The Dispatch Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Three More Years Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, David French, Sarah Isgur, and Mike Warren to reflect on President Donald Trump's first year of his second term and look ahead to his final three.

The Agenda:
—Trump's use of executive orders
—Trump's legislative "agenda"
—The retribution tour
—What will last beyond Trump?
—Are we the (global) baddies?
—Sarah's Not Worth Your Time ambush

Pre-order Sarah Isgur's new book Last Branch Standing here.

Skipped lightning round question: Who was the most influential or effective adviser to Donald Trump in the first year of his second term?
David French: Stephen Miller
Mike Warren: Stephen Miller
Jonah Goldberg: Stephen Miller
Sarah Isgur: Stephen Miller
Steve Hayes: Stephen Miller 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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Dear Ambassador Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes returns and invites Declan Garvey, Jonah Goldberg, and Michael Warren on to discuss President Donald Trump’s letter to the prime minister of Norway about not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, the future of NATO, and the end of the conservative movement.
Plus: Are NFL teams firing coaches too quickly?

The Agenda:
–What is Trump thinking?
–International reactions
–Economic ramifications
–Foreign policy plays
–Douthat vs. Goldberg
–The future of nationalism and conservatism
–Stability over upside in the NFL

Show Notes:
–Douthat's NYT column: Trump's Second Term Has Ended the Conservative Era
–Jonah's G-File: Beware the New Americanism
–Douthat in 2020: There Will Be No Trump Coup

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 Public Shifts on Immigration Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

Michael Warren takes the host chair from Steve Hayes to lead a panel discussion with Jonah Goldberg, Sarah Isgur, and Grayson Logue on the recent fatal shooting involving an ICE agent in Minneapolis, its effect on public opinion around immigration enforcement, and the broader ramifications of aggressive immigration enforcement.

The Agenda:
–Polling on public reaction to the ICE shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis
–Trump’s “Reverse Midas Touch” and its influence on the political narrative
–The feds are coming for Jerome Powell
–Are we really taking Greenland?
–Is NWYT worth your time?

Show Notes:
–Save the Federal Reserve's independence
–ICE's Deadly Professionalism Deficit

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Investigating Jerome Powell Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes invites Michael Warren, John McCormack, and James Sutton on the podcast to discuss the Department of Justice's investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, how President Trump's tariffs are affecting interest rates, and the deadly protests in Iran.

The Agenda:
—Jerome Powell investigation
—The fallout of Trump's economic policies
—Trump’s approval numbers fall over immigration
—GOP messaging and midterm possibilities
—Iran’s deadly protests: Is this different?
—NWYT: predicting the National Champion
—Introducing Dispatch Culture

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Taking Maduro: Wise or Foolish? Jan 09, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Kevin Williamson, Jonah Goldberg, and David French to revisit the Trump administration's operation in Venezuela nearly one week later and discuss the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.

The Agenda:
—U.S. intervention in Venezuela
—Oil, drugs, or immigrants?
—Legality of Maduro's arrest
—Does international law matter?
—The future of U.S. interventionism
—ICE shooting in Minneapolis
—NWYT: Best cities to live in

Show Notes:
—Dispatch Debate on the capture of Maduro

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 Capture of Nicolás Maduro Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Dispatch contributor Gil Guerra, and retired Army Special Forces officer Mike Nelson to discuss the Trump administration's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and what happens next.

The Agenda:
—Gil for The Dispatch: Why We Toppled Maduro
—The administration's rationale
—Mike for The Dispatch: Causes for Concern and Celebration
—The White House's muddled messaging
—The "Donroe Doctrine"
—Permanent occupation?
—No new wars
—NWYT: How to pronounce Maduro

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 Best of 2025 | Roundtable Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle, and Mike Warren to discuss their favorite books, TV shows, movies, meals, and products from 2025.

Show Notes:
—Megan McArdle's podcast, Reasonably Optimistic
—Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer
—The Lost History of Liberalism: From Ancient Rome to the Twenty-First Century
—And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails
—The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World
—Daniel B. Kline's essay on liberalism
—The Ungovernable City
—Severance
—Burma Superstar
—Montague Diner
—Mississippi pot roast
—OXO Steel double jigger
—Costco robot vacuum
—Living (2022)
—D'Oliva Smoked Habanero Olive Oil
—Angelita Madrid

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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That’s A Wrap | Roundtable Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

Steve Hayes invites Megan McArdle, Mike Warren, and Jonah Goldberg to review the biggest stories of the year, people we don’t want to hear from in 2026, and the best writing not from The Dispatch.

The Agenda:
—Most important news story
—Most undercovered story
—Who is the most exposed?
—Best piece of non-Dispatch journalism
—Best good news of the year

Show Notes:
—Is the AfD Too Extreme for Democracy?
—The Anti-Social Century
—The Sierra Club Embraced Social Justice. Then It Tore Itself Apart
—Donald Trump's Tariff Dealmaker-in-Chief
—Revolutionary gene therapy brings hope of leukaemia cure

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Why Democrats Failed on Immigration | Roundtable Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

Steve Hayes is joined by Kevin Williamson, Jonah Goldberg, and Grayson Logue to discuss recent reporting on the Biden administration’s handling of the asylum crisis and the Vanity Fair interview with top Trump administration staff.

The Agenda:
—Reporting on Biden’s immigration failure
—Indecision in the Biden admin
—Fixing the asylum crisis
—When Democrats gave up
—Susie Wiles’ interview with Vanity Fair
—Distracting from Trump’s obscenities
—Loyalty in Trump’s second term
—The strange affordability address
—NWYT: Holiday roadtrip tips

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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Life and Loss | Roundtable Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

Megan McArdle joins Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, and Mike Warren to tell the story of her mother’s deathbed confession and how it informed her opinions on abortion. Then, a brief discussion on the failed redistricting attempt in Indiana and a reflection on Rob Reiner's filmography.

The Agenda:
—Megan’s Monday Essay: The Brother I Lost
—Megan’s thought experiment on abortion
—Childhood and regrets
—Do the dead have rights?
—Emotional toll of adoption
—Redistricting in Indiana
—Favorite Rob Reiner movies

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