The Dispatch Podcast

Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Megan McArdle discuss the Trump administration’s planned bailout for farmers, ICE agents’ aggressive tactics, and Jonah’s fight against the cat lobby.

The Agenda:
—Steve Hayes’ farmer arc
—Bailout on the way?
—ICE, ICE, no baby
—Trump is not Hitler, but he is Juan Perón
—‘Hitler could have gotten rid of Obamacare.’
—NWYT: The best pieces of their career

Show Notes:
—Jonah Goldberg: To Hell with You People
—Kevin Williamson: Zombie Dick Gephardt
—Megan McArdle: Out of Osama's Death, a Fake Quotation Is Born
—Kevin Williamson: The Death of a F***ing Salesman
—Steve Hayes: The Post’s Yucca Mountain Scare

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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Steve Hayes is joined by C-SPAN CEO Sam Feist to discuss the state of news media and how C-SPAN’s new show might offer a way forward.

The Agenda:
—News consumption in 2025
—Being a “clinician”
—C-SPAN’s “Ceasefire”
—Challenging the consumer
—Camera’s in Washington
—C-SPAN’s funding
—How C-SPAN is different

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 OG crew—Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, Sarah Isgur, and David French—discuss President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts on Israel and Gaza, the violent text messages from Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones, and Attorney General Pam Bondi’s performance during a congressional hearing earlier this week.

The Agenda:
—Is the Gaza war finally over?
—Right-wing antisemites
—Should the Nobel Peace Prize be awarded to the IDF?
—Mary Katherine Hamm presents her case
—Former Dispatch reporter’s scoop on Jay Jones
—Attorney General Pam Bondi is scaring us
—David preaches on decency
—NWYT: Writing in your car alone

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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Kevin Williamson is joined by Phillip Rossetti, a contributor to the new Dispatch Energy newsletter and fellow at the R Street Institute. The two dive into the “Abundance” movement and why some traditionally pro-regulation Democrats are rethinking their stance and finding common ground with free-market advocates.

Show Notes:
—Philip for Dispatch Energy: “The Advent of the ‘Abundance’ Movement”
—Subscribe to our new Dispatch Energy newsletter

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Steve Hayes is joined by Kevin Williamson, Jonah Goldberg, and Mike Warren to discuss the gathering of generals at Quantico earlier this week, debate who is to blame for the government shutdown, and dive into the controversy surrounding a comedic festival in Saudi Arabia.

The Agenda:
—Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's performance
—Blame the Democrats?
—Kevin and Newt Gingrich are kindred spirits
—Saudi Arabia: just for laughs?
—NWYT: Grilled cheese and comfort foods

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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Jonathan Martin, senior political columnist at POLITICO, joins Steve Hayes to discuss President Donald Trump’s retribution campaign and the Democratic Party’s messy coalition of convenience that doesn’t stand for anything ideologically.

The Agenda:
—The role of Trump’s inner circle
—Sen. Ted Cruz’s political calculations
—Election integrity concerns
—The future of Trump’s legal battles
—Kamala Harris has nothing to say on what Dems should stand for on policy
Show Notes:
—Jonathan’s column on Ted Cruz

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Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, David French, and Mike Warren to discuss President Donald Trump’s recent shift on Ukraine and how the MAGA movement might respond to it before revisiting ABC’s brief suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.

The Agenda:
—Russia’s rising aggression
—The situation on the Ukrainian frontline
—MAGA’s response
—Trump’s U.N. speech
—Free speech under the Trump administration
—Trump's Department of Justice
—Jimmy Kimmel update
—Comey indictment
—NWYT: Being a dumb child

Show Notes:
—Reporting on the Comey indictment

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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Kevin Williamson sits down with Adam Lankford, professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Alabama, to delve into the complex factors behind mass violence and ideological killings—from video games and social media to sexual frustrations and extremist ideologies.

The Agenda:
—Trends in mass shootings
—Performative nature of violence
—The role of ideology in mass violence
—The impact of video games
—Incels and femcels
—Policy suggestions

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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Steve Hayes, Kevin Williamson, Sarah Isgur, and Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle discuss the Trump administration’s attempted crackdown on free speech following the assassination of Charlie Kirk before digging into the details of a new TikTok “deal.”Plus: Is fall the best season, or overrated?

The Agenda
—Jimmy Kimmel gets suspended
—The role of the Federal Communications Commission
—Obama administration vs. Trump administration on free speech
—‘LOL nothing matters’
—TikTok dilemma
—Why fall is the best season

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AI is racing ahead. Regulation? Not so much. Kevin Williamson talks with Adam Thierer, senior fellow at the R Street Institute, about the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. They dive into the policy fights shaping its future, the role of Big Tech, and how AI could reshape global competition.

The Agenda:
—Defining AI
—Hardware vs. software
—Economic and geopolitical implications of AI
—Job replacement concerns
—Tech skeptics

Show Notes:
—Defending Technological Dynamism & The Freedom to Innovate in the Age of AI

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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