How a Jewish intellectual journal pivoted from liberal anticommunism to the neoconservative right

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1945 to navigate the post-war Jewish experience, Commentary magazine became a powerhouse of American thought. Initially a liberal anticommunist voice, it underwent a dramatic ideological transformation in the 1970s, evolving into a central hub for neoconservatism and shaping the nation's political and intellectual landscape for decades.

Established by the American Jewish Committee in 1945, Commentary was designed to help Jewish intellectuals reconcile their heritage with American life. Under its first editor, Elliot Cohen, the journal served as a platform for a generation of writers—including Saul Bellow, Lionel Trilling, and Irving Howe—who were often referred to as the New York Jewish Intellectuals. During this era, the magazine was a liberal anticommunist publication that supported Cold War policies like the Marshall Plan and NATO, while distancing itself from the radicalism of the past.

The magazine's trajectory shifted significantly when Norman Podhoretz assumed the editorship in 1960. By the 1970s, Podhoretz had steered the publication toward neoconservatism, aligning it more closely with the Republican Party. This period saw the magazine aggressively challenge the New Left, criticizing its stance on issues ranging from the 1967 Six-Day War to domestic social policies. Critics later argued that this shift led to a suppression of dissenting views, though supporters maintained its influence remained unparalleled in American political discourse.

The publication's structure and independence have also evolved over time. After decades of being published by the American Jewish Committee, Commentary became an independent nonprofit organization in 2007. Leadership transitions have remained a family affair; following Norman Podhoretz’s long tenure, which ended in 1995, his son John Podhoretz eventually took the helm in 2009. Today, the magazine remains a contentious but undeniably significant force, having played a key role in the intellectual migration of many thinkers from the left to the right.

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