The Dispatch Podcast

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by The Dispatch

Host Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle and guests for a thoughtful discussion on politics, policy and culture.

20 episodes summarized

Episodes

After Trump

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Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Michael Reneau to discuss our latest editorial on a post-Trump reality, comments by White House special envoy Steve Witkoff to Vladimir Putin as the U.S. pursues negotiations for an end to the Ukraine war, and finally, a Labor Day edition of Not Worth Your Time.  —Previewing The Dispatch’s editorial on what’s next for the GOP —Addressing the “Burn it all down” crowd —You don’t know what time is it —James Carville's checking the temperature —Let’s talk about followership —The un-American display of Steve Witkoff  —Not Worth Your Time: Employment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

September 8, 2026•1:33:25

Can the GOP Survive Trump’s Approval Numbers?

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Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Mike Warren, and John McCormack to discuss Trump’s role within the Republican Party in the upcoming midterms and the Democratic Party’s association with Hasan Piker. The Agenda: —Trump’s impact on Republican candidates —Democrats and Hasan Piker —The Senate race in Texas —Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District —The Senate race in Ohio —NWYT: Fantasy football Show notes: —Mike Warren’s newsletter Next Right —FantasyPros —Footballguys 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

September 4, 2026•1:08:13

The Pentagon’s Unprecedented Plan for Venezuelan Oil

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Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Mike Nelson to discuss the Trump administration’s oil deal with Venezuela and the state of the Iran war six months in. The Agenda: —Venezuela oil deal —Delcy Rodríguez’s presidency — “We should have the taken the oil!” —The Venezuela model in Iran — “No, Iran is not winning” —NWYT: Milos Yiannopoulos’ deportation Show notes: —Wall Street Journal's reporting on the oil deal —Washington Post reporting on U.S. military leadership 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

September 1, 2026•1:10:00

The AI Data Center Moral Panic

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Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle, and David French to discuss the political battle over data centers and Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada. The Agenda: —Data center u-turn —How data centers affect communities —National security implications —Misinformation about data centers —The U.S.-Canada trade war —Worth your time: Dolly Parton Show notes: —Megan McArdle’s podcast —Wall Street Journal’s AI op-ed —Fox News poll on data centers —Why’d You Come In Here —Dolly Parton's Johnny Carson song —The Wailin' Jennys—Light Of A Clear Blue Morning —Dolly’s Light of a Clear Blue Morning 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

August 28, 2026•1:24:57

How The U.S. Racked Up Its $40 Trillion Debt

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Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Mike Warren to discuss the U.S. crossing the $40 trillion debt threshold and the prospect of “growing our way out of it.” The Agenda: —Kevin explains how we got here —Entitlement spending —What would Paul Ryan do —The DOGE effort —Growing our way out of debt —NWYT: Adulthood disappointments Show notes: —Kevin's Wanderland —Kevin on the tragedy of U.S. debt —Steve Hayes on DOGE —"DOGE—the UNIPARTY killed it because it was working too well." 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

August 25, 2026•1:20:30

Why Trump Is Snubbing South Korea

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Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Mike Nelson, and Kevin Williamson to discuss President Donald Trump’s decision to scale back military exercises with South Korea, his “good relationship with Kim Jong Un,” and the U.S. munitions crisis. The Agenda: —Scaling back South Korea exercises —Trump’s “relationship” with Kim Jong Un —Abandoning Japan —The U.S. munitions crisis —Southern lane of the strait —NWYT: The end of Colombia House mail-order club Show notes: —North Korea missile barrage —Oil drilling in Greenland 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

August 21, 2026•1:03:46

What’s Next for the Right?

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Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Warren, Jonah Goldberg, and Chris Stirewalt to discuss the future of the conservative movement ahead of the 2026 midterms and 2028 GOP primaries. The Agenda: —Subscribe to The Dispatch’s new newsletter, Next Right —The war for the GOP —Trump’s successor —Ideological demography of Republicans —2028 GOP primaries —Mike’s conversation with Gov. Brian Kemp —NWYT: Aspic Show notes: —Mike Warren on CNN —How unpopular is Donald Trump? —Boiling Frogs on non-MAGA Republicans 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

August 18, 2026•1:20:41

Are Democratic Socialists Reaching Their Limits?

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Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle, and Kevin Williamson to discuss the results of this month’s Democratic primaries in Wisconsin and Michigan and the left’s shift away from the radical social justice positions of 2020. The Agenda: —Francesca Hong’s loss —Abdul El-Sayed’s slim victory —The limits of the far left —The woke reckoning —AOC: “Woke 1 was crazy” —NWYT: A People magazine “exclusive” Show notes: —WSJ: “Midwesterners Show the Limits of the Far-Left” —NYT: “A Stunning Loss in Wisconsin Shows the Limits of the Left” —Megan’s Washington Post column on Wisconsin primary —Jonah’s Wednesday G-File —What Steve, Kevin, and Jonah have gotten wrong 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

August 14, 2026•1:22:00

What Abdul El-Sayed’s Win Means for Democrats

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Mike Warren and John McCormack discuss the battle between moderates and populists in the Democratic Party and the abuse allegations against Republican Rep. Max Miller. The Agenda: —Michigan primary —Minnesota and Wisconsin primaries —Blue wave possibilities —Max Miller allegations —Trump’s support for Max Miller —NWYT: The cost of a burrito Show notes: —Francesca Hong’s Culver’s tweet —Francesca Hong’s Thanksgiving tweets 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

August 11, 2026•59:11

The Iran War Is Spiraling Out of Trump’s Control

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Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, David French, and Mike Nelson to discuss the possible entrance of Russia and China into the Iran war and the possibility of unintentional escalation. The Agenda: —The War That Could Swallow the World —Water system cyberattacks —Putin and Xi’s calculations —The Taiwan implication —U.S. munitions stockpiles —Trump’s madman theory —NWYT: Trump’s golf titleThe 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

August 4, 2026•1:09:30

Why Socialism Is Becoming Popular on The Left

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Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Megan McArdle to discuss the growing popularity of socialism on the left and Anthony Fauci’s testimony on Capitol Hill. The Agenda: —What is socialism? —Polling on American sentiment toward socialism —College dorm life as an ideology —Tea Party redux —When to start panicking —Anthony Fauci’s testimony —NWYT: Living too long Show notes: —Kevin on socialism —Kevin on democratic socialism —Occupy Wall Street’s puppet guild —Jonah: We’re Not One Election Away From Ruin 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

July 31, 2026•1:18:35

Why Trump Is Obsessed with Passing the SAVE America Act

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Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Mike Warren, and John McCormack to discuss Donald Trump’s obsessive push for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act and his resulting battle with Republican leadership in Congress. The Agenda: —Terminating the filibuster —Is the SAVE America Act 4-D chess? —Mike Lee’s suck-up strategy —Is Trump joking about a 2028 run? —Trump in the 2028 GOP primaries —Will the SAVE America Act go anywhere? —NWYT: The Odyssey and a return to theater-going Show notes: —Noncitizens voting in New Jersey —Stephen Richer on the SAVE America Act —Jonah’s G-File on The Odyssey (2026) 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

July 28, 2026•1:19:02

Why the U.S.-Iran MOU Fell Apart

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Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Nelson, David French, and Jonah Goldberg to discuss the latest round of strikes on Iran, the prospect of nuclear proliferation by the Saudi Arabian government, and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s shake-up of Ukraine’s military leadership. The Agenda: —What and why are we striking? —Trump is losing MAGA —Dwindling U.S. weapons stockpiles —What will victory look like? —Leadership change in Ukraine —Nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia —NWYT: Laura Loomer Show notes: —Buy Dispatch merch —New York Times: Both sides demand victory 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

July 24, 2026•1:09:42

The Hidden Privacy Cost of Wearable Tech

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Kyla Scanlon, a New York Times contributing opinion writer and the author of In This Economy? How Money & Markets Really Work, joins Steve Hayes, Mike Warren, and John McCormack to discuss the privacy questions surrounding the rise of wearable technology and how to understand America’s modern economy. The Agenda: —Kylie Jenner and Meta glasses —Meta’s theory behind wearable tech —Are privacy concerns justified? —What is the state of the economy? —Understanding money and the stock market —NYWT: Five cups of coffee Show notes: —Kyla Scanlon for Dispatch Markets —Matt Labash on Google Glass —In This Economy? How Money & Markets Really Work —Wall Street Journal: The boomers are upsizing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 21, 2026•54:17

Dispatch Live: Assessing President Trump’s Election Integrity Address

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In a special live Dispatch Podcast, Dispatch founder and CEO Steve Hayes was joined by Dispatch politics editor Michael Warren and senior editor John McCormack to discuss President Donald Trump’s Thursday night election integrity speech.Show notes:—Trump's election integrity address—John McCormack on Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing—Vice President Vance’s security detail is "fed up" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 17, 2026•1:07:59

War With Iran Kicks Off ... Again

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Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Mike Warren, and Mike Nelson to break down the return of hostilities with Iran and the changing realities in the Russia-Ukraine war, and to recall Lindsey Graham’s tenure in American politics. The Agenda: —Is the war back on? —Oil prices down, stocks up —“The guardian of the strait.” —Russia-Ukraine war —Russia’s economic crisis —Lindsey Graham’s Tenacious Pursuit of Influence —NWYT: Being a curmudgeon 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

July 14, 2026•1:26:07

How Trump Made $2.2 Billion Since Taking Office

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Morning Dispatch Reporter Surya Gowda joins Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, and Kevin Williamson to explain how Donald Trump made $2.2 billion in 2025 and discuss whether or not his financial gains are ill-gotten. Then, Kevin and Jonah discuss Graham Platner dropping out of the Maine Senate race and the end of the ceasefire with Iran. The Agenda: —Trump’s presidential payday —Binance founder pardon —Public perception of corruption —Allegations against Graham Platner —Platner's working class cosplay —Is the Iran war back on? —How Iran keeps winning—NWYT: A Kevin Williamson solo Remnant? Show notes: —Trump: "I found out that nobody cared." —False allegations against a University of Virginia official 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

July 10, 2026•1:16:11

Why Our European Allies Can’t Count On Us

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Steve Hayes is joined by Kevin Williamson and Mike Warren to discuss Pete Hegseth’s purge of senior military leadership, our relationships with European allies, and the dismissal of Folarin Balogun’s red card. The Agenda: —Pete Hegseth’s Warped Vision for the Military —Firing of Army Gen. Chris Donahue —Hegseth’s feud with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll —Celebrity politics —Gratitude for the French —Abandoning Europe —NWYT: Folarin Balogun’s red card Show notes: —Lords of Soccer podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 7, 2026•1:10:05

What the Birthright Citizenship Decisions Mean for Conservatism

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Mike Warren is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle, and David French to discuss the MAGA reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision on birthright citizenship and the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence. The Agenda: —The state of SCOTUS —Transgender athletes —MAGA reactions —Freedom250 fair —Trump’s influence on national celebrations —How to celebrate right Show notes: —Advisory Opinions —SCOTUSblog —Sean Davis on birthright citizenship —Matt Walsh on birthright citizenship —“Country Roads” at the World Cup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 3, 2026•1:07:22

What Americans Believe About Foreign Policy

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Steve Hayes, Mike Warren, and Jonah Goldberg are joined by Rachel Hoff, policy director at the Ronald Reagan Institute, to take a look at the Reagan Institute’s 2026 Survey Report and what it reveals about American sentiment towards foreign policy. The Agenda: —The 2026 survey report —American support for Iran war —Partisan shifts in foreign policy —Socialists win in New York —Democrats' Pat Buchanan moment —Gavin Newsom's billionaire tax —Democrats in San Francisco —NWYT: Ranch dressing Show notes: —Friday G-File 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

June 30, 2026•1:15:07