Podcast Summary: The Ben Shapiro Show - Ep. 2251

Title: Woke Bill Burr Attacks Me AGAIN...PLUS A Russiagate SMOKING GUN?!

Release Date: August 1, 2025

1. Introduction

In Episode 2251 of The Ben Shapiro Show, Ben Shapiro addresses two major topics: comedian Bill Burr's ongoing criticism of him for labeling Burr as "woke," and explosive new revelations in the Russiagate scandal that purportedly implicate Hillary Rodham Clinton. The episode promises a deep dive into these controversies, supplemented by insights from guest Matt Taibbi.

2. Bill Burr's Accusations of Wokeness

Ben Shapiro revisits his earlier critique of Bill Burr, whom he accused of adopting "woke" ideologies. This confrontation has reignited tensions between the two.

• Ben Shapiro (00:03:13): "Bill Burr talked about going to one of your shows and complaining about you becoming woke, which sort of then crazy."

• Bill Burr (03:13 - 04:35): Accuses Shapiro of misunderstanding or misappropriating the term "woke," suggesting it's been co-opted by white liberals without genuine understanding. Burr criticizes Shapiro’s characterization, stating, "He's the worst thing about our people..."

Shapiro counters by defining "wokeness" based on critical race theory principles, arguing that Burr's statements reflect a belief in systemic racism embedded within American society. He elaborates on the contradictions within wokeness, emphasizing how it hampers open dialogue and perpetuates racial essentialism.

• Ben Shapiro (07:22): "I call Bill Burr woke because he is. He believes that America is a deeply racist place and that it's embedded in all of our social systems."

The exchange concludes with Shapiro expressing disappointment in Burr's shift from a respected comedian to what he perceives as a "woke jackass," lamenting the loss of Burr’s earlier comedic talent.

3. The Russiagate Smoking Gun: New Evidence and Implications

Shapiro unveils groundbreaking information purportedly uncovering Hillary Clinton's involvement in orchestrating the Russiagate scandal to distract from her email controversy.

He references a New York Post report revealing declassified intelligence files that suggest Clinton's campaign, in collaboration with Fusion GPS and figures like Julianne Smith, planned to undermine Donald Trump's campaign by fabricating evidence of Russian collusion.

• Shapiro (09:26): "According to explosive intelligence files declassified on Thursday, Hillary Clinton signed off on a plan hatched by a top campaign advisor to smear the then-candidate Donald Trump with false claims of Russian collusion..."

Shapiro emphasizes the gravity of these allegations, calling the evidence a "smoking gun of smoking guns" and suggesting that this reveals an orchestrated effort by Clinton and the Democratic establishment to manipulate the investigation for political gain.

• Shapiro (23:56): "These intelligence reports and related records... History will show that the Obama and Biden administration's law enforcement and intelligence agencies were weaponized against President Trump."

4. Interview with Matt Taibbi on Russiagate

Journalist Matt Taibbi joins the show to discuss the implications of the newly revealed emails and the Durham Report Annex.

• Ben Shapiro (26:59): "Matt, let's talk about what the Durham Annex just released shows... What do you make of this?"

• Matt Taibbi (27:24): Emphasizes the significance of the emails, asserting that Russiagate was a deliberate cover-up orchestrated by Clinton to divert attention from her email scandal. He describes it as "a setup designed to distract from an internal scandal involving Hillary Clinton."

Taibbi critiques the Intelligence Community's handling of the investigation, highlighting inconsistencies and alleged biases that favored Clinton over Trump.

• Matt Taibbi (31:07): "They pushed it as well. So it's just more excuse making... The whole thing was fraudulent from the very beginning."

He advocates for potential prosecutions based on the evidence, suggesting that the depth of the Deep State's involvement warrants legal action.

• Matt Taibbi (33:32): "They are looking at conduct that isn't just rooted in 2016 and 2017... They know that [prosecutions] is the plan all along."

5. April Doss Fired: Connection to Russiagate

Ben Shapiro discusses the recent firing of April Doss, former General Counsel of the NSA, linking her dismissal to unethical practices tied to the Russiagate investigation.

• Ben Shapiro (35:31): "April Doss was working as the top NSA lawyer... and was essentially serving in order to tie Trump to Russia."

Shapiro criticizes Doss’s background, highlighting her previous work with Senator Mark Warner and accusing her of advocating for clampdowns on free speech.

Luke Rosiak, investigative reporter from The Daily Wire, elaborates on the firing, attributing it to Doss's role in the orchestrated Russiagate setup.

• Luke Rosiak (35:42): "She was working for Mark Warner on the Senate Intelligence Committee... now been fired because the Russiagate investigation was profoundly unethical."

Rosiak also points out media misrepresentation, noting that outlets like The New York Times shifted focus to unrelated aspects, such as Laura Loomer's involvement, detracting from the core allegations against Doss.

• Luke Rosiak (38:37): "The New York Times... focus the whole story on the fact that Laura Loomer retweeted something... to redirect the focus from the facts."

6. Kamala Harris Book Announcement and Political Struggles

Kamala Harris announces her forthcoming book, 107 Days, chronicling her brief presidential campaign. Shapiro mocks the announcement, suggesting it will fail to compete with his own book.

• Kamala Harris (41:01): "Just over a year ago, I launched my campaign for President of the United States. 107 days traveling the country fighting for our future."

Shapiro critiques Harris's popularity and questions her decision not to pursue gubernatorial ambitions in California, implying her lack of support within her own party.

He also references Harris's awkward interaction on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert regarding Joe Biden's health, portraying it as indicative of her political struggles.

7. Gerrymandering and Census Issues

Shapiro delves into the contentious issue of gerrymandering, focusing on Texas and California's congressional maps.

He criticizes Texas Republicans, led by Governor Greg Abbott, for redrawing districts to favor their party, potentially increasing their seat count by five in the House of Representatives.

• Shapiro (51:56): "Texas could actually increase its seat difference by 5."

Conversely, he highlights JD Vance's critique of California's gerrymandering, pointing out the disproportionate representation favoring Democrats despite Republicans garnering significant votes.

Shapiro links these practices to the flawed 2020 Census, which he argues misallocated congressional and Electoral College seats due to undercounting in states like Texas and overcounting in states like California.

• Shapiro (49:00): "If the census had been done right... Donald Trump could have won the last presidential election without winning any of Wisconsin, Michigan or Pennsylvania."

8. Economic Policies under the Trump Administration

Shapiro provides an analysis of President Trump's economic strategies, particularly focusing on tariffs and their impact.

He distinguishes between temporary price increases due to tariffs, which he believes will ultimately reduce demand and stabilize prices, and long-term inflation driven by excessive monetary stimulus, as seen under Biden.

• Shapiro (57:23): "Bad policy can kill demand because it's basically an interference in the economy. But it's not going to lead to lasting inflation."

Shapiro praises Trump’s approach to deregulation and fostering innovation, citing advancements in AI and investment-friendly policies.

He criticizes Biden's inflationary tactics, attributing persistent price hikes to "fire hose money" without corresponding increases in goods and services.

Additionally, Shapiro discusses Trump's efforts to negotiate trade deals with Mexico, emphasizing the challenges posed by increased tariffs and the administration's attempts to mitigate economic stagnation through diplomatic means.

• Trump's Statement (64:48): "We have agreed to extend for a 90 day period... Mexico will continue to pay a 25% fentanyl tariff, 25% tariff on cars, and 50% tariff on steel, aluminum and copper."

9. Cultural News: Sydney Sweeney Controversy & Shannon Sharpe's Departure

Sydney Sweeney Controversy:

Shapiro addresses a backlash against actress Sydney Sweeney, who some critics have labeled a "Nazi symbol." He dismisses the controversy as a product of a "victimhood mentality" fostered by progressive ideologies.

• Shapiro (68:39): "Sydney Sweeney being hot is now Nazism... They are trying to make everything about putting yourself in the victim seat."

He contrasts this with successful brand strategies, noting that American Eagle's focus on traditional attractiveness led to high sales, unlike Bud Light's backlash for controversial endorsements.

Shannon Sharpe’s Departure from ESPN:

Shapiro discusses the firing of sports commentator Shannon Sharpe from ESPN following sexual harassment allegations. He critiques ESPN's reaction, framing it as a failure of cancel culture to protect individuals from false or exaggerated claims.

• Shapiro (73:10): "If the new system is... an allegation and settlement is tantamount to guilt... a lot of people can get fired over ESPN in the future."

He sympathizes with Sharpe, suggesting that personal misconduct, especially unproven allegations, should not overshadow professional accomplishments or lead to career termination.

10. Conclusion

Ben Shapiro wraps up the episode by emphasizing the need for membership to access ongoing discussions and updates. He hints at forthcoming segments on immigration and other pressing issues, encouraging listeners to join The Daily Wire for exclusive content.

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Shapiro (07:22): "I call Bill Burr woke because he is. He believes that America is a deeply racist place and that it's embedded in all of our social systems."

• Matt Taibbi (27:24): "Russiagate was a cover up... It was a setup designed to distract from an internal scandal involving Hillary Clinton."

• Luke Rosiak (38:37): "The New York Times... need to redirect the focus from the facts, which are this woman's long record of things that are really objectionable."

Final Notes:

This episode of The Ben Shapiro Show presents a critical view of contemporary political and cultural issues from a conservative perspective, highlighting alleged misconduct within Democratic circles and critiquing progressive cultural phenomena. The discussions are reinforced by guest insights, aiming to provide listeners with a comprehensive analysis of the topics addressed.