The Ben Shapiro Show - Ep. 2084: TEAM OF THE CENTURY: More Stellar Trump PICKS!

Host: Ben Shapiro
Podcast: The Ben Shapiro Show
Episode: 2084
Date: [Assumed recent based on transcript context]

**1. Trump’s Cabinet Selections: A Winning Strategy

Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense

Ben Shapiro kicks off the episode by lauding President-elect Donald Trump's rapid and effective cabinet appointments, particularly highlighting Pete Hegseth, an Army veteran and Fox News host, as the new Secretary of Defense.

• Shapiro: "Donald Trump's selections thus far, 10 out of 10. Not nine out of 10, like 10 out of 10." [00:00]

Criticism and Response

The appointment has stirred controversy, especially among defense industry lobbyists and progressives like Elizabeth Warren.

• Elizabeth Warren: “A Fox and Friends weekend co-host is not qualified to be Secretary of Defense... Donald Trump's pick will make us less safe and must be rejected.” [Approx. 05:30]

Shapiro’s Defense of Hegseth

Shapiro counters by critiquing the current Department of Defense, emphasizing the need for an overhaul to eliminate "woke nonsense" and enhance military readiness.

• Shapiro: “The Department of Defense has been signally responsible for the worst botched pullout in American history... Pete Hegseth is the guy to do that.” [Approx. 08:45]

Hegseth’s credentials, including his service in Iraq and Afghanistan and his academic background from Harvard and Princeton, are highlighted as reasons for his suitability.

• Shapiro: “Pete Hegseth is an army major... he served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star twice.” [Approx. 12:10]

**2. Cleaning Up the Intelligence Community

John Ratcliffe as CIA Director

Shapiro announces the appointment of John Ratcliffe, a former Trump staffer and hawkish lawmaker, as the new CIA Director. Emphasizing Ratcliffe’s stance against China and Iran, Shapiro anticipates significant reforms within the CIA.

• Shapiro: “John Ratcliffe understands the difference between the Trump Doctrine and the Obama Doctrine... We should be assisting Israel in doing so.” [Approx. 20:15]

Recent CIA Controversies

Shapiro references the arrest of Asif Rahman, a current CIA official charged with disclosing classified documents, to underline the necessity for Ratcliffe’s leadership.

• Shapiro: “A CIA official has now been charged with disclosing classified documents... task number one for John Ratcliffe is going to be cleansing out everyone who does not have the best interests of the United States at heart.” [Approx. 24:50]

**3. Ambassador to Israel: Mike Huckabee

Shapiro praises Mike Huckabee’s appointment as the new Ambassador to Israel, citing Huckabee’s strong support for Israel and his evangelical Christian values.

• Shapiro: “Mike Huckabee understands that the areas Israel is building end up being economic hotspots... It’s a perfect candidate for Secretary of the Navy.” [Approx. 28:30]

Huckabee’s perspective on the Israel-Hamas conflict is highlighted as both spiritual and strategic.

• Huckabee (as quoted by Shapiro): “This is a spiritual battle. This is one of the most profound in all of history.” [Approx. 30:00]

**4. Legal Appointments and Special Counsel Resignations

William McGinley as White House Counsel

McGinley, a former White House Cabinet Secretary and general counsel at the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is appointed as White House Counsel.

• Shapiro: “Bill’s a smart and tenacious lawyer, will help me advance our America first agenda while fighting for election integrity.” [Approx. 35:00]

Jack Smith’s Resignation as Special Counsel

Shapiro discusses Jack Smith’s plan to resign before Trump takes office to avoid being a target for dismissal.

• Shapiro: “Jack Smith is planning to resign... prosecutors and FBI agents on his team were reportedly told to leave.” [Approx. 37:20]

**5. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Appointments: Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk

Shapiro announces the formation of DOGE, led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and biotech founder Vivek Ramaswamy, aiming to streamline government operations and cut spending.

• Shapiro: “Trump picked Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead an effort to cut spending, eliminate regulations, and restructure federal agencies.” [Approx. 40:10]

Impact on the Business Community

Ben shares insights from Bill Ackman, emphasizing the positive reception from the business sector regarding DOGE’s initiatives.

• Bill Ackman: “Business confidence... Merger and acquisition activity is about to explode... Growth is about to explode.” [Approx. 44:00]

**6. Democratic Party’s Internal Struggles

Dissatisfaction Among Black Voters

Shapiro highlights a New York Times report indicating growing disenchantment among Black voters with the Democratic Party, questioning the benefits received from their loyalty.

• Shapiro: “The Democratic Party has taken their support for granted... What have Democrats done for us?” [Approx. 50:30]

Decline in Split Party Senate Delegations

He notes the diminishing number of states with split Senate delegations, pointing to a shifting political landscape unfavorable to Democrats.

• Shapiro: “Today there are three states with split delegations... 25 states are complete Republican hold states.” [Approx. 53:15]

Infighting and Leadership Challenges

Shapiro discusses the ideological battles within the Democratic Party, focusing on figures like Hakeem Jeffries and Pramila Jayapal facing criticism from the progressive wing.

• Shapiro: “House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is getting caught up in the ideological infighting plaguing his party... Pramila Jayapal questioning Democratic leadership’s willingness to work with Republicans.” [Approx. 58:45]

**7. Senate Floor Battle: Schumer vs. McConnell

A heated exchange occurs on the Senate floor between Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell, encapsulating the tension between Democrats and Republicans.

• Chuck Schumer: “We will not go down that dark and violent path.” [Approx. 1:05:00]
• Mitch McConnell: “If we stop talking about stolen elections now, will you stop talking about foreign interference...?” [Approx. 1:06:20]

Shapiro interprets this confrontation as indicative of Democratic disarray and diminishing control over legislative agendas.

**8. Additional Democratic Developments

Eric Adams on Immigration

Shapiro covers New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ focus on fixing the broken immigration system, positioning himself as a potential future Republican leader.

• Eric Adams: “We have a broken immigration system. It needs to be fixed. I don’t want to see that happen again.” [Approx. 1:10:50]

James Carville’s “I Told You So”

James Carville expresses regret over Democrats’ strategic missteps, particularly their focus on identity politics over public safety and economic issues.

• Shapiro: “James Carville is trying to say I told you so because he said that identity was a disaster...” [Approx. 1:15:30]

**9. Elon Musk’s SNL Appearance

Shapiro shares a humorous account of Chloe Fineman’s SNL appearance, where she claims Elon Musk’s criticism made her cry.

• Chloe Fineman: “I burst into tears because he said your sketch was unfunny.” [Approx. 1:20:00]
• Elon Musk: “Frankly, it was only on the Thursday before the Saturday that any of the sketches generated laughs.” [Approx. 1:21:45]

Shapiro portrays this as an entertaining anecdote, reflecting Musk’s straightforwardness.

**10. Final Thoughts on the Election and Future Prospects

Shapiro concludes by emphasizing the significance of voter turnout in the recent election, highlighting the potential for continued Republican gains.

• Shapiro: “His so-called landslide is winning just slightly over 50% of the approximately 63% of eligible voters who bothered to turn out.” [Approx. 1:25:30]

He underscores the critical nature of voter engagement for future political outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump’s Appointments: Ben Shapiro praises Trump's swift and strategic cabinet choices, particularly Pete Hegseth, John Ratcliffe, and Mike Huckabee, viewing them as essential for overhauling key government departments.

• Government Efficiency: The formation of DOGE, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is seen as a bold move to streamline government operations and foster economic growth.

• Democratic Challenges: Internal conflicts, declining support among Black voters, and leadership struggles signal a fracturing Democratic Party, potentially paving the way for Republican dominance.

• Election Dynamics: Voter turnout and strategic engagement remain crucial for shaping future political landscapes, with Republicans poised to capitalize on recent successes.

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Shapiro on Defense Secretary Pick:
  “Pete Hegseth is an army major... he served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star twice.” [Approx. 12:10]

• Elizabeth Warren Criticizing Hegseth:
  “Donald Trump's pick will make us less safe and must be rejected.” [Approx. 05:30]

• John Ratcliffe on Trump vs. Obama Doctrine:
  “The Trump Doctrine is very simple. America has interests. We will muscularly defend those interests.” [Approx. 22:05]

• Mike Huckabee on Israel-Hamas Conflict:
  “This is a spiritual battle. This is one of the most profound in all of history.” [Approx. 30:00]

• Bill Ackman on Business Community’s Reaction:
  “Merger and acquisition activity is about to explode... Growth is about to explode.” [Approx. 44:00]

• Chuck Schumer on Election Integrity:
  “We will not go down that dark and violent path.” [Approx. 1:05:00]

This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from The Ben Shapiro Show Episode 2084, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the full episode.