The Commentary Magazine Podcast

Today we take up the news that Nikki Haley's most prominent endorser has announced that he expects her to come in second in New Hampshire. Is it over? It kinda feels like it. But this opens up a slim path for Ron DeSantis. We also discuss the Biden administration's wrongheaded foreign policy and wonder whether Joe Biden and Antony Blinken even mean what they say about a Palestinian state. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political savant nonpareil Steve Kornacki joins the podcast today to break down the Iowa results, look ahead to New Hampshire, and make recommendations about what to look for on Tuesday if you want to get a real sense of where this race (if it is a race) might be going. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast wrestles with questions relating to Donald Trump's smashing victory in Iowa last night. Does the tiny number of caucusgoers represent anything? Does anyone have a path besides Trump now? Where do Bugs Bunny, Donald Duck, and the obscure movie Clockwise come in to the discussion? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast takes up a jaw-dropping New York Times article that asks how important, really, is Israel to the religion of Judaism. Yes, you read that right. Also, the Iowa caucuses are upon us, and it looks like the Republican coronation might be commencing. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we discuss the American strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. Was it enough to deter terrorism in the Red Sea? What does it accomplish so long as the Biden administration continues to ignore the Iranian threat? We also take up the matter of American apologists for terrorism and propose a Biden-Trump debate. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast asks why Chris Christie ran in the first place, and come to think of it, why did DeSantis run when he clearly had people telling him he couldn't actually beat Trump by, you know, arguing he should be president and not Trump? And should Nikki Haley take up a second career as a tobacco auctioneer? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast goes through some of Trump's legal shenanigans—and the apparent shenanigans of his Atlanta prosecutor, Fani Willis—and offers a new interpretation of his life and history. Clue: It's like Damn Yankees. Also, the first Commentary DisRecommends! Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast finds a connection between the pro-Palestinian protests closing bridges and tunnels and inconveniencing hundreds of thousands of people and the kinds of petty shoplifting that make going to stores in urban centers more and more hellish. What's the connection? And why should kids take the SAT? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast points out the wet, limp noodle that was Joe Biden's supposedly "fiery" speech about democracy at Valley Forge before joining the world in wonder at the disappearance into a hospital by the Defense Secretary with the world on fire. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast looks at the current state of the race on the day Joe Biden will deliver a speech on Donald Trump's threat to democracy, and we ask: Is Biden doing this to make sure Trump keeps talking about the supposedly stolen election, which is the subject Biden believes can propel him to a second term? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast takes up the appalling self-defense of the ousted Harvard president Claudine Gay in the New York Times before a discussion of the 2024 matchup and whether Al Gore should have run in 2004 the way Donald Trump is re-running in 2024. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Senor joins today's podcast to talk about the major developments in Israel over the past few weeks—the assassination of a top Hamas terrorist in Lebanon and the Supreme Court's overturning of judicial reform there. Then we get to the larger meaning of Claudine Gay's resignation from Harvard. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the first podcast of 2024, we discuss what is already the dumbest opinion piece of the year. And we catch up on the presidential race. How damaging was Nikki Haley's answer about the Civil War? How bad was Joe Biden's New Year's Eve appearance? How much did Maine's secretary of state help Donald Trump? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On our final holiday week podcast, we choose the people we think represented 2023, in good ways and in very bad ways as well. From a heroic fighting man to a monstrous and foolish military leader, and others in between. Give a listen as you have a Happy New Year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's holiday week podcast offers our picks for the most interesting television offerings of the year, which include vampires, cannibals, pizza, comedians, zombies, and space explorers. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's holiday-week short podcast we offer you our selection for the best or most meaningful books we've read in 2023, from a 1978 discourse on lying to an Israeli novel about American anti-Semitism to a book about American breakdown to the best play of the century—and a comedian's memoir. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first in a series of special shows this holiday week features the movies we thought the most about in 2023, some from 2023, some from earlier, and one from 2024! How does that work? Well, you gotta give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we discuss how the Washington Post, New York Times, and other outlets are revising their coverage of established facts from the war in Gaza to be even more credulous toward Hamas than they've already been. And what do we make of Trump's Michigan phone call and Nikki Haley's rising poll numbers in New Hampshire? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast takes up the meaning of Harvard's president being a plagiarist and nonetheless holding on to her job—what does this mean, what are the ramifications, and how deeply does it seem to represent a rot that goes down to the root of America's foremost private institution? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast takes up the headshaking decision of the Colorado Supreme Court to try and keep Donald Trump off the presidential ballot, basically asking the deep and profound question: What the hell???? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast examines polling on Joe Biden, polling on American youth and Gaza, polling on Nikki Haley, polling on Donald Trump, polling on abortion, and reckons that everything is very, very confusing. We try to clear up that confusion. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we talk about a new poll that found a majority of Americans under 25 view Israel as an oppressor and believe that the October 7 massacre could be justified. We get into the history of these poisonous ideas, their rise in American universities and American culture, and what needs to be done about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we talk about the twists and turns at the Biden White House as it articulates its position on Israel. What does it mean that Israel has until the end of the year to get more precise with its targeting? And what is Kamala Harris up to in pushing for more vocal consideration of the Palestinians? Finally, we take up James Bennet's massive new essay on the New York Times' turn toward illiberalism. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast asks whether Joe Biden has turned on Benjamin Netanyahu and what role Bibi's own electoral hopes and fears are playing in this seeming new confrontation. And: Will there be a big border/Ukraine/Israel funding deal, given that it's in everybody's interest to get the deal? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we talk about House Republican plans to hold a vote on the impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. How does the latest impeachment saga stack-up against the impeachments of Donald Trump? Will it hurt Biden or embarrass the Republicans? And what does it—along with Trump's ongoing legal woes—say about Americans' faith in the system? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast goes into detail about an inadvertently hilarious tweet from the Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff, about the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah and what it reveals about him, Jewish people like him, and the problem Kamala Harris poses for Joe Biden. And, again, why are Trumpy politicians going all in on opposing Ukraine aid—and why is Biden not acceding to stricter border control ideas in exchange for that aid? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eliana Johnson joins the podcast today to discuss the startling NBC News poll of Iowa that finds Trump with an absolute majority of Republican voters and Ron DeSantis going exactly nowhere fast. Why did DeSantis run if he was never going to challenge Trump in the first place? What about the poll numbers from CNN today that show Trump beating Biden by ten points in Michigan? And maybe the college presidents said what they said at the hearing last week because they believe it. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we discuss the indictment of Hunter Biden. Does this, along with the inquiry into Joe Biden's connections to Hunter's business, effectively neutralize the president's chief argument against Donald Trump? What will Joe Biden do now? What's in the best interest of the country? Also—mailbag! Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's podcast, I am filled with nihilistic despair about the state of the Republican race after last night's probably final presidential primary debate, while Matt Continetti and Seth Mandel try to convince me not to curl up in a ball. Plus: College presidents and their hostage videos! Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we take up the prevarication and plain dishonesty of university presidents during the House committee hearing on campus anti-Semitism. One claims not to know about foreign funding and another doesn't think incitement to anti-Semitic violence is a conduct violation. For Harvard, UPenn, MIT, and others, this was a watershed moment. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why can't Joe Biden face down the protestors on his left? Why is he hedging in his support of Israel? Why hasn't he responded to Iranian attacks on the U.S.? Why doesn't he give Ukraine what it needs to win? And why is he losing to Donald Trump? He's afraid. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast notes that the end of the fighting "pause" in Israel almost denotes the end of the idea of "ceasefire." And now the disingenuous efforts to oppose Israel's self-defense are going by the wayside. This is now leading to outright calls for "intifada" here in the United States—which is the term used over the past 35 years to describe Palestinian efforts to attack Jews for being Jews with any means at hand. And the attacks on American Jews and Jewish public life are only accelerating. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast is a hybrid. The first part, about the appalling rhetoric used by Antony Blinken about Israel and its conduct of the war that has now restarted, was recorded Friday morning, December 1. The second half, about the passing of Henry Kissinger and my trip to the massacre site in Israel, was recorded Thursday afternoon, November 30. Please be understanding as you give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we talk about Chuck Schumer's bold Senate-floor speech warning about anti-Semitism from the left. He said the right words at the right time, but how will it impact the calls from his own party to condition aid to Israel? And what's up with Joe Biden's tweet seeming to nod toward the ceasefire crowd? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we dig into the stories about U.S. hopes for a grand deal leading to a ceasefire. What are negotiators up to? Does Biden think this is going to help him politically? And we talk about the disconnect between Israeli security imperatives and American war weariness. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's podcast, I provide the first of my impressions on a weeklong trip to Israel and what it feels like to be in a country at war—even during this strange period when the rocket fire has stopped and the hostages are being dribbled out by Hamas. The podcast crew joins me in wondering how stiff the spines of Joe Biden and the Israelis can and will remain as Hamas continues to play the hostage card. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we ask whether the daily release of Israeli hostages threatens to obscure the main point: Israel must defeat Hamas. And with fighting paused, how much pressure will the world put on Israel to abandon this aim? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Senor joins the pre-Thanksgiving podcast to discuss the contours of the deal to release hostages from Gaza, along with some of the horrifying details of how the soldiers in Israel who will take custody of the children are being instructed to deal with them and the questions they ask, like "Where are Mommy and Daddy?" Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast takes up the purported deal to free hostages from Gaza—why it's happening, what has impelled a deal that doesn't look rational on paper, and what might come of it. Also, why did the White House release a birthday-cake picture with Joe Biden in it that looked like the White House was going to be set on fire? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we get into new polling that shows Joe Biden losing to Donald Trump in about 50 different ways. What are Democrats to make of this? Is it too late? The poll also reveals broad American support for Israel and Ukraine. And what's up with talk of a hostage deal with Hamas? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The full podcast crew is back today to discuss the weird moment when people started to crow about how the Israelis weren't finding the Hamas tunnels at the hospital—only to fall silent when they were found. And the anti-Semitism explosion just gets worse, with Elon Musk, Candace Owens, Charlie Kirk, and Tucker Carlson playing along. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Halperin joins the podcast today to examine polling data both national and state-level and concludes that Trump is winning the race against Joe Biden and Democrats are kidding themselves if they believe otherwise. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caution: Today's podcast has a lot of cursing on it—cursing about the shockingly bad coverage of the extraordinary March for Israel yesterday and the effort by the mainstream media to bury it in an avalanche of "but really policymakers are concerned" coverage that is, frankly, bull---. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

William Daroff, the CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, joins the podcast to give us genuinely helpful advice about how to get around Washington today as so many of us will be traveling to be at the March for Israel on the Mall—where not to park, what Metro stop to use, where to get in, and generally how to have the best time at the most important event for American Jewry since the days of the Soviet Jewry protests. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James B. Meigs joins today's podcast as we ask what the fallout from Tim Scott's decision to depart the Republican race for president will mean and sketch out a long-shot scenario that would give Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley a real chance to challenge Donald Trump. Then we discuss Meigs's extraordinary article, "They Forgot to Be Afraid," about the systemic failure of Israeli deterrence at the Gaza border and how it parallels so many other disasters. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Senor joins today's podcast to discuss the various scenarios in which Nikki Haley really does have a shot at taking the Republican nomination from Donald Trump. We even do a lightning round on whether her successful debate appearances mean her chances are real or illusory. And what does the Israeli agreement to a four-hour "humanitarian pause" mean? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast begins with a discussion of the Republican debate before we turn to the astonishing revelations that trusted stringers for a series of Western news organizations, among them the AP, Reuters, and CNN, were actually with the Hamas monsters who slaughtered and wounded 5,000 Israelis on October 7—and were, at least until last night, still collecting checks from these organizations. How could this happen? The answer: Decades of reliance on local "stringers" who are actually operatives for the bad guys. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast looks at the results of the 2023 elections and show how abortion is still winning for Democrats and how Republicans just keep losing and losing and losing and why. Also, why it matters that Rep. Rashida Tlaib was censured—or did she want this? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we talk about the ramped-up anti-Semitic violence exploding almost simultaneously across the country, including the fatal attack on a Jewish man in Los Angeles. What's going on and how did we get here? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Senor joins us to talk about his new book, The Genius of Israel, co-written with Saul Singer, and why its portrait of the war-torn country—finished long before the war—offers an explanation for the country's extraordinarily cohesive response to the October 7 attack and shows Israel its own way forward to victory. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices