The Dispatch Podcast

Former U.S. Representative Will Hurd from Texas joins Sarah and Steve to talk about dysfunction in Congress, the January 6 committee, and the centralization of power in Washington. Hurd tells our hosts that there’s no incentive to solve real issues in Congress and we’re incapable of dealing with generation-defining issues because our political system is full of silly issues. Plus, why it’s imperative to teach students how to code. And why, contrary to Republican talking points, January 6 was not an ordinary day. Finally, how the Republican Party can be more competitive with people of color, young people, and suburban women. Show Notes: -Will Hurd’s upcoming book Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The select committee to investigate the January 6 attack held their first hearing on Tuesday, our hosts are here to discuss the substance and politics of what we heard. Plus, the CDC is out with new guidelines recommending vaccinated Americans wear masks indoors in certain parts of the county. Can Jonah contain his anger at the CDC's messaging? And why are opinions on Simone Biles' decision to withdraw from competition a race to the bottom? Show Notes: -The Morning Dispatch recap’s January 6 committee hearing -CDC updated its COVID-19 mask guidance -Simone Biles drops out of Tokyo Olympics team final Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patrick Ruffini, a co-founder of the predictive analytics and research firm Echelon Insights, joins Sarah and Chris to discuss his recent analysis of the American electorate. Ruffini tells our hosts where the ideological center of gravity seems to be and why cultural issues might be driving voter turnout. Chris asks whether a party can adopt a perfect policy position and if party bases tolerate ideological flexibility. Plus, why are moderate Democrats outperforming progressives? And why are educated voters drifting left, but non-educated voters are drifting right? Show Notes: -Echelon Insights Four Quadrants of American Voters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House has announced that it will be flagging misinformation on Facebook in an attempt to diminish vaccine skepticism. But could politicizing this issue even further actually embolden anti-vaxxers? Our hosts consider how we can sway the unvaccinated, and whether the world would be better off without online comment sections. Afterward, Steve introduces a potpourri of topics for Jonah and Sarah to dig into. How concerned should we be about inflation? Do Republicans have any interest in fully uncovering what happened on January 6? And can Biden convince the Democrats to accept a bipartisan infrastructure agreement after promising unity in his inaugural address? The gang concludes by discussing Jeff Bezos’ voyage to outer space, and Jonah considers whether we should build nuclear reactors on the moon. Show Notes: -The Morning Dispatch breaks down Biden’s clash with Big Tech -Jonah’s column: “Biden Shows How Not to Improve Vaccine Rates” -A Forbes article on the myth of vaccine-induced magnetism -TMD explores whether inflation is a threat -Alex Tabarrok discusses inflation on The Remnant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie joins Sarah and Chris Stirewalt to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the Republican Party. They discuss why Republicans should make education a priority issue, why inflation is a liability for Democrats, and why Republicans are doomed if they continue to relitigate the past. Plus, how do Republicans win back the suburbs? Christie argues that suburban voters didn’t abandon Republicans because of issues; they just didn’t like Donald Trump. Finally, are we going to see Chris Christie run for office again? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cuban citizens have taken to the streets to protest the oppressive communist regime, but what can the United States do to help? Should we do anything to help? The gang considers the moral and political implications of United States foreign policy toward Cuba. David notes that vaccine hesitancy is having severe consequences as positive covid cases continue to rise. How should we go about persuading the vaccine-hesitant to get the vaccine? Plus, Texas Democrats have left the state in protest over a new voting bill, and Sarah has some thoughts. Is this bill an example of voter suppression or just over-eagerness from Democrats to have a talking point? Finally, tech companies face legislative threats from the state level. Chris questions the unintended consequences of big-tech bills. Show Notes: -Jonah’s column: “Vaccines Save Lives. Anti-Vax Hysteria Kills.” -Chris’s Article: “Anti-Vaccine Pandering Poses Risk for GOP” -Ramesh Ponnuru’s column on Biden’s response to voting bills: “Biden’s Voting Rights Bluster Recycles Failed Strategy” -CPAC 2024 Straw Poll Results Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this week marked the six-month anniversary of the January 6 attack on the Capitol, but the criminal investigations are only beginning to hit full stride. Scott MacFarlane, a local investigative reporter at NBC4 Washington, who has reported extensively on the aftermath of January 6, joins Sarah and Steve to discuss the status of the ongoing criminal trials. MacFarlane also talks about the increase in threats against members of Congress. Show Notes: -Scott MacFarlane’s twitter account -New York Times’ video investigation into January 6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast, our hosts indulge in a wide-ranging airing of grievances, starting with a reflection on the political salience of the January 6 Capitol insurrection, six months after the fact. The gang then discusses whether Republicans have lost the right to be called the party of ideas and what might be behind the GOP’s current allergy to nuance. Sarah also explores the tension between Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump that cropped up over Trump’s recent Florida rally. Looking ahead to the 2024 elections, Chris argues that most pundits are missing who will be the biggest player, by far, in the contest: President Joe Biden. Lastly, Chris asks whether the abysmal state of election administration in some cases—as revealed by the recent New York City mayoral race—is proof that Democrats' are not taking threats to the American democracy seriously, and whether the failure to do so will make it easier for bad actors to steal elections. Show Notes: -New York Times: Inside the Capitol Riot: An Exclusive Video Investigation -Straw poll showing Ron DeSantis edging out Donald Trump in 2024 -Chris’ column on NYC mayoral race: “Nobody Will Ever Know Who Really Won” -Ezra Klein: California Is Making Liberals Squirm -Associated Press: Trump announces suits against Facebook, Twitter and Google Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Anthony Gonzalez returns to the podcast this week to discuss his re-election campaign against a Trump-endorsed challenger, the House’s new January 6 commission, how Democrats’ narrow majorities in Congress shape their behavior, what’s really on his constituents’ minds, and why embracing Trump’s election lies should be a non-starter for potential GOP candidates in 2024. Show Notes: -Declan’s article on Trump’s recent rally with Gonzalez’s primary opponent -Gonzalez’s previous Dispatch podcast appearance (Jan. 29) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Incompetence strikes again in New York’s mayoral race, a blow to American’s faith in government but not, our hosts argue, fuel for 2020 election fraud claims or a ding on ranked choice voting. The gang then discusses Vice President Kamala Harris’ belated visit to the U.S.-Mexico border. Steve points out that Harris’ clumsy handling of immigration is more than just a messaging failure, and says just as much about the Biden administration’s policy failures. David dives into why governors don’t call up the National Guard more (as South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem did recently for a border mission.) They also tackle an underreported aspect of infrastructure negotiations on the Hill and discuss what divides that drama reveals about the Democratic Party. Lastly, our hosts discuss Bill Barr’s defiance of former President Donald Trump on 2020 election fraud claims and whether the most hardcore Trump supporters qualify as a religion or a cult. Show Notes: -New York Times article about the chaos of the New York mayoral race -Texas Tribune article about Kamala Harris’ visit to the border -A Washington Post article about Kristi Noem’s deploying national guards to the border -Yuval Levin’s article in National Review about how what the media missed in the infrastructure reporting -Jonathan Karl’s story in The Atlantic about Bill Barr’s final days in Trump-era Department of Justice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices