Ep. 383 - Did Trump Just Give Away The Border?

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Ben Shapiro frames the episode around two flashpoints: his heavily secured Berkeley speech amid anticipated protests, and Donald Trump’s apparent willingness to strike a DACA/border-security deal with Pelosi and Schumer without wall funding. He argues Trump is abandoning core campaign promises, contrasts this with Hillary Clinton’s refusal to self-assess, critiques government hypocrisy on free speech and spending, and closes with a history lesson on U.S. immigration policy.

Main Topics: Berkeley speech and security preparations (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro reports that Berkeley is deploying extensive security barriers and policing in anticipation of protests against him and against police, using the situation to mock the city while noting the seriousness of the threat environment. Trump, DACA, and the border wall deal (Priority: 5/5): The bulk of the episode dissects reports that Trump agreed with Pelosi and Schumer to legalize DACA protections and pursue border security without the promised wall, which Shapiro calls a betrayal of campaign commitments and evidence of weak negotiating. Conservative backlash and Trump’s shifting rhetoric (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro cites reactions from Breitbart, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, and others to show even pro-Trump voices are alarmed, arguing Trump is adopting Democratic framing on amnesty, Obamacare, and tax policy. Hillary Clinton’s post-election commentary (Priority: 3/5): Shapiro uses Clinton’s media appearances to argue Democrats and Clinton remain unable to admit mistakes, presenting her as proof that charisma and self-awareness matter politically. Free speech, Jemele Hill, and selective outrage (Priority: 3/5): He condemns the White House for suggesting ESPN should fire Jemele Hill over anti-Trump comments, arguing government officials should not pressure employers over political speech, even if ESPN itself is inconsistent. Big idea: the history of U.S. immigration policy (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro traces immigration from open 19th-century flows to restrictive laws in 1875, 1882, 1924, and the major 1965 reform, arguing that modern immigration patterns are historically contingent and that restrictions need not be racist.

Key Arguments: Trump’s reported DACA deal suggests the border wall was primarily a campaign slogan rather than a firm policy objective. The president has repeatedly failed to use leverage to secure wall funding across budgets, debt ceiling talks, and now DACA negotiations. Conservative outrage is justified because Trump’s current positions sound closer to Jeb Bush/Marco Rubio/Obama than to his own campaign rhetoric. Public officials should not call for private employees to be fired over political speech, even when the speech is offensive or partisan. Hillary Clinton lost not because of fate alone but because she is personally off-putting and avoids introspection. U.S. immigration policy has always involved both openness and restriction; the 1965 law fundamentally changed immigrant demographics by prioritizing family reunification. Immigration restriction can be justified by assimilation concerns and welfare costs rather than racism. The 1924 quota system and earlier restrictions were shaped by labor concerns, xenophobia, and even eugenics, but they show restriction is not unprecedented.

Data Points: Berkeley security spending: hundreds of thousands of dollars - Shapiro says Berkeley is spending heavily on security for his event and Free Speech Week-related concerns. Trump campaign promise: 'build the wall' - Referenced as the slogan Trump repeatedly used during the campaign, contrasted with current talk of existing barriers. DACA approval claim: 92% - Trump says 92% of people agree on DACA, used to justify bipartisan deal-making. Top 1% income taxes: 40.4% - Shapiro cites Tax Foundation analysis of IRS data to argue tax cuts often target the rich because they pay a huge share of federal income taxes. Bottom 95% income taxes: 39.4% - Used to compare with the top 1% and support the claim that tax burden is concentrated at the top. Immigrants from Ireland in 19th century: 4.5 million - Shapiro’s immigration history segment recounts major Irish immigration to the U.S. from 1820 to 1930. Immigrants from Germany in 19th century: 5 million - Cited as part of the large European migration wave in the 19th century. Jewish immigration, 1880-1920: 2 million - Used to explain the context behind the 1924 quota laws and backlash to Eastern European immigration. Total new entrants, 1880-1920: 20 million - Illustrates the scale of immigration before the 1924 restrictions. Immigration cap under 1924 law: 2% of 1890 population - Shapiro explains the quota system used to freeze immigration from particular national origins. Annual visas in 1965 law (Eastern Hemisphere): 170,000 - He cites the Immigration and Nationality Act’s numerical cap structure. Per-country cap in 1965 law: 20,000 - No single country could exceed this limit under the law. Annual visas in 1965 law (Western Hemisphere): 120,000 - The law imposed a new cap on Western Hemisphere immigration. Share reserved for family categories: 75% - Shapiro emphasizes family-based immigration as the main engine of post-1965 growth. U.S. Hispanics in 1970: 9 million - Used to show demographic change after the 1965 immigration reforms. U.S. Hispanics today: 60 million - Shapiro uses this to illustrate long-term demographic transformation. Immigrants from the Americas in 1960: about 15%-20% - Compared with Europe to show the regional shift in immigrant origins. Immigrants from the Americas in 2013: well over 50% - Shows how immigration sources shifted toward the Western Hemisphere. Immigrants from Europe in 1960: more than 75% - Contrasted with the later decline in European-origin immigration. Immigrants from Europe today: about 12% - Used to underscore the modern shift away from European immigration. Annual subscription price: $99 per year - Mentioned in the Daily Wire subscription pitch. Monthly subscription price: $9.99 per month - Mentioned in the Daily Wire subscription pitch. Air Force jet operating cost: $25,000 per hour - ABC News report cited in criticism of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin's requested honeymoon travel.

Pivotal Quotes: "No deal was made last night on DACA." — Donald Trump: Trump’s tweet is used to deny the existence of a finalized agreement while still describing broad border-security concessions. "Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated, and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military?" — Donald Trump: Shapiro presents this as Trump adopting a sympathetic, amnesty-like framing for DACA recipients. "If I'd won, you know, I would have been seen as a genius." — Hillary Clinton: Clinton’s interview remark is used to illustrate her refusal to acknowledge personal responsibility for losing.

Implications: Shapiro warns Trump’s coalition may fracture if promises on immigration and reform keep softening. He also argues media and political actors should expect immigration, speech, and spending debates to remain central and historically misunderstood.