The Commentary Magazine Podcast
1,462 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★★ - 3.9K ratingsCommentary is America's premier monthly magazine of opinion: General, yet Jewish. Highly variegated, with a unifying perspective.
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Episodes
Blowing the Whistle on the 'Big Guy'
June 23, 2023 13:44 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBEliana Johnson joins today's podcast with a scoop from her publication, the Washington Free Beacon: A photograph makes it clear Hunter Biden was in proximity to his father on the day in 2017 he threatened a Chinese energy executive with Joe's wrath should a deal between Hunter and the Chinese company not go through. Is this the smoking gun? Also, a year after the Dobbs decision, where stands the abortion issue? Give a listen.
Adam Schiff Is a Liar
June 22, 2023 14:16 - 50 minutes - 45.8 MBEli Lake joins the podcast today to discuss the official House of Representatives censure of California Rep. Adam Schiff. He lied, repeatedly, about having seen intelligence information proving Donald Trump colluded with Russia. Was that enough to justify the House action against him? And what about the testimony yesterday of John Durham, the special counsel who investigated the behavior of Democrats in 2016 relating to Trump and Russia? Give a listen.
The Explorer's Dilemma
June 21, 2023 14:08 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBJames B. Meigs joins the podcast today to talk about the submersible that seems to have disappeared on its way to the bottom of the ocean on a Titanic viewing expedition. Why are we so obsessed with this story, and what does it say about our view of exploration as a whole? And what do the horrific learning-loss statistics tell us about where America is going when our kids are learning nothing? Give a listen.
Hunter Pleads and Trump Confesses
June 20, 2023 18:59 - 56 minutes - 51.6 MBToday's podcast examines both the plea deal of Hunter Biden with prosecutors and Donald Trump's seeming admission of the charges against him in the documents case in an interview with Bret Baier. Give a listen.
Meeting the Chinese
June 19, 2023 14:04 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MBToday's podcast questions the meaning and the results of the trip by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China, where he engaged in two days of talks intended to ratchet down tensions between our two countries. But should tensions be ratcheted down if that means we don't confront China about its reckless behavior? And what does William Barr's condemnation of Donald Trump's actions mean politically? Give a listen.
Trust Falls
June 16, 2023 13:37 - 1 hour - 59.7 MBThe podcast today is devoted to a discussion of our colleague Abe Greenwald's seminal article, just out in COMMENTARY, called "The Trust Crisis." Why have Americans gone from being people who trust in the country and its institutions to being so wildly skeptical and indeed distrusting? Is there anything to be done about this problem? Give a listen.
Why Is Biden Bribing Iran?
June 15, 2023 15:11 - 1 hour - 61.6 MBToday's podcast tries to make sense of the reports that the Biden administration is about to relax sanctions and provide money to Iran in exchange for which Iran will...have highly enriched uranium? What's the point of this, and how is it even thinkable given the explicit letter of U.S. law on the subject? Also, in what way is the Republican race like the Harlem Globetrotters? Give a listen.
Mark His Words
June 14, 2023 15:20 - 1 hour - 62 MBMark Halperin joins the podcast today to discuss Trump's terrible day in Miami and Bedminster and what it portends not only for his future but for 2024. Give a listen.
A Turn Against Trump?
June 13, 2023 13:53 - 1 hour - 61.7 MBJames B. Meigs joins us to discuss how some GOP candidates have shifted their tone on Trump's indictment. We also go into the contingencies that could complicate his troubles. And then some frightening revelations about the likely origins of Covid. Give a listen.
An Argument About the Indictment
June 12, 2023 15:47 - 58 minutes - 53.1 MBEli Lake joins us with a skeptical take on the Justice Department's decision to indict Donald Trump, and things between him and the podcast crew get spicy. Give a listen.
How Strong Is the Case Against Trump?
June 09, 2023 14:04 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBChris Stirewalt joins the podcast today to discuss the federal indictment of Donald Trump and how much it matters that it appears to be a stronger case than the Manhattan indictment, given Trump's sway over the Republican Party and the instantly defensive response of GOP politicians to the news Thursday night. Give a listen.
Obstruction of Trump?
June 08, 2023 15:14 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBToday we discuss the news that Jack Smith's office informed Donald Trump that he's the target of their classified-documents investigation. What does it mean for Trump? How do the other Republican candidates respond? And we try to figure out what Mike Pence is up to. Give a listen.
The Cable News Crash
June 07, 2023 15:24 - 1 hour - 67.6 MBToday's podcast considers the defenestration of CNN's new chief and the declining ratings of the Fox News Channel along with Tucker Carlson's new experiment on Twitter and asks whether this is the moment that the cable-news era ended. Also: Chris Christie! Give a listen.
Why There's No Establishment Any Longer
June 06, 2023 15:32 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBToday's podcast watches the rise of RFK Jr. and asks how it is that the ultimate Establishment family—the Kennedys—has produced a trans-ideological anti-establishment candidacy and what that says about how our politics is ordered. And are things starting to shift in the Republican primary? Give a listen.
Sonic Boom and Gloom
June 05, 2023 13:57 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBToday we discuss the sonic boom heard over Washington D.C. yesterday and what it says about our defense preparedness. We then take up the worrisome provocations by China in the Taiwan Strait and new signs of sagging support for Ukraine. The gang also analyzes a puzzling New York Times article on Joe Biden's age. Give a listen.
Biden Takes a Fall
June 02, 2023 15:48 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBToday's podcast considers the potential larger meaning and effect of Joe Biden's trip-and-fall in Colorado Springs yesterday—and whether Ron DeSantis is finding his sea legs as a candidate. Give a listen.
June Is Busting Out All Over
June 01, 2023 15:34 - 56 minutes - 51.3 MBToday’s podcast features legal eagle Adam White previewing the upcoming decisions of the Supreme Court. But first, the grudging media acknowledgement of Kevin McCarthy’s political triumph—and is Trump now certain to be indicted by Jack Smith? Give a listen.
Debt, Homework, and Christie
May 31, 2023 16:11 - 1 hour - 57 MBToday's podcast continues to consider the political fallout from the debt limit deal, examines the idea that Chat GPT is the end of school homework as we know it, and wonders at the strategy of Chris Christie as he enters the presidential race. Give a listen.
McCarthy Wins—And Maybe So Does Biden?
May 30, 2023 17:01 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MBThe debt ceiling deal has been reached, and the podcast crew suggests that it's a big but modest win for Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy—but what does it do for Joe Biden? Does McCarthy's triumph mean he's lost, or is there a political upside for the president in the terms of the deal. And has the situation in Ukraine escalated over the weekend? Give a listen.
A Podcast Programming Note
May 26, 2023 14:08 - 42 seconds - 654 KBIn commemoration of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot today and Memorial Day on Monday, we will not be releasing episodes of the Commentary Magazine podcast. We'll be back to annoy you on Tuesday.
Deeeee Santis—and Ukraine
May 25, 2023 16:34 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBWe are fortunate to be joined on today's podcast by Fred Kagan, military historian at AEI and analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, to explain to us the incredible complexities of the present moment in the Russia-Ukraine war. But first we assess the first day of the DeeeSantis (as the governor of Florida himself pronounces it) presidential campaign. Give a listen.
Run, Ron, Run
May 24, 2023 16:46 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBToday's podcast looks ahead a few hours to the Ron DeSantis announcement of his presidential candidacy. Why is he doing it on Twitter Spaces? What's his strategy for victory? And then—what on earth are the Los Angeles Dodgers thinking in relation to a group that is in every particular a defamation of religious Catholics? Give a listen.
Is Scott Great?
May 23, 2023 14:01 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBToday's podcast examines the entry of Tim Scott into the presidential race and asks what he can do to enhance his position. Also, the debt ceiling talks and the apparent progress being made there. Give a listen.
Did Someone Say 'Debt'?
May 22, 2023 13:46 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBToday's podcast rolls its eyes at Joe Biden's sudden conversion to the idea that he, as president, can invoke the 14th amendment to solve the debt-ceiling crisis—something three weeks ago he said he could not do. Is this more grist for the mill of his chances in 2024? Not so fast; there are data that suggest the Republicans have more to worry about than Democrats next year. Give a listen.
Do Clothes Make the Man?
May 19, 2023 13:50 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBEliana Johnson joins the podcast today to discuss the media campaign against Dianne Feinstein, the refusal of the media to examine the condition of John Fetterman, and how Fetterman's clothing choices signify something about the nature of fashion in American politics. Also, next week's Republican-presidential-candidate-Palooza. Give a listen.
Sussex Family Values
May 18, 2023 13:16 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBThe podcast crew drops its collective jaw at the clearly questionable "near catastrophic" car chase through New York starring Harry and Meghan that clearly didn't quite happen. What do the Sussexes have in common with the movie Addams Family Values? Give a listen.
Are They Really Going to Stay in the Senate?
May 17, 2023 13:50 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBToday's podcast points out yesterday's daily double in the Senate, with John Fetterman delivering a garbled round of questioning for bankers hastily and foolishly cleaned up by a Washington Post reporter and Dianne Feinstein claiming to have been voting in the Senate during months when she was in California supposedly recovering from "shingles." What effect will this have on voter views of Joe Biden, himself the object of questioning about his compos mentis? Give a listen.
Bulldog Durham
May 16, 2023 13:56 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBEli Lake joins the podcast today to discuss the findings and fallout of the Durham report on the FBI's conduct during its investigation of the Trump campaign in 2016 and after. Give a listen.
Rockets Over Israel
May 15, 2023 14:04 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBJonathan Schanzer joins us today to discuss the firing of 1,400-plus rockets at Israel from Gaza and why this time is different from, say, 2021 in the nature of the enemy, the nature of the threat, and the nature of the geopolitical efforts being made against Israel led by Iran. Also, the Turkish elections. Give a listen.
You Can't Win If You Don't Try
May 12, 2023 12:26 - 49 minutes - 45 MBToday's podcast takes up, again, the baffling refusal of Republicans running against Donald Trump to...run against Donald Trump. How do they think they can beat him if they don't try to beat him? Also, the immigration crisis and the indictment of the subway chokeholder. Give a listen.
Trump 1, CNN 0
May 11, 2023 14:23 - 1 hour - 64.8 MBToday's podcast reviews Donald Trump's performance at the CNN Republican Town Hall in New Hampshire—and not only his, but the hysterical Twitter reaction to it and the waves of liberal hostility generated against CNN's Kaitlan Collins for somehow not preventing Trump from being effective. And what's this about the Biden family earning millions and hiding it? Give a listen.
Liabilities
May 10, 2023 14:06 - 1 hour - 61.4 MBToday's podcast discusses the jury verdict in the civil case against Donald Trump and how it might affect his chance—and the mien of his chief rival, Joe Biden, during a press conference yesterday about the debt ceiling. And Tucker Carlson going to Twitter. Give a listen.
The Not-So-Glittering Prizes
May 09, 2023 14:27 - 1 hour - 57.7 MBToday's podcast delves into the list of the Pulitzer-prize-winning journalism of 2022, announced yesterday, and notes that the list comes at a time when Americans are more disenchanted with the field than ever—and for good reason! Also, the border. And Abe Greenwald offers an out-of-left field "Commentary Recommends." Give a listen.
The Old Men Who Run the World
May 08, 2023 14:48 - 1 hour - 56.7 MBThe podcast descends into disagreement on the pomp and circumstance of King Charles's coronation before rising in agreement in a group analysis of the absolutely horrendous poll for Joe Biden released Sunday. And then we discuss the subway chokehold and the liberal response. Give a listen.
Was Life Better 50 Years Ago?
May 05, 2023 13:22 - 57 minutes - 52.7 MBToday's podcast takes up a Pew Research poll showing a majority of Americans believe things were better 50 years ago than they are now. Why would people say this about a time when America was sunk in a losing war, living under wage and price controls, and dealing with Watergate and an oil embargo? And in our new "Commentary Recommends" feature, I make the case you should read Anthony Trollope's Phineas Finn. Give a listen.
Putin on the Blitz
May 04, 2023 14:31 - 1 hour - 65.1 MBTV showrunner and our Hollywood Commentary columnist Rob Long joins today's podcast to give his view of the Hollywood writers' strike in which he is now a shockingly willing participant—but before we get to that we discuss the weird drone event over the Kremlin and the reaction to the chokehold death of a menacing subway schizophrenic in New York City. Give a listen.
Biden's Border Bungle: A History
May 03, 2023 13:41 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBToday's podcast looks at the Biden administration's effort to do something—anything—to address the crisis at the southern border and examines how the problems we face really began with the Obama administration's determination to do something good and noble. Beware! Also, why is the Surgeon General talking about loneliness? And Day Two of our new feature, Commentary Picks. Give a listen.
McCarthy's Moment
May 02, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBThe podcast today discusses Joe Biden's change of tactics in inviting Republican leaders to the White House next week to talk about the debt ceiling and how this suggests the new standing as a political player of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. But will Donald Trump and his town hall next week on CNN play a role too? And we debut our new feature: Commentary's Daily Pick. Give a listen.
A Matter of Trust
May 01, 2023 14:37 - 55 minutes - 50.3 MBToday's podcast tries to find the link between bank failures, tech failures, moral failures on the part of politicians and tech giants, and the growing lack of trust in American society. Also, why the pessimism on Ukraine may be unwarranted. Give a listen.
Trump's Character, Biden's Age
April 28, 2023 12:35 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBToday we talk about the battery and defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump and what it could mean if he loses. Then we take up the matter of Joe Biden's age, its possible effect on his reelection prospects, and how it shapes America's current role in the world. Give a listen.
Give Biden the Questions!
April 27, 2023 13:57 - 1 hour - 67.1 MBToday's podcast examines the larger political meaning of the Republican success in getting a debt-ceiling bill through the House of Representatives, the larger media meaning of the fact that major news organizations are supplying the president with questions in advance, and the larger social meaning of Ron DeSantis having some trouble with his anti-woke campaign. Give a listen.
Israel's Miracle and Washington's Mess
April 26, 2023 13:32 - 56 minutes - 52 MBOn the occasion of Israel's 75th anniversary, the podcast takes a look at why Israel has become a financial powerhouse while India (which gained independence in the same year) remains so economically problematic. And then, speaking of being economically problematic, we talk about the debt ceiling. Give a listen.
Day 1 of the Biden Reelect
April 25, 2023 13:57 - 1 hour - 60.1 MBEli Lake joins the podcast today to talk about what on earth is going on with the Georgia investigation into Donald Trump, the meaning of Joe Biden's reelection video announcement, and the defenestration of Tucker Carlson. Give a listen.
Hunter Seekers
April 24, 2023 14:10 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBToday's podcast discusses the upcoming Biden reelection announcement and the fact that it is happening just as the hijinks surrounding the media and intelligence efforts to suppress the news from Hunter Biden's laptop become ever more scandalous. Also, why is Biden's press secretary criticizing Americans trapped in the middle of a Sudanese civil war? Give a listen.
Why We're Not Liberals
April 21, 2023 13:32 - 1 hour - 56.6 MBOn today's podcast we reflect on the kinds of coercive policies advocated by Americans on the Left that harden our resolve as conservatives, taking off from the news that people with good credit are about to be charged extra money to support people with bad credit. Give a listen.
Shooting Strangers and Iranian Dangers
April 20, 2023 14:09 - 54 minutes - 50.3 MBJonathan Schanzer, Middle East expert, joins us to discuss a four-pronged threat to Israel led by Iran. But before we get to that we talk about the spate of false stranger-danger shootings across the country and what it might mean. Give a listen.
Fox Hunt
April 19, 2023 15:41 - 59 minutes - 54.3 MBEliana Johnson joins the podcast today to assess the damage to Fox News Channel from its colossal settlement with Dominion, after which we look at the damage done to Ron DeSantis over the past couple of weeks. Give a listen.
Israel and the New Paganism
April 18, 2023 13:28 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBLiel Leibovitz joins the podcast today to discuss his lead article in the May COMMENTARY, "The Return of Paganism." But before that, he gives us his impressions of the political situation in his native country, Israel. Give a listen.
Who Benefits from the Leaks?
April 17, 2023 14:13 - 59 minutes - 54.2 MBOn today's podcast, the leak story gets more complicated, Chicago gets more lawless, and the New York Times gets more gaslighty. Give a listen.
Jack the Leaker and Joe the Dodderer
April 14, 2023 13:55 - 1 hour - 64.4 MBToday's podcast expresses bewilderment at the developing facts surrounding the terrible military leaks and the arrest of Jack Teixeira, gamer and social-media guy. And views the increasing bewilderment of Joe Biden on his Ireland trip with alarm and what it might portend for his reelection. Give a listen.