Ep. 668 - Mulling Over Mueller

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Ben Shapiro opens with sponsor reads, then focuses on Paul Manafort, Robert Mueller, Roger Stone, and Jerome Corsi, arguing most collusion speculation is premature and largely unsupported. He also critiques Trump’s tariff-driven economic interventions and GM pressure, predicts autonomous/ride-sharing will reshape car ownership, and closes with cultural commentary, Federalist 51, and a warning against excessive government power and pragmatism.

Main Topics: Mueller investigation, Manafort, and WikiLeaks speculation (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro reviews claims that Manafort met Assange, the Corsi/Stone WikiLeaks thread, and the idea that witnesses may be coordinating defenses. He argues the evidence is incomplete and warns against overreading leaks before the Mueller report is public. Possibility of a Trump pardon for Manafort (Priority: 5/5): He weighs whether Trump might pardon Manafort to cut off Mueller leverage, but concludes it would be politically disastrous and likely read as obstruction, especially with a Democratic House ready to act. Trump’s social media behavior and political mood (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro portrays Trump as angry after the midterms and over Mueller coverage, arguing that his reflex to tweet and brag distracts from his policy wins and creates unnecessary problems. Tariffs, GM layoffs, and economic intervention (Priority: 5/5): The show critiques Trump’s steel tariffs and proposed auto tariffs, saying they raise consumer prices, distort markets, and invite further government meddling instead of allowing companies to compete efficiently. Technology, automation, and the future of car ownership (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro argues ride-sharing and automated driving will make private car ownership obsolete over time, making protectionist policy futile because innovation will outpace government attempts to freeze industries. Culture-war commentary and media hypocrisy (Priority: 3/5): He comments on a Catholic-school graduation speech by a gay student, the killing of a missionary by a tribal group, and a sci-fi writer’s claim that Tolkien is racist, using them to criticize woke narratives and relativism. Federalist 51 and limits on government (Priority: 4/5): The episode closes with a reading of Madison on checks and balances, emphasizing that government must restrain itself and that concentrated power—economic or political—is inherently dangerous.

Key Arguments: The Manafort-Assange story is not yet credible enough to support collusion claims because the reporting relies on unnamed sources, embassy logs do not corroborate it, and both Manafort and Assange deny it. Jerome Corsi and Roger Stone may be attempting to frame events around a defense narrative, but Corsi’s credibility is weak, so his claims should be treated cautiously. Trump pardoning Manafort would likely look like obstruction of justice and provoke impeachment or at least severe political backlash. Mueller may be using plea pressure and witness coordination concerns to force false testimony, but the transcript presents this as an allegation, not a settled fact. Trump’s tariffs are economically harmful because they raise input costs, invite retaliation, and disproportionately burden consumers for the benefit of a few protected jobs. Government should not try to preserve specific industries from technological change; automation and market innovation will restructure transportation regardless of protectionist policy. Trump’s tweets and public fulmination distract from his policy agenda and give the media unnecessary material, while silence would often serve him better. Federal power should remain limited because concentrated authority, whether from a president or bureaucracy, threatens liberty and minority rights.

Data Points: Democratic House margin: 8.1 points - Shapiro says Democrats won the 2018 House popular vote by 8.1 points, calling it a blue wave. Republican House seats lost: 40 seats - He says Republicans lost 40 seats in the House in the midterms. Republican Senate seats: 53 - He notes Republicans retained a 53-seat Senate majority. GM workforce cuts: 15% - He cites GM’s planned layoffs/cuts as part of the auto-industry discussion. Tariff cost to GM: Hundreds of millions of dollars - He says steel tariffs have cost GM hundreds of millions. Ford tariff cost estimate: $1 billion - He says Ford estimated tariffs have cost the company $1 billion so far. Steel tariff rate on small trucks: 25% - He references the long-standing 'chicken tax' on small trucks and Trump’s use of it as a model for broader car tariffs. Soybean export decline to China: 98% - He says U.S. soybean exports to China have decreased by 98% going into January. 23andMe discount: 30% off - Sponsor read: 23andMe kits are on sale through December 25. Black Rifle Coffee discount: 15% off - Sponsor read: 15% off at blackriflecoffee.com/slash bend. Robinhood free stock: Apple, Ford, or Sprint - Sponsor read: Robinhood offers a free stock for signups. 1-800-Flowers bouquets: Starting at $29.99 - Sponsor read: bouquet pricing for holiday gifting.

Pivotal Quotes: "If men were angels, no government would be necessary." — James Madison (quoted by Ben Shapiro): Used in the Federalist 51 discussion to explain why government must be constrained by checks and balances. "I have a gut and my gut tells me more sometimes than anybody else's brain can ever tell me." — Donald Trump (quoted by Ben Shapiro): Shapiro cites Trump’s remarks on the economy to criticize impulsive decision-making and self-confidence. "This country's done a lot for General Motors. You better get back in there soon." — Donald Trump (quoted by Ben Shapiro): Used in the GM segment to illustrate Trump’s threat-style approach to industrial policy.

Implications: Listeners are left with a warning: the Mueller saga is still unresolved, but Trump’s reactions may worsen his political and legal exposure. On economics, tariffs and subsidies are portrayed as short-term politics that will fail against innovation.