Ep. 369 - How The Left Blows Itself Up, In 4 Easy Steps

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode argues that Democrats and the left are undermining their own effort to stop Trump by fixating on unpopular symbolic battles, elevating weak candidates, embracing censorship, and claiming false objectivity in media coverage. Shapiro says these tactics alienate moderates, strengthen Trump’s anti-media message, and risk hurting Democratic chances in future elections.

Main Topics: Democrats’ strategic self-sabotage (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro frames the segment around a claim that the left is helping Trump by choosing fights and tactics that repel average voters instead of broadening its appeal. Picking unpopular issues: Confederate monuments and Colin Kaepernick (Priority: 5/5): He argues Democrats shift from broadly agreed-upon condemnation of white supremacy to divisive disputes over Confederate statues and Kaepernick’s protest, losing public support. Weak and overexposed Democratic candidates (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro criticizes the party for elevating candidates like Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, and Cory Booker while ignoring broader electability concerns. Censorship and free speech on the left (Priority: 5/5): He contends the left increasingly treats speech it dislikes as illegitimate, citing campus protests, calls to shut down speakers, and media arguments that Trump rhetoric should be treated as illegal incitement. Media bias and the collapse of “objectivity” (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro argues outlets like CNN, ABC, and major newspapers hurt their credibility by claiming neutrality while openly displaying emotional hostility toward Trump. Legal standard for incitement (Priority: 4/5): He explains the Supreme Court’s Brandenburg test and says Trump’s controversial speech did not meet the constitutional standard for incitement. Culture-war commentary and comedic side segments (Priority: 2/5): The episode includes sponsor reads, a playful ‘things I like/hate’ section, and commentary on viral clips, used to reinforce the show’s populist, anti-left framing.

Key Arguments: The left’s real problem is not Trump’s behavior alone, but its own tendency to choose losing issues instead of broadly popular ones. Condemning neo-Nazis is a widely supported position, but Democrats dilute that advantage by pivoting to Confederate statues, where public opinion is split. The Kaepernick protests are framed as a celebrity-driven symbolic cause that does little for ordinary Americans and alienates sports fans. Democrats keep promoting candidates with poor national appeal, suggesting they have not learned from Clinton’s 2016 loss. Claims that Trump’s rhetoric is ‘incitement’ are overstated under constitutional law; the proper legal test is Brandenburg’s ‘imminent lawless action’ standard. When media figures insist they are objective while visibly expressing anti-Trump emotion, they reinforce Trump’s charge that the press is biased. Attempts to censor neo-Nazis or unpopular speakers may seem justified in the moment, but they create dangerous precedents that can later be used against other viewpoints.

Data Points: Trump approval rating: 34% - Shapiro says Trump currently has a low popularity rating while arguing Democrats are still failing to capitalize. North Carolina poll (Trump vs. Clinton): 43-39 - Cited as evidence that Trump remained competitive against Hillary Clinton in a key state. Quinnipiac poll on Confederate memorials: 50% oppose removal / 39% favor removal - Used to argue that Confederate statue removal is not a broadly popular issue. Wisconsin 2016 vote comparison: Trump won fewer votes than Mitt Romney in 2012 - Shapiro uses this to argue Hillary Clinton was an exceptionally weak candidate. Colin Kaepernick quarterback rating: Worst quarterback rating of any quarterback in the league two years ago - Used to argue that Kaepernick’s celebrity status, not merit, drives the debate. Hillary Clinton’s 2016 margin: Lost by 70,000 votes in three states - Shapiro cites this to rebut claims that Russia alone decided the election. Trump vs. Bernie Sanders poll: 53-39 - Presented as evidence of Bernie Sanders’ stronger electability. Trump vs. Joe Biden poll: 51-38 - Used to compare Biden’s relative strength versus Trump. Trump vs. Kamala Harris poll: 41-40 - Shapiro says Harris is barely competitive and still being seriously considered by Democrats. Daily Wire traffic: 65 million page views and 16 million unique visitors in the last month - Mentioned while arguing that media reporting remains important despite bias.

Pivotal Quotes: "the left is really destroying its own capacity to stop President Trump" — Ben Shapiro: Opening thesis of the episode. "Step one, again, for the Democrats is pick unpopular issues instead of popular ones." — Ben Shapiro: Summary of his first strategic criticism of Democrats. "the governing standard is imminent lawless threat, okay? The governing standard is imminent lawless action likely to incite." — Ben Shapiro: His explanation of constitutional law on incitement under Brandenburg v. Ohio.

Implications: Shapiro argues Democrats risk empowering Trump by chasing symbolic outrage, censorship, and biased media behavior. His message to listeners is that effective opposition requires discipline, broad appeal, and respect for free-speech norms.