The general incompetence of GOP's leadership has prompted a Dispatch Politics coup of today's Dispod. Mike hosts as David and Andrew join to discuss the shutdown fiasco, voters perceptions of GOP candidates, and John Fetterman's depression wear.

Show Notes:

-Watch this episode on YouTube

-Real Clear Politics 2024 Iowa Republican Presidential Caucus

-CNN Poll: Trump leads in New Hampshire while Ramaswamy, Haley, Christie and DeSantis battle for second

-Wednesday's Dispatch Politics newsletter

-Real Clear Politics General Election: Trump vs. Biden

-62% of New Yorkers say Biden unfit for another term

-Biden takes on Trump and age questions in new fundraiser speech

-Drucker's interview with Senator Tom Cotton

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Sen. Tom Cotton joins The Dispatch Podcast and pushes back against the growing GOP opposition to sending aid to Ukraine. David Drucker also asks Cotton his thoughts on:

-U.S.-China policy

-Dealing with Iran

-McConnell's current aptitude

Show Notes:

-Watch this episode on YouTube

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A quick preview from our regular members-only Dispatch Live discussion: Kevin, Steve, Drucker, and Grayson discuss the right's embrace of violent rhetoric and the disputed value of Mike Pence's last-minute anti-populist turn. (Steve, a few Spanish wine glasses in, gets extra ranty... you've been warned.)

If you want to join our live discussions, support the work we're doing, and help us do a lot more: become a Dispatch member. https://thedispatch.com/join

-If you're a member, you can watch the full live discussion here: https://thedispatch.com/article/video-mccarthy-launches-impeachment-inquiry/

-Sign up to "The Skiff" to get all Dispatch members-only content here: https://members.thedispatch.com/account/feeds

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A perfect storm of congressional battles has formed over the upcoming legislative session, just as the grown ups are leaving. Mike is joined by Steve and Jonah to discuss the impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden and:

-Biden’s problematic Iranian prisoner deal

-Kim Jong Un and Putin now BFFs?

-Biden needs a nap

Show notes:

-The Morning Dispatch: A Rogue State Visit

-Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns: This Will Not Pass

-The Dispatch Podcast with Martin and Burns

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been dodging accusations of malfeasance for years, but now they might be catching up with him.

Show Notes:

-Kel Seliger's biography

-Oprah sued for defamation in Amarillo

-Food libel laws

-Kevin's article on Paxton impeachment

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Many polls are telling the same story: Americans don’t want either Joe Biden or Donald Trump for president. And yet a rematch seems all but inevitable. Mike Warren is joined by Steve, Jonah, and Chris Stirewalt to commune in despair. Plus:

-Pence’s overdue attack on populism

-Great white sharks with Hitler’s brain

-Eric Adams: migrant issue ‘will destroy New York City’

-9/11 anniversary and easy explanations

Show notes:

–CNN Polling on a Biden vs. Trump rematch

–You need to calm down, Democratic pollsters argue – Semafor

–Most Americans say Biden is too old – The Washington Post

–TMD: The Election Nobody Wants

–Kevin Williamson’s piece on Mike Pence

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Steve and Jonah join Mike as he takes over the host’s chair in this week’s Dispod. The trio discuss China’s version of manifest destiny and:

-Biden’s economic outreach

-Big dollar donors desperately scanning the Republican field

-Kari Lake being a loser (and proud of it)

-Mob rule of institutions

-Vivek: worth voters' time?

Show Notes:

-Jonah's China piece for The Dispatch

-Scott Lincicome’s newsletter on China

-Poll: Georgia Republicans are unusually skeptical of Trump’s 2020 actions

-David Brooks NYT column Nikki’s the one

-Steve's Animal Spirits moment

-"Not Donald Trump" NBC Poll

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South Korea, Japan, and the US are facing growing tensions against North Korea and China. The trilateral relationship was on full display in a show of strength at Camp David on August. 18th.

TMD Reporter Mary Trimble speaks with Michael Beckley, an associate professor of political science at Tufts University and a non-resident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to explore the threats towards this alliance and the possible escalating conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region.

Show Notes:

-Watch this conversation on our YouTube channel

-Michael Beckley's profile

-Mary's report for The Morning Dispatch

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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?

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Artificial intelligence has become a common weapon in political information warfare. The Morning Dispatch reporter, Grayson Logue, is joined by Darrell M. West, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and the co-editor-in-chief of TechTank, to explain the unique threat that A.I. poses.

-West's profile at Brookings

-TechTank

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