The Commentary Magazine Podcast

They debate whether Trump seeks a decisive end to the Iran conflict or an exit as oil and Hormuz tensions rise. Discussion covers US materiel and personnel losses and how drone shortcomings expose modernization needs. They explore the diplomatic cost to alliances and how that shapes long‑term strategy. The show also flags risks of insider abuse in prediction markets tied to war events.

Recent court rulings holding major platforms responsible for harms to young users take center stage. They debate persuasive evidence that design features like infinite scroll and weak age-gates enable predators and addiction. The conversation also covers metaverse failures, AI training on copyrighted work, and whether lawsuits or legislation will drive change.

A lively discussion of a surprising Florida House flip and why attractiveness and relatability shape electability. A deep dive into the ambiguity around Trump’s 15-point Iran plan and whether talks mask larger military aims. Reporting on a new UCLA lawsuit and campus activism. A spirited recommendation of the hopeful sci-fi film Project Hail Mary.

They riff on chaotic TSA lines and the politics of sending ICE to help. They debate military figures' takes on Iran and whether battlefield comparisons hold. They mock awkward retellings of the Bin Laden raid. They wrestle with the ethics of cultural icons, university leadership drama, and Tucker Carlson praising aspects of Islamic law.

Jonathan Schanzer, a foreign policy expert on Iran and Middle East security, weighs in on Iran's missile capabilities and chaotic leadership. He discusses whether internal uprisings can resume and how strikes shape perceptions. They debate Strait of Hormuz threats, media narratives, defense effectiveness, and possible U.S. options for protecting shipping.

Eli Lake, contributing editor and host of the Breaking History Podcast, offers sharp analysis of Iran’s war and regional fallout. He unpacks the media’s early quagmire narrative. He traces the unlikely coalition forming against Iran and how Middle East conflict ripples into the Indo-Pacific and Ukraine. The conversation probes escalation risks, regime survival, and prospects for postwar realignment.

A sharp take on right‑wing podcasting about the war in Iran and why a military outcome matters to political narratives. They dig into recent controversies surrounding political figures and the fallout from high‑profile resignations. The conversation covers rising anti‑Semitism, media bias in reporting, and how the conflict could reshape loyalty within conservative ranks.

Noah Rothman, senior writer and editor at National Review, offers sharp political analysis. He unpacks Joe Kent's resignation and reinvention, the curious praise from anti-Trump pundits, and whether others will follow. They also cover the Iran war, Strait of Hormuz risks, and covert Israeli operations shaping regional dynamics.

Jonathan Schanzer, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies who focuses on Iran and Middle East security, breaks down Israeli strikes on Iran's missile production. He maps the shifting Lebanese front and Hezbollah's losses. He unpacks leadership assassinations, Iran's information blackout, and lingering drone and short-range rocket threats.

A lively take on the fading power of movies and the shrinking theater habit. They unpack Oscar night snubs, political moments and celebrity reactions. Conversation moves to nostalgia for communal screenings, home-theater tech, and how cultural discovery has fragmented. The show also shifts to fresh developments in the Iran conflict and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.