Reuel Marc Gerecht, a former Iranian-targets officer in the Central Intelligence Agency and current fellow at the Foundations for the Defense of Democracy, joins Jamie to discuss Israel’s most recent operation against Hezbollah and how Iran might respond. The Agenda: —The effectiveness of Israeli intelligence operations —How did Hezbollah get the p…

Sarah and Steve are joined by Mike Warren from the campaign trail in North Carolina and former Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp to discuss the state of the race and the Trump campaign's ground game (or lack thereof). The Agenda: —Are we going through a political realignment? —Teamsters won’t endorse a president —Ground game vs. legal strategy —Politi…

This interview was recorded prior to the apparent assassination attempt against Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Olivia Nuzzi, Washington correspondent for New York Magazine, joins Jamie to discuss her recent profile of Donald Trump, “I Examined Donald Trump's Ear — and His Soul. ”The Agenda: —Trump after the July 13 assassination attempt —Behind the ic…

Sarah, Steve, and Jonah break down the first (and possibly only) debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and whether or not it will move the needle. The Agenda: —Kamala Harris won —Will the Trump-Harris debate actually matter? —Steve missed the eating pets controversy —Trump’s debate prep —No clarity on abortion policy —The rise of independen…

Jonathan Martin, Politico’s politics bureau chief and senior political columnist, joins Jamie to explain why the GOP needs to lose big in order to hasten a post-Trump Republican Party. The Agenda: —Martin’s POLITICO piece on a Post-Trump party —Unapologetic book plug —Is Steve Hayes a RINO? —If Trump loses 2024, will he run again? —J.D. Vance as a …

Reason Magazine editor-at-large Nick Gillespie joins Sarah, Steve, and Jonah to discuss whether conservatives (and libertarians) would be better off with a Trump or Kamala win in November. The Agenda: —If Republicans Want to Win, They Need Trump to Lose — Big —No small government parties —Trump and Harris’ “harmonic convergence” —To fight wokeness,…

Retired General H.R. McMaster joins Jamie to discuss his book, At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House, and give a detailed account during his time as Trump's national security adviser. The Agenda: —Trump’s disruptive nature —The Russian collusion narrative that created a cloud over Trump's presidency —Trump’s moods and rage…

Megan McArdle joins Steve, Jonah, and Sarah to adjudicate the minutiae of the least consequential civil war you'll ever regret hearing about: between the Bulwark Front of Judea and the Judean Dispatch Front. The Agenda: —Harris’ first interview —Moving to the right —Does media matter? —Killing the primary system —The Twitter Spat —Against endorseme…

Ben Dreyfuss, the former Mother Jones editorial director who now publishes the Calm Down Substack, shares his insights from the Democratic National Convention and takes Jamie's questions about whether Kamala Harris showed her party that she's a competent candidate. The Agenda: —From the convention floor of the DNC —The left-wing influence —Decline …

E: This recording is from the first half of Dispatch Live. For the full episode, become a member to listen on The Skiff. Sarah, Jonah, Mike, Charles, and David discuss the aftermath of the DNC and the surprising impact from the Harris' speech. What is The Skiff? This is the combined podcast feed of all of the members-only bonus content that The Dis…

Friend of Vice President Kamala Harris and former South Carolina Representative Bakari Sellers joins Jamie to defend Harris’ unwillingness to sit down for interviews and her ideological fluctuations. The Agenda: —Harris as a “practical progressive” —Evolving policy positions —Harris’ economic agenda —Defending Israel —Jonah owes Bakari a drink? —Ra…

Let's talk about voting. Sarah, Jonah, and Megan McArdle get epistemological breaking down David French's column endorsing Kamala Harris and realize they can't even agree on the the purpose of voting. What kind of Democrat will Kamala Harris run as, anyway? The Agenda: —David French: To Save Conservatism From Itself, I Am Voting for Harris —Jonah: …

Daily Beast columnist Matt Lewis joins Jamie to discuss the shifting dynamics of the 2024 election cycle and why he believes Donald Trump’s “threat to democracy” doesn’t mean he has to vote for Kamala Harris. The Agenda: —Current presidential landscape —What happened to J.D. Vance? —Is Trump actually a threat to democracy? —Will the Never Trump mov…

Sarah, Jonah, and Megan McArdle break down the Tim Walz vice presidential pick and discuss the state of conservatism at the local level. Plus: an off-the-rails Not Worth Your Time. Steve, close your ears. The Agenda: —The Tim Walz pick —Are the Harris-Walz vibes better? —“Kamabla” —Is conservatism alive at the state level? —Markets aren’t fun anymo…

Are Israel and Iran rolling towards a regional war? Can Israel still rely on the United States as an ally? Is the war in Gaza over and did Hamas already win? Adaam is joined by senior Yedioth Ahronoth reporter Nadav Eyal, political commentator and author of The War of Return Einat Wilf, and Advisory Opinions special guest (and New York Times column…

What a difference two weeks make. Jonah, Sarah, Chris Stirewalt, and a beach-bound Megan McArdle discuss whether Kamala Harris’ newly energized and surprisingly disciplined campaign is getting on Trump’s nerves. The agenda: —Kamala basking in the coconut glow —Trump’s onstage interview at the NABJ conference —Gov. Roy Cuppa —Trump’s messy messaging…

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, author of March to the Majority and host of Newt’s World, joins Jamie to debate foreign policy, Donald Trump, the media, and coup d’états. The Agenda: —The preservation of Israel —Going all in on Ukraine —What Never Trumpers miss about Donald Trump —Who is the “establishment” and who is not? —The assassination at…