Ep. 1381 - Left-Wing Prosecutors Get Americans Killed

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode argues that the Waukesha parade attack and broader urban crime trends are consequences of progressive bail reform and lenient prosecution, then links media coverage of Kyle Rittenhouse to a wider left-wing narrative that America is systemically racist. Shapiro says activists, prosecutors, and institutions distort facts to advance equity politics, with political backlash inevitable.

Main Topics: Waukesha parade attack and bail reform (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro opens with the Wisconsin parade tragedy, emphasizing the suspect's criminal record, his recent release on low bail, and arguing the case exemplifies failed progressive criminal-justice policy. Progressive prosecutors and crime policy (Priority: 5/5): The show ties rising crime in Milwaukee and other cities to left-wing prosecutors who prioritize racial equity and reduced incarceration over public safety, citing Milwaukee DA policies as a major cause. George Soros and prosecutor funding (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro claims Soros-backed funding has reshaped district attorney races nationwide, helping elect reform prosecutors in blue and red states and driving a broader anti-incarceration agenda. Kyle Rittenhouse verdict and media distortion (Priority: 5/5): The segment argues that the Rittenhouse acquittal was legally correct, while the media and public figures falsely portrayed him as a white supremacist and murderer to sustain a racist-America narrative. Intersectionality, 1619 Project, and institutional ideology (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro frames intersectionality and the 1619 Project as ideological engines that redefine American history and politics through a lens of systemic racism and victim hierarchy. Political and cultural backlash (Priority: 4/5): He predicts the Democratic coalition is fraying because ordinary voters reject crime, identity politics, and institutional dishonesty, and says this will hurt Democrats electorally.

Key Arguments: The Waukesha suspect should not have been on the streets because his lengthy criminal history and recent low-bail release illustrate the failures of bail reform. Progressive prosecutors are being judged on racial outcomes rather than crime reduction, which Shapiro says incentivizes releasing repeat offenders. George Soros-funded district attorney campaigns have helped normalize lenient prosecution and diversion policies in major U.S. cities. The media and cultural elites are lying about Kyle Rittenhouse in order to preserve a narrative that America is systemically racist. The Rittenhouse verdict demonstrates self-defense still matters in law, and public figures calling him a murderer or white supremacist are, in Shapiro's view, defaming him. Intersectionality and the 1619 Project are described as political programs that force people to repeat false premises about American history and present-day institutions. Shapiro argues that voters, especially black and Latino voters, do not primarily want ideological justice language; they want safety, competent governance, and lower crime.

Data Points: People killed in Waukesha attack: At least 5 - Initial report of the parade tragedy in Wisconsin People injured in Waukesha attack: 40 - Casualties reported after SUV drove through parade Children injured in Waukesha attack: At least 12 - Victims included children in the parade crowd Suspect age: 39 - Described as a Milwaukee County black male with a long criminal record Initial bail: $500 - Earlier felony case release noted in the suspect's history Later bail before parade: $1,000 - Suspect was released three days before the parade attack after new felony charges Milwaukee homicides in 2020: 190 - Used to argue crime is out of control in the city Milwaukee homicide clearance rate 2020: 58% - Compared unfavorably with previous year Milwaukee homicide clearance rate 2019: 68% - Used to show decline in police effectiveness Milwaukee homicide clearance rate this year: 34% - Shapiro cites current-year clearance as evidence of worsening crime conditions Wisconsin homicide/nonfatal shooting victims in 2020: 941 - Medical College of Wisconsin figure compared with 2019 Wisconsin homicide/nonfatal shooting victims in 2019: 542 - Comparison year showing sharp rise People looting Nordstrom near San Francisco: About 80 - Example of retail crime tied to left-wing policies in San Francisco Bay Area George Soros funding in 2016 DA races: More than $3 million - Politico report on prosecutor campaign spending across six states California donor spending on criminal justice measures: $22 million - Four wealthy donors backed reform measures and candidates over two years Support for George Gascon campaign: $3.7 million - Donors spent to elect the Los Angeles DA Wisconsin prison racial disparity cited: 37% of state prisoners were black though black residents were 6% of population - Used from a 2015 New Yorker piece to discuss prosecutor motivations Black working-age men imprisoned in Wisconsin: 13% - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee study cited in discussion of incarceration disparities

Pivotal Quotes: "It is the animating philosophy behind so much of the Democratic Party these days." — Ben Shapiro: On the idea that racial disparity in prisons proves the justice system is corrupt "Self-defense is not illegal." — Kyle Rittenhouse: Rittenhouse reacting after the jury acquitted him "We just witnessed a system built on white supremacy validate the terroristic acts of a white supremacist." — Colin Kaepernick: His social media reaction to the Rittenhouse verdict

Implications: The episode warns that crime, media falsehoods, and identity-driven prosecution will push voters toward backlash politics, challenge progressive prosecutors, and intensify fights over race, policing, and institutional trust.