Intro
In this episode of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” Ben discusses the impact of lowering drug prices on the pharmaceutical industry, the National Labor Relations Board’s new framework for unions, Biden’s perceived unpleasantness and corruption, the controversy surrounding the Gadsden flag in schools, and other current events.
Main Takeaways
Impact of Lowering Drug Prices
- Big Pharma is responsible for all medicines, including life-saving drugs and vaccines.
- The US allows patients and doctors to buy drugs at the price that Pharma is selling them at, unlike other countries that use the government to set prices.
- The Biden administration named 10 drugs subject to the first-ever price negotiations by Medicare, including treatments for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Medicare spent $50.5 billion on those drugs last year.
- The move is a major step towards reducing drug spending, according to a health policy professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
- Americans pay more for prescription drugs than any other country in the world.
- The move towards reducing drug spending could have positive downstream effects, including lower prices and estimated $25 billion a year savings for Medicare.
- Medicare plans to use the savings to put a $2,000 annual cap on how much members have to pay out of pocket for drugs starting in 2025.
- The policy could lead to decreased investment in medical innovation in the US.
- The CMS can only select drugs that have been on the market for a certain period of time, and drug makers who refuse to negotiate could face an excise tax scaling up to 95%.
Impact of Unionization Rules
- The National Labor Relations Board has issued a new framework for determining when employers are required to bargain with unions.
- The NLRB’s recent decision sets out rules for representation elections, requiring them to be held promptly, curtailing employees’ ability to delay them.
- These decisions make union organizing possible again after decades of reducing the nation’s rate of private sector unionization from roughly 35% to 6%.
- The idea that American unions built America is not true, although unions can be necessary and good in certain circumstances.
- Unionization in America’s car industry destroyed the industry in the 1950s.
Biden’s Perception and Email Controversy
- Growing impression that Biden is unpleasant and corrupt, and demand for him is no longer there.
- 89% of Republicans, 69% of Democrats, and 74% of independents say Biden is too old.
- Democrats who plan to support Biden still have concerns about his age.
- Biden is a pathological narcissist, and his facade of empathy is a lie.
- Joe Biden’s famous empathy disappears when it crosses his political streams.
- National Archives has 5,400 Joe Biden emails using fake names to disgovernment information to others as vice president.
- The National Archives has been accused of dragging its feet since the FOIA request since June 2022.
Controversy Surrounding Gadsden Flag in Schools
- A young elementary school student in Colorado Springs was removed from class for wearing a Gadsden flag patch on his backpack.
- The flag was deemed disruptive to the classroom environment, despite having origins before the American Revolution.
- The family disputed the school staff member’s decision, arguing that the flag originated during the American Revolution and had nothing to do with slavery.
- The school’s rationale for considering the flag unacceptable was tied to Confederate flag and other white supremacy groups, including Patriot groups, and also tied to hate groups.
- The governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, called the situation ridiculous and said that as long as kids aren’t creating a disruptive environment, expressing themselves in different ways is great.
- Some schools are banning political flags, including LGBT flags and gun rights patches.
Summary
Impact of Lowering Drug Prices
The Biden administration’s move to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices is seen as a major step towards reducing drug spending in the US. Americans pay more for prescription drugs than any other country, and this policy change could lead to lower prices and estimated savings for Medicare. However, there are concerns that decreased investment in medical innovation may occur as a result.
Impact of Unionization Rules
The National Labor Relations Board’s new framework for unions has the potential to increase union organizing in the private sector. While unions can be necessary and beneficial in certain circumstances, there are concerns about the impact on businesses and industries, as seen in the decline of the American car industry in the 1950s.
Biden’s Perception and Email Controversy
There is a growing perception that Biden is unpleasant and corrupt, with concerns about his age even among Democrats who plan to support him. The recent controversy surrounding Joe Biden’s emails, in which he used fake names to disseminate information, raises questions about transparency and accountability.
Controversy Surrounding Gadsden Flag in Schools
The controversy over a student being removed from class for wearing a Gadsden flag patch on his backpack highlights the ongoing debate about political symbols and expressions in schools. While the flag has historical origins predating the American Revolution, the school’s rationale for considering it disruptive is tied to associations with hate groups. The situation has sparked discussions about freedom of expression and political neutrality in educational settings.
Conclusion
As the Biden administration makes policy changes regarding drug prices and unions, there are potential benefits and concerns to consider. Lowering drug prices could lead to savings for Medicare, but may also impact medical innovation. Increased unionization may empower workers, but could also have consequences for businesses and industries. The controversies surrounding Biden’s perception and email usage, as well as the Gadsden flag in schools, highlight ongoing debates about transparency, freedom of expression, and political neutrality.
