The Ben Shapiro Show – Ep. 2312
FEAR AND LOATHING: Reds Take New York
Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Ben Shapiro
Podcast: The Daily Wire
Episode Overview
This episode of The Ben Shapiro Show is devoted to analyzing the election of Zor Momdani as New York City's new mayor, dissecting the rise of unapologetic progressive politics, and exploring broader implications for the Democratic and Republican parties. Ben provides his usual fast-paced, critical take on the policies and personas defining America’s latest political wave, particularly the leftward lurch in major urban centers. He also touches on President Trump’s economic policies under Supreme Court scrutiny, the ongoing government shutdown, and internecine fights on the right.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. Zor Momdani's Electoral Mandate and Agenda
- Progressive Policies Take Center Stage:
- Momdani is described as unapologetically leftist and a significant break from previous New York mayors.
- Ben criticizes his campaign tone as a “smarmy, smiling, empathetic gentleman” masking radical intentions.
- Quote: “He’s here to govern on behalf of socialism and pro jihadism and chew bubble gum, and he’s all out of bubble gum.” (Ben, 03:33)
- Economic Proposals & Feasibility:
- Proposals include:
- Universal childcare (ages 6 weeks–5 years)
- $7 billion/year for new rent-stabilized units
- $70 billion in municipal debt over ten years
- Rent freeze and expansion of free public transit
- Tax plan: steep hikes for both top income earners (from 3.88% to 5.88% in NYC, plus state/federal) and corporate taxes (from 7.25% to 11.5% for state)
- Ben predicts wealthy and businesses will flee, eroding the city’s tax base.
- Quote: “This is how cities die. Truly. They destroy their tax base... This is how you destroy the tax base of a major metropolitan area.” (Ben, 08:52)
- Proposals include:
2. Progressive Movement Power Players & Alliances
- Radical Affiliations:
- Momdani’s political roots traced to Students for Justice in Palestine, and associations with figures like Linda Sarsour and organizations like CAIR and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
- Ben singles out DSA’s explicit mission (citing leaked documents) to abolish prisons, borders, and capitalism itself.
- Noteworthy supporters: United Federation of Teachers, several former and current City Hall officials, and a heavily left-wing transition team.
- Quote:
“Pretending that Mamdani is not radical is totally insane. The man got into politics as a member of Students for Justice in Palestine, a radical anti-Israel and pro-terrorism group.” (Ben, 16:11)
3. National Implications & Reaction
- Electoral Fallout for Democrats:
- Ben warns Democrats will have to "own" the results of radical governance as moderates are squeezed out or marginalized.
- Reference to the broader slate of rising socialist candidates nationwide, from Georgia to Maine and beyond.
- Democrats appear “very divided on what the future of their party looks like,” with some voices (e.g., Debbie Dingell) urging a focus on moderate successes.
- Republican Messaging and Challenges:
- Ben critiques the GOP for lacking a coherent positive agenda and for simply running against Democrats.
- The necessity for Republicans to offer genuine policy alternatives or compelling rationales for government restraint.
- “Republicans need some sort of positive message going forward.” (Ben, 36:43)
- Progressive Defense:
- Soundbites from Momdani, AOC, and Bernie Sanders resisting the “radical” label for left policies and arguing that issues like universal childcare, free transit, and taxing the rich are broadly popular.
- Quote:
“It’s not radical to say that we should have efficient and fast and free bus service. These are not radical ideas. What is radical is that we have more income and wealth inequality than we’ve ever had.” (Progressive Democrat, quoting Bernie Sanders, 27:07)
4. Policy Battles & Supreme Court Tariff Case
- Trump’s Tariffs Under Fire:
- Supreme Court expresses skepticism about executive authority to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs by declaring national emergencies.
- Ben points out the constitutional dangers of unchecked executive economic powers—what if a President AOC used emergency powers for radical ends?
- Quote:
“Every power that is delegated to the office of the Presidency is not delegated to a person. It is delegated to the office. The tariffs were always unconstitutional.” (Ben, 46:34)
5. Government Shutdown and the Filibuster Fight
- State of the Shutdown:
- Ongoing divisiveness in Congress, with Democrats and Republicans blaming each other.
- Trump floats the idea of nuking the filibuster as a pressure tactic, but Ben defends preserving the filibuster as vital to prevent bare majoritarian rule.
- Quote:
“If the filibuster goes away…within 10 years, Democrats will have added at least two states to the union…Democrats will have rewritten the electoral rules…” (Ben, 57:17)
- Divisions Within the GOP:
- Ben addresses infighting, notably Marjorie Taylor Greene’s public feuding and attacks on party unity, mocking her appearances with Joy Behar and others as evidence she’s strayed from conservative values.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
Ben on progressive politics in NYC:
“Zoram Dani has made very clear that he wants to actually do all the things he said he was going to do. And so New Yorkers are about to find out the ticket that they just bought, and they're about to take the ride.” (01:54) -
On radical influence:
“He’s here to govern on behalf of socialism and pro jihadism and chew bubble gum, and he’s all out of bubble gum.” (03:33) -
On economics of escape:
“If you’re a rich person, guess what? You’re mobile. And you can leave. This is how cities die. Truly.” (08:52) -
Zor Momdani on campaign funding:
“I am asking them [supporters] to start [donating] once again… a transition that can meet the moment… will require staff, research, infrastructure. And those are things that we will have to provide. I’m excited for the fact that it will be funded by the very people who brought us to this point, the working people who have been left behind… ” (22:15–22:48, Momdani)
-
Mamdani’s tax plan:
“You have to raise taxes on the top 1% of New Yorkers… you also increase the corporate tax… These things together raise about $9 billion, which more than pays for our economic agenda and also starts to Trump-proof ourselves.” (23:38–24:01, Momdani)
-
Bernie Sanders on radicalism:
“It is not radical to say that we should have the best childcare system in the world if we believe in our kids… What is radical is that we have more income and wealth inequality than we’ve ever had.” (27:07)
-
President Trump on NYC’s turn:
“You can have a communist or a thug. A communist. And they took the communist. You know, it's pretty amazing.” (39:37)
-
On Democrats ducking the trans issue:
“The trans issue absolutely destroyed the Democrats. And now Democrats have basically put that in the rearview mirror.” (33:07) -
Ben on the GOP’s challenge:
“There has never yet been a politician who tells people that their feelings about the economy are wrong, who ends up doing well in a midterm.” (43:37) -
On filibuster preservation:
“The filibuster is sort of the last vestige of a system that requires some level of popular approval for a policy beyond bare majoritarianism. So I'm very, very anti killing the filibuster.” (57:17)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00-08:00 – Introduction to Zor Momdani’s victory & immediate progressive turn
- 08:00-15:00 – Economic agenda breakdown: tax hikes, proposed spending, implications for city finances
- 15:00-22:00 – Team Mamdani: Radical influences, DSA’s national plan, Democratic Party fault lines
- 22:00-24:00 – Direct quotes from Zor Momdani on funding & ambitions
- 24:00-32:00 – National political reaction: AOC, Bernie Sanders, DSA rise, Democratic moderates’ response
- 32:00-35:30 – Democrats recalculate handling of social issues/trans issues in recent elections
- 35:30-42:30 – Republican takeaways: Necessity for positive messaging, perceptions of economic malaise
- 42:30-49:00 – Tariffs at the Supreme Court: Constitutional debate about executive power
- 49:00-56:00 – Government shutdown, filibuster fight, Trump’s hardball proposal
- 56:00-62:00 – GOP internal divisions: Marjorie Taylor Greene, conservative branding disputes
Summary of Tone & Language
Ben Shapiro’s tone is acerbic, rapid-fire, and mocking toward the new progressive ascendance, frequently using sarcasm and pop culture references (“chew bubble gum, and he’s all out of bubble gum,” “Democrats, listen up” (28:39)). He’s also pointedly pragmatic, urging Republicans to adapt rhetorically and substantively, and provides statistical backing for economic concerns.
Notably, much of the “debate” with progressives is conveyed through clips or quotes, to which Ben responds with scorn or incredulity, e.g., “Man, you gotta be kidding me. But this is what they're…” (24:32).
Key Takeaways for New Listeners
- Zor Momdani’s win in New York marks what Ben calls a “mask-off” moment for leftist politics, with progressive ambitions now dictating the direction of America’s largest city.
- Financially, many of these proposals hinge on punitive taxes that, according to Ben, threaten the city's economic vitality and may precipitate an exodus of the tax base.
- The Democratic Party is at war with itself over the direction symbolized by Momdani and the DSA, with moderates urging caution and progressives demanding acceleration.
- Nationalizing this progressive moment carries risks for Democrats (backlash, loss of moderates) and demands Republicans deliver more than mere opposition—they must present solutions or risk irrelevance.
- Institutional fights (like the filibuster) and policy battles (like Trump’s tariffs) will shape the next chapter, while figures on both right and left test their own party’s limits.
For listeners seeking a comprehensive, conservative recap of New York’s progressive wave and its ripple effects, this episode offers brisk, critical, and pointedly partisan analysis—interwoven with policy debates and the inside baseball of American party politics.