The Ben Shapiro Show - Episode 2189: The Secret SUCCESS of DOGE Release Date: April 30, 2025

1. Introduction to DOGE and Governmental Efficiency

In this episode, Ben Shapiro delves into the effectiveness of DOGE—Department of Governmental Efficiency—under the leadership of Elon Musk. Contrary to the legacy media's portrayal of DOGE as a failing entity filled with chaos and ineffectiveness, Shapiro presents evidence suggesting significant accomplishments in reducing governmental spending.

Key Points:

• DOGE's Impact: Shapiro challenges media narratives, asserting that essential services like Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare continue to operate seamlessly despite governmental cutbacks.
• Spending Reductions: According to Reuters, the Trump administration has withheld approximately $436.87 billion of congressionally approved funding. Notably:
  • State Department: Nearly $42 billion frozen or canceled.
  • Transportation Department: Over $62 billion in competitive grant funding halted.
  • Head Start Program: $943 million frozen, which Shapiro criticizes as a historical failure in federal education initiatives.
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service: $10 billion frozen or canceled.

Notable Quote:

“President Trump's administration has so far withheld at least $436.87 billion of congressionally approved funding...”
(00:00)

2. Congressional Challenges and Future of Spending Cuts

Shapiro discusses the hurdles DOGE faces in making these spending cuts permanent. He emphasizes the necessity for Congress to solidify these freezes into permanent cuts, requiring a simple 50-vote majority in the Senate. However, with a narrowly split Republican majority and potential opposition from senators like Mitch McConnell, achieving this legislative feat is fraught with difficulties.

Key Points:

• Rescission Bills: While DOGE can temporarily freeze funds, permanent cuts hinge on Congress's willingness to pass rescission bills.
• Political Dynamics: The narrow Republican majority and internal party divisions make consensus challenging.
• Tax Bill Negotiations: The administration aims to finalize a tax bill by July 4th, with Treasury Secretary Scott Besson expressing optimism about the progress.

Notable Quotes:

“The deadline keeps getting pushed off for the new tax bill.”
(05:03)

“If the tax bill were not to pass, that would be a disastrous problem for the Trump administration...”
(05:20)

3. The Trade War's Influence on Economic Policies

The ongoing trade war, particularly targeting China, exerts significant pressure on the administration to finalize the tax bill. Shapiro highlights that although the immediate fallout from the tariffs isn't fully felt, its effects are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.

Key Points:

• Amazon's Transparency Proposal: Amazon considers displaying the tariff costs alongside product prices, promoting transparency. Shapiro supports this idea, suggesting that similar transparency in other areas (e.g., sales tax, Social Security contributions) would benefit consumers.
• White House Opposition: The administration views Amazon's move as aligned with Chinese propaganda, expressing dissatisfaction with the initiative.

Notable Quotes:

“I think that Amazon should break down how much of a product price is the sales tax in each individual state.”
(12:36)

“The White House, however, took this as a gigantic insult.”
(12:36)

4. Canadian Election and Alleged U.S. Interference

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the Canadian election, where Mark Carney emerged victorious, defeating Pierre Poutinev. Shapiro contends that President Trump's aggressive rhetoric towards Canada, including threats of making it the 51st state, influenced the election outcome.

Key Points:

• Trump's Intervention: Shapiro argues that Trump's continuous antagonism disrupted the Canadian election dynamics, leading to Carney's victory.
• Factional Divides: Within the Trump-supportive movement, there's a split:
  • Anti-Carney Faction: Believes Carney is a World Bank shill and opposes his globalist stance.
  • Defensive Faction: Claims Trump's interference had no impact on the election.
  • Pro-Carney Faction: Prefers Carney over other left-wing candidates, viewing him as a lesser evil.
• Carney's Policies: Carney seeks to shift Canada's trade focus towards Europe and Asia, aligning closely with China's global ambitions.

Notable Quotes:

“President Trump knows that... he basically threw the election to Mark Carney.”
(27:00)

“Mark Carney is openly saying he wants to reorient toward China.”
(28:18)

5. International Relations: China and Iran

Shapiro examines the broader implications of the trade war, particularly focusing on China's and Iran's strategic maneuvers in response to U.S. policies.

China:

• Multipolar World Ambitions: China is actively seeking to establish a multipolar world where it plays a central role, extending its influence across Eurasia, Africa, and South America.
• Trade Deals: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hints at ongoing trade negotiations, though specifics remain undisclosed. Shapiro expresses skepticism about China's willingness to back down despite economic pressures.

Iran:

• Nuclear Negotiations: Top Iranian officials are enticing the Trump administration with economic incentives to secure a robust nuclear agreement. Shapiro warns that Iran may use such deals to further anti-American agendas.
• Economic Pitches: Iran is promoting its economy to the U.S., aiming to entice investment and legitimize its nuclear aspirations.

Notable Quotes:

“China is perfectly happy with this situation.”
(19:23)

“Iran is attempting to basically play the Trump administration into allowing them a nuclear program...”
(34:59)

6. Cultural Shifts and Corporate Sponsorship Withdrawals

Addressing the cultural landscape in the United States, Shapiro highlights a noticeable retreat of major corporations from sponsoring Pride events. This shift reflects a broader rejection of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives that some Americans find alienating.

Key Points:

• Corporate Pullback: Companies like Mastercard, Pepsi, Nissan, and others are retracting their support from Pride March events, opting for minimal presence rather than overt sponsorship.
• Public Sentiment: Shapiro argues that while Americans may support LGBTQ+ individuals personally, they disapprove of large-scale, corporately-sponsored Pride displays that they perceive as overreach.
• Impact on DEI Efforts: This corporate withdrawal signals a diminishing appetite for aggressive DEI-driven marketing strategies.

Notable Quotes:

“Most have not opted out of all Pride activities in the United States. They'll instead kind of downgrade it to a branded booth or something.”
(25:07)

“They don't want giant pride parades sponsored by America's biggest corporations...”
(28:18)

7. Geopolitical Strategies and Future Outlook

In his concluding remarks, Shapiro emphasizes the necessity for the U.S. to maintain stability in its trade relations and counteract adversaries like China and Iran, who adeptly use economic integration as a tool against American interests.

Key Points:

• Strategic Alliances: Shapiro advocates for strong alliances to effectively counterbalancing China's and Iran's geopolitical maneuvers.
• Economic Stability: Highlighting the markets' eagerness for predictable trade policies, he urges swift action to finalize trade deals and stabilize economic relations.
• Cultural Normalcy: Despite global and economic turmoil, Shapiro notes a return to cultural normalcy in the U.S., dismissing previous cultural chaos as abating.

Notable Quotes:

“We need to get back to some sort of stability in the trade situation and as fast as humanly possible. The markets are begging for it.”
(21:54)

“The culture shift in the United States is very real. We are now norming in America.”
(34:59)

Conclusion

In this episode, Ben Shapiro presents a compelling argument in favor of the Trump administration's fiscal strategies through DOGE, countering mainstream media critiques with substantial data. He navigates the complex interplay between domestic policies, international trade wars, and cultural shifts, underscoring the challenges and future directions for the United States. Shapiro's analysis provides listeners with a conservative perspective on governmental efficiency, economic policies, and the evolving geopolitical landscape.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• On DOGE's Spending Cuts:
  “President Trump's administration has so far withheld at least $436.87 billion of congressionally approved funding...”
  (00:00)

• On Tax Bill Importance:
  “If the tax bill were not to pass, that would be a disastrous problem for the Trump administration...”
  (05:20)

• On Amazon's Tariff Transparency:
  “I think that Amazon should break down how much of a product price is the sales tax in each individual state.”
  (12:36)

• On Canadian Election Interference:
  “President Trump knows that... he basically threw the election to Mark Carney.”
  (27:00)

• On Corporate Sponsorship Withdrawals:
  “They don't want giant pride parades sponsored by America's biggest corporations...”
  (28:18)

• On Cultural Normalcy:
  “The culture shift in the United States is very real. We are now norming in America.”
  (34:59)

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the core discussions and insights from Episode 2189 of The Ben Shapiro Show, providing a thorough overview for those who have not listened to the episode.