Episodes

  • Can the U.S. Tax Code Be Simplified?

    Can the U.S. Tax Code Be Simplified?
    Apr 17 2026
    Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Warren, Scott Lincicome, and Megan McArdle to discuss our overly complicated tax code and our launch of Dispatch Markets, featuring Scott's latest newsletter. Steve, Megan, and Mike then discuss New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax and how the democratic socialist mayor has governed so far.The Agenda:—Donald Rumsfeld's tax letter—The cost of tax compliance—Political will for tax reform—Personal vs. corporate tax complexity—Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax—Economic policy in New York—NWYT: J.D. Vance's small crowdDispatch Recommendations:—Trump Retribution Campaign Threatens to Unravel Indiana GOP—Is Private Credit in Trouble?—The Decline and Fall of Orbánism Show notes: —Megan's podcast Reasonably Optimistic⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Trump Launches a Blockade of Iranian Ports

    Trump Launches a Blockade of Iranian Ports
    Apr 14 2026
    Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Warren, Mike Nelson, and Michael Sobolik to discuss the failed negotiations with Iran, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's defeat at the polls. The Agenda:—What we know about the negotiations—How to enforce a blockade—The risk to U.S. troops—The view from China—J.D. Vance as negotiator—Why Taiwan’s defense budget matters—Viktor Orbán’s big loss—NWYT: Trump vs. the pope Dispatch Recommendations:—Trump’s NATO Threats Highlight Deeper Structural Tension—Trans Issues Are No Conspiracy—Identity Politics Is a Problem for Conservative Christians Too—A Peaceful Uneasy Feeling—Pope Leo’s Case Against the Iran War Is Not Political—Come Sail Away With Me (in Sheboygan, Wisconsin)—Orbán’s 16-Year Reign Ends Show Notes:—Chaos Under Heaven: Trump, Xi, and the Battle for the Twenty-First Century—Trump post appearing to depict him as Jesus removed amid backlash 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 access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Presidents vs. the Supreme Court

    Presidents vs. the Supreme Court
    Apr 10 2026
    Steve Hayes is joined by Sarah Isgur, Michael Warren, and Kevin Williamson to discuss Sarah’s new book, Last Branch Standing; the history of partisan attacks on the Supreme Court; and the state of the two-week ceasefire with Iran. The Agenda:—Trump's attacks on the Supreme Court—Public perception of the court—Sarah's writing process—Ambiguity in the ceasefire—Strait of Hormuz tolls—NWYT: The Masters tournament menu Dispatch Recommendations—Schrödinger’s Ceasefire—Ossining, New York, in the ‘Unwoke’ 1950s—SCOTUStoday: Sotomayor criticizes Kavanaugh—A Peaceful Uneasy Feeling Order Sarah’s book 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 access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠by clicking here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • The Department of Justice After Pam Bondi

    The Department of Justice After Pam Bondi
    Apr 7 2026
    Sarah Isgur is joined by Mike Warren, Kevin Williamson, and David Drucker to discuss the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi and the White House's proposed 2027 fiscal budget.The Agenda:—Pam Bondi's DOJ—The future of the DOJ—Fallout from the Epstein files—Trump's proposed 2027 budget—Trump's midterm messaging—NWYT: TMZ's political coverageDispatch Recommendations—Marriage Got Better—So Why Is It Disappearing?—Welcome to the Party, Christmas and Easter Christians—What the No Kings Protests and Tea Parties Have in Common—The Last Conservatives Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • What Happens if Trump Ends the Iran War ‘Shortly'

    What Happens if Trump Ends the Iran War ‘Shortly'
    Apr 3 2026
    Jonah Goldberg is joined by Dispatch contributors David French, Megan McArdle, and Mike Nelson to discuss whether ground operations in Iran are still an option and the significance of Meta's two landmark losses in social media addiction trials. The Agenda:—Trump's prime-time address—Potential ground operations—How to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—True deterrence against Iran—Meta and Google addiction trials—Banning phones in schools—NWYT: Kid Rock's Army flyover Dispatch Recommendations—Why Rubio’s Stock Is Rising With MAGA—Birthright Citizenship Oral Arguments—Birthright Citizenship Has a Long Historical Precedent—The Welfare-Warfare State, Redux 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 access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • How Far Will Trump Go in Cuba?

    How Far Will Trump Go in Cuba?
    Mar 31 2026
    Jonah Goldberg is joined by Gil Guerra, Kevin Williamson, and Megan McArdle to discuss the nationwide blackouts in Cuba and whether the country will be next in Trump’s crosshairs.The Agenda:—The state of play in Cuba—History of the blackouts—A Russian tanker arrives—How much does Cuba matter to the U.S.?—The case for regime case—The left’s fascination with Cuba—How would the right react?—NWYT: Melania and the educational AI robotDispatch Recommendations:—Meet the Has-Beens, Never-Weres, and Felon Locked in a Trumpy Primary—The Era of Cookbooks Is Not Over—Our Almost-Promised Land—The Institutional Rot of the Right’s Youth PoliticsShow Notes:—Will Cuba Be the Next to Fall? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • A Strategic Stalemate in Iran

    A Strategic Stalemate in Iran
    Mar 27 2026
    Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Mike Warren, and Mike Nelson to measure the strategic success of the war in Iran so far and discuss the diverging war aims between U.S. and Israel.The Agenda:—Is Iran winning the war?—Trump's shifting rhetoric—Trump's daily video montage briefing—U.S. and Israel's diverging war aims—Bad timing for a shutdown fight—NWYT: The America First awardDispatch Recommendations:—Media’s New Ethical Dilemma: Polymarket and Kalshi—The Gorilla Channel—Meet the Has-Beens, Never-Weres, and Felon Locked in a Trumpy Primary—Will Cuba Be the Next to Fall?Show Notes:—G-File: Two Trump Administrations—Audrey Fahlberg's reporting on Joe Kent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • The GOP's Grim Midterm Prospects

    The GOP's Grim Midterm Prospects
    Mar 24 2026
    Steve Hayes is joined by David Drucker, Mike Warren, and Jonathan Martin, Politico's politics bureau chief, to discuss the upcoming midterm elections and the Democrats' ongoing identity crisis.The Agenda:—The Trump effect on 2026 midterms—Partisan redistricting efforts—Scandals in state primaries—Democratic identity crisis—The GOP after 2028—NWYT: Meals with sourcesShow Notes:—On the Road with Jonathan Martin 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 access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 19 mins