The Ben Shapiro Show: Ep. 2267

Trump Protects The American Flag!…PLUS We Break a MAJOR Story

Date: August 26, 2025
Host: Ben Shapiro
Podcast: The Daily Wire

Overview

In this fast-paced episode, Ben Shapiro dives into a series of high-profile topics: President Trump's new executive order on flag burning, his attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, the government's controversial investment in Intel, and a major explosive scoop from The Daily Wire regarding the American Medical Association's position on "gender affirming care." Shapiro alternates between praise and criticism of Trump's actions, offers historical and legal context, and uses characteristic sarcasm to analyze Democratic opposition and cultural news.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump’s Flag Burning Executive Order: Good Trump?

Segment Starts: 02:20

• Announcement: Trump proposes an executive order to enforce criminal penalties for flag burning.
• Order Details: According to Trump, "If you burn a flag, you get one year in jail. No early exits, no nothing... burning this representation of America may incite violence and riot." ([03:00], President Trump)
• Legal Context: Ben breaks down the distinction between symbolic speech and incitement:
  • Texas v. Johnson (1989) established flag burning as protected speech unless it incites lawless action.
  • The EO is carefully worded to avoid First Amendment violations by only applying to situations involving incitement or violence.
• Critique of Court Ruling: Shapiro asserts the Supreme Court’s ruling was incorrect and expresses long-standing support for a constitutional amendment barring flag desecration:
  • "Justice Scalia was wrong about this... The First Amendment was not designed to protect flag burning." ([05:00], Ben Shapiro)
• Political Strategy: Shapiro notes the EO effectively baits the left into displaying anti-American sentiment, framing Trump’s move as politically savvy.
• Clarifying Misconceptions: Addresses false equivalency between American flag, Pride flag, and BLM flag burnings—none are currently outlawed under U.S. law.

Notable Quote:

"The American flag remains the only thing to which we should have total fealty. The Constitution of the United States, the American flag. These are the bases for being a good American."
— Ben Shapiro, [06:10]

2. Firing of Fed Governor Lisa Cook: Bad Trump

Segment Starts: 19:00

• Context: Trump attempts to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook over unproven allegations of mortgage fraud.
• Process Problem: Firing a governor requires proof of "gross misconduct," which has not been reached; firing on the basis of allegations is both immoral and destabilizing.
  • "I do not like, number one, because you shouldn’t fire people on the basis of allegations alone." ([20:41], Ben Shapiro)
• Executive Overreach Warning: Ben warns conservatives against celebrating executive overreach, reminding them that political power is cyclical.
• Lisa Cook's Response: Cook refuses to resign, citing lack of authority and legal standing for her removal.

Notable Quote:

"This idea... that if you mess with the mechanisms of government in a major way because it is convenient to do so, it won't come back to bite you in the ass, that has never been true in the history of American politics."
— Ben Shapiro, [22:41]

3. Government Buys a Stake in Intel: More "Bad Trump"

Segment Starts: 28:21

• Federal Investment: The government takes a 10% stake in Intel, justified as quid pro quo for CHIPS Act funding.
• Shapiro's Critique: Shapiro rails against this as fundamentally un-American and anti-free market, drawing comparisons to sovereign wealth funds in Norway or Middle Eastern nations.
  • “We are not a Middle Eastern potentate. We are not the country of Norway... This is not good policy.” ([29:03], [31:24], Ben Shapiro)
• Slippery Slope: Predicts political interference in business, especially if Democrats regain control ("If the government gets in bed with a company, someone's getting screwed—either the taxpayer or the company.") ([31:24])
• Counterpoint from Guest: Kevin Hassett argues it is a fair exchange for taxpayer funds, but Shapiro remains deeply skeptical.

Notable Quote:

"If you get in bed with the government, you shouldn’t be surprised when they f*** you."
— Ben Shapiro, [31:24]

4. Inconsistent China Policy and Chinese Students

Segment Starts: 32:50

• Trump Policy: Allows 600,000 Chinese students to remain in the U.S.—ostensibly to keep low-tier universities afloat.
  • Trump: “It is very important, 600,000 students...a much better relationship economically than it was before.” ([33:08], President Trump)
• Contradiction: While proposing this, Trump also threatens 200% tariffs on Chinese magnets, showing a lack of coherent strategy.
• Shapiro’s Criticism:
  • "Are we trying to box China in or are we trying to let China out?" ([35:50], Ben Shapiro)
  • Criticizes subsidizing universities through foreign students and points out security/IP concerns.

Notable Quote:

"Those are 600,000 spots that American kids won't get... they'll go back to their mother country with an American education in hand and all the connections... funneling information back to the Chinese."
— Ben Shapiro, [34:30]

5. Crime and Democrat Responses

Segment Starts: 37:30

• Trump’s Position: Describes deploying troops in Chicago as common sense, and criticizes Democratic leaders for opposing crime-fighting measures.
  • "I'm not a dictator. I'm a man with great common sense and I'm a smart person." ([37:49], President Trump)
• Shapiro’s Perspective: Sees Trump’s actions as baiting Democrats into taking unpopular positions supporting criminals over law enforcement.
• Democratic Leadership Soundbites: Plays responses from Democratic mayors and governors, slamming Trump’s moves as "unconstitutional" or "un-American," then lampoons their rhetoric.

Notable Quotes:

"Is he going to be violating federal law? No, he's not going to violate federal law when it comes to this sort of stuff."
— Ben Shapiro, [38:30]

6. Exclusive Daily Wire Scoop: American Medical Association (AMA) Exposed

Segment Starts: 44:20

• The Investigation: Leaked footage of a meeting with AMA president Dr. Bobby Mukhamala shows the AMA supporting "gender-affirming care" on dubious scientific grounds.
  • Dr. Bobby admits, "I'm not an expert at all in the science that you're talking to me about. I defer to the experts." ([47:04])
  • Acknowledges reliance on a 2% regret rate for surgeries, which Ben points out is misleading based on selection bias and poor data.
    • “That is not true... regret often takes an average of eight years to manifest.” ([48:16], Ben Shapiro)
• Self-Contradictions: The AMA’s statements oscillate between asserting gender identity is fixed and also that it can change, undermining their own rationale for medical interventions.
• Defensive, Non-Expert Leadership: Dr. Bobby repeatedly shies away from debate, redirecting to other ‘experts’, and falls back on talking points without direct evidence.
• Preview for Next Episode: Teases an even more radical conversation with an AMA ‘trans expert’ featured tomorrow.

Memorable Quotes:

"If the AMA is not the expert on this, then who precisely is?"
— Ben Shapiro, [52:38]

"Faced with legitimate science challenging his position, the AMA demonstrates total dereliction of duty."
— Ben Shapiro, [47:18]

7. Immigration and Judicial News

Segment Starts: 56:47

• Abrego Garcia Case: Federal judge blocks the Trump administration from deporting an accused MS-13 gang member until further review.
• Shapiro’s Commentary: Mocks the legal wrangling and hyperbolic arguments presented by the defense attorney.

8. Democratic National Committee (DNC) Meeting Satire

Segment Starts: 58:09

• Land Acknowledgement: Shapiro lampoons the DNC's ritual opening by referencing original stewardship of Minneapolis lands, calling it alienating and "moronic".
• Democratic Messaging: Criticizes Democratic leaders for empty resistance rhetoric and curse words ("damn", "shit"), highlighting ineffectiveness and disconnect.
• Crime, ICE, and ‘Wokeness’: Mocks statements from mayors and governors around the country for refusing to cooperate with ICE and against tougher crime measures.

9. Pop Culture Interlude: Cracker Barrel Logo Debacle

Segment Starts: 63:39

• Recap: Discusses the restaurant’s failed rebranding and public backlash, ending with a statement from Cracker Barrel that promises a return to roots.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Flag Burning:
  "If you burn a flag, you get one year in jail... burning this representation of America may incite violence and riot." — President Trump, [03:00]
• On Lisa Cook Firing:
  "You shouldn't fire people on the basis of allegations alone." — Ben Shapiro, [20:41]
• On Intel Stake:
  "If you get in bed with the government, you shouldn’t be surprised when they f*** you." — Ben Shapiro, [31:24]
• On China Policy:
  "Are we trying to box China in or are we trying to let China out?" — Ben Shapiro, [35:50]
• On AMA's Scientific Claims:
  "Faced with legitimate science challenging his position, the AMA demonstrates total dereliction of duty." — Ben Shapiro, [47:18]

Episode Flow and Tone

• Shapiro oscillates between deep legal analysis, impassioned political commentary and scathing sarcasm.
• He utilizes direct quotes, news clips, and historical references.
• The tone is relentless, brisk, and unyieldingly conservative, often using humor and ridicule to highlight points.

Recap — Key Takeaways

• Trump’s executive order on flag burning is more legally moderate than media critics suggest; Shapiro supports the sentiment but calls for a constitutional solution.
• Trump’s attempts to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook are based on shaky grounds and dangerous precedent.
• The U.S. government's purchase of a stake in Intel is a misguided and risky deviation from free-market principles.
• The administration’s China policy is incoherent—simultaneously tough on trade, soft on education visas.
• The Daily Wire’s investigation into the AMA reveals shocking ignorance and ideological rigidity from medical leadership around gender transition care.
• Democratic leadership is portrayed as performatively woke, out-of-touch, and ineffective.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode delivers rapid-fire analysis on the latest political controversies, juggernauting from executive actions to bureaucratic battles, radical shifts in economic policy, and investigative journalism. Shapiro’s proprietary “Good Trump, Bad Trump” segment returns in force, with honest critiques of both conservative and liberal players. The tone is combative, detailed, and built to arm his audience with talking points and legal frameworks—the high-speed, hard-hitting style the show promises.