Podcast Summary: Ben Shapiro Reacts to Michelle Obama X Call Her Daddy

Podcast: The Ben Shapiro Show
Host: Ben Shapiro (The Daily Wire)
Episode Date: January 31, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ben Shapiro critiques Michelle Obama’s appearance on the popular podcast "Call Her Daddy," hosted by Alex Cooper. The discussion centers on themes of women's empowerment, objectification, patriarchal norms, fashion standards in the workplace, and gender-based social expectations. Shapiro offers a stern, often mocking, conservative response to the perspectives shared by Obama and Cooper, questioning their legitimacy as "victims" and challenging modern feminist narratives.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Michelle Obama on "Call Her Daddy" and Women's Empowerment

• Shapiro sets the tone with his signature sarcasm, highlighting the perceived contrast between the hosts' privileged statuses and their discussions on victimization.
• Shapiro Quote [00:29]:

  "It is hard to think of two people less victimized by the patriarchy than Alex Cooper and Michelle Obama, but I guess here we are."

2. Objectification and Fashion Commentary

• Alex Cooper [00:43]: Opens discussion about women’s daily objectification and the mental work women do to adapt and thrive in patriarchal settings.

• Michelle Obama [01:28]:

  "We have to think a lot more. I mean, it's just exhausting... To strike that balance and to be thoughtful about what messages we're sending, giving, receiving. Men don't do that."

• Ben Shapiro [03:24]: Ridicules the idea that men obsess over women’s professional attire, claiming that women primarily dress to impress other women, not men.

• Notable Shapiro Quote [04:02]:

  "As long as you are dressed not like a complete schlub or like a complete prostitute or gigolo, no one is going to care... The women dress for women."

3. Allegations of Hypocrisy

• Shapiro notes that even in the context of a conversation critical of objectification, Cooper immediately compliments Obama's outfit.

• Alex Cooper [05:04]:

  "Talk to me about your outfit. How did you pick it?"

• Ben Shapiro [05:16]:

  "I've had many women on my program. I have never once a single time commented on their outfit."

4. Women Navigating Male-Dominated Industries

• Cooper confesses to wearing tighter clothes to get more attention early in her career.

• Alex Cooper [06:46]:

  "When I was a younger girl, I did dress a specific way because I knew I was in a male dominated industry and I knew I would have a better time if I wore a tighter shirt because the guy would maybe give me more attention."

• Shapiro responds skeptically:

  "She took advantage of it, but she's not responsible for any of it... What a victim she is." [07:31]

5. Surname Tradition and Gender

• The conversation shifts to the tradition of women taking their husband's last name.

• Alex Cooper/Michelle Obama, [08:07–08:52]:

  • Discuss how women are expected to change names post-marriage while men are not.
  • Michelle Obama jokes about trying "Michelle Robinson Obama" and abandoning it because it was cumbersome.

• Shapiro calls out the practice as rooted in biological family tracing and again dismisses the victim narrative.

• Shapiro [09:01]:

  "Michelle Obama is only famous because her last name is Obama and not Robinson... Why are we pretending that this isn't the case?"

6. Victimhood, Platforms, and Divisiveness

• Obama emphasizes the responsibility of people with influential platforms to avoid spreading division.

• Michelle Obama [10:47]:

  "The words you say move people and you can move them to productivity, or you can move them to division, you can move them to hate."

• Shapiro agrees generally but finds it ironic given his perception of Obama as a divisive figure.

  • Points out that women are a majority of the electorate and college graduates, questioning the notion they are oppressed.
  • Shapiro [13:06]:

    "Maybe you should stop running crappy candidates like Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris. I don't know. It's a thought."

7. Female Presidents and Sexism

• Obama reflects on lingering sexism and doubts about following a woman president.

• Michelle Obama [12:12]:

  "There are people alive today... that couldn't marry the opposite race, couldn't love who you loved. I mean, this is recent history... whether people really feel yet that they can follow a woman as president."

• Shapiro counters with statistics on female voters outnumbering males and questions the argument's validity.

8. On Barack Obama Running for a Third Term

• Alex Cooper asks if Barack Obama would run for a third term if legally allowed.

• Michelle Obama [14:03]:

  "I hope not, Michelle. I would actively work against that... I do believe that eight years is enough."

• Shapiro [14:54]: Applauds this as the only rational take from the interview:

  "Whoa. Michelle saying a rational thing there. Well, good for her."

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Ben Shapiro mocking victimhood narratives:

  "Everyone is a victim. Everyone in the world is a victim, including people who literally have benefited from the patriarchy." [09:01]

• Alex Cooper admits using looks for career advancement:

  "I knew I would have a better time if I wore a tighter shirt because the guy would maybe give me more attention." [06:46]

• Michelle Obama on the power and responsibility of speech:

  "With a platform, it's a responsibility... you can move [people] to division, you can move them to hate." [10:47]

• Shapiro on fashion standards:

  "Ain't nobody sitting around worrying about what Michelle Obama's wearing, other than like the fashion critic at the LA Times." [04:01]

• Shapiro’s sardonic conclusion:

  "That is a synopsis of what happens when you take Michelle Obama and put her on a sex podcast and then they don't talk about anything interesting." [14:54]

Key Timestamps

• [00:00–01:44]: Ben Shapiro introduces the Michelle Obama/Call Her Daddy interview and the topic of female empowerment.
• [02:28–03:24]: Discussion of workplace fashion and gendered standards, with Shapiro's critique.
• [05:04–05:16]: Outfit compliment and Shapiro's reflection on media standards.
• [06:46–07:31]: Alex Cooper discusses her past choices in male-dominated industries.
• [08:07–09:01]: Surname tradition in marriage; Obama's personal story and Shapiro's rebuttal.
• [10:47–11:35]: Obama's views on using platforms responsibly; Shapiro reacts.
• [12:12–13:06]: Conversation about sexism in politics and the possibility of a female president.
• [14:03–14:54]: Michelle Obama on Obama not running for a third term—Shapiro agrees.

Summary Tone

Ben Shapiro maintains his trademark fast-paced, critical, and sardonic style throughout the episode, using humor and exaggeration to highlight what he sees as the contradictions and flaws in Michelle Obama and Alex Cooper’s arguments about victimhood, empowerment, and gendered expectations.

This episode is a quintessential Shapiro takedown: acerbic, dismissive of mainstream feminist commentary, and laced with asides and pop-culture references. For listeners seeking cultural critique from a conservative lens, the episode delivers pointed skepticism of contemporary narratives about female empowerment and victimization, specifically as expressed by two high-profile women in media and politics.