Summary of "The Ben Shapiro Show" - Ep. 2094: "The Media Root For TRUMPFLATION?!"
Release Date: November 27, 2024 | Host: The Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro
In Episode 2094 titled "The Media Root For TRUMPFLATION?!", Ben Shapiro delves deep into the contentious intersection of President Donald Trump's economic policies and the media's portrayal of their potential impact on inflation. The episode navigates through economic theories, foreign policy intricacies, and critiques of current political leadership, offering listeners a comprehensive conservative analysis of the prevailing socio-political landscape.
1. Defining "Trumpflation" and Media Narratives
Ben opens the discussion by challenging the prevailing media narrative that attributes future inflation primarily to Donald Trump's economic policies—a concept he terms "Trumpflation." Drawing from Milton Friedman's assertion that inflation is a monetary phenomenon, Shapiro criticizes the media's shift in blame from fiscal irresponsibility to Trump's strategies.
Ben Shapiro [00:00]: "President Trump is currently riding high. His approval ratings are in the high 50s, low 60s... the media are trying to crush his sort of economic dreams."
He highlights the irony that the same media outlets previously dismissed inflation concerns during Joe Biden’s tenure by endorsing theories like Modern Monetary Theory and Elizabeth Warren's economic propositions, which ultimately failed to prevent inflation. Now, these same outlets pivot to blame Trump's policies, including tariffs, tax cuts, and deportations, for potential price increases.
2. Analyzing Trump's Economic Policies
Shapiro provides a detailed analysis of Trump's economic measures, emphasizing their strategic use rather than mere fiscal irresponsibility. He references Alan Blinder, an esteemed economist from Princeton and former Federal Reserve member, who suggests that Trump's policies might contribute an additional 2-3% to total inflation over the next few years.
Ben Shapiro [04:45]: "Tariffs protect particular domestic industries against foreign competition. And what that really does... raises prices on consumers in order to benefit one particular class of producers."
Tariffs: Shapiro explains that Trump's tariff strategy is not about indiscriminate price hikes but about leveraging economic policies to benefit specific domestic industries, such as steel manufacturing, while accepting mild consumer price increases. He contrasts this with historical tariff implementations, noting that Trump's approach is more about gaining concessions from trading partners rather than enforcing protectionism for its own sake.
Tax Cuts: Contrary to fears that Trump's tax cuts would spur inflation, Shapiro argues that allowing individuals and businesses to retain their earnings leads to responsible spending and investment. He differentiates between tax cuts and government spending, asserting that the former fuels economic growth without the artificial inflation caused by the latter.
Deportations: While briefly mentioning mass deportations, Shapiro notes that the inflationary impact of this policy is uncertain but remains less significant compared to the roles of the Federal Reserve and government spending in driving national inflation rates.
3. The Federal Reserve and Inflation Drivers
Shapiro shifts focus to the broader economic landscape, identifying the Federal Reserve's monetary policies and massive government spending as primary inflation drivers. He warns that attempts to influence the Federal Reserve to maintain low interest rates could exacerbate inflation, overshadowing the moderate impact of Trump's policies.
Ben Shapiro [15:30]: "The real problem here is not going to be that [Trump's policies add inflation]. The real problem here is going to be if there's an attempt to push the Federal Reserve to continue to lower the interest rates."
4. Foreign Policy: Israel, Lebanon, and the Gaza Ceasefire
A significant portion of the episode addresses the complex dynamics of Middle Eastern geopolitics, particularly focusing on Israel’s recent ceasefire with Lebanon and Gaza. Shapiro critiques President Joe Biden's handling of these foreign policy issues, arguing that Biden's approach undermines Israel's security and regional stability.
Netanyahu’s Position: Shapiro recounts Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's robust stance against Hezbollah and Iran, emphasizing Israel's military successes in Lebanon and its commitment to eliminating threats from Hamas.
Ben Shapiro [25:53]: "We've destroyed significant portions of Iran's air defense missile production capabilities and key elements of its nuclear program. Preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains my top priority."
Biden’s Ceasefire: Criticizing Biden, Shapiro asserts that the 60-day ceasefire agreement with Lebanon is a mere stopgap designed to secure Biden’s legacy rather than address long-term security concerns.
Ben Shapiro [19:32]: "Trump is playing a game of chicken. ... you don’t want to play chicken with the guy who’s willing to go over the cliff."
Impact on Regional Stability: Shapiro explains that the ceasefire restricts Israel's ability to combat Hezbollah effectively, as Biden’s administration would likely not support aggressive actions to dismantle terrorist infrastructures during the remaining days of Biden's term.
5. Media Bias and the Lack of Journalistic Integrity
Shapiro criticizes mainstream media's failure to accurately report on the conflict dynamics, particularly regarding Hezbollah's influence and the ceasefire's implications.
Ben Shapiro [31:00]: "Freedom of the press in the Middle East is a lie... not on the Israeli side, where they provide incredible transparency into ongoing military operations, but on the other side where Hamas officials... threaten them with death."
He cites an incident where Hezbollah threatened journalists embedded with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), causing major media outlets like CNN, BBC, and Reuters to withdraw their reporters from Lebanon, thereby hindering accurate coverage of Hezbollah’s operations.
6. Critique of International Institutions and the UN
Highlighting the United Nations' double standards, Shapiro points out the firing of Alice Raremu Nidaritu, a UN special advisor on genocide prevention, for correctly identifying the situations in Gaza as not constituting genocide. He emphasizes that such actions undermine international institutions' credibility and fairness.
Ben Shapiro [37:10]: "These are the international institutions that Joe Biden wants to make... The west is subjected to its absolute idiocy."
7. Internal Challenges within the Democratic Party
Shapiro shifts focus to the Democratic Party's internal struggles, highlighting instances that portray the party as disorganized and ineffective.
Kamala Harris Incident: He references a video showing Vice President Kamala Harris appearing intoxicated while addressing the nation, using it to exemplify perceived leadership flaws within the party.
Ben Shapiro [41:27]: "She has gone into the red wine... I hope that you're enjoying your life more now that you're no longer going to be President of the United States."
Campaign Manager Critiques: Discussing Jen O'Malley Dillon, Harris’s campaign manager, Shapiro accuses the Democratic efforts of being inherently flawed and ineffective, attributing dual failures to both campaign strategies and media handling.
David Plouffe’s Comments: He references David Plouffe’s analysis, which Shapiro criticizes as ignoring the significant conservative base in battleground states, thereby misrepresenting electoral dynamics.
Ben Shapiro [46:06]: "Maybe you should actually, you know, appeal to moderates then by being moderate."
8. The Role of Celebrities and Public Figures in Political Discourse
Shapiro critiques Hollywood and celebrities like Alec Baldwin, Sharon Stone, and Michelle Obama for their involvement in political narratives that he perceives as biased or misleading.
Alec Baldwin and Sharon Stone: He dismisses their critiques of American policies and characterizes their statements as indicative of Hollywood's disconnect from reality.
Ben Shapiro [48:25]: "Americans are uninformed, says Alec Baldwin."
Michelle Obama’s Remarks: Shapiro mocks Michelle Obama’s comments on historical fascism and the United States’ socio-political maturity, arguing that her understanding of history is flawed.
Ben Shapiro [49:29]: "The United States was founded in 1776... The nation of Italy as currently constituted was formed almost 90 years after the United States was formed."
9. Trump’s Incoming Administration and Future Prospects
Concluding the episode, Shapiro expresses optimism about the incoming Trump administration’s potential to rectify the issues he identifies with Biden’s policies. He anticipates that Trump will reverse inflationary pressures by reinstating market-friendly policies and weakening the media's influence.
Ben Shapiro [51:31]: "The world cannot wait for the entry of Donald Trump."
He underscores the importance of Trump's strategic appointments, such as Kevin Hassett to the National Economic Council and Jay Bhattacharya to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), framing them as moves that will reinforce market efficiencies and scientific integrity.
10. Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Shapiro wraps up by urging listeners to support conservative causes and stay informed, emphasizing the need for active participation in the political process to counteract what he perceives as media and governmental overreach.
Ben Shapiro [47:28]: "He does not want the Federal Reserve being the main driver of inflation."
He also briefly touches upon consumer tools like COIN credit cards and Ramp for financial management, subtly integrating these into his narrative of empowering conservatives.
Conclusion
Episode 2094 of "The Ben Shapiro Show" offers a robust conservative critique of both ongoing economic policies attributed to President Trump and the media's role in shaping public perception of these policies. Shapiro blends economic analysis with foreign policy insights, all while navigating through internal Democratic Party challenges and media biases. The episode serves as a rallying call for conservative listeners to remain vigilant, informed, and actively engaged in countering narratives that, in Shapiro's view, undermine America's economic and geopolitical stability.