Bulwark Takes: Daily Wire in Crisis as Boss Ousted Amid Chaos. Trump Win To Blame? Release Date: March 20, 2025

Hosts:

• Sam Stein – Managing Editor at The Bulwark
• Will Sommer – Author of False Flag and contributor to The Bulwark

1. Recent Changes at Daily Wire

The episode opens with Sam Stein introducing Will Sommer to discuss significant developments at the Daily Wire, a prominent conservative media empire founded by Ben Shapiro. The primary focus is the unexpected resignation of Jeremy Boreing, co-CEO and one of the original founders.

Quote Highlight:

"Jeremy Boring is one of the guys who co-founded the Daily Wire with Ben Shapiro... he was really the guy in charge and in many ways sort of like the future of the brand, if you will."
— Will Sommer [00:47]

Boreing's departure was sudden, shifting from co-CEO to an advisory role focused on creative projects and a monthly podcast. Despite previous announcements about ambitious plans to potentially sell the company or elevate its status akin to major media outlets, the abrupt exit suggests underlying issues within the organization.

Quote Highlight:

"We can't wait to see what he does next."
— Ben Shapiro [02:17]

Sam Stein interprets Shapiro's remarks as a means for Boreing to exit gracefully, hinting at possible internal conflicts not disclosed in official statements.

2. Breakdown of Daily Wire's History and Influence

Will Sommer provides a comprehensive overview of the Daily Wire's rise as a significant player in conservative media. Founded by Ben Shapiro, the platform expanded to include influential figures like Michael Knowles and Matt Walsh, who produced high-grossing documentaries such as "They Are What Is a Woman" and "Am I Racist?"

Quote Highlight:

"The Daily Wire has really been sort of the breakout digital media success story of the conservative movement."
— Will Sommer [02:54]

The organization not only focused on political content but also aspired to influence culture at large, aiming to become the right-wing equivalent of Netflix with ventures into streaming and children’s programming.

3. The Role and Controversy of Candace Owens

A significant portion of the discussion centers on Candace Owens, a dynamic yet controversial personality within the Daily Wire ecosystem. Owens initially rose to prominence through partnerships with high-profile celebrities and her association with the Daily Wire boosted her profile as a prominent podcaster and YouTuber.

Quote Highlight:

"Candace Owens... first hung out with Kanye and then the Daily Wire picked her up and really made her."
— Will Sommer [04:37]

However, Owens' relationship with the Daily Wire deteriorated due to her increasingly critical stance on Israel and promotion of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, which clashed with the organization's pro-Israel stance spearheaded by Ben Shapiro and Jeremy Boreing.

Quote Highlight:

"Now she's maybe best known on YouTube for believing that the French president's wife is trans."
— Will Sommer [05:38]

This ideological rift contributed to internal tensions, culminating in Owens and Shapiro becoming public adversaries, further destabilizing the Daily Wire's leadership structure.

4. Trends in Conservative Media and Their Impact

Sam Stein and Will Sommer delve into broader trends affecting conservative media, emphasizing the shift towards personality-driven content. The transition from unified platforms to individual-centric media channels has fragmented the landscape, making it challenging for established entities like the Daily Wire to maintain cohesion and influence.

Quote Highlight:

"Conservative media specifically is going way more towards the Nick Fuentes direct to camera personality driven style."
— Sam Stein [06:49]

This personalization, coupled with low barriers to entry for content creation, has led to a proliferation of voices competing for attention, diluting the Daily Wire's dominance and making internal unity more difficult to sustain.

Quote Highlight:

"These guys are kind of older school even, even Shapiro, who's relatively young, but he's kind of like a Ted Cruz type of guy."
— Will Sommer [10:35]

The comparison underscores a generational and stylistic shift within the movement, where newer, more informal formats resonate better with audiences than traditional, structured programming.

5. The Pen Dragons Series and Its Role in Jeremy Boreing's Departure

A pivotal factor in Boreing's exit is his ambitious project, the Pen Dragons series—a fantasy saga set in Roman-era Britain. Intended as a flagship cultural product for the Daily Wire, the project's high costs and logistical challenges may have strained the company's resources and leadership dynamics.

Quote Highlight:

"Jeremy Boreing has been... obsessed with a fantasy series called the Pen Dragons, the Pendragon Cycle."
— Will Sommer [10:51]

The extravagant production, involving large crews, international filming locations, and complex logistics, seemingly did not yield the anticipated returns or recognition, leading to questions about the sustainability of such ventures within the company's financial framework.

Quote Highlight:

"They were in their streaming ambitions. Jeremy Boreing was able to become, not just like to finance this, but he is the director and the creator of it."
— Will Sommer [11:04]

The project's delays and unmet expectations likely contributed to the decision for Boreing to step down, as maintaining such high-cost endeavors without clear success can create significant pressure on leadership and organizational stability.

6. Implications and Future Outlook

The episode concludes by reflecting on the implications of Boreing's departure for the Daily Wire and the broader conservative media landscape. The internal turmoil at a major conservative platform signifies potential shifts in how right-wing media will operate moving forward, possibly leaning more towards individual personalities and diverse content formats rather than centralized, corporate structures.

Quote Highlight:

"It suggests that there's some problem at the Daily Wire that led up to this and that perhaps... there may be other issues going on."
— Will Sommer [07:44]

As the Daily Wire navigates this transition, observers will be watching closely to see whether it can adapt to the changing media environment or if it will struggle to maintain its previous influence amid rising fragmentation and internal dissent.

Conclusion

Sam Stein and Will Sommer provide a nuanced exploration of the Daily Wire's current crisis, situating it within the evolving dynamics of conservative media. The departure of Jeremy Boreing amidst high-profile internal conflicts and ambitious yet faltering projects underscores the challenges faced by established media entities in a rapidly changing landscape dominated by individual personalities and diversified content channels.

For an in-depth analysis, subscribe to False Flag by Will Sommer, available through The Bulwark.

Notable Quotes:

• "Jeremy Boring is one of the guys who co-founded the Daily Wire with Ben Shapiro... he was really the guy in charge and in many ways sort of like the future of the brand, if you will."
  — Will Sommer [00:47]

• "We can't wait to see what he does next."
  — Ben Shapiro [02:17]

• "Candace Owens... first hung out with Kanye and then the Daily Wire picked her up and really made her."
  — Will Sommer [04:37]

• "Conservative media specifically is going way more towards the Nick Fuentes direct to camera personality driven style."
  — Sam Stein [06:49]

• "Jeremy Boreing has been... obsessed with a fantasy series called the Pen Dragons, the Pendragon Cycle."
  — Will Sommer [10:51]

Stay tuned to The Bulwark for more in-depth analyses and insightful discussions on the ever-evolving media landscape.