Ep. 1393 - GUILTY: Jussie Smollett’s Attacker Convicted

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Ben Shapiro centers the episode on Jussie Smollett’s conviction for filing a false hate-crime report, using the case to argue that media, celebrities, and political elites eagerly amplified a racially charged narrative without evidence. He frames the verdict as proof of elite credulity, narrative-driven activism, and the erosion of media credibility.

Main Topics: Smollett conviction and legal outcome (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro summarizes the jury verdict, noting Smollett was found guilty on five of six counts for lying to police about a staged hate crime and could face up to 20 years in prison. Media and elite credulity (Priority: 5/5): He argues that outlets and public figures rushed to validate Smollett’s story because it fit a preferred narrative about America as uniquely racist and homophobic, rather than waiting for evidence. Political reactions and activism (Priority: 4/5): The episode reviews reactions from Democrats, activists, and celebrities who initially amplified Smollett’s claims, portraying their responses as ideologically driven and premature. Timeline and implausibility of the hoax (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro walks through the reported sequence of events to highlight inconsistencies, including the late-night Subway trip, prearranged meeting time, and the brothers’ coordinated actions. Broader commentary on race-crime narratives (Priority: 4/5): He contrasts the Smollett story with statistics on interracial crime, arguing the incident was used to falsely imply broader trends in American public life. Mockery of journalism and cultural institutions (Priority: 4/5): The show repeatedly criticizes CNN, MSNBC, GQ, and other institutions for what he portrays as reckless reporting and later damage control after the hoax was exposed.

Key Arguments: The Smollett case was obviously implausible from the start and should have been treated as unverified until evidence emerged. Media and political elites embraced the story because it validated their preferred view of America as dominated by racism and hate. The conviction shows that the legal system ultimately worked, even if public discourse failed. The episode argues that elite incentives punish skepticism and reward immediate moral performance on social media. Shapiro claims the case demonstrates a persistent disconnect between crime reality and media narrative, especially regarding race and hate crimes. He suggests the hoax itself reflects a broader ecosystem that incentivizes race-hoax claims and rapid activist amplification.

Data Points: Counts convicted: 5 of 6 counts - Jussie Smollett was convicted on five charges related to filing a false police report. Potential prison sentence: Up to 20 years - Shapiro notes the maximum sentence Smollett could face before sentencing. Jury deliberation time: More than 9 hours - The jury took over nine hours before returning its verdict. Interracial violent crime share: About 3% of all serious crime - A statistic quoted from Wilford Riley about violent interracial crime involving blacks and whites. Black-on-white share of interracial violent crime: About 80% - Shapiro cites Riley’s claim about the direction of most interracial violent crime. Time of alleged attack: 2:00 a.m. - The alleged assault was said to have occurred in Chicago in the middle of the night. Weather context: Zero degrees / polar vortex - Shapiro emphasizes the extreme cold to underscore the oddity of the late-night Subway trip. Timeline milestone: 2:04 a.m. - According to the Tribune timeline, Smollett arrived near the staged location just after the brothers were already waiting. Timeline milestone: 2:27 a.m. - Smollett’s business manager called police from his apartment after the alleged attack. Timeline milestone: 2:42 a.m. - Officers arrived at Smollett’s apartment and observed injuries and a rope around his neck. Cash/check amount: $3,500 - The episode references a check Smollett allegedly wrote to the brothers, which prosecutors argued was payment for staging the attack. Petition target: 1 million signatures - A sponsored segment mentions a Daily Wire petition opposing the Biden vaccine mandate. Petition current count: About 800,000 signatures - The host says the petition is nearing the target.

Pivotal Quotes: "The jury chose to believe the two brothers. There was no evidence for any other account." — Ben Shapiro: Shapiro rejects the idea that the verdict hinged on mere belief rather than evidence. "How dare someone make such a heinous claim about followers of their dear leader" — Ben Shapiro quoting/characterizing MSNBC’s Jahan Jones: He mocks the left’s response that conservatives were at fault for doubting Smollett’s original story. "This was an attempted modern-day lynching." — Kamala Harris (quoted by Shapiro): Shapiro highlights a tweet Harris sent in support of Smollett before the hoax unraveled.

Implications: Shapiro argues the case should make audiences far more skeptical of media-driven moral panics, especially when a story confirms elite narratives about race and identity. He says it exposed institutional bias, poor reporting standards, and the political costs of abandoning evidence-based judgment.