcast multiverse, resulting in a dramatic Dispatch/Left, Right & Center crossover. The Agenda: As Liz Cheney goes, so go a narrow faction of the loosely-defined never-Trump Republicans Conservatism is not on the menu What a president can't do Are Israel attacks on Hezbollah a prelude to a regional war? Our thanks to our friends at KCRW's Left, Right & Center for making this collaboration happen. Learn more about your ad choices...
Sep 27, 2024•54 min
Reuel Marc Gerecht, a former Iranian-targets officer in the Central Intelligence Agency and current fellow at the Foundations for the Defense of Democracy, joins Jamie to discuss Israel’s most recent operation against Hezbollah and how Iran might respond. The Agenda: —The effectiveness of Israeli intelligence operations —How did Hezbollah get the pagers? —Is Iran suicidal? —The health of the Ayatollah —Intelligence failure on October 7 —U.S. engagement in the Middle East Show Notes: — TMD 's rep...
Sep 23, 2024•40 min
Sarah and Steve are joined by Mike Warren from the campaign trail in North Carolina and former Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp to discuss the state of the race and the Trump campaign's ground game (or lack thereof). The Agenda: —Are we going through a political realignment? — Teamsters won ’ t endorse a president — Ground game vs. legal strategy — Political violence this election season — The former president grasps for “media bias” straws — The Exotic Cat-Eaters of Springfield, Ohio —Paging Hezb...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr
This interview was recorded prior to the apparent assassination attempt against Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Olivia Nuzzi , Washington correspondent for New York Magazine, joins Jamie to discuss her recent profile of Donald Trump, “ I Examined Donald Trump's Ear — and His Soul . ” The Agenda: —Trump after the July 13 assassination attempt —Behind the iconic photo —How does Trump view himself? — Trump’s childhood home — Trump’s presidential portrait — Nuzzi’s profile of Joe Biden — “Humanizing” Do...
Sep 16, 2024•49 min
Sarah, Steve, and Jonah break down the first (and possibly only) debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and whether or not it will move the needle. The Agenda: — Kamala Harris won — Will the Trump-Harris debate actually matter? —Steve missed the eating pets controversy — Trump’s debate prep —No clarity on abortion policy —The rise of independent voters —Is media bias worth your time? Show Notes: — “Keep the cat memes flowing” — Chris Rufo’s $5,000 cat-eating bounty — The Federalist: ABC S...
Sep 13, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Jonathan Martin, Politico’s politics bureau chief and senior political columnist, joins Jamie to explain why the GOP needs to lose big in order to hasten a post-Trump Republican Party. The Agenda: — Martin’s POLITICO piece on a Post-Trump party — Unapologetic book plug —Is Steve Hayes a RINO? —If Trump loses 2024, will he run again? —J.D. Vance as a VP candidate —Was Joe Biden’s ousting planned months ago? The Dispatch Podcast is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company covering po...
Sep 09, 2024•40 min
Reason Magazine editor-at-large Nick Gillespie joins Sarah, Steve, and Jonah to discuss whether conservatives (and libertarians) would be better off with a Trump or Kamala win in November. The Agenda: — If Republicans Want to Win, They Need Trump to Lose — Big —No small government parties — Trump and Harris’ “harmonic convergence” — To fight wokeness, vote Harris —The way forward for third parties —The need for a new consensus —Future of the two-party system Show Notes: — Yuval Levin on Advisory...
Sep 06, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Retired General H.R. McMaster joins Jamie to discuss his book, At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House , and give a detailed account during his time as Trump's national security adviser. The Agenda: —Trump’s disruptive nature —The Russian collusion narrative that created a cloud over Trump's presidency —Trump’s moods and rages —McMaster’s proudest achievements —Inside Trump’s decision-making process —Should there be a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas? Show Notes: — John...
Sep 02, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Megan McArdle joins Steve, Jonah, and Sarah to adjudicate the minutiae of the least consequential civil war you'll ever regret hearing about: between the Bulwark Front of Judea and the Judean Dispatch Front. The Agenda: —Harris’ first interview —Moving to the right —Does media matter? —Killing the primary system — The Twitter Spat —Against endorsements —Why it’s important to be honest Show Notes: — John Berman’s interview with Michael Tyler on fracking — Nick Catoggio on The Twitter Spat The Dis...
Aug 30, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Ben Dreyfuss, the former Mother Jones editorial director who now publishes the Calm Down Substack, shares his insights from the Democratic National Convention and takes Jamie's questions about whether Kamala Harris showed her party that she's a competent candidate. The Agenda: —From the convention floor of the DNC —The left-wing influence —Decline of woke politics —Speculating Harris' priorities as president —Implications of a Trump victory —The future of journalism Show Notes: — Dispatch Live p...
Aug 26, 2024•38 min
E: This recording is from the first half of Dispatch Live. For the full episode, become a member to listen on The Skiff . Sarah, Jonah, Mike, Charles, and David discuss the aftermath of the DNC and the surprising impact from the Harris' speech. What is The Skiff? This is the combined podcast feed of all of the members-only bonus content that The Dispatch produces. Here you’ll find every Dispatch Live episode, the Dispatch Book Club , AMAs with Jonah (and others), the account of Sarah and Steve’s...
Aug 23, 2024•24 min
Friend of Vice President Kamala Harris and former South Carolina Representative Bakari Sellers joins Jamie to defend Harris’ unwillingness to sit down for interviews and her ideological fluctuations. The Agenda: —Harris as a “practical progressive” —Evolving policy positions —Harris’ economic agenda —Defending Israel —Jonah owes Bakari a drink? —Racial disparities in modern America —The state of boxing Show Notes: — Nick Catoggio’s Boiling Frogs newsletter on Harris agenda — Jonah ’ s G-File on ...
Aug 19, 2024•52 min
Let's talk about voting. Sarah, Jonah, and Megan McArdle get epistemological breaking down David French's column endorsing Kamala Harris and realize they can't even agree on the the purpose of voting. What kind of Democrat will Kamala Harris run as, anyway? The Agenda: — David French: To Save Conservatism From Itself, I Am Voting for Harris — Jonah: Voting Isn’t A Window Into the Soul —Why Megan is voting for Harris —Jonah has lost Sarah — Can “Obamaism” save Democrats? — Harris’ policy platform...
Aug 16, 2024•1 hr 20 min
Daily Beast columnist Matt Lewis joins Jamie to discuss the shifting dynamics of the 2024 election cycle and why he believes Donald Trump’s “threat to democracy” doesn’t mean he has to vote for Kamala Harris. The Agenda: —Current presidential landscape —What happened to J.D. Vance? —Is Trump actually a threat to democracy? —Will the Never Trump movement ever be irrelevant? —Best- and worst-case scenarios of a Trump presidency Show Notes: — Filthy Rich Politicians: The Swamp Creatures, Latte Libe...
Aug 12, 2024•48 min
Sarah, Jonah, and Megan McArdle break down the Tim Walz vice presidential pick and discuss the state of conservatism at the local level. Plus: an off-the-rails Not Worth Your Time. Steve, close your ears. The Agenda: — The Tim Walz pick —Are the Harris-Walz vibes better? — “Kamabla” —Is conservatism alive at the state level? —Markets aren’t fun anymore —Jonah’s mommy/daddy theory —“America is in a bad marriage” — Tim Walz’s "slanderous" couch joke — Ballerina farm : How’s feminism doing? —NWYT: ...
Aug 09, 2024•1 hr 26 min
Are Israel and Iran rolling towards a regional war? Can Israel still rely on the United States as an ally? Is the war in Gaza over and did Hamas already win? Adaam is joined by senior Yedioth Ahronoth reporter Nadav Eyal, political commentator and author of The War of Return Einat Wilf, and Advisory Opinions special guest (and New York Times columnist) David French to discuss the balance of power in the Middle East. Show Notes: — Kevin D. Williamson's piece on Israel not 'risking' a regional war...
Aug 05, 2024•1 hr 18 min
What a difference two weeks make. Jonah, Sarah, Chris Stirewalt, and a beach-bound Megan McArdle discuss whether Kamala Harris’ newly energized and surprisingly disciplined campaign is getting on Trump’s nerves. The agenda: —Kamala basking in the coconut glow — Trump’s onstage interview at the NABJ conference —Gov. Roy Cuppa — Trump’s messy messaging on Kamala Harris’ identity —J.D. Vance’s controversial comments — Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan come home —More Sarah lore Show Notes: — Nick Ca...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich , author of March to the Majority and host of Newt’s World , joins Jamie to debate foreign policy, Donald Trump, the media, and coup d’états . The Agenda: —The preservation of Israel —Going all in on Ukraine —What Never Trumpers miss about Donald Trump —Who is the “establishment” and who is not? —The assassination attempt —How will history remember January 6 —The left-wing drift of the media —Was Joe Biden forced out by a coup? —Technological and biological adv...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Steve, Jonah, and Michael are joined by TMD editor Mary Trimble to discuss Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress and the subsequent protests. They also analyze Kamala Harris’ response, elite wagon-circling, Donald Trump’s scary unification of the Republican Party, and Joe Biden’s withdrawal. The Agenda: —Bipartisan moments: Iran and October 7 —Israel’s place in U.S. politics and its own domestic politics —Pro-Hamas protests —Why isn’t Kamala Harris having her “Sister Souljah moment?” —The mai...
Jul 26, 2024•1 hr 28 min
This is the first half of our Dispatch Live livestream from last night. If you’d like to watch or listen to the full episode (which we highly recommend!), please become a Dispatch member on https://thedispatch.com/join/ On yet another emergency edition of Dispatch Live, Sarah is joined by Steve, Jonah, and Mike to break down President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. The Agenda: —Should Biden ...
Jul 22, 2024•32 min
Eliot Cohen, professor emeritus at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, thinks a second Trump term won’t have a dramatic effect on American foreign policy. He joins Jamie to debate this point, the risk of pulling out of NATO and abandoning allies, and whether America is bound to retreat from global affairs. NOTE: This episode was recorded on Friday, July 19, 2024—two days before President Joe Biden announced he wouldn’t be running for reelection. The Agenda: — Cohen’s piece in...
Jul 22, 2024•39 min
* This is the first half of our Dispatch Live livestream from last night. If you'd like to watch or listen to the full episode (which we highly recommend!), please become a Dispatch member on https://thedispatch.com/join/ * It's Dispatch After Hours. Our intrepid reporters stayed up till the wee hours to catch former President Trump's full speech on the last night at the Republican National Convention. In a manic edition of Dispatch Live, a sleep-deprived Sarah is joined by Jonah and Steve... as...
Jul 19, 2024•42 min
Sarah, Steve, Jonah, and David French discuss the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump during a Pennsylvania rally over the weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 1 min
NOTE: This episode was recorded last week July 10, before the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. French public intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy joins Jamie on today’s episode to discuss the surprise rise of the far-left in the French elections and its implications for Western foreign policy. Plus: why BHL’s glad he’s not American. Agenda: —French antisemitism —How extremism is devouring the center —Why Jews must stay in France —The “made-up” question of migrants —Broken eco...
Jul 15, 2024•42 min
Sarah, Steve, and Jonah are joined by Axios’ national political correspondent Alex Thompson to analyze Joe Biden’s performance during Thursday’s press conference and where the president stands within his own party. The Agenda: —Vindication for Robert Hur —Criticizing media coverage of Biden —Vice President Kamala Harris’ electability —Tensions between former Barack Obama aides and the Biden campaign —Donald Trump’s campaign strategy Show Notes: — The Dispatch Podcast with Jonathan Martin and Ale...
Jul 12, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Steve is joined by The Bulwark 's Tim Miller to briefly rehash their disagreement from March and discuss the backlash Miller has received since calling for Biden to step down. The Agenda: —Not interested in circling the wagon —The spin isn’t working — The American People Should Demand Better —Trump and Biden are “categorically” different —Biden’s “MAGA” response —Who would Tim pick instead of Biden? —Credibility in opinion journalism Show Notes: —Tim Miller’s interview on his book, Why We Did It...
Jul 09, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Stephen Richer , the Maricopa County recorder—a public official responsible for recording public documents—joins Jamie to discuss the harassment campaign against him and his thoughts about the 2024 election. The Agenda: —What is a county recorder? — The “lynch” threat —Looking into 2020 fraud claims — Richer’s defamation lawsuit —Did Trump know the 2020 fraud claims were false? —What happens in 2024? —Being a part of Trump’s GOP The Dispatch Podcast is a production of The Dispatch , a digital me...
Jul 08, 2024•41 min
In a special Independence Day episode, Sarah, Jonah, and Steve share their Fourth of July traditions and try to figure out how Democrats can get out of this mess. The Agenda: — Calvin Coolidge’s Declaration of Independence speech — Centuries-old cherries found at Mt. Vernon —Why won’t Joe Biden leave the race? — Biden’s statement on the SCOTUS immunity ruling —What would Sarah do? —Harris has a problem —Did the media cover Biden’s age well? —What does all this mean for Trump’s VP pick? Show Note...
Jul 04, 2024•49 min
Philippe Reines, a Democratic political consultant and former aide to Hillary Clinton, joins Jamie to discuss President Joe Biden’s performance in last week’s debate and where Democrats should go from here. The Agenda: —Comparing Biden and Donald Trump’s health —“Heaviest president since Taft” —Should Biden bow out? —Hillary Clinton 2024? —January 6 and a second Trump term —Biden’s stuttering problem —Will Trump target Hillary Clinton? —Project 2025 Show Notes: — Phillipe's debate prep role as D...
Jul 01, 2024•49 min
Sarah, Kevin, Steve and Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle discuss Joe Biden’s hard-to-watch debate performance. Is anyone really surprised? The Agenda: —Will Joe still the be Democratic nominee? —Who would let Biden step on that stage? —Trump’s veepstakes —Oh yeah, Trump was awful too —Looking forward to September Show Notes: — Cole Murphy's explainer on the residency issue — Our post-debate Dispatch Live — Today's Morning Dispatch The Dispatch Podcast is a production of The Dispatch , a d...
Jun 28, 2024•1 hr 4 min
