Ep. 875 - Turkish Non-Delight

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode centers on Trump’s abrupt Syria withdrawal decision and its consequences for Kurdish allies, ISIS containment, and U.S. credibility, while also covering Trump’s tax-return legal fight, growing impeachment scrutiny, and Elizabeth Warren’s rise over Joe Biden in the 2020 race. Shapiro argues criticism of Trump on Syria is justified, even as he faults left-wing hypocrisy on foreign policy and taxes.

Main Topics: U.S. withdrawal from northern Syria (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro condemns Trump’s decision to pull U.S. forces back and effectively clear the way for Turkey to attack Kurdish allies, calling it morally troubling, strategically foolish, and dangerous for ISIS containment. Trump–Erdogan relations and Turkish ambitions (Priority: 5/5): The segment argues Turkey under Erdogan is authoritarian and anti-Kurdish, and that Trump’s signaling of withdrawal may embolden Ankara to act unilaterally in Syria. Republican backlash and foreign-policy debate (Priority: 4/5): Lindsey Graham, Nikki Haley, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, and Pentagon officials are cited as opposing the move; Shapiro emphasizes that criticizing Trump is appropriate when policy is bad. Impeachment inquiry and Ukraine documents (Priority: 4/5): The show discusses House subpoenas and document requests related to the Ukraine aid controversy, with Shapiro arguing Democrats are stretching the inquiry and that intent is central to any alleged wrongdoing. Trump tax-return litigation (Priority: 3/5): A federal judge rejected Trump’s bid to block a Manhattan subpoena for his tax returns; Shapiro frames the case as a politically motivated fishing expedition while noting the unresolved constitutional issue. 2020 Democratic primary shift toward Elizabeth Warren (Priority: 3/5): Warren is described as edging Biden in polling and fundraising momentum, while Bernie Sanders fades; Shapiro says Warren may be vulnerable because Trump is highly effective at damaging opponents. Tax policy and income-tax fairness (Priority: 3/5): Shapiro disputes a New York Times-style claim that the rich pay lower taxes than ordinary Americans, arguing headline statistics ignore income-tax burdens and that the top earners already shoulder most federal income tax.

Key Arguments: Trump’s Syria move is a betrayal of Kurdish allies who helped defeat ISIS and have repeatedly been abandoned by the U.S. Handing northern Syria to Erdogan risks empowering an Islamist authoritarian regime and destabilizing the region. Criticism of Trump is warranted because foreign-policy blunders can cause real-world harm and embolden adversaries. The Iraq/Syria history shows a recurring pattern: the U.S. encourages Kurdish cooperation, then fails to protect them when pressure rises. The impeachment inquiry should not be treated as proof of guilt; Democrats still need to establish intent, not just a politically convenient narrative. The tax-return case is a likely partisan fishing expedition, even if legal questions about presidential immunity remain unresolved. Elizabeth Warren’s rise may reflect both her positioning as a corruption fighter and Biden’s decline, but Trump is well-suited to attack her. Claims that the rich pay lower taxes are misleading because they rely on effective rates that ignore who actually pays most federal income tax.

Data Points: U.S. troops in northeastern Syria: 1,000 - White House said about 1,000 U.S. troops were operating there as of last month. Trump tax returns sought: 8 years - Manhattan prosecutors sought eight years of Trump personal and corporate tax returns. Top 20% share of U.S. income tax: 87% - Shapiro cites this as evidence that higher earners pay the vast majority of income tax. Households with income of $150,000+ share of total income tax: 87% - Used to argue the tax burden is highly concentrated at the top. Households with income of $150,000+ share of national income: 52% - Shown alongside their 87% share of income tax. Tax rate on richest 400 households: 23% - Shapiro cites the statistic and argues it is misleading without broader tax context. Tax rate on richest 400 households in 1950: 70% - Used in the discussion of declining historical effective tax rates. Tax rate on richest 400 households in 1980: 47% - Used in the discussion of declining historical effective tax rates. Bernie Sanders polling: 10% - He is described as having fallen to 10 percent in the cited poll. Elizabeth Warren polling: 27% - October IBD/TIPP poll places Warren at 27. Joe Biden polling: 26% - October IBD/TIPP poll places Biden at 26. Warren vs. Trump head-to-head: 48% to 46% - In the cited poll, Warren leads Trump narrowly. Biden fundraising in Q3: $15.2 million - Shapiro notes Biden lagged in third-quarter fundraising. Warren fundraising in Q3: $25 million - Warren raised more than Biden in the third quarter.

Pivotal Quotes: "This is just the latest iteration of a common pattern, which is that we all sound off when it's time to help the Kurds. And then the minute that it becomes not time to help the Kurds, everybody runs screaming for the exits." — Ben Shapiro: His core critique of U.S. abandonment of Kurdish allies in Syria. "The President's decision to abandon our Kurd allies in the face of an assault by Turkey is a betrayal. It says that America is an unreliable ally." — Mitt Romney: Quoted as Republican criticism of Trump’s Syria decision. "He says this court finds aspects of such a doctrine repugnant to the nation's governmental structure and constitutional values." — Ben Shapiro quoting the judge: Discussing the ruling rejecting Trump’s bid to shield tax returns.

Implications: The Syria episode may damage U.S. credibility with allies and embolden adversaries, while impeachment and tax fights intensify the legal-political pressure on Trump. Warren’s momentum suggests Democrats are consolidating around an alternative to Biden.