The Dispatch Podcast

Latest Episodes:

James Comey Indicted, Again May 01, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle, and Sarah Isgur to discuss the role of populism within the Democratic Party and the second Department of Justice indictment of James Comey.

The Agenda:
—Maine Gov. Janet Mills drops Senate bid
—Right-wing vs. left-wing populism
—Populism meets reality
—The James Comey indictment
—Indicting political opponents
—Future of the justice system

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 Third Attempt on Donald Trump’s Life Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Michael Warren to discuss the third attempt to assassinate Donald Trump and why the national mood is so bad in the 2020s.
The Agenda:
—The third assassination attempt
—Trump’s ballroom
—History of political violence
—Why everyone leaves Congress
—The national bad mood
—NWYT: Iran war’s effect on supply chains
Dispatch recommendations:
—The Price of Crossing Crypto Could Be Higher in 2026
—Shades of Color in Philipsburg
—The Enduring Lessons of Fusionism
—I Am a Free-Range Parent. I Probably Won’t Be When I Move to America.
Show notes:
—The shooter’s manifesto
—White House correspondents’ dinner guests taking wine bottles
—Erick Erickson: “This is not a both-sides issue.”
—Capitol police threat assessment
—Gallup poll on national mood
—David French on “America’s Violent Heart”

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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Does Trump Have the Patience to Win a War? Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, David French, and Kevin Williamson to discuss the Trump administration's ongoing negations with Iran, FBI Director Kash Patel's alleged excessive drinking, and Justice Clarence Thomas' recent speech at the University of Texas.

The Agenda:

—Is the end near?

—Consequences of Trump's impatience

—Bad negotiating strategy

—⁠Kash Patel's drinking⁠

—⁠Investigating 2020 election fraud⁠

—⁠Justice Thomas' speech on progressivism⁠

—NWYT: ⁠Tucker Carlson's apology⁠

Dispatch Recommendations:

—⁠Online Gambling Is Breaking Containment

⁠—⁠The Son Also Rises⁠

—⁠Overturning Religious Precedent⁠

—⁠The emergency docket’s mistaken birthday⁠

Show notes:

—⁠John McCormack's reporting on Tucker Carlson⁠

—⁠Steve Hayes' piece on Tucker Carlson⁠

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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Pressure Mounts Against the Trump Administration Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Warren, David Drucker, and Mike Nelson to discuss the latest on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz blockade, and how it is affecting Trump's popularity.

The Agenda:
—U.S.-Iran negotiations
—WSJ reporting on Trump's "public bravado"
—U.S. forces seize Iranian ship
—The downstream political costs of war
—Netanyahu faces domestic pressure
—Challenges of modern information environment
—Most absurd stories of the week 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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Can the U.S. Tax Code Be Simplified? Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Warren, Scott Lincicome, and Megan McArdle to discuss our overly complicated tax code and our launch of Dispatch Markets, featuring Scott's latest newsletter. Steve, Megan, and Mike then discuss New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax and how the democratic socialist mayor has governed so far.
The Agenda:
—Donald Rumsfeld's tax letter
—The cost of tax compliance
—Political will for tax reform
—Personal vs. corporate tax complexity
—Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax
—Economic policy in New York
—NWYT: J.D. Vance's small crowd
Dispatch Recommendations:
—Trump Retribution Campaign Threatens to Unravel Indiana GOP
—Is Private Credit in Trouble?
—The Decline and Fall of Orbánism

Show notes: —Megan's podcast Reasonably Optimistic ⁠

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Trump Launches a Blockade of Iranian Ports Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Warren, Mike Nelson, and Michael Sobolik to discuss the failed negotiations with Iran, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's defeat at the polls.

The Agenda:
—What we know about the negotiations
—How to enforce a blockade
—The risk to U.S. troops
—The view from China
—J.D. Vance as negotiator
—Why Taiwan’s defense budget matters
—Viktor Orbán’s big loss
—NWYT: Trump vs. the pope

Dispatch Recommendations:
—Trump’s NATO Threats Highlight Deeper Structural Tension
—Trans Issues Are No Conspiracy
—Identity Politics Is a Problem for Conservative Christians Too
—A Peaceful Uneasy Feeling
—Pope Leo’s Case Against the Iran War Is Not Political
—Come Sail Away With Me (in Sheboygan, Wisconsin)
—Orbán’s 16-Year Reign Ends

Show Notes:
—Chaos Under Heaven: Trump, Xi, and the Battle for the Twenty-First Century
—Trump post appearing to depict him as Jesus removed amid backlash

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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Presidents vs. the Supreme Court Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Sarah Isgur, Michael Warren, and Kevin Williamson to discuss Sarah’s new book, Last Branch Standing; the history of partisan attacks on the Supreme Court;and the state of the two-week ceasefire with Iran.

The Agenda:
—Trump's attacks on the Supreme Court
—Public perception of the court
—Sarah's writing process
—Ambiguity in the ceasefire
—Strait of Hormuz tolls
—NWYT: The Masters tournament menu

Dispatch Recommendations
—Schrödinger’s Ceasefire
—Ossining, New York, in the ‘Unwoke’ 1950s
—SCOTUStoday: Sotomayor criticizes Kavanaugh
—A Peaceful Uneasy Feeling

Order Sarah’s book here.

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Department of Justice After Pam Bondi Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Isgur is joined by Mike Warren, Kevin Williamson, and David Drucker to discuss the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi and the White House's proposed 2027 fiscal budget.
The Agenda:
—Pam Bondi's DOJ
—The future of the DOJ
—Fallout from the Epstein files
—Trump's proposed 2027 budget
—Trump's midterm messaging
—NWYT: TMZ's political coverage
Dispatch Recommendations
—Marriage Got Better—So Why Is It Disappearing?
—Welcome to the Party, Christmas and Easter Christians
—What the No Kings Protests and Tea Parties Have in Common
—The Last Conservatives

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What Happens if Trump Ends the Iran War ‘Shortly' Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

Jonah Goldberg is joined by Dispatch contributors David French, Megan McArdle, and Mike Nelson to discuss whether ground operations in Iran are still an option and the significance of Meta's two landmark losses in social media addiction trials.

The Agenda:
—Trump's prime-time address
—Potential ground operations
—How to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
—True deterrence against Iran
—Meta and Google addiction trials
—Banning phones in schools
—NWYT: Kid Rock's Army flyover

Dispatch Recommendations
—Why Rubio’s Stock Is Rising With MAGA
—Birthright Citizenship Oral Arguments
—Birthright Citizenship Has a Long Historical Precedent
—The Welfare-Warfare State, Redux

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How Far Will Trump Go in Cuba? Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

Jonah Goldberg is joined by Gil Guerra, Kevin Williamson, and Megan McArdle to discuss the nationwide blackouts in Cuba and whether the country will be next in Trump’s crosshairs.
The Agenda:
—The state of play in Cuba
—History of the blackouts
—A Russian tanker arrives
—How much does Cuba matter to the U.S.?
—The case for regime case
—The left’s fascination with Cuba
—How would the right react?
—NWYT: Melania and the educational AI robot
Dispatch Recommendations:
—Meet the Has-Beens, Never-Weres, and Felon Locked in a Trumpy Primary
—The Era of Cookbooks Is Not Over
—Our Almost-Promised Land
—The Institutional Rot of the Right’s Youth Politics
Show Notes:
—Will Cuba Be the Next to Fall?

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