‘Donald Trump Is FDR’ | Interview: Batya Ungar-Sargon

Jamie Weinstein is joined by self-proclaimed “MAGA lefty” Batya Ungar-Sargon to defend Donald Trump's first 100 days as president and explain how a "lefty" can be MAGA. The Agenda:—Batya’s MAGA journey—MAGA Reaganites vs. MAGA lefties—Batya on The Fifth Column—Exporting American exceptionalism—Trump’s first 100 days—Trump’s meme coin—North Korea style worship—“Trump sees a tariff like a Swiss army knife.”—Immigration and due process 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

Host Sarah Isgur and contractually obligated Jonah Goldberg are joined by Dispatch contributor Jesse Singal and Mike Pesca, host of The Gist podcast to discuss the Democratic Party's identity crisis. Also: Singal broke news on The Dispatch about the Trump administration's transgender policy. The Agenda:—The cajun rages on—Sarah is smarter than her son—We all know a David Hogg—The Dems should thank Trump for the 80/20 issues—The Trump administration and transgender health care for kids—2026 Senate map—Ross Douthat worries about the end of humanity 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

On this special livestreamed conversation, Steve Hayes and Sarah Isgur discussed our recent acquisition of SCOTUSblog and chatted with the newest Dispatcher, Amy Howe, about our plans to build out an extended universe of legal coverage and all things Supreme Court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie Weinstein is joined by Josh Barro, author of the Very Serious newsletter and co-host of Serious Trouble, to explain everything wrong with Donald Trump’s tariff regime. The Agenda:—You can’t undo uncertainty—What does Trump really believe about tariffs?—Reinventing trade alliances—Political consequences for a recession—Will America rebound?—America’s debt crisis Show Notes:—Flexport CEO Ryan Peterson on The Dispatch Podcast 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

Sarah Isgur, David French, Steve Hayes, and Jonah Goldberg discuss President Donald Trump’s foreign policy and his staggered attempts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. The Agenda: —Trump says 'STOP!' to Russia —Of course President Zelensky is being difficult in negotiations —Vice President Mike Pence as an influencer and Vice President J.D. Vance as an enabler —MAGA makes money off Russian bots —'NASA is fake and gay' —What is even going on anymore? 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 sociologist Larry Diamond to explain how democracies rise and fall and what history might tell us about Donald Trump’s slouch towards tyranny. The Agenda: —Signs of a democratic crisis —Weaponizing the government —Missing the forest for the trees —Trump 1.0 vs. Trump 2.0 —‘Trump isn’t a fascist, he’s a golfer’ —All the president’s men —When to be concerned Show Notes: —Diamond: The Crisis of Democracy Is Here —Diamond’s Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American Complacency —Judge Wilkinson’s rebuke of Trump admin 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

Sarah Isgur, Michael Warren, Jonah Goldberg, and Steve Hayes discuss political capital when it comes to re-election prospects and reversing presidential decisions. Will public perception influence Trump’s next moves? The Agenda: —Flash back to the George W. Bush administration —The Trump show —Stop tariffs via courts? Or let Trump sleep in his own bed? —Congress sucks! —Sarah asks a really good question —Bond market woes —Iran ‘to be great,’ but without nuclear powers —We can’t call war crimes ‘war crimes’ because it will offend Russia —Policies and regime change —Reporter braves flirting assignment Show Notes: —Scott Lincicome on Wall Street and Main Street 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

Ryan Peterson, CEO of Flexport, a platform for global logistics, joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss the effects of President Trump’s tariffs and how companies are being swallowed by the trade wars. The Agenda: —Understanding the executive orders —Businesses are devastated by losses —How brands like Walmart are coping —Dealmaking with China —What is the end game? —Invasion of Taiwan and likely trade scenarios —Update on Houthi attacks —Advising President Trump 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

Sarah Isgur, David French, and Jonah Goldberg discuss the sad state of the three branches of government and the wild, wild world of tariffs. The Agenda: —Judicial branch wins for the week —Congress does nothing —The youths yearn for the assembly line —Free trade is good —Abusing emergency powers —Trump's comments on Chris Krebs —Throw cheese slices at your kid? Show Notes: —Our editorial: Slouching Towards Tyranny —Thursday morning's TMD on the budget battle —For premium members: Dispatch Town Hall 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

GOP Sen. Tom Cotton joins Jamie Weinstein to discuss his news book, Seven Things You Can't Say About China, as well as the looming military threats against Taiwan and the Republican Party’s divided foreign policy views. The Agenda: —Tariff trouble —The China threat is more severe than most Americans realize —Taiwan’s defense spending needs to increase significantly —The foreign-policy divide within the GOP —China’s influence in global trade 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