Why America Needs to Win the AI War | Interview: Megan McArdle

David Frum joins Jamie Weinstein to break down Trump’s Iran strikes, the brewing civil war within MAGA over foreign policy, and the winners (and losers) of the tariff war. The Agenda:—The state of the Trump administration—Analyzing the Iran strikes—MAGA’s foreign policy split—Immigration policy—J.D. Vance and opportunism—What’s going on with the Democratic Party? 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 regular livestreams—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a growing fog over what exactly American forces accomplished in Iran on Saturday—and whether regime change is still on the table. Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg and Mike Warren to discuss the intelligence-gathering process and why Iran is just not the same as Iraq, as well as New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary. Will Mamdani’s victory be good news for the Trump administration and for Florida’s real estate market? The Agenda:—Iran, Saturday to today—Intelligence, national security, and institutional trust—Vietnam Syndrome turned Iraq Syndrome—Where the wind might be blowing on Iran’s regime change—Why NYC’s mayoral race might be good for Florida real estate—Campaign advice—Summer sips and the speculative history of Orange Crush Show notes:—Mike Warren for The Dispatch: “What the Iran Strike Reveals About MAGA’s Future”—Jeffrey Goldberg on The Remnant—Kevin Williamson for The Dispatch: “Yes to Regime Change in Iran”—Jeremiah Johnson for The Dispatch: “Mamdani's Big Apple Upset” 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 regular livestreams—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie Weinstein is joined by Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to discuss her new book, Far from Home: An Alaskan Senator Faces the Extreme Climate of Washington, D.C., as well as Congress’ role in the Iran-Israel conflict. The Agenda:—Lessons learned from Congress—Congressional approval and conflict with Iran—Should the U.S. support regime change?—Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill—Political retribution from President Trump—January 6: ‘You cannot unsee what we saw.’—Age limits in Congress—Optimism for democracy Scheduling Note: This episode’s publication was moved up due to the news value of the conversation. The Dispatch Podcast with Jamie Weinstein will return on Monday, June 30. 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 regular livestreams—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton joins Steve Hayes to react to the United States’ attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend and outline what he wants to see next from the Trump administration. Then, Steve is joined by Kevin Williamson, Charlotte Lawson, and retired Army Special Forces officer Mike Nelson to discuss Israel’s role and how Iran might retaliate. The Agenda:—Bolton on what regime change looks like—Should we send boots on the ground?—Vice President J.D. Vance on no regime change—Iran’s technology in the conflict—Making a face-saving deal—Alliance of malfeasance Show Notes:—TMD's reporting on the strikes—Mike Nelson's piece for The Dispatch defending the strikes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it time to take out Iran’s Fordow nuclear site? As pundits gaze through their crystal balls attempting to determine what President Trump will do next, Trump administration officials are fighting over the United States’ direct involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict. Sarah Isgur, Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, and John McCormack analyze the many factions of MAGA and the future of Iran. The Agenda:—Israel and Iran: what’s next?—Tulsi Gabbard trying to be relevant—The cult of Trumpism—We’re against political violence Show Notes:—Jonathan Ruhe’s piece for The Dispatch—Jonah’s Remnant with Ken Pollack 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 regular livestreams—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adaam James Levin-Areddy is joined by Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal to explain Israel’s surprise attack on Iran and its effect on the future of the region. The Agenda:—Degrading Iran’s nuclear capability—Regime change in Iran—America’s role—5-D chess from Trump?—How the ayatollah sees the world—The failure of Islamic republics—The Axis of Terror’s miscalculation—Ballistic missiles vs. cruise missiles 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 regular livestreams—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Hayes, Sarah Isgur, David French, and Jonah Goldberg break down what counts as an “insurrection” after the L.A. riots—and why the chaos might be hurting Trump in the optics war. The Agenda:—Unrest in Los Angeles—In defense of norms—What is an insurrection?—Polling on Los Angeles unrest—"Worse the better"—Tulsi Gabbard's strange nuke video—SANE / FREEZE part two—NWYT: Child rot summer Show Notes:—Jonah Goldberg on Trump and carnage —Weekly Standard piece on immigration 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 regular livestreams—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss his experience advising former President Joe Biden, the challenges facing the Democratic Party, and where political messaging fails. The Agenda:—How bad was Joe Biden’s mental decline?—Strategy for the Democratic Party—The immigration debate and its impact on voters—Reaching out to the working class Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Hayes hosted today’s roundtable, joined by Jonah Goldberg, Michael Warren, and Megan McArdle to discuss the disturbing attack against anti-Hamas protesters in Boulder, Colorado, and the horrific rise in antisemitic violence. Plus: Is the “woke right” a thing? The Agenda:—The recent slew of antisemitic attacks—Violence within the pro-Palestinian movement—The house is on fire and Rod Dreher is in the foyer—Young people are entertaining taboos—Jonah's brush with antisemitism and the Trump movement in 2016—Tucker Carlson as lightning rod for the woke right—Youthful idiocy—Mike’s trips to the liquor store near the office 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 regular livestreams—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Megan McArdle joins Jamie Weinstein to react to the first few months of Donald Trump’s presidency and to explain why America needs to win the AI race. The Agenda:—Liberation Day: “It was shambolic”—Trump’s shadow Cabinet—What DOGE got right (and wrong)—Elon Musk: A “managerial mad genius?”—Paul Ryan vindicated again—How to adapt to an AI world—Calm before the AI storm 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 regular livestreams—⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices