The Dispatch Podcast
The Dispatch Podcast
The Dispatch
Host Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle and guests for a thoughtful discussion on politics, policy and culture.
A Blue Wave or an Anti-Incumbent Wave?
Steve Hayes is joined by Sarah Isgur, Jonah Goldberg, and Mike Warren to discuss the state of the midterms and whether South Carolina is truly a competitive state in 2026. The Agenda: —The first true “wave?” —The red undertow —How Trump’s ego is hurting the GOP —Redistricted districts —Is South Carolina competitive? —NWYT: What’s a lawyer? Show notes: —AP-NORC poll —Sarah’s Not Worth Your Time ambush —⁠Watch Monday's livestream The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16
1 hr 14 min
Why Trump Wants to Lift Russian Sanctions
Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, David French, and Mike Nelson to discuss President Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel and the Pentagon’s planned execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan. The Agenda: —The state of Ukraine’s defense —Can Trump legally lift sanctions? —Why Trump hates Zelensky —Do voters care about Ukraine? —Livestreaming Nidal Hasan’s execution —NWYT: Breaking news in gender science Show notes: —New York Times: Chris LaCivita consulting for pro-Russia republic —President Trump’s approval rating on handling of Russia/Ukraine —Sen. Tom Emmer on lifting sanctions—Edmund Burke’s “Birds of Prey” speech The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 13
1 hr 11 min
What Midterm Polling May Be Getting Wrong
Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Mike Warren, and Chris Stirewalt to discuss how the midterms are shaping up less than one month out and what to expect from a Democrat-controlled Congress. The Agenda: —Interpreting polling —GOP redistricting —2028 Democratic candidates —Can Democrats moderate? —A Democratic Congress —NWYT: A Taco Bell ultramarathon Show notes: —Wall Street Journal reporting on Kimberly Guilfoyle —CNN: Trump is clearly trying to buy votes with taxpayer money —Will DOJ Be a Menace in the Midterms? The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 9
1 hr 18 min
Can the State Be Trusted With the Death Penalty?
Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Mike Warren, and John McCormack to discuss the botched execution of convicted murderer Christa Pike and Angela Paxton’s “endorsement” ad for Senate candidate Ken Paxton, her estranged husband. The Agenda: —Christa Pike’s execution —Catholic arguments against the death penalty —What should the state do now? —Iowa Senate race —Candidate selection matters —NWYT: Bowling Show notes: —New York Times/Siena poll —Campaign ‘all coming from DC,’ Paxton says —The death of third places—Alienated America: Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 6
1 hr 12 min
Sen. Schmitt’s Failed Attack on Jack Smith
Mike Warren is joined by Jonah Goldberg and Kevin Williamson to discuss Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt’s failed attempt at setting a perjury trap and the Trump administration’s AI luncheon. The Agenda: —Schmitt vs. Smith —What happened to Capitol Hill staff? —The GOP’s victory lap —The superintelligence rebrand —Trump’s AI luncheon —“Unites States” —NWYT: Hosting dinner parties The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 2
1 hr 1 min
Can Democrats Flip a Kansas Senate Seat?
Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Mike Warren to discuss the possibility of Democrats flipping a seat in Kansas and the Trump administration’s “public service announcements.” The Agenda: —The Senate race in Kansas —Roger Marshall and patient arrests —Why are Republicans still confident? —Trump’s “public service announcements” —NWYT: The New York Times' top 100 television shows of the 21st century Show notes: —Jonah for National Review: Breaking Bad Breaks Through —Go to The Dispatch to see the panelists' top 10 TV show picks  The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 29
1 hr 10 min
President Trump’s Influence Continues to Wane
Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg and Megan McArdle to discuss President Trump’s speech at the U.N. General Assembly and the administration’s decision to ban CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House. The Agenda: —Trump’s U.N. speech —Trump’s waning influence —The White House press bans —What the media got wrong —Trump’s approval rating —NWYT: A COVID-conscious lesbian bar Show notes: —The White House’s justification for banning Politico —ProPublica reporting on Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding —Megan: Politicians are stuck in a time warp —Echelon polling on Trump’s approval —Mike Warren’s Next Right —Jesse Singal on the Last Ditch bar —Stephanie Slade on The Remnant —Stephanie Slade with Megan McArdle  —Private Truths, Public Lies: The Social Consequences of Preference Falsification The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 25
1 hr 17 min
Is Trump’s Greenland Deal a Foreign Policy Victory?
Mike Warren is joined by Kevin Williamson and Mike Nelson to examine President Trump’s deal with Denmark on U.S. military presence in Greenland and discuss the reporting by the Washington Post that the Pentagon may be underreporting deaths from the conflict with Iran. The Agenda: —Is this the art of the deal? —NATO welcomes Greenland deal —Trump’s biggest foreign policy victory? —The Pentagon’s underreported deaths —Bipartisan criticism over Pentagon briefing —Will Hegseth be fired after the midterms? —NWYT: Evil lairs and the Arc de Trump  The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 22
1 hr 3 min
Why GOP Candidates Are Ignoring Trump
Mike Warren is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle, and Kevin Williamson to discuss why GOP midterm candidates aren’t heeding President Donald Trump’s electoral advice, as well as Texas Railroad Commission candidate Bo French’s racist tweet about a University of Texas football game. The Agenda: —GOP candidates ignoring Trump —Making the election about Trump —Bo French’s anti-Indian racism —"Just talk about Abdul El-Sayed" —NWYT: Demolishing the Kennedy Center Show notes: —Jonah Goldberg: Where Have the Grown-Ups Gone?  The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 18
1 hr 3 min
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