Episodes

  • Did Trump Surrender to Iran?

    Did Trump Surrender to Iran?
    Jun 24 2026
    In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts on why American progressives have seemingly abandoned the fight against climate change. He wonders if, after Trumpism is defeated, Americans can go back to solving issues that really matter. Then, David is joined by his Atlantic colleague Vivian Salama to discuss the negotiations between Iran and the United States. David and Vivian talk about the fallout from the now-signed memorandum of understanding between the two countries, both in the United States and across the Middle East. Finally, David ends the show with a discussion of Ann Patchett’s novel “Bel Canto.” 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 TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • Cuba Is Collapsing. Will Trump Invade?

    Cuba Is Collapsing. Will Trump Invade?
    Jun 17 2026
    In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts on Trump’s new Iran deal and how it affects the future of the Republican Party and J. D. Vance’s presidential aspirations. David discusses the predicament that Vance finds himself in as the administration’s most vocal Iran War skeptic. Then, David is joined by CNN’s Patrick Oppmann, who has been reporting from Cuba since 2012. Patrick and David discuss the current state of the country, the pressure that the Trump administration is putting on the ruling regime, and whether or not America will invade Cuba. Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of Shakespeare’s “Othello” and how ancient plays can emancipate readers from some of their modern prejudices. 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 TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Republicans vs. the Fourteenth Amendment

    Republicans vs. the Fourteenth Amendment
    Jun 10 2026
    In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts on the Brexit vote, which was cast 10 years ago this month. David explains why Brexit has not only been a failure but has led to years of political instability in the U.K. in the decade following the British vote to leave the European Union. Then, David is joined by professor David W. Blight to discuss  the blood-soaked aftermath of the Civil War and the stumbling project to bring freedom to the former slaves of the South through the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments. David and Blight discuss Trump’s project to gut the Fourteenth Amendment to say that some people born on American soil will no longer be Americans. Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of “1873” by Liaquat Ahamed. David reflects on the financial crisis of that year and the long price depression that followed. 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 TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • How to Save the Supreme Court From Itself

    How to Save the Supreme Court From Itself
    Jun 3 2026
    In this episode of The David Frum Show, The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts on growing extremism in the Democratic Party. Frum compares this to the paranoia and conspiratorial thinking that cost the Republican Party dearly in the 2010s and cautions the Democrats against making the same mistakes. Then David is joined by Kate Shaw, a co-host of the “Strict Scrutiny” podcast and a professor of law at University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. David and Kate discuss the current state of the Supreme Court, whether it can be reformed, and the potential dangers of radical changes to the Court. Finally, in honor of the class of 2026, David ends the episode with thoughts on the word “graduate” and how changes in the way we use that word reveal changes in our attitude toward individual accomplishment in American life. 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 TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • Has Trump Corrupted the Military?

    Has Trump Corrupted the Military?
    May 27 2026
    On this week’s episode of The David Frum Show, The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts about the recently reported peace talks between the United States and Iran. David argues that these reported talks indicate the United States is losing the war in Iran, and that the loss highlights what has always been true: The presidency is too big a job for Donald Trump. Then David is joined by Representative Jason Crow of Colorado to discuss Trump’s politicization of the American military, lessons from the war in Iran, and the chaos at Pete Hegseth’s “Department of War”. David ends with a discussion of James Boswell’s classic biography, The Life of Samuel Johnson. 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 TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • Trump’s Iran War: America's Loss Is China’s Win

    Trump’s Iran War: America's Loss Is China’s Win
    May 20 2026
    On this week’s episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his reaction to President Trump’s shocking settlement with the IRS and his new $1.8 billion slush fund for victims of political “weaponization.” Then, David is joined by Phillips O’Brien, a military historian and a professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews, for a discussion about the fallout from the war in Iran, Russia’s stalemate with Ukraine, and Trump’s recent meeting with President Xi Jinping in China. Frum and O’Brien discuss Trump’s lack of commitment toward Taiwan and how he has greatly diminished America’s standing with China. Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of “What Science Says About Astrology,” by Carlos Orsi. 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 TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • What Happens if the U.S. Defaults?

    What Happens if the U.S. Defaults?
    May 13 2026
    In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his reaction to recent reporting surrounding the Trump family’s “patriotic,” Trump-branded cellphones. David explains how this is yet another instance of the most powerful sowing doubt about the fairness of American business and destroying confidence in the ideals of American enterprise. Then, David is joined by Lloyd Blankfein, a former chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, for a wide-ranging conversation about the current state of the American economy. They discuss Blankfein’s new memoir, “Streetwise”; the expanding American debt; the American people’s faith in the economy; and the challenges that lie ahead. 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 TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • How to Survive Losing a Child

    How to Survive Losing a Child
    May 6 2026
    In this episode of “The David Frum Show,” David is joined by his wife, the writer Danielle Crittenden, to discuss her new memoir, “Dispatches From Grief,” and the loss of their daughter Miranda. 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 TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 8 mins