The Ben Shapiro Show — Ep. 2364: “A Very BAD Bunny Super Bowl”

Date: February 9, 2026
Host: Ben Shapiro (The Daily Wire)
Guest: Casey DeSantis (First Lady of Florida), Winston Marshall

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Ben Shapiro’s pointed critique of the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show headlined by Bad Bunny, exploring its cultural and political messaging. The show then transitions to an interview with Casey DeSantis discussing Florida's Healthy Florida First initiative and food safety, before closing with a conversation on UK politics and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal with Winston Marshall. Throughout, Ben maintains his fast-paced, opinionated, and often satirical conservative tone.

Super Bowl Halftime Show: Production vs. Politics

Praise for Production Quality

• Ben opens with sarcastic comments about needing to learn Spanish for the show ([00:28]).
• Production value praised:
  • “Overall, honestly, like, great production value. I understand this halftime show is not aimed at me… The staging was immaculate.”
  • Notes on the charm of the mock wedding, Lady Gaga as singer, and “kids falling asleep on the chairs” ([00:40]–[02:00]).
• Recognizes that cultural touches (wedding scenes, salsa dancing) reflect both Latino and Jewish traditions.

Language and Inclusion

• Main critique: Halftime show almost entirely in Spanish, with no English at all.
  • “Why no English? Right? That's a decision… He could have been saying literally anything and I would have had no idea what he was saying.” ([03:20]–[04:10])
  • Reiterates that tens of millions in the U.S. speak Spanish but critiques the exclusion of English.

Cultural and Political Messaging

• Gaslighting by media/left:
  • Ben argues there’s a recurring pattern: when conservative viewers notice left-leaning cultural trends, they’re told it’s not political.
  • “There's a thing that goes on in American culture that is highly irritating to me… everyone celebrates a thing that is left leaning… and then if you notice, they tell you… why are you so upset?” ([02:15])
• Points out subtle political content:
  • Reference to a previous Grammys moment where Bad Bunny gave an award to a child dressed to resemble an ICE detainee ([04:10]).
  • Notes LGBT representation: “There was also, of course, a little bit of LGBT content and that you had some. Two dudes rolling on each other. It happened fairly quickly, but of course, was there.” ([13:00])
• Key Quote:
  • “To pretend that Bad Bunny is an apolitical figure is, of course, very, very silly. Bad Bunny is not an apolitical figure. He has never pretended to be an apolitical figure.” ([03:40])

'We’re All Americans' Closing — The Real “Tell”

• Ben is critical of the show’s conclusion, where Bad Bunny lists all Western Hemisphere countries’ names, followed by the message “together, we’re all Americans.”
  • “The tell was the end of the halftime show... he just starts listing countries. It's modeling United Nations time now.” ([14:30])
  • Key Quote:
    • “You’re an American if you are in America's borders and your loyalty is to America… The reality is we are all from the Americas, but we are not all Americans.” ([17:30])

Critique of What Was Missing:

• “It is my opinion that you should show some gratitude for America being unique... American flags should have been all over the place in the middle of this demonstration.” ([17:00])
• Argues that what makes America great is the ability to assimilate and celebrate diverse cultures in an American context, not to reduce America to “just one among many nations” ([17:50]).

Reaction to Criticism and Media Spin

• Ben pushes back against media calling the show “history-making,” asserting this itself admits cultural importance and political overtones.
  • “So don't pretend that this is, you know, Bon Jovi playing a halftime show a few years ago. If you're saying it's history making, clearly you're saying that it's important in a cultural, political way.” ([21:40])
• On reviews highlighting it as a celebration of Latino heritage, Ben points out oddities, e.g., inclusion of Canadian and non-Latino countries in the finale ([22:00]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The salsa dancing at the wedding I thought was charming… That’s not why I didn’t react to any of that. The only thing that as an American I reacted to was the point that was being made at the end, that was clearly political.” ([19:00])
• “Do that exact same performance while thanking America and everybody goes home happy. But again, I think he was meant not to do that. And noticing that is not some sort of crime or sin.” ([25:20])
• Comparing understanding of lyrics:
  • “When Kendrick Lamar is at his show, I had no idea what he was saying the entire show. And he was purportedly speaking English.” ([22:40])
• On LGBT overtones: “Where’s Waldo of human butts…” ([13:00])

Alternate Halftime Show & Media Landscape

Right-Wing Counterprogramming

• Turning Point USA (TPUSA) hosted an “All American Super Bowl Halftime Show” featuring Kid Rock and others; claims 5 million concurrent viewers on YouTube ([26:15]).
• Ben attributes right-wing media success to “left-wing infusion of politics into apolitical entertainment” ([27:00]).

Food Safety and the Healthy Florida First Initiative

(feat. Casey DeSantis, First Lady of Florida)

[24:08 — 31:20]

FDA and State Testing (“Trust but Verify”)

• Casey: FDA is generally “reactionary”; Florida wants proactive testing for contaminants (heavy metals, pesticides, etc.) ([24:29]).
• Explains discoveries of glyphosate in bread (“like weed killer, totally unacceptable”).

Candy and Arsenic Exposure

• Headline Finding: Children can exceed annual safe arsenic thresholds by eating as few as “more than 86 Nerds” or “6 Jolly Ranchers” a year ([25:50]).
• Encourages voting with pocketbooks; organic and “healthier” candies often free of such contaminants ([27:26]).
  • “It can be done… By inertia, [informed consumers] will tip the scales.” ([27:26])

Baby Formula Contaminants

• Casey: “When you find problematic levels of arsenic, cadmium, mercury… it’s really unnerving.” ([29:01])
• Recommends statutory reforms: require testing for heavy metals before products leave factories.
  • Surgeon general: consuming such contaminants can raise cancer risk by 20% ([30:25]).

U.S. Patriotism and Cultural Messaging

[31:22]

• Critique of American Olympians expressing “mixed emotions” about representing the U.S.
  • “All we’re asking for is a baseline of love of country, true love of country. That’s all.” ([32:30])
• President Trump slams anti-American sentiments; Ben notes MAGA’s success comes from gut-level patriotism, not policy consistency.

Social Media, Trump, and Left/Right Racism

[33:00]

• Trump posts and removes a racist video, blames not watching until the end. Ben insists President doesn’t closely vet his social media ([33:30]–[34:40]).
• Critiques left-wing rhetoric: e.g., Texas State Rep. Gene Wu’s “minorities need to side against the white man” ([36:50]), calling it “a massive, massive issue in American life.”
• Advocates for Republicans’ low-key, effective governance.

Immigration, Sanctuary Cities, and Law Enforcement

[38:00]

• Features ICE official Tom Homan advocating for more law enforcement cooperation ([38:30]).
• Critiques NYC’s new anti-ICE executive orders, calling out Mayor Zormadani for citing the Quran in policy defense.

Economy and AI

[42:00]

• Stock market at record highs, but labor market and hiring uncertain due to AI and other factors.
• Ben highlights economic uncertainty as a challenge for incumbents.

UK Politics and the Epstein Scandal

(feat. Winston Marshall)
[44:08 — 53:28]

Epstein’s Shadow Over UK Labour

• Winston F. Marshall summarizes the growing Epstein-linked scandal involving Labour Party grandee Peter Mandelson ([45:04+]).
• Mandelson’s close relationship pre- and post-Epstein conviction is public record; now under criminal investigation for insider trading ([50:00]).
• Chief of staff for PM Keir Starmer resigns as the scandal deepens, threatening government stability ([51:00]).

Political Fallout

• Labour plummets in polls; threat of Reform Party (Nigel Farage) surging if elections called.
• Likely scenario: Starmer resigns, replaced internally by a less competent, further-left figure ([53:00]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Lines

• Ben, on Bad Bunny:
  • “He is rich and he is famous because of the United States. He is living in splendor because of the United States. He's one of the greatest recipients of American largesse ever…so it is my opinion that you should show some gratitude…” ([17:00])
• On assimilation:
  • “That’s what’s amazing about America. You can do all that and still be an American who loves football… and you can also enjoy these cultural variants.” ([18:00])
• On the left and patriotism:
  • “All we’re asking for is a baseline level of love of country… It’s not that much to ask.” ([32:30])
• On food safety:
  • Casey: “If you eat more than 6 Jolly Ranchers, you are exceeding the allowable level of arsenic for children.” ([25:50])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Bad Bunny Halftime Show breakdown: [00:28]–[25:20]
• Turning Point USA Halftime Counterprogramming: [26:15]–[27:30]
• Casey DeSantis on Food Safety: [24:08]–[31:20]
• Athlete Patriotism, Trump, & Social Media: [31:22]–[36:50]
• ICE, Immigration, & Law Enforcement: [38:00]–[42:00]
• Economy & AI: [42:00]–[44:08]
• Epstein Scandal / UK Politics (Winston Marshall): [44:08]–[53:28]

Summary Takeaway

Ben Shapiro delivers a thorough—often sarcastic—critique of the Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show, focusing on its lack of English, overt progressive messaging, and missed opportunities to demonstrate gratitude towards America. He applauds cultural celebration only in the context of American unity and assimilation. The episode also includes practical policy discussion on food safety with Casey DeSantis and a granular breakdown of the UK’s Labour Party embroilment in the Epstein scandal with Winston Marshall. Throughout, Ben contrasts left vs. right cultural strategies, insisting on the primacy of patriotic messaging in American identity.