Ep. 833 - The Second Cold War

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on Ben Shapiro’s defense of conservatives against media claims that Trump and the right are broadly responsible for the El Paso massacre, while arguing the media suppresses contradictory facts. It then shifts to Democratic gun-control proposals, criticizes their constitutionality, and closes with concern over Trump’s China trade war destabilizing markets and confusing economic policy.

Main Topics: Media narrative tying conservatism to white supremacy (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro argues journalists and left-leaning commentators are unfairly linking the El Paso shooting and white supremacist violence to Trump and mainstream conservatism, despite conservatives condemning such attacks. Press backlash over Trump’s condemnation of racism (Priority: 5/5): He highlights the New York Times headline dispute and CNN/Don Lemon commentary as examples of the media rejecting or downplaying Trump’s explicit anti-white-supremacy statements because they conflict with the preferred narrative. Dayton shooter politics and asymmetry in coverage (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro says the Dayton shooter’s apparent far-left views were quickly deemed off-limits by critics, contrasting that with how the media would treat right-wing affiliations in comparable cases. Democratic gun-control responses (Priority: 4/5): He reviews proposals from Warren, Harris, and O’Rourke, arguing they amount to executive overreach or gun confiscation rather than workable policy and would face constitutional problems. U.S.-China trade war and market instability (Priority: 4/5): The segment shifts to the stock market drop, China’s currency devaluation, and Trump’s escalating tariffs, with Shapiro warning that the administration has not clearly explained its strategy or costs. Minimum wage consequences (Priority: 2/5): In a shorter closing segment, he cites New York City as evidence that raising the minimum wage leads to reduced hours, fewer jobs, and higher prices.

Key Arguments: The left is using mass shootings to build a false narrative that Trump and conservatism are broadly responsible for white supremacist violence. Trump’s 2015-2016 flirtation with the alt-right was wrong, but since then he has repeatedly and explicitly condemned white supremacy. Political violence is not uniquely right-wing; violent rhetoric and acts exist across the political spectrum. The New York Times and other outlets are editorializing rather than reporting when they frame headlines to fit preferred political conclusions. The Dayton shooter’s apparent far-left politics matter if the media is going to insist on examining ideology, but motive should not be assumed without evidence. Democratic gun proposals discussed in the episode rely on executive action, filibuster elimination, or confiscatory buyback schemes that exceed constitutional authority. Trump’s trade war with China may have strategic merit only if clearly explained; otherwise it looks like market chaos that hurts U.S. consumers and farmers. Raising minimum wage in New York City predictably caused businesses to cut staff, reduce shifts, and raise prices. Because China is an authoritarian state and Trump faces reelection, trade escalation can create economic pain without a clear public mandate or roadmap.

Data Points: Dow Jones drop: about 1,600 points over a week - Ben Shapiro describes the stock market decline amid escalating U.S.-China trade tensions Worst market day: 760 points down - He notes the Dow’s biggest single-day drop of 2019 Onshore yuan level: around 7.05 per U.S. dollar - China allowed its currency to fall to an eleven-year low Tariff amount: 10% tariff on $300 billion of Chinese imports - Trump announced tariffs scheduled to take effect September 1 Minimum wage level: $15 per hour - New York City’s wage increase discussed in the closing segment Employer response: cut staff, eliminate work shifts, and raise prices - Wall Street Journal report on New York City businesses after the wage hike Hair-loss treatment pricing: starting at $10 per month - Keeps ad read during the show ZipRecruiter hiring stat: 4 out of 5 employers - ZipRecruiter claims quality candidate matches within the first day Honey savings stat: $185,067,086 in working codes applied - Honey promotion claims total savings generated for users

Pivotal Quotes: "White supremacy, evil. White supremacist terrorism, evil, and should be fought like terrorism." — Ben Shapiro: Opening framing of the mass-shooting and white-supremacy discussion "The New York Times has admitted that their original headline was a bad headline." — Ben Shapiro: Discussion of the paper’s reversal from 'Trump urges unity versus racism' to a different headline "The most effective gun control measures have been gun licenses and mandatory buyback programs, like they did in Australia." — Beto O'Rourke: Shapiro cites O'Rourke advocating gun buybacks as part of the Democratic response

Implications: The episode frames the 2019 mass-shooting debate as a battle over narrative control, warns of economic and constitutional fallout from activist policy responses, and suggests the trade war and gun-control fights may shape 2020 politics and markets.