Summary of "The Ben Shapiro Show" Episode 2210 - Greta Goes To Gaza!
Podcast Information:
- Title: The Ben Shapiro Show
- Host: Ben Shapiro (The Daily Wire)
- Description: A fast-paced daily program that delivers news in a comprehensive, conservative, and principled manner.
- Episode Title: Greta Goes To Gaza!
- Release Date: June 4, 2025
I. The Big Beautiful Bill: Senate Negotiations and Republican Fractures
Overview of the Big Beautiful Bill: Ben Shapiro begins by discussing the progress of the "Big Beautiful Bill" in the Senate, highlighting the ongoing negotiations within the Republican caucus. The final form of the bill remains uncertain due to internal disagreements.
Internal Republican Debates:
- Fiscal Hawks vs. Spending Cutters:
- Senator Ron Johnson criticizes the bill for maintaining Biden-era spending levels, stating, "This bill maintains Biden levels of spending. It does not, in fact, cut back to 2019 pre-pandemic levels of spending" [12:45].
- Conversely, Senator Josh Hawley argues that the bill goes too far in cutting spending, particularly targeting Medicaid with work requirements.
Conflict Between Elon Musk and President Trump:
- Elon Musk vehemently opposes the bill, tweeting, "I just can't stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it. You know you did wrong. You know it." [05:30].
- Ben Shapiro analyzes the tension, noting Musk's departure from the administration and speculating on Trump's irritation with Musk's "social media sabotage."
Ben Shapiro's Analysis: Shapiro emphasizes the ideological versus pragmatic divide within the GOP:
"What's emerging right now inside the Republican Party is a fight between the ideal and the pragmatic. And neither side is actually wrong in this particular fight." [20:15].
II. Federal Spending and Tax Policies: Ideological vs. Practical Perspectives
Historical Context of Federal Spending: Shapiro provides a detailed overview of federal spending from 2017 to 2025, highlighting significant increases during the Trump administration:
"Over his four years, President Trump signed or enacted $7.8 trillion in new initiatives. Only $2 trillion was attributable to the 2017 tax cuts, meaning $5.8 trillion was everything else." [23:50].
Entitlement Programs Driving Spending: He breaks down the 2025 federal budget, emphasizing that:
- Social Security: $1.4 trillion (20%)
- Medicare: $1 trillion (14%)
- Medicaid and Other Health: $800 billion (11%)
- Net Interest: Nearly $1 trillion (14%)
Together, these programs account for nearly 60% of the federal budget [30:10].
Critique of Conservative Budget Cuts: Shapiro argues that while cutting discretionary spending is beneficial, it won't address the underlying issues of entitlement-driven debt:
"Until the American people get serious about that, ain't nothing going to change." [35:25].
III. Immigration Policy and Recent Terrorist Attack
Boulder, Colorado Terrorist Incident: Shapiro reports on a terrorist attack in Boulder perpetrated by a 45-year-old Egyptian national, Mohammed Solomon, who:
- Overstayed his tourist visa and claimed asylum.
- Participated in a pro-hostage rally.
- Threw Molotov cocktails, injuring 12 people.
Analysis of Immigration Policies: He criticizes the current immigration system, linking lax policies to increased security threats:
"This is just a Jew-hating, radical Islamist piece of crap." [48:30].
Government Response:
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizes the administration's commitment to revoking visas of those who hate the country.
- Kristi Noem, Department of Homeland Security head, announces the detention of Solomon's family by ICE [56:03].
IV. Greta Thunberg's Visit to Gaza: Media and Activism Critique
Criticism of Greta Thunberg: Shapiro delivers a scathing critique of climate activist Greta Thunberg, labeling her an "obnoxious brat" and questioning her motivations.
Greta's Journey to Gaza:
- Event: Greta boards the USS Minnow for a three-hour tour to Gaza.
- Purpose: Claimed to bring humanitarian aid and dismantle Zionism.
Shapiro's Perspective: He mocks Greta's activism, associating it with Hamas propaganda:
"Greta's new pleasure cruise... part of a gigantic propaganda effort launched by the exact same pro-Hamas forces that lied earlier this week." [50:45].
Media's Role: Shapiro criticizes mainstream media for uncritically reporting Hamas-affiliated sources and perpetuating misinformation about the Gaza aid attacks. He highlights the Washington Post's retraction of a misleading headline:
"CNN put out a headline... Washington Post had to issue a botched retraction." [53:15].
White House Response:
- Caroline Levitt, spokesperson, rebuts media claims about the aid distribution attacks, urging journalists to verify reports before publishing [56:03].
V. International News: Ukraine's Drone Assault on Russia (Operation Spider's Web)
Overview of the Attack: Shapiro discusses Ukraine's strategic drone attack on Russian airfields across multiple regions, causing significant damage:
- Attack Details: Use of 117 drones targeting airfields from Murmansk to Irkutsk, resulting in $7 billion in damages [57:30].
- Strategic Impact: Demonstrates Ukraine's capability to strike Russian military infrastructure.
Geopolitical Implications: He analyzes the potential consequences, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to bolster its own security measures against similar threats.
VI. Additional Topics
Economic Indicators:
- Inflation: Shapiro notes the latest statistics show inflation at 2.1% year-over-year, aligning with Federal Reserve targets [40:10].
- Job Creation: Highlights a slowdown in job creation, referencing ADP data with only 37,000 jobs added in May [43:50].
President Trump's Foreign Policy:
- Iran Negotiations: Shapiro critiques the Trump administration's stance on Iran, insisting on no uranium enrichment as a non-negotiable term.
- Ukrainian Resistance: Praises Ukraine's resilience and strategic military actions against Russia [55:00].
Media and Political Commentary: Shapiro consistently criticizes mainstream media outlets for perceived biases and inaccuracies, particularly regarding immigration, federal spending, and international conflicts.
Conclusion
In this episode, Ben Shapiro delves into a wide array of topics, from domestic policy debates within the Republican Party and federal spending concerns to international conflicts and media portrayals of activism. He maintains a critical stance on both political opponents and media narratives, advocating for pragmatic solutions over ideological purity. The episode culminates in a strong condemnation of Greta Thunberg's activism and a detailed analysis of Ukraine's significant military actions against Russia.
Notable Quotes:
- "Elon is terribly wrong about the one big, beautiful bill." [34:05] – Ben Shapiro on Elon Musk's opposition.
- "The American people are not in favor of this [social radicalism]. It is not only silly, it is insulting to women and girls." [50:50] – Shapiro on California's track policies.
- "President Trump pledged he was not going to touch these things [entitlement programs]." [25:30] – Commentary on Trump's fiscal policies.
Disclaimer: This summary captures the key discussions and viewpoints presented by Ben Shapiro in Episode 2210 of The Ben Shapiro Show. It aims to provide an objective overview of the episode's content for those who have not listened to it.