

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

Nov 5, 2021 • 34min
Sen. Ben Sasse at the Aspen Security Forum
Today’s episode of The Dispatch Podcast is a little bit different than the typical Friday version. Steve interviewed Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse at the Aspen Security Forum on the topic of America’s response to the digital revolution across the globe. Among some of the more interesting topics discussed: China and “chuckleheads,” as Sen. Sasse refers to some members of Congress. Sen. Sasse explains why even though the country faces an immense amount of problems he is still optimistic about the future.
Show Notes:
Link to video of the discussion
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Nov 3, 2021 • 1h 2min
Biden Backlash Begins
Sometimes the news of the day calls for some good old-fashioned rank punditry and after Tuesday’s elections today’s Dispatch Podcast does just that. Sarah, David, Jonah, and Declan look at the results not just in Virginia, but New Jersey, Minneapolis, and Buffalo, too. What do the results mean for the 2022 midterms? Anything at all? Our hosts break it all down.
Show Notes:
-TMD on election night in America
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Oct 29, 2021 • 1h 10min
What’s Happening In Loudoun County?
On today's podcast, Sarah and David talk with Ian Prior, executive director of Fight for Schools, to discuss what exactly is happening in Loudoun County, Virginia. Critical race theory in schools? A sexual assault controversy? And how will this all affect the race for governor in Virginia?
Show Notes:
-Prior “More Va. Public Schools Using Kids As Guinea Pigs For Critical Race Theory”
-French Press “When the State Kinda Sorta Parents Your Child”
-The Sweep: Down to the Wire in Virginia
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Oct 27, 2021 • 1h 6min
Final Push in Virginia
On today's episode, our hosts discuss a new proposal from Democrats to tax the unrealized capital gains of billionaires. Is it constitutional? Plus, Taiwan and “strategic ambiguity,” the Facebook files, and who will Virginia elect as governor next week?
Show Notes:
-The Dispatch: “Washington Should Deter an Attack on Taiwan”
-Wall Street Journal “The Facebook Files”
-The Sweep: Down to the Wire in Virginia
-The Dispatch “President Biden Stumps for Terry McAuliffe”
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Oct 22, 2021 • 47min
Balance of Power: China and the United States
On today's episode, Sarah and Steve talk with Klon Kitchen, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and veteran of the intelligence community to discuss the latest news out of China. What do China’s hypersonic missile tests mean for the balance of power between the United States and China? Are we at the start of a new "cold war?" Kitchen answers these questions and more.
Show Notes:
-“Why China’s Hypersonic Missile Tests Are So Concerning” by Klon Kitchen
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Oct 20, 2021 • 1h 15min
China's Hypersonic Missile Ambitions
On today’s podcast, our hosts tackle a wide range of topics. From China’s hypersonic missiles to the ongoing situation in Loudoun County, Steve, Sarah, Jonah, and David grapple with what those issues mean for the country with heavy doses of concern and skepticism. Plus, some good old-fashioned rank punditry. Sarah asks whether political operatives are responsible for ruining our politics? And some level-setting on Jonah’s third party idea that has caused a stir on the right.
Show Notes:
-“The Greatest Cold War Myth of All” - Charles Krauthammer
-Jonah’s Los Angeles Times column on a third party
-Jesse Singal on Loudoun County
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Oct 15, 2021 • 1h 8min
Former Congressmen Burn Down the House
Former Rep. Dan Lipinski, Democrat from the Chicago area, and Reid Ribble, Republican from Wisconsin, join Sarah and Steve about how Congress works or doesn’t work, rather. The two former elected officials highlight the failures of the House of Representatives with troubling personal stories and insights. Fair warning, this conversation is as distressing as it is informative. Plus, stick around to hear what the Wisconsinite and Illinoisian think about this weekend’s Packers vs. Bears game.
Show Notes:
“The House of Representatives Is Failing American Democracy” - Lipinski in The Atlantic
“Confessions of a pro-life Catholic Democrat in a divided nation” - Lipinski in America Magazine
Dan Lipinski’s website
“Daniel Lipinski on Common-Good Republicans” - First Things Podcast
Reid Ribble’s Twitter
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Oct 13, 2021 • 1h 19min
Texas Governor Fights Vaccine Mandates
To quote the great Ozzy Osbourne, “We’re going off the rails on the crazy train.” In today’s podcast, our hosts look at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on vaccine mandates, the DOJ memo aimed at school boards, an update to the January 6 committee, and President Biden's slumping numbers among independents. And finally, what does all of this mean for 2022 and (even though it’s way too early) 2024?
Show Notes:
-Abbott says businesses control their merchandise
-Abbott says businesses cannot control who is vaccinated in their store
-Merrick Garland letter
-National School Board Association letter
-McAuliffe: "I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach."
-Tragic homicide story over vaccines in Maryland
-Daily Wire Loudoun County story
-“We Came So Close to Disaster” - French Press
-Eastman Memo: “It’s Real and It’s Not Spectacular” - Advisory Opinions
-Bill Kristol and William Baude
-The Sweep on Biden’s polling struggles
-Ezra Klein and David Shor
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Oct 8, 2021 • 1h 17min
Our Growing Pirate Skiff
On today's episode, Jonah hijacks hosting duties from Sarah to have a conversation with Steve as The Dispatch celebrates its second anniversary. How did we get here? What is the state of the company? And where are we going?
Show Notes:
-The Dispatch manifesto from 2019
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Oct 7, 2021 • 1h 14min
Rising Tensions in the Indo-Pacific
On today's podcast, our hosts discuss China's recent incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, and how seriously the United States should take the Chinese Communist Party’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific. Plus: Democrats are in disarray on Capitol Hill, a State Department official resigns over the Biden administration’s border policy, and Facebook is feeling the heat from all directions.
Show Notes:
-Read TMD on China’s deployment of aircraft near Taiwan
-Subscribe to Uphill for the latest news from Capitol Hill
-Facebook Files from WSJ
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