The Ben Shapiro Show - Ep. 2326

Main Theme:
This episode dives into President Trump's inflammatory comments about Somali immigrants, the intense media and political reaction, and broader conservative concerns over assimilation, welfare, and immigration policy. Ben Shapiro and Michael Knowles analyze the rhetoric, media responses, and statistical realities around Somali-American communities. The episode also addresses allegations of war crimes against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the potential for U.S. military action in Venezuela, and broader economic issues like "affordability" and the future trajectory of the Federal Reserve.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Trump’s Comments on Somali Immigrants and Media Fallout

• Overview:
  President Trump intensified his tough stance on immigration, specifically targeting Somali immigrants and Rep. Ilhan Omar, calling them “garbage” and suggesting they contribute nothing to the U.S.
• Details & Analysis:
  • Trump’s remarks are dissected for their tone and substance. Shapiro and Knowles agree that the President’s language is “colorful” and atypical, but maintain that his underlying point—limiting immigration from countries like Somalia—is legitimate.
  • Both hosts reject the mainstream media’s claim that Trump called all Somalis “garbage,” noting that he specifically referenced Omar and her allies rather than the entire community.
  • Citing data from the Migration Policy Institute, they highlight Somali immigrants' lower educational attainment, median income, high reliance on welfare, and high remittance rates to Somalia, arguing these are legitimate concerns for U.S. policy (06:40).
  • The hosts point to a new presidential regulation pausing immigration from 19 countries (including an extension of the existing travel ban) and a plan to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis in Minnesota.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “We could go one way or the other, and we’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country. Ilhan Omar is garbage. Her friends are garbage.”
    — President Trump quoted by Ben Shapiro (03:18)
  • “The outrage is, in my own opinion, somewhat miscalibrated… If you’re not used to President Trump’s use of insult at this point... have you adapted to the Trump era?”
    — Ben Shapiro (04:49)
• Timestamps:
  • [03:18] Trump’s direct attack on Somali immigrants and Rep. Ilhan Omar
  • [04:49] Shapiro discusses the media’s framing of Trump’s comments

2. Assimilation, Welfare, and the Structure of U.S. Immigration

• Overview:
  Shapiro and Knowles argue that America’s welfare system and lack of assimilation requirements have changed the type of immigrants the country attracts.
• Details & Analysis:
  • Past immigrants assimilated due to necessity and limited assistance, but the expansion of welfare programs has changed the incentive structure (12:39–17:00).
  • The hosts compare historic patterns (e.g., Irish, Chinese, Jewish immigrants) to contemporary migration, arguing that the presence or absence of social safety nets drastically affects assimilation.
  • The episode criticizes Minnesota officials who allegedly presided over large-scale welfare fraud within Somali communities, painting it as a governance failure rather than the immigrants’ fault.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “The incentive structure drove them toward assimilation... and then comes the welfare system.”
    — Michael Knowles (13:10)
  • “Pretending otherwise is silly. It’s totally ridiculous... This is the fault of our authorities, the fault of the elite in our society.”
    — Ben Shapiro (13:59)
• Timestamps:
  • [12:39–17:00] Extended discussion of assimilation incentives & welfare

3. Left Response: Racism, Xenophobia, and Identity Politics

• Overview:
  The left’s response is to denounce Trump and his supporters as racist and xenophobic, according to the hosts.
• Details & Analysis:
  • Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and City Council member Jamal Osman voice support for the Somali community and accuse Trump of bigotry, using terms like “racist, xenophobic, Islamophobic” (18:39–21:57).
  • Shapiro and Knowles stress the distinction between cultural critique and racial animus, insisting their concerns are based on “statistical reality.”
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “America has a history of fighting and stopping those kind of individuals who continue to divide people and divide communities.”
    — Jacob Frey quoted by Ben Shapiro (21:31)
  • “It is not bigoted or racist to say that if people come from a place that does not have anything in common with the United States... they’re not going to assimilate.”
    — Ben Shapiro (17:00)
• Timestamps:
  • [18:39] Jacob Frey’s statement of support to Somali community
  • [21:31] Jamal Osman’s denouncement of Trump

4. War Crimes Allegations Against Secretary Pete Hegseth

• Overview:
  The episode analyzes Democrat allegations that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth committed war crimes during a military strike on a narco-terrorist boat.
• Details & Analysis:
  • Shapiro and Knowles emphasize that the allegations from the Washington Post are largely single-sourced and have been contradicted or debunked by follow-up reporting (25:44–27:41).
  • Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries, Mark Kelly, and Jack Reed, are accused of “grandstanding” and demanding prosecutions or investigations based on sketchy evidence.
  • Shapiro cites Republican Senator Roger Wicker’s calls for patience and facts, contrasting Republican and Democratic approaches to accountability.
  • The legal question of whether operations against drug cartels in international waters are acts of self-defense or illegal military actions is debated.
  • Knowles argues that cartels engaged in exporting fentanyl to the U.S. are indeed a direct threat to Americans’ lives (35:11).
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “You sit in your air-conditioned offices or up on Capitol Hill and you nitpick and you plant fake stories... This is called the fog of war.”
    — Pete Hegseth quoted by Ben Shapiro (27:04)
  • “If you oppose radical Islam, then this is a form of irrational hatred against Muslims... The answer there is no, that is not correct.”
    — Michael Knowles (20:40)
• Timestamps:
  • [25:44] Introduction of war crimes allegation
  • [27:04] Hegseth responds to charges
  • [31:38] Roger Wicker discusses investigation

5. U.S. Policy Toward Venezuela and Military Posture

• Overview:
  The discussion shifts to rumors of U.S. military action in Venezuela and the anti-narcotics campaign.
• Details & Analysis:
  • Trump signals openness to attacking drug cartels on Venezuelan (and other Latin American) soil, but Knowles dismisses talk of large-scale troop deployments as media hysteria (37:50–41:46).
  • The possible forced exile of Venezuelan leader Maduro is discussed, with sources floating Qatar as a destination.
  • Pope Leo and Democratic leaders voice opposition to military escalation, advocating for dialogue and economic pressure instead (41:53).
  • Chuck Schumer threatens to invoke the War Powers Act should Trump escalate to a ground war.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “Anybody that’s doing that and selling it into our country is subject to attack.”
    — President Trump quoted by Ben Shapiro (38:17)
  • “Military operations against drug traffickers seems like a good thing... good luck for [Democrats] on this one.”
    — Michael Knowles (41:46)
• Timestamps:
  • [37:50] Discussion begins on Venezuela
  • [41:32] Pope Leo and Schumer’s statements

6. Election Results in Tennessee and Republican Performance

• Overview:
  The hosts review recent election results, noting a Republican victory but with a declining margin, raising concerns for 2026.
• Details & Analysis:
  • Republican Matt Van Epps won a seat with a narrower margin than in past cycles. The hosts attribute this partly to off-year voting trends and Trump’s appeal to low-propensity voters (45:21).
  • Shapiro urges Republicans not to ignore these warning signs, noting that stabilizing illegal immigration as an issue might hurt mobilization.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “Republicans have become the party of low-propensity voters, which is kind of amazing. When more people vote, Republicans do better. That’s the reverse of how the Republican party was, say, 15 years ago.”
    — Michael Knowles (45:21)
• Timestamps:
  • [45:21] Analysis of Tennessee election and Republican mobilization

7. “Affordability” Debate: Economics, Technology, and Populism

• Overview:
  Shapiro and Knowles deconstruct the political rhetoric around “affordability,” argue for market-driven solutions, and critique populist Luddite tendencies.
• Details & Analysis:
  • Trump dismisses Democrat criticisms about “affordability,” calling it a “con job” and arguing that prices have stabilized following high inflation.
  • Shapiro outlines classic economic arguments: affordability only occurs through increased supply (via innovation/technology) or decreased demand (typically a recession), warning that government intervention usually worsens affordability (51:41).
  • The hosts discuss opposition to self-driving cars among some in the Republican populist camp (notably referencing a past debate between Shapiro and Tucker Carlson), arguing that resisting technological progress hurts consumers and safety (54:41).
  • Dollar stores and “mom and pop” shop nostalgia are scrutinized, with Shapiro calling anti-dollar store sentiment elitist.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “Affordability is a hoax that was started by Democrats who caused the problem of pricing and they didn’t end it… affordability is a con job.”
    — President Trump by Ben Shapiro (48:46)
  • “Free markets make things better and more affordable. Government makes things worse and less affordable. That is a general rule.”
    — Michael Knowles (56:40)
• Timestamps:
  • [48:35] Affordability debate begins
  • [51:41] Economic analysis
  • [54:41] Debate: tech innovation vs. populist resistance

8. Federal Reserve: Next Chair and Monetary Policy

• Overview:
  Shapiro reports that Trump is likely to nominate economic adviser Kevin Hassett as the next Fed Chair.
• Details & Analysis:
  • There are calls among economists for Jay Powell to step down now, letting Trump’s pick “own” the coming monetary trajectory.
  • Shapiro reiterates his Austrian-school skepticism of central bank intervention, favoring a zero inflation target.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “I am an Austrian School of Economics guy. I think that the target inflation rate should not be 2%, it should be zero.”
    — Ben Shapiro (58:45)
• Timestamps:
  • [57:59] Fed Chair deliberations
  • [58:45] Shapiro’s economic philosophy

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Ilhan Omar is garbage. Her friends are garbage.”
  — President Trump (03:18, relayed by Ben Shapiro)
• “Pretending otherwise is silly. It’s totally ridiculous... This is the fault of our authorities.”
  — Ben Shapiro (13:59)
• “Free markets make things better and more affordable. Government makes things worse and less affordable.”
  — Michael Knowles (56:40)
• “Affordability is a con job by the Democrats. They say affordable... The word affordability is a con job.”
  — Trump, as presented by Shapiro (48:46)
• “The only way for actual affordability to happen is an increase in supply or a decrease in demand. There is no third choice, and policies can drive both of those things.”
  — Michael Knowles (51:27)

Summary Table of Important Segments

| Segment/Topic | Timestamp | Main Speakers | Core Issue/Remark | |-------------------------------|-------------|----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | Trump’s Somali Immigration Rant| 03:18–04:49 | Ben, Michael | Critiques of Somali immigration, media overreaction | | Somali Assimilation & Welfare | 06:40–17:00 | Ben, Michael | Data on education, income; failures of assimilation | | Left Response and Bigotry | 18:39–21:57 | Michael, Ben | Accusations of racism, defense of cultural critique | | Hegseth War Crimes Allegation | 25:44–27:41 | Ben, Michael | Media reports, military judgment, political posturing | | U.S.-Venezuela Policy | 37:50–43:30 | Ben, Michael | Drug war, regime change rumors, international diplomacy| | TN Election & GOP Worries | 45:06–46:53 | Ben, Michael | Special election, turnout dynamics, GOP strategic worry| | Affordability, Populism & Tech| 48:35–56:40 | Ben, Michael | Inflation debate, free markets, innovation vs. populism| | Federal Reserve Pick | 57:59–58:45 | Ben, Michael | Kevin Hassett, Austrian school critique of Fed |

Conclusion

This episode is a whirlwind tour through some of the most contentious topics on the American right: immigration assimilation, law enforcement in minority communities, media misrepresentation, wars on drugs, and the struggle over economic narratives. With a mix of data, rhetoric, and signature Shapiro/Knowles hyperbole, the show aims to equip conservative listeners with arguments and talking points for 2025’s political landscape.