Episode Summary
Executive Summary: The episode argues that mainstream media and Democrats mischaracterized urban unrest as the work of Trump or white nationalists while downplaying Antifa/BLM violence. It centers on Portland and Kenosha, condemns local leaders for failing to restore order, criticizes Joe Biden’s rhetoric as evasive and hypocritical, and says the left’s tolerance of rioting now backfires politically.
Main Topics: Media/Democratic mischaracterization of unrest: The host claims outlets and Democrats falsely lump together protests, riots, and looting, while shifting blame away from left-wing actors and onto Trump or white nationalists. Portland violence and the murder of a Trump supporter: A detailed account of Portland clashes culminates in the killing of a Trump supporter, which the host says media incorrectly framed as white nationalist violence. Kenosha unrest and political fallout: The show revisits Kenosha, argues local leaders failed to control riots, and criticizes officials for opposing Trump’s planned visit while avoiding responsibility for public safety. Joe Biden’s response and rhetorical strategy: Biden’s statements are portrayed as deliberately vague: condemning violence broadly while refusing to specifically name Antifa or BLM rioters, unlike how Trump was criticized after Charlottesville. Ted Wheeler, Tony Evers, and local government failure: Portland’s mayor and Wisconsin’s governor are portrayed as prioritizing anti-Trump politics over restoring order, refusing federal help while violence continued. Normalization/justification of looting and riots on the left: The host cites examples from activists, writers, and media figures who defend looting or frame rioting as a legitimate political tactic, presenting this as proof of ideological tolerance for violence.
Key Arguments: The media applied a double standard: they condemned Trump’s Charlottesville remarks for alleged moral equivalence, but now excuse similar or worse ambiguity when Biden and Democrats discuss left-wing violence. Portland and other cities experienced sustained unrest, property destruction, injuries, and deaths; calling this a myth or mere protest is factually false. The Portland shooter was presented as an Antifa-aligned individual, not a white nationalist, undermining the media’s preferred narrative. Democratic leaders are avoiding naming Antifa and BLM rioters because doing so would fracture their coalition and expose their tolerance for radical activism. Trump offered federal assistance and troop support, but Democratic mayors and governors rejected it, then blamed him for the resulting disorder. Kenosha violence was driven by local instability and outside agitators, not Trump’s presence; officials who oppose his visit are trying to preserve a narrative rather than solve the crisis. The left’s public defense of looting and “mostly peaceful” framing has encouraged disorder and made honest condemnation politically difficult. Biden’s rhetoric on violence mirrors the vague “many sides” language Democrats once attacked in Trump, making the criticism appear inconsistent and opportunistic.
Data Points: Portland unrest duration: Months - Host says Portland had been burning and experiencing nightly unrest for months before the shooting. LA curfew after BLM protests: 7 p.m. - Referenced as an example of how severe the early unrest became in Los Angeles. Deaths connected to riots/looting: About three dozen - Host claims roughly thirty-plus people died in connection with various riots and looting sprees. Property damage: Billions in property damage - Used to emphasize scale of destruction in multiple cities. Kenosha arrested with out-of-state addresses: 102 of 175 - Cited to show the scale of outside participation in the Kenosha unrest. Kenosha arrests total: 175 - Police arrest figure mentioned in discussing unrest and outside agitators. Kenosha curfew arrests: 69 - Subset of Kenosha arrests for violating curfew. Additional Kenosha charges: 34 - Arrests for curfew plus other charges such as burglary, drugs, and weapons. Firearms seized in Kenosha: Over 20 - Mentioned as evidence of armed involvement in unrest. Police shooting in Kenosha: Seven times - Tony Evers’ letter referenced the black man shot seven times in Kenosha. Minneapolis Freedom Fund donations: 13 Biden campaign staff members - Reported as staff publicly advertising donations to help bail out arrested protesters. Portland federal deployment timing: Last month / last seven minutes - Host argues federal forces arrived long after Portland riots had already been underway.
Pivotal Quotes: "we condemn, in the strongest possible terms, this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides, on many sides" — Donald Trump (quoted by host): Referenced as the Charlottesville statement Democrats and media attacked. "I am not sad that a fascist died tonight." — BLM activist (as quoted in transcript): Used to illustrate celebratory rhetoric around the Portland killing. "This president long ago forfeited any moral leadership in this country." — Joe Biden (prepared remarks quoted in transcript): Presented as Biden’s core argument tying current unrest to Trump.
Implications: The episode frames the unrest as a political and media credibility crisis: if violence is selectively condemned, voters may see Democrats as enabling disorder while blaming Trump. It suggests the 2020 campaign hinged on control, law enforcement, and narrative trust.
From the Episode
Of hot water was that he suggested many people, right? This is the direct quote from Trump on Charlottesville. This is the original one that got him in real trouble. This is Friday night, right? He said, We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides, on many sides. And everybody, wait, hold up. On many sides, there's a white nationalist march in Charlottesville, and then it broke into violence. And a member of that group ended up killing somebody on Saturday morning. And you're saying, on many sides, like, why can't you just name the bad guys? Go back. I did an entire rageful podcast on this. That the president had a specific duty to call out the people who are actually responsible for the violence, that he had a specific duty. Yes, he could call out Antifa for being violent because they were, in fact, violent and are, in fact, violent, and they've been violent for years.
The Ben Shapiro show is sponsored by ExpressVPN. Why haven't you gotten a VPN yet? Visit expressvpn.com/slash Ben. Well, every weekend, I beg you, please stop burning down the country. And no one apparently takes me up on it. And frankly, I'm getting a little irritated with the situation. It feels like probably you should take me up on it. I mean, like, what's so difficult about this? Stop burning down the country. Of course, I'm mostly addressing myself at this point to very specific groups of people. When we talk about people who are burning down the country, I am not talking about all the people that the media are talking about because the people the media Are you talking about are not the ones who are actually burning down the country right now? The people who are burning down the country in Portland, the people who are doing it in Seattle, the people who have been doing it in places like Chicago and Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and New York, in Kenosha, those people are not white nationalists. They are not. Okay, white nationalists are evil. They are terrible. They are the worst people on planet Earth. They are awful. I've been their chief target many, many times. So believe you me, when I say that these are the worst people on earth, I mean it. Okay, literally, I've had white nationalists arrested by the FBI.
Labeling the alt-right and the white supremacists from the outside as the bad guys, right? Many sides, many sides. Here is Joe Biden on the riots and the looting and the murder. Here is Joe Biden. You ready? This president long ago forfeited any moral leadership in this country. He can't stop the violence because for years he has fomented it. He may believe mouthing the words law and order makes him strong, but his failure to call on his own supporters to stop acting as an armed militia in this country shows you how weak he is. Oh, it's the militias. For months, we've been watching the cities burn, but it's the militias who are just arriving in the last five minutes who are the problem. Oh, wow, this is galaxy brain stuff. Does anyone believe there will be less violence in America if Donald Trump is re-elected? You're saying the quiet part out loud now, Joe, which is that you're basically pledging that the violence won't end until Trump is out of office. He says, economic devastation, unwarranted police violence, emboldened white nationalists, a reckoning on race. Okay, look at the gaslighting there. Look at the gaslighting there.
About The Ben Shapiro Show
Tired of the lies? Tired of the spin? Are you ready to hear the hard-hitting truth in comprehensive, conservative, principled fashion? The Ben Shapiro Show brings you all the news you need to know in the most fast moving daily program in America. Ben brutally breaks down the culture and never gives an inch! Monday thru Friday.