Intro
In this episode of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” Ben discusses the ongoing investigations into Elon Musk and his companies, the legal theory being used to disqualify Donald Trump from appearing on the ballot, the battle over institutional credibility, and the importance of fixing the social fabric in the United States. He also covers various other topics, including the Afghanistan withdrawal, Hurricane Ida, and the California school district’s policy on gender-confused students.
Main Takeaways
Elon Musk Investigations
- Elon Musk is being investigated by prosecutors over allegedly building a house with Tesla funds.
- The federal government has launched two investigations into companies related to Elon Musk in the last month.
- The Justice Department sued SpaceX for discriminating against asylum seekers and refugees in hiring.
- Prosecutors are now investigating Tesla for use of funds on a project described internally as a house for Elon Musk.
- Tesla is being investigated for the use of funds on a secret project called Project 42.
- The SEC and Manhattan US Attorney’s Office have opened a civil investigation into Project 42.
- The project involved building a spacious glass structure in Austin, Texas, potentially including a residential area.
- Federal prosecutors are also seeking information on the driving range of Tesla’s electric vehicles.
- Some speculate that these investigations into Elon Musk and his companies may be politically motivated.
Disqualifying Donald Trump from the Ballot
- Legal theory is being employed to disqualify Donald Trump from appearing on the ballot under the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.
- Efforts are being made in multiple states to bar Trump from the ballot due to his actions on January 6th, 2021.
- The theory is gaining momentum since two prominent conservative law professors published an article concluding Trump is constitutionally disqualified from running for office.
- If the Supreme Court rules in Trump’s favor, the left may claim that the institution is stacked on behalf of Donald Trump, undermining its credibility.
- Secretaries of state are considering disqualifying candidates from the ballot based on their reading of the 14th Amendment.
- If a secretary of state disqualifies Trump and it goes to the Supreme Court, it could lead to a constitutional crisis.
The Battle Over Institutional Credibility
- The left sees the right as so inherently evil and dangerous that they must use legal abilities to go after them, including lawfare being used to go after Trump.
- The left’s use of legal methods to go after the right is a self-perpetuating cycle that undermines the rule of law.
- The right is engaging in extra-legal activities with the law, which justifies the left in going outside the law to do things.
- The belief on the part of the right that the left has militarized the justice department and local justice departments against the right justifies the right in doing whatever it can to stop that.
- The left is using the law as a weapon because it is in control of the law, while the right is bucking the law because it is not in control of the law.
- The positions reverse themselves depending on the circumstance, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.
- The battle is not just over institutional credibility, as the left justifies its extra-legal activities by claiming the right is not being extra-legal because of misuse of the law.
- The left is being extra-legal because they want to tear down institutions.
Fixing the Social Fabric
- The lack of faith in the system in the US is a dangerous moment for the country.
- Fixing the social fabric is crucial for the effectiveness of institutions.
- Institutions are only effective when they govern with a light hand.
- The tighter the social fabric, the less need for third-party involvement.
- As societies fail, institutions become more tyrannical.
- Failure to respect each other as human beings leads to more tyrannical institutions.
- The rise of a radical left in the 1960s overthrew the social compact in the United States.
- Infusing the idea that all institutions are corrupt for power leads to a breakdown of the social fabric and failure of institutions.
- A good functioning society uses the social fabric and little platoons within it to create a sense of community and trust.
- American institutions, particularly in the 60s, saw the growth of government effectively crowd out religion and the social fabric.
- The failure of the social fabric can only be fixed at the local level through the rebuilding of the social fabric.
- The federal government should be minimized to allow local communities to be local communities.
- Durable empires have a relatively light-handed top level.
- The United States is currently a very centralized empire, exacerbating social conflict.
- Minimizing power at the top level and allowing local communities to govern themselves could cure this issue.
Summary
Elon Musk Investigations
Elon Musk and his companies, Tesla and SpaceX, are facing multiple investigations by federal prosecutors and the SEC. These investigations focus on allegations of misusing funds, discriminating against asylum seekers and refugees in hiring, and providing false information about Tesla’s electric vehicles. Some speculate that these investigations may be politically motivated.
Disqualifying Donald Trump from the Ballot
There is a legal theory being employed to disqualify Donald Trump from appearing on the ballot in future elections. Efforts are being made in multiple states to bar Trump from the ballot based on his actions on January 6th, 2021. This theory has gained momentum, and if the Supreme Court rules in Trump’s favor, it could lead to a constitutional crisis.
The Battle Over Institutional Credibility
There is a battle over institutional credibility, with the left using legal methods to go after the right, and the right engaging in extra-legal activities to counter the left’s perceived misuse of the law. This creates a self-perpetuating cycle where each side justifies their actions based on the actions of the other. The left sees the right as inherently evil and dangerous, while the right believes the left has militarized the justice system against them.
Fixing the Social Fabric
The lack of faith in the system and the breakdown of the social fabric in the United States are concerning. Fixing the social fabric is crucial for the effectiveness of institutions, and this can be achieved by respecting each other as human beings and rebuilding the sense of community and trust at the local level. Minimizing the power of the federal government and allowing local communities to govern themselves could help alleviate social conflict.
Conclusion
The ongoing investigations into Elon Musk and his companies, the legal efforts to disqualify Donald Trump from the ballot, the battle over institutional credibility, and the importance of fixing the social fabric in the United States are all crucial topics discussed in this episode of “The Ben Shapiro Show.” It is clear that these issues have far-reaching implications for the future of the country and its institutions. It is essential to navigate these challenges with a focus on fairness, transparency, and respect for the rule of law.
