Pu Pu Platner
The Commentary Magazine Daily Podcast dissects the explosive controversy surrounding Maine Senate candidate Graham Plattner, whose Nazi-themed Totenkopf tattoo and alleged history of physical intimidation toward women have ignited a national firestorm. Host John Butthoritz and guest Liel Leibovitz argue that the real story isn't just Plattner’s past, but how the political class has weaponized identity and tribal loyalty to the point where moral clarity is sacrificed for partisan victory. They trace this shift to Barack Obama’s political legacy, accusing him of deliberately constructing a 'moralized' political identity system that reduces complex issues to tribal allegiance, where supporting a candidate like Plattner becomes less about character and more about proving loyalty to a 'good' side. The episode warns that this dynamic—where people are forced to embrace moral compromise to maintain ideological purity—has created a society where dissent is punished, truth is secondary, and even the most abhorrent behavior is excused if it serves the party line. The final, chilling takeaway: when a political movement demands you cross the Rubicon, you don’t just defend the candidate—you surrender your soul.
The Plattner controversy is no longer about one man’s past—it’s about a political system that rewards moral compromise to maintain tribal loyalty.
Barack Obama’s political strategy was to replace policy with identity, turning the Democratic Party into a moral crusade where voting is a sacrament, not a choice.
Supporting Plattner isn’t about defending him—it’s about proving you’re not on the 'wrong' side of history, even if that means excusing abuse and extremism.
The Democratic Party’s refusal to name Islamic extremism as a threat has enabled radical Islamists to gain political traction under the guise of 'anti-Zionism'.
When a political movement demands you embrace the inexcusable, you’ve crossed the Rubicon—your moral compass is no longer yours.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Shopify Ad: The Convenience of Digital Commerce
The episode opens with a promotional segment for Shopify, highlighting its seamless checkout experience and AI-powered tools for e-commerce businesses, including the ShopPay button that simplifies online purchases.
The Commentary Magazine Subscription Offer
John Butthoritz promotes a limited-time subscription deal for Commentary Magazine at $19.95/year with 80% savings, urging listeners to sign up via commentary.org/slash-offer.
Introducing Liel Leibovitz and the Plattner Scandal
The hosts welcome Liel Leibovitz, and the conversation shifts to the explosive story of Maine Senate candidate Graham Plattner, whose Nazi tattoo and alleged abusive behavior toward women have become a national flashpoint.
The New York Times Story and Lindsay Feifeld’s Betrayal
The episode details how the New York Times published a story naming Lindsay Feifeld as a key accuser of Plattner, only to omit other named sources she was promised would be included, leading to a social media backlash accusing her of being a Republican operative.
Plattner’s Disastrous Defense and the Rise of Partisan Tribalism
Plattner’s appearance on MS Now is criticized as a failure, and the hosts express shock that so many people dismissed the allegations solely based on party affiliation, revealing a deeper rot in American political discourse.
“But I don't think it's brains. I think it's souls. I mean, honestly, I think this is a sort of a these are Rubicon moments where you either cross the Rubicon into excusing the inexcusable for reasons you believe are grander or more important than the crime that is right in front of you.”
“I would say that you absolutely want to go behind him because the Democrat Party, and this is a favorite obsession of mine. It has shifted. It has gone a very, very long way under the aegis of its dark Sith Lord, Barack Obama, who changed this party wholeheartedly and completely into something very different,”
“Now, the interesting point that I make in the piece in the New York Post... is that, as Dr. Frankenstein himself could tell you, at some point where you create monsters, monsters have a nasty habit of going off the leash and eating you,”
Host
Guest
John Butthoritz
person
Graham Plattner
person
Barack Obama
person
Liel Leibovitz
person
Lindsay Feifeld
person
Susan Collins
person
New York Times
organization
Adam Hamawi
person
Hamas
organization
Todd Beamer
person
Graham Platner, Jon Ossoff and the New Rules of Political Attention
1h 18m • 6/16/2026
Bill Kristol: Trump Is All-In on Authoritarianism
11m • 6/1/2026
Ep. 2440 - The California Election Is Corrupt, Just Not How You Think
1h 8m • 6/8/2026
Can Graham Platner survive another controversy? | NPR’s Newsmakers
48m • 6/1/2026
Bill Kristol: Trump Is All-In on Authoritarianism
54m • 6/1/2026
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime