Appointing Toadies | Interview: Andy McCarthy

Jamie Weinstein is joined by David Petraeus—retired Army general, former CIA director, and author of Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine—to break down the latest out of Syria and weigh in on the unexplained drone situation in New Jersey. The Agenda: —Syria and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham —Striking Iranian nuclear sites —Israel and Gaza —Humanitarian crisis in Gaza —The Taiwan strait —Threat of nuclear escalation —U.S. military involvement in Mexico —The New Jersey drones —The JFK files 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Isgur, Jonah Goldberg, and Steve Hayes discuss the latest potential government shutdown and whether we are about to enter an Elon Musk co-presidency. The Agenda: —Co-president Musk's fight against a debt deal —Trump's presidential honeymoon —Who gets blamed for a shutdown? —Should conservatives be excited about DOGE? —TikTok's divestment —Is this a moral panic? —Bret Stephens: "Done With Never Trump" —NWYT: Modern Christmas music and Grinch remakes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie Weinstein is joined by author and Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin to give context to the Assad regime’s fall and explain what’s next for the Syrian people. The Agenda: —Fall of Assad’s regime —The refugee crisis —Syria’s new government —Christians in Syria —Israeli relations —Is there a famine in Gaza? —Taiwan and China 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does the praise of Luigi Mangione—the alleged assassin of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson—say anything profound about Americans? Sarah Isgur, Jonah Goldberg, Steve Hayes, and Megan McArdle discuss. The Agenda: —Against 'But …' —The acquittal of Daniel Penny —Did Mangione get what he wanted? —The lamest duck —Age limits? —The Great De-Wokening —Syria and Iran —NWYT: How journalism works —Flagship debate 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie is joined by Jonathan Spyer—director of research at the Middle East Forum and writer for the Jerusalem Post—to explain the insurgency in Syria. The Agenda: —Syria post-ISIS —The fall of Assad’s regime? —Lessons from Israel and Gaza —Syrian Kurds —Turkey’s interests in Syria —Proxy War or Local Uprising? —What should happen next? 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah is joined by Steve and Jonah to discuss the developments in Syria and South Korea, President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, and what the “Deep State” really is. The Agenda: —Syrian Civil War —South Korea —The populism moment —The Hunter pardon —Preemptive pardons —Sarah and Steve’s Air Force Two stories —What is the “Deep State”? —NWYT: Real or fake Christmas trees? 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Mazza, a senior fellow at the Global Taiwan Institute, joins Jamie to discuss the United States’ relationship with Taiwan relationship and what to do if China invades. The Agenda: —Responding to Lyle Goldstein's argument —China’s military capabilities —Consequences of Taiwan falling —Taiwan’s chipmaking capabilities —Nuclear war 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie is joined by Lyle Goldstein—director of the China Initiative at Brown University and the director of Asia Engagement at Defense Priorities—to discuss Goldstein’s case against American engagement in Taiwan. The Agenda: —Potential Chinese invasion scenarios —Democracy vs. realism —Red lines in the Pacific —Strategic ambiguity —China’s military capability —World War II —Moral considerations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Isgur, Steve Hayes, and Chris Stirewalt revisit the election results and what they could mean for the future of American politics before examining the impact of Trump’s most recent cabinet appointments. The Agenda: —Permanent majority? —The Republican mandate —Failing to constrain Trump —Cabinet of allegations —Gaetz, Thune, and McConnell —How the media lost this election —Social media’s role in the election —Rise of misinformation —RFK Jr. and his track record Show Notes: —Sarah’s tweet —Horse in the hospital —Broken News —Georgetown Battleground Civility Poll —RFK Jr. on Joe Rogan 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

National Review’s Andy McCarthy joins Jamie to defend his vote for Trump, discuss what we considers to be the weaponization of the Justice Department, and debate the implications of Rep. Matt Gaetz’s nomination as attorney general. Buckle in folks, we’re just getting started. The Agenda: —A binary choice —Will Gaetz be confirmed? —Investigating January 6 —Pete Hegseth and the large bureaucracy of the Pentagon —The president’s power to pardon raises legal questions —Rudy Giuliani’s decline Show Notes: —Andy McCarthy's previous appearance on The Remnant 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 members-only newsletters, bonus podcast episodes, and weekly livestreams—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices