The Commentary Magazine Podcast Trump's DC Takeover
8 snips
Aug 12, 2025 A fascinating discussion unfolds about the political leanings of New York City's Jewish community regarding a local candidacy, revealing a clear preference against it. The conversation shifts to Trump's controversial use of a decades-old law to intervene in D.C.'s criminal justice, sparking debates on public safety and its implications. The ethics of watching films by problematic figures like Roman Polanski also come to the forefront, blending moral questions with cultural criticism.
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Mamdani's Weak Jewish Support
- Siena polling shows Zohran Mamdani leads the mayoral field but only with 37% support and weak Jewish backing.
- John Podhoretz argues four-fifths of NYC Jews oppose Mamdani despite media narratives claiming otherwise.
Trump's D.C. Emergency Move
- Trump invoked a 1974 home-rule contingency to federalize DC law enforcement for 30 days and sent National Guard troops.
- Hosts argue crime levels, while improved, still leave D.C. with high violent crime and serious quality-of-life issues.
Stats Versus Lived Experience
- Crime statistics can mask lived experience and data integrity issues, including suspected manipulation in the D.C. police department.
- Matthew Continetti stresses residents, especially poor and Black women, report crime as a severe, real problem.
