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On today’s episode, Jonah hijacks hosting duties from Sarah to have a conversation with Steve ...

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On today’s episode, Jonah hijacks hosting duties from Sarah to have a conversation with Steve as The Dispatch celebrates its second anniversary. How did we get here? What is the state of the company? And where are we going?

Show Notes:

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  1. Jared

    Very delayed in commenting...but in case this actually gets read...just want to share my appreciation for the transparency that was discussed. Providing some insight into the business side absolutely makes me feel more connected as a Member. And I hope you continue to do this!

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  2. Sally Tilden

    Steve, Loved your discussion with the retired Congressmen. Please consider having a similar discussion on your live video sessions. (Haven't had one for a while) . Would love the opinions of the rest of the team on the issues raised. Second comment: I would be interested in knowing The Dispatch team assessment of Dan Crenshaw. Is he just a congressman out for himself or more than that? I would love a hard hitting interview of him.

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  3. Joel Turvey

    Congratulations on two years! Thanks for taking the risk. I would say no video--I'm with Jonah--unless it is a once a month thing. The podcasts are great for listening while one walks or does chores around the house. The Dispatch Live once a month might be good. Please, no summary newsletter by Steve or blog--you don't want to stretch yourself too thin, and we readers have enough to get through now. Thanks for providing a thoughtful alternative take on the usually outrage machine that is the MSM. I wish you continued success and plan to renew my subscription.

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    Jonathan M

    I think Jonah raised three good points that should continue to characterize the spirit of the Dispatch: risk, adventure, and standing in the gap.

    Risk- like you all mentioned, it was a huge risk to start the publication. Some risks are more worth taking than others, but I think we live in a society where risk is all too often avoided at all cost. I’d argue you can’t live a good story without some risk involved, so I commend you and hope that this will continue to be a guiding principle.

    Adventure- I am pleased to hear that this experience has felt like an adventure to you all. It comes out in your work and the more that shines through, the more excited people will be about the product. People don’t only want solid news, they want to be taken to a destination, to feel like they’re a part of the experience. The more of an adventure you continue to make that experience, the more the publication will grow.

    Standing in the gap- I think is the characteristic I most love about you all. It’s clear that you’re willing to seek truth and speak hard facts in spaces often diminished by rumor, ulterior motives, and a lack of integrity. There are few news sources, if any, that I trust more, and I think it’s because of this commitment to making tough choices.

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  5. Jason Runyan

    This was so nice to hear. I hope to one day be able to attend a Dispatch Live event, that would be neat. As if now, sometimes I feel like I'm in some type of gang. Like I'll be in a discussion with another conservative, I'll start hearing finger snapping ala West Side Story, or bottles clanking together ala The Warriors, and I'll learn I'm speaking with a talk radio / Trumpublican, or a Federalist or National Review, or a Trump owned ACU robot, and I'll have to flash some type of gang sign and say "The Dispatch Yo! Represent!" then flip out my comb switchblade. It's a crazy world out there, nice to know of the world of agreeable people in The Dispatch community. Glad to be in it.

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    The Bell Tower

    News for grown ups is the easiest way I can describe the value I get from The Dispatch. I came here for Jonah but I stick around because I know that I will get the proper context around the barrage of noise I consume on a daily basis. There is almost nowhere else to get measured, thoughtful, accurate and agenda-free analysis.

    I get the conservative label but I would have no problem reading center or left takes here if the editorial staff trusted the product. In fact, I would even prefer such a format because it is just as hard (if not even harder) to find thoughtful analysis from the left.

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  7. Brendan Bossard

    I listened and enjoyed this celebration. You have done well. I subscribed because it is the only place that I have found where I can participate in constructive dialog about important news. I secondarily enjoy the articles, columns, and podcasts without clickbait. This is waaaaaay worth the money.

    I agree with Jonah that a "warm take" team blog can be a fun contribution. Hot takes would not interest me. I have come to dislike them. I also like the idea to produce instructive recordings.

    P.S. if you all decide to write a book to tell your story for good or ill, I will purchase it. It would be a worthy read.

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    1. Brendan Bossard

      Another thought: would you consider an annual members-only writing contest? You never know who you will discover.

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      1. Katharine Birkett

        They do let you pitch stories . . . saw that on their About Us or some such page . . .

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        1. Brendan Bossard

          True. I saw that too. I was thinking more along the lines of a "best of" thing. Members could even vote. Sometimes people just need encouragement to take action.

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  8. amel

    My main takeaway from this is I'd like more content directly from Steve. Please use future resources to take administrative work away from him so he can produce something of his own (newsletter, podcast, etc)

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    Mitch

    Y'all (or more correctly for my region, yinz all) are a godsend. I'm a man, in a family, with friends, all without a party, and it was so refreshing to hear folks right of center, and way better articulated than me, pulling their hair out over the bat-guano shenanigans of the Trump administration.

    I think I know who sent me a link to the Dispatch, and I'm forever grateful to him. I was (quite literally) losing my mind when I had covid in March 2020, while half my online crowd was calling it a hoax, and the orange guy was saying "anyone who wants a test can get a test" as I was on the phone with the state health department finding out the hard way that, nope, unless I just got off the same plane that Indy jumped out of in temple of doom, ain't no test for me.

    So thanks. You help me stay sane.

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    Ben Connelly

    Congratulations on 2 years. In the last year, you have become my number one source for (political) news and commentary. I don’t know where I would go without you. In my humble opinion, you’re one of the finest media publications on the internet. You have help keep me anchored - in this Trumpy era I have found a home in the Remnant.

    The Dispatch has proven that the clickbait model is waning and that doubling down on quality can pay off. Your example is heartening to me and I believe strongly in what you are doing. There is so much more I can say, but I’ll leave it at a simple thank you. I speak for myself, but I’m sure many subscribers would agree: thank you for what you are doing and please keep it up!

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