The Commentary Magazine Podcast

Episode: Make a Case for Growth
Date: November 11, 2025
Hosts: John Podhoretz, Christine Rosen, Seth Mandel, Eliana Johnson

Overview

This episode of the Commentary Magazine Podcast—on Veterans Day—explores several interlinked political and cultural topics: the perennial drama of government shutdowns and their impact, internal Democratic Party turmoil, the current crisis of affordability in the U.S. (especially regarding housing), and shifting Middle East dynamics with a focus on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Along the way, the hosts digress into pop culture commentary, including a recommendation for a new TV show.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Veterans Day Acknowledgement and Book Release

00:50 – 03:45

• John Podhoretz opens with tributes to U.S. veterans.
• Christine Rosen’s book, The Extinction of Experience, now released in paperback, is discussed as timely and relevant, especially in an era of increasing “virtual life.”
  • Christine Rosen: "Defend the human interactions that seem small scale but actually have long term consequences for us and don't outsource your human skills quite yet to AI." (03:22)

2. Government Shutdown: Kabuki Theatre Repeats

03:45 – 16:50

• The hosts outline the typical dance around government shutdowns—predictability and "Kabuki theater."
  • John and Eliana poke fun at the New York Times for dramatizing an essentially foregone congressional process.
  • Consensus: The real story is not the shutdown threat, but the perfunctory drama both parties act out.
• John Podhoretz:
  "They agree to kind of take the ideological bullet for others in their party who are less secure in their support in their districts or...from their donors. That is a classic piece of Washington Kabuki theater." (07:10)
• Christine contrasts Chuck Schumer's “poll-driven” leadership with the steadier hand of former GOP leader Mitch McConnell (08:09).
• The far left and activist Democrats criticize the end of the shutdown as “caving,” but struggle to articulate the substance of their complaints (09:07).
• Seth Mandel: "[I]f you win the argument about the shutdown...you have made the case against the shutdown. So good luck making the case to continue the shutdown." (11:56)

3. Trump, Executive Power, and Shutdown Fallout

16:50 – 22:11

• Eliana details Trump’s strategy to maximize the pain of the shutdown, recounting aggressive use of executive power, e.g., threatening to withhold back pay and food stamps.
  • "Trump went to Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, and said, what...are all the tools we have...to extract the most possible pain?" (16:56)
• Christine notes the lack of traditional negotiation; both sides realized it was time to end the shutdown as political support started slipping and practical travel logistics (air traffic control) were threatened. (21:22)

4. Political Repercussions and Trump’s Weaknesses

22:40 – 26:36

• John argues prolonged chaos and overreach reinforce negative narratives about Trump, making him vulnerable for 2026.
  • "You can't simultaneously be power mad and power hungry and then look like everything is just in a kind of tornado...I don't think that will help Republicans in 2026..." (24:28)
• Christine says Trump’s denial of economic pain ("prices aren’t too high") echoes Biden’s earlier tone-deaf inflation messaging, representing a lost opportunity for Republicans to connect with voters’ real experiences. (25:03)
• Economy as a weak spot: Republicans risk appearing out of touch if they ignore affordability anxieties.

5. The Affordability & Housing Crisis: A Republican Opportunity?

26:36 – 33:05

• John introduces “affordability” as the hot word of 2025; homeownership is increasingly out of reach—with median buyer age now 40.
  • "The Republicans and the right have a powerful and winning answer...building a house...is too expensive. We need to deregulate the housing market wherever it is..." (27:20)
• Christine and Seth critique the Trump/MAGA response as simplistic—proposing “50-year mortgages” rather than tackling real underlying constraints such as regulation and tariffs.
  • Seth Mandel: "You're Bob the builder in this conversation. You are supposed to have...solutions..." (30:54)
• Construction cost drivers: labor issues, tariffs (esp. lumber from Canada), and restrictive local regulations.

6. Policy Paths Forward: Can GOP Move Past MAGA?

32:14 – 33:05

• Christine urges the post-MAGA GOP to embrace traditional conservative, free-market approaches on affordability, housing, and immigration.
• John points to union power and state/local politics as targets for GOP messaging: "The reason that construction costs are high is that building trades help control the means of production, using their power in state legislatures..." (33:05)

7. Middle East Update: Hamas Tunnel Stand-off

34:47 – 43:03

• The hosts pivot sharply, led by Seth’s wry “tiny violins” comment, to news that 150-200 elite Hamas fighters are trapped in tunnels in Rafah and are seeking “safe passage.”
  • John Podhoretz: "We are supposed to care that there are 150 Hamasniks trapped in the tunnels? I would like them to suffocate in the tunnels." (35:12)
• Hamas makes demands (no disarmament, no deportation); Israel refuses, echoing the “chutzpah” of seeking mercy after atrocities.
  • Christine Rosen: "It's just like having a fort where people are shooting from the fort at their enemy. And you capture the fort. It's a military target..." (38:22)
• Discussion of international interventions (Turkey) and the Trump administration's stance—strict adherence to the ceasefire deal, no deals for trapped Hamas.
  • Seth: "As long as Wyckoff and Kushner and Trump don't get rolled on something like this...the ceasefire is fine. Because what they are doing is strictly adhering to it." (41:01)

8. MSNBC Becomes “Ms. Now”: Awkward Rebrand

48:00 – 52:41

• Eliana covers her Free Beacon exposé on MSNBC’s $20 million rebranding campaign to “Ms. Now”—highlighting a new ad in which conspicuously all-black audiences are played by paid actors, not anchors or actual viewers.
  • "We have, you know, one black commercial actor who's done boxer ads and KFC ads and zip recruiter ads and another one who's been girl number two at an audition..." (49:56)
• Hosts banter about authenticity and cringeworthy ad campaigns, referencing the infamous Kamala Harris masculinity ad.

9. Pop Culture: TV Show Recommendation & Soap Opera Tangent

53:12 – 63:40

• Recommendation: Seth recommends Pluribus, a new Vince Gilligan series on Apple TV, praised for its patient, real-time storytelling and lead performance by Rhea Seehorn.
  • John Podhoretz: "What if you were the hero and things happen and then you're like, what the hell is going on? And how would you react as it was happening?" (57:45)
• John launches into an affectionate digression on the golden age of soap operas and the surprising cameo by soap actor Peter Bergman in Pluribus.

10. Binging vs. Weekly TV Debate & Quick Wrap-up

63:40 – end

• The hosts debate binge-watching vs. weekly episode releases, expressing nostalgia for the latter and admitting that busy family/work lives limit binge opportunities.
• Christine’s exit is marked by comic exasperation with the prolonged TV digression.

Notable Quotes

• John Podhoretz [07:10]: "That is a classic piece of Washington Kabuki theater."
• Christine Rosen [08:09]: "Schumer...is such a poll driven, craven, finger in the air sort of guy for a leader..."
• Seth Mandel [11:56]: “So good luck making the case to continue the shutdown.”
• Eliana Johnson [16:56]: "Trump went to Russ Vought...and said, what...are all the tools we have...to extract the most possible pain?"
• John Podhoretz [24:28]: "You can't simultaneously be power mad and power hungry and then look like everything is just in a kind of tornado..."
• John Podhoretz [27:20]: "...building a house in the United States...is too expensive. We need to deregulate the housing market..."
• Christine Rosen [38:22]: "It's just like having a fort where people are shooting from...it's a military target."
• John Podhoretz [35:12]: "We are supposed to care that there are 150 Hamasniks trapped in the tunnels? I would like them to suffocate in the tunnels."
• Seth Mandel [41:01]: "As long as Wyckoff and Kushner and Trump don't get rolled on something like this...the ceasefire is fine."
• Eliana Johnson [49:56]: "We have...one black commercial actor who's done boxer ads and KFC ads and zip recruiter ads and another one who's been girl number two at an audition..."

Important Timestamps & Segments

• 00:50–03:45: Veterans Day and “The Extinction of Experience” release
• 03:45–16:50: Government shutdown: media coverage, party drama, outcome
• 16:50–22:11: Trump’s aggressive approach and the shutdown’s political impact
• 22:40–26:36: Trump’s twin weaknesses: chaos and indifference to economic pain
• 26:36–33:05: Housing/affordability “crisis”; GOP’s missed opportunity
• 34:47–43:03: Hamas tunnel standoff and Middle East deal dynamics
• 48:00–52:41: MSNBC’s awkward “Ms. Now” rebrand advertising
• 53:12–63:40: Pluribus TV show, soap opera history, nostalgia
• 63:40–End: TV watching habits: binge vs. weekly

Memorable Moments

• John’s impassioned satire about “Kabuki theater” in D.C. shutdown politics.
• The entire crew’s comedic takedown of MSNBC’s rebranding efforts and diversity optics.
• A running joke about never getting facts right, and Eliana's self-corrections.
• Extended, playful tangent on soap operas, led by John.
• Christine’s increasingly desperate (and funny) desire to leave the episode as the TV conversation drags on.

Tone & Language

The episode is irreverent, fast-paced, and peppered with sharp sarcasm and humor. The hosts blend pointed critiques with affectionate ribbing and pop culture references, maintaining a conversational, insider-y feel throughout.

Summary prepared for listeners and non-listeners alike who want a comprehensive capture of the episode’s political analysis, memorable quotes, and spirited banter.