The Dispatch Podcast

As a policy centrist but social liberal, I’m a big fan of The Dispatch and Sarah Isgur in general. While her opinions can definitely grind my gears at times, it’s great to hear view points that I can often relate to, even if it’s not always in the same context. That being said, I also have great appreciation for the work that everyone else puts into this show. I would, however, not be a listener, had I not been an avid fan of Left, Right, and Center. Whether you’re conservative or liberal, it’s always good to hear various viewpoints so you can be well informed. Give this podcast a shot - even if you don’t agree with everything, you can come to appreciate the common ground. Shows like this make me miss the days where we could talk about politics (and I’m only 33).

I’ve followed The Dispatch since its inception. I’m left of center, but really appreciate hearing faithful conservative viewpoints because they’re built on core values and integrity. As Jonah likes to say, this country needs a brake pedal and a gas pedal and conservatives bring the brakes. So why the 3-star rating? Simply because the commitment to integrity has faltered and has ceded way to false equivalencies between the parties. I can’t say for sure when the change happened, but I do suspect hiring Sarah has played a major role along with David French leaving. It’s to the point where I just always know what Sarah is going to say because it’s just what the right-wing eco sphere says. Sometimes there’s no light between Sarah and Trump, like trying to pin a big chunk of the J6 blame on Nancy Pelosi. She then defends Vance’s comments about the cats as if he’s shining a light on an important issue. Screw that, I live near Springfield and the only thing Vance is accomplishing is driving MAGA to hate crimes and violence, hence the bomb threats in Springfield. This doesn’t help local officials solve any problems, which is why DeWine has had to push back on the hateful rhetoric. Ceding integrity is likely why the remaining G File crowd are just purely right-wing ecosystem folks with bad and boring takes. The team needs to remember why they founded The Dispatch and get back to standing up for rule of law and integrity as paramount over policy differences. This isn’t hard people, just say when given the choice between a candidate on the other side of the aisle vs. one with zero integrity and zero respect for our constitution, we choose the one on the other side of the aisle. I miss David, peace.

I first listened to this show a year or so ago because David French and Jonah Goldberg are on it (French appears from time to time). As we approach the 2024 election, I’ve grown frustrated with this podcast. They are clearly anti-Trump, which is fine, and they are conservative (also fine). What’s frustrating is that they spend so much time talking about theoretical conservatism at the expense of practicality while ignoring the world in which we live. They’ve clearly grown bored making the same statements about Trump, so they’ve moved toward picking apart Harris despite some tepid support for her and recognizing the threat Trump is to democracy. I have no issue with their criticisms of Harris’ policies, but they aren’t contrasting them with Trump’s, so their criticisms lack context. They ultimately come across as being attendees at a gang fight where they stand in a side alley making comments about the gangs’ weapons of choice, outfits, and fighting styles. If you want discussions about philosophical conservatism, this is your podcast. If you want discussions about politics from a Never-Trump perspective that has a point of view and knows what side it’s on, I might suggest the Bulwark.

The podcast speaks for itself as a thinking person’s news commentary. But I would still listen to the end just for the closer music, which is the perfect mix of rough-and-tumble big drums, combined with thoughtful or plaintive violins, and - the best part - this unusual and unsettling sound (what is that thing - scraping a pencil against a coffee can? I love it) that finishes things out, which perfectly characterizes the complexity of the issues of the day. Please keep up the good work. I also would love to know who did the music.

As a 40-something, fiscally conservative, socially centrist female who found a “home” at The Dispatch, I have to respectfully request that you never-ever-ever-ever again invite Megan McArdle on as a guest. Her most recent commentary on the private healthcare insurance system in the US was so tone-deaf and elitist, that it made me want to immediately unsubscribe. Instead, I chose to listen to the entirety of the discussion, and came away with a deep sense of disappointment at her lack of perspective and personal commentary that wreaked of privilege. I grew up in, and now raise a family in a very upper-middle-class environment. Our monthly healthcare premiums are more than our mortgage, and it’s completely unaffordable to even use this “coverage.” Back in the early 2000’s while I was in college, I was hit by an elderly, uninsured driver and left with thousands of dollars in medical debt and saddled with a corresponding credit score. Our system is broken. We CAN do better, and Megan’s analysis is gross, and at best, wholly uninformed.

This podcast has increased in self indulgent stories, language crutches, and lacks the rigor long time listeners came to expect. Sarah’s use of “how dare you” is used so much, it’s lost meaning. Jonah thinks inside jokes and stories are “a fun conversation”, but it’s only fun for him. Steve hasn’t had a new opinion in two years, and reminds us every time he talks. Time to change it up yall, if that’s even possible for you.