The Commentary Magazine Podcast

Episode: "Oy, There's Too Much News"
Date: November 24, 2025
Panel: John Podhoretz (Host/Editor), Abe Greenwald (Executive Editor), Christine Rosen (Columnist), Eliana Johnson (Washington Free Beacon Editor), Jonathan Schanzer (Contributing Editor, FDD)

Episode Overview

This episode’s energetic roundtable is aptly titled—there’s a whirlwind of breaking news, chaos in global and American politics, and a swirl of major themes: U.S.–Israel politics, the risks and manipulation of social media, the messy situation in Ukraine, executive branch accountability, and the precarious near-future of both American and global order. The hosts untangle these developments while trading quick-witted barbs, incisive cynicism, and sober warnings about the dangers of our media and political landscape.

Table of Contents

• 1. The Trump–Mamdani “Love Fest” (01:12–06:07)
• 2. Muslim Brotherhood: Terrorist Designation Discussion (06:07–15:12)
• 3. Foreign Influence & “Bot Armies” on Social Media (15:12–24:31)
• 4. Social Media’s Influence: From Bots to Celebrities (24:31–32:12)
• 5. Executive Accountability & The HHS Vaccine Website Flap (32:12–36:52)
• 6. Ukraine–Russia Negotiations Chaos (36:52–44:50)
• 7. Rubio’s Political Dilemma; Vance & Factionalism (44:50–47:56)
• 8. Israel, Gaza, and the Ceasefire That Hangs by a Thread (49:48–68:19)
• 9. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
• 10. Recommendation (Christine Rosen) (68:19-end)

1. The Trump–Mamdani “Love Fest” (01:12–06:07) <a id="1"></a>

• Context: Zoram Mamdani’s visit to the White House and supposed political clash with Trump turns out to be an awkward yet warm “love fest.”
• Panel’s Reaction:
  • Christine: Trump loves flattery and “cozying up to man of the hour.” (“Why should I go into this combative? I am the President, he's 30 something year old mayor elect... I would look a little crazy if I...tried to blast him away on this first...meeting.”) [02:04]
  • Abe: Trump’s approach is transactional—“he likes people who win and ... who are nice to him.” [04:32]
  • Jonathan: “It's a glimpse of pre-political Trump... he likes celebrity, just being in the mix.” [03:35]
  • Consensus: The encounter’s long-term significance is negligible and Trump might “turn on Mamdani tomorrow.”

2. Muslim Brotherhood: Terrorist Designation Discussion (06:07–15:12) <a id="2"></a>

• Big News: Trump administration preparing to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group in the U.S.—a decades-long issue.
• Eliana (“quick history in 60 seconds”):
  • Founded in Egypt, 1928 by Hassan Al-Banna.
  • Grown into world’s largest Islamic activist group. Its ideology underpins Al Qaeda, ISIS, Hamas, Taliban, etc. [10:06–11:36]
• Concerns:
  • Texas just labeled the Brotherhood and CAIR extremists.
  • Groups like CAIR almost certain to litigate/fight the designation.
  • The designation might not survive a change in administration unless applied narrowly and analytically.
• Christine: Activist circles will “defend the Brotherhood here... especially if CAIR and all these activist networks get involved...”

3. Foreign Influence & “Bot Armies” on Social Media (15:12–24:31) <a id="3"></a>

• Breaking Story: Twitter accidentally revealed the actual geographic origins of many big U.S. political accounts—many are run from Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Poland, Nigeria, etc.
• John: “Are we being gaslit by psyops... literal government disinformation agencies... intending to look like Americans?” [15:12]
• Jonathan: Classic destabilization: “create turmoil in democracy.” [17:22]
• Christine: Many fake influencers are just “trying to monetize” Gaza content, “regardless if they're in Poland or Canada.” [18:00]
• Overarching worry: The American public is deeply manipulated by both state actors and opportunists via social media.

4. Social Media’s Influence: From Bots to Celebrities (24:31–32:12) <a id="4"></a>

• Who Is Actually Manipulated?
  • John shares a Hollywood story: the real influence is on the “moronic elite” (actors and celebrities) who set the tone for millions of followers. [24:31]
  • TikTok’s pro-Palestinian algorithm doesn’t just sway U.S. teens directly—it sways celebrities, who then sway the masses.
• Eliana: Mainstream media outlets (like BBC) reference foreign “bot” accounts as if they're legitimate local journalism. [29:01]
• Jonathan: TikTok sale/ban law (intended to sever ties with Beijing/ByteDance) hasn’t been enforced—Trump is dragging his feet. [29:44]

5. Executive Accountability & The HHS Vaccine Website Flap (32:12–36:52) <a id="5"></a>

• Issue: Recent HHS website language implies the opposite of what RFK Jr. told Congress about vaccines and autism.
• John: In previous eras, the Senate would’ve aggressively investigated executive branch deception.
• Jonathan: Website uses “weasel words,” implying lack of scientific evidence on vaccine safety rather than outright claims—still deceptive. [31:47]
• Panel’s diagnosis: Loss of Congressional oversight and senatorial backbone is a disturbing trend.

6. Ukraine–Russia Negotiations Chaos (36:52–44:50) <a id="6"></a>

• Messy Picture:
  • Competing plans: Senators say Sec. Rubio told them the U.S. plan is based on a “Russian wish list.” The administration and Rubio then publicly deny it.
  • Abe: Maybe Rubio was speaking off-record—the whole thing’s “contentious, complicated...not over yet.” [44:10]
  • Eliana & Jonathan: The plan’s reported terms (if true) are a “capitulation” (cede territory, freeze Ukraine’s NATO dreams, limit military, etc.). [39:20, 40:21]
  • John: Cautions: A credible report from National Review suggests the American plan given to Ukraine may be less of a Russian capitulation, but infighting/factionalism is clear.
• Underlying concern: Signals of chaos and poor messaging from the Trump administration are likely to fuel perceptions of incompetence, especially headed into an election.

7. Rubio’s Political Dilemma; Vance & Factionalism (44:50–47:56) <a id="7"></a>

• Rubio’s First Crisis:
  • Rubio has handled his SecState role well, but now juggles loyalty to Trump, Senate conservatives, and his own (potential) presidential ambitions.
  • Jonathan notes J.D. Vance is also assembling his “isolationist” Ukraine team (watch Army Sec. Dan Driscoll). [46:58]

8. Israel, Gaza, and the Ceasefire That Hangs by a Thread (49:48–68:19) <a id="8"></a>

• Ceasefire Wobbles:
  • Weekend saw Hamas panic and announce the ceasefire was off, then quickly walk it back.
  • Skirmishes: Israeli tactical responses are blunt, effective, and send strong signals, but risks cycle of escalation.
  • Hostages: Reports suggest a final few (including bodies) may be returned—hostage politics pivotal but winding down.
  • Responsibility: Schanzer—Qatar and Turkey should be held accountable as key Hamas patrons; Trump should pressure them to enforce the ceasefire. [52:35]
• Israel’s Dilemma:
  • Ordinary Israelis have “no stomach” for further Gaza conflict.
  • Gaza tactically is “the least of Israel’s problems”—much bigger threats are gathering in Lebanon, Syria, the Red Sea (Houthis), and Iran’s missile supplies. [55:45]
  • Social media/“bot armies” continue to wage cognitive war on Israel’s legitimacy.
  • Hostage forum is shutting down; a signal of the war’s psychological and political shift inside Israel.
• Reflection:
  • Christine sees “9/11 blame syndrome”: after a trauma, societies argue over what “should have been done,” but rarely would have had the will for true preemption. [63:28]

9. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments <a id="9"></a>

• On Trump’s Style:

  • Christine: “Trump likes to create these buddy, buddy moments...he wants to bask in a little bit of the reflective glow...That’s irrelevant. But he wants to bask...” [02:04]
  • Abe: “What we know about Trump is that he likes people who win and ... who are nice to him.” [04:32]
  • Jonathan: “It doesn't mean anything with regards to him turning on Mamdani tomorrow.” [03:35]

• On Social Media Psyops:

  • John: “Are we being gaslit by psyops being produced by literal government disinformation agencies...?” [15:12]
  • Christine: “If they're confirmed by someone in Nigeria or Canada who claims to be [in Gaza], I don't think they care…They want their opinions confirmed.” [18:00]
  • Jonathan: “It's a classic destabilization technique. I mean, it's a classic.” [17:22]

• On Israel’s Strategic Predicament:

  • Jonathan: “When you look around the region, Gaza is the least of Israel’s problems right now. ...Meanwhile, when you look around the rest of the region, man, does it look dangerous.” [55:45]
  • Eliana: “The only other assets [Hamas] have...is the bot army, the...foreign influencers that have been waging this cognitive combat against Israel rather successfully and delegitimizing Israel at every turn.” [55:45]
  • Christine: “Reminds me a bit of after 9/11...As if, if had Bush launched a preemptive war on Al Qaeda, the country wouldn’t have lost its mind.” [63:28]
  • John: “There is something comic in watching the anti-Bibi forces ... try to come at him on the idea that he was insufficiently militaristic.” [64:12]

• On Executive Branch Evasiveness:

  • John: “It's clear that John Cassidy is not going to do that. ...That is, this is something that in previous eras...a senator would haul the cabinet official who had lied to his face in front of a hearing and say you lied to my face under oath.” [32:12]
  • Jonathan: “The weasel words used on the website are notable because it doesn’t say that vaccines cause autism... It’s weasel words.” [31:47]

10. Recommendation (Christine Rosen) (68:19–end) <a id="10"></a>

• Book Recommendation:
  • The Sofa by Sam Munson
  • “A fantastic book...strange adventure of a family whose sofa is replaced by an antique, after which bizarre, ghostly phenomena ensue...almost hypnotic...a bit like Kafka or Robert Aikman...short, gripping, beautifully written.” [68:19]

Podcast Summary Takeaways

• Political Chaos is the New Normal: The Trump era’s unpredictability, both domestically and in foreign policy, is under the panel’s microscope. From legislative oversight to civilian-military relations, traditional norms of accountability are in flux.
• Social Media is a Battlefield: The poisonous mix of disinformation, foreign interference, and influencers manipulating both elite and mass audiences is warping perceptions and democratic debate at every level.
• Israel’s Future is Precarious: Despite victory in Gaza, Israel faces complex new threats while domestic and international legitimacy are eroded through "cognitive war."
• Could Things Get Worse? The panel’s mood is wary: manipulation, fatigue, and governmental disarray seem inescapable.
• Best Quote to Encapsulate the Tone: “Hope for the best, expect the worst.” (Abe Greenwald, 00:04)

For regulars and new listeners alike, this episode is an urgent, clear-eyed diagnosis of the swirl of 2025’s political, cultural, and security crises—with a few laughs and literary asides along the way.