On today’s podcast, Steve is joined by Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine, our response to it, and his thoughts on the State of the Union. Steve is then joined by Barbara Comstock, former representative of Virginia, for a conversation about President Joe Biden’s speech last night and the future of the Republican Party.

Show Notes:

-French Press: “Questions and Answers After Six Days of War”

-Jonah “Gradually, Then Suddenly: How the World Stood Up to Putin”

-TMD: State of the Union

-From The Dispatch: “GOP Reps Slam Greene, Gosar”

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Right before recording today’s episode started, news broke that President Joe Biden is nominating Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Our hosts take a quick look at that and what it means for SCOTUS. Then the conversation moved to the dire situation in Ukraine. David cautioned against believing all of the information we receive in the fog of war and the group discusses how many people on the right have flip-flopped on Putin. Tune in, too, for a preview of next week’s State of the Union address.

Show Notes:

-Ketanji Brown Jackson nominated to the Supreme Court

-Sen. Graham on KBJ nomination

-Ukrainian woman gives Russian soldier sunflower seeds

-Snake Island audio

-J.D. Vance’s latest statement on Ukraine

-Garry Kasparov on Twitter

-Mr. President, It’s Time for a Little Humility | NYT

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In a lively discussion about who Vladimir Putin is and the danger he poses to the world, Steve is joined by Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, and Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker. The two, who are married, offer insights to their book, Kremlin Rising, which they co-authored during their four year stay in Russia. The trio discuss Putin's rise to power, his current rhetoric, as well as how the Republican Party and Trump have grown increasingly close to him.

Show Notes:

-Kremlin Rising by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser

-Susan's Frontline interview

-Polling on Putin's growing popularity in the Republican Party

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According to polling from Gallup, Americans are as happy as they’ve almost ever been. Yet their feelings toward the country as a whole are near an all-time low. Why is that? Sarah, Steve, David, and Declan discuss that and more. Plus, in San Francisco, the left seemed to do some self-correcting after a successful recall of a number of school board members. And finally, as Steve promised members on this week’s Dispatch Live, a continued conversation about Rep. Liz Cheney.

Show Notes:

-Gallup satisfaction numbers

-San Francisco recall election results

-What pundits don’t understand about the San Francisco recall | Mother Jones

-David on the San Fran recall in The Atlantic

-Squad politics backfire | Axios

-San Francisco Mayor on The New York Times podcast “Sway”

-Local BLM chapter posts bail for man charged with attempted murder of mayoral candidate

-Dispatch Live (for members only)

-Republican or not | SNL

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Today on the podcast, Sarah and Steve are joined by Klon Kitchen, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to discuss the latest in Ukraine after the country was hit by cyberattacks. Plus, how much is the Republican Party’s foreign policy views changing? And what exactly can the Chinese government do with all that TikTok data?

Show Notes:

-TMD: “Ukraine on the Brink”

-Klon’s Dispatch piece: “The Old—and Incoherent—Foreign Policy of the New Right”

-Ahmari, Deneen and Pappin: “Hawks Are Standing in the Way of a New Republican Party”

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On today’s podcast, Sarah and Steve talk with Todd Rose, author of Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity, and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions. How much of our thinking about each other is informed by false assumptions? What are the consequences of a society this mistrustful? And what are we to do about it?

Show Notes:

-Collective Illusions by Todd Rose

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On today’s podcast, our hosts discuss the Republican Party’s decision to censure two of its own members, Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, over their involvement in the January 6 investigation. Plus, a growing list of states have lifted their mask mandates. What’s changed?

Show Notes:

-TMD: “Republicans Choose Their Corners in the January 6 Brawl”

-The Sweep: “Did McCain-Feingold Ruin America?”

-National Journal: “Biden is blowing his COVID moment”

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Ohio Sen. Rob Portman joined The Dispatch Podcast to talk about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. What is Vladimir Putin doing? Why should Americans care? Plus, Steve and David ask Sen. Portman about efforts to reform the Electoral Count Act.

Show Notes:

-Sen. Portman on Meet the Press

-French Press: “Stop Screwing Around and Reform the Electoral Count Act”

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On today’s podcast, our hosts discuss the latest round of statements from former President Donald Trump and new reports about his role after the 2020 election. How are elected Republicans reacting? Plus, President Joe Biden has a Supreme Court seat to fill, and the world turns its eyes toward China as the Winter Olympics get underway.

Show Notes:

-TMD: “Trump Doubles Down on January 6 Role”

-G-File: “This Was Always the Plan”

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On today’s podcast, Steve moderates a conversation about the politics of replacing Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court. Joining Sarah on the panel is Gregg Nunziata, who worked on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and John McCormack, Washington correspondent for National Review. What does replacing a Supreme Court justice look like from behind the scenes? Our panel has that answer and more.

Show Notes:

-Stirewaltisms: A Supreme Break for Biden

-TMD: Breyer to Retire

-Advisory Opinions: Justice Stephen Breyer to Retire

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