This is the artificial intelligence voice of Ben Shapiro narrating this pod slice summary of the Ben Shapiro Show.

Ben Shapiro delves into the continuance of the Israel-Hamas conflict and accuses President Biden of wavering on his assertive stance against Hamas due to radical left-leaning perspectives and media narrative. He scrutinizes Biden’s tweet, expressing the desire for Israelis and Palestinians to coexist peacefully and positing that violence only strengthens Hamas. Shapiro questions if Biden is arguing for leaving Hamas in place under the pretense of defeating them, or if he is establishing impractical standards for conflict resolution, inevitably weakening Israel’s efforts in the process.

Shapiro criticizes Biden for succumbing to the media’s propagandistic approach to the issue, purporting that they promulgate four misleading claims: Hamas isn’t as malevolent as portrayed; Israel, conversely, is worse; Israel should make concessions to the Palestinian Authority to defeat Hamas and Biden’s political fortunes depend on agreeing with the first three claims.

He disagrees with the media’s portrayal of Hamas as a plausible negotiating party; their claims that Israel is resorting to indiscriminate use of force in response to the hostilities; and endorsing the idea of negotiating with Argentina’s supposed new peace partner – those responsible for the recent deaths of 1200 Israeli citizens and taking 240 hostages. He further disputes the media narrative that Israel is equivalent to Hamas in terms of morality; arguing Israel has been meticulous in its efforts to avoid civilian casualties, despite the challenges of facing a terrorist group embedded in civilian areas.

Shapiro also criticizes the suggestion of making concessions to the Palestinian Authority as a strategy to curb Hamas, questioning the proposition of a two-state solution advocated by New York Times columnist Thomas Fredman. He claims that the notion is flawed, given past experiences with negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. He argues that concession to them only leads to intensified terror activities, as its leaders have never genuinely been in favor of a two-state resolution. Sad to note, Shapiro reiterates that the radicalized Palestinian populace remains a significant impediment to Middle-East peace.

Surprisingly, despite Israel’s fight against Hamas, Ben Shapiro condemns Biden for yielding to media narratives, and suggests that Israel will fight alone if it must to ensure its survival. He dissects the media’s representation of Hamas, and challenges the idea of Israel threatening indiscriminate use of force. For Shapiro, the fundamental problem lies within the Palestinian populace’s radicalization and their desired destruction of Israel, supported by the Arab world’s leadership.

Shapiro emphasizes that BDS movements and the New York Times’ solution of a two-state reality, (espoused by Thomas Friedman), have proven invalid; showcasing that every concession to the Palestinian Authority has worsened not improved the situation.

Moving to statistics, Shapiro disproves the media-manufactured myth of Biden’s electoral jeopardy due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. He points out that polling data from Real Clear Politics show zero change in Biden’s approval ratings before and after the conflict. Shapiro argues that if Biden appeases these radicalized voices, he risks alienating voters aged 65 and older, who vote more consistently than 18-24-year-olds and have a far lesser favorable view of Hamas.

Shapiro further criticizes the youthful support for Hamas, showcased by Columbia University’s students’ solidarity with the group. He contends that if Biden chooses to pander to these unwise voices, it may lead to a perception of the West as weak, which could have detrimental effects. Shapiro wraps up by asserting that the West cannot afford to appear weak; as this weakness could invite attacks, similar to Osama Bin Laden’s perception of the West as a ‘weak horse’. Strong appearances are essential, and any signs of vacillation make the West susceptible to external threats.

Shapiro dives into the perplexing open immigration debate that’s been fueled across the West, analyzing its dynamics, evolution, and implications. He argues that open immigration policies, paired with welfare-state dynamics, can create scenarios where people aren’t motivated to integrate into the host nation’s culture or way of life. He cites the example of the United States between the Civil War and 1920 and how the rise of the welfare state shifted the dynamics of immigration and integration.

Shapiro goes on to explore the impact of uncontrolled immigration on national security and crime levels, undermining the frequent narrative of all immigrants being assets to the host country. Using the analogy of a bakery with different signs in the window, he suggests that the type and nature of the immigrants a country attracts depend heavily on the incentives it offers.

Shapiro critiques the Biden Administration’s approach to immigration, which he sees as a display of weakness that invites more illegal immigration. He further highlights the growing discontent among Senate Democrats with current policies, suggesting that incremental change is on the horizon as right-wing parties gain traction on immigration issues.

Next, Shapiro examines another symptom of the West’s perceived weakness: the abandonment of fundamental values. Within the Catholic Church, Pope Francis’ approach represents a departure from traditional doctrine, leaning towards redistributionist politics and liberal social values. He criticizes the Pope for acting against Cardinals who disagree with him, seeing this as a betrayal of the Church’s foundational principles.

He notes the growing division within the Church fueled by Pope Francis’ approach. While the Pope has taken action against his critics, there’s a persistent question of whether his authority can stave off rebellion or schism within the Church. By encouraging progressive debates without delivering precise changes, Francis has created a climate of instability where conservatives feel progressively marginalized.

Finally, Shapiro expresses concern over the Pope’s abandonment of traditional Catholic values, arguing that liberal Catholicism is failing. He cites a drop in religious vocations, most noticeably in Germany, where there were only 48 new seminarians in 2022 for a Church serving 21 million self-identified Catholics, indicating a glaring existential crisis for the institution.

Shapiro lends critical insight into the continuous open immigration debate, challenging the commonly held narrative that immigrants are always an asset to the host country. He explores the complexities of uncontrolled immigration, noting its potential impacts on national security and overall crime rates. He posits that the incentives a country provides significantly dictate the kind of immigrants it attracts, a perspective he illustrates using the analogy of a bakery with different signs in front of the window.

Further, Shapiro scrutinizes US President Biden’s immigration policies, suggesting they represent a significant weakness that courts more illegal immigration. He underscores the growing rift within the Senate Democrats concerning these policies, hinting at a possible moderation as right-wing elements gain influence concerning immigration matters.

Shapiro also addresses what he terms a symptom of the West’s perceived weakness: the desertion of core values. In the context of the Catholic Church, he views Pope Francis’ approach as a departure from traditional doctrine, characterizing it as leaning more towards redistributionist politics and progressive social values. Moreover, he censures the Pope’s approach towards Cardinals who disagree with him, qualifying it as a betrayal of the Church’s core principles.

The discussion delves further into the internal division within the Catholic Church, fuelled by Pope Francis’ unconventional approach. While the Pope has taken a stance against his critics, Shapiro considers the question of whether his authority is enough to counter the prospect of rebellion or schism within the Church. Pope Francis’ encouragement of progressive debates without concrete changes, according to Shapiro, has led to an unstable environment where conservatives feel increasingly marginalized.

Expressing concern over the Pope’s seeming abandonment of traditional Catholic values, Shapiro argues that liberal Catholicism is failing. He highlights the significant decline in religious vocations, most notably in Germany. Only 48 new seminarians were initiated in 2022 to serve a Church of 21 million self-identified Catholics, signaling a serious existential crisis for the institution.

He extends further into the impact of progressive practices on religious institutions, suggesting that traditionalist churches and synagogues are growing, while their progressive counterparts are fading. He lightheartedly contrasts attending Democratic party rallies and progressive Christian gatherings, alluding to certain similarities between the two.

Shapiro calls out the apparent move of Pope Francis in silencing his conservative opponents. He fears this strategy might doom the future of the Catholic Church, as it alienates a significant portion of believers who may hold more conservative ideological stances.

To emphasize his argument further, Shapiro points out the decline of religion over the last seven decades in the West as detrimental. He attributes a rise in radical theologies impersonating politics to this decline. His remedy doesn’t involve the Church abandoning its foundational principles but endorsing a more assertive stance, advocating for eternal truths.

Finally, Shapiro spotlights media bias, showing how certain narratives, particularly the incessant weaving of racism into narratives where it doesn’t exist, can distort facts and cause unnecessary harm to individuals. His disapproval underscores the media’s thirst for sensationalism while disregarding the potential damaging consequences of their actions.

The possibility of the 2024 presidential race ensues, with Donald Trump currently in the forefront. Shapiro notes potential shifts with the Koch network announcing their backing for Nikki Haley. He speculates about the potential dynamics of the race, suggesting that if candidate DeSantis drops out, his support base is more likely to switch to Trump rather than Haley, which could cement Trump’s potential lead.

Delving into the competitive landscape of the upcoming 2024 presidential race, Shapiro places formidable leader Donald Trump at the center. He highlights the potential shifts if alternative candidates were to leave the race, predicting a redistribution of their support bases. He posits that if Dan DeSantis exits the competition, his votes are more likely to migrate towards Trump than to Nikki Haley. On the other hand, if Haley were to step down, her votes are envisioned pooling towards DeSantis.

Shapiro also scrutinizes the strategies of candidates hoping for a swing in the polls. DeSanitis has planned a debate with California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, to revitalise his campaign. Newsom is considered to be maneuvering a passive campaign in the event of President Biden’s potential incapacitation. Shapiro discredits Newsom’s conventional strategy of comparing other states unfavorably to his own California. Insisting that Newsom has been mismanaging California, Shapiro contrasts its economic downturn with the unprecedented prosperity in Florida, citing concrete statistics. While California suffers from high unemployment and business decline, Florida thrives with increasing employment opportunities and business influx, thus marking it as a desirable model state.

In national matters, Shapiro discusses Hunter Biden’s latest decision to counter his adversaries publicly. Hunter’s alleged dealings and potential involvement with his father, Joseph Biden, have led to a subpoena for a closed-door hearing with the possibility of manipulated leaks. Looking to preserve both legitimacy and transparency, Hunter’s lawyers have expressed interest in a public hearing, despite the potential to damage Joe Biden’s public image.

Furthermore, Shapiro criticizes President Biden’s efforts for re-election as he contends with dropping polls and public dissatisfaction. Initially, anti-Trump candidates utilized the claim that Trump couldn’t beat Biden, but trends suggesting otherwise render this argument moot. While discussing candidate strategies, Shapiro remains impartial, although he hints at his preference for DeSantis or Haley over Trump.