The Commentary Magazine Podcast: "You Gotta Take the Good with the Bad" – Detailed Summary

Release Date: January 21, 2025

In the episode titled "You Gotta Take the Good with the Bad," The Commentary Magazine Podcast delves into a range of pressing political and social issues, featuring host John Podhoretz, executive editor Abe Greenwald, senior editor Seth Mandel, and guest speaker Eli Lake. The conversation navigates through controversial topics, including the misuse of Nazi labels, land acknowledgments in academia, pivotal presidential pardons, and the evolving dynamics of American oligarchy and media influence.

1. Introduction and Guest Appearance

[00:24] John Podhoretz:
The episode commences with Podhoretz introducing the episode as the "day one and a half of the Trump 2 presidency." He welcomes executive editor Abe Greenwald, senior editor Seth Mandel, and Eli Lake, a contributing editor known for his work at the Free Press and his new podcast, Breaking History.

2. Elon Musk and the Nazi Salute Controversy

[01:40] Eli Lake:
The discussion kicks off with a contentious incident involving Elon Musk allegedly making Nazi salutes. John Podhoretz clarifies, "Whatever you think of Elon Musk, he was not making a Nazi salute." Lake emphasizes the misinformation propagated by figures like Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), stating, "[...] you shouldn't be going around saying people are making Nazi salutes when they're not making Nazi salutes."

[08:19] John Podhoretz:
Podhoretz warns of the dangers of equating political opposition with Nazism: "You are revaluing words. It is literally Orwellian."

[10:28] Abe Greenwald:
Greenwald suggests that Elon Musk may have anticipated the backlash, commenting, "He knew what he was doing. I think he said, I'm gonna give this salute, and they're gonna go crazy."

Notable Quote:
[01:40] Eli Lake:
,"...liberals are sapping the meaning of 'Nazi,' making the term have no meaning."

3. Critique of Land Acknowledgments in Academia

[05:26] Seth Mandel:
Transitioning to academia, Mandel criticizes the practice of land acknowledgments, particularly at Brown University. He mocks the superficial gestures, arguing that institutions with substantial endowments like Brown "could give back the land" instead of merely acknowledging its historic injustices.

[07:13] Eli Lake:
Lake reinforces Mandel's point, highlighting the inefficacy of such acknowledgments without concrete actions.

Notable Quote:
[05:34] John Podhoretz:
"I bring this up only to say that this is where the land acknowledgment stuff, where the rubber meets the road in terms of the ludicrous hypocrisy and nauseating quality of these virtue signaling efforts."

4. Misuse of "Nazi" Label by Liberal Circles

[07:13] Eli Lake:
Lake elaborates on the liberal tendency to misuse the term "Nazi," linking it to anti-Zionist rhetoric and harassment of Jewish communities. He argues that this dilution of the term diminishes its historical significance and undermines legitimate anti-Nazi discourse.

[08:48] John Podhoretz:
Podhoretz concurs, emphasizing the dangerous precedent set by equating political adversaries with Nazis: "There's a huge danger. You call people Nazis who aren't Nazis."

Notable Quote:
[08:19] John Podhoretz:
"We're torn. [...] You can't just take it away with the stroke of a pen and executive order."

5. J6 Pardons and Presidential Executive Orders

[09:18] Abe Greenwald:
Greenwald criticizes President Trump's pardons related to the January 6th events, stating that while Trump aligns with the majority on various issues, the pardons are controversial and divisive.

[15:01] John Podhoretz:
He elaborates on the unpopularity of the J6 pardons, referencing a Washington Post poll where "66% of people said that the J6 people shouldn't be pardoned."

[17:39] Eli Lake:
Lake contends that the pardons were detrimental, noting they contravened Trump's initial promises: "I have a very fine piece in the Free Press this morning. The Biden family pardons."

Notable Quote:
[10:28] John Podhoretz:
"Advocating for a position that is 2/3 against you is not the best way to start your second term."

6. Biden Family Pardons and Precedent Concerns

[27:21] Eli Lake:
Lake shifts focus to President Biden's pardons, particularly those involving his family members. He labels this as a "huge norm violation," highlighting the unprecedented nature of pardoning individuals who were never formally charged with crimes.

[28:39] John Podhoretz:
Podhoretz draws parallels to past presidencies, noting the problematic precedent set by Bill Clinton and now Biden, who both engaged in familial pardoning: "He is totally justly from now until the end of time, that Biden, far from being the Modest guy [...] is a crook."

[41:24] John Podhoretz:
He underscores the dangers of normalizing such pardons, suggesting it opens the door for future presidents to pardon family members indiscriminately: "It is terrible. [...] It's the classic Pandora's box."

Notable Quote:
[38:34] Eli Lake:
"...if it becomes a new norm, then, you know, future presidents will just tell their, you know, staff and their loyalists, do whatever you got to do. I'm going to, you know, do one of those Biden pardons at the end."

7. Oligarchy and Media Accountability

[46:21] Eli Lake:
Lake criticizes the media's role in perpetuating an oligarchy, pointing out that influential outlets like The New York Times have shifted from being impartial record-keepers to partisan entities: "It is no longer the paper of record, it's the American Le Monde."

[51:21] John Podhoretz:
He laments the departure from objective journalism, citing the firing of The New York Times columnist Pamela Paul as indicative of a broader media bias against dissenting voices: "They just kicked her to the curb."

[53:12] Eli Lake:
Echoing Podhoretz, Lake asserts that major media outlets have devolved into platforms serving elite liberal agendas, losing their credibility and objectivity.

Notable Quote:
[51:56] Eli Lake:
"Now, one of the characters in this book is a man named Peter Coyote. [...] Peter Coyote is the voice."

8. Introduction of Eli Lake’s New Podcast: Breaking History

[62:10] Eli Lake:
Lake introduces his new biweekly podcast, Breaking History, which explores American populism by comparing figures like Andrew Jackson and Donald Trump. He describes the podcast as an "audio essay" featuring interviews with historians and discussions on the toxic and beneficial aspects of populism.

[66:09] John Podhoretz:
He recommends Lake’s podcast to listeners, noting its analytical approach to historical and contemporary political dynamics.

[73:19] John Podhoretz:
Encourages listeners to subscribe to Breaking History, highlighting its availability on platforms like Apple and Spotify: "Eli Lake breaking history. Go subscribe today so you can have it right there in your feed tomorrow."

Notable Quote:
[62:10] Eli Lake:
"These are kind of manageable episodes. They may get longer over time, but we're aiming for about 40-minute episodes. And what they are is their narrative. They're sort of like an audio essay."

9. Economic Policies and Presidential Focus

[57:04] John Podhoretz:
The conversation shifts to economic concerns, particularly inflation and its impact on American purchasing power. Podhoretz criticizes President Biden for not adequately addressing economic issues, arguing that "inflation is what killed Biden and Harris's chances in 2024."

[61:04] Abe Greenwald:
Greenwald supports this viewpoint, emphasizing the complexity of economic challenges and the insufficiency of populist promises in addressing them.

Notable Quote:
[55:54] Seth Mandel:
"He could have easily drawn the line and say, 'Oh, like people who got violent with cops should not have their charges dropped.'"

10. Concluding Thoughts on Presidential Actions and Media Perception

[74:06] John Podhoretz:
In closing, Podhoretz reflects on the podcast's discussions, reiterating the critical stance towards both liberal and conservative missteps. He underscores the importance of maintaining vigilant media accountability and holding political leaders responsible for their actions.

[74:35] John Podhoretz:
Ends with a nod to future episodes and an affirmation to continue the dialogue: "We'll be back tomorrow. So for Abe and Seth, I'm John Podhoretz. Keep the candle burning."

Key Takeaways:

• Misuse of Terminology: The podcast critiques the liberal misuse of the term "Nazi" and other virtue-signaling practices that lack substantive action.

• Presidential Pardons: Both Trump’s J6 pardons and Biden’s familial pardons are condemned for setting dangerous precedents and undermining the integrity of presidential powers.

• Media Bias and Oligarchy: There is a strong critique of major media outlets like The New York Times for abandoning objective journalism in favor of partisan agendas, contributing to an American oligarchy.

• Economic Concerns: Inflation and economic policies remain a central concern, with criticism directed at presidents for failing to effectively combat economic hardships faced by Americans.

• Eli Lake’s New Initiative: Introduction of Eli Lake’s Breaking History podcast, which aims to explore American populism through historical and contemporary lenses.

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps:

• Abe Greenwald [00:04]: "Hope for the best, expect the worst."

• John Podhoretz [01:40]: "If you use an epithet that is like, about as bad an epithet as you can use about anybody, and it does not jive with reality, you are discrediting your own cause."

• Eli Lake [07:13]: "They're the ones who are sapping the meaning of it. And so this is like more of that."

• John Podhoretz [08:19]: "You are revaluing words. It is literally Orwellian."

• Eli Lake [17:39]: "But this is like more of that. And there is something dangerous about it."

• John Podhoretz [38:34]: "It's a shame because you could have made a strong statement without the misconduct."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the multifaceted discussions of the podcast episode, highlighting critical perspectives on contemporary political rhetoric, presidential actions, media influence, and the broader implications for American democracy.