The Dispatch Podcast

Former Democratic organizer Brianna Wu joins Adaam James Levin-Areddy for a conversation about her journey from leftist activism to clashing with leftists about antisemitism and the recklessness of transgender politics. Wu opens up on the challenges that come with standing up to one’s own tribe, the importance of defending liberal values, and how to think responsibly—and compassionately—about sex and gender. The Agenda: —How Gamergate changed everything —The (de)evolution of progressive politics —October 7 and Jewish mothers —Can normie liberalism bridge the partisan divide? —Transgender healthcare vs. transgender politics Show Notes: —The Pros and Cons of 'Queer' (w/ Jamie Kirchick) —Jesse Singal for The Dispatch: How The American Media Distorted the Transgender Debate 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and regular livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To Sarah Isgur's dismay, today's episode is heavy on the foreign policy. Between last week’s humiliation of Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump’s apparent embrace of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, and the remilitarization of our European allies, the outlook for Pax Americana isn’t bright.Sarah, Jonah Goldberg, and Steve Hayes also compare notes on the highs and lows from Trump's address to a joint session of Congress before finally getting around to their discussion of woke chili. The Agenda: —Is this Putin's world now? —Zelensky's errors. Trump's disgrace. —The allies step up —Our gelded Congress —Good television —Beans are woke Show Notes: —Better Righteous than Right About Ukraine? —The key to understanding Donald Trump’s approach to the Ukraine war —The Remnant with Chris Stirewalt 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and regular livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, thinks it’s time for the organization to reinvent itself. As American Jews face a historic surge in violence, Greenblatt wants the ADL to rethink its old alliances and go on offense, targeting radicals and the education system that creates them. He joins Adaam James Levin-Areddy to discuss the ADL’s newly published “campus antisemitism report card,” the organization’s historical commitment to classical liberalism and a broader civil rights coalition, the left’s betrayal of Jews, Elon Musk and the Trump administration, and the challenge of differentiating antisemitism from anti-Zionism. The Agenda: —The ADL’s history is the story of American civil rights —Playing the liberal game —The Elon Musk gesture and finding new allies —CAIR —Can the Ivy League be saved, or is it time to build something new? —Antisemitism vs. Anti-Zionism. Can Jews be antisemitic? —Blindspots Show Notes: —The ADL's Campus Antisemitism Report Card, 2025 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and regular livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Kirchick, author of The End of Europe, joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss Vice President J.D. Vance’s controversial speech at the Munich Security Conference, the recent German elections, and the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The Agenda: —Vice President J.D. Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference —Breaking down Germany’s political parties —Angela Merkel’s policies contributed to the rise of the AfD —Immigration issues across Europe —Denmark's approach to immigration —What’s going on with the Tate bros? —Rape gang controversies in the UK Show Notes: —James' essay for the New York Times 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and regular livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yes, the first several weeks of the second Trump administration has feltchaotic. Many a crazy thing has been spoken, declared, and tweeted.But on today’s episode, Sarah Isgur, Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, and David French discuss what Trump has actually done. The Agenda: —NIH cuts causing chaos in the medical field —Foreign policy shift during the recent UN security council vote —Political favoritism —Should there be kid-free spaces? —Anti-woke chili will have to wait Show Notes: —Yuval Levin's piece for The New Atlantis on NIH cuts 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and regular livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Hayes was joined over the weekend by Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, at the 2025 Principles First summit in Washington, D.C. The two discussed why Christie initially endorsed Donald Trump in 2016, the Trump administration’s decision to side with Vladimir Putin, and where the line of a “constitutional crisis” is. Watch the interview here. 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and regular livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MSNBC anchor Joe Scarborough joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss the first month of Donald Trump’s presidency and whether or not we should hit the panic button over the elected “king.” The Agenda: —Separating signal from the noise —The seven-year itch (to ghost) —Will SCOTUS stop President Trump? —Using the Justice Department —The future of the GOP 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and regular livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Isgur is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Mike Warren, and Steve Hayes to discuss Trump's social media post calling Zelensky a "dictator," the downside of DOGE, and the White House's monarchy "joke." The Agenda: —Zelensky, “a dictator without elections” —Are we now a pro-Russian country? —Good guys vs. bad guys —Banning the Associated Press from the press room —AP name games —The downside of DOGE —Entitlement reform —“Long live the king” Show Notes: —Peter Baker: Trump flips the switch on Ukraine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

War correspondent Tim Mak joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss the latest news out of Ukraine following President Donald Trump’s calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Agenda: —What’s on the negotiating table? —Throwing Ukraine to the wolves —Ukraine’s response to the Biden administration’s actions —Russia’s economic issues —Controlling rare earth minerals 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and regular livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Isgur is joined by David French and a tanned Jonah Goldberg to discuss the legacy of cancel culture, the impact President Trump’s negotiating style will have on the future of Gaza, and the sorry state of American public schools. The Agenda: —Cheap grace when forgiving people —A lot of FAFO’ing in the Middle East —Solving the public education crisis —Ending proceduralism —Pro-penny lobby: Talk to us Show Notes: —Tom Friedman's piece on Trump and Gaza Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Einat Wilf, a former member of Israel’s Labor Party and co-author of The War of Return, joins Adaam James Levin-Areddy once again to discuss President Donald Trump’s supposed plan to encourage Palestinians to voluntarily self-deport from the Gaza Strip—and what it means for the future of the conflict. The Agenda: —Consequences for aggressors —Where does the money go? —No one knows Gaza’s future —What is Gaza? —The drip, drip, drip of hostages Show Notes: —Friday’s Dispatch Podcast Roundtable mentioning the Trump-Netanyahu meeting —Dr. Wilf on The Remnant —Dr. Wilf and Adaam discuss the history of UNRWA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Isgur is joined by Jonah Goldberg and Steve Hayes to discuss President Donald Trump’s latest saber-rattling tactics against our allies and enemies—and whether his bluffs will pay off. The Agenda: —Did free trade policies fail? —Global saber rattling (IEEPA?) —Scott Lincicome: Why Donald Trump is wrong about tariffs —Trump fishes with dynamite —Gaz-a-Lago —Will Trump ever follow through? —USAID: Carrot-and-stick or waste? —Let’s not commit war crimes —David Hogg as Democratic National Committee vice chair Show Notes: —Thank God for the stock market. —Our fact check on the Politico-USAID story —Lara Trump to join Fox News 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie Weinstein is joined Michael Singh, the managing director and Lane-Swig senior fellow at The Washington Institute, to explain how the Trump administration can take on a weakened—but potentially nuclear—Iranian regime. The Agenda: —Preventing a nuclear Iran —Iran’s “ring of fire” strategy —Iranian proxies operating abroad —A maximum pressure campaign —Regime change —How to build a nuclear warhead —America’s red line —Relations with Russia and China —Is Iran apocalyptic? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an unlocked episode of our weekly Dispatch Faith podcast, which is typically released on our members-only podcast feed, The Skiff. If you enjoy the conversation, we hope you’ll consider signing up as a full Dispatch member today. President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders related to immigration disrupted the operations of several faith-based charities that aide migrants and refugees—and Vice President J.D. Vance’s comments on CBS News’ Face the Nation further drove a wedge between those groups and the new administration. Michael Reneau is joined by Mark Seitz, Bishop of El Paso and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, and Matthew Soerens, vice president of advocacy and policy at the Christian humanitarian organization World Relief, for discussions about how their respective groups operate and how they’re preparing for what’s next. Show Notes: —Michael Warren on the clash between J.D. Vance and the Catholic Church —Michael Reneau on Evangelicals and their outlook on immigration reform Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Kash Patel went before Congress this week, and Sarah Isgur, Steve Hayes, Mike Warren, and David French consider whether confirmation hearings are a giant waste of time. Also, Donald Trump’s shaming of Colombia’s president made Sarah rediscover the allure of Great Men of History theory.The Agenda: —The hearings that weren’t worth your (and the nation’s) time —Gerrymandering isn’t the problem you think it is (or is it?) —Everything is broken and I didn’t break it —Trump bullies his way to foreign policy wins —The power of leadership over the human heart —Is DeepSeek our Sputnik moment? (And should we retire Sputnik comparisons?)Show Notes: —John McCormack on RFK's confirmation process —The Dispatch explainer on Trump's Colombian feud 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie Weinstein is joined by Jane Coaston—New York Times contributing opinion writer and previous host of The Argument—to share her expectations for the second Trump term and how she covers the conservative movement. The Agenda: —January 6 —Trump's relationship with voters —Done With Never Trump —"Personal libertarianism" —Manifest destiny and military intervention —Evolution of Trump's Allies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Isgur is joined by Jonah Goldberg and Steve Hayes to react to Donald Trump’s first few days in office and Joe Biden’s final act of lawlessness. The Agenda: —President Trump’s pardons —Is it time to fix the pardon power? —Whose pardons are worse? —Birthright citizenship —Revoking security details —"The Right Is Winning the Battle for Hearts and Minds" —Is conservatism cool now? Show Notes: —Indictment of Genesis Lee Whitted, Jr. —Advisory Opinions on Birthright Citizenship —The Volokh Conspiracy 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Williamson is joined by Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, to explain the tax policy of the second Trump administration. The Agenda: —“I want to be left alone” —Unionization —State income taxes —Republican record on tax cuts —Tax exempt tips —SALT deductions —Government bullying —Tariffs and deregulation Show Notes: —“Right-wing zealot” 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Isgur is joined by David French, Jonah Goldberg, and Steve Hayes to discuss the first round of confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet. Are they worth our time? The Agenda: —The Mount Rushmore of Putzes —Senate hearings and “transparency” —The stupidity of our times —The Laken Riley Act —Joe Biden's farewell address —The Joe Biden legacy —The Jill Biden legacy —California fires and policy failures —Should you attend a presidential inauguration? Show Notes: —WSJ: Tulsi Gabbard mixed up details about a key surveillance law 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie Weinstein is joined by former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss his relationship with Donald Trump, the U.K. "grooming gangs," and his new book, Unleashed. The Agenda: —Jeremy Vine: My Boris Johnson Story —Comparing Reagan and Trump —Johnson’s relationship with Trump —Elon Musk and the U.K. —The U.K. grooming gangs —“Superpower of soft power” —Johnson’s alleged deal with Ukraine and Russia —Putin and Zelensky —Johnson on Queen Elizabeth II —Leaders Johnson admires 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices