Ep. 459 - The Day After

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on bombshell FBI text-message revelations around the Mueller investigation, arguing they expose deep bias and possible misconduct while stopping short of endorsing a full conspiracy theory. It also frames Democrats’ failed shutdown as a strategic and political loss, predicts a stalled DACA fight, criticizes media and NFL judgment, and closes with cultural commentary on feminism, MSNBC, and iconic sci-fi and video examples.

Main Topics: FBI text messages and Mueller investigation fallout (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro argues newly surfaced and missing FBI texts between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page raise serious questions about bias, missing records, and whether the Russia probe was compromised or mismanaged. Democrats' failed government shutdown (Priority: 5/5): He contends Democrats blinked after a short shutdown, gained nothing substantive, and exposed a widening rift between establishment and progressive wings. DACA, immigration, and the looming February 8/March 5 deadlines (Priority: 4/5): The discussion predicts no durable deal on DACA, arguing both parties have incentives to posture rather than compromise and that the urgency is overstated. Media bias and 'schoolmarming' of Trump (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro criticizes mainstream media personalities for condescension and selective outrage, using examples from Chris Cuomo and MSNBC coverage of the women's march. NFL controversy over a veterans ad (Priority: 4/5): He condemns the NFL for rejecting an AMVETS Super Bowl ad while tolerating anthem protests, calling it alienating corporate censorship and a misread of football viewers. Culture commentary: women's march, Cardi B, Jane Fonda, and abortion imagery (Priority: 3/5): The latter segment attacks activist and pop-culture symbolism as incoherent or hypocritical, while also praising Megan Kelly's confrontation with Jane Fonda and a 20-week ultrasound video as pro-life evidence. Personal promotion and live-event grievance (Priority: 2/5): The show opens with complaints about the University of Connecticut limiting attendance at a Ben Shapiro campus event to students only, framed as censorship and safety theater.

Key Arguments: The FBI text-message gap is suspicious because it coincides with the Mueller transition and involves key officials central to the Russia probe. Shapiro does not fully accept the strongest Republican theory that the Trump-Russia case was invented from whole cloth, but he says the evidence strongly suggests bias and possible organized suppression of records. Democrats' shutdown strategy failed because they surrendered quickly and won no concrete concessions, undermining claims that they achieved leverage or 'momentum.' The shutdown reveals and deepens a civil war inside the Democratic Party between establishment figures and 2020-style progressives. The DACA fight is being treated as more urgent than it is; the executive branch can delay or soften enforcement without immediate mass deportations. The media repeatedly distort events by portraying routine political disagreement as moral crisis, which fuels distrust and helps Trump politically. The NFL is harming itself by catering to internal activist sensibilities instead of its audience, especially on patriotism and veterans issues. Popular culture and march symbolism often present as empowerment while celebrating vulgarity, conflict, and anti-family or anti-American themes.

Data Points: Missing text-message window: Approximately five months - FBI failed to preserve texts between December 2016 and May 2017, described as a critical gap during the Russia investigation. Text messages exchanged: More than 50,000 - Jeff Sessions said more than 50,000 texts were exchanged between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page. Shutdown duration: Approximately 69 hours - Shapiro says Democrats ended the shutdown after roughly three days, portraying it as a surrender. Potential DACA deadline: February 8 - Referenced as a coming negotiation deadline tied to reopening the government. DACA-related date: March 5 - Cited as the date when protections were said to expire if Congress fails to act. Border wall funding offer: Well north of $1.6 billion - Shapiro discusses a Schumer-related proposal reportedly offering more than $1.6 billion for wall funding. CHIP funding extension: Another six years - He notes Republicans had just extended funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program. Trump approval/polling examples: Trump 40-42% vs. Biden 57%, Sanders 55%, Oprah 51% - He cites head-to-head polling against possible Democratic opponents. UConn event restriction: Students only - University of Connecticut reportedly limited attendance at Shapiro's campus speech to students. AMVETS ad price: $30,000 - He notes the rejected Super Bowl veterans ad was a $30,000 spot.

Pivotal Quotes: "This is to Lisa Page, his mistress. You and I both know the odds are nothing about whether this investigation is going to turn up something." — Ron Johnson, as quoted by Ben Shapiro: Used to argue Peter Strzok privately doubted the existence of meaningful Trump-Russia evidence. "The context of these text messages between top FBI officials are extremely troubling... the evident bias exhibited by those in charge of the investigation." — Bob Goodlatte / Devin Nunes / Trey Gowdy statement: Quoted to frame congressional concern over the FBI text disclosures. "The shutdown was actually not a loss for Democrats... [but] potential for momentum." — Debbie Wasserman Schultz / Ben Shapiro commentary: Shapiro highlights and mocks Democratic attempts to spin the shutdown as a success.

Implications: The segment predicts prolonged partisan conflict over Mueller, DACA, and shutdown tactics, with Democrats divided and the FBI under intense scrutiny. It also suggests media and entertainment institutions risk alienating audiences by mistaking activism for public consensus.