The Dispatch Podcast

Pressure Mounts Against the Trump Administration

Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Warren, David Drucker, and Mike Nelson to discuss the latest on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz blockade, and how it is affecting Trump's popularity. The Agenda: —U.S.-Iran negotiations [https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/wanderland/cocaine-thinking-trump-wishful-iran/] —WSJ reporting on Trump's "public bravado" [https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-public-bravado-private-fear-59814dca] —U.S. forces seize Iranian ship [https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c3w30l6qz49o] —The downstream political costs of war —Netanyahu faces domestic pressure —Challenges of modern information environment —Most absurd stories of the week The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Dispatch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://thedispatch.com], 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 [http://thedispatch.com/join]. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠by clicking here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thedispatch.com/join-premium/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Can the U.S. Tax Code Be Simplified?

Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Warren, Scott Lincicome, and Megan McArdle to discuss our overly complicated tax code and our launch of Dispatch Markets, featuring Scott's latest newsletter [https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/dispatch-markets/tax-code-complexity-costs-billions/]. Steve, Megan, and Mike then discuss New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax [https://x.com/NYCMayor/status/2044508902809628760?s=20] and how the democratic socialist mayor has governed so far. The Agenda: —Donald Rumsfeld's tax letter [https://x.com/scottlincicome/status/2044397829339423162?s=20] —The cost of tax compliance —Political will for tax reform —Personal vs. corporate tax complexity —Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax —Economic policy in New York —NWYT: J.D. Vance's small crowd [https://x.com/daviddunn177/status/2044477771175313618?s=20] Dispatch Recommendations: —Trump Retribution Campaign Threatens to Unravel Indiana GOP [https://thedispatch.com/article/indiana-senate-primary-trump-redistricting-retribution/] —Is Private Credit in Trouble? [https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/morning/is-private-credit-in-trouble/] —The Decline and Fall of Orbánism [https://thedispatch.com/article/hungary-elections-orban-america-new-right/] Show notes: —Megan's podcast Reasonably Optimistic [https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/impromptu/im-not-antitax-but-this-one-should-go/]⁠ [https://thedispatch.com/article/hungary-elections-orban-america-new-right/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Trump Launches a Blockade of Iranian Ports

Steve Hayes is joined by Mike Warren, Mike Nelson, and Michael Sobolik to discuss the failed negotiations with Iran, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's defeat at the polls. The Agenda: —What we know about the negotiations —How to enforce a blockade —The risk to U.S. troops —The view from China —J.D. Vance as negotiator —Why Taiwan’s defense budget matters —Viktor Orbán’s big loss —NWYT: Trump vs. the pope Dispatch Recommendations: —Trump’s NATO Threats Highlight Deeper Structural Tension [https://thedispatch.com/article/trumps-nato-threats-highlight-deeper-structural-tension/] —Trans Issues Are No Conspiracy [https://thedispatch.com/article/trans-issues-activists-gay-marriage/] —Identity Politics Is a Problem for Conservative Christians Too [https://thedispatch.com/article/christian-nationalism-identity-politics-christianity-maga/] —A Peaceful Uneasy Feeling [https://thedispatch.com/article/trump-threats-ceasefire-iran-leverage/] —Pope Leo’s Case Against the Iran War Is Not Political [https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/dispatch-faith/pope-leoxiv-catholicism-iran-war/] —Come Sail Away With Me (in Sheboygan, Wisconsin) [https://thedispatch.com/article/come-sail-away-sheboygan-malibu/] —Orbán’s 16-Year Reign Ends [https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/morning/orbans-16-year-reign-ends/] Show Notes: —Chaos Under Heaven: Trump, Xi, and the Battle for the Twenty-First Century [https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780358393245] —Trump post appearing to depict him as Jesus removed amid backlash [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/13/trump-jesus-religious-conservatives/] The Dispatch Podcast is a production of The Dispatch [http://thedispatch.com], 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 [http://thedispatch.com/join]. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here [https://thedispatch.com/join-premium/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Presidents vs. the Supreme Court

Steve Hayes is joined by Sarah Isgur, Michael Warren, and Kevin Williamson to discuss Sarah’s new book, Last Branch Standing; the history of partisan attacks on the Supreme Court; and the state of the two-week ceasefire with Iran. The Agenda: —Trump's attacks on the Supreme Court —Public perception of the court —Sarah's writing process —Ambiguity in the ceasefire —Strait of Hormuz tolls —NWYT: The Masters tournament menu Dispatch Recommendations —Schrödinger’s Ceasefire [https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/iran-ceasefire-deal-taco-hormuz/] —Ossining, New York, in the ‘Unwoke’ 1950s [https://thedispatch.com/article/ossining-new-york-1950s-nostalgia-race/] —SCOTUStoday: Sotomayor criticizes Kavanaugh [https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/04/scotustoday-for-thursday-april-9/] —A Peaceful Uneasy Feeling [https://thedispatch.com/article/trump-threats-ceasefire-iran-leverage/] Order Sarah’s book here. [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/776620/last-branch-standing-by-sarah-isgur/] The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Dispatch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://thedispatch.com], 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 [http://thedispatch.com/join]. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠by clicking here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thedispatch.com/join-premium/]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Department of Justice After Pam Bondi

Sarah Isgur is joined by Mike Warren, Kevin Williamson, and David Drucker to discuss the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi [https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/pam-bondi-pete-hegseth-trump-firing/] and the White House's proposed 2027 fiscal budget [https://www.axios.com/2026/04/03/trump-2027-new-budget-proposal-cuts]. The Agenda: —Pam Bondi's DOJ [https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/pam-bondi-pete-hegseth-trump-firing/] —The future of the DOJ —Fallout from the Epstein files —Trump's proposed 2027 budget —Trump's midterm messaging —NWYT: TMZ's political coverage Dispatch Recommendations —Marriage Got Better—So Why Is It Disappearing? [https://thedispatch.com/article/marriage-rates-socioeconomics-men-trailing/] —Welcome to the Party, Christmas and Easter Christians [https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/dispatch-faith/christianity-easter/] —What the No Kings Protests and Tea Parties Have in Common [https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/gfile/no-kings-protests-tea-parties-bothsidesism/] —The Last Conservatives [https://thedispatch.com/article/the-last-conservatives-supreme-court/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]