The Mona Charen Show

Hamas triggered the Gaza war—and signed the death warrants of thousands of Palestinians—when it purposefully targeted civilians on 10/7. Israeli journalist Amir Tibon joins Mona Charen to discuss how his family survived the terror attack, Netanyahu’s failures, Biden’s support, and the bad options for post-war rule in Gaza.

The Economist's Idrees Kahloon joins to discuss whether Israel is losing the propaganda war; Biden's chances to revive his popularity, and Nikki Haley's narrow shot at the brass ring.

highlights / lowlights

Linda Chavez: Sweeping Raids, Giant Camps and Mass Deportations: Inside Trump’s 2025 Immigration Plans (NYT)

Idrees Khaloon: The George Santos House Ethics Committee Report.

Damon Linker: Some young Americans on TikTok say they sympathize with Osama bin Laden (CNN)

Mona Charen: Ukraine Indicts Officials Linked to Efforts to Investigate the Bidens

Bill Galston: Senator Mullin's Senate Fight Club

Chris Cillizza joins the crew (plus Will Saletan) to discuss the election outcomes, the GOP debate, the generational divide about Israel, and what to make of those polls.

highlights / lowlights

Chris Cillizza: Vivek Ramaswamy's performance in the third GOP debate.

Mona Charen: This Florida School District Banned Cellphones. Here’s What Happened (NYT)

Hawley, Mayorkas get personal at hearing: ‘Despicable’  (The Hill)

Linda Chavez: The Census Bureau sees an older, more diverse America in 2100 in three immigration scenarios (WaPo)

Get to Know the Influential Conservative Intellectuals Who Help Explain G.O.P. Extremism (Damon Linker, NYT)

Bill Galston: Joe Manchin won’t run for reelection, giving GOP an opening to flip West Virginia seat

Will Saletan: Congressional Black Caucus welcomes Gabe Amo as its record-setting 60th member

The NY Times's Bret Stephens joins the panel to analyze the Gaza war, America's declining stomach for world leadership, the House's new speaker, and sagging GOP support for Ukraine.

highlights / lowlights 

Mona Charen: Rick Scott: It's Time To Unite Behind Donald Trump 

Bret Stephens: Italy’s Rumbling Supervolcano Has Half a Million Residents on Edge

Bill Galston: Cornell University official slammed for disturbing posts calling Hamas terror attacks a ‘resistance’

Damon Linker: Why Not Moderation?: Letters to Young Radicals by Aurelian Craiutu

Linda Chavez: Hawley, Mayorkas get personal at hearing: ‘Despicable’

The Atlantic's Tom Nichols joins guest host A.B. Stoddard and the usual cast to discuss Israel's response to Hamas, Speaker Mike Johnson and the challenges he faces regarding government funding.

highlights / lowlights

A.B.: We Are Caught in a Mass Economic Delusion and Something Is Wrong by Jonathan V. Last.
States Launch Massive Lawsuit Against Facebook and Instagram by Kim Wehle.
Tom: Trump is fined $10,000 over a comment he made outside court in his New York civil fraud trial.
Bill: What do Americans think about the health of our democracy and the upcoming presidential election?
Linda: The Palestinian Republic of Fear and Misinformation by Bret Stephens.
Damon: A Twitter/X A thread from Hussein Aboubakr Mansour.

Yascha Mounk is the guest this week. Topics include the press's credulity regarding the Gaza hospital story; the speakerless House; and Yascha's new book The Identity Trap.

highlights / lowlights

Mona: Poland Shows That Autocracy Is Not Inevitable by Anne Applebaum

Yascha: The shift in media coverage about the hospital in Gaza.

Linda: How America’s Largest Socialist Organization Went from Supporting Israel to Boycotting It by Ron Radosh.

Bill: ‘The Most Disgraceful Behavior By Republicans In My Lifetime’: Gingrich Lets Loose on House GOP and Amir Tibon on How His Family Survived the Hamas Massacre.

Damon: Palestinian right of return matters by Matthew Yglesias.

Prof. Gil Troy of McGill University joins from Jerusalem to talk about Hamas, Israel's response, the left's excusing of terrorists, and a silver lining in a horrible week.

highlights / lowlights

LINDA: After Hamas onslaught, Trump criticizes Israel, calls Gallant a ‘jerk’

GIL: Lowlight: The attack on Israel Highlight: The generosity of the world in response

BILL: The continuing saga of Cornel West.

DAMON: A hardcore advocate for "Greater Romania" could be the country's next president

MONA: Who Runs the Best U.S. Schools? It May Be the Defense Department.

Third Way's Matt Bennett joins the group to discuss the Speaker debacle, the No Labels threat, and Trump's fraud trial.

highlights/lowlights

Matt: The problem(s) with blaming Democrats for McCarthy’s downfall

Damon: ‘Red Caesarism’ is rightwing code – and some Republicans are listening by Jason Wilson, The Guardian

Linda: How Red State Politics are Shaving Years Off American Lives by Lauren Weber, Dan Diamond and Dan Keating, The Washington Post

Mona: John Kelly goes on the record to confirm several disturbing stories about Trump

Bill: American Public Support for Assistance to Ukraine Has Waned, But Still Considerable by Dina Smeltz and Lama El Baz, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Former GOP Congresswoman Barbara Comstock drops in to discuss the debate, the shutdown, the impeachment, and the general dysfunction.

highlights/lowlights:

Linda Chavez

A New Cohort of Transgender Kids by Lisa Selin Davis at Persuasion.

Damon Linker

The re-release of Stop Making Sense.

Barbara Comstock

The recent testimony of Cassidy Hutchinson.

Mona Charen

Inside the Unfounded Claim That DeSantis Abused Guantánamo Detainees by Matthew Rosenberg and Carol Rosenberg (NYT).

Francis Fukuyama joins Damon Linker, Ben Wittes, and A.B. Stoddard to analyze the UAW strike, the attacks on the "Deep State," and whether Kristen Welker blew it with Trump. Plus, in our Highlights and Lowlights segment, A.B. really doesn’t like the new Senate dress code, but loves that Henry Winkler and Dolly Parton have forthcoming books. 

highlights/lowlights:

A.B.'s:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/21/style/senate-dress-code.html

https://dollyparton.com/life-and-career/books/dolly-parton-announces-new-book-behind-the-seams-my-life-in-rhinestones/21344

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250888099/beinghenry

Frank's:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66793900

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/20/1200705608/senate-tuberville-hold-military-promotions

Ben's:
https://www.c-span.org/video/?530429-1/department-justice-oversight-hearing