Podcast Summary: The Ben Shapiro Show - Ep. 2163: The Left’s ASSAULT On Musk Continues…

Release Date: March 21, 2025

In Episode 2163 of The Ben Shapiro Show, hosted by Ben Shapiro from The Daily Wire, the discussion centers around the escalating attacks by the political left against Elon Musk and his company, Tesla. Shapiro delves into various dimensions of this assault, including harassment tactics, judicial overreach, and the broader implications for American politics and society.

1. The Left's Assault on Elon Musk and Tesla

Ben Shapiro opens the episode by highlighting Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer's remarks about placing progressive judges who are allegedly ruling against former President Trump. Shapiro quickly pivots to discuss what he perceives as the left's intensified focus on Elon Musk as their new adversary.

Key Points:

• Harassment and Vandalism: Shapiro details how opposition to Musk has manifested in harassment campaigns, including the creation of the website "Doge Quest," which publishes personal information of Tesla owners. This has led to increased vandalism and arson attacks on Tesla properties across the United States and Canada.

  "According to the UK Independent, as protests against Dogehead Elon Musk spread across the country, a website called Doge Quest has reportedly published the personal details of Tesla owners..." (05:30)

• Shift in Focus: The animosity that was once directed predominantly at Trump has now largely shifted to Musk, with left-wing activists channeling their efforts into undermining his ventures.

  "They hate Trump today. Elon Musk is the new hot thing to hate." (04:15)

• Media and Cultural Figures: Shapiro criticizes media personalities like Bill Burr and John Cusack for supporting or not effectively opposing these attacks, suggesting their alignment with leftist agendas contributes to the problem.

  "Bill Burr... decided that he was going to go full woke... She's talking about all of us." (15:45)

2. Judicial Overreach and Progressive Judges

Shapiro discusses the appointment of progressive judges and their impact on policies he views as detrimental to conservative values.

Key Points:

• Schumer's Claims: Schumer boasts about appointing hundreds of progressive judges aimed at countering Trump's influence. Shapiro argues that this is a continuation of a broader leftist strategy to reshape the judiciary to their ideological preferences.

  "Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer just went on national TV bragging that he has put hundreds of progressive judges on the bench..." (00:00)

• Impact on Governance: Shapiro contends that such judicial appointments lead to decisions that undermine conservative policies and leaders, including actions against Musk's enterprises.

3. Swatting and Targeted Harassment of Conservatives

The episode highlights a disturbing trend of swatting—where false reports are made to emergency services to provoke police interventions—targeting conservative figures and media personalities.

Key Points:

• Frequency and Severity: Since March 11, there has been a surge in swatting incidents against at least 15 conservative figures, causing significant distress and potential danger.

  "At least 15 figures in conservative politics media have reportedly been swatted within the course of one week." (10:30)

• Official Responses: Prominent officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pambandi, have expressed concern over these dangerous tactics, labeling them as domestic terrorism and attempted murder.

  "These kinds of swatting incidents... faulty into domestic terrorism and attempted murder." (11:45)

4. Elon Musk's Interaction with the Department of Defense

Shapiro addresses media reports suggesting that Musk was to receive a briefing on the Pentagon's war plans with China. He counters these claims by citing statements from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who downplayed the nature of Musk's meeting.

Key Points:

• Media Speculation vs. Official Statements: While the Wall Street Journal and New York Times reported Musk was to be briefed on top-secret military operations, Defense Secretary Hegseth clarified that the meeting would focus on "innovation, efficiencies, and smarter production," excluding any discussion of China.

  "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Musk was going to visit the Pentagon, but he disputed that he would receive a sensitive China briefing..." (16:20)

• Security Concerns: Shapiro raises valid concerns about the appropriateness of involving a civilian businessman with extensive ties to China in sensitive governmental operations.

  "Elon should not be in on that. He does not, in fact, have security clearance." (17:05)

5. The Trump Administration's Efforts to Dismantle the Department of Education

A significant portion of the episode focuses on President Trump's executive order aimed at minimizing and potentially dismantling the Department of Education. Shapiro critiques the longstanding Republican objective to devolve education powers back to the states.

Key Points:

• Executive Order Details: Trump is attempting to reduce the size and scope of the Department of Education, a move supported by many conservatives who believe federal involvement in education is excessive.

  "President Trump is moving forward to try and dismantle the Department of Education." (24:30)

• Educational Performance: Shapiro argues that despite massive federal expenditure, American educational performance has not shown significant improvement, citing low proficiency in reading and math among students.

  "American reading and math scores are near historical lows... The federal education bureaucracy is not working." (26:00)

• State Control vs. Federal Oversight: Citing Governor Chris Sununu, Shapiro emphasizes that states are better positioned to understand and meet their students' needs without bureaucratic red tape.

  "Look, California knows what their students need a heck of a lot better than a bunch of bureaucrats in Washington." (28:10)

6. Demographic Shifts and Political Implications

Shapiro presents polling data illustrating stark divides in political support based on education and gender demographics, arguing that the Democratic Party's focus on a narrow electorate is detrimental to its broader appeal.

Key Points:

• Polling Data: White men without college degrees exhibit strong support for Trump, while white college-educated women overwhelmingly oppose him. This significant gap undermines the Democratic Party's ability to expand its voter base.

  "Among white men without degrees, Trump is at +69%, while white college-educated women have a -67% view of him." (35:50)

• Party Strategy Critique: Shapiro criticizes Democrats for being dominated by college-educated white women, which he argues limits their reach and effectiveness, especially in rural and non-college-educated demographics.

  "The Democratic Party is run almost entirely by college-educated white ladies... It's a truly, a complete disaster area for the Democratic Party." (38:20)

7. Judicial Overreach and Constitutional Crisis Claims

The episode addresses claims by political figures like Chuck Schumer about a constitutional crisis, framing it as an allegation against the judiciary's influence over executive actions.

Key Points:

• Schumer's Allegations: Schumer asserts that the judiciary is overstepping its boundaries, creating a constitutional crisis by impeding executive authority.

  "Chuck Schumer... says that the United States is now in a constitutional crisis." (40:00)

• Shapiro's Rebuttal: Shapiro counters by arguing that the judiciary is merely performing its intended role of checking executive power, and labels Schumer's claims as unfounded and politically motivated.

  "We are in a very dark place... it's a constitutional crisis because of overreaching judges." (42:15)

8. Economic Policies and Market Reactions

Shapiro discusses the Trump administration's economic strategies, including deregulation and tax cuts, while critiquing the potential negative impacts of impending tariff hikes and Federal Reserve policies.

Key Points:

• Tariffs and Inflation: The administration's plans to implement new tariffs may exacerbate inflation and hinder economic growth, contrary to claims that they would strengthen the economy.

  "Tariffs covering a swath of goods and materials will actually send prices up while sapping investment sentiment and growth in the short term." (50:30)

• Federal Reserve Projections: The Fed's projections indicate potential economic slowdown, higher unemployment, and sustained inflation, challenging the administration's optimistic outlook.

  "Officials are projecting weaker growth, higher unemployment, and higher inflation." (52:10)

• Real Estate Market Dynamics: Existing home sales have risen, attributed to increased inventory as sellers anticipate stagnant mortgage rates, potentially leading to a decrease in housing prices.

  "Existing home sales rose 4.2% in February... there is more inventory, so prices could go down as supply increases." (54:20)

9. Cultural Recommendations and Show Endorsements

Towards the end of the episode, Shapiro shifts to lighter content, providing cultural recommendations and endorsements.

Key Points:

• TV Show Recommendation: Shapiro highly recommends the Apple TV show Severance, praising its narrative structure and philosophical depth.

  "Severance is really well thought out... It's one of the best TV shows of the last several years." (60:00)

• Podcast Promotions: Although the episode includes promotions for Daily Wire Plus memberships and sponsors like Ramp and LiveGood, these segments are minimized in relevance to content-heavy discussions.

10. Conclusion

Ben Shapiro concludes the episode by reiterating the need for conservative resilience against what he perceives as the left's relentless assault on key figures like Elon Musk. He emphasizes the importance of following judicial process, supporting Trump's economic policies, and understanding demographic shifts to effectively counteract Democratic strategies.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On Progressive Judges and Schumer:

  "If you actually care about truth, sanity and reality, it is time to become a Daily Wire plus member." (00:00)

• On the Shift of Hostility to Musk:

  "The left is now excusing actual acts of violence against, for example, Tesla dealerships." (07:15)

• On Judicial Overreach:

  "Judicial overreach on a scale we've never seen in the history of this country." (44:20)

• On Demographic Voting Splits:

  "Among white men without degrees, Trump is at +69%, while white college-educated women have a -67% view of him." (35:50)

• On Economic Policies:

  "Tariffs covering a swath of goods and materials will actually send prices up while sapping investment sentiment and growth in the short term." (50:30)

Conclusion

Episode 2163 of The Ben Shapiro Show presents a comprehensive critique of the left's strategies against Elon Musk and broader conservative values. Through an in-depth analysis of harassment tactics, judicial politics, and demographic challenges, Shapiro underscores the ongoing cultural and political battles shaping contemporary America. The episode serves as both a rallying call for conservatism and a warning against the perceived overreach of progressive agendas.