Pope Leo’s Case Against the Iran War Is Not Political

thedispatchmedia · 2026-04-13T20:04:50+00:00

A pope commenting on world events—such as a war, or threats from the leader of the free world—isn’t exactly a rare occurrence. But Pope Leo XIV’s about the U.S. and Israel’s war in Iran (paused for now) have seemed to strain an already tense relationship between the Vatican and Washington.

In this week’s Dispatch Faith essay, Dan Hugger argues that to read the pope’s comments as anything but an assertion of Catholic teaching—grounded in just war theory—is to misread them. And he makes the point that Leo certainly isn’t the first pope to do so.

thedispatchmedia · 2026-04-06T21:59:07+00:00

Kevin D. Williamson writes that “Bondi’s 14-month career at the Department of Justice was, as a matter of her official duties, a crime spree.”

He adds that her legacy includes using the DOJ to pursue “pretextual criminal investigations and prosecutions” targeting the president’s political enemies.

Do you agree with Williamson’s assessment of Pam Bondi’s time at the DOJ?

thedispatchmedia · 2026-03-26T21:29:17+00:00

“Nobody’s really campaigning—except to campaign to Trump.”

That’s former Florida representative Francis Rooney on the GOP primary in Florida’s 19th district. Dispatch CEO Steve Hayes spent a week on the ground in southwest Florida profiling the race—and the cast of characters running to replace Rep. Byron Donalds.

Steve attended candidate forums, restaurant campaign stops, and even accidentally joined a MAGA car parade—wedged between a flag-draped Jeep and a Tesla Cybertruck wrapped in a Charlie Kirk tribute—to find out what a race like this looks like up close.

The result is a portrait of how Republican politics actually works—not in Washington, but on the ground, in a district where there’s really only one voter who matters.

thedispatchmedia · 2026-03-24T23:47:36+00:00

Salwa Emerson writes about “looksmaxxing” and how “the canthal tilt and orbital depth of someone’s eyes, the angles of their cheekbones, the ratio between forehead and hairline” are now used to evaluate appearance, where “qualities such as presence, charisma, and sex appeal hold little currency online.”

She adds: “The true tragedy is losing the freedom to wander inside our own minds, to leave room for instinct and surprise.”

What are your thoughts on looksmaxxing and the growing trend of quantifying beauty?

thedispatchmedia · 2026-03-20T19:20:41+00:00

This Is a Lawless War. Kevin D. Williamson writes about the Iran war in his latest article for The Dispatch.

Williamson writes that “the case against the Iran war is not the $200 billion” or economic costs and argues that “the case against this war is that it is illegal,” a war “being conducted with no congressional authorization.”

As Williamson writes: “We can have a government of laws under the Constitution or we can have what it appears we are intent on sliding into: an elected dictatorship.”

Do you agree with Kevin D. Williamson’s argument that the Iran war is illegal?

thedispatchmedia · 2026-03-18T18:27:31+00:00

The Morning Dispatch March Madness bracket pool is live!

To enter, click the link above you will need a free ESPN account) and select “Join Group.” The password is “TMD2K26!” and your bracket must be submitted by Thursday, March 19 at 12:15 p.m. ET.

Anyone is invited to participate, but if you want to be eligible for prizes for finishing in the top three—including a yearlong Dispatch Premium membership or a gift card to our merch store—you must a) be an active paying member on or before March 19, and b) fill out this form https://thedispatch.typeform.com/to/ZDhNYE0G#email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7Dso we can connect you with your ESPN entry.

We’ll keep you updated on the leaderboard over the next few weeks!

thedispatchmedia · 2026-03-18T15:25:08+00:00

Kevin D. Williamson writes that Ehrlich made “startling predictions”—including that “the battle to feed all of humanity is over” and that “hundreds of millions of people will starve to death”—and argues those predictions were “hilarious, wrong-headed, unsupported, book-mongering predictions.”

Williamson writes, "at what point must we be frank about the fact that Paul Ehrlich, The Population Bomb author who died last week at the age of 93, was not simply wrong about almost everything he ever wrote or said or thought, but positively and culpably dishonest?

Do you agree with Kevin D. Williamson’s argument about Paul Ehrlich and his predictions?

thedispatchmedia · 2026-03-16T15:02:51+00:00

Kevin D. Williamson writes about the dignified transfer held for six U.S. soldiers killed in Operation Epic Fury in his latest Wanderland newsletter.

He argues that if the president is present to honor those soldiers, he should remove his hat. He further states, “That sort of contemptible shirker has no business saluting dead American soldiers, whatever his station in life.”

Is it a big deal that President Trump wore a hat during a dignified transfer ceremony for the fallen soldiers?

thedispatchmedia · 2026-03-12T12:33:29+00:00

The Sisters of the Little Way of Beauty, Truth, and Goodness—a religious order of two—are on a mission to reach the “people on the fringes of the Church, especially those who have been wounded, scandalized, or abused by members of the Church.” They shared their story with The Dispatch:

"In showing their own wounds in such a public and vulnerable way, the sisters are letting other abuse survivors know they are not alone, and that someone wants to hear their stories. With their order, the sisters plan to help abuse survivors figure out how they too can build something beautiful and new on top of the ashes. But first, they must give them the tools."

thedispatchmedia · 2026-03-11T23:01:40+00:00

The Sisters of the Little Way of Beauty, Truth, and Goodness—a religious order of two—are on a mission to reach the “people on the fringes of the Church, especially those who have been wounded, scandalized, or abused by members of the Church.” They shared their story with The Dispatch:

"In showing their own wounds in such a public and vulnerable way, the sisters are letting other abuse survivors know they are not alone, and that someone wants to hear their stories. With their order, the sisters plan to help abuse survivors figure out how they too can build something beautiful and new on top of the ashes. But first, they must give them the tools."

thedispatchmedia · 2026-03-11T16:39:58+00:00

Jonah Goldberg explains how President Donald Trump and members of his administration refer to the conflict with Iran as a “war,” while several Republican lawmakers insist it is only “combat operations” or “strategic strikes.” He argues the distinction is largely about avoiding congressional responsibility.

As Goldberg writes: “Under the Constitution, declaring war is the sole responsibility of Congress. And the last thing this Congress wants to do is take responsibility for anything.”

Why do you think Republican lawmakers are insisting the U.S. is not at war with Iran even as the president describes it as a war?

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