Podcast Summary

The Ben Shapiro Show – "Friendly Fire: Gavin for President, Greenland for Sale"
Date: January 16, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Ben Shapiro Show, Shapiro and fellow Daily Wire hosts—Andrew Klavan, Matt Walsh, and Michael Knowles—engage in a spirited "Friendly Fire" roundtable. They dissect the potential 2028 presidential run of California Governor Gavin Newsom, the concept of American expansion via a theoretical acquisition of Greenland, and preview Walsh's new documentary series on controversial history topics—starting with slavery. The episode is marked by sharp, often tongue-in-cheek banter, and conservative perspectives on current political, historical, and foreign policy debates.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gavin Newsom: Democratic Frontrunner or Overrated?

• (02:11, 07:12, 09:09, 13:54, 15:55, 20:27, 31:36)

• Ben's Encounter with Newsom:

  • Ben recently sat down with Gavin Newsom at the California Governor's Mansion, describing him as personable off-camera but politically "squirrely," often shifting blame for California’s failures to local officials while taking credit for state successes (02:11).
  • Ben notes Newsom's attempts to moderate his image, especially around controversial issues like ICE and the trans debate, to appeal to a broader electorate in anticipation of a 2028 presidential campaign (08:46).

• Will Newsom Get the Nomination?

  • Andrew Klavan doubts Newsom’s appeal: “I think Newsom is a haircut, a sleazy haircut. And I think that that doesn't play.” (09:28)
  • Klavan alleges that the media overstates candidates’ charisma and underestimates how much voters care about substantive policy, citing California's failed homelessness policies and "graft" in Democratic one-party rule (09:28).
  • Matt Walsh concedes Newsom could be the nominee due to his rare ability among Democrats to engage in long-form discussion, but thinks he won't win the presidency (11:56).

• On Democratic Voters and Identity Politics:

  • Walsh questions whether Democrats will revert to a white male candidate, referencing past failed diverse candidates (13:25).
  • Ben: The Democratic base, especially in the South, being heavily Black, may undercut non-Black minority candidates (13:54).

• Key Quotes:

  • Ben, on Newsom’s rhetorical strategy:

    "[Newsom] will kind of rhetorically appeal to the radicals in his base, and then when he's called on it, then he will back really quickly away from it because he still wants to win moderates for 2028." – (08:46)

  • Klavan:

    “I think that Newsom is toast the minute his record comes up.” – (10:35)

2. 2028 GOP Landscape: Can Anyone Replicate Trump’s Coalition?

• (15:55, 19:41, 20:27, 28:46, 29:25, 31:36)

• JD Vance and the Inheritance Problem:

  • The hosts debate whether JD Vance, now Vice President, can maintain or expand Trump’s diverse coalition—blue-collar workers, Hispanics, some Black voters, and more online-engaged, younger men (15:55, 19:41).
  • Ben is skeptical, suggesting Trump’s appeal is unique and not transferable:

    “My biggest question mark for JD Vance is can he grow any part of Trump's coalition?” – (19:41) “MAGA is Trump. I think that MAGA without Trump is boring and stupid in many ways, because I just don't think as a concept it holds together.” – (28:46)

• Republican Alternatives and Meme-Worthiness:

  • Rubio is floated as another option, but Ben notes his base would skew more college-educated and Hispanic, but with fewer blue-collar white voters (29:37).
  • Knowles: Vance is wise to lean into meme culture that underestimates him—that dissonance favors candidates when reality outperforms the jokes (26:16).

• Foreign Policy & Internal Party Tensions:

  • Klavan argues that Vance is drifting too isolationist (24:24); Knowles counters with examples of Vance’s support for intervention, suggesting isolationism is a media exaggeration (23:22).

• Key Quotes:

  • Knowles, on candidate meme strategies:

    "I think it was so smart of the VP to lean into the goofy meme... you want to be underestimated so that the reality can surpass expectations." – (26:16)

3. Slavery in Historical Perspective: Matt Walsh's "Real History"

• (37:43, 38:13, 41:13)

• Slavery: Global and American Contexts (37:43)

  • Walsh previews his upcoming documentary series, aiming to challenge mainstream narratives about controversial historical topics—starting with slavery.
  • He asserts that slavery has existed on every continent for millennia and is often misrepresented in schools and media to induce unwarranted guilt in Americans.
  • Walsh also argues that African empires’ involvement is routinely omitted, and that being transported to America was, in many cases, the "best-case scenario" for enslaved Africans (38:13).

• Heritage, Identity, and Modern Discontent:

  • Knowles admits to a "lib" take: the legacy of slavery does shape the identity of Black Americans, which he feels should be acknowledged (42:23).
  • Walsh provocatively argues:

    "If you're a black person in America today and your ancestors were enslaved, you are better off today because of that than you likely would be if your ancestors had not been enslaved... I'm not making an end justifies the means argument. I'm only saying that to be mad about a thing that ultimately has actually benefited you today makes no sense." – (46:35)

  • The group concurs that, while the legacy is real, people should take pride in the progress made and note that abolitionists deserve “outsized credit” given slavery’s universality (51:41).

• Key Quotes:

  • Klavan: “People should not own other people.” – (42:59)
  • Ben: “The history of black Americans is one of the most glorious things—moving from slavery to freedom... to participating in building the greatest country in history and becoming leaders in a variety of fields.” – (44:18)

4. Greenland for Sale! Manifest Destiny, Foreign Policy, and American Expansion

• (52:38, 54:22, 56:03, 56:46, 58:05, 61:28)

• Should the U.S. Acquire Greenland?

  • Matt Walsh jokes he’s been “lusting after Greenland” forever and, tongue-in-cheek, calls for its annexation—even by force (08:08, 52:58).
  • Walsh roots his argument in American tradition, arguing that expansion, war, and land acquisition are how America was made. He’s “not going to automatically rule out” conquest if it’s in “the interests of Americans.” (54:22)
  • Ben is more cautious, adamant that military invasion is unnecessary given current treaties allow for substantial American military presence (58:05).
  • The hosts riff on Denmark’s feeble ability to defend Greenland (dog sleds, etc.) and the geopolitical irrelevance versus the symbolism of American “growth.” (56:46, 61:28)

• Larger Theme: Expansion as National Strength

  • Knowles and Klavan, reflecting on post-WWII American growth, lament that the country hasn’t added territory since 1959—the same era America was “really strong and growing” (56:46).
  • Klavan:

    “Empire is a phase in the life of great nations... there's just an amoral truth about the fact that you grow or you die.” – (56:56)

  • Walsh:

    “If you're a great country, then you should be trying to expand, trying to reach for something, explore, go to unknown places. This is when America has been great.” – (60:12)

• Comedic Relief:

  • Jokes about renaming Greenland as "Trumpland," seizing the Nobel Prize from Venezuela dissidents, and “manifest destiny” abound (58:05, 59:23).
  • Shrimp, dog sleds, and Greenland’s “12 people” become recurring punchlines.

Notable Quotes (& Timestamps)

• Ben on Newsom’s Tactics:
  "[Newsom] will kind of rhetorically appeal to the radicals in his base, and then when he's called on it, then he will back really quickly away from it because he still wants to win moderates for 2028."
  — Ben Shapiro, (08:46)

• Klavan on Democratic Leadership:
  "I think Newsom is a haircut, a sleazy haircut. And I think that that doesn't play."
  — Andrew Klavan, (09:28)

• Walsh on Memes and Candidate Image:
  "He doesn't take himself too seriously... that's a rare quality for a politician people appreciate."
  — Matt Walsh, (27:18)

• Knowles on Heritage:
  "If my ancestors had come on a slave ship ... I would view the country differently ... identity really really does matter."
  — Michael Knowles, (42:23)

• Walsh on Slavery’s Legacy:
  "...to be mad about a thing that ultimately has actually benefited you today makes no sense."
  — Matt Walsh, (46:35)

• Klavan on Expansion:
  "Empire is a phase in the life of great nations... I think ultimately there's just an amoral truth about the fact that you grow or you die."
  — Andrew Klavan, (56:56)

• Walsh on Expansion & Greatness:
  "If you're a great country, then you should be trying to expand, trying to reach for something, explore, go to unknown places. This is when America has been great."
  — Matt Walsh, (60:12)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Ben’s debrief on meeting Gavin Newsom: (02:11–08:46)
• Debate: Is Newsom inevitable for Dems in 2028? (09:09–15:55)
• JD Vance and the future of the GOP coalition: (15:55–29:25)
• The meme game and underestimation in politics: (26:16)
• Slavery and American history—preview of Walsh's documentary: (37:43–51:41)
• Greenland debate: Conquest or contract? (52:38–63:58)
• Closing banter and expansion as national ethos: (61:28–64:27)

Conclusion

This episode is a lively, multi-topic conservative roundtable blending sharp policy analysis, historical revisionism, and playful hyperbole. It covers the intricacies of the upcoming Democratic and Republican presidential primaries, the legacy and cohesion of Trump’s "MAGA" movement, complex legacies of historical injustices like slavery, and the enduring allure of American expansion. Even the wildest proposals—like annexing Greenland—are vehicles for deeper commentary on American identity, ambition, and the cycles of political myth-making.

Note: Ads, promotional plugs, and extended board game segments were omitted from this summary for clarity and focus on substantive discussion.