Ep. 741 - Eat The Press

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on Trump’s posture amid the Mueller report, his self-defeating public feuds, and the broader media bias Shapiro argues shapes political narratives. It also covers trigger warnings and gender-law overreach, Democratic primary polling and candidate positioning, and a critique of elite schooling and union politics in New York.

Main Topics: Mueller report and Trump’s political positioning (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro argues the prolonged Mueller inquiry may end up helping Trump if it yields no direct collusion evidence, but that Trump risks squandering the advantage by generating distracting controversies. Trump’s feuds with John McCain and George Conway (Priority: 5/5): The host criticizes Trump for attacking dead or peripheral targets, saying the insults are unhelpful, counterproductive, and beneath the presidency—even when some underlying criticism is valid. Media bias, social media, and press credibility (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro says major media and tech institutions are structurally left-leaning and selectively frame events, citing CNN’s Parkland town hall award and biased coverage of Christchurch/New Zealand. Trigger warnings and censorship politics (Priority: 4/5): He discusses new research suggesting trigger warnings are ineffective, then links that campus culture to broader legal and social coercion around gender identity and speech norms. Democratic primary dynamics and rising Kamala Harris (Priority: 4/5): The segment reviews polling and candidate coalitions, arguing Harris is gaining momentum while Biden remains uncertain, Bernie is capped, and Beto and Warren have weaknesses. Education, selective schools, and racial outcomes (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro critiques New York City attacks on specialized schools like Stuyvesant, arguing that standards-based admissions—not racism—explain the demographic composition and academic success.

Key Arguments: A Mueller report that fails to show collusion would allow Trump to claim vindication and use years of coverage as evidence of media overreach. Trump weakens his own political standing by keeping old feuds alive, especially his attacks on John McCain and George Conway. The press is biased in both tone and selection; it frames stories to fit left-leaning narratives and amplifies some crimes while downplaying others. Trigger warnings do not help trauma survivors and may be either useless or counterproductive by making people more primed to feel distressed. Western discourse increasingly treats speech disagreements, especially on gender, as punishable offenses rather than debate, which Shapiro says is dangerous. Kamala Harris is emerging as a serious contender because she can consolidate both mainstream Democratic support and the party’s more intersectional wing. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren struggle to connect with black voters, while Harris and Booker appear better positioned in that lane. Selective public schools should maintain admissions standards; demographic disparities do not prove racism when the schools’ Asian-majority composition reflects performance-based selection and family educational investment. Democratic attacks on merit-based schools are presented as an excuse to avoid fixing failing non-elite public schools and to protect union power.

Data Points: Amazon ranking of Shapiro’s book: #1 nonfiction political book in the world; #3 overall on Amazon - He cites strong sales for The Right Side of History during the episode ExpressVPN offer: 3 months free with a one-year package - Sponsor promotion Stamps.com discount: $5 off every first-class stamp and up to 40% off Priority Mail - Sponsor promotion Honey user base: Over 10 million users - Sponsor promotion Trigger warning study size: 6 experiments - New research on trigger warnings and exposure to disturbing material Trump approval/political issue: No direct collusion evidence cited - Shapiro’s discussion of Mueller report prospects CNN poll: Joe Biden: 28% - Poll cited in Democratic primary discussion CNN poll: Bernie Sanders: 20% - Poll cited in Democratic primary discussion CNN poll: Kamala Harris: 12% - Poll cited in Democratic primary discussion CNN poll: Beto O’Rourke: 11% - Poll cited in Democratic primary discussion CNN poll: Elizabeth Warren: 8% - Poll cited in Democratic primary discussion Emerson poll: Joe Biden: 26% - Follow-up polling showing tighter race Emerson poll: Bernie Sanders: 26% - Follow-up polling showing tighter race Emerson poll: Kamala Harris: 12% - Follow-up polling showing stability for Harris Emerson poll: Beto O’Rourke: 11% - Follow-up polling showing middle-tier support Emerson poll: Elizabeth Warren: 8% - Follow-up polling showing lower support Stuyvesant freshman seats: 895 - Selective NYC high school admissions Black students offered admission to Stuyvesant: 7 - Used to argue against claims of systemic racism in admissions Stuyvesant Asian enrollment: 66% - Selective school demographic composition Bronx High School of Science Asian enrollment: 58% - Selective school demographic composition Brooklyn Technical High School Asian enrollment: 48% - Selective school demographic composition Marijuana arrests in 2017: More arrests for marijuana possession than all violent-crime arrests combined - Cited in Corey Booker criticism of Democratic marijuana rhetoric

Pivotal Quotes: "the president will take the findings and run off them rather than against them by painting the special counsel as an example of failed government overreach" — Ben Shapiro: On the possible political effect of the Mueller report if it does not implicate Trump directly "just stop your face from opening and sounds from coming out, dude" — Ben Shapiro: Criticizing Trump’s tendency to create needless controversies through public comments "I believe we need a constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to vote to every single citizen and to guarantee that vote gets counted." — Elizabeth Warren: Her argument for abolishing the Electoral College

Implications: Shapiro’s message is that conservatives benefit most when Trump stays disciplined and media bias is exposed with evidence, but lose ground when he fuels distractions. The Democratic field appears fluid, with Harris potentially benefiting from coalition politics while merit-vs-equity fights intensify in education and speech regulation.