The Dispatch Podcast

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings have wrapped, and our hosts are here to break down the week on Capitol Hill. Jonah, David, and Andrew then turn to the latest developments in the war in Ukraine. Plus, what do the guys make of those Ginni Thomas texts to Mark Meadows? Or Trump dropping his endorsement of Mo Brooks in the Alabama Senate race? Show Notes:-TMD: “Biden, World Leaders Huddle on Russia”-The Dispatch: “Inside the First Ukrainian City to Fall to Russia”-Washington Post: “Virginia Thomas urged White House chief to pursue unrelenting efforts to overturn the 2020 election, texts show” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve talks with Taras Byk, a political consultant now working with the Territorial Defense Forces in Kyiv, to get a sense of what’s happening on the ground in Ukraine. What’s changed since the last time they talked? Steve then has a conversation with Tom Karako, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Why has Russia not been able to establish air superiority? What do we need to know about those hypersonic missiles that Russia launched? Tom has those answers and more. Show Notes:-The Dispatch: “Just How Many Russian Soldiers Have Died in Ukraine?”-French Press: “Questions and Answers After One Month of War”-New York Times: “How Ukraine’s Outgunned Air Force Is Fighting Back Against Russian Jets”-CSIS report: “Complex Air Defense: Countering the Hypersonic Missile Threat”-Bayraktar song Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices