The Ben Shapiro Show

Episode: "Do You Know About This Secret Military Game?"
Date: November 28, 2025
Host: Mary Margaret (Daily Wire), with Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy

Episode Overview

This episode steps away from Ben Shapiro’s usual solo commentary to feature Mary Margaret and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy as they attend the Secretary’s Cup—a spirited annual football game between the US Coast Guard Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy, held at Boston’s famed Fenway Park. Through lighthearted banter and serious conversation, the episode offers an insider’s look at the people, traditions, and challenges of America’s service academies, exploring themes of family, faith, and service in military and civilian life.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Secretary’s Cup – More Than a Game

• Setting the Scene: Mary Margaret opens at Fenway Park, where a festival-like atmosphere precedes the game—a major annual event for both academies, often overlooked compared to the Army-Navy rivalry.

  • “We go to Fenway park in Boston and we go to the Secretary’s cup, which is an annual game between the Coast Guard and the Merchant Marine Academy. We had a lot of fun.” (01:41)

• Significance of the Event: Secretary Duffy emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting the Merchant Marine Academy, highlighting their crucial role in national security and logistics.

  • “Our academies … don’t get as much attention, but they’re critical as part of America’s infrastructure and making sure that we can defend ourselves … the Merchant Marine Academy, our young men and women go out and make sure we have the capability of supporting the military, doing sea lifts, making sure products are moving.” (05:40)

2. The Role of Family and Personal Sacrifice

• Big Families in Politics: Duffy and Mary Margaret bond over their large families (Duffy has nine kids; Mary Margaret is one of eleven), discussing how their upbringing informs resilience and people skills.

  • “A few of the kids came with me. Got four.” (04:14)
  • “I am one of 11, number two, oldest girl. So best ones, right?” (04:18)
  • “So you know, you know I’m 10 of 11.” (04:30)

• Work-Life Balance and Priorities: Duffy reflects on stepping back from Congress to prioritize family, especially his daughter with Down syndrome.

  • “When I left, we had a little baby with Down syndrome who’s fantastic … It was great to have just more time and flexibility to be with them… As we look at our lives, as we are on our deathbeds… You think about your family and the people that are most meaningful to you. Those are our legacies, I think.” (06:34–07:11)

3. Life and Challenges at the Merchant Marine Academy

• The ‘Black Sheep’ Motif: Duffy speaks passionately about neglect and underfunding at the academy, proudly adopting the ‘black sheep’ label.

  • “This academy has been forgotten by prior secretaries. They’ve been shunned. … They are the black sheep of all the academies. Right. And sometimes when you feel a little beaten, you’re an underdog, you come back, have a little more heart, a little more energy, a little more fight.” (10:21–11:10)
  • The academy’s hardships: Four months without hot water, broken dishwashers, moldy dorms.
    • “As I came to campus as a secretary, I found out that these young midshipmen went four months. Four months without hot water ... mold in their dorms. Their dishwasher broke.” (10:39)

• Spirit and Resilience of the Midshipmen: Duffy admires the students’ refusal to grumble despite tough conditions, choosing instead to own their ‘black sheep’ status.

  • “No hot water. And they’re like, roar. You’re damn right we did. No hot water.” (11:09)

4. Mishandling, Faith, and Cultural Changes

• Infrastructure and ‘Green’ Mistakes: Duffy attributes some of the academy’s hardships to failed green energy initiatives.

  • “They had their green energy effort. They didn’t have oil boilers. They tried to move to an electric boiler, which didn’t work.” (11:52)

• Restoring Tradition and Faith: Duffy criticizes the removal of a long-standing mural of Christ and shares his enthusiasm for returning it to prominence.

  • “The last administration took that mural, which is historic. … They put it in the basement of the chapel. Shameful. And so I said, that’s bullshit. We are going to resurrect the painting of Jesus on the water …” (12:07)

5. The Mariners: Pride and Purpose

• The Student Perspective: Mariners express their passion for their work, explaining their vital, unseen role in US commerce and defense.
  • “What does it mean to you guys to be a Mariner?” (08:46)
  • “It’s everything. I mean, it’s how cargo moves around the world … we move cargo, whatever it be, cars, containers from point A to point B. We’re what puts food on your shelves.” (08:48–09:10)

6. Game Day Rivalry: Banter with Secretary Kristi Noem

• Good-Natured Smack Talk: Duffy describes his friendly wager with Secretary Noem (Coast Guard) and both trade teasing text messages.
  • “When the Merchant Marine Academy beats Coast Guard, Kristi Noem is gonna have to invite my whole team to her department in D.C. and throw a little party for them.” (05:21)
  • “Secretary Noem sent me a text and said, our secretary’s cup is too small. It needs to be bigger. And I agreed with her. And then she said, how do you know? Because it’s in my office.” (13:35)

7. Game Highlights and Victory

• The Final Minutes: Tension mounts as the score shifts rapidly; scenes from the stands and field capture the anticipation and excitement.

  • “The Mariners are winning right now, 26 to 21. Secretary Duffy is currently up in the ESPN booth.” (15:13)
  • “Coast Guards winning. They’re up 38 to the Mariners. 35 … 39, 38. Eight seconds left.” (15:49)
  • “The Mariners Kings Pointers Merchant Marine Academy up by one, kicking the Coast Guard’s rear end. 20 seconds left of victory.” (16:36)

• Celebration on the Field: The Mariners clinch the win; the students and Duffy are jubilant, with Mary Margaret describing the scene among dejected Coast Guard cadets and trash-talking Mariners.

  • “Secretary Duffy was so excited. We got to go out on the field and see all of it. It was so cool. These guys were thrilled to win.” (18:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Family Legacy

  • “As we look at our lives, as we are on our deathbeds … You think about your family and the people that are most meaningful to you. Those are our legacies.”
    —Secretary Sean Duffy, (07:03)

• On Pride in the Underdog

  • “They are the black sheep of all the academies. Right. And sometimes when you feel a little beaten, you’re an underdog, you come back, have a little more heart, a little more energy, a little more fight.”
    —Secretary Sean Duffy, (11:10)

• On Student Resilience

  • "No hot water. And they’re like, roar. You’re damn right we did. No hot water."
    —Secretary Sean Duffy, (11:09)

• On Restoring Faith and Tradition

  • “The last administration took that mural, which is historic. … They put it in the basement of the chapel. Shameful. And so I said, that’s bullshit. We are going to resurrect the painting of Jesus on the water…”
    —Secretary Sean Duffy, (12:07)

• Mariners’ Crucial Role

  • “We’re what puts food on your shelves.”
    —Mariner, (09:10)

Important Timestamps

• [03:18] Arrival at Fenway Park, overview of the Secretary’s Cup
• [04:39] Secretary Duffy discusses shutdown impacts on air travel, emphasizing infrastructure
• [06:34] Duffy’s family reflections; choosing family over political career
• [08:48] Mariners explain their work and its impact on everyday life
• [10:21] Duffy introduces the ‘black sheep’ theme and academy neglect
• [11:09] Students’ reaction to hardships—"no hot water" story
• [12:07] The story of the Christ mural; restoring traditions of faith
• [13:25] Duffy & Noem’s rivalry and playful banter
• [15:13] Game update: Mariners momentarily ahead
• [16:36] Final moments of the game; Mariners pull ahead for the win
• [18:42] On-field reactions: celebration and post-game wrap-up

Tone and Atmosphere

The episode is lively and engaging, blending Mary Margaret’s enthusiastic reporting, Sean Duffy’s candid and sometimes irreverent commentary, and genuine camaraderie among all participants. While much of the conversation is light and festive, underlying themes of service, tradition, and perseverance surface throughout. There is a blend of humor (“You’re not gonna lose”) and a sincere admiration for the students and academies.

Conclusion

This special episode of The Ben Shapiro Show provides listeners with a heartwarming and insightful look into an underappreciated corner of American service—through the lens of a community event that’s as much about tradition and pride as it is about football. The dynamic between the participants underscores the value of family, service, and fighting for those overlooked by the broader culture. The Mariners’ victory provides a fitting end to a day full of grit, camaraderie, and celebration of America’s “black sheep.”