Detailed Summary of The Ben Shapiro Show Episode: Ep. 2226 - “It’s Bernie’s Party, You Can Cry If You Want To”
Release Date: June 26, 2025
Host: Ben Shapiro
Publisher: The Daily Wire

1. Introduction

In Episode 2226 of The Ben Shapiro Show, Ben Shapiro delves into the Democratic Party's internal shift towards Bernie Sanders' brand of progressive politics, epitomized by the rise of Zoran Mamdani. The episode also highlights President Trump's recent foreign policy successes, particularly his impactful visit to the NATO summit, and critiques the Democratic Party's direction and leadership.

2. The Rise of Zoran Mamdani and the Democratic Party's Shift

Ben Shapiro begins by analyzing the Democratic Party's current trajectory, emphasizing how Zoran Mamdani's near-election as New York City's mayoral candidate signifies Bernie Sanders' dominance within the party.

Ben Shapiro [00:00]: "Zoran Mamdani is the new face of the Democratic Party. That means that Bernie Sanders has now fully taken over the Democratic Party."

Shapiro critiques Mamdani's qualifications, portraying him as inexperienced and reliant on his privileged background rather than genuine grassroots support.

Ben Shapiro [06:33]: "Zoran Mamdani has experienced a shocking lack of struggle in his young and non-achievement oriented life. [...] And his social media savvy outsider campaign has carried him to polling neck and neck with the other front runner."

He argues that Mamdani's success is not despite his background but because of it, attributing his rise to what Shapiro terms an "omnicause" driven by radical leftist ideology.

Ben Shapiro [14:45]: "He’s winning because of those things, because there's an omnicause on the left... which channel destructive hatred of traditional institutions."

3. Democratic Party's Internal Struggles

Shapiro contends that the Democratic Party is internally "shrinking" while radical elements grow, likening the movement to a "tumor" that undermines the party's health.

Ben Shapiro [03:15]: "It's essentially a tumor destroying the health of the Democratic Party from the inside."

He presents poll data illustrating that Mamdani primarily garners support from affluent, educated white liberals, suggesting a disconnect between these supporters and broader Democratic constituencies.

Ben Shapiro [20:10]: "The takeaway is that upper class white people predominantly love this crap. [...] College educated white people love this sort of nonsense."

4. President Trump's Foreign Policy Successes

Transitioning to foreign policy, Shapiro highlights President Trump's successful negotiation at the NATO summit, securing a significant increase in defense spending commitments from member states.

Ben Shapiro [52:11]: "President Trump hailed a historic, monumental win for the United States, Europe and Western civilization as the NATO alliance agreed to his demand to equalize the burden of common defense, with a 5% of GDP floor on military spending for its members."

Shapiro underscores this as a counterpoint to previous allegations that Trump undermined NATO, portraying his actions as strengthening American and allied security.

Ben Shapiro [52:59]: "President Trump was supposed to be the guy who undermined American security. [...] Now it just turns out that Donald Trump has gotten NATO countries to increase the amount they are spending on common defense."

5. Intel Assessment of the Iran Strikes

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the successful strikes authorized by President Trump against Iran's nuclear facilities. Shapiro defends Trump's claims of their effectiveness, aligning them with Israeli intelligence assessments.

Ben Shapiro [33:34]: "According to Israeli intelligence services, the strikes caused very significant damage to Iran's nuclear facilities."

He criticizes mainstream media outlets for disseminating reports that downplay the success of the strikes, asserting that leaked intelligence assessments with "low confidence" aim to undermine Trump's leadership.

Ben Shapiro [35:05]: "The propaganda media has deployed their usual tactic, selectively releasing portions of illegally leaked classified intelligence assessments... to undermine President Trump's decisive leadership."

6. Democratic Leadership and Shifting Support

Shapiro further examines Democratic leaders like Chuck Schumer, who appear to support radical candidates like Mamdani, thereby alienating the party's traditional base.

Ben Shapiro [25:57]: "Chuck Schumer... is eager to meet with the guy who says, globalize the intifada and chance it. What a disgrace he is."

He argues that this alignment with radicals is detrimental, leading to potential organizational collapse and loss of wider electoral support.

7. Commentaries on Media and Foreign Policy Critiques

Addressing media narratives, Shapiro criticizes commentators like Joy Reid and Cornel West for undermining America's foreign policy actions, particularly regarding Iran.

Ben Shapiro [47:04]: "What does it make Iran, which was shooting missiles into Israeli civilian areas... Why are we judging them?"

He contends that such critiques ignore the broader geopolitical threats posed by Iran, emphasizing the necessity of America's preventive measures.

8. Diddy's Criminal Charges and Other Political Insights

Shapiro briefly touches upon the legal developments concerning Diddy, noting that while some charges have been dropped, severe charges related to sex trafficking remain. Additionally, he comments on Representative LaMonica McIver's legal troubles, illustrating the broader challenges within the Democratic Party.

9. Conclusions and Future Projections

In his concluding remarks, Shapiro warns that the Democratic Party's embrace of radicalism will lead to its eventual downfall. He anticipates that without addressing these internal issues, the party will continue to lose credibility and electoral support.

Ben Shapiro [64:12]: "The Democratic Party does not have the capacity to stand up to the radicalism within its own party. They believe as always, that the radicals are the future."

He predicts that prominent figures like Bernie Sanders may eventually push even more radical candidates into leadership roles, further destabilizing the party.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ben Shapiro [00:00]: "Zoran Mamdani is the new face of the Democratic Party. That means that Bernie Sanders has now fully taken over the Democratic Party."
• Zoran Mamdani [06:33]: "Let me close with this... we will remake this great city not in my image, but in the image of every New Yorker who has only known struggle."
• Ben Shapiro [14:45]: "That scavenger philosophy has gained an awful lot of credence on a dissatisfied left, a left that achieved many of its victories and now has plunged itself directly into nihilism."
• President Donald Trump [33:34]: "It was obliteration. [...] They have guys that go in there after the hit and say it was total obliteration."
• Ben Shapiro [47:04]: "Mutually assured destruction. And I think what would, in a weird way, make the Middle East... maybe the Middle east would be calmer."
• Ben Shapiro [52:11]: "President Trump hailed a historic, monumental win for the United States... as the NATO alliance agreed to his demand to equalize the burden of common defense."

Final Thoughts

Episode 2226 of The Ben Shapiro Show offers a critical examination of the Democratic Party's current state, highlighting the rise of progressive radicals and the potential consequences for the party's future. Simultaneously, it underscores President Trump's foreign policy achievements, portraying them as significant victories for American and allied interests. Shapiro's analysis paints a picture of a Party in crisis, grappling with internal radicalism, and a contrasting portrayal of strong conservative leadership on the global stage.