The David Frum Show

On this Saturday episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic discusses the upcoming midterm elections and how they present the American people an opportunity to hold Congress accountable for its negligence. David discusses how the 2024 Congress is asleep at the wheel and the problems a new Congress, with a new majority, would urgently need to address.

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with thoughts on the coming midterm elections and the difficult position Republicans now face. He explains the political “fork” confronting Republican candidates: Having attached themselves to an increasingly unpopular president, they risk alienating either moderate voters or Trump’s loyal base.

Then, David is joined by Omar Mohammed, the formerly anonymous blogger behind Mosul Eye, to discuss his new book, Mosul Eye: A Scholar’s Clandestine War Against ISIS. They discuss life under ISIS rule, the atrocities Mohammed witnessed firsthand in Mosul, and the dangers he faced in documenting them.

Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of the role opera plays in our society.

- - -

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s Saturday edition of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum discusses the possibility of an AI bubble and the bleak forecast for the American economy under President Trump.

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts on the growing calls for Medicare for All. David discusses how Medicare for All might actually work, why it’s impractical, and why it is fundamentally a promise Democrats cannot keep.

Then, David is joined by Kara Swisher to discuss her new podcast with Hillary Clinton, the dangers of unregulated AI, and the power of the AI oligarchs over American politics. David and Kara discuss the potential of an AI bubble and what responsible oversight of AI would look like.

Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of “The Rise and Fall of American Growth: The U.S. Standard of Living Since the Civil War” by Robert Gordon, and whether the AI revolution changes any of Gordon’s pessimistic assessments of what has happened to American growth since 1970.

- - -

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this Saturday episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum discusses the series of amazingly well-timed trades in the oil market that raise urgent questions about corruption inside the Trump administration.

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum discusses President Trump’s announced diesel deal with Russia, the administration’s abandonment of Ukraine, and why Trump is giving up so much to gain very little.

Then, David is joined from Kyiv by Illia Ponomarenko, a Ukrainian journalist and the author of the new book “The Land of Tears and Hope.” David and Illia talk about the history of Ukraine, its current state as the war with Russia rages on, and how and why the Trump administration seems so hostile to the country.

Finally, David concludes with discussion about why so little literature exists about the history of slavery in Eastern Europe.

- - -

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s Saturday episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum discusses Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s speech at the Acropolis in Greece and what it means for the future of the Republican Party.

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts on the sudden recall of 12 B-1 bombers from their base in the south of England to the mainland of the United States. He asks what prompted the move and why the Trump administration refuses to learn vital military lessons from Ukraine.

Then, David is joined by Reihan Salam, the president of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, to discuss why American cities cost so much and often deliver so little. They explore how some urban governments waste public money, how cities could provide better services to residents, and why the rise of populism is doing little to solve Americans’ actual problems.

Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of “Every War Must End” by Fred Charles Iklé.

- - -

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Saturday episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum explains why President Trump’s approval rating has sunk so far just two years into his second presidency.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts about the recent state visit by the Chinese president Xi Jinping to the United States. David discusses President Trump’s embarrassing behavior at the dinner and how he has isolated the United States in its rivalry with China.

Then, David is joined by former Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder to discuss the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act, the battle over gerrymandering, and whether Americans can expect the 2026 midterm elections to be free and fair. Frum and Holder also discuss how attorneys general should react to unlawful orders from the president.

Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of the novel “Agrippa,” by Robert Harris.

- - -

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s Saturday bonus episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum discusses President Trump’s reported plan to ban diesel exports. David explains why the proposal is ill-conceived, how it could backfire, and what it reveals about the administration’s fundamental misunderstanding of the global economy.

- - -

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his reaction to the shooting at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Ontario on Yom Kippur. David discusses the rise of violence against Jews around the world, and why condemnations of anti-sSemitic violence ring hollow when they come from people who spread myths about Jewish conspiracies.

Then, David is joined by Jessica Tarlov, the co-host of “The Five” on Fox News and the “Raging Moderates” podcast. They talk about her new book, “I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends,” and how her upbringing helped shape her ability to disagree cordially. David and Jessica also discuss when to debate someone versus when to ignore them so as not to give them a platform.

Finally, David ends the show with a review of the novel “Yesteryear” by Caro Claire Burke.

- - -

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Saturday episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum explains why rising borrowing costs in the United States are not just an economic warning sign but also a measure of America’s declining trust under Donald Trump.

Photo: Timothy A. Clary / AFP via Getty Images

- - -

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with a discussion of the seemingly forgotten attack on the Yazidi people by ISIS in 2014.

Then, David is joined by historian Simon Sebag Montefiore to discuss his new book, “The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East.” David and Simon discuss how much of the present-day Middle East emerged from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire and the violence that took place both before and after the empire’s collapse. David and Simon discuss how, one after another, different language groups and religious groups were pushed into exile or eliminated altogether.

Then, David finishes with a discussion of “The Hidden Hand: The Information War and the Rise of Antisemitic Propaganda” by Warren Kinsella.

- - -

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the debut Saturday episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum reflects on the quarter century of warfare that has followed September 11, 2001, and asks whether the United States won its War on Terror.

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum is joined by John McConnell, the longtime senior speechwriter for President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, to discuss their memories of September 11, 2001—25 years later.

Then, David ends with a discussion of “American Pastoral,” a novel by Philip Roth, and what we can learn about domestic terrorism from the book.

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with a discussion of how Donald Trump has enriched himself and his family during his presidencies. David discusses how these ill-gotten gains bring up difficult questions about the future of American democracy.

Then David is joined by former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to discuss the impact of the Trump presidency on America’s allies, its reputation around the world, and the politics in the Pacific.

Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of Red Dawn Over China: How Communism Conquered a Quarter of Humanity, by Frank Dikötter.

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts on the blowing up of trade talks between the U.S. and Canada, and President Trump’s reckless trade war against Canada. David discusses how this trade war hurts not only America’s relationship with Canada but its global standing as a reliable trade partner.

Then David is joined by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to discuss the growing hostility among some Democratic voters toward American Jews. Frum and Nessel discuss why the rhetoric of Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed concerns some Jews; the rise of anti-Semitism within the Democratic party; and the impossible situation many Jewish voters find themselves in today.

Finally, David ends the show with his thoughts on the new biography on Roy Cohn, “American Scoundrel.”

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The David Frum Show, The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his reaction to the Justice Department’s decision to drop its case against the Olympian David Hearn. He argues that the prosecution was baseless from the start and, using the classic “prisoner’s dilemma” thought experiment, explains why future administrations must hold abuses of power accountable if American democracy is to endure.

Then, David is joined by Margaret Hoover, the host of PBS’s Firing Line and a great-granddaughter of President Herbert Hoover. They discuss the newly renovated Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, Hoover’s remarkable life of public service, and why his presidency deserves a more nuanced place in American history.

David ends the episode with a discussion of The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carré, exploring the evolution of the spy novel and the moral questions at the heart of the genre.

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his reaction to President Trump’s latest round of tariffs and explains why he believes they are weakening America’s economy and its alliances.

Then, David is joined by his Atlantic colleague Jonathan Chait for a wide-ranging discussion on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, whether presidents should be funny, the growing attacks on Barack Obama’s legacy, and the battle in Michigan between moderates and the progressive left that could shape the Democratic Party’s future.

Finally, David closes the show with a discussion of Eric Cline’s “1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed” and the Bronze Age collapse.

Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at https://theatlantic.com/listener.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices