Brave Kamala RUNS AWAY
Added: Aug 3, 2024
The podcast begins by discussing a recent hostage deal between the United States and Russia. The U.S. and its allies secured the release of 16 people, including multiple Americans, who had been held hostage by Russia. In exchange, Russia received eight people, including convicted murderers, terrorists, and spies. The deal was hailed as a major diplomatic victory by the Biden administration and the media.
Ben Shapiro argues that while it's good to get Americans back, treating this as a diplomatic triumph reveals problematic thinking about foreign policy, especially on the left. He contends that the West has become accustomed to viewing the best foreign policy outcomes as those where murderers and spies are traded for innocent people. This reflects a broader worldview that losing slowly with minimal cost is preferable to pushing for outright victory.
Shapiro draws parallels to the Afghanistan withdrawal, which the Biden administration portrayed as a success despite leaving allies behind and women oppressed. He contrasts this with Israel's approach in Gaza, arguing that the U.S. discourages decisive victories. He suggests this mentality has prevented America from winning a full-scale war since World War II.
Criticism of the Deal
The podcast notes that former President Trump criticized the deal, arguing it sets a bad precedent and incentivizes further hostage-taking. Shapiro agrees, stating that such deals embolden America's enemies. He cites Israel's past hostage exchanges with Hamas as examples of how these deals can lead to more hostage-taking and conflict.
Shapiro argues that the Biden administration's prioritization of diplomacy over deterrence is misguided. He suggests that if the U.S. had a policy of swift retaliation for hostage-taking, there would be far fewer incidents. Instead, the current approach treats diplomacy as an end in itself rather than a means to achieve strategic goals.
Kamala Harris and the 2024 Election
The podcast then shifts focus to Vice President Kamala Harris and her role in the 2024 election. Shapiro notes that it has been 13 days since Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee, yet she has not faced a single adversarial question from the press. He criticizes this lack of scrutiny, suggesting it's because Harris is poor at handling unscripted moments.
Shapiro plays a clip of Harris speaking at the hostage return event, describing her comments as "word slaw" - a jumble of meaningless phrases about diplomacy and understanding. He argues this demonstrates why Harris is kept on teleprompter as much as possible.
The podcast discusses the Harris campaign's strategy of limiting her exposure to unscripted questions while relying on celebrity endorsements and teleprompter speeches. Shapiro predicts this approach will continue for the next 995 days until the election.
Harris's Vice Presidential Pick
Shapiro speculates about Harris's potential vice presidential pick, with Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania emerging as a likely frontrunner. He argues Josh Shapiro would be a smart choice due to his high approval rating in a swing state and relatively moderate stance for a Democrat. However, Ben Shapiro notes that some in the Democratic base are unhappy with this possibility, viewing Shapiro as too centrist.
The podcast suggests that Harris's choice of running mate will reveal much about her political skills and strategy. Picking Josh Shapiro could allow her to broaden her appeal beyond the Democratic base, but it might also alienate more progressive supporters.
Trump Campaign's Response
Shapiro observes that the Trump campaign seems to be finding its footing in attacking Harris after a somewhat unfocused start. He argues that the most effective line of attack is to portray Harris and the Democratic Party as radical and out of touch with mainstream America.
The podcast plays clips of Trump and his running mate JD Vance criticizing Harris. They focus on her perceived inauthenticity, policy flip-flops, and the administration's border policies. Shapiro praises this approach as more effective than earlier attacks on Harris's racial identity or law school performance.
Economic Concerns
The podcast then turns to economic issues, noting that recent positive headlines have obscured underlying problems. Shapiro cites slowing job growth, rising unemployment, and downward revisions of previous job reports as signs of economic trouble. He also mentions struggles at major companies like Intel, Apple, and Amazon.
Shapiro argues that these economic challenges could pose significant problems for the incumbent party in the upcoming election. He suggests that the Biden administration's attempts to manipulate oil prices and the economy for political gain may backfire.
Foreign Policy Challenges
The podcast concludes by discussing recent foreign policy developments. Shapiro criticizes the U.S. State Department's response to the Venezuelan election, arguing that merely declaring the opposition candidate the winner without taking concrete action demonstrates weakness.
He also touches on the ongoing situation in Gaza and the administration's approach to hostage negotiations with Hamas. Shapiro argues that the Biden team's prioritization of ceasefire talks over supporting Israel's military objectives reflects a broader pattern of diplomatic capitulation.
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