Sarah, fully ready for her hiatus, is joined by Steve, Jonah, and Dispatch Politics reporter Audrey Fahlberg for a dispiriting recap of the first GOP primary debate. Also:
-Vivek Witherspoon's moment
-A crummy night for DeSantis
-Death of Wagner leader Prigozhin
-Biden's response to Maui
-Not Worth Your Time (?): Jonah's writing
Show notes-
-G-File: Who Will Stop Him?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Debate That Didn't Matter

Host Sarah Isgur is joined by Steve Hayes, and Jonah Goldberg for a weekly thoughtful discussion on politics, policy, and culture.

News

Politics

George Packer joins Jamie to discuss how a new round of progressive culture in universities stems from the George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests.
The Agenda:
—The competitive atmosphere of getting into elite pre-schools
—Rejection of nuance and debate
—How to teach history and civics
—New progressivism and its roots
—Progressive ideologies leading to cancel culture
—Culture wars and anti-Zionism
Show Notes:
—Packer: When the Culture War Comes for the Kids
—Packer: “The Campus-Left Occupation That Broke Higher Education”
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How George Floyd Changed American Education | Interview: George Packer

Donald Trump and Joe Biden have agreed to a debate and no one knows who benefits. Steve and Jonah join Sarah to make some predictions about the upcoming presidential debate and discuss how you should think about your vote.
The Agenda:
—The debate
—Why did Biden agree to this?
—White House operatives’ blind spots
—RFK Jr. not invited to the debate
—“Never Trump” vs. “Never Again”
—Would Jonah vote against American baby Hitler?
—How you should think about your vote
—Jonah for President
—Official judicial ruling: tacos and burritos are sandwiches
Show Notes:
—Nick Catoggio: Let’s Get Ready to Bumble
—NYT: Biden’s approval ratings
—High Steaks
—Axios: Biden’s polling denial
—Biden accepts the debate
—Biden’s “Free on Wednesday” T-shirts
—Pod Save America with Jen Psaki
—Polling on who people trust with info on Ukraine
—The Bulwark with Steve
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump or Baby Hitler? | Roundtable

Jamie is joined by Bill Ayers—former professor and co-founder of The Weather Underground, a far-left militant organization—to provide a far-left perspective on the merits of the anti-Israel encampments and Israel’s response to October 7.
The Agenda:
—The safety of Jews on college campuses
—Do the encampment protesters care about the hostages?
—Condemning Hamas
—How Israel should’ve responded to October 7
—Is Israel an apartheid state?
—Is Israel a free and open society?
—Debating a two-state solution
—Monolithic thought on college campuses
Show Notes:
—Jamie’s first interview with Bill Ayers
—Jamie’s second interview with Bill Ayers
—The Dispatch Podcast with Medhi Hasan
—Steve Salaita’s article on Israel’s self-defense
—Bill Ayers on X
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How the Far Left Thinks About Israel | Interview: Bill Ayers

Megan McArdle of the Washington Post joins Jonah and Sarah to discuss Trump’s *explicit* trial, vice presidential contenders, and the downfall of the Tea Party.
The Agenda:
—Vice presidential picks
—Let’s keep the Burgumentum going!!!
—Handgate and Marco Rubio
—FreedomWorks closes up shop
—Checking in on third parties
—There are monsters inside of RFK Jr.
—Man vs. Bear debate
Show Notes:
—WaPo's explanation of brain worms
—Biden threatens to withhold military aid from Israel
—"A Huge Gender Gap is Emerging Among Young Voters"
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Embracing Failure | Roundtable

Robert Costa, chief election and campaign correspondent for CBS News, joins Jamie to discuss what a second Trump administration would look like.
The Agenda:
—GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s previous Dispatch Podcast appearance and Costa’s response
—How Trump pressured different Republican leaders leading up to January 6
—Steve Bannon’s motivation and role
—Trump’s ongoing legal cases and how they affect his campaign
—Trump’s possible VP picks
Show Notes:
—NYT "Could Trump Go to Prison? If He Does, the Secret Service Goes, Too"
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Debate That Didn't Matter

Download our free app to listen on your phone