Ep. 718 - And Jussie For All

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on three major stories: the apparent collapse of Jussie Smollett’s alleged hate-crime narrative, Trump’s plan to sign a spending bill while declaring a national emergency to fund border wall construction, and progressive Democrats’ leftward drift in the wake of Amazon’s New York exit. Shapiro argues the media rushes to confirm preferred narratives, warns the emergency declaration sets dangerous precedent, and portrays Democrats as economically and politically self-defeating.

Main Topics: Jussie Smollett case collapse and media credulity (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro argues Smollett’s account of a racist, homophobic attack is implausible and that media and politicians eagerly amplified it before evidence was established. He frames the developing police investigation as a warning about narrative-driven journalism and premature moral certainty. Trump, border wall funding, and national emergency power (Priority: 5/5): The show analyzes the budget deal, Trump’s intent to sign it and then declare a national emergency, and the legal/constitutional uncertainties around using emergency authority to build wall infrastructure. Shapiro criticizes both the bill’s restrictions and the broader expansion of executive power. Executive power and constitutional precedent (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro broadens the border-wall debate into a critique of modern executive overreach, arguing Congress has ceded too much power over the last century and that both parties exploit executive authority when convenient. He warns Republicans are setting a precedent Democrats will use later. Amazon’s New York retreat and progressive economics (Priority: 4/5): The episode covers Amazon canceling its NYC campus after backlash from Democrats and activists. Shapiro uses the case to argue that left-wing politicians misunderstand incentives, jobs, and basic economics, and that local residents mostly wanted the company to come. 2020 Democratic primary ideological map (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro updates his 2020 candidate commentary, portraying Harris as the strongest media/social-media contender, Beto as radicalizing leftward, Sanders as aligned with anti-Israel/progressive identity politics, and Warren/Booker/Gillibrand as weaker or fading. Mailbag on medicine, discrimination, travel, and health care (Priority: 3/5): The Q&A touches on navigating politicized medical training, the limits of perceived-discrimination studies, favorite travel destinations, America’s greatest threat, and a comparison of U.S. healthcare to other systems. Shapiro emphasizes free-market incentives and skepticism of identity-based assumptions.

Key Arguments: The Smollett story looked implausible from the start, so the proper response was to wait for evidence instead of affirming a preferred racial narrative. Media outlets and politicians are quick to endorse stories that fit the claim that America is racist and homophobic, then backtrack when facts emerge. The border deal is bad because it limits wall construction, hands leverage to local officials, and contains policy concessions Shapiro views as de facto amnesty and more catch-and-release. Declaring a national emergency to build a wall may be legally vulnerable and sets a precedent that future presidents will exploit for other policies. Congress has failed to defend its own authority, allowing executive power to expand steadily under both parties. Amazon’s exit from New York shows that progressive anti-corporate activism can destroy jobs and economic growth while pretending to be a victory. The Democratic primary is moving leftward, with candidates competing for activist attention through more radical positions. Perceived discrimination is not reliably the same as actual discrimination; social-science claims should be treated cautiously when built on subjective perceptions. America’s healthcare advantage lies in access to innovation and advanced care, especially for serious illness like cancer, not merely in equality of outcome.

Data Points: Time missing from camera in Smollett account: about 60 seconds - Shapiro highlights the brief surveillance gap in the alleged attack narrative Delay before calling police: about 40 minutes - Smollett reportedly returned home and waited before contacting authorities Chicago weather at the time: 10 degrees below zero - Used to underscore implausibility of the alleged attackers being outside at 2 a.m. Wall funding in deal: $1.375 billion - Amount in the spending bill Shapiro says is far below initial Trump demand Original Trump wall demand: $25 billion - Starting point of border wall negotiations Negotiated Trump position before final deal: $5.6 billion - Intermediate demand before Democrats pushed it lower Democratic offer before final deal: $1.6 billion - Referenced as the amount Democrats were willing to accept Estimated wall length: 55 miles - Shapiro says the bill funds roughly this amount of construction Amazon NYC incentive package: $3 billion - Tax breaks and incentives that activists opposed Amazon jobs at stake: 25,000 jobs - Projected jobs tied to the New York campus Hate-crime/social media interactions for Kamala Harris: 14.4 million on Twitter; 8.3 million on Instagram - Reported as indicators of her strength in the 2020 field Bernie Sanders Facebook engagements: 22.1 million - Used to show Sanders remains strong on Facebook despite other weaknesses Harris Facebook interactions: 2.4 million - Compared against Sanders and Warren Warren Facebook interactions: 2.3 million - Shows her trailing Sanders on engagement California Democratic primary poll for Biden and Harris: 26% each - Shapiro cites poll showing a tie in California Bernie Sanders California poll share: 20% - Included in the same primary poll Beto O’Rourke California poll share: 8% - Part of the same polling snapshot Elizabeth Warren California poll share: 7% - Part of the same polling snapshot Cory Booker California poll share: 3% - Part of the same polling snapshot Kirsten Gillibrand California poll share: 1% - Shown as near the bottom of the field Employer-sponsored health insurance coverage: about 66% - Used in discussion of U.S. healthcare structure Government share of U.S. healthcare spending: 49% - Shapiro notes the system is heavily subsidized already Share of world medical patents: over half - Claim about U.S. dominance in medical innovation

Pivotal Quotes: "You gotta wait 48 hours for anything." — Ben Shapiro: Advice after the Smollett story and other fast-moving news cycles "It’s not sucking up to provide a good business climate" — Ben Shapiro: Argument against AOC’s characterization of Amazon incentives and the NYC backlash "The biggest threat in America is people not understanding the American bargain" — Ben Shapiro: From the mailbag response about domestic threats to the U.S.

Implications: Listeners are urged to distrust first-wave outrage, demand evidence before endorsing sensational claims, and view executive power expansion skeptically. The episode frames left-wing activism as economically and institutionally destructive while warning that today’s precedents will shape future presidencies.