The Dispatch Podcast Retribution | Interview: Jonathan Karl and Declan Garvey
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Oct 27, 2025 Jonathan Karl, a veteran political reporter and author of "Retribution," joins Declan Garvey, executive editor at The Dispatch, for a deep dive into the intricacies of Trump’s political landscape. They discuss Steve Bannon’s experiences in prison and the impact on his views. Karl shares confrontational moments with Trump, including discussions on hate speech and marketing mendacity. The conversation also explores authenticity crises within both parties and the struggles of political figures like Kamala Harris to connect with voters.
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Where The Book Took Shape
- Jonathan Karl and Declan Garvey sketched the book outline at a new bistro after interviewing Steve Bannon about prison life.
- That restaurant later became a MAGA convening spot, ironic given their harmless planning meeting.
Prison Shaped Bannon And Political Loyalties
- Bannon framed prison as a place that hardened him and connected him to MAGA-aligned inmates.
- Karl shows how criminal-justice reforms like the First Step Act became tools that changed inmate outcomes and politics.
The Vito Release Story
- Bannon told Karl about an inmate, Vito, convicted of multiple murders who later got released after 26 years.
- Karl verified the story and linked Vito's early release to navigation of the First Step Act allegedly aided by Bannon.
