

The Dispatch Podcast
The Dispatch
Host Sarah Isgur is joined by Steve Hayes, and Jonah Goldberg for a weekly thoughtful discussion on politics, policy, and culture.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 18, 2022 • 54min
Russia, Iran, and the American Response
As we pass the third week of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, our hosts are here to discuss the latest: The Biden administration looks to make a deal on Iran’s nuclear program. What are we to make of the president’s foregin policy? Plus, Sarah and the guys talk about inflation and the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates. Show Notes:-The Dispatch: “Concessions to Iran, Russia Pile Up in Nuclear Talks”-Uphill: “The House Hits Russia on Trade”-TMD: “An Interest Rate Increase”
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Mar 17, 2022 • 1h 20min
Zelensky Makes His Plea to Congress for Ukraine
On today’s episode, Steve speaks with Eric Edelman, a member of the U.S. foreign service for 28 years who served as a U.S. ambassador, a national security adviser to the vice president, and an under secretary of defense. They discuss Vladimir Putin and his strategy going into the invasion of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky’s address to Congress, and finish with the latest on the Iran deal. Show Notes:-Edelman’s page at The Dispatch-Edelman’s podcast Shield of the Republic-TMD: “Iran Deal on the Ropes?”
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Mar 11, 2022 • 1h 9min
On the Ground in Ukraine
On today’s episode, Steve has a conversation with Taras Byk, a political consultant and former journalist now working with the Territorial Defense Forces in Kyiv, Ukraine. What’s he seeing on the ground? How are the people of Ukraine holding up as we pass the second week of Russia’s invasion? Plus, Sarah, Steve, and Jonah are here to discuss the latest fallout around the world and here at home. Show Notes:-The Dispatch: “The Past Offers a Way Forward on Foreign Policy”-Uphill: “The Tug of War Over America’s Russia Response”-The Current: “School’s in Session”-The Dispatch: “Why Did Russia Invade Ukraine Now?”
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Mar 9, 2022 • 43min
Ukraine Under Attack
On today’s podcast, Sarah and Steve talk with Natalie Jaresko, Ukraine's former minister of finance. They discuss the history of Ukraine, its people, and what the last two weeks have meant for the country. Show Notes:-NPR: “Kenyan U.N. ambassador compares Ukraine's plight to colonial legacy in Africa”-The Dispatch: “Why Did Russia Invade Ukraine Now?”
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6 snips
Mar 4, 2022 • 60min
The World Has Changed
As the first week of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine passed, our hosts are here to discuss how the world has changed. Plus, President Biden delivers his first State of Union address and Texas holds the first primary elections of 2022. What have we learned from the last week? Show Notes:-TMD: “A Nuclear Plant Scare in Ukraine”-The Dispatch: “Will the European Union Admit Ukraine?”-The Dispatch: “The Coming Surrender to Iran”-The Dispatch: “Fact Checking the State of the Union”
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Mar 2, 2022 • 1h 2min
Ben Sasse, Barbara Comstock, and the State of the Union
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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Feb 25, 2022 • 1h 4min
Russia Starts a War
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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Feb 23, 2022 • 56min
Understanding Vladimir Putin's Russia
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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Feb 18, 2022 • 1h 15min
We Can't Get No Satisfaction
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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Feb 16, 2022 • 53min
Ukraine Hit By Cyberattacks
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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