The Ben Shapiro Show: Episode 2154 - Stephen A. Smith ATTACKS Me! (Released March 10, 2025)

In Episode 2154 of The Ben Shapiro Show hosted by The Daily Wire, Ben Shapiro delves into a fiery confrontation with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith over the controversial topic of pardoning Derek Chauvin. The episode navigates through various pressing issues, including economic concerns, potential recessions, US foreign policy in Syria, and critiques of mainstream media narratives. Below is a detailed summary capturing all key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

1. Introduction and Overview

Ben Shapiro opens the show by addressing the primary topics slated for discussion:

• Stephen A. Smith's Attack: Over Shapiro's stance on President Trump potentially pardoning Derek Chauvin.
• Economic Concerns: The possibility of a recession and President Trump's views on it.
• US Foreign Policy in Syria: Analyzing the chaos unfolding in the region.

Notable Quote:

Ben Shapiro [00:00]: "The left flies are unraveling and their narrative is crumbling... The Daily Wire is here, to cut through the noise and bring you the facts that others won't."

2. Stephen A. Smith's Criticism Over Derek Chauvin Pardon

Ben Shapiro discusses why he believes President Trump should consider pardoning Derek Chauvin on federal charges. Shapiro argues that pardoning could reduce Chauvin's overall prison time and contends that Chauvin's innocence should be acknowledged.

Key Points:

• Sentencing Structure: Chauvin faces concurrent sentences of approximately 22.5 years (state) and 21 years (federal). Shapiro explains that federal inmates often earn good time, potentially reducing their sentences more significantly than at the state level.

• Moral Stance: Shapiro emphasizes the immorality of keeping someone he believes innocent in prison.

• Media Influence: Claims that media outlets prematurely declared Chauvin guilty, pushing a racial narrative without substantial evidence.

Notable Quote:

Ben Shapiro [02:45]: "It's immoral to allow people who you believe are innocent to languish in prison."

Stephen A. Smith's Counterargument:

Stephen A. Smith [03:15]: "Would you have taken that position if George Floyd was a Jewish person, a white Jewish person? ... If a black cop had his knee on a white Jewish person for over nine minutes, Ben Shapiro, would you have called for that individual to be pardoned?"

Shapiro's Response:

Ben Shapiro [03:46]: "Stephen A. Smith is one of the deepest racial identitarians in our society... The race or religion of the pseudo victim is irrelevant to the question of whether this person was in fact murdered or not."

3. Economic Discussion and Government Shutdown with Representative Chip Roy

Shapiro welcomes Representative Chip Roy from Texas, a noted fiscal conservative, to discuss the current economic climate and the looming threat of a government shutdown.

Key Topics:

• Continuing Resolution: Roy advocates for a spending freeze as a fiscally responsible measure to keep the government operational while addressing budgetary concerns.

• Fiscal Conservatism: Emphasis on reducing government spending and identifying wasteful expenditures.

• Rescission and Impoundment: Discussion on potential legislative moves to regain control over government spending if current measures fail.

Notable Quotes:

Chip Roy [08:19]: "Democrats have been on their heels since Trump won the election."

Representative Chip Roy [16:11]: "This bill freezes spending. It's actually, I think, a slight reduction... This is the most fiscally responsible thing we can do at this moment."

Shapiro's Analysis:

Ben Shapiro [16:45]: "With a majority that is as slim as the majority of Republicans are currently working with... you kind of get the best that you can get."

4. US Foreign Policy and the Syrian Conflict

Shapiro offers a critical examination of the ongoing chaos in Syria, attributing blame to HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), a Sunni Islamist terror group backed by Turkey, rather than to the Assad regime or Western interventions.

Key Points:

• HTS Ascendancy: Following geopolitical shifts, HTS has taken control in Syria, leading to severe repercussions for minority groups like Christians and Alawites.

• Media Critique: Shapiro argues that the media wrongfully portrays the situation, failing to hold true accountability on the ground realities.

• Historical Context: Emphasizes the long history of Christian persecution in the Middle East, countering narratives that shift blame solely onto Western neoconservatives.

Notable Quotes:

Ben Shapiro [27:57]: "There are no Jews in Syria. The only Jews in Syria right now are the Israelis in the south, who are literally protecting the Druze from the slaughter of HTS at the request of the Druze."

Ben Shapiro [40:59]: "The notion that we have an air base in Qatar, therefore Qatar is an ally of the United States."

Guest Commentary:

Chip Roy [24:20]: "It really is about fentanyl... Iran's proxies in Hezbollah, the Houthis, all these people have been engaged in terrorism that affects American interests."

5. Analysis of US Trade Relations and Fentanyl Trafficking

Shapiro critiques the US's tariff policies, especially in relation to Canada, and highlights misconceptions about the sources of fentanyl entering the United States.

Key Points:

• Tariff Instability: Shapiro criticizes the erratic implementation and removal of tariffs, citing the destabilizing effect on businesses.

• Fentanyl Sources: Contradicts claims that Canada is a major source of fentanyl, presenting data that shows minimal fentanyl influx from Canada compared to Mexico.

• Trade War Implications: Discusses the political fallout in Canada due to US trade policies and leadership changes.

Notable Quotes:

Ben Shapiro [23:59]: "Less than 1% of all fentanyl that's being seized coming into the United States is coming from Canada."

Chip Roy [25:07]: "Fentanyl is a very serious problem in Canada, too. On some days, we have more deaths per capita than you have here in the United States."

6. Critique of Mainstream Media and Political Narratives

Throughout the episode, Shapiro consistently attacks mainstream media outlets and figures like Tucker Carlson, accusing them of misrepresenting facts and pushing biased narratives.

Key Points:

• Media Bias: Accusations that media personalities distort Middle Eastern conflicts to sow distrust and misattribute blame.

• Political Polarization: Shapiro laments the increasing division and the inability of political commentators to engage in rational discourse.

Notable Quotes:

Ben Shapiro [23:05]: "This is not an argument in favor of quote, unquote, endless war. This is an argument in favor of reality."

Ben Shapiro [41:37]: "Fox News is wall to wall with dead eyed politicians. They're all dead eyed if they don't agree with Tucker."

7. Pop Culture Segment: Love is Blind Controversy

Shapiro briefly touches upon a recent episode of the reality show Love is Blind, where a couple named Sarah and Ben called off their wedding due to incompatible values regarding religion and LGBTQ+ issues.

Key Points:

• Relationship Dynamics: Critiques the couple's decision, placing blame on Ben for not addressing value differences early on.

• Moral Standards: Shapiro defends traditional religious values and dismisses Sarah's stance as hypocritical.

Notable Quotes:

Ben Shapiro [52:26]: "Marry somebody who shares your value system. Cuz you need to build a life and a family with that person."

Ben Shapiro [53:07]: "She made her politics very clear. I've said this a thousand times with regard to dating and marriage."

8. Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Towards the end of the episode, Shapiro reiterates his concerns about the Trump administration's foreign policy, particularly in Ukraine, and encourages listeners to subscribe to The Daily Wire for more in-depth analysis.

Notable Quotes:

Ben Shapiro [54:08]: "You need predictability and you need reliability... President Trump is being cautious about his predictions."

Ben Shapiro [53:15]: "Anyone who bets against Donald Trump, it's like the same people who thought Donald Trump wasn't a winner a year ago. Donald Trump is a winner."

Conclusion

Episode 2154 of The Ben Shapiro Show is a robust discourse on contemporary political and social issues, marked by Shapiro's characteristic confrontational style. From dissecting high-profile media criticisms to deep dives into US economic and foreign policies, the episode offers listeners a comprehensive conservative perspective on some of the most contentious topics of the day.