The Commentary Magazine Podcast

Episode: Look Who's Talking Nicely About MAGA
Date: November 14, 2025
Panel: John Podhoretz (Host), Abe Greenwald, Seth Mandel, Christine Rosen

Episode Overview

This episode centers on recent mainstream media stories that suggest a rift between Donald Trump and his MAGA base—specifically with regard to his alleged drift from "America First" priorities. The hosts critically dissect these claims, examine the real dynamics within the MAGA movement, compare Trump’s support to past presidents’ party loyalty, and discuss the broader political narrative around Trump’s second term, economic challenges, and administration competence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Media Narratives: Is There a MAGA-Schism?

• Mainstream Media Reporting: The New York Times and The Washington Post both headline with stories suggesting that Trump’s policies (like engagement with foreign crises and talk of skilled immigrant labor) are alienating his core base. The Atlantic runs a parallel narrative about Trump’s supposed indifference to economic pain ([00:48]).
• Skepticism from Hosts: John Podhoretz questions whether these stories reflect genuine discontent in the MAGA base or are simply wishful thinking by the liberal media. He points out the irony that the liberal media might typically celebrate Trump's embrace of high-skilled immigration, but instead spin it as a MAGA betrayal:

  “You would think they would say, well, even Trump knows that [immigration for highly-skilled workers] is a good idea. ... But that's not where they're going. They're going with, 'oh, poor MAGA'...” — John Podhoretz ([03:15])

• No Real Divide?: The panel argues that for MAGA, Trump IS the movement. Points of policy difference don't manifest as genuine schisms:

  “There is no gap. Trump is MAGA. MAGA is the act of supporting Trump personally.” — John Podhoretz ([04:55])

• Restive, Not Rebellious: Christine Rosen notes that less cultish Republicans are “restive, not angry” about policies like tariffs or prices, but they still support Trump ([05:51]).

2. Historical Perspective: MAGA vs. Past Party Cracks

• No “Bush 2005” Moment: The show revisits George W. Bush’s plummeting Republican support after Iraq/Katrina, arguing that Trump’s base is different—it's personal loyalty, not policy-based.

  “Trump has never asked for anything of his followers other than fealty to him personally.” — John Podhoretz ([08:49])

3. Are the Cited MAGA Critics Credible?

• Mainstream Journalistic Sources: Seth Mandel critiques the Times and Post for relying on perennial outlandish figures (Bannon, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tom Massie) for their "MAGA discontent" narratives, suggesting these are unrepresentative outliers seeking publicity ([10:17–13:12]).

  “Is that the main critique? Are those the words of somebody who sounds like they're really worried about…the price of corn? Or is that somebody involved in a dirt-throwing primary?” — Seth Mandel ([11:08])

4. Enduring MAGA-Trump Bond

• Bafflement from the Left & Media: Christine Rosen observes that the persistent personal loyalty Trump commands, even after personal or political failures, remains inscrutable to the media left:

  “Even when he makes terrible mistakes … they still keep coming back for more. ... Even after more than a decade of reporting on Trump, they're still mildly baffled.” — Christine Rosen ([13:12])

5. Economic Risks and Political Prospects

• What Actually Threatens Trump: The real threats aren’t “schism” but macroeconomic issues—prices, possible bursting of AI/stock bubbles, or an economic downturn ([16:08–20:14], [29:12–31:43]).
• Second Term Blues: The podcast explains that “second term presidents” often look out-of-touch, and Trump is now suffering from the same syndrome—heightened by security concerns after the assassination attempt:

  “All second term presidents look out of touch like that. … He's also somebody who … has the ghost of having almost been shot…” — John Podhoretz ([28:01])

6. Trump’s Style and “Competence” Issues

• Relying on Gimmicks: Christine Rosen warns that off-the-cuff ideas (like a “50-year mortgage”) plus questionable appointees signal policy incoherence and administrative incompetence:

  “When he does try to wade into the macroeconomic issues, he falls pretty hard flat on his face. The 50-year mortgage idea... sounds incompetent.” — Christine Rosen ([19:07])

• Uniquely Dysfunctional?: Christine lists “an unusual number of incompetent people in his administration,” distinguishing this from usual second-term troubles ([30:03]).

7. Historical Comparisons and the Economy’s Role

• Clinton as Model: They invoke Bill Clinton’s scandal-survival, credited to positive economic conditions ([31:39–36:46]).

  “Clinton had a booming economy. ... And he survived something no one else would have survived because his party stuck with him in part because they had a story to tell.” — John Podhoretz ([32:50])

• For Trump, Job Approval Will Depend on Economy: If the economy holds, Trump’s “out-of-touch” persona won’t cost him; if not, vulnerability increases ([37:11–38:50]).

8. Future Political Fights & Impeachment

• Impeachment Anticipated: Panelists speculate that a Democratic House in 2026 will likely impeach Trump again, but with little ultimate effect ([39:47–41:05]).

  “He'll be the only president impeached a third time.” — Christine Rosen ([41:05])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On MAGA Loyalty:

  “MAGA is to support Trump and to support Trump, you don't necessarily have to support Trump.” — Seth Mandel ([07:09])

• On Mainstream Media’s Perpetual Bafflement:

  “They have not yet found that guy for themselves on the left.” — Christine Rosen ([13:12])

• On Trump's populist appeal:

  “He is our vengeance. He is our retribution. He is the payback for the political class having screwed the pooch…” — John Podhoretz ([22:57])

• On Second Term Vulnerability:

  “That's every president who is in that situation … is going to lose their ability to change the narrative because they look like a lame duck.” — Seth Mandel ([29:12])

• On Historical Parallels:

  “Clinton had this thing where his personal approval rating was in the toilet, but his work approval rating was in the 60s, and he survived it.” — John Podhoretz ([33:01])

Important Timestamps

• [00:48] — Introduction of the media “Trump vs. MAGA” stories
• [02:13] — Christine Rosen reads from The Atlantic’s “Marie Antoinette like indifference” quote
• [05:51] — Christine on restive mainstream Republicans and policy worries
• [08:09] — John’s comparison to Bush’s declining second-term GOP support
• [10:17–12:03] — Seth’s breakdown of New York Times sources for MAGA discontent
• [13:12] — Christine on lasting left-wing media bafflement over Trump’s appeal
• [19:07] — Christine critiques Trump’s economic “gimmicks” (e.g., 50-year mortgage idea)
• [28:01] — Discussion of Trump’s now-rare rallies and “out-of-touchness”
• [30:03] — Christine on second-term incompetence, specifically new appointments
• [31:39–36:46] — Clinton second-term comparison: why the economy protected him
• [41:05] — Christine on a probable third impeachment
• [46:08] — Map “trap streets” anecdote during book recommendation section

Book Recommendation

Christine Rosen recommends The Library of Lost Maps by James Cheshire, a journey through the magic, history, and manipulation of cartography. Features a fun fact: old mapmakers added “trap streets” to catch copyright violators ([47:27]).

Summary Verdict

The episode debunks the media’s suggestion of an emerging schism between Trump and the MAGA base, instead describing an unwavering bond based more on personal loyalty than policy. They assert that Trump’s true vulnerability lies in broader economic circumstances, not in intra-party dissent or media-fueled feuds. Historical comparisons—especially to other beleaguered second-term presidents—underscore that economic performance, not character critiques or party drama, will ultimately define Trump’s fortunes.