The Dispatch Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Will Republicans Make Donald Trump a Lame Duck? Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Michael Warren, and John McCormack to discuss whether Donald Trump has become a lame duck president and reflect on McCormack's piece on Ben Sasse.

The Agenda:

—Republicans split on slush fund

—Standing up to Trump

—Bill Pulte as director of national intelligence

—Learning from Ben Sasse

—The original Remnant cohost

—How to talk about death

Show notes:

—Ben Sasse's remarks during the Kavanaugh hearings

—Thom Tillis and Scott Bessent on Bill Pulte

—Thune and Cotton on Pulte

—Ben Sasse's podcast Not Dead Yet

—The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age Crisis—and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance

—Them: Why We Hate Each Other—and How to Heal

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.

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The Ukraine-Russia War Is Entering a New Phase Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, David French, and Mike Nelson to discuss the “new phase” of the Ukraine-Russia war, the “imminent” deal with Iran, and the partisan cheerleading for Graham Platner and Ken Paxton.

The Agenda:

—Exaggerating Ukraine's demise

—U.S. support for Ukraine

—The imminent Iran deal

—Similarities between Paxton and Platner

—The poison of partisan cheerleading

—NWYT: The Great American State Fair

Show notes:

—Lydia Moynihan on Ken Paxton

—Kevin Williamson on the 250 celebration

—Mike Nelson on the Iran quagmire

—Iran’s New ‘Nuclear’ Weapon

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

Can Humanity Be Protected from Artificial Intelligence? May 29, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle, and Mike Warren to discuss Pope Leo’s encyclical on artificial intelligence and explain Jonah’s looksmaxxing routine.

The Agenda:

—The encyclical

—Can AI write good narratives?

—AI disclosure laws

—Creative destruction

—Regulating AI

—NWYT: Clavicular's take on books

Show notes:

—Ben Sasse at the Manhattan Institute

—Klon Kitchen on the AI threat

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The Reality of a U.S.-Iran 'Deal' May 26, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and David French to discuss the potential ceasefire extension with Iran and the Democratic Party's autopsy of its 2024 presidential election loss.

The Agenda:

—The Iran deal

—Domestic consequences

—Division on the right

—Ceasefires aren't deals

—The DNC autopsy

—Party constituencies shift

—NWYT: Long school years

Show notes:

—Jonah's "anti-manifesto" on the Iran war

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

Will Republicans Stand Against Trump’s Slush Fund? May 22, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Mike Warren to discuss Donald Trump’s $1.776 billion slush fund and the indictment of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro.

The Agenda:

—The slush fund

—The impeachment case

—Will Congress grow a spine?

—Indictment of Raúl Castro

—The Venezuela model

—NWYT: Discontinued treats

Dispatch Recommendations:

—A Time for Choosin’, Texas

—Will Trump’s Reverse Midas Touch Cost the GOP Texas?

—Keeping Antisemites Out of the Tent

—Masculinism and Feminism | Interview: Helen Lewis

Show notes:

—Steve on Schiltz for The Weekly Standard

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Trump’s Grip on the GOP Holds May 19, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Kevin Williamson, Mike Warren, and David Drucker to discuss Donald Trump’s primary challenges against Sen. Bill Cassidy and Rep. Thomas Massie, along with last week’s U.S.-China summit in Beijing.

The Agenda:

—Sen. Cassidy’s loss

—The consequences of crossing Trump

—Texas Republican primary

—Trump’s approach to China

—Taiwan as a bargaining chip

—NWYT: Trump’s $1.776 billion fund

Dispatch Recommendations:

—Will MAGA Come for Thomas Massie?

—Democratic Efforts to Reclaim Blue-Collar Voters Get a Test in Pennsylvania

—The Benefits of a Later School Bell

—Cornfield Baptism Near Omaha, Nebraska

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Can Redistricting Lead to a GOP Midterm Victory? May 15, 2026

Show notes

Mike Warren is joined by Jonah Goldberg, David Drucker, and Charles Hilu to discuss the nationwide redistricting battles happening in state legislatures and Donald Trump’s low approval for handling inflation.

The Agenda:

—Impact of Louisiana v. Callais SCOTUS decision

—Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama redistricting

—South Carolina Republican defies Trump

—Race and representation

—Abysmal inflation approval

—Trump: “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation”

—Can Republicans win both chambers?

—NWYT: Peak bagel?

Dispatch Recommendations:

—SCOTUS Clears Way for Alabama to Use Congressional Map

—Could Hantavirus Go Global?

—The Empire of Baloney

—Why Surging Federal Debt Matters

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The Trump Administration's China Strategy May 12, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Mike Warren, and the Hudson Institute's Michael Sobolik to discuss the upcoming summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the future of U.S. relations with China, and the prospect of Taiwanese independence.
The Agenda:
—Is China an adversary?
—Xi Jinping's global strategy
—Xi's military purges
—The Taiwan question
—Human rights abuses in China
—Dispatch cruises?
—NWYT: Sean Duffy's reality TV show
Dispatch recommendations:
—American Dreamer
—Rebuilding the Arsenal of Democracy
—The Math and the Mechanics on Kevin Warsh’s Smaller Fed
Show notes:
—WSJ on Xi's China
—AEI report on China's demographic outlook

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The End of Operation Epic Fury May 08, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle, and Mike Warren to discuss the potential end of major combat operations against Iran and Trump's retribution campaign against Indiana Republicans who opposed his mid-decade redistricting efforts.
The Agenda:
—End of Operation Epic Fury
—Did the U.S. achieve its military goals?
—Post-Iran War U.S. economy
—Trump's waning political capital
—Indiana GOP primary revenge
—The ballroom flip-flop
—NWYT: A Dispatch cruise
Dispatch Recommendations:
—The Fading Trump Presidency
—Will MAGA Come for Thomas Massie?
—My Father’s Conservatism
—Anti-Zionism Is a Dead End for Palestinians
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

U.S. and Iran Threaten Fragile Ceasefire May 04, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Kevin Williamson, Mike Warren, and Mike Nelson to discuss rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and the disconnect between the White House’s words and actions.
The Agenda:
—Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz
—Who can keep the Strait open
—Project Freedom
—Trump’s rising political pressure
—Democrats’ midterm messaging
—NWYT: Philadelphia 76ers ban New York Knicks fans
Dispatch Recommendations:
—A Pope You Don’t Have To Think About Every Day
—Is There a China Strategy Behind the Iran War?
—Liebling at War
—All the Money in the World, and Then Some