The Commentary Magazine Podcast
Episode: Not a Good Couple of Days for Democrats
Date: January 6, 2026
Host: John Podhoretz, with Abe Greenwald, Christine Rosen, Seth Mandel, and Eliana Johnson
Episode Overview
The panel explores several recent news stories that have left the Democratic Party in a difficult position, despite what could have been opportunities. Central topics include the U.S. operation capturing Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, the Minnesota daycare welfare fraud scandal tied to the Democratic ticket, and controversial housing policy rhetoric in New York. The episode also dives into broader themes of media handling, internal Republican tensions, the Trump administration’s foreign policy style, and the fraught discussions surrounding trans issues and mental health. Spirited debate, pointed opinions, and a few personal anecdotes bring a mix of gravity and irreverence to an eventful news week.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Media Response to Maduro Raid & Stephen Miller’s Interview
- [02:33–09:53]
- John Podhoretz recounts cable news reactions to the capture of Maduro. He notes Jake Tapper’s dramatic interview with Trump advisor Stephen Miller, where Tapper cut off Miller (“I don't even know what the hell you're talking about” [03:24]) and the panel discusses how quickly coverage shifted from the successful military raid to negative stories, in particular the revived focus on Jeffrey Epstein.
- Abe notes this represents a case of “horseshoe conspiracy theory”—where both left and right recycle the same accusation tropes.
“There's a weird sort of symmetry to it.” – Abe Greenwald [05:19]
- Seth analyzes the struggle for the Trump coalition—originally opposing “regime change”—to square this operation with past positions, especially as Miller casts the opposition as “neoliberals” more concerned about elections.
“I think it exposes a tension within that part of the coalition…” – Seth Mandel [06:41]
2. A String of Bad News for Democrats
- [09:53–13:04]
- Eliana Johnson details two stories especially damaging to Democrats:
- The dramatic and popular capture of Maduro by American special forces.
- The announcement that the Democratic vice-presidential nominee (Minnesota Governor Tim Walz) will not run for a third term due to a massive welfare fraud scandal.
- Media, Eliana contends, skirt these stories, preferring distraction with Epstein coverage.
“They would much rather talk about Jeffrey Epstein because these things are very, very bad and embarrassing for them.” – Eliana Johnson [09:03]
- Christine sums up:
“It's almost as if Trump won and Kamala lost all over again.” – Christine Rosen [09:53]
- Eliana Johnson details two stories especially damaging to Democrats:
3. Policy Contradictions and Regime Change Debate
- [13:17–17:58]
- Panelists pull apart rhetoric and reality around the Maduro operation. Eliana and John point out there has been no actual regime change—just the arrest of the leader. John distinguishes between toppling a government structure (“regime change”) and upholding a constitution with an ad-hoc solution.
“It is not regime change, because regime change refers to… you blow that up… That is not anybody's plan for Venezuela on either side.” – John Podhoretz [14:55]
- The hosts critique Stephen Miller’s historical analysis as muddled, with Abe describing it as:
“A crime against historiography…” – Abe Greenwald [17:58]
- Panelists pull apart rhetoric and reality around the Maduro operation. Eliana and John point out there has been no actual regime change—just the arrest of the leader. John distinguishes between toppling a government structure (“regime change”) and upholding a constitution with an ad-hoc solution.
4. Trump’s Foreign Policy Style: Tradition, Bluster, and Greenland
- [22:39–31:44]
- Christine celebrates—if cautiously—America’s return to world leadership.
“The world very much seems American led all of a sudden. Once again, it's a different feeling. And I'll tell you this, I like it. I really, really like it.” – Christine Rosen [22:39]
- The team debates Trump’s ongoing obsession with Greenland, weighing whether his “negotiating bluster” is good or bad strategy with allies. Abe and Christine argue this belligerence sometimes does more harm than good, especially toward friendly countries like Denmark and Canada.
“There’s a lot of unnecessary own goals here being made by Trump administration officials with regard to belligerence towards our allies…” – Abe Greenwald [26:42]
- Seth finds Trump’s Greenland fixation weird, if not unprecedented.
- Christine celebrates—if cautiously—America’s return to world leadership.
5. Minnesota Scandal: Public Resources and Performative Solutions
- [33:41–36:53]
- Eliana critiques the administration’s “performative” responses (sending troops, social media noise) to the Minnesota fraud.
“My impression is that the administration has leaned on performative social media announcements... as opposed to concrete measures.” – Eliana Johnson [33:41]
- Abe urges that these resources would be better spent fighting fraud nationwide than fueling political investigations.
- Eliana critiques the administration’s “performative” responses (sending troops, social media noise) to the Minnesota fraud.
6. Trans Issues: Crime, Mental Health, and Media Censorship
- [37:11–47:41]
- John raises the topic of the attack on the Vice President’s home by a trans individual, cataloging a recent string of violent crimes by people identifying as trans, and argues this should prompt open discussion about the connection between trans identity and mental health.
“It is a form of mental illness… but… many have been medically or surgically… mutilated. They may have gone… perfectly healthy…” – Christine Rosen [40:29]
- Eliana criticizes mainstream media for refusing to report salient facts, stating that most major outlets avoided mentioning the attacker’s trans identity entirely.
“It speaks to the media. There is an enormous reluctance… to grapple at all with this topic.” – Eliana Johnson [43:08]
- Seth concludes that media warnings about “attacks on trans people” are themselves a kind of incitement, fueling paranoia and reinforcing a cycle of victimhood and violence.
- John raises the topic of the attack on the Vice President’s home by a trans individual, cataloging a recent string of violent crimes by people identifying as trans, and argues this should prompt open discussion about the connection between trans identity and mental health.
7. Society & Normalcy: Orwell’s “Decency” and Cultural Disruption
- [47:41–55:07]
- John reads a George Orwell line loved by his father:
“The fact to which we have got to cling as to a life belt is that it is possible to be a normal, decent person and yet to be fully alive.”
- He laments the persistent cultural bias—that being “normal” is inherently dull, while being transgressive is lauded.
- Eliana points to Dr. Paul McHugh’s classic critique—compassion for trans individuals demands treating psychological pain, not affirming destructive delusions.
“It is the opposite of compassion. It is the opposite of care.” – John Podhoretz [51:07]
- John reads a George Orwell line loved by his father:
8. Body Positivity, Health, and Hypocrisy
- [53:22–55:57]
- The group discusses the shifting stances of celebrities like Lizzo and Adele on body positivity and weight loss, with Abe critiquing hypocrisy and Christine noting how celebrity culture shapes (and confuses) public health messages.
9. Media Highlights: "Song Sung Blue" Movie Recommendation
- [55:59–62:49]
- John passionately promotes the film “Song Sung Blue,” celebrating its depiction of ordinary American life—“the opposite of condescending”—and singles out Kate Hudson’s performance as possibly Oscar-worthy.
“It is a beautiful movie about ordinary people and the kinds of things that they do that might constitute a form of heroism.” – John Podhoretz [56:51]
- A brief sidebar ridicules a New York Times article reaching for Jewish themes in Neil Diamond’s biography.
- John passionately promotes the film “Song Sung Blue,” celebrating its depiction of ordinary American life—“the opposite of condescending”—and singles out Kate Hudson’s performance as possibly Oscar-worthy.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“They are desperate to go negative.”
– John Podhoretz [03:18] -
“It's almost as if Trump won and Kamala lost all over again.”
– Christine Rosen [09:53] -
“It's also horseshoe conspiracy theory…”
– Abe Greenwald [05:19] -
“The world very much seems American led all of a sudden. Once again, it's a different feeling. And I'll tell you this, I like it. I really, really like it.”
– Christine Rosen [22:39] -
“A crime against historiography, I just have to say. That just was a crime against history.”
– Abe Greenwald [17:58] -
On Trump’s foreign policy:
“If what you want to say is, look, we did this. We've done stuff like this before. Bush did it in Panama, we're doing it here now. It's completely within a respectable tradition. This is not war.”
– John Podhoretz [21:01] -
On media coverage of trans crime:
“It speaks to the media...There is an enormous reluctance...to grapple at all with this topic.”
– Eliana Johnson [43:08] -
On normalcy:
“The fact to which we have got to cling as to a life belt is that it is possible to be a normal, decent person and yet to be fully alive.”
– George Orwell (via John Podhoretz) [47:41]
Important Timestamps
- [02:33] – Tapper cuts off Stephen Miller, interview becomes explosive
- [09:53] – Christine: “It's almost as if Trump won and Kamala lost all over again.”
- [14:55] – Deep dive into what constitutes “regime change”
- [17:58] – Abe: “Crime against historiography”
- [22:39] – Christine’s reflection on America’s global leadership resurgence
- [26:42] – Abe on Trump’s “belligerence and hostility” toward allies
- [33:41] – Eliana critiques performative approach to Minnesota fraud
- [40:29] – Christine’s empathy for trans individuals, questioning medical practices
- [43:08] – Eliana on media reluctance to cover attacker’s gender
- [47:41] – John’s reflection on Orwell, normalcy, and societal values
- [56:51] – John on “Song Sung Blue” movie
- [61:47] – John critiques superficial Jewish readings of Neil Diamond's legacy
Tone and Style
The panel displays its trademark blend of sharp wit, cultural digressions, and informed (often critical) commentary. Their dynamic is conversational, occasionally irreverent, but underpinned by a seriousness about the issues at hand—particularly media responsibility, public policy, and the state of American society. The hosts are unafraid to push into uncomfortable topics but also maintain doses of humor and pop culture asides.
For listeners who missed the episode:
This installment captures the Commentary Magazine team at its most energetic—excavating the week’s headlines for meaning, coherence, and hypocrisy, and laying out how, as the title states, these were “not a good couple of days for Democrats.” You’ll come away with a layered understanding of the intersection between media, politics, and culture circa January 2026.
Episode’s Must-Hear Quote:
“The fact to which we have got to cling as to a life belt is that it is possible to be a normal, decent person and yet to be fully alive.” – George Orwell (quoted by John Podhoretz) [47:41]