The Ben Shapiro Show – Episode 2305: “Rabbis For Mamdani” And Other Idiotic Ideas

Host: Ben Shapiro (The Daily Wire)
Date: October 28, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode opens with Ben Shapiro analyzing the latest developments in the New York City mayoral race, specifically the tightening contest between former Governor Andrew Cuomo and progressive frontrunner Zohran Mamdani. Ben casts a critical, sarcastic eye on Mamdani’s campaign messages, the use of identity politics, and viral left-leaning social media moments—most notably, the “Rabbis for Mamdani” video, which Ben thoroughly ridicules. The episode also features an extensive segment on the government shutdown, with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson joining to discuss congressional gridlock and left-wing influence in the Democratic Party. The episode closes with a broader reflection on Western civilization, current American political culture, and an interview with Harvard’s Professor Hankins on the importance of historical literacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NYC Mayoral Race: Cuomo, Mamdani, and the State of the Left

(00:00–12:54)

• Poll Shifts:

  • Andrew Cuomo is closing the gap with Zohran Mamdani, now trailing by 10 points (44% Mamdani, 34% Cuomo, 11% Sliwa). Ben sees this as evidence both of Cuomo’s weaknesses and the fragmented opposition.
  • "If his [Sliwa's] vote share is larger than the margin of victory for Mamdani, there are going to be a lot of questions to be asked." — Ben Shapiro (01:19)

• Mamdani’s Messaging:

  • Ben critiques Mamdani for making his campaign about Islamophobia, following a controversy over Mamdani’s references to a relative impacted by post-9/11 bigotry.
  • "His final closing pitch is: why won’t you give me the mayoralty? And if you don’t, it’s because you’re mean to Muslims." — Ben Shapiro (03:56)

• Fact-Checking Mamdani:

  • Shapiro points out inconsistencies in Mamdani’s personal anecdotes, emphasizing a lack of transparency over whether the relative in question was really his aunt and her whereabouts during 9/11.

• Identity Politics Critique:

  • Ben scoffs at accusations of Islamophobia, arguing Mamdani is deflecting criticism by playing the victim.

  Notable Quotes

  • Zoran Mamdani:
    “For the takeaway from my more than 10 minute address about Islamophobia in this race… to be the question of my aunt tells you everything about Andrew Cuomo and his inability to reckon with a crisis.” (04:45)
  • Ben Shapiro:
    “It is the mark of a person who truly feels entitled to everything…” (05:14)

2. Red-Green Alliance and Radical Rhetoric

(10:39–12:22)

• Mamdani’s 2023 Remarks:

  • Ben highlights Mamdani linking the struggles of New Yorkers to the Israeli IDF and capitalism, labeling it classic "red-green alliance" ideology (Marxism/Islamism).

    “When the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it's been laced by the IDF…”
    — Zoran Mamdani (10:39)

  • Shapiro interprets such remarks as antisemitic and conspiratorial:
    “It’s really the Jews in Israel who are tied to the capitalist interests in New York City.” (11:32)

• Vague Policy Promises:

  • Ben mocks Mamdani’s repeated buzzwords about “affordability” and rent freezes, suggesting Mamdani has neither specific plans nor realistic prospects for delivering on ambitious leftist promises.

3. “Rabbis For Mamdani”: Viral Video and Identity Politics

(12:54–17:50)

• Viral Video Breakdown:

  • Ben plays and ridicules the “Rabbis for Mamdani” video, emphasizing that none of the speakers meet his definition of rabbinic authority and mocking their apparent lack of Jewish or religious content in their arguments for Mamdani.
  • “Not one of these people is a rabbi in any real sense… Trotting out your Jewish identity and wearing it as a costume. My identity is not your costume, ladies.” (14:21)
  • On the identity politics underpinning core left-wing coalitions: “The new core of the Democrat coalition is liberal white ladies and people who are angry about minority status [or] have grievances against the majority culture.” (18:41)

• Critique of Sincerity:

  • Ben accuses the “rabbis” of using Jewish identity superficially for political gain, drawing a sharp analogy to “as a Catholic, I love abortion”—demanding credibility and tradition, not mere self-assertion.

4. Democrats, Radicalism, & Party Coalitions

(22:39–26:48)

• Democratic Leadership and Left-wing Pressure:

  • Ben highlights the progressive push within the Democratic Party—seen in both support for Mamdani and policy demands during the government shutdown.
  • Kathy Hochul is booed at a rally despite supporting Mamdani, underlining intra-party tensions.
  • Chuck Schumer is described as performing the “bidding of the AOC-Zohran Mamdani wing of his party.”

  Audio Clip:

  • Chuck Schumer accuses Trump of neglecting Americans while spending on dubious foreign priorities, but Ben emphasizes the tenuous logic and the political pain looming due to SNAP benefit cutoffs.

5. Government Shutdown: Speaker Mike Johnson Interview

(28:14–40:54)

• Shutdown Dynamics:

  • Johnson argues Democrats are holding out due to left-wing fear, listing their “extreme” demands and accusing them of shutting the government over a “clean continuing resolution” for the first time in history.
  • “They are motivated by fear. They fear the radical left base, the Marxists in their party.” — Mike Johnson (29:07)
  • Johnson itemizes Democratic asks—restoring free healthcare for illegal immigrants, funding left-leaning causes overseas, and cutting rural health funding.

• Political and Practical Impacts:

  • Johnson and Ben agree that outside the DC/media bubble, the shutdown hasn’t yet hit most Americans—but warn that soon, unpaid military, SNAP benefit losses, and flight disruptions will hit home.
  • “These are young soldiers… they live paycheck to paycheck and they’re not going to get that paycheck because the Democrats are playing games.” — Mike Johnson (38:26)
  • Johnson predicts that Democrats are risking long-term political loss by surrendering to their radical base, calling the party’s leftward turn “political suicide.”

6. The Decline of Historical Literacy & Western Civilization

(61:00–67:25)

• Professor Hankins Interview:
  • Ben and Professor Hankins discuss the new book “The Golden Thread,” aimed at reviving historical understanding of the West among younger generations.
  • Hankins decries the decline in historical knowledge among elite college students, warning “you can’t defend what you don’t know.”
  • “We are, unfortunately, in a clash of civilizations... The Chinese know about their civilization. The Muslims know about their civilization. We are unilaterally disarming…” — Professor Hankins (66:18)
  • Both agree: without knowledge of Western history, the U.S. risks losing cultural cohesion and resilience to bad actors or activists.

7. Other Notable Moments & Quotes

(Throughout)

• On AOC’s Social Media Spat with Riley Gaines:
  Ben attacks AOC for belittling swimmer Riley Gaines, framing AOC as emblematic of an unserious, identity-obsessed new left.
• On “Saturday Night Live Skit” Politics:
  Ben repeatedly calls out the performative absurdity of both the “Rabbis for Mamdani” video and the Democratic Party’s current rhetorical and coalitional strategies.
• On “Third Term Trump” Panic:
  Ben debunks both right- and left-wing claims that Trump could run for a third term, calling it a clickbait distraction.

Key Timestamps

• NYC Mayor Race & Mamdani Islamophobia Controversy: 00:00–06:31
• Mamdani’s 2023 “Red-Green” Alliance Rhetoric: 10:39–12:22
• “Rabbis For Mamdani” Video Segment: 16:50–17:50
• Democratic Party Leftward Drift & Shutdown Politics: 22:39–26:42
• Speaker Mike Johnson on the Shutdown: 28:14–40:54
• Decline of Historical Literacy (Prof. Hankins Interview): 61:00–67:25

Memorable Quotes (with Attribution)

• Ben Shapiro:
  • “The real story is that if you don’t vote for Zor Momdani, it’s because you’re a big meanie who doesn’t like Muslims. You mean mean person, you.” (05:14)
  • “Rabbi means teacher. Not one of these people is a rabbi in any real sense.” (14:21)
  • “The new core of the Democrat coalition is liberal white ladies and people who are angry about minority status…” (18:41)
• Zoran Mamdani:
  • “For anyone to care about these issues, we have to make them hyperlocal… when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF.” (10:39)
• Speaker Mike Johnson:
  • “They care more about the Marxists and the pain they’ll endure from them than the pain they’re inflicting on the American people.” (29:08)
• Professor Hankins:
  • “We are, unfortunately, in a clash of civilizations… We are unilaterally disarming because our students know nothing about Western civilization. How are you supposed to love and defend something you know nothing about?” (66:18)

Summary Takeaways

This episode is a sharp, fast-paced indictment of what Ben Shapiro sees as the intellectual, moral, and organizational collapse of both New York City’s politics and the Democratic Party as a whole. Highlighting identity politics, performative activism, and internal party divisions, he warns of the cultural and historical ignorance underlying progressive ascendancy. The conversation with Speaker Johnson underscores this dynamic at the federal level, especially in the context of the government shutdown. Finally, through Professor Hankins’ historical perspective, Ben connects today’s political turbulence to a loss of shared historical narrative, warning that “bad actors” are filling the resulting void.

For listeners interested in the deeper cultural roots of current American polarization and the practical stakes of the NYC mayoral race and congressional negotiations, this episode gives a detailed, polemical, and sometimes caustic conservative analysis.