The Dispatch Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Lamest Showman on Earth | Roundtable Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

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 Arabia: just for laughs?
—NWYT: Grilled cheese and comfort foods

The Dispatch Podcast is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here.

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Grievance Politics with Giveaways | Interview: Jonathan Martin Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

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 has nothing to say on what Dems should stand for on policy
Show Notes:
—Jonathan’s column on Ted Cruz

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Thin Ice on the Eastern Front | Roundtable Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

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's Department of Justice
—Jimmy Kimmel update
—Comey indictment
—NWYT: Being a dumb child

Show Notes:
—Reporting on the Comey indictment

The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠.

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The Psychology of Mass Violence | Interview: Adam Lankford Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

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 impact of video games
—Incels and femcels
—Policy suggestions

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Spinning Out of Control | Roundtable Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

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 administration vs. Trump administration on free speech
—‘LOL nothing matters’
—TikTok dilemma
—Why fall is the best season

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Congress and Artificial Intelligence | Interview: Adam Thierer Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

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
—Job replacement concerns
—Tech skeptics

Show Notes:
—Defending Technological Dynamism & The Freedom to Innovate in the Age of AI

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Charlie Kirk’s Death | Roundtable Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

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 think about this political moment, and explore how we can step back from the brink.

The Agenda:
—Proliferation of violent videos
—Navigating threats in political life
—Playing into the worst stereotypes
—The FBI fumbles investigation
—President Donald Trump’s remarks

Show Notes:
—Yascha Mounk for The Dispatch: “The Assassin’s Veto”

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Judicial Philosophy | Interview: Sarah Isgur, Justice Amy Coney Barrett Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

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,” David
—Do oral arguments even matter anymore?
—All about originalism
—Life as a Justice Antonin Scalia clerk
—Law school: to go or not to go?
—Click HERE to subscribe to Advisory Opinions

Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here.

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Crankworld and Normie Republicans | Roundtable Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

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 GOP divide over anti-establishment figures
—How we got to the point of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leading the CDC
—The effects of AI on journalism
—The gang’s favorite TV shows

Show Notes:
—Aaron MacLean for The Dispatch: Not Letting AI Master Us
—Jim Pethokoukis for The Dispatch: AI: An Engine of Human Progress
—Sen. Bill Cassidy’s floor speech in support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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Caving to Trump | Roundtable Aug 29, 2025

Show notes

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 presidential power
—Weak democracies and crisis
—Is this all our fault?
—The future of Democratic messaging

Show Notes:
—Nick Catoggio's Boiling Frogs newsletter
—Megan McArdle's column on lawfare