The DC crime crackdown is driving Trump critics into fits of insanity and weird criminality; why can't they find a way to oppose and confront him soberly? That's the question for today. And the podcast concludes with a disastrous song performance by yours truly. Stay for the horror. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What do the Kennedy Center Honors and the Smithsonian Institution have in common? They are both expressions of the surprising determination of the Trump administration to challenge liberal orthodoxy on the arts and on the question of American history and who gets to tell the tale. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How to make sense of the goings-on in Anchorage on Friday between the president and Vladimir Putin? We try. Who knows if we succeed. One thing that does seem to be succeeding is the way Trump is dominating the national conversation with his move to take over public safety in the District of Columbia, and how it connects to general feelings about crime and security among citizens nationwide. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
New evidence that New York City's Jews are refusing to conform with liberal propaganda and still disfavor Zohran Mamdani's candidacy by a margin of 4-1 is discussed before we get to the president's decision to use a 1974 law to take over the administration of criminal justice in the District of Columbia—and what the freakout about it says. Also: Should you be allowed to see a movie made by Roman Polanski? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
On today's mailbag episode, we discuss whether the word "Zionism" should still be in use, what books are good primers for conservatism, and what we think explains the reasons you are a podcast follower. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Israel's decision to adopt a new strategy to win the war in Gaza is wildly controversial—but maybe not as controversial as the people who oppose it (as they oppose all of Benjamin Netanyahu's moves) seem to think. The Israeli public is divided, and world opinion matters less than Trump opinion. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The semi-announcement of a Trump-Putin meeting coming as the deadline for punishing sanctions against Russia approaches raises the question of whether the president will go through with those sanctions or delay them. And the tariffs begin, with unknown consequences—but then, the consequences have thus far been surprising. And are we understanding the Democratic bad poll numbers right? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
News of the possible retirement/firing of Howard Stern, the most important voice in radio of the past 50 years and one of the most transformative figures in American culture (and the culture of business), has us reflecting on his impact and how he laid the groundwork for Donald Trump. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today we talk about the radicalism of Zohran Mamdani, his standing among New York Jews in a new poll, and how it is that bad ideas and failed concepts keep coming back. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's podcast notes the deep problems with Donald Trump firing the head of the agency that issues the jobs report every month while also noting that these job numbers reports are horrible and no one is trying to fix them. And we note our deep sadness and anger at those who are conveniently shifting their views on Israel to conform with the liberal blob. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
On today's podcast, we discuss letters from listeners about Central America and Communism, just and unjust wars, and how Neville Chamberlain was a very complicated figure indeed. Give a listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Twenty-seven Democratic senators voted against aid to Israel on Wednesday, a mark of the Jewish state's abandonment by one of the two major parties in America. But wait! What's this? Polling in 1982 that almost perfectly matches the polling today on support for Israel? Maybe be of better cheer if you are an advocate for the Jewish state, or nah? And...the amazing Sydney Sweeney jeans ad and what it says about America. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
David Bahnsen joins us today to talk about the new GDP numbers, the tariff deals, and the Trump growth agenda—are they balancing out, canceling each other out, or at war with each other, and will we know what to make of them before next year? And the continuing disgrace of the New York Times and its coverage of Gaza, with a second fraudulent photo "proving" starvation in two months. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
COMMENTARY contributing editor Jonathan Schanzer joins the podcast to discuss his innovative plan for Israel to stop playing Hamas's game and bring the war in Gaza to a victorious end. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We have to restrain our rage on today's podcast at the now-blanket assertions of a blood libel against Israel—that it is deliberately causing death by hunger in Gaza, conveniently everywhere simultaneous to Hamas tanking a cease-fire negotiation with Israel. The attacks on Israel's immorality are themselves the true immorality. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are the COMMENTARY podcasters afraid of me? Did Henry II eat a turkey leg? Why won't Trump solve the entitlement crisis? Why don't liberals love America for what it is? We take up these and other questions in a special letters-to-the-podcast episode. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As the Trump administration presses a case against the Obamans for pursuing Trump maliciously in 2016 and 2017, liberals and populists are pressing for more and more information on the confusing matter of Jeffrey Epstein. Is there an "omniconspiracy" of the American elites? And we take a look at the remarkable deal struck between the administration and Columbia University. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Today we bounce from saying goodbye to Ozzy Osbourne to celebrating Billy Joel to talking about Columbia suspending students to the shameful public display of Mahmoud Khalil to Trump's calling Obama a traitor. It's a wild ride. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Protesters are walking around New York City chanting, "Colbert stays! Trump must go!" How did we get here? What in the world happened to comedy? And speaking of comedy, we discuss Hunter Biden's recent interview. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More false stories about how Israel is killing the very Gazans it's trying to feed are suggestive of a new turn in the information war on the Jewish state—and how the fact that Israel is not finishing up its task in Gaza is having deleterious consequences. Also, a tribute to a great and modest figure who revolutionized the right in the United States. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
What are we to make of a supposed 2003 birthday greeting/drawing for Jeffrey Epstein by Donald Trump? And how many different ways can we luxuriate in the decision to put an end to Stephen Colbert's late-night show? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ah, what a grab-bag episode, with one throughline: When Republicans stop paying any heed to the Washington consensus, they can really get things done. And the miracle of Jaws , now 50 years old. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The continuing focus on the "Epstein files" that don't exist is the first bump in the road for Donald Trump with his base. His declaration that people who focus on it are "very bad" demonstrates his frustration with the distraction from his accomplishments—which are revealed in part by the violence with which liberals and leftists are now discussing his victories at the Supreme Court. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Today we talk about Donald Trump essentially admitting his mistake with Vladimir Putin and deciding to arm Ukraine through NATO. We also get into the Supreme Court allowing Trump to make cuts to the Department of Education and the state of play in Israel over a new proposed draft law. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We begin today's podcast talking about the failure of the latest Gaza cease-fire proposal, move on to the crisis inside MAGA over Jeffrey Epstein, and then get to the heart of the matter: The astonishing New York Times story released Sunday night in which we learn that the Biden administration used the autopen to execute pardons and commutations and clemencies—in clear violation of centuries of common law regarding the use of the pardon power. This is a big deal. We explain why. Give a listen. L...
Today's podcast takes on the huge and outrageous New York Times piece about how Prime Minister Netanyahu has allowed the Gaza war to go on too long to help himself domestically. And we do a deep dive into the Democratic Party's troubles as it struggles with its own innate pessimism and the hunger for literal blood among the party's radical base. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jonathan Schanzer joins us today to discuss Bibi's week in Washington, the prospects for region-wide change in the Middle East, and the painful choices facing Israel as it decides how to conclude the war in Gaza. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In an unusually late-night dorm-room like podcast, we begin by describing our general good moods before plunging into despair about the threat of AI as represented by Elon Musk's Grok and the anti-Semitic spree it went on yesterday. What's happening here? Is there something metaphysical going on? Can AI be consciously evil? In theory, no. But what if theory doesn't help here? Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Today we discuss the president's dinner with Bibi Netanyahu and the clear bond between the two—and Trump's consistent support for Israel over his two terms. And we relate it to the surprising turn on Ukraine, with Trump now saying he will send weapons there and disavowing his own administration's withholding of arms. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We're back after a patriotic Fourth of July to talk about the anti-patriotic Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City and whether there are ways in which he can be made to lose the November election. Is the best way the one least talked about? We also discuss the horrible Texas disaster, the One Big Beautiful Bill, Elon Musk's new party, and the Bibi visit. Give a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
