Ep. 656 - The Day After

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on post-midterm political fallout: Trump touts Senate gains while blaming House losses on Republicans who distanced themselves from him, then escalates conflict with CNN’s Jim Acosta. The show also covers Jeff Sessions’ firing, concerns over Mueller, a Thousand Oaks mass shooting, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s injury, and broader arguments about media behavior, suburbs, and Democratic overreach.

Main Topics: Midterms and Trump’s self-assessment (Priority: 5/5): Trump frames the 2018 midterms as a major success, emphasizing Senate gains while dismissing House losses and blaming underperforming Republicans for not embracing him enough. Jim Acosta confrontation and media conflict (Priority: 5/5): A combative White House exchange with CNN’s Jim Acosta leads to revocation of his hard pass, which Shapiro condemns as a reaction to Acosta’s grandstanding while also criticizing Trump’s rhetoric toward the press. Jeff Sessions fired and Mueller concerns (Priority: 5/5): Trump removes Attorney General Jeff Sessions, elevating Matthew Whitaker as acting AG; the segment examines fears about Mueller interference while arguing there is not yet evidence of obstruction. Thousand Oaks mass shooting and gun control debate (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro covers the California bar shooting, stressing that the killer used a handgun in a heavily gun-controlled state and arguing existing gun laws do not prevent mass shootings. Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s injury and Supreme Court implications (Priority: 4/5): Ginsburg’s broken ribs prompt discussion of her health, future on the Court, and the political significance of any vacancy under Trump. Democratic identity politics and suburban politics (Priority: 4/5): The episode criticizes the Women’s March and other left voices for attacking white women after the midterms, while urging both parties to stop alienating suburban voters. Side commentary and cultural satire (Priority: 2/5): The show closes with lighter commentary on a Dutch man seeking an age change, used to mock transgender logic and highlight absurdity in contemporary identity debates.

Key Arguments: Trump’s Senate performance should be credited to him, but House losses were driven by suburban backlash against his unpopularity, not by insufficiently loyal Republicans. The media, especially Jim Acosta, often prioritize confrontation and self-promotion over journalism, which fuels conflict but does not justify Trump’s attacks on the press. Removing Jeff Sessions is politically significant, but there is no clear evidence yet that Trump has actively shut down Mueller’s investigation. California’s strict gun laws did not prevent the Thousand Oaks shooting, reinforcing the argument that gun control alone does not stop mass violence. The left’s post-midterm rage has turned inward toward white women and suburban voters, which may harm Democrats politically. Republicans must rebuild suburban support if they want to win future national elections. Trump thrives on conflict with the press, and media fixation on that conflict distracts from more consequential political developments.

Data Points: People killed in Thousand Oaks shooting: 13 - 11 victims in the bar, plus a sheriff’s sergeant and the gunman Victims inside the bar: 11 - Fatalities reported from the Borderline Bar and Grill shooting Police response time: 3 minutes - First officers arrived at the scene within minutes of the shooting RBG age: 85 - Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s age at the time of her injury RBG broken ribs: 3 - She fractured three ribs in a fall at the Supreme Court Ginsburg previous rib fractures: 2 - She also fractured two ribs in a 2012 fall Gun control claim: A rating from the Brady Center - California described as heavily gun-controlled Gun circulation estimate: about 400 million - Used to argue that more gun control would not stop mass shootings Average savings from Honey: $26.34 - Average amount allegedly saved by listeners using the shopping tool Daily Wire membership price: $9.99/month - Monthly subscription pitch Annual subscription price: $99 - Annual Daily Wire subscription mentioned with a tumbler incentive White women voting for Ted Cruz: 59% - Used in critique of intersectional and feminist commentary White women voting for Donald Trump: 53% - Used to argue that white women are criticized for voting patterns Black women voting for Beto O’Rourke: 95% - Contrasted with criticism directed at white women Trump press conference questions: about 60 - Shapiro describes the press conference as lengthy and combative

Pivotal Quotes: "If the Democrats think they're going to waste taxpayer money investigating us at the House level, then we will likewise be forced to consider investigating them." — Donald Trump: Trump warning Democrats after the midterms about possible partisan investigations "You're a rude, terrible person. You shouldn't be working for CNN." — Donald Trump: Trump’s shouted exchange with Jim Acosta during the White House press conference "This is just not appropriate. He embarrassed himself." — Chris Wallace: Wallace’s public criticism of Acosta’s conduct

Implications: The episode frames the post-midterm landscape as a fight over narrative control, media legitimacy, and suburban voters. It suggests Trump’s conflict politics may distract from major institutional issues like Mueller, the DOJ, and the Supreme Court.