Ep. 792 - Mexican Stand-Off

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on the Mueller/Barr fallout and the growing Democratic push for impeachment, while arguing Trump’s Mexico tariff threat is constitutionally suspect and economically counterproductive. It also examines a census citizenship-question controversy, new reporting on FBI bias in the Russia probe, allegations about MLK’s private life, and listener questions on public goods, cities, redistricting, property taxes, and Israeli voting rights.

Main Topics: Mueller Report Fallout and Impeachment Politics (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro argues William Barr acted properly by deciding there was insufficient evidence to prosecute obstruction, while Democrats and media are using Mueller’s comments to justify impeachment. He says Mueller never explicitly concluded Trump should be indicted absent DOJ rules. Trump’s Tariff Threat Against Mexico (Priority: 5/5): He criticizes Trump’s plan to impose escalating tariffs on all Mexican imports unless illegal immigration stops, calling it a misuse of presidential power, a tax on Americans, and a strategy unlikely to achieve its stated goal. Citizenship Question on the Census (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro frames the census dispute as a redistricting and apportionment fight rather than racial animus, arguing it is reasonable to ask citizenship status and that districts should not be apportioned around people who are unlawfully present. FBI Bias and the Trump-Russia Investigation (Priority: 4/5): He highlights reporting that Peter Strzok coordinated a defensive briefing while also opening the Trump-Russia investigation, using Strzok’s texts as evidence of anti-Trump bias and possible institutional corruption. Martin Luther King Jr. Allegations and Historical Memory (Priority: 3/5): He discusses reporting alleging serious misconduct by MLK, using it to argue that historical commemoration should focus on a person’s public achievements rather than pretending they were morally perfect. Mailbag: Public Goods, Cities, Property Taxes, and Israel (Priority: 3/5): Shapiro answers listener questions on why healthcare differs from police/fire services, why cities skew liberal, why he opposes property taxes, and how Israeli voting works for Arabs and Palestinians. North Korea and the Limits of Trusting Kim Jong-un (Priority: 3/5): He closes by citing reports that North Korea executed officials after the failed Hanoi summit, using it to argue that Kim Jong-un should not be trusted as a partner or source of credibility.

Key Arguments: Barr was correct to decide the obstruction evidence was insufficient; Mueller did not clearly say Trump would have been indicted absent DOJ rules. Impeachment is politically destabilizing and Democrats are being pushed toward it because their base, especially in media and Hollywood, demands it. Trump’s Mexico tariffs are likely unconstitutional in spirit, since Congress should set tariffs, and economically harmful because they function as taxes on Americans. Tariffs are a poor tool for immigration control because they hurt U.S. consumers, damage Mexico’s economy, and may even intensify migration pressures. The census citizenship question is defensible because apportionment should not count unlawful residents the same way as citizens for political representation. The FBI’s handling of the Russia probe appears compromised by anti-Trump bias, especially in light of Strzok’s texts and briefing role. Historical monuments should commemorate major public achievements, not imply approval of every private act or moral failing of the honoree. Healthcare is more like a private good than police or fire protection because it is excludable and rivalrous, though contagion can justify public-health regulation. Cities tend to lean left because dense living creates more externalities and more demand for government regulation. Property taxes are unfair because ownership should not require perpetual taxation after purchase.

Data Points: Tariff rate announced on Mexico: 5% initially, rising by 5% each month up to 25% - Trump’s threatened escalation if illegal immigration does not stop Tariff start date: June 10 - First planned levy on Mexican imports Next escalation date: July 1 - Tariffs increase from 5% to 10% if migrant flow remains unresolved Mexican exports to the U.S.: $346.5 billion - Value of goods Mexico exported to the United States last year Former federal prosecutors cited in pro-impeachment ad: Over 1,000 - Robert De Niro PSA arguing Trump should be indicted Estimated number of women MLK allegedly had relations with: At least 40 - Attributed to reporting on David J. Garrow’s research Israeli Arab population: About 1.2 million - Shapiro says this is the number of Israeli Arab citizens who can vote Arab share of Israeli voting base: About 15% to 20% - Estimate given for Arab citizens’ share in Israeli elections Canadian troops used in Dieppe raid: Mostly Canadian troops - Example of a WWII operation used to test German defenses Orthodox Jewish population ranking cited: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, then Dallas - Shapiro discusses where he would consider moving based on Orthodox community size

Pivotal Quotes: "Everyone dies, and I’m not, you know, I don’t believe in the Homeric idea that immortality comes by, you know, having odes sung about you over the centuries." — William Barr (quoted by Ben Shapiro on CBS interview): Used to illustrate Barr’s refusal to prioritize legacy over legal duty "It’s not my job to do justice. It’s my job to interpret the law." — Oliver Wendell Holmes (as recounted by Ben Shapiro): Cited to support Barr’s legalism and rejection of outcome-driven decision-making "If he were anyone else other than President of the United States, he would be in handcuffs and indicted." — Elizabeth Warren: Used by Shapiro as an example of Democratic impeachment rhetoric

Implications: The episode frames 2020 politics as a collision between impeachment messaging, executive power disputes, and constitutional process. It also signals continued conservative criticism of elite institutions, progressive identity politics, and trade interventionism.