The Ben Shapiro Show

Episode 2314 — Will The Shutdown FINALLY End?!

Date: November 10, 2025
Host: Ben Shapiro (Daily Wire)
Notable Guest: Senator Rick Scott, Kelsey Grammer

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the apparent end of the long-running government shutdown, analyzing the political fallout and motivations on both sides, particularly the split within the Democratic Party and the broader mistrust of government. Ben Shapiro discusses recent political maneuvering, economic implications, policy debates, and ongoing party tensions, culminating with a conversation with Kelsey Grammer about culture, faith, and his latest movie project.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Government Shutdown: Nearing the End

• Senate Vote: Last night, Senate Democrats caved in a 60-40 procedural vote, signaling the shutdown—which lasted over 40 days—is likely to end soon. (00:31)
• Political Fallout: Ben emphasizes that this is a "win" for President Trump and Republicans, asserting that moderate Democrats from purple states broke ranks out of political necessity, not conviction. (01:04)
• Main Concession: The Democrats’ bid to extend Obamacare tax credits for a year was abandoned; the only "win" is a promised future vote on the credits, not a guarantee. (02:00)
• Cost of Shutdown: The episode underscores the tangible economic impacts—federal workers missing pay, food assistance delays, and air travel disruptions. (11:16)

2. Democratic Party Divisions and Political Strategy

• Purple State Pressure: Democrats in competitive states (NH, VA, NV, ME) crossed the aisle, fearing backlash from constituents affected by continued shutdown. (03:55)
• Tensions Within Party: Restlessness among the Democratic base, especially progressives, resulted in visible fractures—moderates accused of caving, progressives demanding a harder line. (12:30, 16:02)

Notable quotes:

• "The Democratic dam is breaking because Democrats in purple states realize if they keep bashing their heads against the Trumpian wall, they're going to lose their Senate seats." – Ben Shapiro (01:20)
• "It was a misbegotten strategy from the beginning. The only thing it got them was getting a bunch of Democrats out to the ballot box." – Ben Shapiro (13:29)

Democrat Responses:

• John Fetterman: "After 40 days as a consistent voice against shutting our government down, I voted yes for the 15th time to reopen...it never should have come to this." (13:54)
• Senator Catherine Cortez Masto: “We must extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits, but that can't come at the expense of millions of Americans impacted by the shutdown.” (14:14)
• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC): "This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It's about people's lives. Working people want leaders whose word means something." (16:02)

3. Left-Wing Pushback and Party Narratives

• Progressive Attacks: Figures like AOC, Chris Murphy, and Bernie Sanders sharply criticized the moderation, arguing that Democrats should have kept the shutdown going to force ACA expansions.
  • Chris Murphy: "I didn't want this shut down. I want it to end, but not at any cost. This shutdown hurt. But unfortunately, I don't think there is a way to save this country...without there being some difficult, hard moments along the way." (17:46)
  • Bernie Sanders: "It raises health care premiums for over 20 million Americans by doubling and in some cases tripling...all of that was done to give a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the 1%." (19:11; 20:33)
• Shapiro’s Analysis: Ben brands these arguments as more about political theater than policy results, warning that base-pleasing antics do not yield real gains.

4. Broader Political Trends: Mistrust and the Role of Government

• Polling & Public Trust: Shapiro references Wall Street Journal data showing near-historic lows in trust in government, tying this to cycles of expanding government and broken promises. (34:26)

• Historical Perspective: Asserts that when government grows, trust diminishes; offers historical polling data from the 1960s to present. (34:45)

• Shapiro’s Argument: Across both parties, politicians promise to “solve affordability” with more government, but this only increases debt and disappointment.

  "If government is so amazing, why is it when government grows, trust in government plummets? If government were so great, shouldn't trust go up with expansion?" – Ben Shapiro (36:15)

5. Analysis of Democratic Party Future: The 'Leftward Lurch’

• Moderate vs. Progressive Battle: Shapiro suggests that despite talk of moderation, the party continually moves left, highlighting rising progressives like Zoran Mamdani in New York. (25:13)
• Case Study – NY Mayor Race: Mamdani's progressive agenda, his close relationship with activist groups, and early controversies regarding campaign finance and foreign influence are discussed. (28:02)

Interview with Sen. Rick Scott (30:27–34:19)

• Foreign Influence Concerns: Scott warns against foreign influence/financing in state and local elections, especially via social media (TikTok, Instagram, X).

• Investigation Urged: Advocates for full transparency of donors and stiffer enforcement of existing laws banning foreign influence.

  "We need to really look at these foreign organizations that went to get out the vote...these groups that come in, foreign-backed, shouldn't be able to influence our elections." – Sen. Rick Scott (30:52)

• TikTok Concerns: Scott decries TikTok as “controlled by the Communist Party of China, anti-American, anti our way of life.” (32:42)

6. Economic Policy Debates & Market Analysis

• Tariffs, Inflation, and Affordability: The administration’s attempts at lowering prices—tariffs, longer-term mortgages, proposed $2,000 “tariff dividend” to families—are criticized by Shapiro as inflationary and market-skewing, not real solutions. (46:24)
• Shapiro’s Economic Principle: Advocates for deregulation, free market reforms, and less government involvement as the true path to affordability and prosperity. (41:05, 48:10)
  • "Signing giant stimulus checks is not going to make your world more affordable. We've tried it. It fails...What makes your world more affordable? People being left alone to produce and trade and live free." – Ben Shapiro (48:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Topic | |-----------|---------|---------------| | 01:20 | Ben | "Democratic dam is breaking because Democrats in purple states realize if they keep bashing their heads against the Trumpian wall, they're going to lose their Senate seats." | | 13:54 | Fetterman | "After 40 days as a consistent voice against shutting our government down, I voted yes for the 15th time to reopen...it never should have come to this." | | 16:02 | AOC | "This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It's about people's lives. Working people want leaders whose word means something." | | 17:46 | Murphy | "I wish that there was a path to saving this democracy and saving people's health care that didn't involve pain. This shutdown hurt. It did." | | 20:33 | Sanders | "As everybody knows, just on Tuesday, we had an election all over this country. And what the election showed is that the American people want us to stand up to Trumpism..." | | 36:15 | Ben | "If government is so amazing, why is it when government grows, trust in government plummets?" | | 48:16 | Ben | "Signing giant stimulus checks is not going to make your world more affordable. We've tried it. It fails...What makes your world more affordable? People being left alone to produce and trade and live free." |

Guest Segment: Kelsey Grammer (53:28–57:23)

• New Movie: Discusses ‘The Christmas Ring’, a faith- and family-oriented holiday film with a strong Veterans Day theme, including a large cast of veteran background actors.
• Hollywood Culture: Grammer notes a "groundswell" for "quality-driven" entertainment that does not condescend to conservative-leaning audiences.
  • "It's about time... a rebirth of a sense of faith and the interweaving of both conservative principles and faith..." – Kelsey Grammer (55:31)
• Personal Reflection: Grammer shares anecdotes about his family’s military service and his own experience returning to a beloved film franchise.

Important Timestamps (Excluding Ads and Housekeeping)

• 00:31: Ben introduces shutdown news; outlines the Democratic split.
• 09:26: Hakeem Jeffries’ (Dem) pre-vote rhetoric and Ben’s commentary.
• 11:16: Economic impacts of shutdown, flight delays, working families.
• 13:54: Moderate Democrats’ statements (Fetterman, Cortez Masto, Rosen).
• 16:02: Progressive backlash (AOC, Chris Murphy, Bernie Sanders).
• 24:14: Gavin Newsom criticizes Trump, hails Dems for ‘galvanizing’ people.
• 28:02: Analysis of NY Mayor election, rise of Zoran Mamdani.
• 30:27–34:19: Interview with Sen. Rick Scott on foreign election influence.
• 34:26: Discussion of public mistrust and government size trends.
• 41:05: Shapiro’s argument for market solutions to affordability.
• 46:24–51:34: Economic debate: tariffs, stimulus, and mortgage policy.
• 53:28–57:23: Interview with Kelsey Grammer.

Conclusion

Ben Shapiro’s episode delivers a critical, fast-paced analysis of the (presumed) end of the government shutdown, shining a light on the internal rifts within the Democratic Party and the broader issue of institutional trust. The show underscores how both parties use the promise of government intervention to vie for trust, often fueling further frustration and cynicism. Through guest segments and detailed policy analysis, Shapiro advocates for limited government, highlights the failures of "centralized control," and brings cultural commentary via Kelsey Grammer, emphasizing the appeal of faith and dignity in entertainment.

Note: This summary covers the substantive political, economic, and cultural sections and provides key timestamped remarks and quotes for easy reference. Advertisements, intros, and outros are omitted.