I was very apprehensive when Ms. Charen announced that her previous panel podcast would be replaced with a one-on-one interview format. We already have way too many of those, I thought. Now, a half dozen episodes in, this is the podcast I most look forward to every week. The discussion about trans kids (a topic I thought I could not have cared less about) illustrated how to hold a nuanced, gentle — can I say “honorable” in the 21st-century? — conversation. This is not the first episode of Ms. Charen’s new series that I have saved to listen to once again. Full disclosure: I am an “Eisenhower Republican.” This means I usually vote for moderate Democrats. But I find Ms. Charen’s conservative leanings uncomfortably appealing. I guess that’s due to her mixture of smarts and decency, especially precious in this often toxic climate.

I learned during the RFK, Jr. confirmation hearings that he was profiting from his lawsuits (he’s a lawyer, not a Dr) against vaccine makers. People need to know this! Now I understand why he crusades against vaccines- it’s making him big money.

Mona Charen delivers thoughtful analysis and excellent guests.

For clear-eyed, thoughtful analysis of the great issues of our time - you can’t do better than Mona Charen. An essential podcast.

So far the show has had excellent interviews with worthy guests. Highly recommend

A Jew and an atheist of Jewish birth dissecting Christianity? I can only imagine how Mona Charen would react to a panel of Muslims and lapsed Catholics dissecting Judaism…. This woman is self-importance run riot, and without a panel to moderate her ego trips, she’s intellectually useless to all but those who have drunk Kool-Aid from the same chalice.

What a thoughtful and caring episode. I throughly enjoyed it! Thank you.

I very much enjoyed Beg to Differ and was sad to see it go, but I very much appreciate and enjoy the new format as well. The in depth discussion is informative and the Bulwark’s other offering provide excellent coverage of daily news issues.

I look forward to Mona's new show, but wish the Bulwark could also continue the Beg to Differ style roundtable. Maybe with same contributors and a new host, so Mona can develop her new show?

I’m going to miss this podcast. These much needed conversations were the highlights of the weekend.

I will mis this podcast but look forward to Mona’s new podcast.

So glad you will still be on air. Look forward to new format

Sad to hear this show is ending. I enjoyed the thoughtful roundtable format. This is a show for grownups, and I will miss it.

Retrospection and assumption rules the tone of this podcast. Many valid points can be offered but out of balance with personal insider perspectives, which could be argued as echo chamber and in their own bubble. Still, a decent podcast with decent people with standards.

I join the growing crowd of people asking some variation of “What happened to Mona? Did she hit her head? She used to be good, but this version of her is horrendous.” It’s also funny to hear Linda criticizing cabinet appointees. Trump lives in these irrelevant fossils’ heads, rent free. I enjoy hate-listening to this awful program, because it’s so profoundly bad.

Might want to consider oratory practice for the guy lip-smacking like he’s eating ice cream while he talks. Misophonia is real. I try to listen patiently because I do enjoy his ideas too, but the voice seems ignorant to the troubles it causes with all the extra noises. You guys sound far removed from common-folk and could benefit from visiting workers, farmers, and homeless people to gain perspective. Also, like most of our society, you don’t seem to relate to nature or the environment. You pretend you are purely social. I recommend sprouting and planting tree seedlings or something else like that to rekindle your natural perspectives and add some fresh takes to your team. Good luck, let me know if that guy decides to practice a new style for his speaking and I’d happily return. Misophonia is a real challenge.

Still racist

Faithful listener here. I don’t mind negative comments about Harris if they’re true. Seems like you’ve been bending over backwards to protect her for votes. Not honest and balanced.

“Off the reservation” is racist. While I don’t think Damon is racist, he’s used this term more than once. Please stop.

Wonderful podcast. I greatly appreciate the deep experience and thoughtful perspectives of the regulars which is why I never miss a podcast. But I also wanted to shout out the recent episode with guest Ross Douthat. In my opinion, it was a growth moment. Besides center leaning voices, there are a few places where one can find genuine dialogue like on this last episode. My thanks to you.

So Trump may meet the exact definition of “fascist” but it’s mean and spooky to call him that so I simply cannot vote for Harris? Guys like Ross D are pathetic.

Israel has the most advanced, sophisticated millitary weaponry in the world, there’s another reason this war is carrying on. We know what drives Netenyahu, arrogance! Just like Trump. Y’all are no better than the maga’s in this way of thinking. I’m sick of all the commentators both sides & probably won’t vote, leaving it all to the wind.

Good podcast but the latest couple episodes have been almost impossible to listen to because of the poor audio/mic quality. Hurts my ears!

I like David Frum’s and Mona’s political analysis, but their legal analysis of Chevron was woefully incorrect. Under Chevron, courts DID review agencies’ decisions. Post-Chevron, courts will continue to review agencies’ decisions, but now activist Federalist Society judges will have more leeway to overturn agency decisions. David and Mona should stick to what they’re good at and avoid legal analysis altogether.

Mona was great, as usual. Galston’s visceral distaste for Harris’ 2019 agenda speaks volumes. Yes, many are politically impossible, but single-payer health care is not a corrupt idea. And I would like to hear him address the problem of climate change, instead of mocking those who question the value of fracking. He only seems to care about the polls. And he hasn’t been reading them accurately recently!

having a panelist who is under 50? or even 60? Tired of hearing all the old guys' opinions...

The best political discussion show I've heard in years. Charen is a strong voice and an honest host. Guests and regulars speak of ideas with knowledge, clarity, and perspective. A Democrat, I found this podcast searching for principled conservatives. They are here. They are concerned about our country and offer thoughtful vigilance.

I have followed Mona Charen since she wrote for National Review. Completely fearless, savy, and quick, she hosts a fantastic podcast. ¡Mona 2024! My only suggestion: tamp the brakes on all the Mika Brzezinski-like sighs. Kinda - no very - annoying.

I turned off the current show at the first commercial break today and realized that incessantly hysterical fear mongering is detrimental for everyone’s mental health. BTD holds itself out to the public as “a political roundtable where guests discuss news of the week in a respectful, rational forum. Instead, what I heard was the opposite. The hosts never consider that The Justices ruling might be an attempt to “Trump Proof” the executive branch in case he gets reelected. Trump already did “the thing” and permitting his prosecution would not change that. The real prevailing danger is that if reelected, Trump prosecutes Biden & Co for high crimes against The Republic. This decision effectively mitigates that outcome. One could argue this opinion rests on a set of consequentialist assumptions taken from the Federalist Papers before the Constitution was ratified. Namely that our nation needs an energetic executive branch to lead our Democracy and that the dangers of prosecution outweigh any benefit associated with ensuring that presidents don’t break the law. Perhaps the justices are leaving the ultimate choice not to the courts, but to the American people through the election process, just as The Founders envisioned. If you want to hear balanced and intelligent discourse in such matters, might I suggest listening instead to Divided Argument, Advisory Opinions, or even the liberal-biased Strict Scrutiny, as they attempt to present a rational dialogue between dissenting adults but without the drama.

How can it be that supposedly tuned-in commentators NEVER cite the scientific critiques of Haidt’s book and the Surgeon General’s recommendations on the above listed subject? Disagreement with those alternative perspectives is fine, but leading listeners to believe such non-ideological questioning of the sources just cited are non-existent is not high-level journalism, not even close. Truly shameful to have no one to discuss such an important subject jwho actually begs to differ.

The Bulwark is amazing but let's be honest: this is a show by Boomers for Boomers. The analysis the host and guests make is typically wise (as in 'with age') and repleat with insight but their conclusions are typically disconnected from modern society. Gen X listeners may find some episodes worthwhile. Millennials and younger should find a better use of their time.

The Gerald Ford Presidential Foundation is doing exactly what one should not do when facing the threat from a tyrant. The board showed great cowardice by declining to honor Liz Cheney because it is afraid of retribution from Trump if he returns to power. Great conversation with David Hume Kennerly.

If you want to hear a bunch of moderates hand wring, predict doom and nitpick Biden for everything from Marijuana to not being pro-Israel enough, this is your show! Whiney hand wringing whiney whine whine “Errr I beg to diifffeeeerrrr sir” I’m sorry they make me want to puke. Being a constant skeptic and negative isn’t a skill, it’s an emotional issue.

Let’s all remember that the culture of hate and anti-Semitic and anti -islamic acts have been on the rise all our the country since Trump took office. No wonder students has added hateful rhetoric to their legal protests.

This show should be required listening for all Americans. Knowledgeable panelists that provide a range of nuanced opinions, always based in reality. The composition of the panel leans a bit to the right, but none of them are blindly partisan. Keep up the great work, Mona!

Stimulating conversations and they don’t always agree. That’s ok! It’s important to share one's own view and hear different views.

I listen to the first five minutes of this podcast as it was recommended to me from The Bulwark. It starts off with an absolute lunatic talking about how 23% of black voters are going to vote for Trump and Biden’s campaign is not fraying, but, “collapsing”. Clearly, there is no intelligent discourse going on here, I had to stop listening to save my brain cells. This type of hyperbolic the sky is falling nonsense does nothing to actually provide useful information to understand what is going on, nor does it serve the discourse.

Finally! I have found a group of educated thinkers that share their opinions and knowledge in a rational, civilized and respectful way. Great quality content which tries to make sense, in the best possible way….. of today’s political circus. The listening is very enjoyable and because nobody interrupts, this allows the participants to delve deep into the subjects.

A thoughtful show that routinely dives deeper into the headlines of the day than many other pods/news sources.

I love the differing opinions. It’s a shame more Americans don’t listen . Thank you .

As a moderate Democrat, who pays close attention to politics, I find this podcast to be excellent. Mona’s regular guests are insightful and occasionally funny, and she brings in others like Tim Albertson, who are extraordinarily well informed. There was a time when I would not have been interested in hearing her wisdom or that of anybody over on “the right” but times have changed, and I think the perspectives on the show are instructive and cogent.

I listen to quite a few excellent podcasts but this is hands-down the most substantive and often, my view point is different and it makes Me rethink if I’m disagreeing with this panel. I’m a former-liberal Republican, who left the party in 2015 in disgust about Trump. This pod always leaves me thinking more. Not mad or whipped-up or sad and depressed. Just leaves me knowing more, understanding the history and background and players better and I value it. All the stars

Having a panel with a spectrum of thoughtful educated ideas and opinions is very much appreciated and calming in this time of turmoil.

This is probably where I experience the most right wing policy of Bulwark and it is informative even if I don’t always agree.

Beg to Differ is always informative and sensible. I wish all Americans were so sensible and informed as the commentators on this podcast.

Great podcast. Bill, if anyone wanted to actually stop illegal immigration they would arrest the mostly WHITE MEN that hire them. It’s so ridiculous this isn’t brought up. They come here because there is a big Help Wanted sign up at the border. Why do you think Sarah Huckabee is letting CHILDREN work night shifts in slaughter houses? We don’t have enough people to fill the jobs we have. The GOP’s answer is forced birth & child labor. Deplorable. The laws need changed. Executive orders are not the answer. They just end up wasting money in court for years.

I have come to love this podcast. It is so refreshing to listen to intelligent people discuss politics and issues in a mature and respectful manner even when they “beg to differ”. We need more of this type of sober discourse in our politics today.

Great discussions, led by Mona Charen, which avoids the echo chamber by actually seeking out different viewpoints, in a balanced and respectful way. The highlights/lowlights section means that even when identifying low points of the weekly news, there’s always a balance in finding the good too.

🙏🙏

Nicky Halley’s gaff …. Note: Donald Trump and Joe Biden are merely a few days over 550 days apart, I’m tired of hearing about Biden’s elderly age…