The Commentary Magazine Podcast

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.

Eli Lake, contributing editor and host of Breaking History, brings expertise on terrorism, intelligence, and Israeli military strategy. He discusses two recent U.S. attacks and how internet-inspired lone-wolf violence looks. They examine synagogue security in America, media framing of antisemitism, and whether the U.S. is ready to keep the Strait of Hormuz open during regional conflict.

Jonathan Schanzer, a Middle East expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, weighs in on Iran, Hezbollah, and regional security. He discusses Hezbollah's rocket barrage and Lebanese politics. He breaks down Iran's threats to the Strait of Hormuz, U.S.-Israeli military coordination, and how pressure on Iran could be applied without full nation-building. Politics and great power context are woven throughout.

Seth Mandel, columnist on Jewish and cultural affairs, and Chris Stirewalt, former Fox News political editor and media analyst, debate media bias and partisan incentives. They discuss negative war coverage, why pessimistic predictions spread, partisan nastiness blocking popular policies, controversies around public figures and pro-Palestine claims, and the modern relevance of The Oppermanns.