The Commentary Magazine Podcast

They trace the shift from cash jars to Venmo and QR-code payments and how invisible money changes kids’ sense of debt. They dig into design choices that make apps addictive and whether companies can be held responsible. The conversation links social media harms, legal battles over youth targeting, and larger dangers from AI and elite power.

They dissect the State of the Union as television spectacle and political theater. They debate showmanship, emotional guest honors, and the ethics of using personal tragedy onstage. They analyze economic messaging, tariff talk, and the tension between performance and policy. They also explore foreign policy signals toward Iran, Ukraine, and the speech's short-term political optics.

A lively breakdown of Gavin Newsom's released 960 SAT score and why politicians should avoid airing test numbers. The panel debates his Atlanta remarks, dyslexia claims, and whether attempts at relatability ring authentic or patronizing. They trace Getty connections, campaign reactions, and how elite image clashes with blue-collar appeals. A fun detour: a recommendation to watch the film Splitsville.

A snowy Monday conversation dissects the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling on IEEPA tariffs and the unusual multi-opinion release. They highlight Justice Gorsuch's forceful concurrence and debate Roberts', Kavanaugh's, Alito's and Thomas's differing approaches. The discussion also considers constitutional risks for emergency statutes and which conservative judges might be tapped as potential replacements.

They break down the Supreme Court striking down presidential tariff powers and what that means for future economic maneuvering. They debate whether tariffs helped or hurt early 2025 inflation and growth. They examine rising tensions with Iran and the political risks of setting public deadlines for military action. They also riff on a plan to release alleged alien files and how such revelations could be politicized.

They dissect a manufactured airport confrontation and how media stunts spread. They probe signs that a US strike on Iran might be near and debate war powers and likely outcomes. They touch on Prince Andrew developments and celebrate the US Olympic hockey win. A lively recommendation for Marty Supreme rounds out the conversation.

A tense debate over the U.S. military buildup near Iran and whether it signals real war or negotiating posturing. Discussion of how American and Iranian domestic politics shape brinkmanship. Republican strategy for the midterms, focusing on economic messaging, housing reform, and electoral math. A surprising local crisis: the Potomac sewage spill and its political and environmental fallout.

They reminisce about Robert Duvall’s cinematic range and career choices. They debate Jesse Jackson’s complex legacy, including empowerment and controversy. They critique AOC’s stumble at the Munich Security Conference and contrast it with Marco Rubio’s polished, statesmanlike speech. There is a brief recommendation for the film You’ve Got Mail.

A deep dive into a WSJ exposé about Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski's conduct at DHS. Tension and optics inside immigration enforcement get unpacked. Debate over Trump's hold on the Republican Party and signs of congressional pushback. Fierce discussion of rolling back the EPA CO2 finding, climate narratives, fracking tradeoffs, and shifts at HHS. A literary recommendation closes the conversation.

A panel unpacks the release of millions of unredacted files and the risks of contextless leaks. They debate transparency versus harm and how raw documents fuel conspiracy and reputational damage. The conversation probes unanswered questions about wealth, death, and elite complicity. They also dissect a theatrical political hearing and a provocative stunt at a religious commission meeting.