Ep. 725 - Who Cares About The Future?

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on three major stories: Michael Cohen’s Hill testimony against Trump, the Senate’s failure to pass a bill protecting infants born alive after botched abortions, and Bernie Sanders’ CNN interview defending socialism, Medicare for All, and his view of Venezuela. Shapiro argues Democrats are becoming politically extreme, the media is misframing key issues, and Trump remains vulnerable mainly when public attention returns to him.

Main Topics: Michael Cohen’s congressional testimony (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro previews Cohen’s expected testimony accusing Trump of misconduct, including the Stormy Daniels payment and alleged financial manipulation, while emphasizing Cohen’s credibility problems and personal incentives to attack Trump. Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (Priority: 5/5): The episode devotes extensive attention to the Senate’s failure to advance legislation requiring medical care for infants born alive during abortions. Shapiro argues Democrats have no coherent justification for opposing what he frames as basic infant protection. Bernie Sanders on CNN (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro critiques Sanders’ defense of socialism, Medicare for All, free college, and preschool, arguing Sanders avoids explaining costs and conceals the true tax burden of his agenda. Venezuela and democratic socialism (Priority: 4/5): Sanders’ reluctance to call Nicolás Maduro a dictator is contrasted with the Trump administration’s position. Shapiro uses Venezuela to argue the left is still too sympathetic to socialist regimes. Trump’s political exposure and media attention (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro argues Trump performs better when not dominating the news cycle and that Cohen’s testimony mainly matters because it shifts media focus back onto Trump rather than because it will create immediate legal jeopardy. Culture-war commentary and media criticism (Priority: 3/5): The host criticizes AOC’s response to a Mussolini quote, NBC/AP coverage of transgender athletes, and what he sees as media and progressive intellectual dishonesty across multiple issues.

Key Arguments: Michael Cohen is deeply unreliable because he has lied to Congress before and has strong incentives to embellish or fabricate stories to rehabilitate his image and sell books. The Stormy Daniels hush-money issue may matter legally, but the strongest federal prosecutorial threat to Trump has been the Southern District of New York, not Mueller. The Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is, in Shapiro’s view, morally straightforward: if a baby is born alive, it should receive ordinary medical care regardless of the circumstances of birth. Democratic opposition to that bill is presented as evidence of ideological extremism because the bill explicitly exempts the mother and targets only neglect or killing of a born-alive infant. Bernie Sanders’ policy proposals are financially vague; Shapiro argues they would require broad tax increases, not merely taxing Amazon or “the rich.” Sanders’ claim that Medicare for All would preserve access to any doctor or hospital is, according to Shapiro, false because single-payer systems create rationing, waiting lines, and reduced choice. Sanders’ refusal to call Maduro a dictator is used to illustrate the left’s lingering sympathy for socialist experiments even when they collapse into authoritarianism. Media outlets are portrayed as minimizing conservative concerns and framing Republican objections as opportunistic rather than substantive, especially on abortion and transgender sports coverage.

Data Points: Stormy Daniels payment: $130,000 - Amount Michael Cohen reportedly paid to Stephanie Clifford in 2016 to keep her silent about an alleged encounter with Trump. Senate vote on Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act: 53 to 44 - The Senate vote failed to reach the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Filibuster threshold: 60 votes - Number needed in the Senate for the bill to advance. First 2,000 entrants: free concealed carry guide - USCCA promotion mentioned at the start of the episode. AR-15 giveaway: 5 free chances - Listeners were told they could enter for five chances to win a new AR-15. Movement Watches starting price: $95 - Advertised price for the sponsor’s watches. Movement Watches discount: 15% off - Promo code offer at mvmt.com/shapiro. Daily Wire subscription: $9.99/month or $99/year - Membership pricing mentioned during the ad read. Bernie Sanders tax example: $5 billion in profits - Shapiro cites Sanders referencing Amazon’s profits as a funding rationale. Bernie Sanders proposed minimum wage: $15/hour - Sanders’ stated national living wage goal in the CNN interview. Rally/organization scale: 3.8 million people - Shapiro references the number of Convention of States supporters.

Pivotal Quotes: "Why should we believe you today when you testify before Congress? You lied before Congress last time." — Sarah Sanders: White House response to Michael Cohen’s planned testimony. "The Senate has voted down Senator Sasse's extremist anti-science bill." — NARAL Pro-Choice America: Shapiro cites this tweet to criticize abortion-rights opposition to the Born Alive bill. "What will change in their plans is the color of their card." — Bernie Sanders: Sanders’ CNN explanation of Medicare for All and private insurance.

Implications: The episode argues that Trump’s legal and political risk depends heavily on media focus, Democrats are moving toward positions that could hurt them electorally, and Sanders-style socialism remains vulnerable when pressed on costs, Venezuela, and practical consequences.