Ep. 719 - Why We Buy Hoaxes

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on Ben Shapiro’s attack on media and left-wing narratives after the Jussie Smollett hoax unraveled, using it to argue that journalists and Democrats eagerly embrace stories that fit anti-Trump assumptions. He also criticizes progressive reactions to Trump’s border wall, Amazon’s exit from New York, and media sympathy for anti-Israel rhetoric, while briefly pivoting to lighter segments and personal recommendations.

Main Topics: Jussie Smollett hoax and media credulity (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro argues that the alleged hate crime was implausible from the start and that the media rushed to validate it because it matched their preferred narrative about Trump supporters and America. Media bias and narrative-driven journalism (Priority: 5/5): He claims outlets defended their early reporting by shifting blame to 'weaponization' by the right, rather than acknowledging errors and ideological bias in coverage. Democratic responses and identity politics (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro criticizes Democrats, Cory Booker, and commentators for treating the story as proof of a broader moral crisis even after the hoax was exposed, saying they care more about narrative than truth. Border wall and immigration politics (Priority: 4/5): The show covers Trump’s national emergency declaration, arguments over the wall, and how Democrats are moving leftward, with Shapiro saying their comparisons to the Berlin Wall are historically inverted and logically flawed. Amazon, New York City, and job creation (Priority: 3/5): He condemns New York Democrats for celebrating Amazon’s cancellation of a major expansion, calling it evidence of anti-business reflexes that hurt jobs and tax revenue. Hate crime statistics and selective outrage (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro contrasts the media’s focus on certain victim groups with what he says are higher rates of anti-Jewish hate crimes, arguing that Jewish victims are often ignored unless the crime can be tied to white supremacists or Trump. Culture, lighter commentary, and personal anecdotes (Priority: 2/5): The episode closes with a humorous TV clip, a funeral anecdote, and brief commentary on Trump’s SNL complaints and Ilhan Omar’s anti-Semitism, serving as palate-cleansers amid the political critique.

Key Arguments: The Jussie Smollett story was suspicious from the beginning because key facts made little sense, and the eventual police findings confirmed it was likely staged. The media and the left were eager to accept the story because it supported a preexisting narrative that Trump supporters are violent racists. Once a story reinforces a preferred worldview, many journalists and activists stop evaluating evidence carefully and instead defend the narrative even after it collapses. Calling the hoax proof that America is racist creates a non-falsifiable claim: if the story is true, it proves racism; if false, it still proves racism because people believed it. Democrats are moving leftward on immigration and border policy because they fear their activist base more than they fear losing moderates. The comparison between a border wall and the Berlin Wall is logically backward because one is meant to keep people out, while the other kept people in. New York City’s celebration of losing Amazon jobs shows how progressive politics can become hostile to job creation and economic growth. Hate-crime coverage is selective; Shapiro argues that anti-Jewish crimes are underreported nationally because they do not fit the prevailing media narrative. Anti-Semitism on the left, exemplified by Ilhan Omar, is treated more leniently than alleged racism on the right.

Data Points: Alleged attack time: 2 a.m. - Shapiro highlights the implausibility of Smollett’s reported timing in a Chicago polar vortex. Temperature context: Middle of a polar vortex - Used to underscore the improbability of the subway/sandwich/attack story. Potential jail time for lying to police: Up to 3 years - Shapiro says false reporting to police is a crime and could lead to jail. Jobs lost after Amazon pulled out: 25,000 - Referenced repeatedly in criticism of New York Democrats and media cheerleading. Amazon’s tax/jobs scale: Tens of thousands of jobs and major tax revenue - Presented as the economic opportunity New York rejected. Reported hate crimes in New York through Feb. 4, 2019: 42 - Compared with 19 at the same point the prior year. Reported hate crimes in New York through Feb. 4, 2018: 19 - Used to argue there was a sharp rise in hate crimes, especially anti-Semitic incidents. FBI hate-crime religious bias victims: 1,749 - Shapiro cites the 2017 FBI report on federally reported hate crimes. Anti-Jewish bias among religious hate-crime victims: 58.1% - He argues Jews are disproportionately targeted among religious hate-crime victims. Anti-Islamic bias among religious hate-crime victims: 18.6% - Referenced to compare rates across groups. Anti-Catholic bias among religious hate-crime victims: 4.3% - Included as part of the FBI hate-crime breakdown. Anti-black/African American bias among race/ethnicity/ancestry hate-crime victims: 48.6% - Used to show the distribution of racial hate-crime victimization. Anti-white bias among race/ethnicity/ancestry hate-crime victims: 17.1% - Included in the FBI statistics discussion. ExpressVPN price: Less than $7/month - Advertisement segment about protecting online privacy. Mint Mobile promo: $20 total for 3 months - Advertisement segment describing the wireless offer.

Pivotal Quotes: "it was the entire Mediterranean Sea fishy" — Ben Shapiro: Shapiro mocks the implausibility of the Jussie Smollett account. "the real problem is weaponization. Republicans pouncing." — Brian Stelter: Shapiro cites this as evidence that media criticism gets deflected away from journalistic failure. "I think it's a moral abomination. I think it's like the Berlin Wall." — AOC: Shapiro uses this quote to criticize comparisons between a border wall and the Berlin Wall.

Implications: The episode frames media trust as badly damaged when outlets prioritize ideology over verification. It also predicts intensified polarization on immigration, hate-crime discourse, and business policy as Democrats and media continue rewarding narrative consistency over factual caution.