The Commentary Magazine Podcast

Episode: A Week of Madness
Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Jon Podhoretz
Panelists: Abe Greenwald, Christine Rosen, Seth Mandel, Eliana Johnson

Episode Overview

This episode, titled "A Week of Madness," offers an in-depth discussion of the tumultuous events surrounding the Trump administration’s actions both domestically and internationally. The panelists dissect a string of controversial Trump decisions, explore the implications for America’s global standing, and contrast them with hypothetical Democratic policies. The conversation is laced with dark humor and weary frustration as the hosts attempt to parse out meaning from what they see as chaos and political overreach.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Trump Administration’s Recent Actions

• Apocalyptic Mood: Jon Podhoretz opens the discussion with a sense of foreboding, citing an accumulation of unprecedented actions from the Trump presidency over the previous week.
• Key Incidents Highlighted:
  • Crisis over Greenland, wherein Trump threatens European allies, pushes to militarize Greenland, and makes tariff threats against French wine if France does not comply with his wishes regarding Greenland and participation in the “Board of Peace.”
  • Trump’s letter to the Prime Minister of Denmark, expressing disinterest in peace after failing to receive the Nobel Peace Prize (given by Norway, not Denmark).
  • The controversial sale of positions on the “Gaza peace board” for one billion dollars each, inviting autocrats like Lukashenko (Belarus), Putin (Russia), and other dubious figures.
  • Trump's move to make it illegal to hold sporting events during the Army-Navy game.
  • Two-time commutation of a fraudster’s sentence and suspicious use of pardons linked to substantial donations.
• International Relations Deterioration: Growing instability and estrangement with NATO and other significant alliances is a central concern.

Quote:

"I'm in kind of a very apocalyptic frame of mind... this week seemed to me to mark some kind of a shift into a level of thuggish craziness that goes beyond the first term."
— Jon Podhoretz (03:26)

2. Panelists’ Reactions: Calibrating Crisis

Abe’s Perspective:

• Cautions against apocalyptic thinking, citing the cyclical nature of Trump’s crises. Suggests that historically, “things come back from the brink over and over again.”
• Compares each incident to the recurring “Lucy football moment” in Peanuts comics—never quite certain if disaster will strike, so best to wait and see.

Quote:

“Every week there is a Lucy football moment and I'm just not going to kick until I see where things end up 24 hours from now, 48 hours from now.”
— Abe Greenwald (08:43)

Christine’s View:

• Pushes back, arguing that being at least “somewhat apocalyptic is the appropriate response,” pointing out that recent actions are in direct contradiction of Trump’s stated policy goals of defending western civilization and American interests.
• Critiques the incoherent strategy behind attacks on NATO and aggressive moves in Greenland, which she sees as counterproductive to combatting China and Russia.

Quote:

“Being slightly puzzled and apocalyptic at the same time strikes me as a very healthy attitude this morning.”
— Christine Rosen (13:20)

Eliana’s Counter:

• Suggests that past predictions of catastrophic NATO fallout didn’t materialize, and that chaos might, paradoxically, lead to stronger alliances if European countries respond by increasing their commitments, as previously seen.

Quote:

“At some point he will be subject to the laws of reality.”
— Eliana Johnson (15:09)

Seth’s Note:

• Adds that much of the European response to NATO came from context outside U.S. pressure, notably Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The pessimism about Trump’s indifference or hostility toward NATO is warranted given his consistent rhetoric.

3. The “Board of Peace” & American Unilateralism

• Discussion about Trump’s attempt to create a new American-led, American-controlled peace institution—by selling spots on a so-called “Board of Peace.” Panelists deride the proposal as chaotic and unserious.
• Highlight that the U.S. already leads NATO, making such a new institution unnecessary and potentially destabilizing.

Quote:

“I've got an American led, American run alliance organization for him. If he really wants one. It's called NATO.”
— Seth Mandel (18:07)

4. The Greenland Fiasco & Questioning Intent

• The personal nature of Trump’s letter to Norway is cited as emblematic of impulsivity and lack of strategy; focus on his being offended over the Nobel Prize snub.

Quote:

“There is no explanation from him beyond I'm personally wounded and I want something and I'm going to go get it.”
— Christine Rosen (24:52)

• The destabilizing effect of Trump’s moves on global markets and alliances is emphasized. Diplomacy, the panel argues, could have achieved U.S. goals in Greenland without such drama.

5. The Kamala Harris (and Democratic) Hypothetical

• Panelists shift perspective, asking: what if Kamala Harris had become president in 2024?
  • Discussion centers around Josh Shapiro’s memoir revelations about being vetted for vice president, including aggressive questioning centered on Shapiro's Jewishness and ties to Israel.
  • Panelists see this as alarming evidence of emerging anti-Semitic suspicion in Democratic circles, with implications for future Jewish public servants and U.S.-Israel relations.

Quote:

“If you do it to Josh Shapiro, and it looks like, well, there was a reason to do it ... then there's a reason to do. Have that line of questioning with anybody and everything becomes suspect.”
— Seth Mandel (33:30)

• Jon Podhoretz argues a Harris administration would have been worse for Israel, Ukraine, and Jewish students on campuses, and more hesitant to confront antisemitism.

6. The Supreme Court and Tariffs Debate

• The slow pace of the Supreme Court’s pending decision on presidential tariff power generates frustration.
• Panelists debate whether the Court should act faster given Trump’s habit of using tariffs as his foreign-policy weapon of first resort.
• Discussion links this to larger issues of Congress's abdication of its own power and responsibility—especially Republicans falling in line with Trump—rather than checking executive overreach.

7. Recommendations & Something Positive

• Jon Podhoretz ends on a (somewhat) lighter note, recommending the novel Foster Dade Explores the Cosmos by Nash Jenkins, an exploration of adolescence, social capital, and the corrosive effect of social media and privilege at an elite boarding school.
• Brief mentions of sports—pitchers and catchers reporting and recent football games—as welcome distractions.

Quote:

"It's very hard to shake... It gets sadder and sadder as it goes. So I want to warn everybody that there's no, you know, it's not like a heartwarming experience though. It's funny and clever and really smart."
— Jon Podhoretz (56:54, on Foster Dade Explores the Cosmos)

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• "Every week there is a Lucy football moment and I'm just not going to kick until I see where things end up 24 hours from now, 48 hours from now." — Abe Greenwald (08:43)
• "Being slightly puzzled and apocalyptic at the same time strikes me as a very healthy attitude this morning." — Christine Rosen (13:20)
• "I've got an American led, American run alliance organization for him. If he really wants one. It's called NATO." — Seth Mandel (18:07)
• "There is no explanation from him beyond I'm personally wounded and I want something and I'm going to go get it." — Christine Rosen (24:52)
• "If you do it to Josh Shapiro, ... then there's a reason to do ... Have that line of questioning with anybody and everything becomes suspect." — Seth Mandel (33:30)
• "What are you clinging onto your power for? If clinging onto your power means becoming a, you know, toady?" — Jon Podhoretz (51:26)

Highlighted Timestamps

• 03:47 — Podhoretz lays out his apocalyptic reaction to Trump administration events
• 08:35 — Abe Greenwald offers cautious optimism, resisting panic
• 10:39 — Christine Rosen challenges the panel on the gravity of current events
• 13:24–15:11 — Panel explores whether Trump’s chaos will ultimately be constrained by reality
• 18:07 — Seth Mandel’s succinct NATO quip
• 24:52 — Christine Rosen’s critique of the President’s narcissism in diplomacy
• 27:14 — Podhoretz transitions discussion to the Democratic side
• 33:30 — Seth Mandel’s concerns over Jewish identity in public service post-Shapiro memo
• 51:26 — Podhoretz’s lament about cowardice in the Republican Senate

Panel Tone & Dynamic

The tone is weary, combative, and often wry:

• Frequent use of humor and sarcasm, particularly as a coping mechanism.
• Strong language condemning Trump’s impulsivity ("thuggish," "psychotic," "toddler explosion") balanced with exasperation toward Democratic missteps ("morally stupid," "bad politics").
• The panel is self-aware about their tendency toward doom and their desire—but inability—to find solace in the present political moment.

Conclusion

“A Week of Madness” lives up to its title. The Commentary team wrestles with a news cycle they see as both chaotic and deeply consequential for U.S. policy and global order. Throughout, they balance critique with reluctant nostalgia for past political normalcy, expressing concern about the future regardless of which party holds power. Despite the gloom, they close with a book recommendation and some sports talk, suggesting that even in dire political times, refuge—and perspective—can be found in literature and life's smaller pleasures.