Podcast / The Time of Monsters / Dec 22, 2025

The Living Legacy of Norman Podhoretz

On The Time of Monsters: David Klion and Ronnie Grinberg on a founding father of neo-conservatism.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

The Living Legacy of Norman Podhoretz w/ David Klion and Ronnie Grinberg | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
byThe Nation Magazine

Norman Podhoretz, one of the founding fathers of neoconservatism, died on December 16 at

age 95. His legacy is a complex one, since in recent decades neoconservatism has been

supplanted in many ways by American First conservatism. But many aspects of Podhoretz’s

influence still play a shaping role on right. I take up Podhoretz’s career with David Klion (who

wrote an obituary for the pundit for The Nation) and the historian Ronnie Grinberg, who had

discussed Podhoretz in her book Write Like a Man.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

American neoconservative theorist and writer Norman Podhoretz at home in New York City.

(David Howells/Corbis via Getty Images)

Norman Podhoretz, one of the founding fathers of neoconservatism, died on December 16 at age 95. His legacy is a complex one, since in recent decades neoconservatism has been supplanted in many ways by American First conservatism. But many aspects of Podhoretz’s
influence still play a shaping role on right. I take up Podhoretz’s career with David Klion (who wrote an obituary for the pundit for The Nation) and the historian Ronnie Grinberg, who had discussed Podhoretz in her book Write Like a Man.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Gaza and Elite Accountability w/ Connor Echols / The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
byThe Nation Magazine

Many of Joe Biden’s closest advisors are now well-ensconced in the sinecures reserved for the elite, working at think tanks, academia, and major media outlets. Normally, they could expect to have future jobs when the Democrats retake the White House. But this cozy situation is being disrupted by ongoing reporting showing the extent of their complicity in the Gaza genocide and other US crimes in the Middle East. I spoke about this with Connor Echols, managing editor of Responsible Statecraft, who wrote an excellent article on the efforts to hold these officials accountable.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Jeet Heer

Jeet Heer is a national affairs correspondent for The Nation and host of the weekly Nation podcast, The Time of Monsters. He also pens the monthly column “Morbid Symptoms.” The author of In Love with Art: Francoise Mouly’s Adventures in Comics with Art Spiegelman (2013) and Sweet Lechery: Reviews, Essays and Profiles (2014), Heer has written for numerous publications, including The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, The American Prospect, The Guardian, The New Republic, and The Boston Globe.

More from The Nation

Abdul El-Sayed during an election-night watch party on November 4, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan.

Emergency Election Episode Emergency Election Episode

Matt, Aaron, and Smucker discuss Democrats’ election victories, Zohran Mamdani’s political influence, and the emerging field of potential 2028 presidential candidates.

Jonathan Smucker, Matt DaSilva, and Aaron Regunberg

James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa at a Whataburger after an election-night watch party on November 3, 2026, in Austin, Texas.

Our Historic Victories and How We Won Our Historic Victories and How We Won

On this episode of Start Making Sense, John Nichols talks about what we won and how we won on Tuesday, and Harold Meyerson analyzes the voters and the votes. What we won this week,…

Podcast / Start Making Sense

Theodor Adorno on May 28, 1968, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

How the Right Invented “Cultural Marxism”—With A.J.A. Woods How the Right Invented “Cultural Marxism”—With A.J.A. Woods

A.J.A. Woods joins Danny and Derek to trace the history of the “cultural Marxism” conspiracy theory, its antisemitic roots, and its influence on today’s anti-woke politics.

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks during a “Defend the Vote” rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on August 28, 2026.

The Story of Justice Democrats—With Usamah Andrabi The Story of Justice Democrats—With Usamah Andrabi

Usamah Andrabi of Justice Democrats joins Fighting Fascism to reflect on the 2026 elections, progressive victories, and the resurgence of the American left.

Aaron Regunberg, Matt DaSilva, and Jonathan Smucker

A Flock Safety automated license plate reader surveillance camera in Santaquin, Utah, on September 27, 2026.

Why Communities Want to Stop Flock Cameras—With Jason Koebler Why Communities Want to Stop Flock Cameras—With Jason Koebler

Paris Marx is joined by Jason Koebler to discuss the rise of Flock surveillance cameras, their misuse by police, and the growing bipartisan backlash.

Paris Marx

Halloween decorations are seen outside Flower Bar in Katowice, Poland, on October 25, 2026.

Halloween Origins—With Eleanor Janega and Luke Waters Halloween Origins—With Eleanor Janega and Luke Waters

Eleanor Janega and Luke Waters join the show to explore Halloween’s origins, from medieval beliefs about death and ghosts to costumes, commercialization, and modern traditions.

Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner

x