The Ben Shapiro Show

Ep. 2392 – Fake Allies and Backstabbers
Date: March 20, 2026
Host: Ben Shapiro (The Daily Wire)

Episode Overview

In this fast-paced, critical episode, Ben Shapiro focuses on the West’s response to escalating Iranian aggression, calling out America’s traditional allies for their lack of concrete action and labeling much of their support as “empty verbiage.” Shapiro also explores the larger implications of weak alliances, Trump’s muscular foreign policy, the failures of progressive governance at home, and the current crises in Cuba. The episode is laced with Shapiro’s signature sarcasm, historical references, and sharp criticism for both international players and domestic figures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. America’s “Allies” and Their Inaction on the Iranian Threat

Theme: Ben opens by lampooning America's European and Asian allies for responding to Iranian attacks with strong words but no action.

• Timestamps: 00:22–04:28
• Key Points:
  • Allies such as Germany, France, UK, and Japan only come forward with a “strongly worded letter” rather than substantive military or economic support.
  • The letter expresses "deep concern" but lacks real commitments to counter Iran's moves in the Gulf and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Shapiro mocks this:
    • “Ooh. The UN Security Council.” (02:46)
    • “Iran must be quaking in its boots. Our allies are saying things. Whoa.” (02:47)
  • He draws a parallel to the historical ineffectiveness of international pacts (e.g., Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928) which failed to prevent future wars.

2. Case Study: Seizing Kharg Island

Theme: Shapiro advocates for decisive, self-interested American action—specifically, seizing Iran’s vital oil infrastructure.

• Timestamps: 06:26–11:47
• Key Points:
  • President Trump reportedly considering action against Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub.
  • Shapiro’s argument: seizure would cripple Iran’s regime and benefit U.S. and its companies.
  • Quote from Trump:
    • “We can take out the island anytime we want. I call it the little island that sits there so totally unprotected…We left the pipes.” (09:20)
  • Shapiro:
    • “If we’re going to do all the work…then we ought to reap the benefit.” (06:13)
    • He sharply criticizes past U.S. foreign policy for failing to secure tangible rewards for American sacrifices overseas.

3. Historical Perspective on Oil Politics and Western Weakness

Theme: Western reluctance to maintain control of Middle Eastern oil assets has, according to Shapiro, empowered regional tyrants and terrorists.

• Timestamps: 11:47–14:16
• Key Points:
  • British and American companies originally built much of the oil infrastructure nationalized by Middle Eastern regimes.
  • U.S. political class allowed the nationalization of resources in the 1970s, which “resulted in a Middle East dominated by potentates who are independently wealthy and also capable of spreading their terrorism.”
  • “Not a single Middle Eastern regime found its own oil. Not one…” (11:48)

4. Sharp Critique of U.S. and European Allies

Theme: True allies stand beside America with action, not just words.

• Timestamps: 14:16–16:19
• Key Points:
  • Quotes a Trump quip to the Japanese PM about “surprise”—referencing Pearl Harbor and mocking expectations of forewarning allies:
    • “Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” (14:44)
  • European dependence on regional resources: “In many ways, they have significantly more of an interest in the Strait of Hormuz than we do…” (15:13)
  • Criticism of Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez for opposing the U.S. response and supporting Iran and Hamas:
    • “Europe is with multilateralism and is with international law. And we are against this war.” (16:02)

5. Domestic “Fake Allies” and Ideological Division

Theme: Shapiro links anti-war and anti-American rhetoric at home and abroad to a broader loss of principle and confusion about allies and enemies.

• Timestamps: 16:19–21:50
• Key Points:
  • Plays a game of “Who Said It?” comparing statements from American culture warriors, foreign adversaries, and historical figures to illustrate overlap between American “grievance party” rhetoric and that of literal terrorists or fascists.
  • Notable moments:
    • “So now the strange hypothesis that Zionist killed Charlie Kirk doesn’t seem weird at all. Who said it? Candace Owens or Alexander Dugin? If you guessed Candace Owens, you are wrong. It is Alexander Dugin.” (18:55)
    • “The neocons will try ‘manufacturing another 911 style terror attack on US soil.’ Tucker Carlson or Ayatollah Khamenei…That’s Tucker.” (19:45)

6. Fact-Checking and Historical Clarifications

Theme: Defending Western democratic leaders against revisionist narratives.

• Timestamps: 21:50–23:55
• Key Points:
  • Refutes Tucker Carlson’s recent claims that Churchill interned “opposition” leaders in WWII; clarifies that it was Oswald Mosley, the British fascist, not the parliamentary opposition.
    • “Mosley was the leader of a group called the British Union of fascists, which held 0 slots in parliament.” (22:46)

7. Iran Leadership Decimated

Theme: Shapiro details the collapse of Iran’s leadership due to American and Israeli efforts.

• Timestamps: 23:55–27:07
• Key Points:
  • Most of Iran’s top defense officials are reportedly killed or incapacitated, leaving only a few “stray figures.”
  • “The United States and Israel are doing an extraordinary job of just devastating the leadership class in Iran.” (24:30)
  • Debunks the “if you kill a terrorist, you make 1,000 new terrorists” argument.

8. U.S. Defense Spending and Military Readiness

Theme: Critiques reporting on U.S. war expenditures and calls for increased resupply and preparation.

• Timestamps: 27:07–28:59
• Key Points:
  • Lampoons the media for misrepresenting Pentagon funding requests.
  • “It takes money to kill bad guys, correct? The worst thing we could do right now is leave that cupboard empty.” (28:57)

9. Public Opinion on Iran and Trump

Theme: Americans, particularly the GOP base, overwhelmingly support Trump’s aggressive Iran policy.

• Timestamps: 28:59–29:41
• Key Points:
  • Recent Politico poll: 43% overall support U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
  • Among MAGA Republicans: “81% approval, 7% disapproval.” (28:24)

10. Q&A: U.S. Policy and Iran’s Assembly of Experts

Theme: Explains the limited but strategic role of Iran’s clerical selectors.

• Timestamps: 05:40–06:26
• Key Points:
  • “They have some power, but it’s kind of like the College of Cardinals. They have power only for like a brief moment in time.” (06:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ridiculing Ally Responses:

  • “We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks…Ooh. The UN Security Council.” (02:46–02:47)
  • “Whoa, dude, harsh stuff. Iran must be quaking in its boots.” (02:47)

• Trumpian Foreign Policy:

  • Trump: “We can take out the island anytime we want. I call it the little island that sits there so totally unprotected. We left the pipes.” (09:20)

• On European Free-Riding:

  • “Free riding turns them from allies into strategic partners…they don’t get to help formulate shared policy together.” (13:16)

• On Domestic Critics:

  • “Are we supposed to believe all these people who you cannot distinguish from Alexander Dugin or in some cases, Adolf Hitler, are America First?” (23:40)

• On Leadership Attrition in Iran:

  • “The expiration date on new appointees to top levels in the Iranian government is sooner than that bag of cheese you bought on discount a week ago.” (24:10)

• Public Opinion Polling:

  • “Among MAGA Republicans, that number is 81% approval, 7% disapproval.” (28:24)

U.S. Domestic Issues: Governance, Spending & Urban Decline

1. California’s Spending Disasters

Theme: Lampoons California’s overspending and fraud in social services and infrastructure.

• Timestamps: 31:19–38:50
• Key Points:
  • Highlights $170 million hospice fraud scandal and $114 million wildlife crossing (“a bridge for animals that literally just looks like cement over a freeway with some bushes”).
  • “Financial literacy from California government. They’re going to teach it.” (36:49)
  • New York, San Francisco, LA: Massive per-homeless spending, still rising homelessness.

2. Tax Flight and Fiscal Mismanagement

Theme: Notes wealthy residents leaving high-tax states.

• Timestamps: 38:50–40:11
• Key Points:
  • NY Gov. Hochul: “I need people who are high net worth to support the generous social programs that we want to have in our state right now.” (39:57)
  • “The tax base is eroded because you kept taxing people, providing them fewer services, and then demonizing them.” (40:10)

3. Bernie Sanders & Populist Rhetoric

Timestamps: 40:12–41:17

• Quote: Bernie: “One guy, Elon Musk or owns more wealth than the bottom 53% of American households. Think maybe that might be an issue that we should be talking about.” (40:03)
• Shapiro’s Reply: “I love that Bernie Sanders thinks he has a right to everybody else’s money and somehow this makes him the altruist.” (40:11)

Special Segment: Cuba on the Brink

Guest: Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (FL-28, only Cuban-born U.S. Congressman)
Timestamps: 41:18–47:22

Key Points:

• Cuban regime now facing daily blackouts, food and medicine shortages; protests spreading.
• Rep. Gimenez:
  • “The pressure really is don’t give them anything and don’t give them a lifeline.” (42:07)
  • “Anybody who invests in Cuba right now is insane with this regime. We need total regime change.” (43:04)
• Miami’s Cuban-American community is newly optimistic about regime change:
  • “Our level of optimism is as high as it’s ever been, higher than it’s ever been that this regime is finally on its last legs...Cuba would one day be free and democratic.” (46:23)

Additional Q&A Highlights

• On Potential U.S.-led International Bodies:
  • “I think we should pull out of the U.N. I think we should blow up the building, salt the ground, and build a Trump tower on it.” (20:08)
• Advice for Dealing With America-Haters:
  • “Ignore them, argue against them…you show that what they’re saying is nonsense.” (31:19)
• Mideast Peace After Iran:
  • “Normalization [Saudi–Israel] would not be on the table, but further economic development would be. The Saudis kind of like to play both sides.” (31:47)

Conclusion

Shapiro’s episode is a caustic repudiation of “allied” inaction, a call for unapologetic American assertiveness, and a condemnation of both international freeloaders and domestic defeatists. He asserts that under Trump, the U.S. is winning, Iran’s regime is collapsing, and only internal subversion or lack of will could threaten this trajectory. Meanwhile, progressive mismanagement at home continues to undermine major U.S. cities and states.

Closing note: “If you would like to see pro America messages prevail, then you should support the places that actually promote those. I think that’s what we’re doing here at Daily Wire.” (31:19)

[End of Summary]