Ep. 663 - The New York Slimes

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Ben Shapiro critiques intersectionality, arguing it enables antisemitism, bad science, and ideological excuses for misconduct. He attacks a New York Times piece on Jared and Ivanka, mocks Rolling Stone’s “social justice astrology,” and uses a Chipotle incident and election disputes to argue the left ignores facts when identity politics are involved.

Main Topics: New York Times article on Jared and Ivanka (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro condemns the NYT for framing Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump as potentially “bad Jews,” arguing the paper applies a partisan, secular-left definition of Jewish identity and ignores their Orthodox observance and pro-Israel stance. Intersectionality and antisemitism (Priority: 5/5): He argues intersectional ideology creates a hierarchy of victimhood that makes antisemitism easier to rationalize, especially when accusations come from groups deemed more oppressed. Rolling Stone and “social justice astrology” (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro ridicules the idea that astrology becomes acceptable when infused with progressive activism, using it as an example of left-wing cultural irrationality. Election legitimacy and Democratic claims of suppression (Priority: 5/5): He argues Democrats are undermining faith in elections by claiming voter suppression or fraud without evidence after losses in Florida and Georgia, while condemning Republicans for similar behavior. Identity politics vs. facts in public controversies (Priority: 4/5): Using the Chipotle incident and a false assault accusation case, he says identity-based assumptions override evidence and due process, leading to unfair public judgments. Trump’s disruptive political messaging (Priority: 3/5): Shapiro criticizes Trump for making avoidable headlines in interviews and attacking figures like Admiral McRaven and Adam Schiff, arguing this distracts from Democratic mistakes and hurts the GOP politically. Cultural recommendations and segment breaks (Priority: 2/5): The show includes lighter segments recommending The Princess Bride and dismissing a substitute teacher fired after thanking students for standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Key Arguments: The New York Times applies a distorted and politicized standard to Jews, especially Orthodox or pro-Israel Jews, while ignoring actual religious observance and Jewish priorities. Intersectionality is presented as a morally inverted framework that excuses antisemitism when it comes from groups considered lower on the victimhood hierarchy. Social justice rhetoric can be used to legitimize nonsense, from astrology to revolutionary violence, by wrapping irrational ideas in progressive language. Democrats are eroding trust in elections by repeatedly calling losses illegitimate without evidence, even as Republicans are accused of the same behavior. Public controversies should be judged by evidence and due process, not by assumptions about race, gender, or group identity. Trump often distracts from Democrats’ mistakes by generating his own controversies, which is politically unhelpful even when the other side is struggling.

Data Points: Antisemitic attacks: increased in each of the last three years - Referenced in the discussion of the New York Times/Jared and Ivanka segment Monthly readers: as many as 1 million - Rolling Stone profile of astrologer Chani Nicholas’s blog Instagram followers: more than 100,000 - Chani Nicholas’s reported following Money raised: $40,000 - Nicholas raised funds for Freeform by offering astrology readings Twitter retweets: more than 52,000 - Chipotle video showing refusal to serve five Black men Probability claim: 67% of Democrats - Economist/YouGov poll saying Democrats believed Russia tampered with vote tallies Federal aid to Pakistan: $1.3 billion a year - Trump’s criticism of Pakistan while discussing the bin Laden raid Potential prison sentence: 99 years - False assault accusation case involving Christopher C.J. Procopia Bond amount: $150,000 - Procopia’s arrest in the assault accusation case Voting geography claim: 1.5 million votes removed - Ari Berman’s claim about Georgia voter rolls, which Shapiro disputes Registrations on hold: 53,000 - Georgia election dispute and alleged voter suppression Polling places closed: 214 - Georgia election dispute and alleged voter suppression Wait time: 4.5 hours - Reported machine malfunction at one polling location in Georgia

Pivotal Quotes: "The New York Times is bad for the Jews." — Ben Shapiro: Condemnation of the NYT article on Jared and Ivanka Kushner "Intersectional thinking crosses over with anti-Semitism in a pretty heavy way." — Ben Shapiro: Explaining his critique of intersectionality as a framework "Life is not inherently absurd. Instead, its absurdities are produced by capitalism, racism, and patriarchy." — Quoted from Boston Review review: Shapiro reads and mocks the ideological framing of the film Sorry to Bother You

Implications: Listeners are urged to distrust identity-first analysis and demand evidence, especially in politics, media, and culture. The episode frames intersectionality as a source of distortion that can erode trust in institutions and public discourse.