Ep. 372 - Everything Is Political, Including Hurricanes

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on Hurricane Harvey and the online rush to assign blame, especially to Joel Osteen and to climate change. Shapiro argues criticism of Osteen is partly overblown, questions claims that Harvey proves global warming, and frames the left as treating government like a secular “prosperity gospel.” The show also covers Berkeley’s Antifa chaos, Trump’s response to Harvey, campus activism, and a pop-culture rant about Katy Perry’s new video.

Main Topics: Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church controversy: The host examines claims that Osteen refused shelter to Harvey evacuees, noting church flooding, prior shelter use, and the tendency to target Osteen because of prosperity gospel criticisms and his visibility. Left-wing blame-seeking after Hurricane Harvey: Shapiro argues the left is eager to pin natural disasters on specific villains—religious figures, conservatives, or oil companies—instead of accepting randomness and limits of human control. Climate change and hurricane attribution: He disputes the certainty of claims that Harvey was caused by global warming, citing NOAA and Atlantic material that says individual attribution is premature and that planning/urban development also matter. Berkeley, Antifa, and free speech: The segment condemns Berkeley’s handling of violent protests and criticizes local officials for considering canceling free-speech events rather than stopping rioters and protecting speakers. Trump, Texas, and hurricane politics: Shapiro says Trump’s Harvey response has been largely competent, though marred by unnecessary comments on the Arpaio pardon and his reluctance to plainly call Russia a threat. College campus culture and historical erasure: He attacks USC efforts to rename the horse Traveler and Yale’s decision to remove a carving depicting Puritan-Native conflict as examples of absurd campus politics. Pop culture critique of Katy Perry's 'Swish Swish': The host mocks the song and video as incoherent, petty, and emblematic of a dumbed-down celebrity culture pretending to be political or empowering.

Key Arguments: Osteen’s critics are not entirely wrong about his prosperity-gospel theology, but the specific claim that he maliciously barred Harvey victims lacks enough evidence and may be exaggerated. The left’s instinct to find a human culprit for disasters mirrors religious fatalism; both oversimplify events that are often driven by weather, geography, and urban planning. Climate change may affect long-term storm patterns, but the transcript argues that no clear science proves Harvey itself was caused by human activity. Houston’s flooding was worsened by sprawl, zoning, and paving over wetlands/bayous, which are separate from climate change. Berkeley officials and police failed to stop Antifa violence and are now trying to restrict speech rather than punish rioters, which Shapiro says violates the First Amendment. Government is being treated by the left as a secular savior that can prevent all harms, but it cannot stop hurricanes, poverty, or randomness any more than religion can guarantee wealth. Trump has responded reasonably to Harvey, but his offhand remarks keep creating avoidable controversy. Campus and cultural institutions are indulging in performative historical sanitizing and trivial celebrity politics instead of serious public debate.

Data Points: Lakewood Church capacity: 17,000 seats - Shapiro describes the Houston church arena as a very large venue used for weekly services. Joel Osteen home value: $10.5 million - Used to illustrate Osteen’s wealth and why critics target him. Joel Osteen television audience: 42 million people per week - Cited as the reach of Osteen’s televangelism show. Climate-related rainfall increase forecast: 10% to 15% - NOAA/GFDL projection for rainfall rates of tropical cyclones over the next century. Likelihood referenced for climate model projection: 66% - Shapiro cites a model-based probability attached to the long-term rainfall increase estimate. Houston downpour estimate: 40 to 60 inches - Politico is quoted describing projected rainfall totals from Harvey. Houston intense downpour frequency increase since the 1950s: 167% - Used by climate advocates to argue heavier rain is becoming more common in Houston. Security fee for Berkeley event: $15,000 - Young America's Foundation is said to have been charged this amount for event security. Annual dailywire subscription price: $99 - Promotion for the annual subscription and tumbler offer. Monthly dailywire subscription price: $9.99 - Promotion for access to the rest of the show and related content. USCCA coverage starting price: $13 per month - Sponsor mention for self-defense legal coverage. Free speech week dates: September 24–27 - Planned Berkeley event featuring controversial speakers.

Pivotal Quotes: "Harvey is what climate change looks like." — Eric Holthaus / Politico (quoted by host): Used as the central example of media claims attributing the storm to global warming. "there is a fine line between freedom of speech and then posing a risk to public safety." — Jesse Arreguin: Berkeley mayor’s rationale for opposing controversial campus events; Shapiro rejects the premise. "This is the way this works: you have a bunch of rioters who show up to shut down speech you don't like, and then you say, oh, you know what? My police just couldn't control it. I guess that we just can't have these events anymore." — Ben Shapiro: Explanation of how he believes campus officials enable anti-speech violence.

Implications: The episode frames Harvey as a test of media, political, and cultural reflexes: blame-seeking, ideological certainty, and deference to mobs. Listeners are urged to distinguish evidence from narrative, defend free speech, and resist turning disasters into partisan morality plays.