The Commentary Magazine Podcast: August 1 Mailbag! Summary

Release Date: August 1, 2025

In this episode of The Commentary Magazine Podcast, hosts John Podhoretz, Abe Greenwald, Matthew Continetti, and Christine Rosen engage with listener questions, delving into critical discussions surrounding U.S. foreign policy, just war theory, political narratives, and historical parallels to current international relations. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key topics, enriched with notable quotes and contributions from each host.

1. U.S. Foreign Policy in Central and South America

Listener Input: John from Hollywood

John from Hollywood initiates the mailbag segment with an in-depth inquiry about the United States' involvement in Central and South America during the 1980s. He references historical events and literature, notably Stephen Kinzer's Massacre at El Mozote and Bitter Fruit, questioning the decline in American discourse about these regions since then.

John Podhoretz [10:38]: "The main issue in American foreign policy was our involvement in the civil war in El Salvador and what the Reagan administration was intending to do about the unquestionably communist regime that had overthrown the Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua."

Discussion Highlights:

• Abe Greenwald [15:07]: Emphasizes the complexity of historical narratives, pointing out the tendency of historians to retroactively align events with present-day understandings. He introduces the concept of "mission creep," highlighting how strategic interests and unintended consequences shaped U.S. interventions.

  "There's a tendency to neaten a narrative about some of the conflicts... considering both our best intentions and unintended consequences of our interventions."

• John Podhoretz [17:14]: Challenges Greenwald's perspective by defending the Reagan-era policies as reformist forces that promoted democratic elections in Central America, contrasting them with oppressive communist regimes like Cuba.

  "The Kirkpatrick was very important because she was writing about Argentina... the argument that authoritarian regimes can morph... proved to be correct."

2. Defense of Israel and Just War Theory

Listener Input: Joe Carroll

Joe Carroll, a Roman Catholic and Zionist subscriber, presents a robust defense of Israel's military actions, invoking just war theory and historical comparisons to justify current policies.

Joe Carroll [20:52]: "Israel has taken special care to protect the lives of civilians in Gaza. Any allegation that Israel has done the opposite is blood libel."

Discussion Highlights:

• John Podhoretz [23:55]: Critiques Christine Rosen for equating Israel's actions with historical wartime atrocities like Dresden and Hiroshima, emphasizing the unique moral and strategic contexts.

  "If Israel were adopting the moral equivalent of firebombing towns... I would be forced to side with Israel's critics."

• Christine Rosen [41:54]: Supports Carroll's stance by underscoring the ethical imperatives of Israel's defense measures, contrasting them with indiscriminate wartime bombings.

  "Israel's war should not be counted among these events. Unjust war is always unjust war."

3. Obama Administration and the Collusion Narrative

Listener Input: Steve Swan

Steve Swan challenges the podcast hosts on their interpretation of the Obama administration's stance during the Trump-Russia investigation, arguing that the administration knowingly perpetuated the collusion narrative despite lacking substantial evidence.

Steve Swan [26:09]: "The Obama administration knew this was incredible at the time of those reports... Comey was working hard to plant the narrative."

Discussion Highlights:

• Christine Rosen [27:01]: Expresses skepticism about the Democrats' understanding of Trump, suggesting that the narrative was an attempt to rationalize unforeseen political phenomena.

  "It was their effort to invent a story out of whole cloth. I sort of don't, but I don't know that that changes much because it wasn't a real story."

• John Podhoretz [31:37]: Draws parallels between the Russiagate investigation and the Bush administration's Plaingate scandal, highlighting perceived inefficiencies and political motivations behind such investigations.

  "We found out that the person who leaked the name was Richard Armitage... and it spiraled into a scandal that obsessed Washington for years over absolutely nothing."

4. Historical Parallels: WWII Appeasement and Current Israeli Policies

Listener Input: Philip Stahl

Philip Stahl draws a contentious comparison between pre-WWII British and French governments' appeasement of Hitler and contemporary Western policies that he perceives as enabling terrorism and hindering Israel's security.

Philip Stahl [36:34]: "Their current attempt to enable terrorists and stop Israel from defending itself... should not surprise us."

Discussion Highlights:

• Abe Greenwald [38:26]: Rebuts Stahl's analogy, arguing that contemporary UK and French governments should be judged on current behaviors rather than historical actions. He criticizes modern policies as reflective of longstanding anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist sentiments within elite institutions.

  "France has been long gone on that score... leveraging modern institutions to propagate anti-Semitic statements."

• John Podhoretz [34:31]: Provides a historical defense of Neville Chamberlain's appeasement strategy, portraying it as an honorable effort to maintain peace until the true nature of Hitler's intentions became undeniable.

  "Chamberlain was acting in innocence... he did behave in a moral and noble fashion once it was inarguable what was in front of him."

• Christine Rosen [42:12]: Reinforces Podhoretz's perspective by contrasting past and present, emphasizing that current leaders have a better understanding of geopolitical threats and should be evaluated accordingly.

  "They know what they're facing and have every reason to understand what they're facing and what their actions mean."

Conclusion

This episode of The Commentary Magazine Podcast offers a deep dive into complex geopolitical issues, blending historical analysis with contemporary political discourse. The hosts engage thoughtfully with listener contributions, providing nuanced perspectives on U.S. foreign policy, ethical considerations in warfare, political narratives, and historical lessons applied to modern-day conflicts.

For those seeking a thorough examination of these topics from a Commentary Magazine standpoint, this mailbag episode serves as a valuable resource, encapsulating informed debate and editorial insight.

Note: Advertisements, promotional segments, and non-content sections from the transcript have been intentionally excluded to maintain focus on the core discussions.