The Ben Shapiro Show – Ep. 2288
ANOTHER Church Shooting…What The Hell Is Going On?
Date: September 29, 2025
Host: Ben Shapiro (The Daily Wire)
Episode Overview
This episode centers on two tragic mass shootings over the weekend—both perpetrated by Iraq war veterans—one at a Mormon church in Michigan and another at a restaurant in North Carolina. Ben Shapiro explores the causes and political fallout of these attacks, particularly the role of mental illness, shifting patterns of political violence, and evolving “permission structures” that, in his view, legitimize or encourage violence on the political left. The episode also touches on a variety of additional topics, including clashes between ICE and protesters in Portland, the New York Times’ treatment of conservative figures, the government shutdown standoff, shifting attitudes toward Marjorie Taylor Greene, and ongoing developments in Gaza and New York City politics.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Church Shooting in Michigan & Mass Shooting in North Carolina
[00:00 – 06:57]
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Over the weekend, a mass shooting occurred at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc, Michigan, leaving four dead and several injured. The perpetrator, a Marine veteran, entered by driving into the building, set it on fire, and began shooting into the crowd.
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A similar incident took place in North Carolina, when another Marine veteran attacked a crowded restaurant, demonstrating clear signs of mental instability and paranoia.
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Shapiro emphasizes a common pattern of mental illness among mass shooters and failures in the mental health and criminal justice systems to intervene decisively.
“People who obviously have symptomatic mental illness, who clearly are dangerous to other people, [are allowed] to simply walk the streets without any sort of safety, serious consequence, or any capacity to reign them in.” —Ben Shapiro [06:48]
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He reiterates a longstanding call for expanding psychiatric infrastructure and loosening involuntary commitment regulations.
2. Rise in Left-Wing Political Violence
[06:57 – 14:20]
- Citing recent data, Shapiro notes a shift: for the first time in 30 years, left-wing terrorist attacks have outpaced far-right violence (according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies).
- He discusses changing “permission structures” for political violence, arguing that, increasingly, left-wing rhetoric provides justification or tacit approval for acts of violence and civil unrest.
- Shapiro highlights Democratic politicians' responses and media narratives that, in his view, downplay these trends and instead focus on perceived structural injustices or excuses (“deep embedded cruelty in American society”).
3. ICE Protests and National Guard Deployments
[18:40 – 21:49]
- Shapiro covers escalating clashes between ICE agents and protesters in Portland, with federal intervention escalating under President Trump. He mocks the performative, costume-laden nature of some demonstrators.
- Republican state and local authorities are generally supportive of the federal deployments, in contrast to Democratic officials who object on grounds of overreach and civil rights.
- Shapiro frames Democratic opposition as prioritizing objection to federal law enforcement over addressing actual crime.
“If one thing businesses in Chicago are afraid of, it’s the stopping of the crime. They need more crime in Chicago. ... The Democrats’ willingness to embrace the 20 side of nearly every 80/20 issue is truly mind boggling.” —Ben Shapiro [21:17]
4. “Permission Structures” for Left-Wing Violence
[21:49 – 24:20]
- Recounts how, since the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, leftist rhetoric has increased, framing opposition as an existential threat or “implicit violence.”
- Quotes Ayanna Pressley and Rev. Al Sharpton as casting Trump's agenda as specifically targeting Black women (“golf, attack black women, attack enemies...”) [14:34], and censures praise for figures like Assata Shakur.
- Shapiro critiques Rep. Pressley leading a call-and-response quoting Shakur (“It is our duty to fight for our freedom”) as tacitly supporting or ennobling political violence.
5. The Language of “Fascism” and Escalation
[17:43 – 18:39, 24:20 – 27:16]
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Notes that Democrats and media figures continue using the language of “fascism” to describe GOP figures (e.g., Gavin Newsom, Randy Weingarten), and suggests this normalizes or pre-legitimizes violent responses.
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Shapiro argues that this rhetoric is reflected and echoed at the New York Times, intensifying the permissiveness of violence as a means to an end.
“It is such a horribly edited newspaper... they are really pushing that permission structure for violence.” —Ben Shapiro [18:39]
6. NYT and Its Treatment of Conservative Figures
[27:16 – 34:52]
- Criticizes the Times' treatment of Twitch streamer Hasan Piker (“more than warm to terrorist violence”) and accuses the paper of providing platforms for far-left intellectuals (Ta-Nehisi Coates, Nikole Hannah-Jones).
- Dismisses Nikole Hannah-Jones’s recent essay that, according to Shapiro, mischaracterizes Charlie Kirk’s positions posthumously.
- Claims that the paper is quick to lionize even right-wing figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene, so long as they break with Trump (“Strange new respect...”).
“All it took to get them to write a good piece about Marjorie Taylor Greene—a person with the intelligence of a turnip—is her turning on President Trump.” —Ben Shapiro [33:59]
7. New York Mayoral Politics and Housing
[34:52 – 39:02]
- Covers Eric Adams dropping out of the NYC mayoral race, predicting victory for Zoran Mamdani (“a communist with Islamist tendencies”).
- Mamdani’s proposed plan: government buy-up and socialization of housing, using community land trusts and permanent public ownership.
- Shapiro draws on historical failures of public housing (e.g., Pruitt-Igoe) as evidence such plans will backfire.
“This crap fails every time in stripe. Do it, do it in New York. See how it works out for you.” —Ben Shapiro [39:02]
8. Gaza Hostage Deal & US-Israel Policy
[52:13 – 59:38]
- Outlines the draft peace and release deal being negotiated for the Gaza Strip, including terms for an IDF withdrawal, hostages for prisoners exchange, and international management of Gaza.
- Shapiro is skeptical Hamas will accept; also argues that history shows such deals (e.g., the Gilad Shalit exchange) embolden militants in the long run.
- Netanyahu appears optimistic, giving credit to President Trump for facilitating the negotiation process.
9. Government Shutdown & DOJ Prosecutions
[43:29 – 52:13]
- Discusses the looming government shutdown, blaming Democrats for pushing for more spending and insisting on health care for undocumented migrants as a condition.
- Showcases soundbites from both Republican and Democratic congressional leaders laying blame for potential shutdowns on the other side.
- Shapiro surveys the recent developments concerning the prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey—arguing that Democrats now decrying “politicized justice” are reaping what they sowed during the Trump-Biden transitions.
“The question becomes: Revenge for what? If you didn’t speak out while the DOJ was targeting Donald Trump... it’s very difficult now to turn around and claim what Trump is doing is unprecedented and terrifying.” —Ben Shapiro [52:13]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On failures to address mental illness and mass shootings:
“People who obviously have symptomatic mental illness, who clearly are dangerous to other people, [are allowed] to simply walk the streets without any sort of safety, serious consequence, or any capacity to reign them in.” —Ben Shapiro [06:48]
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On the language of the left:
“If you make a point that they disagree with, then that is in fact a denial of their identity; it is in fact an act of implicit violence. And that act of implicit violence is to be met with actual violence.” —Ben Shapiro [21:55]
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On the New York Times and Marjorie Taylor Greene:
“All it took to get them to write a good piece about Marjorie Taylor Greene—a person with the intelligence of a turnip—is her turning on President Trump. That’s all it took.” —Ben Shapiro [33:59]
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On NYC public housing proposals:
“This crap fails every time in stripe. Do it, do it in New York. See how it works out for you.” —Ben Shapiro [39:02]
Important Timestamps
- 00:00 – 06:57: Weekend mass shootings in Michigan & North Carolina
- 06:57 – 14:20: Left-wing political violence outpaces right-wing for first time in decades
- 14:34 – 16:42: Ayanna Pressley’s praise for Assata Shakur [with Sharpton’s call-and-response]
- 17:43 – 18:39: Teachers’ union rhetoric on “fighting fascism”
- 18:40 – 21:49: ICE clashes and National Guard deployments in Portland, Chicago, Memphis
- 21:49 – 24:20: Rise of left-wing permission structures for violence
- 24:20 – 27:16: Language escalation: Democrats label GOP “fascist”
- 27:16 – 34:52: NYT treatment of conservative figures; Charlie Kirk; Marjorie Taylor Greene
- 34:52 – 39:02: New York mayoral race; social housing debate; historical housing failures
- 43:29 – 47:00: Government shutdown standoff (voices: John Thune, Hakeem Jeffries, Steve Scalise)
- 47:00 – 52:13: DOJ prosecutions; indictment of James Comey; Schumer and Klobuchar reactions
- 52:13 – 59:38: Gaza ceasefire/hostage deal negotiations; Netanyahu interview
Tone & Delivery
Ben Shapiro maintains his trademark fast-paced, acerbic, and polemical style throughout the episode. He mixes detailed reporting on current events with deeply critical—even mocking—commentary targeting perceived excesses and missteps by Democrats, mainstream media outlets (especially the New York Times), far-left activists, and the political establishment. The episode is a blend of somber outrage (regarding mass shootings) and sarcastic dismissal (especially of opponents’ arguments and media coverage).
Summary for Non-Listeners:
This episode is a dense and rapid-fire walkthrough of several major news stories—two mass shootings by veterans, an alarming rise in left-wing political violence, ICE and protester clashes, and a governmental and media landscape that, Ben Shapiro argues, is increasingly tolerant of violent or extremist rhetoric so long as it targets conservatives. Notably, he excoriates the New York Times for what he sees as dishonest portrayals of conservative figures post-assassination. The show also delves into New York mayoral politics, critiques new public housing schemes, breaks down the shutdown standoff in D.C., and covers a developing ceasefire proposal in Gaza, all through a deeply skeptical, conservative lens.