The Great Wimpification

Jonah makes a case for embracing gratitude.

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Jonah drops by Commentary’s New York headquarters and holds John Podhoretz hostage for an hour and a half to discuss the Jews, Suicide of the West, and the allure of fame and TV. Stay tuned for a history of Commentary’s geographical history (who asked?), the decline of American journalism (spoilers!), and optimism about the future (really?). Also, happy birthday to The Fair Jessica.

Show Notes:
—“MIT ends Diversity Statements in Faculty Hiring”
—Civil War (2024)
—“The Collapse of the News Industry Is Taking Its Soul Down With It”
—“Conservatives in the Mist” coverage by NYT
—Jeff Goldberg’s loss is our gain

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Comments (29)
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  1. Pohl

    This was pretty good. I haven’t listened to GLOP in a good while. Rob is clearly critical for the best jokes. But anything to keep the AEI streak at bay. John on any topic is more enjoyable than putting a nickel into the usual pundit’s CW dispenser.

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  2. Susan Connelly

    I don’t know if Jonah reads the comments, but YES to a Dispatch/Commentary cruise!! SIGN ME UP.

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  3. Lee

    Loved, loved, LOVED this episode. I listen to Crushing Morosity every day and Pod’s one of my heroes. I particularly love getting a window into the years of your friendship — it reminds us that there are lives behind the years of our lives, if you follow my meaning.

    Anyway: thanks! I needed this.

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    Gibby

    awesome! These guys should start a podcast together lol ;)

    If George Lucas got his hands on this he would CGI Rob into it

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  5. Stevewinn56

    One small quibble with an otherwise fascinating cocktail party chat about things that matter (though there some reference to apartment rents in DC vs NYC in the 80’s), in the point the British are happy that America is strong, there are a great number of Brits who resent the United States. Watch most any series on BBC including BBC America and all of the American characters are portrayed in a negative light.
    Just sayin.
    Can provide examples on request.

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    1. Pohl

      I love how they often find Brits with the most horrible and hilarious American accents, which is funny because their most famous actors usually pull off decent ones. For some reason, I’m thinking of the TV rep in “As Time Goes By” when Lionel makes a miniseries for the US. It’s kind of endearing.

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  6. Bigdonmck

    That was enjoyable. Normally I don't care for podcasts exceeding one hour, but this is an exception. Podhoretz is one smart dude.

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    Daniel Jett

    I would like to purchase an audio snippet of Pod calling the guy at The Atlantic the "p word." That's gold, Jonah--GOLD!

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    Todd T

    I liked the anecdotes about Patrick Stewart and Richard Burton. But what I loved was after telling them John says “That’s America!”

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    Michael Garrett

    I have often hoped for a backstory, flashback episode that tells of when Jonah first met John.

    I might have guessed it would include a Murray's v. Barney Greengrass angle.

    Still, I am stuck imagining young John and even younger Jonah hanging out around the corner at West Side Comics. Because that Rodeph Sholem /Columbia Grammar rivalry just won't keep anyone paying attention.

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    KLeeC

    I just wanted to kiss Jonah for grasping and expressing the vital message in the "Civil War" movie.

    I won't elaborate, but it makes me almost despondent that such an important message ("Don't do this"/ "Everyone take a breath and THINK.") is missed by so many.

    Or worse, they get angry because it didn't take a side for their team, essentially showing that they are exactly who needs to hear the message that *it won't matter whose side you're on.*

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      Scarlette Tarte

      The scariest thing about that movie is that whole groups are embracing it, not taking the message to heart, but instead, kinda reveling in it.

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        KLeeC

        Geez. Great.

        It really does seem to be working as a Rorschach test, with the results adding more weight to the sense of doom.

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