Ep. 67 - Hillary Clinton Is A Flaming Garbage Heap

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on Ben Shapiro’s critiques of President Obama’s mosque speech, arguing it downplayed Islamic terrorism and used selective victim narratives. It then pivots to the 2016 Republican race, attacking media narratives around Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, Ben Carson, and presidential “accomplishment” as a flawed standard. The show closes by skewering Hillary Clinton’s Goldman Sachs defense, plus brief mailbag and media commentary.

Main Topics: Obama’s Mosque Speech and Islam/Terrorism (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro argues Obama’s Baltimore mosque remarks distorted the relationship between Islam and terrorism, protected Islam from criticism while ignoring statistics and security concerns, and applied selective sympathy to Muslim Americans. Media and Political Double Standards on Religion (Priority: 4/5): The segment contrasts treatment of Muslims with Christians and Jews, claiming Obama and the media are more protective of Islam than other faiths and that they selectively frame victimhood and rhetoric. Republican Primary Chaos: Trump, Cruz, Carson (Priority: 5/5): The episode covers Trump’s claim that Iowa was stolen, media attacks on Cruz, Carson’s apparent campaign collapse, and how the media landscape is shaping the race. What Counts as Political Accomplishment (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro argues that asking politicians to have accomplishments misunderstands the presidency; he says the best leaders often accomplish little because government intervention itself is the problem. Hillary Clinton, Goldman Sachs, and Hypocrisy (Priority: 5/5): Hillary’s town hall answers are presented as evidence of hypocrisy: condemning Wall Street and wealth inequality while admitting she accepted high-paid speaking fees because that’s what was offered. Media Satire and Cable Commentary (Priority: 3/5): The episode mocks Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert, Chris Matthews, Morning Joe, and Michael Eric Dyson as examples of biased or incoherent political commentary. Mailbag on Debate Strategy and Income Inequality (Priority: 3/5): Shapiro answers listener questions about debating leftists, Bernie Sanders and debt, appearing on Bill Maher, and the meaning of CEO pay statistics.

Key Arguments: Obama’s mosque speech was framed as political virtue signaling rather than a serious response to terrorism or Muslim security concerns. Statistics, not anecdote, should guide views on religion and violence; Shapiro argues Muslims are disproportionately represented among terror perpetrators. Selective outrage protects Islam while Christianity and Judaism are more freely criticized or burdened with public condemnation. The media’s treatment of Ted Cruz is driven by hostility to his ideology and by a preference for Trump or Rubio. Political office should be about restraining government, not ‘accomplishing’ things; accomplishments often mean expanded state power. Hillary Clinton’s anti-Wall Street rhetoric is undermined by her acceptance of large Goldman Sachs speaking fees. Income inequality statistics are often misleading because averages can obscure median realities and voluntary market transactions. Left-wing elites often apply rules to others that they do not follow themselves, especially on labor, taxes, and wealth distribution.

Data Points: Muslim population in U.S.: several million people; about 1% of the population - Obama’s speech emphasized that many Americans do not know Muslims personally. Share of suicide bombings last year carried out by Muslims: 99.9% - Shapiro uses this as evidence that concerns about Islamic extremism are not media distortion. Muslims and terrorism over 15 years: approximately 50% of all terrorist attacks - He argues that Muslims are disproportionately represented among terrorist attacks. U.S. terror deaths: approximately 95% - Shapiro says Muslims are responsible for most terror deaths if 9/11 is included. Anti-religious attacks in the U.S.: 60% directed at Jews; 13% at Muslims - Used to argue that Obama’s victim framing is selective. Goldman Sachs speaking fee: $675,000 for three speeches - Clinton’s town hall response is used to highlight hypocrisy. Carson campaign staff cuts: 50 staffers, about 40% of campaign staff - Presented as evidence Carson’s campaign is effectively ending. Iowa margin mentioned for Trump: more than 2,000 votes behind Cruz - Trump alleges he was cheated in Iowa. Average CEO pay multiple: 272 to 354 times average worker pay - Listener question about income inequality statistics. National debt figure mentioned for Sanders-style policy: $19 trillion - Used in a listener mailbag question about Bernie Sanders and debt.

Pivotal Quotes: "The Muslim American community remains relatively small, several million people in this country..." — Barack Obama: Obama’s Baltimore mosque speech excerpt about Muslims and distorted media portrayals. "they want to control our country." — Hillary Clinton: Clinton’s town hall answer on a vast right-wing conspiracy and wealthy donors. "I don't want politicians who have accomplishments. I want politicians who generally have no accomplishments because I don't care about accomplishments." — Ben Shapiro: His argument that political office should restrain power rather than produce visible ‘results’.

Implications: The episode frames the 2016 race as a battle over media narratives, identity politics, and state power. It warns listeners to distrust virtue-signaling, scrutinize statistics, and judge candidates by ideology and restraint, not by rhetoric or advertised achievements.