The Ben Shapiro Show — Ep. 2304: Mamdani’s 9/11 INSANITY

Date: October 27, 2025
Host: Ben Shapiro, The Daily Wire

Episode Overview

Ben Shapiro’s episode centers on the controversy surrounding New York City politician Zohran Mamdani’s recent comments about 9/11 and alleged Islamophobia, and broader implications for Democratic Party politics. Shapiro critiques Mamdani’s narrative of victimhood, examines left-wing coalition dynamics, and transitions into international issues including U.S. policy toward Canada and China, as well as the situation in Argentina and Venezuela. The episode also features an interview segment about child trafficking.

1. Main Theme

Shapiro focuses on what he calls the "insanity" of Zohran Mamdani’s 9/11 statements, connecting them to a larger critique about victimhood culture, progressive Democratic politics, and “wokeness” in America.

2. Key Discussion Points

A. Zohran Mamdani’s 9/11 Comments and Victimhood Politics

Timestamps: 00:00–15:20

• Mamdani’s Narrative
  • Mamdani, speaking at a Bronx press conference, claimed his aunt stopped taking the NYC subway after 9/11 due to feeling unsafe in her hijab.
  • Shapiro mocks the lack of direct impact, questioning if even the referenced family member exists or experienced what is claimed.
• Shapiro’s Critique
  • Shapiro attacks Mamdani’s focus on Islamophobia rather than the 3,000 victims of 9/11, claiming Mamdani rewrites the story as one of secondary victimization.
  • Shapiro asserts that identity/victim status is Mamdani’s primary asset in politics, labeling him a “fraudulent human” and “nothing without victimhood.”
    • “Without the victimhood, he would be a nothing burger. A nothing burger stacked atop a nothing sandwich…” (05:23)
• Victimhood as “Coin of the Realm” for the Left
  • Shapiro argues that left-wing coalitions are built on overlapping claims of grievance—race, religion, or gender—regardless of personal privilege or success.
  • Contrasts Mamdani’s affluent background with his adopted status as a marginalized outsider.
• Islamophobia vs. Critique of Radical Islam
  • Shapiro draws a distinction between legitimate criticism of radical Islam and what he deems an overblown or weaponized charge of Islamophobia.
  • Claims America, and NYC specifically, have been “wildly Muslim friendly,” citing post-9/11 outreach by leaders like George W. Bush (09:06).
  • “No wave of anti Muslim hate crimes followed 9/11. Not in New York nor anywhere else.” (08:47)
  • “Victimhood is the coin of the realm in Democratic Party politics.” (09:52)

B. Wokeness and the Future of the Democratic Party

Timestamps: 15:20–22:56

• AOC and the 2028 Democratic Primary
  • Shapiro suggests that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive with her own victimhood narrative, is the likely front-runner for the 2028 presidential nomination because of these dynamics.
  • Other contenders (Gavin Newsom, Andy Beshear, Kamala Harris) are dismissed for lacking credible “victim” credentials, despite attempts to align with progressive causes.
    • “They need somebody who can credibly claim victimhood... She’s awful...has the backing of Bernie Sanders and she has pseudo victimhood, and those two things are...very useful in a Democratic Party primary.” (21:41)
• Wokeness “in remission” not dead
  • Shapiro claims “wokeness” is not dead in America, but dormant and ready to reemerge—“Wokeness is in remission. The cancer is not yet dead.” (15:40)
  • Frames Mamdani’s and AOC’s politics as “the green shoot of wokeness springing up beneath the permafrost.” (16:45)
• Coalitions of Victimhood
  • Shapiro criticizes political rhetoric that lumps together disparate minority experiences to create a grand “coalition of the aggrieved.”

C. Democratic Party Strategy & Coalition Trends

Timestamps: 22:56–35:22

• 2024 Voter Trends
  • Shapiro cites polls noting increased alienation among Black and Latino voters despite Democratic strategies focused on grievance and anti-Trump sentiment.
  • "Democratic coalition is supposedly aggrieved people and liberal white women. That is the Democratic coalition.” (35:16)
• Immigration and ICE
  • Discusses Democratic attacks on ICE, claiming this is designed to recapture Latino support lost to Trump.
  • Reference to rising anti-ICE rhetoric and a sniper attack on ICE agents—used as evidence that demonization breeds violence.
• Government Shutdown
  • Asserts the ongoing shutdown is performative posturing to cultivate Democratic base support, particularly among the “aggrieved.”

D. Foreign Policy: Tariffs, China, Argentina, Venezuela

Timestamps: 35:22–55:24

• US–Canada Trade Spat

  • Criticizes President Trump’s new tariffs on Canada as economically counterproductive, noting Ronald Reagan was not a protectionist (38:22).
  • Quotes/arguments from Treasury Secretary Scott Besant seen as unconvincing.

• US–China Trade Talks

  • Reports cautious optimism from US and Chinese officials; Shapiro is skeptical about long-term stability.
  • Discusses rare earth mineral leverage and “rolling” of tariffs, expressing concern about a lack of broader strategy.

• TikTok Deal

  • Questions whether the deal sufficiently addresses Chinese control over the TikTok algorithm; sees lack of clarity as a “fail.”

• Argentina and Javier Milei

  • Praises Argentina's libertarian president Javier Milei for winning legislative support and pursuing free-market reforms backed by the US (48:15).
  • Applauds Trump’s $20b loan to stabilize Argentina as “America First,” providing an ally and stemming migration (51:31).

• Venezuela

  • Discusses US military build-up and the possibility of targeted strikes against drug cartels, but dismisses ground invasion fears.
  • Lindsey Graham (Senator) voices support for land strikes targeting narco-terrorists (54:54).
  • Shapiro frames action as justified pushback against a criminal regime.

E. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mamdani’s Victimhood
  • “He is a nothing burger stacked atop a nothing sandwich...It is the victimhood alone that has elevated Zar mom dying.” (05:21)
• On 9/11 and Islamophobia
  • “How is this person a victim?... sometimes somewhere, someone gave him a mean look because of Islamophobia.” (06:00)
• On Wokeness
  • “Wokeness is in remission, it is not in fact dying. Wokeness is in remission. The cancer is not yet dead.” (15:40)
• On the Democratic Coalition
  • “The Democratic coalition is supposedly aggrieved people and liberal white women. That is the Democratic coalition.” (35:16)

F. Interview: Child Trafficking and Technology (with Derek Banner, 56:30–60:43)

• How Traffickers Exploit Tech
  • Derek Banner from rrescue explains that predators use all online platforms (“even seemingly innocent gaming platforms”) to access and groom children.
• Law Enforcement Challenges
  • Discusses the overwhelming scale (20.5 million suspected reports; 63m files of CSAM in 2024) and the psychological toll on investigators.
• Prevention and Awareness
  • Emphasizes parent awareness about app usage and internet access.
• Memorable Point:
  • “The short answer, Ben, is all of them. So they are leveraging technology at scale…” (57:28)

3. Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|---------------| | Main Introduction, Mamdani 9/11 controversy| 00:00–07:30 | | Mamdani’s Victim Narrative Critique | 07:30–15:20 | | Wokeness and Democratic Party Futures | 15:20–22:56 | | Democratic Coalition & 2028 Primary Talk | 22:56–35:22 | | Foreign Policy: Trade, China, Canada | 35:22–46:04 | | Argentina & Venezuela Analysis | 46:04–55:24 | | Interview: Derek Banner/Child Trafficking | 56:30–60:43 |

4. Summary Tone & Style

Shapiro’s tone is combative, sardonic, and unwaveringly partisan, using humor and sharp analogies to attack political adversaries. His language is highly charged, especially regarding Mamdani and “woke” progressives.

5. Conclusion

The episode is a primer on Shapiro’s view of modern progressive politics as “victimhood theater,” connecting this to issues of identity, Democratic electoral strategy, and U.S. policy at home and abroad. The extended focus on Mamdani’s 9/11 comments serves as a springboard for discussions about the future of the Democratic Party, the persistence of wokeness, and contentious U.S. foreign policy.

For listeners interested in the politics of identity, the evolution of “woke” narratives, or contemporary conservative critiques of Democratic strategy, this episode provides direct and unvarnished opinion.