I'm Sorry, That's Classified
Former CIA officer David Priess joins the group to consider Trump's secrets squirreled away in Mar-a-Lago, the "woke" FBI, the Democrats' prospects in the midterms, and much more. And Cathy Young sits in for Linda Chavez. Highlights/Lowlights: Mona's: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-american-academy-of-pediatrics-dubious-transgender-science-jack-turban-research-social-contagion-gender-dyspho...
57m Aug 19, 2022
57m
GOP vs. Rule of Law (with Ted Nordhaus)
Ted Nordhaus of the Breakthrough Institute answers doubts about nuclear energy. And the panel (including Walter Olson) then turns to the FBI's Mar-a-Lago search warrant and the GOP meltdown. Also, Biden had a good week. Will it matter? Highlights & Lowlights Mona: The Shovel’s view on the Donald Trump FBI raid - The Shovel (https://www.theshovel.com.au/2022/08/10/the-shovels-view-on-the-fbis-ra...
57m Aug 12, 2022
57m
Kansas Shocker (with A.B. Stoddard)
A.B. Stoddard helps analyze this week's primary election results and also tackles the 2024 question: If not Biden, who? Highlights & Lowlights: Linda: The Jan. 6 Committee’s Findings Have Met the Appropriately High Bar for Prosecuting Trump - The UnPopulist (https://theunpopulist.substack.com/p/the-jan-6-committees-findings-have?utm_source=email) Damon: The Violent Fantasies of Blake Masters - ...
54m Aug 05, 2022
54m
Indict Them All? (with Nicholas Grossman)
Arc Digital's Nicholas Grossman joins the Beg to Differ panel to debate prosecuting Trump, and to weigh the impact of the GOP's crazy candidates. In the lightning round, we cover the Manchin deal, the Respect for Marriage Act, Brittney Griner, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1hr 8m Jul 29, 2022
1hr 8m
Did the January 6 Committee Make a Difference? (with Tom Nichols)
Tom Nichols joins the group (plus Jon Ward) to discuss the committee's work, the polls on Trump's standing in the GOP, the Secret Service, Ukraine, Democrats boosting Trumpy candidates, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
56m Jul 22, 2022
56m
A Patchwork Nation on Abortion (with Frances Kissling)
After a multi-decade project to reverse Roe, the two biggest issues right now are interstate travel and pregnancy-terminating pills. Guest host Will Saletan, guest Frances Kissling, and the panel address abortion access and the politics of it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
51m Jul 15, 2022
51m
Can Democrats do Politics? (with Ruy Teixeira)
Ruy Teixeira joins Beg to Differ to consider abortion, guns, crime, and other issues on which Democrats can't seem to find the sweet spot. Also, is there any chance for a moderate party? Highlights & Lowlights Linda: How Unlikely Is It That the Audits of Comey and McCabe Were a Coincidence? A Statistical Exploration. - New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/07/upshot/comey-mccabe-tax-a...
1hr 7m Jul 08, 2022
1hr 7m
The End of Roe and Trump's Pathology (with Peter Wehner & Ted Johnson)
The Atlantic's Peter Wehner joins the group (plus Ted Johnson) to discuss the reasoning and implications of the Dobbs decision. The panel then considers the ​impact of ​Cassidy Hutchinson and other testimony. ​Air going out of the Trump balloon? Highlights & Lowlights: Mona: Baltimore Police interns could help ease recruitment woes, improve community relations as pilot program launches - The Wa...
53m Jul 01, 2022
53m
“Wintry realism.” (with David Frum)
The Atlantic’s David Frum joins the group to discuss the January 6 committee’s purpose and the prospects for a non-Trump in 2024. Plus, guns, the gas tax holiday, Uvalde, and Biden’s trip Saudi Arabia. Highlights & Lowlights: Mona: Prosecute Trump? Put Yourself in Merrick Garland’s Shoes. (New York Times) - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/20/opinion/trump-merrick-garland-january-6-committee.htm...
58m Jun 24, 2022
58m
Republicans are Dangerous; Democrats are Ineffectual (with Charlie Sykes)
Charlie Sykes joins the group to discuss the January 6 hearings, Biden's record, and inflation (we warned about it!) Highlights & Lowlights: Mona: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/06/15/democratic-dark-money-extreme-republicans/ Linda: https://www.vox.com/23169861/daca-immigration-dreamer-democrats-united-we-dream Damon: https://wisdomofcrowds.live/its-not-about-democracy/ Bi...
1hr 12m Jun 17, 2022
1hr 12m
Is Biden Too Old for a Second Term? (with Matt Bennett)
Third Way's Matt Bennett help dissect the primaries so far, the January 6 hearings, and the question of who will be the Democrats' 2024 nominee. Highlights and Lowlights: Mona: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/06/january-6-hearings-mike-pence-service-democracy/661224/ Linda: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/06/06/bus-denver-pendemic-violence/ Learn more about your...
1hr 4m Jun 10, 2022
1hr 4m
Is Gun Control Futile? (with David French)
David French joins the group this week to consider gun control efforts, the gun culture, and the state of the war in Ukraine. Notes: https://www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/mass-shootings.html https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/politifact/2022/06/01/fact-check-did-mass-shootings-triple-after-assault-weapon-ban-ended/9941501002/ Highlights & Lowlights: Mona: https://www...
1hr 3m Jun 03, 2022
1hr 3m
Drowning in Guns under Minority Rule (with A.B. Stoddard)
Guest host A.B. Stoddard joins guests Tom Nichols, Yahoo News' Jon Ward, and regular Linda Chavez to discuss America's gun culture, the prospects for bipartisan gun legislation, and the Democrats' lack of confidence versus the party that's about nothing. Plus, Trump's week of humiliation. Highlights/lowlights: A.B. Stoddard's: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/07/opinion/grief.html Linda Chave...
1hr 3m May 27, 2022
1hr 3m
The Challenge of Diversity (with Yascha Mounk)
Yascha Mounk joins the panel to talk about the optimistic case for diverse democracies -- and primary results. Highlights of the Week Mona's pick: What’s Behind America’s Shocking Baby-Formula Shortage? (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/baby-formula-shortage-abbott-recall/629828/) Love the show but hate the ads? Bulwark+ members get exclusive access to an ad-free version of Be...
1hr May 20, 2022
1hr
Voting Rights and Abortion Rights (with Ben Ginsberg)
Election law expert Ben Ginsberg offers insight on threats to confidence in elections. The panel then considers the Dobbs fallout from several angles — partisan, racial, and legal. Want to listen without ads? Bulwark+ members get exclusive access to an ad-free version of Beg to Differ. Learn more: https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/how-do-i-add-a-bulwark-member-only?s=w Learn more about your ad choi...
1hr 11m May 13, 2022
1hr 11m
Abortion and Climate. Can We Get More Contentious? (with Robert Pindyck)
MIT’s Robert Pindyck shares wisdom on climate and joins the discussion of the Roe draft opinion. Highlights & Lowlights Mona - America Won’t Ever Be Majority Minority (https://www.persuasion.community/p/yascha-mounk-america-wont-ever-be?s=r) Linda - Cuban Migrants Arrive to U.S. in Record Numbers, on Foot, Not by Boat (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/03/world/americas/cuban-migration-united-st...
1hr 10m May 06, 2022
1hr 10m
A Macron Moment in the US? (with guest host Josh Barro)
Guest Host Josh Barro and the panel discuss the French elections, and the possibility of a centrist third party in the US. Plus, corporate free speech — and will Musk break Twitter? Highlights & Lowlights: Josh Barro's: https://www.joshbarro.com/p/peter-suderman-schools-me-and-you?s=r Bill Galston's: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/ukraine/2022-04-01/francis-fukuyama-liberalism-count...
1hr 5m Apr 29, 2022
1hr 5m
Jared vs. Hunter
Arc Digital's Nicholas Grossman joins the group to consider the mask mandate, the corruption of presidential relatives, and James Carville's advice about "weird Republicans." Highlights & Lowlights Mona: "Mike Lee’s Role in Trump’s Attempted Coup" (The Bulwark): https://www.thebulwark.com/mike-lees-role-in-trumps-attempted-coup/ Linda: "Handing Putin the Nuclear Advantage" (Wall Street Jour...
1hr 7m Apr 22, 2022
1hr 7m
The Inflation Monster (with Noah Smith)
Noah Smith joins to consider whether inflation is really as bad as it looks and whether we can ever have a sensible immigration policy in our divided country. Notable Links: From Mona: "Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid" (The Atlantic): https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/05/social-media-democracy-trust-babel/629369/ From Linda: "Point of Compact"...
1hr 13m Apr 15, 2022
1hr 13m
Putin's American Friends (with Eric Edelman)
Eric Edelman joins to discuss war crimes, defense spending, and Putinists abroad and at home.  Mona's highlight: https://www.joshbarro.com/p/heres-the-chart-you-need-to-understand?s=r Linda's highlight: https://www.americanpurpose.com/articles/orbans-china-infatuation/ Bill's highlight: https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/coretexts/_files/resources/texts/1963_MLK_Letter_Abridged.pdf Want to ...
1hr Apr 08, 2022
1hr
Lock Him Up?
The Atlantic’s Jonathan Rauch joins the group (including Cathy Young) to consider whether a federal judge saying Trump is a likely criminal should spur DOJ? Also, the “Don’t Say Gay” law, Ginni Thomas, Biden’s popularity, and more. Highlights & Lowlights: Mona's highlight: DCist: Maryland Will No Longer Require Four-Year Degrees For Thousands Of State Jobs (https://dcist.com/story/22/03/15/mar...
1hr 5m Apr 01, 2022
1hr 5m
Monsters and Jackasses
The Washington Post's Charles Lane joins the group to mull whether Putin is intimidating the West with nuclear threats and if so, how to respond? Also, the KBJ hearings reveal a GOP deep into "jackassery." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
59m Mar 25, 2022
59m
Ukraine and the West Surprise Putin . . . and Ourselves
Ukraine's brave stand against Russia has united Americans behind them. Will this new found bipartisanship mute extremists on the right and left? Highlights/Lowlights: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/13/opinion/berkeley-enrollment-climate-crisis.html https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-considers-accepting-yuan-instead-of-dollars-for-chinese-oil-sales-11647351541?st=tntg9j85l4ay6gx&reflink...
1hr 1m Mar 18, 2022
1hr 1m
Ukrainians Dodge Missiles. Can We Dodge Involvement? Should We?
Attorney George Conway joins to discuss how war has changed America already. Also, the legal and political case for prosecuting Trump. Bulwark+ members can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast to your player of choice. Learn more at Bulwark+ Podcast FAQ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
57m Mar 11, 2022
57m
A Week Where Decades Happened (with Kori Schake)
American Enterprise Institute's Kori Schake joins the panel to analyze the Russian invasion and the risks of a wider war. Damon's Link: I’m a Cold War Historian. We’re in a Frightening New Era. (New York Times) Mona's Link: Children First: Why Family Structure and Stability Matter for Children (Institute for Family Studies) Linda's Link: United States v. Donald Trump: A "Model Prosecution Me...
1hr Mar 04, 2022
1hr
Hinge Moment of History
AEI's Adam White joins the group to consider whether the invasion of Ukraine will shake the US from its decline into imbecility. Also whither the Supreme Court? Highlights/Lowlights: https://www.progressivepolicy.org/publication/the-new-politics-of-evasion%20%5Bprogressivepolicy-org%5D/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/21/ukraine-invasion-putin-goals-what-expect/ Learn more abo...
55m Feb 25, 2022
55m
San Francisco Sends Democrats a Message
George Will joins to discuss the San Francisco warning, the Republicans' drift, and the inflation danger. Highlights/Lowlights: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/14/opinion/electoral-count-act.html https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3836 https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1494312565287047174?s=20&t=KIA-Mjj7utMz9Fin2Qk9Dg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adc...
1hr Feb 18, 2022
1hr
Open Everything?
Tom Nichols joins the panel to discuss whether it's time to end Covid restrictions, Ukraine and democracy, and "legitimate political discourse." Highlights/Lowlights: https://cathy.arcdigital.media/p/the-problem-with-covid-contrarianism?r=2k4r8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web https://noahpinion.substack.com/p/the-nyt-article-on-mmt-is-really https://mosaicmagazine.com/observation/politics-c...
1hr 5m Feb 11, 2022
1hr 5m
A Canceling We Will Go
Peter Wehner joins the group, which includes Bill Kristol this week, to discuss the Whoopi Goldberg and other cancel controversies, as well as Trump's acknowledgement of attempting a coup. And who's really abandoning democracy, Republicans or Democrats? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
57m Feb 04, 2022
57m
Putin Wants to Turn Back the Clock
Stanford’s Francis Fukuyama joins the group to discuss Ukraine and the impact of a new Supreme Court justice on politics and jurisprudence. Highlights/Lowlights: https://twitter.com/prchovanec/status/1485622322799255553?s=20&t=a9dVZafEdqi8nszn5EenFQ https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/longform/the-pursuits-of-liberty https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/21/opinion/texas-synagogue-antisemitism.html S...
53m Jan 28, 2022
53m
Do's and Don'ts of Democracy Protection
CATO's Walter Olson brings his libertarian insight to a discussion of voting rights and wrongs — and Biden's first year. Highlights/Lowlights: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/20/opinion/illiberalism-left-right.html https://www.slowboring.com/p/electoral-count-act https://www.persuasion.community/p/the-reactionary-trap?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxODI2MTM0LCJwb3N0X2lkIjo0NzExNTMyNSwiXyI6IkpGY08...
55m Jan 21, 2022
55m
Biden's Nadir Week?
A.B. Stoddard and Ben Parker join the group to discuss Biden's kamikaze voting rights push and Putin's threats to Ukraine. Highlights/Lowlights: https://morningshots.thebulwark.com/p/joe-biden-needs-four-sister-souljah https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/the-long-term-care-challenge https://twitter.com/KevinMKruse/status/1481709822051500039?s=20 https://reason.com/2022...
55m Jan 14, 2022
55m
The Death of the Conservative Party
NY Times columnist Bret Stephens joins the panel, including Norm Ornstein, to discuss the GOP in the wake of Jan 6 and whether the Democrats are missing the boat on ECA and voting reform. Special Guests: Bret Stephens, Damon Linker, Linda Chavez, and Norman J. Ornstein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
59m Jan 07, 2022
59m
Were the Clintonites Right after All?
The centrist wing of the democratic party is making a bit of a comeback. With Joe Manchin calling the shots on BBB — and cultural issues like "defund the police" not winning even among Black and Hispanic voters — is it time for the Democratic leadership to stand up to the progressives? The Atlantic's Ron Brownstein is this week's special guest. Highlights/Lowlights: https://forward.com/cult...
59m Dec 24, 2021
59m
Was January 6 a Coup Attempt?
The Washington Post's Dan Balz joins the panel to discuss the January 6 committee, whether Biden will/should seek reelection, and how the pandemic has affected work/family balance. Highlights/Lowlights: https://gfile.thedispatch.com/p/donald-trumps-megaphone https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-12-15/the-pro-immigrant-case-against-new-york-city-s-noncitizen-voting?sref=z9I1fo2Y...
1hr 9m Dec 17, 2021
1hr 9m
Resentful Animosities
Peter Wehner joins the group to discuss threats to democracy, the GOP's gun fetish, and more. Highlights/Lowlights: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/12/democrats-lose-culture-war/620887/ https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/01/brooks-true-conservatism-dead-fox-news-voter-suppression/620853 https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2020/08/11/about-one-in-four-u-...
1hr 1m Dec 10, 2021
1hr 1m
If Roe Goes
Slate's Will Saletan joins the group, including Bill Kristol, to discuss the implications of a possible reversal of Roe and Biden's opportunities to recover. Highlights/Lowlights: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/11/24/trans-kids-therapy-psychologist/ https://www.vox.com/22814386/lauren-boebert-islamophobic-comments-omar-house-republicans https://harpers.org/archive/2021/12/a...
54m Dec 03, 2021
54m
How Scary Is Inflation?
Noah Smith helps the panel diagnose the inflation threat as well as the political peril for Democrats. Highlights/Lowlights: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/11/17/overdose-deaths-pandemic-fentanyl/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter https://www.thebulwark.com/steve-bannon-and-maga-martyrdom/ https://gfile.thedispatch.com/p/mugged-by-fallacy?r=2jt0v&utm_...
1hr 9m Nov 19, 2021
1hr 9m
The DeSantis Temptation
The Atlantic’s David Frum joins to discuss inflation, the economy, immigration, and the call to back Ron DeSantis in 2024. Highlights/Lowlights: https://theliberalpatriot.substack.com/p/revisiting-the-fox-news-fallacy https://www.npr.org/2021/11/10/1054137225/nearly-1-million-kids-ages-5-11-will-have-their-first-covid-shots-by-the-end-of- https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-...
59m Nov 12, 2021
59m
A Whiff of Maoism
NY Magazine’s Jonathan Chait joins, along with the Bulwark’s Amanda Carpenter, to discuss the BBB deal (if there is one) and cancel culture. Highlights/Lowlights: https://twitter.com/MittRomney/status/1453752698130534404?s=20 https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-fight-for-taiwan-could-come-soon-china-navy-defense-11635349097 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/opinion/cohousing-mothers-pande...
1hr 1m Oct 29, 2021
1hr 1m
The Democrats’ Sinking Poll Numbers
Eric Edelman helps unpack China’s new missile, Democrats’ decline, and McAuliffe’s tone deafness. Highlights/Lowlights: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/11/alden-global-capital-killing-americas-newspapers/620171/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/will-america-come-to-taiwan-defense-china-xi-navy-11634053378 Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Eric Edelman, and Linda Ch...
57m Oct 22, 2021
57m
Why You Can't Bracket Trump
Protect Democracy's Ian Bassin joins to discuss how he's working to counter threats. Also the VA governor's race. Mentioned articles: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/10/07/our-planet-is-not-doomed-that-means-we-can-must-act/ https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/10/12/hunter-biden-corruption-515583 https://www.brookings.edu/essay/the-long-game-chinas-grand-strategy-t...
1hr 1m Oct 15, 2021
1hr 1m
“I Resent Being Called Cheerful."
George F. Will joins B2D panel to discuss his new book, and also whether Facebook should be regulated, and the Democrats' hopes for social welfare. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, George F. Will, and Linda Chavez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1hr 14m Oct 08, 2021
1hr 14m
Democrats are Divided. Republicans are United -- as a cult. How worried should we be?
A.B. Stoddard joins to discuss why we can't have nice things in America. Special Guests: A.B. Stoddard, Bill Galston, Damon Linker, and Linda Chavez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1hr 10m Oct 01, 2021
1hr 10m
Republicans are Dangerous. Can the Democrats Succeed?
Sarah Longwell sits in for Linda and Tom Nichols joins to discuss the Democrats' divisions, Haitians at the border, and Biden's foreign policy. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Sarah Longwell, and Tom Nichols. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1hr 12m Sep 24, 2021
1hr 12m
Insurrectionist Republicans, reflections on a sad anniversary, and what if Roe is reversed
Heath Mayo, founder of Principles First, joins the regular panel to discuss abortion, insurrection, and whether the global war on terror was a mistake. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Heath Mayo, and Linda Chavez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1hr 10m Sep 10, 2021
1hr 10m
Can We Avoid Another January 6?
Greg Sargent joins to talk about vote counting reform, not vote casting reform. The group (including Tim Miller) then discuss refugees and Biden's sinking popularity. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Greg Sargent, and Tim Miller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1hr 6m Sep 03, 2021
1hr 6m
Afghanistan: Not a mistake?
David Frum joins to shed light on the Afghanistan withdrawal and Congress's budget fandango. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, David Frum, and Linda Chavez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1hr 9m Aug 26, 2021
1hr 9m
Is the Country Calming Down?
Charlie Sykes joins the group to discuss the infrastructure Rubik's cube, the Republican governors' war on public health, and whether the big strife is past. ————— Highlights/Lowlights: https://www.census.gov/en.html https://www.bradleyfdn.org/prizes/ https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-reaches-proposed-consent-decree-state-new-jersey-resolve-claims-edna-mahan Special Gu...
1hr 10m Aug 13, 2021
1hr 10m
Whoa, those Cuomo woes.
The Washington Post's Megan McArdle returns to B2D to discuss Cuomo, the eviction moratorium, and whether the left's power in the Democratic party exceeds its grass roots popularity. Special Guests: Bill Galston, Damon Linker, Linda Chavez, and Megan McArdle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1hr 4m Aug 06, 2021
1hr 4m