The Shock Factor | Interview: Joe Scarborough

Jonah Goldberg is joined by Gil Guerra, Kevin Williamson, and Megan McArdle to discuss the nationwide blackouts in Cuba and whether the country will be next in Trump’s crosshairs.The Agenda:—The state of play in Cuba—History of the blackouts—A Russian tanker arrives—How much does Cuba matter to the U.S.?—The case for regime case—The left’s fascination with Cuba—How would the right react?—NWYT: Melania and the educational AI robotDispatch Recommendations:—Meet the Has-Beens, Never-Weres, and Felon Locked in a Trumpy Primary—The Era of Cookbooks Is Not Over—Our Almost-Promised Land—The Institutional Rot of the Right’s Youth PoliticsShow Notes:—Will Cuba Be the Next to Fall? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Mike Warren, and Mike Nelson to measure the strategic success of the war in Iran so far and discuss the diverging war aims between U.S. and Israel.The Agenda:—Is Iran winning the war?—Trump's shifting rhetoric—Trump's daily video montage briefing—U.S. and Israel's diverging war aims—Bad timing for a shutdown fight—NWYT: The America First awardDispatch Recommendations:—Media’s New Ethical Dilemma: Polymarket and Kalshi—The Gorilla Channel—Meet the Has-Beens, Never-Weres, and Felon Locked in a Trumpy Primary—Will Cuba Be the Next to Fall?Show Notes:—G-File: Two Trump Administrations—Audrey Fahlberg's reporting on Joe Kent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Hayes is joined by David Drucker, Mike Warren, and Jonathan Martin, Politico's politics bureau chief, to discuss the upcoming midterm elections and the Democrats' ongoing identity crisis.The Agenda:—The Trump effect on 2026 midterms—Partisan redistricting efforts—Scandals in state primaries—Democratic identity crisis—The GOP after 2028—NWYT: Meals with sourcesShow Notes:—On the Road with Jonathan Martin 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 access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle, and David French to discuss the growth of prediction markets and the differing goals that Israel and the U.S. may have in the war with Iran.The Agenda:—The harms of sports betting—Fantasy football podcasts and gambling—Monetizing insider trading—How does gambling affect sports?—The libertarian argument regarding addiction—Mismatched aims for the war in Iran—Tension between the U.S. and Israel—NWYT: Can a vegan candidate win in Texas? 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 access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Warren and Dispatch contributors Mike Nelson, a retired Army Special Forces officer and a member of the Atlantic Council's Counterterrorism Project, and Tim Mak, founder of the Counteroffensive and Iran War Dispatches. The Agenda:—Latest updates out of Iran—On-the-ground reporting during war—Internet blackout in Iran—Obama's policy toward Iran—Drone warfare—The Ukraine-Russia war—American support for war—NWYT: A spicy salsa lawsuit Show Notes:—Danielle Pletka: "No we're not losing to Iran." 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 access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠by clicking here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This roundtable was recorded in Dallas, Texas, on March 11, 2026, at our Dispatch Energy event.Steve Hayes sits down with Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Alex Trembath, the executive director of the Breakthrough Institute and contributor to the Dispatch Energy newsletter, to discuss the war in Iran’s effect on oil markets and what Ronald Reagan got right about energy 50 years ago.The Agenda:—Military success vs. policy success—U.S. energy independence—Prolonged oil disruption—Ronald Reagan's 1974 address—The end of the climate hawks—2026 and beyondShow Notes:—Alex’s latest for Dispatch Energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Hayes is joined by Kevin Williamson, Mike Warren, and James Sutton to discuss the latest on Iran and how the domestic costs of war could affect the upcoming midterms.The Agenda:—What is “unconditional surrender”?—Rising oil prices—Public support for war—MAGA media’s reaction—J.D. Vance’s isolationism—Young Republican’s reaction— NWYT: McDonald's CEO's burger scandalShow Notes:—Paul Miller on the war with Iran—Tanner Greer's essay on Iraq 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 access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠by clicking here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg and Dispatch contributors Mike Nelson and David French to discuss the administration's military campaign in Iran one week in, the administration's weak public messaging, and where we can expect to be five weeks from now. The Agenda:—Why and why now?—Tactical successes so far—Implications of regime change—Trump's personal ambitions—Will China get involved?—Five weeks from now 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 access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠by clicking here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Hayes is joined by The Atlantic's Elaine Godfrey, Kevin Williamson, Mike Warren, and David Drucker to discuss today’s U.S. Senate primary elections in Texas, as well as both Kevin and Elaine's on-the-ground reporting leading up to the heated contests.The Agenda:—Texas Democratic primary—‘Elaine From Atlantic … She Needs to Leave’—Texas Republican primary—The Trump endorsement—The impact of identity politics—Trump's impact on the midterms—NWYT: Regional chains Show Notes:—Listen to Kevin Williamson read his article here. 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 access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠by clicking here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a live Dispatch Podcast, Steve Hayes and Michael Warren were joined by Dispatch contributing writer and retired Army Special Forces officer Mike Nelson as well as Atlantic staff writer Graeme Wood to break down the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against the Iranian regime and explain what might come next. Watch the livestreamed converation on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/live/PmkW7QDgpDs?si=cd-LNKvv6YctKOG6Show Notes:—Graeme Wood: An Iranian Network Is Ready to Act—Mike Nelson: There’s a Case for Striking Iran. President Trump Needs to Make It. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices