Summary of "Biden's Moment of Senile Amnesia" - The Commentary Magazine Podcast

Release Date: December 9, 2024
Host: Jon Podhoretz
Guests: Abe Greenwald, Seth Mandel, Christine Rosen

1. Geopolitical Shifts: The Collapse of Assad's Regime

The podcast opens with Jon Podhoretz highlighting the dramatic collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. Reflecting on the geopolitical repercussions, Podhoretz sarcastically remarks, “May they both enjoy the life of traitors to humanity...” (02:25). He emphasizes that while the Syrian conflict has longstanding complexities, the recent turmoil has not yielded any significant positive outcomes, stating, "No good has come from Syria for the last hundred years since the end of World War I and World War II..." (04:50). The discussion hints at an upcoming deep dive with Jonathan Schanzer to provide a comprehensive analysis of the situation in Syria (05:58).

2. President Biden's Perceived Decline and the Austin Tice Incident

A significant portion of the episode critiques President Joe Biden's recent actions and mental acuity. Podhoretz criticizes Biden’s handling of the Austin Tice situation, a high-profile American held in Syrian custody for twelve years. He narrates Biden's confusing remarks on Tice, labeling them as indicative of senility: “I'm not going to stage a mission to get him out. He forgot who he was talking about after three seconds...” (09:57). Christine Rosen adds context, explaining the family's frustration with the Biden administration's lack of clarity and action regarding Tice's fate (10:46).

The conversation shifts to the potential invocation of the 25th Amendment to address Biden's incapacity, with Podhoretz urging, “14 or 15 members of the Cabinet need to write to Congress…” (12:08). Rosen counters by suggesting that the administration has systems in place to govern without Biden's direct involvement, albeit with diminishing effectiveness (13:20).

3. Trump as President-Elect: Policy Directions and Public Statements

The podcast shifts focus to Donald Trump, now president-elect, analyzing his recent public statements and policy directions. Podhoretz praises Trump’s stability and preparedness for office, referencing his decisive stance on not antagonizing the Federal Reserve: “I’m not going after Jay Powell. I don’t want Jay Powell to leave the Fed...” (16:34).

Christine Rosen explores Trump's immigration policies, particularly his stance on mass deportations and birthright citizenship. She notes Trump's surprising proposal to eliminate birthright citizenship through executive action, a move she argues is constitutionally questionable: “It would probably take a constitutional amendment to remove birthright citizenship...” (18:44). The hosts discuss the declining public support for birthright citizenship among both Democrats and Republicans, suggesting Trump's policies may resonate with current public sentiments.

4. Immigration Policy: Deportations and Birthright Citizenship

The dialogue delves deeper into the intricacies of Trump's immigration agenda. Podhoretz criticizes Biden’s handling of immigration, likening it to an “elephant” that is finally being addressed by Trump: “There's the elephant. Are you going to cage the elephant?... What are you going to do with the elephant's children?” (31:14).

Christine Rosen highlights the political maneuvering surrounding Dreamers and the potential fallout from Trump's policies, pointing out contradictions in the administration's approach to family separations and deportations: “They want to send everybody back, including the little kids who were born here...” (23:52).

Seth Mandel adds that Trump’s clear and forceful policy stance on immigration could position him favorably with voters seeking order and stability: “The first guy that institutes an order... is going to win the race...” (35:20).

5. President Trump's Rhetoric on Political Opponents

A contentious segment addresses Trump's remarks about his political adversaries. Podhoretz recounts Trump's declaration of seeing political opponents like Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney in jail, interpreting it as a sign of Biden’s diminishing authority: “He needs to be removed from office... he needs to be out...” (42:25).

The hosts debate the implications of Trump’s statements, with Rosen suggesting that Trump's aggression reflects his longstanding confrontational style: “Trump has been acting aggrieved for years...” (54:19). The conversation underscores the polarized nature of current U.S. politics and the challenges it poses for future governance.

6. Media Dynamics and Public Perception

The podcast critically examines the role of media in shaping public perception of political figures. Podhoretz accuses mainstream media of perpetuating false narratives about immigration and Trump’s policies, using metaphors to illustrate the shifting arguments: “What elephant?... So are you going to cage the elephant?... Are you going to send the elephant back to Africa?” (36:03).

Christine Rosen counters by acknowledging the damage done by previous media portrayals, particularly in portraying Democrats as incompetent stewards of immigration policy: “They have a real problem in responding to Trump's message right now...” (35:20).

7. Upcoming Episodes and Closing Remarks

Jon Podhoretz concludes by announcing an upcoming podcast episode featuring Jonathan Schanzer, promising an in-depth exploration of the Syrian crisis and its broader implications (60:12). The hosts wrap up with a critique of current geopolitical strategies and express skepticism about future developments under Trump’s administration.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jon Podhoretz (09:57): "What we should not say for another day, is to discuss the President of the United States. His name is not Donald Trump. His name is Joe Biden."

• Christine Rosen (10:46): "The fact that Biden said that and then immediately forgot is indicative of the actual policy the Biden administration has had about rescuing kidnapped Americans like Tice."

• Jon Podhoretz (12:08): "Is not a close call. There are 14 or 15 members of the Cabinet. A majority of the cabinets needs to say today..."

• Seth Mandel (35:20): "The first guy that institutes an order, like a sense, a policy that is clear that people know what to do and provides a sense of order, I think that guy is going to win the race."

• Jon Podhoretz (43:24): "My sister Rachel would have liked to see Lawrence Walsh thrown in jail. She would have liked to see Daniel Inouye thrown in jail."

• Christine Rosen (54:19): "Trump has been acting aggrieved for years. I mean, like, this is not a new line."

Conclusion

"Biden's Moment of Senile Amnesia" presents a critical examination of President Joe Biden's recent actions and perceived decline, juxtaposed with an analysis of Donald Trump's emerging role as president-elect. The hosts delve into complex issues such as immigration policy, media influence, and political strategies, offering a perspective that underscores deep political divisions and the uncertain trajectory of U.S. governance in the coming months.