Podpower Episode AtlasIn this episode, Ben Shapiro addresses recent "hit pieces" from various media outlets targeting The Daily Wire, including the Washington Post, Puck, and New York Magazine. He refutes claims of the company's collapse, acknowledging recent layoffs but emphasizing The Daily Wire's significant institutional influence and global reach in conservative media. Shapiro argues that these attacks are a coordinated effort by the "media left" and the "woke right" (including figures like Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, and Candace Owens) to dismantle traditional conservatism, which he defines by principles like free markets, equal rights, and virtue.
Shapiro contrasts The Daily Wire's commitment to truth and traditional American principles with what he perceives as the click-whoring, grievance-mongering, and conspiratorial narratives of his critics. He asserts that his principles have remained consistent over 25 years, unlike those who he believes have strayed for personal gain or political expediency. The episode also touches on broader geopolitical issues, including President Trump's visit to China, the weakening of Iran's military capabilities, and the US stance on Cuba, all framed through the lens of defending Western principles against internal and external threats.
He criticizes the Democratic Party's perceived power-at-all-costs approach, exemplified by calls for Supreme Court expansion and race-baiting rhetoric. Shapiro also delves into domestic issues like housing affordability, debunking myths about corporate landlords, and exposing Medicaid fraud in Ohio. The episode concludes with a preview of a Daily Wire Plus special on Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, promising a deeper, critical examination of its legacy.
Overall, Shapiro positions The Daily Wire as a steadfast defender of rational, traditional conservatism against what he sees as a dangerous alliance of the left and a radicalized segment of the right, advocating for truth, virtue, and freedom in a turbulent political climate.
Shapiro identifies a segment of the right (including figures like Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, and Candace Owens) that he believes has abandoned traditional conservative principles in favor of grievance, conspiratorial populism, and click-baiting tactics.
Why careThis concept highlights a perceived internal ideological conflict within the conservative movement, distinguishing traditionalists from those adopting more radical or populist stances.
Shapiro argues that The Daily Wire, despite having fewer shows than some competitors, holds significant institutional influence due to its per-capita reach and impact, unlike individuals with large audiences but little institutional weight.
Why careThis distinction emphasizes that true impact in media extends beyond mere viewership, encompassing journalistic integrity and policy influence.
Admiral Brad Cooper's testimony reveals that the US military has successfully developed low-cost, one-way attack drones, forcing adversaries like Iran to use more expensive defenses, thereby reversing the economic advantage previously held by cheap enemy drones.
Why careThis represents a significant strategic shift in modern warfare, potentially reducing defense costs and enhancing operational effectiveness against drone threats.
Shapiro advocates for banning Chinese foreign exchange students from US universities, arguing that they often return to China to strengthen an enemy regime by transferring American technology and knowledge, despite the financial reliance of universities on these students.
Why careThis raises a critical debate about balancing academic freedom and university funding with national security concerns, particularly regarding intellectual property and geopolitical rivalry.
Shapiro discusses the concept of non-military regime change, advocating for economic pressure and support for domestic opposition to destabilize adversarial governments like those in Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran, rather than direct military intervention.
Why careThis explores alternative strategies for influencing foreign governments, emphasizing the role of economic sanctions and internal movements in achieving geopolitical objectives without direct military conflict.
Shapiro debunks the notion that corporate landlords are primarily responsible for high housing costs, presenting data that shows owner-occupants and small-scale landlords dominate the market. He argues that low regulation and free markets are the best solutions for housing affordability.
Why careThis challenges common narratives about housing economics, suggesting that government intervention and over-regulation may exacerbate affordability issues rather than solve them.
"The media left and the woke right, that'd be like Candace and Fuentes and Tucker and Megan, all of them together, the new left, they are attempting to destroy traditional conservatism. That's the whole thing here."
"I got into politics because I cared about the truth, about saying things that I believe to be eternal and true, because I care about the ideas of conservatism. It's why I've done that for all these years."
"The easiest way to make AOC president in the 2028 election is to have that nutty lady run against a conservative movement that is focused on Breijit Mcronone's testicles or demon attacks in the wilds of Maine or why the Jews are responsible for your incurable gingivitis and horrific body odor and inability to get a date."
"The Supreme Court and the Clan have the same agenda. This is what Democrats are going to run on."
"The days of $35,000 drones that we saw in the last couple couple of years, particularly in the fight against the Houthis in Yemen, those days are behind us. Today, we face an increased threat from drones that are highly sophisticated."
"Cubans are successful everywhere in the world except one place, Cuba. And so that's what we want. We don't want Cubans not to have to leave that island in order to be successful."