The Commentary Magazine Podcast

Episode: The Victory
Date: October 13, 2025
Participants: John Podhoretz (Host, Editor), Abe Greenwald (Executive Editor), Christine Rosen (Columnist), Seth Mandel (Senior Editor)

Episode Overview

In a profoundly emotional and historic episode, the Commentary team reflects on Israel’s triumph over Hamas, the return of all living hostages, and the major geopolitical shifts following two years of grueling conflict. The discussion centers on the significance of President Trump’s role and speech in the Knesset, the transformation of US-Israel relations, and the meaning of true victory for Israel and the Jewish people. Personal, religious, and political dimensions are explored, culminating in a moment that the hosts frame as nothing short of providential.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal and Historical Significance of October 13, 2025

• John opens with personal reflections: it’s his wedding anniversary and daughter’s birthday, but now the date will be marked by the end of the hostage crisis, coinciding with the eve of Simchat Torah—the very holiday during which the nightmare began two years prior.
  • “For those of us who view Israel as a providential nation ... it’s very hard not to look at this moment ... and think that something providential happened with [Trump’s] election.” (John Podhoretz, 06:50)
• The emotional weight of the Knesset speeches by Netanyahu and Trump strike John as a culmination of fate, faith, and leadership.

2. Trump’s Transformative Partnership with Israel

• Trump’s Knesset speech is described as unprecedented in both content and tone—detailed, confident, unusually good-natured, even blissful for him.
• Christine notes the “familial” sense in the Knesset and Israel, a warmth reflecting deepened ties.
  • “There was a sense ... familial ... a constant affirmation of that relationship ... I think it's worth appreciating that. And it's ironic that it's Trump, but it couldn't have happened without Trump.” (Christine Rosen, 12:20)
• Abe and John compare Trump’s popularity in Israel to Taylor Swift among Midwestern pre-teens—an unparalleled likability and connection (15:08).

3. The “Cyrus the Great” Analogy and Bibi’s Legal Troubles

• Trump is compared to Cyrus, the Persian king who allowed Jews to return to the Holy Land (15:34).
  • “Trump is to Israel as Taylor Swift is to the 11 year old Midwestern girl.” (John Podhoretz, 15:08)
• Trump jokingly urges Israel’s president to “give Bibi a pardon” (19:46), referencing Netanyahu’s ongoing legal stalls, drawing parallels to his own U.S. legal battles.
  • “It was a pretty funny moment for Trump at the height of his popularity ... to make an ask. It’s the only ask he made...” (John Podhoretz, 20:21)

4. Religious and Cultural Reflections

• John debates whether to say the Shehechianu prayer in gratitude for reaching this unique moment, discussing customs and controversies surrounding its use (09:23–11:13).
• Anecdotes about religious blessings for meeting Trump as a “king”—the Chief Sephardic Rabbi permits it, omitting God’s name since Trump “wears regular clothes and his powers do have some earthly limit.” (Christine Rosen, 11:13)

5. The Path to Victory – Strategy and Context

• The panel highlights that victory was achieved not merely through negotiation, but by military resolve and persistence, culminating in the surrender of Hamas and the safe return of hostages.
  • “For the first time in our lifetimes ... a Western leader has stood up before the world and said, a Western country has won a war.” (John Podhoretz, 41:28)
• The discussions openly reject mainstream U.S. media narratives that downplay cooperation between Trump and Netanyahu, and highlight the “daylight” policy debates (25:34–29:02).
  • “There is an inability among this huge segment of the American liberals who don’t like Trump or Bibi to accept that this was the fruits of a very strong partnership.” (Abe Greenwald, 25:34)

6. The Shift in American Policy & Abraham Accords

• Trump’s reversal of the Obama-era “daylight” approach (deliberate separation from Israel) is credited as a key factor in facilitating Israeli strength and subsequent peace deals.
• The Abraham Accords and Trump’s additional actions (Jerusalem embassy move, Golan Heights recognition) are praised; contrast with the “stall” under Biden and his predecessors (29:02–36:05).

7. The Hostage Release: Unprecedented and Civilizational Contrast

• All living hostages are released at once—a deal unmatched by any prior negotiation with Hamas, signaling both competent U.S. mediation and Israeli strength (45:02–45:30).
  • “For the first time ... there’s no living hostage in Gaza ... people need to understand the magnitude.” (Christine Rosen, 45:02)
• Western media and activists are criticized for silence in the face of Israel’s fulfillment of every deal term and Hamas’s brutal conduct.

8. The Power of Deterrence, “Force of Arms,” and Trump’s Shifting Doctrine

• Tracing the conflict’s phases, the hosts argue that military success—rather than talks, sanctions, or external “daylight”—enabled genuine progress and safety for Israel.
  • “Trump used this phrase: by force of arms. You won this war by force of arms.” (John Podhoretz, 41:52)
• Trump’s remarks about Iran and willingness to arm Ukraine may foreshadow similar assertive postures elsewhere (54:43–57:31).

9. The Battle Over Republican Foreign Policy

• Trump’s public praise for Secretary of State Marco Rubio reflects an ongoing contest between muscular internationalism (Trump/Rubio) and isolationism (VP Vance, Bannon wing) for the heart of the GOP (57:31–68:48).
  • “This battle ... what is America First? ... the Marco Rubio, Donald Trump ... strong presence in the world ... or the nationalist Vance-led right?” (Christine Rosen, 66:54)

10. The Civilizational Divide: How Societies Celebrate Returnees

• The Israeli and Palestinian approaches to releasing prisoners/hostages are compared:
  • “The contrast between watching the Israelis receive home their civilians ... and ... celebration of murderers ... among the Palestinian people ... That’s a civilizational contrast that should always be amplified.” (Christine Rosen, 77:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s Reception in Israel:

  • “To describe Trump as popular in Israel … Trump is to Israel as Taylor Swift is to the 11 year old Midwestern girl.”
    — John Podhoretz, 15:08

• On Victory and Leadership:

  • “For the first time in our lifetimes ... a Western leader has stood up before the world and said, a Western country has won a war.”
    — John Podhoretz, 41:28

• On Religious Resonance:

  • “Baruch atah ... Shehechianu ... to thank God who has brought us to this moment.”
    — (John Podhoretz, 10:23)

• On Civilizational Contrast:

  • “That's a civilizational contrast that should always be amplified ... That's two different ways of thinking about human life and the future of your territory.”
    — Christine Rosen, 77:36

• On the Power of Deterrence:

  • “Deterrence requires a believable and executable threat of violence. There is no deterrence without ... the idea that you're making a mistake...”
    — John Podhoretz, 69:42

• On the Role of the Jewish People:

  • “To be part of a people that literally, till the last man, won't go to sleep until everyone is home, is something very special. You really don't see it.”
    — Christine Rosen, 84:32

Important Timestamps

• Personal & Historical Context: 04:00–07:00
• Knesset & Trump’s Speech Reaction: 07:00–15:00
• Cyrus Comparison & Bibi’s Legal Saga: 15:30–21:40
• Shehechianu Blessing Discussion: 09:23–11:13
• Israel’s Military Campaign & U.S. Policy: 25:34–36:05
• Hostage Release Details & Comparison: 41:20–45:30
• Deterrence, Force, and Trump’s Doctrine: 49:47–57:31
• GOP Foreign Policy Debate: 62:52–68:48
• Civilizational Reflections: 77:36–84:32

Concluding Thoughts

The episode frames the day’s events as a culmination of providence, strong leadership, and strategic clarity—contrasting sharply with media and diplomatic elites’ pessimism or equivocation about Israel’s security and legitimacy. The Commentary crew credits forceful, clear-eyed policy—anchored in conviction and identity—for Israel’s survival and triumph. As John concludes, the sense of Jewish peoplehood and resilience remains undiminished and on full display for the world, at a time when such clarity and victory are rare.