The Dispatch Podcast – “The Best of 2025 | Roundtable” (December 30, 2025)
Host: Steve Hayes
Panelists: Jonah Goldberg, Megan McArdle, Michael Warren
Theme: The “Best Of” 2025—books, TV/film, meals, products, and resolutions, with a focus on personal favorites, life lessons, and light-hearted banter.
Overview
In a break from news and politics, the Dispatch team gathers for a year-end roundtable to share their highlights from 2025. They discuss their favorite books, TV series/movies, memorable meals, useful new products, and reflect on New Year’s resolutions. The tone is thoughtful, occasionally irreverent, and rich with personal stories.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Best Books Read in 2025
[03:11] Segment Start
Megan McArdle
- Book: The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
- Story: Reread it to prepare for an interview with Stephenson and was struck by its timeless themes—especially the educational divide and the overprotection of children today.
- “How do you give your kids the challenges that allowed you to screw up but also made them strong and resilient?” [05:12]
- Recommends it even for non-sci-fi readers.
Jonah Goldberg
- Book: The Lost History of Liberalism by Helena Rosenblatt
- Fascinated by the evolution of the word “liberalism” and the intellectual history of political concepts.
- “The idea that liberalism and democracy go hand in hand is just not true.” [10:09]
- Useful for his own writing and for untangling today’s terms.
Michael Warren
- Book: And a Bottle of Rum by Wayne Curtis (updated edition)
- A “History of the New World in 10 Cocktails,” with each chapter exploring rum’s cultural moments.
- “Rum really fell out of fashion after being sort of... one of the most popular spirits in the early part of the United States’ history.” [15:44]
- Found inspiration for his own writing via the book’s structure.
Steve Hayes
- Book: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
- Reflection on slowing life’s pace and being intentional rather than hurried.
- Humorously notes he hasn’t finished it yet, in keeping with the theme of eliminating hurry.
2. Favorite TV Series or Movies of 2025
[23:47] Segment Start
Megan McArdle
- Classic Discovery: Perry Mason (original series) & Ironside (Raymond Burr)
- Appreciates Raymond Burr’s performance; finds “period prestige” TV insightful for modern social questions.
- Modern Hit: Pluribus (Apple TV+; Vince Gilligan show)
- A unique, thoughtful sci-fi drama about a virus that creates a human “hive mind.”
- “It’s actually... about how one wrestles with being alone.” [38:09]
Jonah Goldberg
- Standout: Andor (Star Wars prequel series)
- Appreciates its adult, morally complex storytelling—unlike much of the modern franchise.
- “It expects the audience to be adults… the great counterexample to what Disney’s done with Star Wars.” [33:08]
- Also rewatched The Man in the High Castle, noting its missed opportunities.
Michael Warren
- Pick: Severance (Apple TV+, Season 2 in 2025)
- Describes its splitting of work/life identities as rich and cult-like; praises its writing and performances.
- “There’s a kind of work ethic tied to it that gets into very cult areas.” [35:09]
Steve Hayes
- Hidden Gem: Living (2022, starring Bill Nighy)
- Touching drama about a London bureaucrat facing terminal illness; stirring change and epiphanies.
- “The themes it explores... in a more textured and sophisticated way than one is accustomed to.” [39:55]
3. Most Memorable Meal of 2025
[42:43] Segment Start
Jonah Goldberg
- Home-Cooked: Elaborate cassoulet (confit duck and all)
- “Turned into a three day process... it was great.” [44:59]
- Restaurant: Swedish pancake breakfast at Al Johnson’s in Door County, WI
- “Exactly the kind of breakfast you want when it’s six degrees outside.” [44:34]
Michael Warren
- Home: Mississippi pot roast (slow cooker—pepperoncini, ranch, and gravy mix)
- “It’s versatile, it’s spicy... we had it with mashed potatoes and vegetables one night, sandwiches the next.” [47:57]
- Restaurant: Burma Superstar (Burmese in San Francisco) and late-night cheeseburger at Montague Diner, Brooklyn.
Megan McArdle
- Restaurant: Sichuan cocktail bar in Woburn, MA (“worth driving to”), and lobster at Woodman’s, Essex.
- Home Tradition: Christmas Day prime rib, Yorkshire puddings, snow pudding (gelatine lemon dessert) and, for leftovers: “roast beef hash... my favorite food.”
- “Top it with a little gravy and a fried egg, and then you have snow pudding for dessert—after that, that, folks, is some fine eating.” [50:17]
Steve Hayes
- Home-Cooked: Hatch green chili pork butt carnitas (“spectacular” and a bargain).
- Restaurant: Angelita (Madrid)
- Multi-course meal “one of the best things I’ve ever put in my mouth... memorable because I can describe it today,” especially the steak tartare. [54:07]
- Explains the Spanish tradition of suckling pig—so tender it’s cut with a plate, not a knife.
4. Favorite New Product of 2025
[57:17] Segment Start
Steve Hayes
- Smoked Habanero Olive Oil from d’Oliva, Marbella, Spain
- “One of the greatest flavors you can have... I only bought one container, and have spent the better part of two months trying to import it.” [61:04]
- Recommends it drizzled on avocado toast.
Jonah Goldberg
- Terrain’s Angled Obelisk Chimenea (outdoor fire pit/stove)
- “Throws off an amazing amount of heat… I like burning things.” [65:18]
- Shout-out for culinary blowtorch and Aura digital photo frames as actual “game changers.”
Michael Warren
- OXO Steel Double Jigger for cocktails
- “Gradations are etched into the steel—it will never rub off...” [66:22]
- The best home bar tool he’s acquired.
Megan McArdle
- Roborock Robot Vacuum Mop (from Costco)
- “It actually works really easily... our floors look so much better... this is what our house looks like when it’s clean all the time.” [69:10]
- Dogs were at first “murderous” toward it, but have adapted.
5. New Year’s Resolutions
[71:46] Segment Start
Megan McArdle
- Resolution: Shift focus from “who’s to blame” to “what is the impact of my actions.”
- Context: Artists boycotting the Kennedy Center due to Trump’s “illegal and gross” self-naming; weighs the practical harm of such boycotts.
- “We spend too much time talking about how terrible everything is... I am thinking about, what would I like to see in the world—not what am I angry about.” [76:08]
Jonah Goldberg
- Not a resolutions person; prefers “reasonable goals.”
- Practical goal: Fix carpal tunnel issues, for health and livelihood.
- Rants: “I hate New Year’s Eve... dumbest... almost as stupid as Valentine’s Day.” [77:47]
Michael Warren
- Sees ongoing personal improvement as part of Catholic faith—uses confession and liturgical cycles as markers.
- “...Continuing to make and failing to achieve the resolutions that I am making throughout the year.” [78:09]
Steve Hayes
- 2025 resolution was to be early—hit it about “95% of the time.”
- 2026: To say “no” more often, in order to do fewer things better.
- “If you ask me for something and I say no, don’t take offense... this is part of my new goal for 2026.” [80:54]
- Shares that sometimes you even have to say no to things you want to do, in order to do your best on what remains.
Bonus Anecdote:
Charles Krauthammer’s best New Year’s resolution (when required on-air):
“To be concise.” (And then said nothing else, causing the panel to break down laughing.) [79:50]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Megan McArdle: “Ladies and men are different.” [06:39]
- Jonah Goldberg: “It was Adam Smith’s liberal system of economics that gets to be called liberal economics. But... this golden age... never existed.” [13:49]
- Michael Warren (on rum): “There’s a story to be told even when people aren’t drinking rum.” [16:44]
- Steve Hayes (on hurry): “I started it in, I think, June, and I’m not yet done. So I am eliminating hurry.” [21:18]
- Jonah Goldberg (TV): “It expects the audience to be adults… while the rest of the Star Wars [franchise]... has been frittered away.” [33:08]
- Steve Hayes (on best meal): “It might... be one of the best things I’ve ever put in my mouth anywhere, ever, under any circumstances.” [53:21]
Key Timestamps
- Best books: [03:11] – [21:18]
- TV/movies: [23:47] – [41:48]
- Best meals: [42:43] – [57:12]
- Favorite new products: [57:17] – [71:46]
- Resolutions: [71:46] – [83:19]
Tone and Takeaways
The discussion is both lighthearted and thoughtful, peppered with personal stories, self-deprecating humor, and friendly jibes among colleagues. The Dispatch’s crew reveals sides of themselves not often on display in political panels—with reflections that range from the literary to the culinary to basic, intentional living. There’s nostalgia, dry wit (especially from Goldberg), and unexpected recommendations. Perfect for listeners looking to wrap their year—and perhaps plan their next read, watch, meal, or purchase—with smart, honest, and warm company.