The Dispatch Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Balance of Power: China and the United States Oct 22, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Sarah and Steve talk with Klon Kitchen, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and veteran of the intelligence community to discuss the latest news out of China. What do China’s hypersonic missile tests mean for the balance of power between the United States and China? Are we at the start of a new "cold war?" Kitchen answers these questions and more.

Show Notes:

-“Why China’s Hypersonic Missile Tests Are So Concerning” by Klon Kitchen

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China's Hypersonic Missile Ambitions Oct 20, 2021

Show notes

On today’s podcast, our hosts tackle a wide range of topics. From China’s hypersonic missiles to the ongoing situation in Loudoun County, Steve, Sarah, Jonah, and David grapple with what those issues mean for the country with heavy doses of concern and skepticism. Plus, some good old-fashioned rank punditry. Sarah asks whether political operatives are responsible for ruining our politics? And some level-setting on Jonah’s third party idea that has caused a stir on the right.

Show Notes:

-“The Greatest Cold War Myth of All” - Charles Krauthammer

-Jonah’s Los Angeles Times column on a third party

-Jesse Singal on Loudoun County

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Former Congressmen Burn Down the House Oct 15, 2021

Show notes

Former Rep. Dan Lipinski, Democrat from the Chicago area, and Reid Ribble, Republican from Wisconsin, join Sarah and Steve about how Congress works or doesn’t work, rather. The two former elected officials highlight the failures of the House of Representatives with troubling personal stories and insights. Fair warning, this conversation is as distressing as it is informative. Plus, stick around to hear what the Wisconsinite and Illinoisian think about this weekend’s Packers vs. Bears game.

Show Notes:

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Texas Governor Fights Vaccine Mandates Oct 13, 2021

Show notes

To quote the great Ozzy Osbourne, “We’re going off the rails on the crazy train.” In today’s podcast, our hosts look at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on vaccine mandates, the DOJ memo aimed at school boards, an update to the January 6 committee, and President Biden's slumping numbers among independents. And finally, what does all of this mean for 2022 and (even though it’s way too early) 2024?

Show Notes:

-Abbott says businesses control their merchandise

-Abbott says businesses cannot control who is vaccinated in their store

-Merrick Garland letter

-National School Board Association letter

-McAuliffe: "I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach."

-Tragic homicide story over vaccines in Maryland

-Daily Wire Loudoun County story

-“We Came So Close to Disaster” - French Press

-Eastman Memo: “It’s Real and It’s Not Spectacular” - Advisory Opinions

-Bill Kristol and William Baude

-The Sweep on Biden’s polling struggles

-Ezra Klein and David Shor

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Our Growing Pirate Skiff Oct 08, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jonah hijacks hosting duties from Sarah to have a conversation with Steve as The Dispatch celebrates its second anniversary. How did we get here? What is the state of the company? And where are we going?

Show Notes:

-The Dispatch manifesto from 2019

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Rising Tensions in the Indo-Pacific Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

On today's podcast, our hosts discuss China's recent incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, and how seriously the United States should take the Chinese Communist Party’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific. Plus: Democrats are in disarray on Capitol Hill, a State Department official resigns over the Biden administration’s border policy, and Facebook is feeling the heat from all directions.

Show Notes:

-Read TMD on China’s deployment of aircraft near Taiwan

-Subscribe to Uphill for the latest news from Capitol Hill

-Facebook Files from WSJ

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Infrastructure Stalemate Oct 01, 2021

Show notes

On today's podcast, Steve is joined by Haley Byrd Wilt, who writes Uphill for The Dispatch, and John McCormack, Washington correspondent for National Review, to discuss what exactly has been happening on Capitol Hill this week. After House Democrats delayed a vote on the infrastructure bill, can both factions find a way to end the stalemate?

Show Notes:

-Subscribe to Uphill for the latest news from Capitol Hill

-Read McCormack at National Review

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Democrats Split on Capitol Hill Sep 29, 2021

Show notes

All eyes are focused on Capitol Hill this week as the debt ceiling, government funding, and infrastructure talks continue to heat up in both houses of Congress. Also happening in both chambers is testimony on Afghanistan from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Kenneth McKenzie. Sarah has the week off, so Steve, David, and Jonah discuss it all on this week’s episode. And for dessert: the future of the Republican Party.

Show Notes:

-TMD on Afghanistan testimony

-Uphill on what the heck is going on in Congress

-Jennifer Graham Afghanistan reporting

-Robert Kagan on our constitutional crisis in the Washington Post

-The Eastman memo

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The Fight to Raise the Debt Ceiling Sep 24, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Brian Riedl, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, joins Sarah and Steve as Congress debates lifting America’s borrowing cap. Will Democrats and Republicans come to an agreement to lift the debt limit? Are we heading toward another government shutdown? Is anyone in Washington concerned about our ballooning national debt?

Show Notes:

-The Morning Dispatch looks at Biden’s make or break week

-Riedl’s piece from earlier this summer “Trillions and Trillions”

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Is Biden Just Bad at his Job? Sep 22, 2021

Show notes

After the latest surge of migrants in the border town of Del Rio, Texas, our hosts discuss how the Biden administration has handled the immigration issue since taking office. Plus, President Biden continues to have foreign policy problems. What happened with the botched drone strike in Afghanistan? Why is France mad at us? All of that leaves Jonah with one big question: Is Biden just bad at his job?

Show Notes:

-Jonah on Biden’s foreign policy

-The Morning Dispatch breaks down the drone strike that killed civilians in Afghanistan

-TMD catches you up on the deal between the U.S., U.K., and Australia

-Tom Joscelyn on AUKUS in Vital Interests

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