The Commentary Magazine Podcast

There has been a breakthrough in the development of sustainable fusion-generated power. Will this be a welcome development, or will there be a backlash? Also, Twitter’s weekend information dump confirms the persecutory nature of content moderation in the Trump years. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just when you thought it was safe to stop thinking about politics, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona shows up and throws a wrench into Joe Biden’s Democratic machine by announcing she is becoming an independent. Does it matter? Noah says no. I say it might matter a huge amount. For this debate, and talk about the Twitter transparency project, give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AEI fellow and author Matthew Continetti joins the program today to talk about the deal that has freed WNBA player Brittney Griner from Russian captivity. Also, why the president’s recent string of successes creates the conditions for a happy Biden, and why that could be a disaster in the making. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready for some harsh language as we discuss the final nail in the coffin of the Republican wave and the question of whether the GOP is on the verge of healing itself or spending 20 years in the relative wilderness politically. Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast welcomes Tablet Magazine‘s chief technology officer and co-host of the “Ambitious Crossover Attempt” podcast, Noam Blum, to the program. We discuss Tuesday’s runoff election for U.S. Senate in Georgia, the behavior of clout-chasers on Twitter, and the relative menace posed by vampires and werewolves. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does it matter that Donald Trump explicitly called for extra-Constitutional means to reinstall him as president somehow? Does it matter that Republicans aren’t lining up to denounce him? And does it matter that the Iranian regime announced it would disband its “morality police”? Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we discuss the horrifying Kanye West interview with the horrifying Alex Jones and how nearly two decades of treating West with kid gloves has led us to this pass. Also, is there going to be a new political calendar in 2024? Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s podcast points out that for the first time since 2015, every piece of American news doesn’t somehow revolve either directly or indirectly around a certain ex-president. Is this the sign of his new irrelevance? And will this make being a Republican less embarrassing? Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we discuss New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s decision to seek the involuntary commitment of mentally ill street and subway people. How did we get to this point, and why, and will this help? And is the Senate’s vote to enshrine gay marriage into federal law a landmark—and in what way? Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s podcast takes up the bizarre behavior of Republican election supervisors in a small county in Arizona who do not want to certify their election results—and the fact that if they were to succeed, a House seat would flip to the Democrats. How crazy is that? Not as crazy, perhaps, as the anti-Semitism-enabling behavior of a former president of the United States. Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James B. Meigs, our Tech Commentary columnist, joins the podcast today to talk about the protests in China and how they relate to what we know about the Chinese government’s response to COVID—and our own government’s response. Plus, is Elon Musk just acting crazy or is he up to something interesting? Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s podcast takes up Joe Biden’s extension of an “emergency” allowing him to suspend college loan payments, the revelation that the shooter in Colorado Springs is “non-binary,” and our true feelings about turkey. Happy Thanksgiving and give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we take up the reaction to the horrible shooting in the Colorado Springs club, which has already been blamed on people concerned about the rise of transgenderism rather than on the fairly evident psychosis of the shooter, who sought to bomb his own mother. Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast takes up the news of Donald Trump’s weekend—first the announcement of a special prosecutor and then the way other Republican politicians started firing at him at the Republican Jewish Coalition meeting in Las Vegas. What does it mean? Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What will Nancy Pelosi’s legacy be? Savvy political operator? Anti-progressive obstacle? Or will she have a legacy at all? Also, Elon Musk continues to drive everyone insane. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump’s backers in the world of professional politics appreciated the limited restraint the former president employed in his speech announcing his new presidential run. Trump’s fans liked everything else. Which Trump will win? Also, do Democrats have any reason to think crime is a problem? Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frederick Kagan of the Critical Threats Project is one of the leading American authorities on the war in Ukraine. He joins us today to discuss the astonishing Ukrainian triumphs against the Russian military and where things might go from here. He also tells us about the ongoing and unprecedented protests in Iran and why we need to pay closer attention to them. Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Today’s podcast continues to examine the details of the midterm disaster for Republicans and what Donald Trump’s putative announcement of his 2024 campaign portends. Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political analyst and all-around great guy Chris Stirewalt joins the podcast today to discuss the bet he made with me on Election Day he won—because I swallowed the conventional wisdom about the midterms and he didn’t. We try to figure out what Donald Trump is doing by saying the white governor of Virginia has a Chinese-sounding name, among other kinds of crazy stuff. Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meghan McCain joins the podcast today to talk midterms, Arizona and anti-McCainiac Keri Lake, about whom Meghan has some harsh, dare I say even unprintable, words. Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast today looks at the astounding results of the midterms and asks Republicans whether they are going to continue to remain in an intimate relationship with a pathological loser narcissist who has now been humiliated by the American electorate in three separate national contests. Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eli Lake joins the podcast on the eve of the midterm elections to discuss, you know, the midterm elections—and we conclude with a pretty heated discussion of Eli’s new COMMENTARY piece, “Can the FBI Be Saved From Itself—And Can We Be Saved From The FBI?” Give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Kornacki joins us a day before he will instruct all of America on the midterm elections from his Big Board to express final thoughts on these tumultuous midterm elections, why the polls are so hard to understand, and what we might expect. He uses Virginia as the test case for Republican gains—you’ll find out why if you give a listen. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author, columnist, and co-host of the “Not Even Mad” podcast, James Kirchick, drops in to talk about Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg’s searing indictment of his party’s record on crime. Also, stronger than expected jobs numbers, and what they say about inflation. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden delivered another speech last night about the threat Republicans pose to the health of American democracy, this time drawing a straight line from the January 6 riots to the attack on Paul Pelosi. Is he right? Or are Democrats as conditional as Republicans when it comes to their affection for the mechanisms of self-government? Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AEI scholar and George Mason University assistant professor of law, Adam White, rejoins the program today to discuss the Supreme Court’s deliberative process ahead of what looks to be a momentous decision on the legality of Affirmative Action. Also, the left finally allows itself to notice Joe Biden’s gaffes. Source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Senor joins the podcast today to map out five scenarios for the Israeli election results—Israel is voting today. And then we discuss why professional Republicans seem a little more anxious than thrilled about the clear pattern in the polling about what's going to happen next Tuesday here in the American elections. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The horrific attack on Paul Pelosi, and the abhorrent response to it from those who think it might convey political advantage and want to maximize or neutralize it. Also, what to make of polling discrepancies with eight days left before the midterms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did Elon Musk just conclude the most ill-considered financial transaction in human history when he purchased Twitter? We’ll soon see. Also, the frenetic effort on the left to claim that crime is a manufactured election-year issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats struggle to reconcile the data, which doesn’t suggest a massive Republican wave is inbound, and the general sense of the political landscape. And it’s driving them crazy. Also, how a New York judge’s ruling against a vaccine mandate for municipal workers scuttles the Democratic Party’s confused Covid narrative and the amazing life of the late Lucianne Goldberg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday night’s senatorial debate in Pennsylvania treated voters to a voyeuristic spectacle that was painful to watch. Can voters look beyond John Fetterman’s infirmities on November 8? Also, Lee Zeldin shines in the New York state gubernatorial debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eliana Johnson of the Washington Free Beacon joins the podcast today to talk about the jaw-dropping letter from House progressives to Joe Biden on Ukraine and how this sudden attack from his left suggests nothing good about Democratic prospects two weeks hence. And a lot of other stuff. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast examines the devastatingly bad findings of the latest educational assessment of American schoolchildren—and how they show the need for a true reckoning on the costs of the COVID regimes put in place in March 2020 and then kept in place even as the scientific facts made it clear they were unnecessary and injurious. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast takes up an article in The Federalist arguing that the New Right should stop calling itself conservative because conservatives reject using state power to punish your enemies. Also, the Democratic Party’s “precriminations” have begun, but the most potent excuse for the party’s loss in November is to blame voters for putting their economic situation above American democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast begins with talk about the potential Red tsunami before taking up a genuinely shocking and disgusting New York Times article that accuses Israel of stealing Palestinian recipes as a form of cultural genocide. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Democrats stare into the abyss they avoided staring into for many months, Barack Obama has emerged to scold them for being "buzzkills." He's right. But on today's podcast, we explain why he was the author of the Democratic Party's current woes. Oh, and we extend a surprise invitation to our roast to one James Bennet. Why? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast features a conversation about Kanye West and Donald Trump and their incendiary comments about Jews. And, again, the midterm elections. And, again, COVID. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In John’s absence today, New York Sun columnist and host of “The Reeducation” podcast, Eli Lake, joins the show to talk about how nuclear deterrence works and why. Also, an update on the Durham probe, the state of play ahead of the midterm elections, and a nascent revolution in the streets of Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast debates Trump’s role on January 6 and whether, to borrow 9/11 conspiracy theory lingo, he LIHOP (let it happen on purpose) or MIHOP (made it happen on purpose). And what was the January 6 commission’s goal? To establish Trump's culpability or to create the conditions for accountability down the road. Also, John Fetterman is one of a handful of Democrats in America who wants to be seen with Joe Biden, which tells you something. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast takes up the latest hit on Donald Trump—someone's moving boxes around? Really? And the latest on the FBI's behavior toward Trump. And the latest on the January 6th hearings. And the latest on inflation. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast breaks down Joe Biden’s interview with CNN host Jake Tapper and Democrats circling the wagons around John Fetterman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The possible indictment of Hunter Biden. Hints of polling momentum for Republicans. Democrats bringing up ancillary issues in hopes they can distract. It's four weeks until the midterms. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast examines the news from the Ukraine War—the bridge attack followed by terrorist strikes on cities—and weird things politicians and intellectuals are saying about it. And the crime issue really comes home, literally, in the case of New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast begins with a recitation of 18—count 'em, 18—different news stories all from yesterday and all deserving of attention, beginning with Joe Biden musing about "armageddon," which is maybe not what you want a president to be doing? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the news that OPEC+ plans to pare back oil production, the Biden administration has to worry about gas prices again at the worst possible moment. Also, the Georgia GOP’s process of rationalizing themselves into voting for Herschel Walker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast picks up a conversation from yesterday about Ukraine, nuclear weapons, Putin, and the United States's response, and more fireworks explode! Plus, Herschel Walker and the long dark night of the pro-life voter's soul. We're off tomorrow for Yom Kippur. Back Thursday. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast begins calmly with a conversation about whether people and voters take issues seriously or are now primarily motivated by negativity toward the other side. Then we start talking about Ukraine and Russia—and all hell breaks loose. If you dare, give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast begins with a horror story from Chicago—a criminal run amok just a day or so after a judge released him on his own recognizance—and broadens it out to wonder whether the seeming halt in the Democratic polling surge is due to Republicans hitting them hard on crime. Then we get pretty dark about the possibility of bad stuff happening with nukes in Ukraine. It's crushing morosity! Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Continetti joins the podcast to discuss the alarming behavior of President Biden, who called out to a member of Congress who died in a car crash this summer. Not to mention the alarming behavior of Vladimir Putin, whose flailing in the course of his world-historic mistake may have a nuclear component. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices