The Ben Shapiro Show: Iowa Caucuses, Trump's Lead, and Biden's Approval Ratings
Added: Jan 16, 2024
In this podcast, Ben Shapiro discusses the Iowa caucuses and the Republican primary race. He begins by highlighting the expectations for Donald Trump, who is the overwhelming favorite to win the Iowa caucuses. According to polling data, Trump has a significant lead over other Republican nominees, with 48% of the vote, followed by Nikki Haley at 20% and Governor Ron DeSantis at 16%. Shapiro emphasizes that the Iowa caucuses are not highly predictive of who will be the nominee, citing past winners who did not become the nominee. However, he notes that this race is different due to Trump's strong lead in every primary.Key takeaways
Trump is the overwhelming favorite to win the Iowa caucuses with a significant lead in polling data.
Trump's support has a significant impact on down-ballot races, with some swing voters not supporting Republican candidates.
Democrats are panicking and making unfounded accusations against Trump, while Biden's approval ratings are at an all-time low.
Foreign policy challenges, particularly with Israel and China, are a concern due to perceived weakness in handling international issues.
The border crisis and the collapsing RICO case in Georgia are also discussed, highlighting the lack of action and potential consequences of political bias in legal cases.
Expectations for Trump and other candidates
Shapiro explains that the expectations for Trump are high, and if he shows weakness in the early primary, it could be a problem for him. He outlines the various paths for Trump, DeSantis, and Haley based on the Iowa caucuses and upcoming primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina. He emphasizes that DeSantis needs to win or have a strong second-place finish in Iowa to revivify his campaign, while Haley is focusing on outperforming in Iowa and winning in New Hampshire. He also discusses the enthusiasm of Trump's supporters, highlighting their dedication and willingness to vote for him even in adverse weather conditions.
Impact of Trump's support on down-ballot races
Shapiro discusses the impact of Trump's support on down-ballot races in 2022, noting that there was a widespread Republican sentiment that Trump was a drag on Republican tickets. He explains that the Democrats made the 2022 midterms a referendum on Trump and his adjacent candidates, leading to certain swing voters not supporting Republican candidates.
Trump's response to other candidates
Shapiro discusses Trump's response to other candidates in the race, particularly Vivek Ramaswamy, who has been a strong supporter of Trump. He highlights Trump's criticism of Ramaswamy for staying in the race and making a case for saving Trump, despite Trump's overwhelming lead in the polls. He also discusses Trump's response to other candidates and their strategies in the race.
Democratic panic and accusations against Trump
Shapiro addresses the Democratic panic and accusations against Trump, particularly the fears that Trump will use the military in dictatorial ways if he returns to the White House. He discusses the accusations against potential defense secretaries, including Christopher Miller, Michael Flynn, and Mike Pompeo, and emphasizes that the accusations are unfounded and bizarre. He highlights the impact of such accusations on Trump's support and motivation among his base.
Election and Biden's Approval Ratings
Shapiro continues by discussing the upcoming election and the state of the economy. He mentions that Joe Biden's approval ratings are at an all-time low, with only 33% of Americans approving of his performance. He attributes this to Biden's failure in domestic and foreign policy, as well as his poor rhetoric. Shapiro also highlights the concerns about Biden's age and mental sharpness, as only 28% of people believe he is fit to serve for another term.
Foreign Policy and Israel
Shapiro then delves into the foreign policy challenges facing the Biden administration, particularly in relation to Israel and China. He discusses the tensions between the US and Israel, as well as the potential for a crisis with China. He emphasizes the importance of strong leadership in handling these international issues and criticizes Biden's perceived weakness in dealing with foreign adversaries.
Illegal Immigration and Border Issues
The podcast also addresses the issue of illegal immigration and the border situation. Shapiro criticizes the Democrats for downplaying the border crisis and attempting to shift blame onto Republicans. He highlights the lack of action in addressing the staffing and security issues at the border, as well as the Democrats' failure to acknowledge the severity of the situation.
RICO Case in Georgia
Shapiro then discusses the RICO case in Georgia, which is beginning to collapse due to the actions of the prosecutor. He explains that the case against Donald Trump is falling apart not because of legal reasons, but because the prosecutor in the case was found to be biased. This highlights the importance of impartiality and fairness in legal proceedings, and the potential consequences of political bias in legal cases.
Related episodes
