Ep. 627 - Insanity *Intensifies*

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Ben Shapiro centers the episode on the escalating Brett Kavanaugh confirmation fight, arguing that Michael Avenatti’s new sexual-assault claims are vague, uncorroborated, and politically motivated. He contrasts this with Kavanaugh’s denials, criticizes Democrats and media for moving the goalposts, and also covers Ted Cruz being confronted at a restaurant and Trump’s UN speech, which he largely praises.

Main Topics: Michael Avenatti’s new Kavanaugh allegations (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro dissects Julie Swetnick’s declaration, saying the most serious claims are unverified, internally vague, and lacking corroboration despite allegations of gang-rape parties and drugging. Christine Blasey Ford and the burden of proof (Priority: 5/5): He argues the Ford allegations remain uncorroborated and says Democrats and media are treating accusation as proof while obscuring what exactly must be established. Media framing and shifting accusations (Priority: 4/5): He criticizes outlets like The Washington Post and NBC for reframing the dispute around Kavanaugh being a 'sloppy drunk' or 'choir boy,' rather than focusing on concrete evidence of sexual assault. Senate hearing strategy and Republican response (Priority: 4/5): He discusses the upcoming Judiciary Committee hearing, including the use of prosecutor Rachel Mitchell, and says Democrats are resisting any process that would actually test the claims under scrutiny. Ted Cruz confronted at a restaurant (Priority: 3/5): Shapiro condemns activists who shouted Cruz and his wife out of a restaurant, calling the tactic hostile, circular, and emblematic of a degrading political culture. Trump at the UN and foreign policy (Priority: 3/5): He praises Trump’s UN speech on sovereignty, anti-socialism, Israel, Venezuela, and confronting adversarial nations, while noting he still wants less tweeting and more disciplined messaging.

Key Arguments: Avenatti’s new declaration is extremely serious if true, but the allegations are too vague and too dependent on unnamed witnesses to be credible without more evidence. Democrats are expanding the accusation from sexual assault to drinking behavior and character attacks when the original claims are not fully substantiated. Kavanaugh’s Fox interview did not claim he was morally perfect; he acknowledged teenage drinking while explicitly denying sexual assault and blackout drinking. The media are misleadingly treating corroboration of hearsay—people repeating what Ford told them—as if it were corroboration of the underlying assault. The Senate hearing process appears politically tilted, with Democrats resisting cross-examination and trying to avoid a real evidentiary standard. Cruz’s restaurant incident exemplifies the left’s increasing willingness to harass political opponents in public rather than debate them. Trump’s UN remarks are presented as a strong defense of sovereignty and anti-socialist foreign policy, which Shapiro sees as broadly beneficial.

Data Points: Avenatti claim window: 48 hours - Avenatti said his client would come forward within 48 hours with allegations against Kavanaugh. Parties attended: well over 10 - Swetnick said she attended well over 10 house parties where Kavanaugh and Mark Judge were present. Time span of alleged conduct: 1981 to 1983 - Swetnick’s declaration places the alleged party conduct in this period. Time span of Yale allegation: 1983-1984 academic year - The New Yorker report on Deborah Ramirez’s accusation dates to Kavanaugh’s freshman year at Yale. Number of corroborating declarations cited by NBC: 4 - NBC News said it obtained sworn declarations from four people allegedly corroborating Christine Blasey Ford, though Shapiro argues they only corroborate that she told them about it. Federal and state work history in declaration: Treasury, IRS, U.S. Mint, State Department, DOJ - Swetnick listed prior government employment and inactive security clearances. National debt context: greater than the entire economic output of the United States - Used in the Birch Gold ad read to argue for diversification into precious metals. Life insurance comparison: over 4 million people - PolicyGenius claim about shoppers served. Coverage amount: over $20 billion - PolicyGenius claim about placed coverage.

Pivotal Quotes: "There are no presumption of innocence or guilt when you have a nominee before you." — Chuck Schumer: Quoted by Shapiro while criticizing Democrats for refusing to apply a real burden of proof to Kavanaugh. "This is a con game being played by the Democrats." — Ben Shapiro: Shapiro’s assessment of the overall Kavanaugh controversy and the way accusations are being introduced. "You can't lie your way onto the Supreme Court." — Lynn Brooks: A Yale classmate quoted in The Washington Post story about Kavanaugh’s drinking and college behavior.

Implications: The episode argues that high-stakes allegations require evidence, not escalating media narratives. It suggests the Kavanaugh fight will shape norms around due process, confirmation politics, and public harassment of officials.