Ep. 900 - Leaning Left And Letting Fly

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode juxtaposes a comedic opening about Eric Swalwell’s on-air “fart” controversy with a longer political analysis arguing Democrats are drifting too far left in 2020. Shapiro cites Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Biden, Booker, Buttigieg, and Castro as evidence of a party split between moderates and radicals, while criticizing litmus tests on abortion, Sanders/Warren economics, impeachment theater, and “cancel culture” applied to Paul Gauguin.

Main Topics: Eric Swalwell/MSNBC fart controversy (Priority: 3/5): The show opens with extended mockery of a suspected on-air fart during an MSNBC interview, turning it into a recurring joke about media spin, denials, and absurdity in political coverage. Democratic Party ideological split (Priority: 5/5): Shapiro argues the 2020 Democratic field is divided between moderates and the progressive left, with Obama and Rahm Emanuel warning that the party risks losing if it embraces radical positions. Abortion litmus test in Democratic politics (Priority: 5/5): The Democratic Attorneys General Association’s decision to require explicit support for abortion rights is presented as evidence of increasingly rigid left-wing purity tests that could hurt Democrats in competitive states. Sanders/Warren economic radicalism (Priority: 4/5): The episode criticizes Bernie Sanders’s financial transaction tax and Elizabeth Warren’s anti–private equity politics as economically harmful, hypocritical, and based on resentment toward wealth rather than growth. Impeachment hearings as optics (Priority: 4/5): Shapiro argues testimony from Vindman and others is politically useful for Democrats but mostly irrelevant to proving criminal conduct, framing the hearings as an image campaign rather than a legal case. Trump settlement policy shift on Israel (Priority: 3/5): The administration’s announcement that Israeli West Bank settlements are not per se illegal under international law is praised as a reality-based reversal of prior U.S. policy. Cancel culture and Paul Gauguin (Priority: 2/5): Shapiro criticizes the New York Times for suggesting Gauguin should be “canceled” posthumously, warning that judging all art solely through the creator’s misconduct would erase much of cultural history.

Key Arguments: Democrats are moving too far left for swing voters, and even Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel are warning that radicalism could hand Trump re-election. Moderate Democrats like Biden, Buttigieg, Booker, and possibly Bloomberg/Patrick are more electorally viable than Sanders, Warren, or Castro-style progressivism. An abortion-on-demand litmus test for Democratic AGs is politically self-defeating in red and purple states, especially after Louisiana’s pro-life Democrat John Bel Edwards won reelection. Bernie Sanders’s brokerage tax would hurt investment, retirement savings, and growth without solving inequality. Elizabeth Warren’s anti–private equity rhetoric ignores that private equity often supplies capital, rescues failing firms, supports jobs, and generates tax revenue. Impeachment witness testimony is being used primarily to create optics of Trump misconduct, but firsthand evidence of a crime is lacking except in future testimony like Sondland’s. The Trump administration’s settlement policy better reflects historical and legal realities than prior U.S. claims that settlements are inherently illegal. Canceling historical artists like Gauguin because of personal misconduct is intellectually inconsistent and threatens the broader appreciation of art and culture.

Data Points: Elizabeth Warren nomination odds: 29% - Shapiro says Warren’s odds fell from above 50% in mid-October to 29%. Joe Biden nomination odds: 24% - Shapiro cites Biden’s rise in the Democratic nomination race. Pete Buttigieg nomination odds: 19% - Used to show the field narrowing and moderates remaining viable. Democratic AG incumbents: 27 - New York Times report cited by Shapiro about the AG association’s abortion endorsement rule. Pro-life Democratic AGs in office: 1 - Jim Hood of Mississippi is identified as the only pro-life Democrat AG among 27. U.S. private equity sector workers: 8.8 million - From the Ernst & Young/American Investment Council report criticized by Sanders/Warren. U.S. private equity sector wages and benefits: $600 billion - Reported as compensation supported by private equity activity. Average private equity sector worker pay: $71,000 - Average wages and benefits in 2018 cited from the report. U.S. private equity value added: $1.1 trillion - The sector’s contribution to U.S. production/GDP in 2018. Private equity sector share of U.S. GDP: ~5% - Reported share of gross domestic product in 2018. Taxes paid by private equity sector: $174 billion - Federal, state, and local taxes paid in 2018 according to the report. Newark graduation rate: 77% - Cory Booker cites Newark’s graduation rate rising from 50% a decade earlier. Newark graduation rate a decade earlier: 50% - Used by Booker to support charter school and school reform arguments. First month of Keeps: Free - Advertisement for hair-loss treatment. Omaha Steaks offer price: $69.99 - Advertised holiday gift package price. Omaha Steaks filet mignons: 4 six-ounce bacon-wrapped filets - Part of the holiday gift package. Omaha Steaks pork chops: 4 - Part of the holiday gift package. Omaha Steaks burgers: 4 - Part of the holiday gift package.

Pivotal Quotes: "The average American doesn't think we have to completely tear down the system and remake it." — Barack Obama: Obama’s warning to Democrats that they are drifting too far left. "We are going to be the ones right out in front." — Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum: Describing the Democratic AG group’s activist role in reproductive-rights politics. "The hard truth is there will never be a judicial resolution to the conflict." — Mike Pompeo: On the Trump administration’s reversal of the blanket illegality claim on Israeli settlements.

Implications: Shapiro frames 2020 as a fight for the Democratic Party’s soul: moderation may be electorally safer, but activist pressure is pulling the party toward purity tests and socialism, with consequences for elections, governance, and culture.