The Ben Shapiro Show – Ep. 2303

Title: I’m Shocked – SHOCKED! – To Find NBA Gambling Going On!
Date: October 24, 2025
Host: Ben Shapiro
Guest: David Cone (co-host, Crane & Company), John Bickley (co-host, Morning Wire)

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This episode dives into the explosive NBA gambling and match-fixing scandal breaking across national headlines. Ben Shapiro dissects the scandal's scope, the implications for legalized sports betting, and its intersection with organized crime. He’s joined by David Cone for in-depth analysis on the scandal’s impact on players, coaches, and the NBA's integrity, and later by John Bickley to discuss a Massachusetts case challenging state foster care policy on religious grounds.

The episode then segues into political commentary, including Bernie Sanders' endorsement of AOC for a 2028 presidential run, progressive influence in Democratic Party politics, the ongoing government shutdown and its political ramifications, immigration and federal benefits debates, and a high-profile Trump pardon in crypto.

NBA GAMBLING & MATCH-FIXING SCANDAL

[00:52–09:22]

Key Points

• Massive Indictments:
  • Over 30 individuals, including Portland Trailblazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, indicted by federal prosecutors in a nationwide gambling, poker, and match-fixing operation with Mafia involvement.
  • Two strands: (1) classic sports/game fixing (insider info, players tanking), (2) mafia-run rigged poker games leveraging NBA personalities as “face cards.”
• Implications for NBA Integrity:
  • Raises questions about the NBA’s embrace of legalized gambling just six years prior.
  • Game fixing included players altering performance (e.g., Rozier pulling himself from a game early so prop bets would cash).
  • Coaches allegedly sharing inside information for gambling profit.
• Previous Scandals:
  • Reference to last year’s lifetime ban of Jontay Porter (Toronto Raptors) for conspiring to fix games for gambling while in debt to gamblers.

Notable Quotes

• Ben Shapiro [04:14]:
  “The revelations instantly ranked among the most damaging in NBA history, throwing into question the integrity of the NBA product.”

• FBI Director Cash Patel [05:05]:
  “This is an illegal gambling operation and sports rigging operation that spanned the course of years…this case is very much ongoing.”

• NY FBI Assistant Director Christopher Rya [06:04]:
  “Victims were attracted to play alongside professional athletes and coaches…only to be unknowingly deceived through rigged shuffling machines, fixing the odds in their favor as alleged.”

IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION WITH DAVID CONE

[09:23–17:35]

Main Insights

• Breakdown of the Two Indictments:
  • Game-Fixing: Involvement of Terry Rozier, manipulating own or team performance to hit betting targets.
    “Notifying gamblers when he would play, or even more specifically removing himself possibly from games after only nine minutes so…his prop bet point total under would hit.” – David Cone [09:50]
  • Mafia Poker Games: Chauncey Billups & Damon Jones as celebrity bait. High-stakes games rigged with technology (shuffling machines, x-ray tables), with Billups acting as the draw for wealthy, unwitting victims.
• Legalized Gambling’s Role:
  • Both agree the true scandal is athletes manipulating games, not illegal poker.
  • Concerns raised about the marriage of sports and real-time betting, especially with mainstream platforms like ESPN now marketing sportsbooks.
• Wider Sports Impact:
  • Compares to historical scandals, e.g., MLB’s Black Sox (Shoeless Joe Jackson), Tim Donaghy referee betting case.
  • Worries this will not be an isolated incident, especially as legal and illegal gambling avenues expand.
  • Emphasizes athlete responsibility, noting high salaries leave “no excuse” for corruption.

Memorable Moments

• Ben Shapiro [13:46]:
  “A rare bright spot for the Boston Celtics these days.”
• David Cone [15:10]:
  “If you look at that money as entertainment, like you’re paying to go to a ball game, I agree with you 100% on that.”

BEN SHAPIRO: ON GAMBLING & PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

[17:36–20:27]

Key Arguments

• Against Blanket Bans:
  Ben compares gambling to alcohol—dangerous in excess, but not a reason for prohibition for responsible adults.
  • “Trying to blame Terry Rozier’s activities here or Jontay Porter’s activities here on legalized gambling. They did an illegal thing. If they’d done a legal thing, we wouldn’t be talking about it.” [18:17]
• Criminal Enterprise vs. Legal Recreational Activity:
  • Distinguishes vice crimes and cautions against conflating all forms of gambling or calling for expansive bans.

POLITICS: SANDERS, AOC & THE RADICAL LEFT

[23:06–31:25]

AOC 2028: Bernie’s Blessing

• Bernie Sanders explicitly endorses Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
  • “She is an incredibly intelligent person and in the best sense of the word, a very, very good politician…It’s just something that’s a gift that she has.” – Bernie Sanders [23:06]
• Ben ridicules both for their far-left stances, warning Democrats that embracing AOC-type radicalism risks alienating voters and is “whistling past the graveyard.”
• Discussion of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s extremist associations as emblematic of the theme.

Notable Quote

• Ben Shapiro [23:51]: “She’s not inspiring…but Bernie Sanders is also a dunderhead and he’s been able to get away with it for, you know, 2,000 decades at this point, since he was a contemporaneous follower of Methuselah, I believe.”

PROGRESSIVISM, POLITICAL CELEBRITIES & CONSERVATIVE IDENTITY

[31:26–35:54]

Key Topics

• Progressive/“Pod Bro” Influence:
  Ben warns the right against elevating anti-left celebrities (Andrew Schulz, Tim Dillon, Joe Rogan) as movement thought leaders simply because they oppose the far-left.
• Critical of Reactionary Leadership:
  Observes that conservatives need ideological consistency, not merely “fellow travelers” rebelling against woke excess.
  • “Anti-left does not make you conservative…you cannot have reactionaries who ping pong between political positions as the leadership voices of your movement.” [33:42]

NEW YORK LEFT, ANTISEMITISM & DEMOCRATIC FRAGMENTATION

[35:55–40:40]

Highlights

• NY Mayoral Politics:
  • Hakeem Jeffries dodges questions about socialist NYC politicians’ radical associations and alleged threats to Jewish community.
  • Ongoing “scandals” (e.g., Andrew Cuomo on radio, Mamdani’s anti-Israel/terror associations) spotlight deep splits and radicalization in Democratic politics.
• Ben’s Take:
  • Criticizes media for more outrage at “the person who reacts” than at actual dangerous affiliations.

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, SNAP, & POLITICAL GRIDLOCK

[40:40–46:06]

Key Segments

• Democrats & Shutdown Strategy:
  Democrats refuse to back Republican efforts for continuing resolutions that would fund government and pay federal workers, risking loss of vital programs like SNAP.
  • “It seems to be a gigantic mistake…a shutdown cliff that could hit Democrats hard.” [43:58]
• Economic Pain:
  Focus on real-world impact, especially SNAP food benefits running out for millions.
• Trump’s East Wing “Ballroom” Project:
  Ridicules Democrats for obsessing over Trump’s White House renovations when more substantive issues exist.

TRUMP PARDON, WORLD LIBERTY FINANCIAL & DEMOCRATIC MISSTEPS

[48:27–51:42]

Story Details

• Pardon for Binance Founder:
  Trump pardons Changpeng Zhao, Binance founder, causing accusations of quid pro quo due to Zhao’s support for Trump’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial.
  • “If you keep having situations where people under legal scrutiny keep pouring money into World Liberty Financial and then they find themselves on the other end of pardons…it seems to me like Democrats…should be focusing on that.” [49:45]
• Potential 2028 Dangers:
  Ben warns that if the economy sours, Trump family’s crypto ventures and scandals could become election-defining.

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK: INFLATION, LAYOFFS, TESLA

[51:43–54:59]

Key Updates

• Inflation & Fed Policy:
  CPI slightly below expected, inflation still 50% above Fed target, but likely interest rate cuts to come.
• Corporate Layoffs:
  Target announces 8% layoff in its corporate workforce.
• Tesla’s Struggles:
  Tesla’s profits hit despite increased sales; credits for EV buyers are expiring.
• Ben’s Prognosis:
  “As always, every administration, the strength of the administration rests on economics.” [54:44]

FOSTER CARE, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM & MASSACHUSETTS LAWSUIT

[54:59–60:39]

Segment Overview

• Background:
  Christian foster parents in Massachusetts lost their license after refusing to sign state LGBTQ affirmation policy. They are represented by Alliance Defending Freedom in a case potentially precedent-setting on religious freedom in foster care.
• State Religious Discrimination:
  Discussion of past Catholic adoption agency cases (e.g. Pennsylvania, Massachusetts) and current Supreme Court precedent.
• Ben’s View:
  State ideological crusades come at the expense of children: “The kids always seem to come last.”

CLOSING REMARKS

[60:40+]

• Ben teases upcoming segment on Israel and notes special offers for Daily Wire memberships.

TIMESTAMPED SEGMENT GUIDE

• 00:52–09:22: NBA gambling/match-fixing scandal — news rundown, background
• 09:23–17:35: Analysis with David Cone: game vs. poker scandal, impact on NBA/gambling in sports
• 17:36–20:27: Ben’s perspective: personal responsibility, against blanket prohibition
• 23:06–23:51: Bernie Sanders’ praise for AOC (audio clip, endorsement)
• 23:51–31:25: Ben on AOC, radical left, “pod bro” celebrity conservatives
• 31:26–35:54: Progressives’ influence, conservative identity, Andrew Schulz, political leadership
• 35:55–40:40: NYC politics, antisemitism, Democratic Party division
• 40:40–46:06: Government shutdown, SNAP, East Wing controversy
• 48:27–51:42: Trump pardons Binance founder, World Liberty Financial and political risk
• 51:43–54:59: Economy: inflation, layoffs, Tesla, potential impact on election
• 54:59–60:39: Interview with John Bickley — foster care, religious freedom in Massachusetts
• 60:40+: Closing, member promo, teaser for next episode

MEMORABLE QUOTES

• Ben Shapiro [04:14]:
  “The revelations instantly ranked among the most damaging in NBA history, throwing into question the integrity of the NBA product.”

• David Cone [09:50]: “…This is where Miami Heat shooting guard Terry Rozier's name is coming into play. It's alleged that he was involved in some of that game fixing…”

• Ben Shapiro [17:36]:
  “The inherent corruptibility of man is a very, very real thing. People become corrupt. People do bad things. That is not a shock there.”

• Bernie Sanders [23:06]:
  “She is an incredibly intelligent person and in the best sense of the word, a very, very good politician.”

• Ben Shapiro [33:42]:
  “Anti-left does not make you conservative…you cannot have reactionaries who ping pong between political positions as the leadership voices of your movement.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

This episode tackles the crossroads of sports, crime, and culture with Ben Shapiro’s trademark rapid-fire analysis. The NBA scandal serves as a springboard for exploring the dilemmas of legalized betting, personal responsibility, and institutional trust. Shapiro then pivots to critique the political left’s most radical elements while cautioning the right not to mistake anti-left sentiment for genuine conservative leadership. The government shutdown, economic tremors, and legal clashes over religious liberty round out a densely packed episode.