The Commentary Magazine Podcast

Eliana Johnson of the Washington Free Beacon joins the podcast as we address the horrifying news out of Amsterdam—a present-day pogrom that is taking place while anti-Semitic acts are happening across America during the same week and Israel continues to be threatened by Hezbollah and the Houthis. What connects this to the continuing fallout from the election? Immigration. And the question of who's going to be tough on Iran. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Kamala Harris's concession speech, the recriminations are beginning inside the Democratic Party—and oh, are we here for it. Are they going to diagnose what went wrong honestly, or are they going to retreat to their zone of ideological comfort? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, you know what we're talking about today. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's here, and Oprah and Joe Rogan and Elon Musk are all saying it'll be the last time we ever get to vote. While some of us might feel, after the past two years, like that would be a deliverance of a sort, it's the kind of rhetoric and thinking that have gotten us into this cultural and political mess. We discuss that, and all kinds of other stuff, as we wait...and wait...and wait... Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a day to go, we discuss whether the vibes lean toward Harris or Trump, where the polls are leaning (if at all), and whom we think is going to win. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another nail in the coffin of Sen. Chuck Schumer's reputation for being a voice for the Jewish community was hammered yesterday by the Free Beacon with an earthquake of a story in which he seeks to bury evidence of anti-Semitism on the Columbia University campus. This leads us into a discussion of, what else, the election. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Stirewalt, whose The Hill Sunday show on NewsNation is a must-watch, joins us to discuss how polls work at this late date and whether they do, what poll herding is, and whether we can trust the data we're seeing. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're joined today by the analyst who made the video screen and the white button down shirt into election-night legends, Steve Kornacki of NBC. Where will he be looking first next Tuesday for evidence of how the night is going to go? How many undecided voters are left? And what about "partisan gravity"? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A synagogue-goer is shot in Chicago over the weekend and the cops—and the media—seem unable to discern the motive of a gunman who shouted "Allahu Akbar." Why would this be the case? And why is the New York Times trying to talk people into feeling hopeful about Kamala Harris's chances with an article that offers no evidence they should have such hope? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Senor joins us to discuss Israel's strike on Iran this weekend. We also talk about the media meltdown over endorsements, Trump's Madison Square Garden rally, and why Michelle Obama thinks attacking men for being full of rage is a winning political strategy. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are tied in the final national New York Times poll, which the Times itself says is not good news for Harris. What explains it? How about the possibility that men may have had enough of decades of being belittled by the dominant culture? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The vice president spent 90 minutes with CNN last night at a town hall just as polling information was suggesting she is on a downward slope. We evaluate her performance and try to explain why the "Trump as fascist" line of attack doesn't seem to have the oomph the Harris campaign wants. And why the Biden administration is now acting in ways that seem to portend a Russian victory in Ukraine. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kamala Harris seems to have stalled out on her way to Election Day, while Trump is inching upward. The kinds of things she might be hoping will help her—like the manufactured October Surprises from the New York Times and the Atlantic again highlighting bad Trump quotes and supposedly bad Trump behavior—likely won't. So how can she win unless she figures out a way to...win? Plus, a Commentary Podcast Drinking Game! Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A truly dystopian Commentary podcast envisions two paths—one where Trump wins and one where Harris wins. Both paths may lead to unprecedented political and social disorder. How? Where? Why? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's never been a race this close, according to the polling, and the question is why. The answers we offer have to do with which candidate is bringing the "joy" (it ain't Harris) and which candidate is throwing around 14 different messages hoping enough will stick with enough swing voters to drag the ticket across the finish line (it ain't Trump). Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eli Lake joins the podcast as we debate just how meaningful the killing of Yahya Sinwar by IDF troops is—is it a major turning point, a climactic event, one of the most important days of the 21st century, or something else? And what about the Biden administration's response to it? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why did Kamala Harris agree to a 26 minute interview with Fox's Bret Baier, and what do we make of what she said and how she did? And we discuss breaking news out of Israel. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What on earth is with this out-of-nowhere letter from the secretary of state and the secretary of defense threatening the flow of U.S. military aid to Israel in 30 days' time unless Israel loosens its restrictions on aid going to Gaza—most if not all of which is going to keep the dying Hamas alive? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does the "Trump is crazy" attack still work? Why is the Harris campaign panicking over the black vote? What does the Kamala plagiarism story tell us? And what do most Americans consider a threat to their freedom? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast looks at the way the Harris campaign seems to have stalled and the fact that, of the two competitors, it is Trump who talks issues and Harris who...doesn't talk much at all. And when will Israel strike at Iran—or will it? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this, the last podcast of the week, we ask: What's going on between the president and the vice president? Is he targeting her? Is he trying to upstage her? Is he trying to humiliate her? Or does he even know what he's doing? And what exactly is she doing? Is she really as bad at this candidate stuff as she appears? And what's happening at CBS? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James B. Meigs joins us to discuss hurricane politics—how they work, who gets blamed, why the media do what they do, and what the dangers are for the two presidential candidacies. Also: How did Kamala's big press day go? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The disgusting displays of pro-terror masked goons marauding through New York City's streets brings to mind the question of who exactly is going to stand up to these monsters—and praises those who do. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris goes on 60 Minutes and helps explain why she's not running away with this race, while JD Vance comes up with a brilliant formulation. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ruthie Blum joins the podcast today to discuss the lessons of October 7—about Israel, about American Jewry, about anti-Semitism, about the Biden administration, about the hunger to blame Jews for their own misfortunes, about the hunger to blame Benjamin Netanyahu for the war, and about what the future of an America uncomfortable with military victory might hold. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Vance-Walz showdown was civil, friendly, and a complete slaughter. Who slaughtered whom? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is the administration remaining churlish and full of ceasefire talk relating to Israel and Hezbollah and Hamas? Why are there no papers on the Resolute desk? Why is Kamala Harris visiting a Washington office rather than a flood site? Why should Jimmy Carter be celebrated for being 100 when his record as president was terrible and his behavior toward Israel appalling? Why isn't Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Senor joins today's podcast to discuss Israel's series of staggering military and intelligence triumphs over evil this weekend and their long-term ramifications. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean that hundreds took over the streets around Grand Central Terminal celebrating Hamas and Hezbollah before others went up Park Avenue to the hotel where Benjamin Netanyahu is staying and started chanting, "We're going to get you"? What does it mean that Kamala Harris is going to the border? What does it mean that Eric Adams wanted airline upgrades so much he might have sold himself to the government of Turkey? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast examines Kamala Harris's day talking about the economy, first in a speech and then in an MSNBC interview, and comes away...unimpressed. But it wasn't the greatest day for Donald Trump either. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Schanzer joins us today to evaluate the fast-evolving conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and what Israel's aims and goals are. Also, why can't the Biden-Harris administration support its ally's efforts to end terrorist attacks against it from the north? Too hard? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's something happening here; what it is ain't exactly clear. Six weeks until the election and Kamala Harris remains the least-known and least-substantive presidential candidate in American history. Can it remain that way? Can she glide to November? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast does not look favorably on chin-scratching arguments about how the beeper and walkie-talkie attacks against Hezbollah somehow violate the "laws of war." Also, what's with attacking pollsters for reporting poll results you don't like? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aside from Oprah having a Kamala lovefest, the political story of the day involves attacks on Donald Trump's words about American Jews. These attacks seem peculiarly related to polling showing the Republican candidate making startling inroads into the Jewish vote, which could have a significant impact in the key state of Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, actual anti-Semitic garbage from the Republican gubernatorial candidate in North Carolina may imperil Trump's presidential bid even more. What's going on? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today a full house discusses how Israel might be preparing for a war in its north, whether we've mistakenly bought into recent polling about Kamala Harris's progress, the potential political effect of the Fed rate cut, and more. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah Goldberg joins the podcast to discuss the amazing Israeli attack on Hezbollah operatives yesterday before going into rank punditry about the relative standings of Harris and Trump. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast looks at the disgraceful media effort to equalize the Ohio migrant story with the Trump assassination story and what it says about the media and about us. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The second Trump assassination attempt conjures up memories of the period in 1975 when Gerald Ford was targeted twice in 18 days. Are we entering a period of domestic political violence similar to the one during which Ford was nearly killed? Or is 2024 different? And what will the Jewish community do to protect its own with violent assaults now happening daily? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast features Eli Lake discussing with our crew the question of why America seems determined to prevent our allies in Ukraine and Israel from actually winning the wars we are actually supporting, preferring stalemate and ceasefire to victorious conclusion. Why? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Noah Rothman makes another surprise guest appearance on the podcast he founded back in 2015! It's Day Two of a conversation about the fallout from the presidential debate, which garnered a colossal audience and therefore demands a discussion about whether Donald Trump can afford not to debate a second or even third time after his loss on Tuesday. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bad moderators. Bad candidates. Who won on points. Who won overall. Why will it matter. Will it matter? Will there be more? All questions we attempt to answer in one admittedly wild, lunatic podcast. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's going to happen tonight, and how is it like Battlestar Galactica? The answer may surprise you! Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The political world was strangely rocked by a New York Times/Siena poll showing Trump with a one-point national lead, 48-47—leading Democrats and the media to worry openly that her momentum is gone. We explain why that might be the case, with a stop in Pittsburgh at the most politically divisive spice store in America as the dubious location for Harris making a plea to end our polarization. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump talks about the economy while Tim Walz says pro-Hamas protestors are right to protest and Israel is defending itself in the wrong way even though it supposedly has the right to defend itself. And we conclude our week-long discussion of our own Christine Rosen's very important new book, The Extinction of Experience. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're joined by former U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman to discuss his plan for Israel's future as articulated in in his new book One Jewish State. Then we get into the state of the race: Trump sounds pretty good, Kamala's policies sound incoherent, and both Walz and Vance are just plain bad. Give a listen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tucker Carlson and a guest of his blame Winston Churchill for World War II. Thomas Friedman blames Bibi Netanyahu for the murder of the hostages. These are just some of the outrages we discuss on today's podcast, along with a conversation around our own Christine Rosen's new book, The Extinction of Experience. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What exactly is it the protestors in Israel and the media in the United States and Joe Biden actually want out of Israel? It appears they want the country to give up the strategic high ground it holds near Gaza in pursuit of a "deal" no one really believes can be struck. We talk about that, and we talk also about our own Christine Rosen's new book, The Extinction of Experience. Pre-order it on Amazon, and give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Senor joins us to take the temperature of the Israeli body politic in the wake of the heartbreaking and disgusting news involving the slaughter of six hostages in Rafah, including the American Hersh Goldberg-Polin. What will Israelis demand of their government? What can Israel do? And will the compliant media allow Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to skate lightly over this nightmare while Donald Trump seeks to fan the flames? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The interview, everybody! It was 27 whole minutes of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz! Was it joyous? Did she become president by acclamation? We gathered in its immediate wake to provide our perspective, our grades, our sense of the vibes, and the general question of whether this was the first or the last interview she will ever sit for. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

National polling shows Kamala Harris in the lead but battleground-state polling shows pretty much a tie between her and Donald Trump in the places that will decide the election. How to explain this, and how to explain the controversy over Trump laying a wreath at Arlington Cemetery? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam White joins us today to talk about the re-indictment of Donald Trump relating to January 6 and whether the new effort by the special prosecutor answers the Supreme Court's ruling earlier this summer. But first: She's being interviewed! But not alone! Why not alone? And what will interviewer Dana Bash do? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices