The Dispatch Podcast

Are you a “scout” or a “soldier”? What do those terms even mean? In Julia Galef’s new book, The Scout Mindset, she argues the scout mindset is underrepresented in today’s world. “The scout’s role, unlike the soldier, is not to go out and attack or defend,” she says. “It’s to go out, and see what’s really out there as clearly as possible and to put together as accurate a map of the territory or a situation as you can.” Plus, listen closely for Steve’s John McLaughlin impression and why Julia believes bouncing between Airbnbs is way better than signing an actual lease.

Show Notes:

-“The Scout Mindset” by Julia Galef

-Rationally Speaking Podcast

-Julia Galef on Twitter

-Julia’s TED Talk

-The Dispatch Manifesto

-Dr. Tom Gilovich

-Julia’s Twitter thread about Airbnbs

-Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality

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If it’s a day that ends in “Y” in Washington, it’s probably a day during “infrastructure week.” The gang talks about President Biden’s infrastructure bill and debates whether or not it’s fair to call it an “infrastructure” bill. Plus, what should the U.S. do about the continued aggression coming from China and Russia, and the differences in voting laws in Georgia and Colorado. Finally, the controversy surrounding a 60 Minutes piece on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and whether or not “media bias” is the worst it’s ever been.

Show Notes:

-POLITICO’s Playbook on infrastructure

-What is Starlink?

-TMD on Russian aggression in Ukraine

-Danielle Pletka’s latest for The Dispatch on Chinese aggression towards Australia

-Oriana Skylar Mastro on The Remnant

-The Washington Post Editorial on boycotting the Olympics

-Atlanta Journal-Constitution Georgia/Colorado voting laws comparison

-60 Minutes and Gov. Ron DeSantis - Poynter

-Trump donors - The New York Times

-“Why Being ‘Anti-Media’ Is Now Part Of The GOP Identity” - FiveThirtyEight

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In a wide-ranging conversation spanning from his time working in the Trump White House, to his early days as a leader in the House Freedom Caucus (which we learned was supposed to be called the “Reasonable Nutjob Caucus), Mick Mulvaney talks with Sarah and Steve about his life in politics. During the conversation, Mulvaney opines on John Boehner’s new book, what being chief of staff is actually like, whether or not he would have voted to impeach Donald Trump after January 6 and more. Plus, stick around for some tough questions from his fellow South Carolinian Trey Gowdy.

Show Notes:

-Mick Mulvaney on Twitter

-John Boehner’s book excerpt from Politico

-If He Loses, Trump Will Concede Gracefully - WSJ

-Indiana Jones character or Mick Mulvaney?

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President Biden introduced a massive $2 trillion infrastructure plan in Pittsburgh, and the gang is wondering what type of fight the GOP is going to put up against the bill. Steve asks, “You’d think this might be something Republicans would object to and fight pretty strongly. Are you getting the sense that Republicans will do that?” To hear everyone’s dejected response to that question, just hit the play button. Other topics discussed are whether or not vaccine passports are a good idea, the first rumblings of 2024 presidential politics, and, finally, religion in America and what the growing number of “nones” means for the country’s future.

Show Notes:

-The latest version of The Sweep (read the whole thing!)

-Politico polling on infrastructure plan

-Israel’s vaccine passport protocols

-Echelon Insights 2024 presidential polling

-U.S. church membership falls below majority for first time - Gallup

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We heard from many of you that you are having trouble persuading people close to you to take the COVID vaccine. You wished there was something you could pass along to people with the actual facts about the vaccine, not scary myths about why a person should not get it. You asked, and we listened. Former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden joined Sarah and Andrew Egger (subbing in for Steve) to discuss all things vaccine related. Not only is Frieden an expert on the COVID vaccines, but also on listening to those who are concerned about taking it and trying to give them the scientific facts that support getting the shot. As he says, “Effective communication starts with listening. … I understand your concern, but I’ll share with you some information that may be helpful to you.”

Show Notes:

-Dr. Frieden’s bio

-Resolve to Save Lives website

-Pew Research polling on who would get the vaccine

-Frank Luntz focus group with Dr. Frieden

-Impact COVID has had on the flu

-Dr. Frieden’s guide to a bike trip with his son

-VaccineFinder from CDC’s website

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This week (so far) we have seen a mass shooting, a crisis at the border, a major walkback from President Trump’s favorite lawyer, Sidney Powell, and more. On today’s Dispatch Podcast, Steve, Sarah, Jonah, and David talk about all of it and then some. Gun violence has been front and center in the news, and rather than yelling about it, the gang has a well-informed, meaningful discussion about how best to solve this problem in the U.S. Plus, after discussing the border and China, all four talk about just how ridiculous the motion by Sidney Powell to dismiss the case against her is and what it means for center-right media. As Jonah puts it, “If you gave her a platform on your network, on your radio show, either in person or by proxy or simply reading their stuff and then you don’t tell your audience that this woman … has treated you all like suckers … then you’re part of the problem.”

Show Notes:

-Study on effectiveness of state gun regulations

-American Psychological Association study on gun laws

-Washington Post Fact Check on 1994 assault weapons ban

-Reuters article on how and why kids are “smuggled” into the U.S.

-Is there a “surge” at the border? Washington Post looks at the data

-Jonah’s column on the China bilateral meeting

-Last week’s Dispatch Podcast with Danielle Pletka

-The Morning Dispatch: ‘The Kraken is Backtrackin’

-Court filing in Sidney Powell’s case

-Major Biden is BACK

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Danielle Pletka, senior fellow and foreign policy expert at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Sarah and Steve to discuss all things foreign policy. The conversation starts with the fiasco that was the first bilateral meeting between the Biden administration and China, and then focuses on Pletka’s expertise related to foreign policy in the Middle East. The three also discuss Danielle’s recent piece for The Dispatch, a conversation she had with a Ph.D. candidate who was imprisoned in Iran for four years.

Show Notes:

-Danielle’s AEI page

-“What the Hell is Going On?” podcast

-Biden Administration/China bilateral fiasco

-Biden/Putin spat

-‘They Wasted Away Four Years of My Life’

-“How Mean Tweets—And Bad Predictions—Threaten to Derail Another Biden Nominee”

-Profile of Xiyue Wang by Graeme Wood

-“Internal Biden memo said to back 2-state solution along 1967 lines” - Times of Israel

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In a St. Patrick’s Day edition of The Dispatch Podcast, Sarah, Steve, Scott, and Declan start off today’s discussion with the ongoing migrant crisis at the border. Plus, the gang explains how while most of the conservative world was talking about Dr. Seuss and Pepe le Pew, Democrats jammed through the biggest advancement of the welfare state since LBJ’s administration. Scott points out, “When you really dig into the details you see Democrats laying the groundwork for a very substantial increase in the welfare state, and in ways that Democrats have long wanted.” And, what’s the fallout after a Biden administration official actually spoke strongly against the North Korean regime?

Show Notes:

-The latest GOP attack on Biden has a huge hole in it - Greg Sargent/Washington Post

-Four people matching terror watchlist arrested at border - Axios

-'Migrant president' Biden stirs Mexican angst over boom time for gangs - Reuters

-Leaked NRSC polling data on immigration

-Scott’s latest Capitolism newsletter

-Conservatives Drift Leftward in the Plan to Rescue America - Ryan Streeter

-Biden officials comments on North Korea

-Biden Risks Repeating Mistakes of the Past if He Ignores the Evidence on Iran - The Dispatch

-Declan’s TMD item on filibuster reform

-Scott’s “Gridlock is good!” newsletter

-The Dispatch March Madness Tournament

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For the first time on The Dispatch Podcast, author of the Capitolism newsletter and neoliberal shill extraordinaire Scott Lincicome joins Sarah and Declan. On topics ranging from free-market fundamentalism to the crazy world of semiconductors, Scott brings his expertise to break it all down. As he says on today’s episode, “You know, Glengarry Glen Ross? It’s Always. Be. Shilling. … I will literally make any issue about trade and markets. It doesn’t matter what, whether it’s the chicken sandwich wars … or cheap T-shirts.” To cap it off, Scott speaks to being the reigning champion of the “Neoliberalism Shill'' tournament.

Show Notes:

-“Capitolism” newsletter

-Scott’s Cato bio

-Scott’s Twitter profile

-Scott’s latest Cato paper “Manufactured Crisis”

-Declan’s piece on semiconductors in TMD

-Scott’s article on semiconductors

-Vote your conscience in this year’s Neoliberal Shill Tournament

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Congressional Democrats’ omnibus voting rights, campaign finance, and ethics bill, H.R. 1—also known as the “For the People Act”—passed in the House last week, and our hosts are here for the breakdown. Stay tuned to hear the gang chat about retirements in the GOP Senate, whether arguments about cancel culture are trumping more substantive public policy debates, and a surprise tabloid-y topic you won’t want to miss!

Show Notes:

-Democrats’ For the People Act and Republicans’ Save Democracy Act.

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