Commentary Magazine Podcast

Commentary Magazine

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Commentary is America's premier monthly magazine of opinion: General, yet Jewish. Highly variegated, with a unifying perspective.

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819 episodes

Right Track, Wrong Track

Today's podcast looks at a New York Times poll suggesting Democrats increasingly think the country is on the "right track." If so, what does the phrase "right track" actually mean, if anything? And more on illegals being treated so horribly they get to spend their first days in America on Martha's Vineyard. Give a listen.

52m
Sep 16, 2022
A Strike Derailed

Today's podcast looks at the breakthrough that will apparently prevent a nationwide rail strike and what it means for the upcoming elections. And we discuss the transport of illegal immigrants from red Texas to blue Martha's Vineyard. Give a listen.

44m
Sep 15, 2022
James Taylor Sings Songs of Inflation

Today's podcast wonders at Joe Biden's decision to celebrate the "Inflation Reduction Act," complete with James Taylor warbling a 50-year-old ditty about drug abuse and suicide, on the day a terrible inflation number is released. The question: Will the media succeed in turning attention away from that and toward Republican extremism and abortion rights? Give a listen.

56m
Sep 14, 2022
Did Inflation Just Prick the Democratic Balloon?

Today's podcast looks at the worse-than-expected inflation numbers and the determination of the media and Democrats to frame them as some kind of new normal and wonders what kind of strategy this might be for November. Best way to play a bad hand, or handing an opportunity to their Republican rivals to beat them about the face and neck? Give a listen.

46m
Sep 13, 2022
The Great Yeshiva Slander

Liel Leibovitz joins the podcast today to discuss the New York Times's hit piece on Hasidic schools in New York state and why it is so egregious. But we begin with the startling news out of Ukraine and what it portends. Give a listen.

1h 10m
Sep 12, 2022
Elizabeth's Restraint

The passing of Queen Elizabeth provides us with an opportunity to consider the question: Is there any figure left on the world stage who is known and admired for restraint rather than oversharing? And we express amazement at the current state of play in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Give a listen.

1h 3m
Sep 09, 2022
Exposing Liberal Hypocrisy

Today's podcast takes up Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's efforts to expose the hypocrisy of "sanctuary city" mayors like Lori Lightfoot of Chicago by sending illegal immigrants northward to live where they are supposedly more "welcome"—which has caused Lightfoot to sputter in outrage. Also, issue polling: Does it tell us anything? Give a listen.

54m
Sep 08, 2022
They're Not 'Alarmed,' They're Thrilled

Today's podcast takes up the leak about a highly sensitive document found in the Mar-a-Lago search and the Washington Post's characterization of it. Then we go after Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters with a rhetorical two-by-four. Give a listen.

1h 8m
Sep 07, 2022
Yes, Special Master

Today's podcast looks at the politics of the judge's decision to appoint a special master to deal with the documents taken from Donald Trump's home and who will be helped or hurt by that. Plus, can it really be true that Democrats are viewed more favorably on COVID response than Republicans? Give a listen.

1h 4m
Sep 07, 2022
Yes, Special Master

Today's podcast looks at the politics of the judge's decision to appoint a special master to deal with the documents taken from Donald Trump's home and who will be helped or hurt by that. Plus, can it really be true that Democrats are viewed more favorably on COVID response than Republicans? Give a listen.

1h 4m
Sep 06, 2022
Plumbing the Depths of Cynicism

Joe Biden’s speech outlining the threat to democracy posed by pro-Trump Republicans was bad. How bad? Let us count the ways.

53m
Sep 02, 2022
Why the Republicans May Be Blowing It

Noah Rothman returns from vacation as we consider every piece of bad political news for Republicans and the indictment trap Donald Trump seems to be laying down for himself. Give a listen.

1h 0m
Sep 01, 2022
The Gorbachev Legacy

The Hudson Institute's Tod Lindberg joins us to discuss the question of what kind of world-historical figure Mikhail Gorbachev actually was—a purposeful change agent or fortune's fool? Also, will Joe Biden suffer or gain from his harsh attacks on Republicans? Give a listen.

1h 10m
Aug 31, 2022
Redacted and Retailed

Today, we're joined by the great Chris Stirewalt to discuss the media frenzy over the redacted Mar-a-Lago affidavit, the transformation of the news business, the birth of the news cycle, and how it all relates to Chris's new book, "Broken News: Why the Media Rage Machine Divides America and How to Fight Back." Take a listen.

1h 6m
Aug 29, 2022
Steve Kornacki on the Big Momentum Shift

Today's podcast features political-data sage Steve Kornacki as we try to make sense of the very clear change in the direction of the 2022 elections and why it might be happening. Give a listen

52m
Aug 26, 2022
The High Price of Debt Forgiveness

Today, we take up the matter of Joe Biden's executive order on student loans. How bad is the policy? How good is the stunt? How cynical can you get? And, anyway, will it actually happen? Give a listen.

1h 2m
Aug 25, 2022
Nobody Knows Anything

Eliana Johnson joins the podcast today to talk about the verrrry interesting results in last night's primaries and special elections and what they portend for November. Give a listen.

1h 0m
Aug 24, 2022
That's a Lot of Money

Matt Continetti joins us today to talk about the $1.6 billion donation to a new conservative entity to push conservative ideas and how it still doesn't come near the money liberals spend. We also go into today's primaries...and the new Game of Thrones show. Give a listen.

1h 7m
Aug 23, 2022
Unworkers of the World, Disunite!

Today's podcast takes up the question of what people mean when they refer to "threats to democracy," Anthony Fauci's resignation, and what the whole "I don't want to work no more" movement is all about. Give a listen.

59m
Aug 22, 2022
The Lake Effect

Eli Lake joins us to talk Trump, FBI searches, attorneys general, stupid ideas about classification, and how the media aren't dealing well with good news from Ukraine. Give a listen.

1h 5m
Aug 19, 2022
The Lake Effect

Eli Lake joins us to talk Trump, FBI searches, attorneys general, stupid ideas about classification, and how the media aren't dealing well with good news from Ukraine. Give a listen.

1h 5m
Aug 19, 2022
Can the CDC Fix Itself?

Today's podcast takes up the stunning news that the Centers for Disease Control is going to undergo a complete overhaul. The question is: Is this the right overhaul, or are senior officials just covering themselves because they don't want to be held accountable? Give a listen.

47m
Aug 18, 2022
A Night to Remember

Today's podcast was recorded last night—which led to ruminations on friendship, obnoxiousness, principle, conflict, and how these things might help explain the result in Wyoming that saw Liz Cheney lose her primary. Give a listen.

59m
Aug 17, 2022
Will Trump Pony Up?

There are early indications that Republican candidates and campaign committees are languishing in the fundraising department, which could put a damper on their prospects in November. But Donald Trump isn’t. Will he make up the difference and support the candidates he’s endorsed? Also, will we get a reckoning with what we did during the pandemic in 2023?

45m
Aug 16, 2022
Fishing Expeditions Sometimes Catch Big Marlins

Today's podcast takes up the highly volatile political situation of the past week following the warrant search of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago and the monstrous attack on Salman Rushdie. Give a listen.

1h 3m
Aug 15, 2022
Release the Warrant!

What we know (and what we don’t know) about the warrant that justified the search of Mar-a-Lago. Is Donald Trump being targeted unjustly, or is there something there? Also, Mr. Science himself resurfaces to praise himself, the personification of empiricism and logic.

1h 5m
Aug 12, 2022
What Are You, Crazy?

Today's podcast asks whether the people who really decide elections—the ones in the middle—look at partisans and ideologues on both sides and ask whether their visions and descriptions of American life as it is lived day to day are accurate or bonkers. Give a listen.

53m
Aug 11, 2022
The Comeback

The Biden administration tries to convince you that inflation came in at “0%,” and Donald Trump’s persecution narrative sets the stage for his political comeback.

57m
Aug 10, 2022
The Mar-A-Lago Goat Rodeo

A fiery podcast today in which we take up the FBI search at Mar-A-Lago and the very real questions it raises about overreach and public distrust in our institutions. Give a listen.

57m
Aug 09, 2022
Mark His Words, the GOP Candidates Are Bad

Mark Halperin joins the podcast to talk about the Democratic triumph with its big spending and climate change bill and how it looks like Republican candidates for the Senate (and for gubernatorial mansions) may not be able to capitalize on big liberal spending initiatives and other aspects of the supposed progressive surge this month. Give a listen.

1h 6m
Aug 08, 2022