Podcast Summary: The Ben Shapiro Show - Ep. 2092: "Trump Makes His FINAL PICKS"

Host: Ben Shapiro
Podcast: The Ben Shapiro Show
Episode: 2092 - Trump Makes His FINAL PICKS
Release Date: November 25, 2024
Description: The Ben Shapiro Show provides a comprehensive, conservative analysis of current events, culture, and politics, offering listeners unfiltered and principled truths.

1. Introduction

Ben Shapiro kicks off Episode 2092 by announcing the finalization of President Trump's cabinet selections. He emphasizes the strategic importance of these picks in shaping the administration's conservative agenda.

2. Trump’s Cabinet Selections

a. Attorney General: Pam Bondi

• Context: Matt Gaetz was initially President Trump’s pick for Attorney General but faced significant Senate opposition due to ethics investigations and controversial actions.
• Replacement: Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney General and a long-time Trump ally, steps in as a less controversial and more Senate-friendly candidate.
• Notable Quote: Shapiro states, “[...] President Trump has now selected instead Pam Bondi, who is a longtime Trump ally.” [Timestamp: 00:00-02:30]
• Analysis: Bondi is praised for her conservative record and loyalty to Trump, indicating a strategic move to ensure a smoother confirmation process and effective alignment with the administration's goals.

b. Secretary of the Treasury: Scott Besant

• Background: Besant is an experienced investor and former Chief Investment Officer for George Soros, with significant experience in macro investing.
• Policy Focus: Emphasizes tax cuts, deregulation, and maintaining the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency.
• Notable Quote: “Besant specialized in macro investing [...] motivated to step out from behind the desk and get involved with Trump, in part because of a view that time is running out for the United States economy to grow its way out of excessive budget deficits and indebtedness.” [Timestamp: 05:32-07:16]
• Endorsements: Endorsed by various economic experts, including Steve Moore, highlighting his suitability for fostering economic growth.

c. Deputy Assistant to the President: Sebastian Gorka

• Profile: A hawkish figure on national security, particularly concerning radical Islam.
• Role: Focuses on counterterrorism and immigration, leveraging his previous advisory experience with Trump.
• Notable Quote: “Gorka is incredibly, as we say, harsh with regard to radical Islam.” [Timestamp: 07:16-14:05]
• Insights: Shapiro underscores Gorka’s aggressive stance as essential for addressing ongoing threats from extremist groups.

d. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Marty Makary

• Background: Professor at Johns Hopkins University and a prominent skeptic of COVID-19 mandates.
• Mandate: Aims to streamline FDA processes to expedite the approval of new treatments while criticizing past FDA practices.
• Notable Quote: “He was a lockdown skeptic. He was a vaccine mandate skeptic.” [Timestamp: 14:05-19:45]
• Impact: Makary is expected to overhaul FDA operations, making them more efficient and aligned with Trump’s health policies.

e. Surgeon General: Jeanette Nishaiwat

• Position: Former Fox News medical contributor.
• Controversy Addressed: Shapiro defends Nishaiwat against criticisms regarding her stance on COVID mandates, asserting her credibility.
• Notable Quote: “There's nothing wrong with her. The suggestion that she was in favor of, for example, Covid mandates with regard to vaccines, that is not true.” [Timestamp: 19:45-20:30]
• Role: Nishaiwat is poised to guide public health policies with a focus on individual rights and scientific integrity.

f. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Scott Turner

• Profile: Motivational speaker with no prior governmental experience.
• Controversy: Faces criticism from the left, who accuse Trump of racism for appointing a Black man to HUD.
• Notable Quote: “Scott Turner. He is a motivational speaker and he's going to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.” [Timestamp: 20:30-20:26]
• Defense: Shapiro challenges the narrative, highlighting the historical precedent of diverse HUD leadership and deflecting accusations of racism.

g. Labor Secretary: Lori Chavez-DeRemer

• Controversial Pick: Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer is criticized for her strong pro-union stance, particularly her association with the PRO Act.
• Notable Quote: “Representative Chavez-DeRemer is a co-sponsor of the PRO Act [...] forcing through labor unions.” [Timestamp: 20:30-33:24]
• Analysis: Shapiro labels this as a significant misstep, arguing that her pro-union policies could undermine capitalist principles and economic growth.

3. Analysis of the Cabinet Choices

Shapiro commends the overall strength and strategic alignment of Trump’s cabinet, highlighting the commitment to a MAGA agenda and the readiness to implement substantial reforms from day one. He contrasts the solid picks with Lori Chavez-DeRemer's controversial nomination, suggesting that most appointments will advance the administration's transformative goals.

4. Critique of Biden’s Leadership

Shapiro transitions to criticize President Biden, portraying him as a "lame duck" who has failed to lead effectively. He highlights Biden’s perceived incompetence and its negative impact on both domestic and international fronts.

• Notable Quote: “President Biden is an empty chair. The media are not sure what to do about it.” [Timestamp: 33:24-34:21]

5. International Relations and Conflicts

a. Russia-Ukraine Tensions

• Current Events: Ukraine’s use of long-range US munitions to attack Russian territories; Russia’s missile strikes.
• Shapiro’s View: Criticizes Biden’s approach as delayed and ineffective, suggesting that Trump’s administration would handle the situation more decisively.

b. International Criminal Court (ICC) Arrest Warrants

• Incident: ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes.
• Shapiro’s Stance: Strongly condemns the ICC, labeling it as a tool for anti-Semitic agendas and predicting future attacks on Trump by the ICC.
• Notable Quote: “The ICC is a trash organization that manipulates the very idea of international law.” [Timestamp: 34:21-47:34]

c. Iran and Anti-Semitic Terrorism

• Events: Murder of Israeli rabbi Zvi Kogan by Iranian agents in the UAE; ongoing anti-Semitic attacks.
• Shapiro’s Analysis: Views these as evidence of Iran’s aggressive stance against Israel and Jewish communities, reinforcing the need for a strong Trump-led response.

d. Montreal Pro-Hamas Riots

• Incident: Pro-Hamas riots in Montreal coinciding with a NATO summit, met with inaction from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

• Shapiro’s Critique: Blames Trudeau’s leadership for failing to control escalating violence, contrasting it with Trump’s anticipated effective governance.

• Notable Dialogue:

  • Trudeau’s Statement: “Americans deserve a labor secretary who understands that building a stronger economy means standing up for workers, not billionaires and giant corporations...” [Timestamp: 34:09]
  • Shapiro’s Rebuttal: Disputes the credibility of Trudeau’s leadership and highlights the chaos in Montreal as a direct result of inadequate governance. [Timestamp: 19:45-48:12]

6. Concluding Remarks on the Trump Administration’s Prospects

Ben Shapiro concludes the episode by asserting that Trump’s finalized cabinet is poised to initiate transformative policies that will reshape American institutions and push forward the MAGA agenda effectively. He contrasts this with Biden’s administration, emphasizing the anticipated positive impact of Trump’s leadership on both national and international stages.

• Notable Quote: “This is a very strong Cabinet. This is a Cabinet with a serious MAGA agenda. It's a Cabinet that is ready to go day one.” [Timestamp: 33:24-33:50]
• Final Thoughts: Shapiro expresses confidence that Trump’s cabinet will overcome media criticism and lead America through significant changes, positioning the administration as a powerful force against current global and domestic challenges.

Notable Exclusions

The transcript included several advertisements and promotional segments for products and services (e.g., Helix Sleep, Cars for Kids, Balance of Nature, Tax Network USA). These have been intentionally omitted from the summary to focus solely on the substantive content of the podcast episode.

Conclusion:
Episode 2092 of The Ben Shapiro Show provides an in-depth analysis of President Trump’s final cabinet selections, highlighting their strategic importance in advancing a conservative, MAGA-focused agenda. Ben Shapiro critiques the Biden administration’s failure to lead effectively while praising Trump’s appointments as poised for immediate and transformative action. The episode also delves into international conflicts and the controversial actions of institutions like the ICC, reinforcing the narrative of a coming transformative presidency under Trump.