The Ben Shapiro Show: Ep. 2346 – Iran SLAUGHTER In The Streets?!

Date: January 14, 2026
Host: Ben Shapiro (The Daily Wire)

Overview

In this episode, Ben Shapiro delivers a rapid, detailed, and opinionated breakdown of key news stories dominating headlines, focusing primarily on the shocking reports of mass killings by the Iranian regime amidst anti-government protests. Shapiro explores the geopolitical, moral, and media implications, reactions from U.S. political figures (notably former President Trump), and assesses the lack of Western outrage. The episode then pivots to U.S. domestic debates, ranging from immigration enforcement and ICE controversies to a Supreme Court case on transgender athletes, economic policy, and political drama surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and the Clintons. Throughout, Shapiro blends analysis, critique, and his signature rhetorical style.

Main Theme

Hard-Hitting Conservative Analysis on Iran’s Bloody Crackdown, Western Silence, and U.S. Policy Response

• Ben calls out the muted response in U.S. media and politics to the thousands of protesters reportedly killed by the Iranian regime, arguing hypocrisy from leftist activists and politicians.
• Explores the broader geopolitical stakes: potential for a transformed Middle East, Trump’s stance on Iran, and prospects for American and allied intervention.
• Subsequent segments critique how immigration and transgender issues are handled in American law and culture.
• Contains sharp criticism of Democratic leaders and defense of Trumpist policy, with frequent contrasts to the Obama/Biden years.
• Distinct segments include immigration (ICE standoffs), transgender sports rights at the Supreme Court, Trump’s economic boasts, and the ongoing Epstein-Clinton saga.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iran’s Crackdown & Global Implications

(00:56 – 07:29, 08:13 – 13:11)

• Human Rights Crisis:
  • Reports (citing CBS and human rights orgs) claim between 3,000 and 20,000 Iranian protesters killed; internet and communications blackout in Iran to hide regime brutality.
  • “What actual bravery looks like is walking into the streets arm in arm to stand up against people with machine guns.” – Ben Shapiro (01:23)
• Media & Campus Silence:
  • Shapiro blasts American media, Congressional Democrats, and college activists for neglecting the Iranian protesters and focusing obsessively on issues like Gaza.
• Regime Weakness:
  • Economic collapse and military setbacks (after “12-day war” and U.S./Israeli strikes) cited as triggers for the uprising.
• U.S. Response & Trump’s Policy:
  • Trump administration ramps up sanctions; threatens further action if hangings or mass executions persist.
  • Contrasts Trump’s approach (“doesn’t set lines he won’t enforce”) with what Shapiro calls the empty threats of Obama/Biden.
  • “The transformative effect on the region would be incredible… Imagine if the Houthis weren’t harassing shipping in the Red Sea anymore because their sponsor state Iran was gone.” – Ben Shapiro (08:21)
• Trump’s Direct Message to Iranian Protesters (07:29, paraphrased from segment):
  • “Iranian patriots, keep protesting. Take over your institutions. Save the names of the killers and abusers. They'll pay a big price…Help is on its way. MIGA—Make Iran Great Again.”

2. Divergence in Republican Foreign Policy

(08:13 – 13:11)

• Shapiro argues that MAGA and more traditional Republican voters are united behind targeted Trump military action in response to Iranian abuses.
• Debunks claim that it’s a “neocon” intervention, argues for “risk-reward calculation” for limited U.S. action.
  • “Any suggestion that what is likely to replace the Iranian regime is worse... I’m going to have to see a chart.” – Ben Shapiro (10:56)

3. ICE, Immigration, and Sanctuary Cities

(18:11 – 31:11)

• ICE Clashes with States:
  • Shapiro defends federal immigration enforcement, slams Democratic refusal to cooperate.
  • Trump threatens to cut federal funding for sanctuary cities starting Feb 1. Drives home message that ICE agents are unfairly demonized by activists and leftist politicians.
    • “All the patriots of ICE want to do is remove them [dangerous criminals] from your neighborhood and send them back...” – Donald Trump (22:36)
  • Notable moment on how polarization makes reasoned debate on immigration impossible:
    • “What happened to Renee Goode is both a tragedy and...in all likelihood, a justifiable action...[But] the fact that we can’t have that rational conversation is...shocking.” – Ben Shapiro (26:39)
• Left’s Shift on ICE:
  • AOC and Ilhan Omar push to abolish ICE; Shapiro predicts this will politically backfire (cites previous “defund the police” polling).

4. Supreme Court Case: Transgender Athletes

(31:11 – 36:57)

• Overview of the Legal Debate:
  • SCOTUS hears a case on whether states can bar biological males from competing in girls' sports.
  • Shapiro sharply insists on biological reality, mocks the lack of a clear legal definition of “boy” or “girl” from transgender advocates.
    • “Justice Samuel Alito asked...can you even define what it means to be a boy or a girl?...No good answer there.” – Ben Shapiro (34:16)
  • Suggests that attempts to scramble sex/gender law are the result of decades of left-wing cultural decay.
• Memorable Critique:
  • “The fact that we have to do all these contortions...over very basic biological realities says something about the moral lack and the intelligence of the American people.” – Ben Shapiro (35:44)

5. Trump’s Economic & Federal Reserve Policy

(36:57 – 42:11)

• Robust Economic Growth?:
  • Trump boasts “disinflationary boom,” high private sector growth, and “manufacturing renaissance” (though Shapiro notes that jobs data doesn’t fully back this).
    • “Under my stewardship, the economy is booming.” – (Trump statement, paraphrased by Shapiro 38:37)
  • Shapiro credits much growth to AI investment, predicts tech productivity explosion.
• Fed Criticism & Policy Tensions:
  • Trump criticizes Jerome Powell, suggests he’ll be removed. Shapiro warns against undermining Fed independence, notes pushback from global central bankers.
    • “I think he’s wrong. He’s done a bad job. We should have lower rates.” – Donald Trump (41:19)
  • Critique of Trump’s proposal to cap credit card rates at 10%, likening its logic to Elizabeth Warren (which Shapiro deems a bad sign).

6. Jeffrey Epstein, the Clintons & Congressional Drama

(42:11 – 47:58)

• Conspiracy & Political Theatrics:
  • Shapiro dismisses ongoing Epstein speculation as largely a tool to attack Trump without evidence, noting that Clinton’s legal team declined to answer subpoenas, leading to threats of contempt by the House Oversight Committee.
    • “Bringing Congress to a halt to pursue a rarely used process literally designed to result in our imprisonment...reason, that should be the focus of your work, to learn why and to prevent that from happening ever again.” – (Clintons, via Ben Shapiro paraphrase, 46:11)
• Ben’s Position:
  • Cautions against weaponizing the justice system for partisan ends without strong evidence—applies this standard to both sides.

7. Greenland and U.S. Security Leverage

(47:58 – 48:12)

• Trump continues to tout strategic need for Greenland, sees it as vital for the U.S./NATO defense ("Golden Dome" anti-missile system). Shapiro frames Trump’s posturing as likely leverage, not a literal call for annexation.
  • “That’s their problem. I disagree with him...But that’s going to be a big problem for him.” – Donald Trump (Greenland’s Premier rejecting U.S. overture, 47:58)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Iranian Protesters’ Courage:
  • “What actual bravery looks like is walking into the streets arm in arm to stand up against people with machine guns who are firing live ammunition at you...” – Ben Shapiro (01:23)
• On Regime Change in Iran:
  • “Things change radically when terrible regimes go.“ – Ben Shapiro (10:08)
• On Biden/Obama vs. Trump Foreign Policy:
  • “[Trump] is not fond of making threats that he does not fulfill. This is what makes him totally different...from Barack Obama and Joe Biden, who made empty threats all the time.” – Ben Shapiro (13:11)
• On ICE and Progressive Politics:
  • “The fact that we can’t have that rational conversation is, Is kind of shocking to me, at least in the political sphere.” – Ben Shapiro (26:39)
• On Gender, Law, and the Supreme Court:
  • “Boys and girls are separate and legitimate categories of human life. This is not like race, where race is arbitrarily dividing people by color. There are differences, physical, hormonal, between boys and girls. And the fact that we can't just say that is really astonishing.” – Ben Shapiro (33:58)
• On Economic Growth Claims:
  • “The reality is that we have actually not seen an increase in manufacturing jobs...However, we are seeing extraordinary levels of investment, particularly at the upper end of the market in AI.” – Ben Shapiro (39:37)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:56–07:29] – Iranian protests and regime crackdown, American response (media/politics)
• [07:29–08:13] – President Trump's statement to the Iranian people
• [08:13–13:11] – Analysis of U.S. policy, Republican unity, arguments for targeted American action
• [18:11–31:11] – ICE, sanctuary cities, and escalation in Minnesota; Democratic proposals to abolish ICE
• [31:11–36:57] – SCOTUS case on transgender athletes, legal/biological definitions, and the broader cultural debate
• [36:57–42:11] – Trump’s economic claims, the Federal Reserve, and critique of credit cap proposals
• [42:11–47:58] – Epstein-Clinton congressional dispute and Shapiro’s view on weaponized political investigations
• [47:58–48:12] – Greenland: Trump’s strategy and Shapiro’s assessment

Memorable Closing

Ben closes the episode by underscoring the stakes of his chosen topics: the fight for freedom in Iran, the need for clear law enforcement in America, the enduring challenge of constitutional definitions, and the importance of sober, principle-based governance.

Summary Useful For:
Listeners and non-listeners will find this summary a thorough account of the episode’s substantive and rhetorical highlights, with key critiques and takeaways articulated in Shapiro’s original tone and style. The focus is on delivering the “hard-hitting truth” about headline issues in both foreign and domestic politics, with a clear conservative framing.