The Commentary Magazine Podcast — "Minnesota Vice"

Date: January 5, 2026
Episode Overview:
This episode dives into two timely, complex stories: the fallout from U.S. intervention in Venezuela and the massive, years-long public fraud scandal that toppled Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The hosts debate the competence and motives of the Trump administration’s foreign policy, the role of media in state-level corruption, and what the Minnesota case signals for 2028 presidential politics and progressive governance. The episode closes with discussion of New York’s new mayor and the open embrace of left collectivist politics, with sharp commentary on the implications for cities and political culture.

Hosts and Contributors

• John Podhoretz (moderator)
• Seth Mandel (senior editor)
• Christine Rosen (social commentary columnist)
• Eliana Johnson (Washington Free Beacon editor)
• BJ Novak (frequent guest)

1. Venezuela After the Coup: U.S. Policy and the Trump Doctrine

Timestamps: 01:19–18:38

Key Discussion Points:

• Unfolding Complexity in Venezuela:
  The hosts dissect the confused aftermath of the U.S.-backed removal of Nicolás Maduro. They note significant behind-the-scenes planning regarding the transition, aiming to avoid chaos like in post-invasion Iraq. John Podhoretz asks if the confusion is “more substantive than we might be giving it credit for,” stressing that “there are a lot of moving pieces here” (03:16).

• U.S. Approach vs. Past Interventions:

  • Seth Mandel contrasts the Trump administration’s motives with previous Cold War ideas:

    “It’s as if we prosecuted the Cold War with spheres of influence… very offensive-minded, but not ideologically minded. They’re not, you know, this is a fight for liberty and freedom.” (04:43)

  • Eliana Johnson frames the intervention as “gunboat diplomacy,” emphasizing the U.S. isn’t prepared for what comes after a quick strike:

    “You can’t just hang out on your boat and assume the Machiavellian number two… is going to serve U.S. interests.” (10:33)

• Succession Drama and U.S. Messaging:

  • Discussion around Maduro’s vice president, Delsey Rodriguez, as possible U.S. partner in stabilizing Venezuela, despite mixed public statements by Trump (06:39–07:57).
  • Internal debate over whether the administration really knows who or what follows Maduro, with Seth doubting any long-term planning:

    “I just don’t think… they could really know what Maduro’s number two and the rest… were really planning for this.” (17:25)

• Competing Motives: Oil, Drugs, or Democracy?
  Eliana Johnson observes:

  “The only consistent thing we’ve heard so far is about drugs and oil.”

  • She challenges the lack of clarity and transparency and warns of political risk if the story turns into a messy occupation (12:01).

• Historical Parallels:

  • The group cites the Bush administration’s missteps in Iraq, with John noting:

    “I think they are trying very hard not to duplicate that situation. So they’re trying to be fleet on the ground… not announce grandly that a new day has dawned.” (08:00)

  • Reference to a possible rumor of Stephen Miller getting a Venezuela portfolio, dismissed as outside his expertise (15:10).

2. Minnesota’s Scandal: Fraud, Media, and the Fall of Governor Tim Walz

Timestamps: 18:38–32:48

Key Discussion Points:

• Governor Tim Walz Announces He’s Not Running:

  • Breaking news mid-show as Walz stands down, largely due to exposure of massive fraud in state welfare programs—particularly, as BJ Novak clarifies, not just daycare but the “waivered Medicare programs” and “the largest fraud... was the Feeding Our Future fraud on a COVID-era program feeding kids.” (21:15)
  • Local coverage by Scott Johnson of Power Line blog receives strong praise for years of dogged reporting (19:48).

• Role of Alternative Media:

  • Two viral stories, by City Journal and YouTuber Nick Shirley, pushed the fraud national after mainstream outlets failed, leading to mounting pressure and national attention (22:23).
  • Novak notes:

    “These guys… did the job that the national media did in holding Tim Walz to account.” (23:24)

• Mainstream Media Reaction:

  • Eliana Johnson criticizes the media tendency to “attack the messenger” rather than investigate substantiated claims of fraud (24:02).
  • BJ Novak satirizes their downplaying:

    “Only 40% was fraud, like we’re supposed to feel good about that.” (24:15)

• Larger Lesson and Need for Investigative Accountability:

  • Christine Rosen underscores that state-level fraud is rampant and bipartisan, expressing hope for a “belated investigation at every state by responsible journalists” (25:27).

• Prosecutorial Response:

  • Novak details how the U.S. Attorney’s office is overwhelmed and calls for more prosecutors:

    “Send more prosecutors to tackle the fraud in Minnesota… the answer is send more prosecutors to the U.S. Attorney’s office to beef up the fraud team.” (26:27)

• Political Implications for 2028:

  • Walz’s collapse impacts Kamala Harris (whose vetting process is now under scrutiny) and highlights risks for other Democrats amid waves of blue-state corruption (21:08, 30:45).
  • Eliana warns California's numerous nonprofits could be a “huge target for state-level fraud” (31:50).

Notable Quotes:

• BJ Novak:

  “Mainstream media attacking the messenger, not the message. That’s all they’ve been doing.” (24:12)

• Eliana Johnson:

  “This is not just a financial scandal. This is a moral and spiritual scandal for a nation…” (36:35)

3. COVID Relief, Institutional Corruption, and the Moral Crisis

Timestamps: 35:54–44:26

Key Discussion Points:

• COVID Spending as Precedent:

  • Hosts draw parallels between COVID-era spending and ongoing fraud, warning that similar “industrial scale” corruption and waste occurred nationally.
  • Seth Mandel cites a Wall Street Journal study finding the $200 billion in school aid to be ineffective:

    “Its effects were basically nil… the taxpayers end up not just in addition to their children being left behind, they are also $200 billion poorer.” (41:35)

• Systemic Loss of Institutional Trust:

  • John Podhoretz describes the “phalanx” protecting official COVID policy as in part defending huge financial interests and reflecting deeper institutional decay (37:30).
  • Christine Rosen calls the situation “a moral and spiritual crisis, not just a financial one” (36:35).

4. NYC’s New Mayor: The Warmth of Collectivism (Zoram Mamdani’s Inauguration)

Timestamps: 44:26–63:36

Key Discussion Points:

• Welcome to Openly Radical Governance:

  • The new New York City mayor, Zoram Mamdani, is discussed as an unabashed collectivist.
  • John sums up:

    “He basically brought to life…the entire philosophy of the villain structure in Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. He wants…government structures on free enterprise in the name of collectivism.” (46:44)

  • Seth Mandel cites direct inaugural language:

    “We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” (46:44)

• No Euphemisms, No Rebranding:

  • BJ Novak underscores Mamdani’s break with past Democratic leaders:

    “‘To those who insist the era of big government is over, hear me when I say this. No longer will city hall hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers’ lives.’… a shot across the bow of Bill Clinton and Clintonism.” (49:01)

• Aggressive Policy Agenda and Antisemitism:

  • Eliana Johnson walks through Mamdani’s immediate reversal of pro-Israel policies, rescinding antisemitism definitions and executive orders:

    “His goal is actually to rescind protections of Jews in New York, to…bring back BDS in New York City.” (52:02–52:36)

  • John:

    "This is why he wants the job. He doesn’t want the job because he likes government. He is a revolutionary, and he is a serious revolutionary.” (54:32)

• Skepticism about Efficacy and Political Response:

  • The hosts debate whether New York’s entrenched bureaucracy, private sector, and old-school Democrats can moderate or subvert the new administration’s more radical ambitions (56:39).

• Consequences for American Urban Politics:

  • John predicts swift political tests:

    “Snowstorms, a kid…dies of abuse…a policeman forced to use his gun…all of this is going to happen… How he responds… is going to be an important tell.” (59:54)

  • Seth Mandel notes the significance of Mamdani’s explicit promises:

    “The lack of euphemism means you’re not going to be able to say ‘real socialism has never been tried’… If collectivism doesn’t work, collectivism has failed, in the mayor’s own words.” (63:17)

5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Venezuela:
  • John Podhoretz:

    “Given the meticulous nature of the military planning, I kind of doubt that it’s as haphazard on this other side.” (03:44)

• On the Minnesota Fraud Media Coverage:
  • BJ Novak:

    “These guys, imperfect as they are, did the job that the national media did in holding Tim Walz to account and bringing this issue to national attention.” (23:24)

  • Eliana Johnson:

    “People should start to look into their own state and local government fraud. This kind of fraud is rampant.” (25:27)

• On Collectivism in NYC:
  • Seth Mandel:

    “We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” (46:44, quoting Mamdani)

  • John Podhoretz:

    “He is a revolutionary, and he is a serious revolutionary. And he wishes to impose measures from above…” (54:32)

6. Closing Recommendation

Film: Marty Supreme

• John Podhoretz passionately plugs the new film Marty Supreme, calling it,

  “…one of the most sheerly entertaining movies I’ve seen in years and one of the most brilliantly acted movies… Timothée Chalamet… is kinetic. It moves like a freight train.” (63:40–End)

Summary:
This was a rich, fast-moving episode with sharp analysis and original reporting. The panel dissected Venezuela’s delicate transition post-coup and the Trump team's ambiguous motives, explored how a relentless local blog toppled MN’s governor amid staggering fraud, and previewed the 2028 political fallout. The group also sounded the alarm about the rise of unvarnished collectivism in New York politics, warning of real-world implications when radical ideology meets urban governance. Throughout, they posed vital questions about the relationship between government, media, and public trust, all while keeping the tone conversational and unsparing.