The Commentary Magazine Podcast

Today, John returns to discuss the life of his father, Norman Podhoretz. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 December 2025

Today, we discuss the life, work, and ideas of longtime COMMENTARY editor and intellectual giant Norman Podhoretz, who died yesterday at age 95. From there, we move on to the strange developments in the Brown University shooting investigation, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles's unusual interview with Vanity Fair, and the Trump administration generally. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2025

Eli Lake joins the podcast to discuss  "The Palestine Firsters," his lead article in the January issue of COMMENTARY. Why do Ben Rhodes and a cast of others on the left and right want America to work against its core interests by breaking the U.S.-Israel alliance? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 December 2025

The attack on Bondi Beach is not an isolated incident; it's the export of the Islamist war against the Jews to areas far from Gaza. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2025

Is Trump losing the thread as we head into 2026? And what's this—secular saint Oliver Sacks, the man who brought empathy to discussions of human weakness, made a lot of stuff up? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2025

With the boarding and seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker, the United States's confrontation with Venezuela ascends to a higher level. What's going on? And why are Democrats making crazy commercials and going with crazy candidates for 2026? And why am I recommending a movie from 1946–It's a Wonderful Life—that everyone has already seen? Give a listen.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2025

Eli Lake joins us for a conversation that begins with Christmas music and ends with man's search for meaning. Today's COMMENTARY RECOMMENDS: The Bible. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2025

Today's podcast tries to make sense out of the incoherent Trump administration posture toward China, AI chips, tariffs, farmers, and the economy. Also, Christine Rosen recommends Chip War by Chris Miller and Philip A. Wallach's Why Congress? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2025

A full house today takes up Pete Hegseth's speech on American defense and the national security strategy document released by the administration—Good? Bad? Ugly? And how about that New York Times story revealing the way the Biden administration self-destructed on immigration? Plus, I recommend (with the provisos that it's very very very long and very very very violent) Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair—a merger of his two Kill Bill films from 20 years ago. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2025

Enough with the pomposity about gerrymandering—each party does it and the other one has a cow and then they switch positions and do it all over again. Latest example: Texas. Also, Tom Cotton defends the boat strike, JD Vance puts a "Golden Noel" label on an event celebrating a Jewish holiday, and we answer listener mail. Plus I recommend the hilarious performances of Walter Matthau in The Sunshine Boys and Edith Evans in The Importance of Being Earnest. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025

Is Pete Hegseth really in more trouble than he was last week? You'd think that from the network news, but it's probably wrong. Is anyone even watching network news? How about cable news? Or is everybody just listening to podcasts? We discuss these matters, and Trump's pardons, today, and Christine Rosen recommends a work of Japanese crime fiction called Out. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 December 2025

Jesse Arm of the Manhattan Institute joins us as we examine the results of the special election in Tennessee that had a Republican candidate winning with a greatly reduced margin from Trump's showing in the district in 2024. Arm then shares with us some pathbreaking research into attitudes and ideas inside the Trump electoral coalition. And Abe Greenwald recommends a new HBOMax documentary called Paul Anka: His Way. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2025

Today we take up the New York Times and its implicit takedown of the Washington Post story claiming Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a second strike in an attack on a drug-smuggling boat in September. Then we wonder what possible incentive the U.S. can offer Russia to take its "peace deal." And for today's COMMENTARY RECOMMENDS, I choose the actor Tim Blake Nelson's novel Superhero. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2025

Did the U.S. military commit a war crime with a strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, or is the story made up? What exactly is President Trump up to regarding Venezuela? How do we fix immigration and asylum policy so that Muslim immigrants are better assimilated? And what's the mood in Israel regarding Netanyahu's pardon request? We raise these and other issues on today's podcast. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2025

In this special post-Thanksgiving episode, I ask COMMENTARY's editor about everything from endless ideological fights to Israel's supposed information-war failure to his favorite TV show. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2025

Today we try to parse the game behind Trump negotiator Steve Witkoff coaching his Russian counterpart on how to win Trump's favor before moving on to Zohran Mamdani's repulsive transition team. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

Adam White joins the podcast today to discuss the latest developments in the legal controversies surrounding Donald Trump and his administration, from the Comey case to the tariffs at the Supreme Court. Also: Why is JD Vance complaining about the "Beltway GOP" when he is the crown prince of the Beltway GOP? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2025

Jonathan Schanzer joins today to discuss the torrent of developments from Gaza to Ukraine, from Trump-Mamdani to Rubio vs. his former Senate colleagues, from Twitterbot foreign agents to Muslim Brotherhood terrorist designations. Wow! Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2025

Today's podcast takes up Zohran Mamdani's spokesman's appalling declaration that a meeting inside a synagogue about how to move to Israel was a violation of international law—in effect justifying an anti-Semitic demonstration outside it. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2025

As a genocidal protest breaks out in front of an Orthodox synagogue in New York City, elsewhere in the cultural capital, a books-awards group hands out garlands to explicitly anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic work. This continues a trend that is alienating readers and movie audiences and others—the wild politicization of forms of education and entertainment. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 November 2025

We talk about the remarkable new relationship developing between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, the remarkable developing hostility between the U.S. and Venezuela, and the remarkable breakup journalism of Olivia Nuzzi and Ryan Lizza. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2025

James B. Meigs joins us to talk about how scared, or not, we should be by AI. Also: What gives with NASA? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2025

James Kirchick joins the podcast to discuss his new COMMENTARY article, "Neither American nor Conservative," about the isolationists of the American Conservative throwing a tantrum over Donald Trump's muscular support for Israel. And what does it mean that the Heritage Foundation board member Robert P. George just resigned? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 November 2025

Today's podcast notes eerily similar stories in the New York Times and the Washington Post on Trump's supposed troubles with MAGA—leading us to ask, is there such a thing as MAGA without Trump or independent from Trump? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2025

With the shutdown over, it's time to ask the question: What do Democrats actually want? We can't quite figure it out but we try. Also, Epstein. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2025

Late-breaking news of communications relating to Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump provide us with a chance to talk about conspiracy theories and how Trump's deployment of them is biting him now with the continued questions relating to the now-dead half-billionaire sex criminal. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2025

Today's podcast begins with continuing fallout from the end of the shutdown before moving on to worrying signs that President Trump doesn't understand how he sounds when he talks about the economy—and what he could do to sound better. Also, we're supposed to feel sorry for Hamas murderers trapped in their own tunnels? Seriously? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 November 2025

The government shutdown appears to be reaching its end, and that's because eight non-Democratic senators have effectively agreed to the deal that Republicans put on the table before the shutdown began. What went on here? And why is Trump now offering 2 grand to taxpayers as a "tariff bonus"? And, most deliciously, we explore the collapse of the BBC senior leadership after an internal expose of their crimes against Trump, trans ideology, and Israel. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 November 2025

The freakout online at the suggestion that maybe Gentiles working at the Heritage Foundation might want to eat a Shabbat dinner at the home of a Jewish person really gave the game away this week–and not in a good way. Is this a game that Jews should even attempt to play? And is there really any way for conservatives to "educate" or "coopt" those who have such hostility toward the Jewish people? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2025

Christine Rosen, Eli Lake, and I talk about the drama of yesterday's Heritage Foundation meeting, during which Kevin Roberts took another shot at apologizing and staffers in turn aired their outrage, support, and anti-Israel animus. And Christine and Eli make a bunch of Gen-X cultural references that I should get but don't. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 November 2025

In yesterday's elections, the Republicans took what John calls both a thumping and a shellacking. Donald Trump wasn't on the ballot, but he was on voters' minds. What are the Republicans to do? And what does the election of Zohran Mamdani herald for the country? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2025

California, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City all have potentially game-changing elections today and we break them down rather than having a breakdown, which will probably come tomorrow, once the results are in. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2025

We welcome Eliana Johnson to the podcast as our new daily colleague following the departure of Matthew Continetti as we discuss the crisis at the Heritage Foundation and the behavior of its chief executive in defending Tucker Carlson after he literally turned his airwaves over to a modern-day Nazi. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 3 November 2025

A farewell tribute to COMMENTARY podcast stalwart Matthew Continetti as he moves on to the Wall Street Journal to ply his wares. We reminisce, we say what we think we did right, and what we did wrong, and then Matt makes not one, not two, but three recommendations! Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2025

Donald Trump and Chinese premier Xi decided to back off their big fight and make concessions to each other for a year rather than end up in a full-scale trade war. The question: Did this aggressive move by Trump serve any real purpose? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 October 2025

Today's podcast takes up a story you may not yet know about because the media aren't reporting on it: A blockbuster report from the House detailing the ways in which Joe Biden in 2024 and 2025 was not actually performing his presidential duties and his aides were. Also: since when is Hamas breaking a ceasefire supposed to be reported out as Israel breaking a ceasefire? Since now. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2025

Today we look at Donald Trump's trip to Asia and how he might approach Xi Jinping on trade. We also consider the public's perception of what tariffs are doing to prices and why Trump always needs to have a shadow hanging over his accomplishments. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2025

Today's podcast asks what Democrats might take away from next Tuesday's elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City—and how the political dilemmas they face are affecting the government shutdown. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 October 2025

A conversation about how Donald Trump controls all news in this country morphs unexpectedly into a deep dive into large language models, uncanny valleys, AI, driverless cars, and everything scary about everything. Give a listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 October 2025

As the agonizing over the White House ballroom continues, we continue to analyze it. And what's up with Donald Trump's interest in Argentine beef?  Finally, we get to the NYC mayoral race and how Zohran Mamdani, if elected, might respond to his base. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2025

The liberal meltdown over the creation of a ballroom at the White House is another example of how liberals and the left keep stepping on their own substantive disagreements with Donald Trump because they get distracted by...stupid things. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2025

Is the Trump administration's success in the Middle East going to have an effect on the way the more extreme elements of the right talk about Israel and Jews more broadly? And if podcasters continue to trash-talk Trump on this and other matters, will Trump take it lying down—or will he insist on a loyalty test for them too? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 October 2025

A huge show of anti-Trump force this weekend raises the question—to what end and for what purpose? And was Israel's decision to hit back hard at Hamas for violating the Trump deal really a sign of a division between the administration and the Israeli government or more of a tactical pause to see how Hamas reacts? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 October 2025

We discuss last night's NYC mayoral debate, in which Zohran Mamdani was bad, Andrew Cuomo was worse, and Curtis Sliwa was Curtis Sliwa. And we talk about the terrorist-run city of Birmingham, UK. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 October 2025

Donald Trump is telling Hamas to fulfill its end of the deal or he will tell Israel to go back in and go get the bodies of the hostages Hamas is still holding. He's continuing to use the threats of force to change the realities on the ground in ways that remain fresh and new. Meanwhile, American politicians are behaving badly on both sides of the aisle. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2025

Eliana Johnson joins the podcast to discuss Donald Trump's telling Hamas to disarm or be disarmed. We also talk about the Democrats' fanciful claim that Trump got the cease-fire and got the hostages back by following the Biden administration's plans. And we get into the New York Times' worshipful profile of Zohran Mamdani. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2025

Settle in; This is a long one. We discuss the release of the hostages, Donald Trump's extraordinary speech to the Knesset, the meaning of deterrence, the changing atmosphere in the Middle East, and the question of...providence. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 October 2025

The end of the war in Gaza follows the unprecedented two-year psychological war against Zionism, supporters of Israel, and the very idea that Jews need and deserve to defend themselves. This has been an open question for us since 1948, when even Hannah Arendt opposed the creation of a Jewish state in the pages of COMMENTARY. We explain why she was wrong then, is wrong now, and why Israel's survival is important even for turncoat Jews who attack it. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2025

We must not hope for the best while expecting the worst today; today is a day to celebrate while cautiously looking forward. Jonathan Schanzer joins us to talk about the terms of the deal that will bring the Israeli hostages home while ensuring Israel retains military options and territory in Gaza—a better deal for Israel than most of us ever expected would be the final case. How did it happen? What happens next? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 October 2025

Eliana Johnson joins the podcast today to talk about the unprecedented attack-dog performance on Tuesday in a Senate hearing by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who decided to treat her oversight committee as though they were enemies whom she had every right to attack in personal terms. Is this a new model going forward? And what's this with the idea that a Harvard professor shooting a gun near a synagogue was just hunting rats? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2025