The David Frum Show

Latest Episodes:

How Trump Is Selling Out Ukraine Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum discusses President Trump’s announced diesel deal with Russia, the administration’s abandonment of Ukraine, and why Trump is giving up so much to gain very little.

Then, David is joined from Kyiv by Illia Ponomarenko, a Ukrainian journalist and the author of the new book “The Land of Tears and Hope.” David and Illia talk about the history of Ukraine, its current state as the war with Russia rages on, and how and why the Trump administration seems so hostile to the country.

Finally, David concludes with discussion about why so little literature exists about the history of slavery in Eastern Europe.

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Did Marco Rubio Just Start His 2028 Campaign? Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

On this week’s Saturday episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum discusses Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s speech at the Acropolis in Greece and what it means for the future of the Republican Party.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener.

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Why American Cities Cost So Much and Deliver So Little Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts on the sudden recall of 12 B-1 bombers from their base in the south of England to the mainland of the United States. He asks what prompted the move and why the Trump administration refuses to learn vital military lessons from Ukraine.

Then, David is joined by Reihan Salam, the president of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, to discuss why American cities cost so much and often deliver so little. They explore how some urban governments waste public money, how cities could provide better services to residents, and why the rise of populism is doing little to solve Americans’ actual problems.

Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of “Every War Must End” by Fred Charles Iklé.

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Are You Better Off Under Trump? The Numbers Say No Oct 03, 2026

Show notes

In this Saturday episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum explains why President Trump’s approval rating has sunk so far just two years into his second presidency.

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How Trump Could Threaten the 2026 Election Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

In this week’s episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts about the recent state visit by the Chinese president Xi Jinping to the United States. David discusses President Trump’s embarrassing behavior at the dinner and how he has isolated the United States in its rivalry with China.

Then, David is joined by former Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder to discuss the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act, the battle over gerrymandering, and whether Americans can expect the 2026 midterm elections to be free and fair. Frum and Holder also discuss how attorneys general should react to unlawful orders from the president.

Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of the novel “Agrippa,” by Robert Harris.

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Trump’s Desperate Diesel Plan Will Backfire Sep 26, 2026

Show notes

On this week’s Saturday bonus episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum discusses President Trump’s reported plan to ban diesel exports. David explains why the proposal is ill-conceived, how it could backfire, and what it reveals about the administration’s fundamental misunderstanding of the global economy.

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How to Argue in the Trump Era Without Losing Your Mind Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his reaction to the shooting at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Ontario on Yom Kippur. David discusses the rise of violence against Jews around the world, and why condemnations of anti-sSemitic violence ring hollow when they come from people who spread myths about Jewish conspiracies.

Then, David is joined by Jessica Tarlov, the co-host of “The Five” on Fox News and the “Raging Moderates” podcast. They talk about her new book, “I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends,” and how her upbringing helped shape her ability to disagree cordially. David and Jessica also discuss when to debate someone versus when to ignore them so as not to give them a platform.

Finally, David ends the show with a review of the novel “Yesteryear” by Caro Claire Burke.

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Trump Has Turned America Into a Credit Risk Sep 19, 2026

Show notes

In this Saturday episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum explains why rising borrowing costs in the United States are not just an economic warning sign but also a measure of America’s declining trust under Donald Trump.

Photo: Timothy A. Clary / AFP via Getty Images

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The Atrocities That Shaped the Modern Middle East Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

On this week’s episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with a discussion of the seemingly forgotten attack on the Yazidi people by ISIS in 2014.

Then, David is joined by historian Simon Sebag Montefiore to discuss his new book, “The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East.” David and Simon discuss how much of the present-day Middle East emerged from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire and the violence that took place both before and after the empire’s collapse. David and Simon discuss how, one after another, different language groups and religious groups were pushed into exile or eliminated altogether.

Then, David finishes with a discussion of “The Hidden Hand: The Information War and the Rise of Antisemitic Propaganda”by Warren Kinsella.

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Did America Win the War on Terror? Sep 12, 2026

Show notes

In the debut Saturday episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum reflects on the quarter century of warfare that has followed September 11, 2001, and asks whether the United States won its War on Terror.

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