All eyes are focused on Capitol Hill this week as the debt ceiling, government funding, and infrastructure talks continue to heat up in both houses of Congress. Also happening in both chambers is testimony on Afghanistan from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Kenneth McKenzie. Sarah has the week off, so Steve, David, and Jonah discuss it all on this week’s episode. And for dessert: the future of the Republican Party.

Show Notes:

-TMD on Afghanistan testimony

-Uphill on what the heck is going on in Congress

-Jennifer Graham Afghanistan reporting

-Robert Kagan on our constitutional crisis in the Washington Post

-The Eastman memo

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On today's episode, Brian Riedl, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, joins Sarah and Steve as Congress debates lifting America’s borrowing cap. Will Democrats and Republicans come to an agreement to lift the debt limit? Are we heading toward another government shutdown? Is anyone in Washington concerned about our ballooning national debt?

Show Notes:

-The Morning Dispatch looks at Biden’s make or break week

-Riedl’s piece from earlier this summer “Trillions and Trillions”

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After the latest surge of migrants in the border town of Del Rio, Texas, our hosts discuss how the Biden administration has handled the immigration issue since taking office. Plus, President Biden continues to have foreign policy problems. What happened with the botched drone strike in Afghanistan? Why is France mad at us? All of that leaves Jonah with one big question: Is Biden just bad at his job?

Show Notes:

-Jonah on Biden’s foreign policy

-The Morning Dispatch breaks down the drone strike that killed civilians in Afghanistan

-TMD catches you up on the deal between the U.S., U.K., and Australia

-Tom Joscelyn on AUKUS in Vital Interests

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On today’s episode, CNN’s S.E. Cupp joins Sarah and Steve to talk about the Biden administration, Congress, and why extremism is taking over the politics of today. Plus, the trio discusses the effects of social media on the news business and the challenges that come with being the target of internet trolls.

Show Notes:

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Journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa have a new book coming out that is full of more scandals from the Trump era, most notably one involving Gen. Mark Milley possibly going around the chain of command in the final days of the Trump administration. Before that discussion, the gang discusses the legality and politics of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate. Plus, a potpourri of topics pertaining to the GOP and what to make of the California recall election.

Show Notes:

-Excerpts from Peril by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa

-Reporting from Jennifer Griffin

-More excerpts from Peril

-Scott Lincicome’s latest Capitolism newsletter

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In today's episode, Sarah and Steve talk with Sen. Ben Sasse about the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan and what to do next. For a longer summary of the interview, check out an article on The Dispatch website. Plus, Steve talks with Peter Wehner who was a speechwriter for President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001. They share reflections on that day at the White House and the last 20 years.

Show Notes:

-“The Vanishing American Adult” by Ben Sasse

-“Them” by Ben Sasse

-Peter Wehner at The Atlantic

-Peter Wehner at The New York Times

-“The Death of Politics” by Peter Wehner

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President Biden is having a no good, horrible, very bad summer. The gang, with Chris Stirewalt subbing in for David, discuss whether Biden can recover from the last few weeks. Is the only thing that can save Biden a reemergence of former President Trump? Trump is slated to visit Iowa and the group discusses what that means for 2024. And finally, Afghanistan is still in shambles and we’re coming up on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Listen to hear what Sarah, Jonah, Steve, and Chris were doing 20 years ago and how it impacted the rest of their lives.

Show Notes:

-Amy Walter on Biden’s approval rating

-Jonah’s 9/11 piece

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This week, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, declined to block a Texas abortion law from going into effect. In Thursday’s Advisory Opinions podcast, Sarah and David tackled the legal aspect of the law and the court’s decision. Today, they turn to the politics--not just of the Texas law, but of the issue of abortion itself. Where does the pro-life movement stand today? Where does it go from here?

Show Notes:

-David’s piece breaking down the Supreme Court’s decision

-David and Sarah’s legal analysis of the Supreme Court’s ruling

-Study: “How Americans Understand Abortion”

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There are no more troops in Afghanistan, and President Biden is telling us we had no other option. The gang talks about all the problems with Biden’s speech from the White House at the end of the war in Afghanistan. Plus, as political violence seems to be ticking up recently our hosts debate whether or not that is something to worry about. And finally, creeping a little bit into Advisory Opinions territory, what’s going on with all of the big cases in the Supreme Court?

Show Notes:

-Biden’s speech on the end of the Afghan War

-McConnell honors Joe Biden in 2016

-David’s latest newsletter on political violence

-Sen. Ron Johnson is a closet normal

-Eviction moratorium ends

-Texas abortion law

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Rep. Mike Gallagher joins Sarah and Steve on the podcast and tries (with no luck) to understand the logic behind the Biden administration’s withdrawal plan in Afghanistan. Gallagher puts it quite bluntly, “The whole thing is a mess, and there are very few options we have right now.” The Marine Corps veteran explains what he’d like to see from the Biden administration going forward and how the GOP should handle national security issues going forward. Plus, find out what brutal book the congressman just finished reading (hint: it’s about Sarah’s home state).

Show Notes:

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