Podcast Summary: The Ben Shapiro Show Episode: Ep. 2096 - Democrats UNLEASH On Biden Over Hunter Pardon
Release Date: December 3, 2024
Host: Ben Shapiro
Platform: The Daily Wire

Introduction

In Episode 2096 of The Ben Shapiro Show, Ben Shapiro delves deep into the contentious and unprecedented decision by President Joe Biden to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, for a decade-long span covering any potential or actual crimes. Shapiro critiques the move as a blatant display of political maneuvering aimed at safeguarding the Biden family from impending investigations spearheaded by the incoming Trump administration.

Joe Biden’s Pardon of Hunter Biden: An Unprecedented Move

Shapiro opens the episode by highlighting the magnitude of President Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter. He likens it to a scene from The Three Musketeers, where a pardon is issued without regard to specific offenses, allowing the recipient to commit any crime over a designated period.

“Ben Shapiro: ...Joe Biden wrote him a pardon brief that allowed him any crime for about a decade, which is an amazingly broad pardon. In fact, it's almost unprecedented in American history.”
[00:00]

Shapiro compares this move to Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon, emphasizing the rarity and potential overreach of such an action in contemporary politics.

“Margaret Love, U.S. pardon attorney from 1990 to 1997, called it unprecedented except for the Richard Nixon pardon.”
[03:26]

Legal experts like Margaret Love and Mark Osler corroborate Shapiro’s stance, describing Biden's pardon as exceptionally broad and atypical, especially since it encompasses crimes Hunter Biden was never charged with.

“Mark Osler, professor of law at University of St. Thomas, said, quote, this is very unusual.”
[03:50]

Motivations Behind the Pardon and Democratic Political Maneuvering

Shapiro posits that President Biden’s primary motive for pardoning Hunter is to shield himself from anticipated investigations into alleged financial improprieties and family corruption. He suggests that Biden is attempting to use his presidential powers to protect not just his son but himself from potential legal scrutiny.

“Ben Shapiro: This is really what Joe Biden is doing here? He's attempting to pardon himself.”
[03:31]

He further argues that this move is symptomatic of broader Democratic strategies to break and manipulate political norms to maintain power, likening it to an arms race of norm violations.

“Ben Shapiro: Democrats have been breaking precedents and norms for the last 15 years in American politics.”
[15:00]

Democrats’ Impact on Political Norms and Institutional Integrity

Shapiro criticizes the Democratic Party for incessantly undermining established political norms and institutional integrity. He contends that the party's willingness to employ any means necessary, including unprecedented pardons and attempts to pack the Supreme Court, erodes public trust and destabilizes foundational aspects of American governance.

“Ben Shapiro: Democrats are willing to destroy every norm, from social institutions like churches to governmental institutions like the Senate and the Supreme Court solely in pursuit of power.”
[16:44]

He warns of a dangerous precedent where future presidents might feel compelled to use similar tactics, potentially leading to a cycle of norm violations that could undermine democracy itself.

Corruption and Institutional Failures: The Elon Musk Case

Highlighting broader institutional corruption, Shapiro discusses the case of Elon Musk, where a Delaware Chancellor attempted to void Musk's massive compensation package—a move Shapiro deems as blatant corruption and an infringement of the Constitution.

“Ben Shapiro: This insane judgment comes courtesy of a chancellor in Delaware named Kathleen McCormick who voided a pay plan for Elon Musk.”
[24:37]

Shapiro uses this example to illustrate how political bias and institutional overreach are pervasive, further fueling his argument about the erosion of trust in American institutions.

Politicization of the Department of Justice (DOJ)

Shapiro revisits the theme of DOJ politicization, tracing its roots back to the Obama administration and its continuation into Biden’s presidency. He argues that Democrats have systematically corrupted the DOJ to target political opponents unfairly.

“Ben Shapiro: Democrats politicized the DOJ. They did. Democrats decided during the first Trump administration... that the DOJ would initiate a completely spurious investigation into Donald Trump's team.”
[14:16]

He critiques Biden’s allegations of DOJ bias against him while simultaneously using the pardon power to protect his family, labeling it as hypocritical and detrimental to the justice system’s integrity.

Media Hypocrisy and Democratic Accountability

Shapiro accuses mainstream media outlets of selectively targeting Democrats while defending Trump’s actions, highlighting moments when media figures like Whoopi Goldberg defend Biden despite evidence of corruption.

“Ben Shapiro: The media knew full well that Joe Biden is corrupt. They've known for years that Joe Biden is corrupt.”
[24:37]

He underscores the media’s role in perpetuating Democratic narratives while neglecting to hold the party accountable for its own misconduct, thereby maintaining a biased portrayal of political events.

Foreign Policy Divergence: Biden vs. Trump

Shapiro contrasts the foreign policy approaches of Biden and Trump, particularly regarding the Middle East conflict. He criticizes Biden’s perceived weakness and indecisiveness, arguing that Trump’s assertive stance would yield more effective outcomes in resolving hostage situations involving Hamas.

“Ben Shapiro: Donald Trump is doing that. So what exactly is that going to look like for President Trump?”
[25:55]

He outlines potential Trump administration strategies, such as exerting pressure on Qatar and Turkey to secure hostage releases, thereby presenting Trump’s methods as proactive and resolute compared to Biden’s reactive policies.

Supreme Court Case: Transgender Rights and Personal Testimonies

In a segment discussing a Supreme Court case on transgender rights (United States vs. Script), Shapiro features an interview with Chloe Cole, a detransitioner. Cole shares her personal experience with gender transition during adolescence, criticizing the irreversible medical interventions and advocating for legal restrictions on gender-affirming treatments for minors.

“Chloe Cole: ...I underwent my first and only surgery. During this time, I had a radical double mastectomy to remove my breasts.”
[45:33]

Shapiro uses Cole’s testimony to emphasize the purported dangers and ethical concerns surrounding transgender treatments for minors, aligning with his broader critique of progressive social policies.

Conclusion: Erosion of Institutional Trust and Call to Action

Ben Shapiro concludes the episode by reiterating his concerns about the widespread corruption and erosion of trust in American institutions. He calls for a return to foundational principles and warns of a dystopian future where norm violations become normalized in political strategy.

“Ben Shapiro: This is how norms get destroyed. The actual norms destroyers in the country right now are the Democrats.”
[17:51]

He underscores the necessity of preserving institutional integrity to maintain liberty and constitutional governance, urging listeners to remain vigilant against ongoing political corruption.

Notable Quotes

• Ben Shapiro on Biden’s Pardon:

  “Joe Biden is attempting to pardon himself. He can't pardon himself because he hasn't been charged with any crimes.”
  [03:31]

• Mark Osler on the Unusual Pardon:

  “This is very unusual. It's unusual enough to grant clemency in a case where there hasn't yet been a conviction. It's rarer still to have the breadth of this one.”
  [03:50]

• Chloe Cole on Gender Transition:

  “I underwent my first and only surgery... I had a radical double mastectomy to remove my breasts.”
  [45:33]

• Tom Cotton on Hunter Biden’s Pardon:

  “Hunter Biden now can't plead the Fifth. If he appears before Congress or appears before a grand jury, he has to testify...”
  [26:37]

Final Thoughts

Episode 2096 of The Ben Shapiro Show presents a vehement critique of Democratic strategies to consolidate power and manipulate political norms. Through detailed analysis of President Biden’s unprecedented pardon of his son, discussions on institutional corruption, and personal testimonies opposing progressive social policies, Shapiro reinforces his conservative stance on preserving American democratic principles against perceived liberal overreach.