The Dispatch Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Deporting People We Don’t Like | Roundtable Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

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 from Spanish wine tariffs

—De Gaulle was right

—NWYT: secret videotaping and crying children

Show Notes:

—Trump's Polk painting

—Jonah Goldberg: Free Speech Rites

—Nick Catoggio: Lesser Evils

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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and regular livestreams—click here.

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When the Left Became an Online Mob | Interview: Brianna Wu Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

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 and gender.

The Agenda:

—How Gamergate changed everything

—The (de)evolution of progressive politics

—October 7 and Jewish mothers

—Can normie liberalism bridge the partisan divide?

—Transgender healthcare vs. transgender politics

Show Notes:

—The Pros and Cons of 'Queer' (w/ Jamie Kirchick)

—Jesse Singal for The Dispatch: How The American Media Distorted the Transgender Debate

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Suits and Sycophants | Roundtable Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

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 notes on the highs and lows from Trump's address to a joint session of Congress before finally getting around to their discussion of woke chili.

The Agenda:

—Is this Putin's world now?

—Zelensky's errors. Trump's disgrace.

—The allies step up

—Our gelded Congress

—Good television

—Beans are woke

Show Notes:

—Better Righteous than Right About Ukraine?

—The key to understanding Donald Trump’s approach to the Ukraine war

—The Remnant with Chris Stirewalt

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Is Liberalism a Luxury Jews Can't Afford? | Interview: Jonathan Greenblatt Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

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 card,” the organization’s historical commitment to classical liberalism and a broader civil rights coalition, the left’s betrayal of Jews, Elon Musk and the Trump administration, and the challenge of differentiating antisemitism from anti-Zionism.

The Agenda:

—The ADL’s history is the story of American civil rights

—Playing the liberal game

—The Elon Musk gesture and finding new allies

—CAIR

—Can the Ivy League be saved, or is it time to build something new?

—Antisemitism vs. Anti-Zionism. Can Jews be antisemitic?

—Blindspots

Show Notes:

—The ADL's Campus Antisemitism Report Card, 2025

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The German Firewall Is Coming Down | Interview: James Kirchick Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

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 policies contributed to the rise of the AfD

—Immigration issues across Europe

—Denmark's approach to immigration

—What’s going on with the Tate bros?

—Rape gang controversies in the UK

Show Notes:

—James' essay for the New York Times

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But What Did Trump Actually Do? | Roundtable Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

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 favoritism

—Should there be kid-free spaces?

—Anti-woke chili will have to wait

Show Notes:

—Yuval Levin's piece for The New Atlantis on NIH cuts

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Trump Is Only Getting Worse | Interview: Chris Christie Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

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.

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The Shock Factor | Interview: Joe Scarborough Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

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

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Are We the Baddies Now? | Roundtable Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

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

—Entitlement reform

—“Long live the king”

Show Notes:

—Peter Baker: Trump flips the switch on Ukraine

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Peace in Ukraine | Interview: Tim Mak Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

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 minerals

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