Ep. 1407 - It’s The Democrats’ January 6 Spectacular!!!

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Ben Shapiro argues that Democrats exploited the January 6th anniversary as a partisan spectacle to prop up Joe Biden’s unpopular presidency, contrasting the event’s political theater—Hamilton cast, Kamala Harris, and Biden’s speeches—with what he sees as its limited historical scale. He critiques their rhetoric as hypocritical, exaggerated, and designed to justify expanded election control and federal power.

Main Topics: Democrats’ January 6th commemoration as political theater (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro says the anniversary event was staged like a campaign rally rather than a solemn memorial, pointing to the Hamilton performance, Nancy Pelosi’s role, and the overall tone as evidence of a partisan show. Kamala Harris as an ineffective messenger (Priority: 4/5): He argues Harris was used to deliver high-minded democracy rhetoric but undermined herself with exaggerated historical comparisons and a clumsy recitation of the Constitution’s preamble. Joe Biden’s use of January 6th to revive his presidency (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro claims Biden leaned heavily on anti-Trump messaging because his approval is weak and he lacks a stronger governing narrative. Comparison of January 6th to major national tragedies (Priority: 5/5): He rejects Biden’s and Harris’s comparisons of January 6th to Pearl Harbor and 9/11, arguing the scale, casualties, and consequences are not remotely comparable. Hypocrisy on law, order, and political violence (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro says Democrats selectively condemn violence only when it helps them, while ignoring or minimizing left-wing riots and police assaults in 2020 and elsewhere. Election integrity and accusations of authoritarianism (Priority: 4/5): He argues Democrats use January 6th to justify federalizing elections and altering voting laws, while themselves resisting reforms like the Electoral Count Act because they want rule changes that favor them.

Key Arguments: January 6th was serious criminal conduct, but Democrats inflated it into a civilizational crisis for partisan gain. The January 6th memorial was more like a political rally than a genuine remembrance, evidenced by celebrity-style participation and campaign-like speeches. Kamala Harris’s speech was rhetorically heavy but substantively empty, and her attempt to recite constitutional language exposed her incompetence. Joe Biden’s speeches rely on demonizing Trump because he lacks a broader governing case and needs a motivating enemy to energize his base. Comparing January 6th to Pearl Harbor, 9/11, or the Civil War is historically unserious because casualties, scope, and institutional impact were vastly different. Democrats condemn violence selectively: they excuse or downplay BLM riots and other unrest while treating January 6th as uniquely apocalyptic. Claims that January 6th nearly ended democracy are contradicted by the fact that institutions held, the election was certified, and the coup-like mechanisms Biden describes did not occur. Democrats talk about protecting voting rights while pursuing election-law changes that would centralize power and benefit their side.

Data Points: People actively killed on January 6th: 1 - Shapiro says Ashley Babbitt was the only person actively killed during the riot. Deaths in Black Lives Matter riots of 2020: about 25 - Used to contrast with January 6th and argue Democratic hypocrisy on violence. Damage from Black Lives Matter riots: $5 billion uninsured + about $2 billion insured - Shapiro cites this to argue 2020 unrest was far more destructive than January 6th. Damage to Capitol on January 6th: $1.5 million - Used to downplay the scale relative to other riots. Police officers injured on January 6th: over 140 - Biden’s speech cited this figure; Shapiro repeated it while criticizing selective outrage. 2020 election lawsuits Trump brought: some 80 lawsuits - Shapiro notes Trump challenged election issues in court, with most failing. December 2021 U.S. jobs report: 199,000 jobs added - Shapiro cites the jobs report at the end as the real political story overshadowed by January 6th coverage. Jobs report expectations: 422,000 - He contrasts expectations with the lower actual number to criticize media/political distraction. Biden approval rating cited: about 40% - Shapiro says Biden’s popularity has fallen sharply from earlier highs and motivates the January 6th emphasis. Earlier Biden approval rating cited: close to 60% - Used to show the decline in his political standing.

Pivotal Quotes: "the most important day in American history" — Ben Shapiro: Sarcastic description of how Democrats treated the January 6th anniversary. "This was an armed insurrection" — Joe Biden: Biden’s characterization of the Capitol riot during his speech, which Shapiro criticizes as exaggerated. "I will allow no one to place a dagger at the throat of democracy" — Joe Biden: Biden’s closing pledge, which Shapiro frames as melodramatic partisan rhetoric.

Implications: The episode argues Democrats are turning January 6th into a durable political weapon to justify broader election-control efforts and boost Biden. Listeners are urged to see the anniversary messaging as strategic, not solemn, and to judge institutions by consistency rather than partisan convenience.