The Commentary Magazine Podcast: "Crime Matters"
September 8, 2025
Overview
This episode of The Commentary Magazine Podcast, hosted by John Podhoretz and joined by Abe Greenwald, Matthew Continetti, and Christine Rosen, centers on the public reaction to a shocking murder in Charlotte, NC, broader themes of rising urban crime, public safety, and political responses. The panel also touches on U.S. politics, the effectiveness of policing strategies (like Broken Windows), and connects these domestic issues to larger conversations on immigration, law enforcement policies, and international events involving Russia, Ukraine, and Israel.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Charlotte Train Murder and Media Suppression
- Trigger Incident: Murder of a Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte light rail, captured on video, sparks outrage, particularly on right-wing social media.
- Mainstream Media Reaction: Panelists discuss what they see as a lack of national mainstream media coverage, suggesting this is partly due to the races of the perpetrator and victim.
- Notable Quote:
"It's good to suppress it because, I guess, and I'll just say it flatly — because the murderer is black and the victim is white."
— John Podhoretz [05:10]
- Notable Quote:
- Comparative Case: Reference to the Daniel Penny subway incident (NYC), highlighting contrasting media and legal reactions based on different racial dynamics.
2. Crime, Public Safety, and Political Intensity
- Elite and Political Response: Panelists note discomfort with addressing crimes committed by repeat offenders, especially in “blue cities,” and suggest a political reluctance rooted in race and class dynamics.
- Christine Rosen:
"This is exactly the kind of crime that in these blue cities everyone wants to ignore and the wealthy elite can ignore because they don’t live in the dangerous parts of town." [08:30]
- Christine Rosen:
- Policing Polls & Political Impact: Discussion of polling data around Trump’s calls to deploy the National Guard in Chicago and how intensity (rather than top-line numbers) shapes political reality.
- John Podhoretz:
"The intensity of the issue, and how people respond to the issue, is not measured by yes or no questions on polls." [12:28]
- John Podhoretz:
3. The Social Psychology of Urban Fear
- Random Violence vs. Economic Crime: The panel contrasts current random acts of violence by mentally ill offenders to the “rational” economic crime wave of the 1960s–90s. The unpredictability and “jump scare” nature of today’s urban crimes unsettle people more than mugging/burglary eras of the past.
- Podhoretz:
"The thing that is unnerving people now is... the result of the behavior of a person who does not have his or her faculties... It’s like the difference between being a character in a thriller and being a character in a jump scare horror movie." [26:26]
- Podhoretz:
- Public's Desire for Order: Citizens across all backgrounds express a wish for visible police presence and decisive action, even in high-crime communities often stereotyped as anti-police.
4. Broken Windows & Crime Reduction Strategies
- Broken Windows Theory: Explanation of the criminological strategy — starting enforcement with minor infractions (like fare evasion) can prevent greater crimes.
- Matt Continetti:
"Law enforcement is not a way to reduce crime... what you want is policing, and that's through the broken windows strategy." [32:22]
- Matt Continetti:
- D.C. as a Case Study: Recent federal intervention in D.C. led to a notable drop in crime, supporting the idea that more visible police (and even National Guard) presence has a deterrent effect, even when media outlets question its necessity.
- Continetti:
"It's precisely because there are more people on the street that crime is falling and that criminals are deterred." [31:43]
- Continetti:
5. Politics, Policing, and Accountability
- Progressive Prosecution & Policy Backlash: Discussion about left-wing prosecutors in major cities, the move to eliminate bail, and policies that, according to the panel, have correlated with surges in crime/disorder.
- Challenges in Political Change: Republican and moderate voices are seen as absent or uncompetitive in major cities, ceding the narrative and power to progressives.
- Podhoretz:
"Republicans have ceded the cities on the grounds that, what's the point? Like, why are we even bothering?... I think that's a huge missed political opportunity." [50:32]
- Podhoretz:
- Lessons from San Francisco: Panelists note the city’s recent pivot, with voters ousting a progressive DA and choosing more moderate leadership, as evidence urban electorates can demand accountability.
6. Immigration and Crime Rhetoric
- Intersection with Crime Debate: Trump and Democratic leaders use hyperbolic rhetoric regarding illegal immigration and urban violence, with the real debate often about immigration enforcement and its role in urban disorder.
7. International Briefs — Ukraine and Israel
- Sanctions on Russia: Brief discussion of Trump’s threats to increase sanctions, skepticism about substantive change, and acknowledgment of Ukraine's resilience.
- U.S. Policy Toward Israel-Hamas War: U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal in Gaza hinges on Hamas releasing all hostages; skepticism that such terms will be accepted or lead to real change.
- Podhoretz:
"Trump has said, okay, here's what you get. Send all the hostages home, and we have a relatively conventional deal for you. All bets are off [otherwise]." [65:56]
- Podhoretz:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On the Nature of Random Crime
"People want to live their lives terrified of randomness...There is no defense. In a weird way, that's the point. Right? What is the defense against the attack?"
— John Podhoretz [27:23]
On Broken Windows Policing
"Policing is when you have the cops on the beat, they're in the streets, they're making the rounds. Everyone knows that they're there and they feel safe. Law enforcement occurs after the crime—it’s the cleanup crew."
— Matt Continetti [33:31]
On Progressive Prosecutors
"What the right should do is...what it did with the Federalist Society with judges. Get a project going that changes that dynamic, put people in who actually want to prosecute crime in high-crime cities."
— Christine Rosen [53:26]
On Urban Political Opportunity
"If there were a viable Republican running for mayor...Mamdani might lose...Republicans have ceded the cities on the grounds that, 'what’s the point?'...That’s a huge missed political opportunity."
— John Podhoretz [50:32–51:04]
Important Timestamps
- [03:01] – Overview of recent terror attack in Jerusalem, U.S. offer for Gaza deal, Russian strikes on Ukraine, and the Charlotte train murder.
- [06:09] – Discussion opens on Charlotte story and media coverage.
- [09:27] – Daniel Penny case and media handling comparison.
- [12:28] – Polling and public intensity on National Guard in cities.
- [17:10] – Chicago as case study: immigration’s role in crime debate, elite rhetoric.
- [26:26] – Evolution of urban crime: random violence vs predictable crime waves.
- [32:22] – Broken Windows, policing vs law enforcement, and D.C. experiment with crime reduction.
- [40:07] – Policies and attitudes enabling crime: marijuana legalization, bail reform, learned helplessness.
- [49:40] – Urban political dynamics: missed opportunities for Republicans, demographic changes.
- [53:26] – Rise of progressive prosecutors and implications for urban public safety.
- [56:03] – International: Trump’s stance on Russia, fate of Ukraine conflict.
- [61:58] – U.S. politics on Israel-Gaza war, final offer to Hamas, shifting global alliances.
Recommendations
Books Mentioned:
- The Golden Thread: A New History of Western Civilization (vol. 1) by Alan Guelzo and James Hankins — recommended by both Christine Rosen and Matt Continetti [66:44, 68:35].
- Hansel and Gretel (adapted by Stephen King, illustrated by Maurice Sendak) — Matt Continetti [67:10].
Conclusion
This episode of The Commentary Magazine Podcast offers a deeply interwoven analysis of rising crime in American cities, the political and social responses to it, shifts in public perception, and the impact of policy decisions on community safety. The panel ties these discussions to broader political narratives, electoral calculations, and even to global issues, reflecting on cycles of accountability and crisis in urban life.