The Commentary Magazine Podcast: "Stop With the Emergencies"

Date: August 29, 2025
Main Hosts: John Podhoretz, Abe Greenwald, Christine Rosen, Seth Mandel
Podcast Focus: Political commentary intersecting Jewish and general American life

Episode Overview

The August 29, 2025 episode grapples with a central theme: The growing tendency in American governance to treat every political or policy challenge as a full-blown emergency, undermining democratic norms and accountability. The hosts debate the Trump administration’s handling of the CDC, the role and politicization of public health, RFK Jr.’s impact as Secretary of Health and Human Services, the abuse of executive power and perpetual states of emergency, and recent developments in the Middle East.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. CDC Turmoil and the Politicization of Public Health ([02:22]–[11:58])

• CDC Director Firing: The hosts discuss the recent ouster of a CDC director, framing it as part of a historical and healthy pattern: senior officials should leave if they cannot support an administration’s policies.

  • John Podhoretz: “That’s how our system should work, that people, when they say, I cannot support the policies…should leave and find another job.” ([02:56])
  • They contrast this with other systems (e.g., UK) where resignations over policy disagreements are common.

• COVID ‘Hero’ Hangover: Discussion about the lingering self-image in public health as selfless heroes post-COVID.

  • Christine Rosen: Argues the field leans left, is infused with identity politics, and is slow to move past its COVID-era self-perceptions. ([10:07])
  • Notable Book Reference: David Zweig’s An Abundance of Caution is recommended for its deep dive into the politicization of the CDC during the pandemic. ([04:59])

2. RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary: Radicalism and Conspiratorial Thinking ([11:58]–[17:57], [20:15]–[24:30])

• RFK Jr.’s Tenure: Criticism is sharp:

  • Seth Mandel: “The guy running HHS is the guy who says, you know, I don’t eat Froot Loops…doesn’t try to explain anything.” ([11:58])
  • John Podhoretz: Calls RFK Jr. “A, crazy and B, evil.…It is understandable why people will walk out…he is undermining what they know to be true.” ([15:10])

• Vaccine Policy Strife: Discussion about the Trump administration installing “Covid dissidents,” but the central policy and communication void emboldens anti-vaccine narratives without oversight or accountability.

• Congressional Oversight’s Role:

  • Noted that Republican senators, disturbed by the CDC firing, are beginning to demand accountability—potentially a positive development for checks and balances. ([17:07])

3. The ‘Perpetual State of Emergency’ and Executive Power Creep ([24:30]–[35:39])

• Norms & Principles vs. Tit-for-Tat Politics:

  • The hosts delve into how both left and right now justify norm violation as a reward or necessity for past grievances, making restoration unlikely.
  • Christine Rosen: “It’s very intoxicating to say yeah, now we get to set the rules, it’s our rules.… But this is a very seductive but dangerous back and forth.” ([24:30])

• Obama’s Executive Order Precedent:

  • John Podhoretz: Traces the current “government by fiat” back to Obama’s decision to rule via executive order, framing the current state as the result of a broken governing process where neither Congress nor the courts check abuses effectively. ([29:17])

• ‘Emergency’ as Government Tool:

  • The invocation of emergencies (COVID, immigration, tariffs) is seen as a pretext to bypass constitutional norms, leading to an “emergency as default” governance.
  • Christine Rosen: “States of perpetual emergency do not allow our system to function as it should.” ([34:16])

4. Fascism, Fear-mongering, and Political Rhetoric ([35:39]–[41:03])

• Militarized Police and ICE Rhetoric:
  • Concerns over the demonization of law enforcement as fascists—inclusive of harsh critique for Obama and progressive commentators who liken ICE and National Guard presence to Nazi shock troops.
  • John Podhoretz: “They talk about American members of law enforcement like they are Nazi soldiers. Well, so good luck to them if they really want to…go down this road.” ([38:37])
  • Christine Rosen: Calls this “obnoxious”—misrepresenting due process and conflating legal enforcement with genuine authoritarianism. ([38:52])

5. Crypto, Corruption, and Public Distrust ([41:33]–[53:42])

• Crypto as Distrust: The panel explores cryptocurrency as an expression of deep mistrust toward American financial institutions and the rise of a populist, anti-system sentiment reminiscent of Andrew Jackson’s era.

  • John Podhoretz (reading Walter Russell Mead): “The cryptocurrency movement embodies the suspicion of fiat money and the desire to take credit creation out of the hands of the financial establishment.” ([46:18])

• Corruption Blinders: The public and Congress may be distracted by easily understood or symbolic issues, while more arcane but morally corrosive behavior—like the Trump family’s speculative crypto ventures—goes relatively unexamined.

• Notable Quote:

  • Christine Rosen: “There are plenty of issues we could name where the left actually could have an impact… It’s also setting a pretty bad precedent… Where are the rules that are going to prevent them from profiting from family businesses while also being in office?” ([44:08])

6. Middle East Update: Israel’s “Five-Front” Challenge ([53:56]–[61:52])

• Israel’s Dilemma:

  • Netanyahu insists on full hostage release as a peace condition; Hamas offers partial steps, raising the specter of endless protracted negotiations.
  • Israel is managing security issues on multiple fronts: Gaza, Lebanon (Hezbollah), Syria, the Houthis in Yemen, and the West Bank.

• Lebanon & Hezbollah:

  • There is cautious optimism that Hezbollah’s weakened position may finally allow the Lebanese government to assert a “monopoly of force”—an essential sign of sovereignty.

• Yemen/Houthis:

  • Israel’s decapitation strike against Houthi leadership is seen as an attempt to “nip in the bud” new threats before they can become entrenched like Hezbollah.
  • Seth Mandel: “These terrorist groups have to be defeated, you know, soundly or mostly… Israel is just going to take out the axis. That’s the idea.” ([59:24])

• Humanitarian Aid:

  • John Podhoretz: Emphasizes the unprecedented humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza: “According to the data, there has never been an infusion of food aid like this ever in the history of mankind. And don’t let them tell you otherwise.” ([61:52])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “That’s how our system should work, that people, when they say, I cannot support the policies…should leave and find another job.” (John Podhoretz, [02:56])
• “He is A, crazy and B, evil. And it’s horrible that he is running a cabinet department…” (John Podhoretz on RFK Jr., [15:10])
• “It’s very intoxicating to say yeah, now we get to set the rules… But this is a very seductive but dangerous back and forth.” (Christine Rosen, [24:30])
• “States of perpetual emergency do not allow our system to function as it should.” (Christine Rosen, [34:16])
• “The cryptocurrency movement embodies the suspicion of fiat money and the desire to take credit creation out of the hands of the financial establishment.” (Walter Russell Mead as quoted by John Podhoretz, [46:18])

Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Topic | |---|---| | [02:22] – [11:58] | CDC staff exodus, public health politicization, COVID aftermath | | [11:58] – [17:57] | RFK Jr.’s controversial HHS tenure, vaccine policy, lack of communication | | [20:15] – [24:30] | Congressional oversight, resignations as political statements | | [24:30] – [35:39] | Executive order abuse, the normalization of government-by-emergency | | [35:39] – [41:03] | Resistance rhetoric, accusations of fascism, law enforcement debate | | [41:33] – [53:42] | Cryptocurrency’s populist roots, corruption, public cynicism | | [53:56] – [61:52] | Israel: Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Middle East security complexities |

Tone and Style

The conversation is lively, unscripted, and intellectually forthright, blending deep historical references with sardonic humor and frustration at the state of U.S. and world politics. The hosts routinely reference their unique Jewish perspective and offer well-read context for today’s headlines. Jokes—like the “crypto Jew” pun ([53:50])—underscore the informal, in-group camaraderie typical of the show.

Conclusion

This episode of The Commentary Magazine Podcast tackles America’s recurrent “emergency” mindset, highlighting how it undermines institutions, incentivizes executive overreach, and enflames political discourse. By examining CDC leadership upheaval, the radical turn at HHS under RFK Jr., and international crises from a broad historical lens, the panel underscores the importance of restoring norms, congressional oversight, and skepticism of “emergency” rhetoric from any side. The episode closes with both humor and gravity, reminding listeners to keep perspective over the holiday weekend while remaining vigilant about “meshuggah” policy trends.