The Commentary Magazine Podcast

John Talks About His Father

13 snips
Dec 18, 2025
John Podhoretz, Commentary editor and political commentator, reflects on his father, Norman Podhoretz, exploring themes of intellectual bravery and the importance of steadfast principles. He shares insights into his father's commitment to core curricula in education and the need to engage with challenging ideas to refute them. The conversation also touches on Norman's influence on a new generation of conservatives and the ongoing struggle against extremism on both sides of the political spectrum. The discussion is laced with personal anecdotes that celebrate a profound legacy.
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ANECDOTE

Loyalty To Ideas Over Popularity

  • John Podhoretz recounts his father's willingness to risk reputation for controversial principles.
  • Norman Podhoretz lost friends yet never regretted defending ideas he believed vital to Western civilization.
INSIGHT

Common Core Shapes Serious Thought

  • Norman believed students must learn the Western canon before rebelling against it.
  • A shared foundational curriculum trains people to reject bad ideas with knowledge rather than ignorance.
ADVICE

Teach The Canon Before You Debate

  • Restore core exposure to Western canon early so students can later debate thoughtfully.
  • Teach bad ideas explicitly so students learn to refute them from knowledge, not ignorance.
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