The Commentary Magazine Podcast

It's election day and we are joined by our friend Chris Stirewalt to discuss the seemingly impending blue wave and all the ways in which Trump contributed to the expected loss of the senate, whether the polls might be historically wrong, Haley Stevens' statement on her endorsement of Mike Rogers, Ross Douthat's excellent interviewing skills, and a look ahead to the potential democratic nominee in 2028. Plus, Trump's statement on an agreement to end military aid to Israel and how it might undercut candidates who ran on ending it legislatively, and the crew recommends Michael Powell's Atlantic article on Adam Hamawy.

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We are joined by JNS's Ruthie Blum from Tel Aviv to discuss tomorrow's impending midterm election and the hoopla in Michigan over Haley Stevens endorsing Mike Rogers and the ridiculous reactions from democrats. Plus, Israel's elections are over, and now the process of coalition-building begins with Avigdor Lieberman refusing to serve with Netanyahu, thus all but ensuring another round of elections. Finally, what the future holds for Trump with regards to Iran and the prospects of facing a democratic majority in the House and Senate, and John and Abe recommend the PBS Great Performances episode on the songwriter Jimmy Webb.

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We are joined by Dan Senor and Matt Continetti to discuss the final vote totals in Israel's elections and the prospects of forming a new government, and how will potential new coalitions deal with Israel's geopolitical challenges? Plus, the issue of rising antisemitism in the leadup to the midterms, the problem with polling rural conservatives, Haley Stevens' message to Abdul El-Sayed, and Matt honors the late Patrick Stewart by recommending the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode The Inner Light and his general body of work.

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Contributing editor Eli Lake joins us today to correct the record on Jon Lovett's comments on Michigan Jews and Abdul El-Sayed, and discuss the larger implications of centering Israel in US politics and the different flavors of antisemitism on the left and right as both parties struggle with their own cohorts in the approach to the midterms. Is there any cause for optimism going forward, or do even darker days lie ahead?

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Ben Shapiro joins us today to discuss the results of the Israeli election, where the anti-Bibi coalition underperformed and likely denied Eisenkot the prime ministership. Can Netanyahu form a new type of coalition or rely on Smotrich, Ben Gvir, and the ultra orthodox parties, and what might another round of elections look like if he can't? Plus, the election results as viewed through the prism of American politics, and John recommends the movie Confession.

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The Israeli election is in full swing with the highest turnout in 50 years. What will this mean for the Arab parties, Netanyahu's chances of survival, and will an Eisenkot victory expose American leftists who claim to only be anti-Bibi? Plus, the midterms loom large with the Michigan race seemingly tied and reports that early voting turnout in the state is down.

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We are back on this Monday to discuss tomorrow's Israeli election and next week's midterm election in the US, and whether other international electoral trends will come into play in both after Lula's victory in the Brazilian election, and a series of violent riots in European cities. Plus, the comments by Obama and Elissa Slotkin, Abdul El-Sayed's confrontation with Bret Baier, Ilhan Omar's new ad, fake polling firms, the Young Turks recycle their old antisemitic ad, and John recommends The Imaginary Invalid on Broadway.

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Today we discuss the posthumous exposé on Lindsay Graham's sexuality by The Young Turks, as well as Ilhan Omar's legal troubles and the questions on her identity and immigration status breaking through after years of being dismissed as a racist conspiracy theory. Plus, the Free Beacon exposes anti-Israel activists' "olive harvest" racket in the West Bank after Brad Lander's latest stunt, the backfiring of Vivek Ramaswamy's inflammatory ad, and John recommends the comedian Yohay Sponder's Genesis tour.

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Our friends Matt Continetti of the WSJ and Jonathan Schanzer of FDD join us today to discuss Saudi Arabia's Houthi bind, the possibility of the entire region being dragged into the conflict, the controversy over the shutdown of Starshield, which limited Ukraine's ability to strike Russia, and the possibility of renewed Israeli/American offensives on Iran. Plus, more election talk, and Matt recommends The Strategist by Eliot A. Cohen.

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NBC news analyst Steve Kornacki joins us today to discuss his "Kornacki Cam" and election night coverage, and to offer his predictions and historical perspective on some key races for house, senate, and governor.

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Today we discuss Vivek Ramaswamy's new anti-Amy Acton ad in the Ohio gubernatorial race starring Acton's mother and the injection of intra-family conflict into politics, as well as the ongoing unrest in France and Italy, Benny Gantz withdrawing from the Israeli elections, Pete Hegseth's unannounced visit to Israel, JD Vance's foreign endorsement hypocrisy, and the prospects of an attack on Iran prior to the elections.

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Contributing editor Eli Lake is back on this Monday to discuss the upheaval in France and the influence of Palestinianism and the "globalize the intifada" movement and how this will impact the upcoming French elections, as well as the warning signs to America with the rise of radical left-wing candidates. Plus, Eli recommends Merle Haggard's Mama Tried, and John recommends Ken Burns' country music documentary.

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Our friend Noah Rothman joins us today to discuss the counterintuitive republican competitiveness in bluer states while floundering in historically easier races, particularly in Texas, where James Talarico seems poised to win the democrats' first statewide race since 1994. Plus, the Trump administration's disgraceful treatment of Ukraine and its incoherent strategy on the war, the turn against Indian Americans, and John recommends You Can See Everything.

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Our friend Matt Continetti is back on this Thursday to discuss John Ossoff's surprise declaration that he won't run for president before the end of his term, who will end up as the democratic nominee in 2028, and how will the Judaism of certain potential candidates impact their chances? Plus, Obama's awful ahistorical Belfast speech, Abdul El-Sayed's terrible response to reports of his family's Muslim Brotherhood associations, NYC's comptroller refusing to buy Israel bonds in violation of his campaign promise, Mamdani gaining new haters in the anti-Israel crowd, and Matt recommends Thomas Mallon's Henry and Clara.

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It's Wednesday, and we are still immersed in pre-election news with the New York and Oregon gubernatorial debates, as well as new details on the Ilhan Omar raid and reports on the discrepancy of her age. Plus, the White House gets a new press secretary, the ongoing legal case against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and John recommends the new show Cupertino.

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With the midterms three weeks away, Abdul El-Sayed's liabilities are starting to make an impact, particularly due to his inability to respond to some of the worst allegations against him. Will his complacency from the primary run into the harsh reality of a general election? Plus, James Talarico's extended absence, the New York gubernatorial race, Kimberly Guilfoyle being asked to resign as ambassador to Greece, and John recommends Neal Stephenson's D: Heavy Water.

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We are back on this Columbus Day to discuss Trump's newest turn against Zelensky and the nonexistent energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, as well as Abdul El-Sayed's Muslim Brotherhood connection. Plus, the potential merits of the DHS raid on the home of rep. Ilhan Omar, the Saudi stubbornness and incompetence in their war against the Houthis, and John recommends Adam Kirsch's We Want to Believe.

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Our friend Matt Continetti joins us on this Friday to discuss polling averages one month before the midterm elections, and whether polling errors in the primaries will rear their heads again in the general election. Plus, the Michigan debate between Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed, the disgraceful Navi Pillay wins the Nobel Peace Prize, and Matt recommends the podcast "The Plot Thickens."

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John introduces a rebroadcast of our first show after the October 7th attacks, featuring Dan Senor, Abe Greenwald, Christine Rosen, and Matt Continetti.

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Dan Senor joins us from Israel on this third anniversary of the October 7th attacks to revisit the initial reactions to the horrors and discuss the downstream consequences of instant anti-Israel responses, the contrast between the atmosphere in Israel and in American Jewish communities, and what the way forward might look like.

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