Outright hatred is becoming common in politics.

In this solo episode, Ben Shapiro addresses a troubling trend in contemporary American politics: the mainstreaming of outright hatred in political discourse. Rather than the traditional back-and-forth of principled disagreement, political opponents are increasingly portrayed as enemies deserving of contempt and vitriol. Shapiro examines how this shift has infected both conservative and progressive political spaces, manifesting in dehumanizing language, calls for violence, and the complete abandonment of good faith engagement.

Shapiro traces the roots of this phenomenon to several interconnected causes. Social media platforms algorithmically reward engagement, and nothing drives engagement quite like outrage and hatred. Traditional media outlets have similarly discovered that sensationalism and inflammatory rhetoric generate viewership. Combined with increasing political polarization, these forces have created an environment where the most extreme voices dominate public discourse while moderates are drowned out.

The host argues that educational institutions bear some responsibility for this decline. Rather than teaching students how to engage with opposing viewpoints respectfully, many schools have instead emphasized ideological conformity. This leaves young people unprepared for genuine intellectual debate and more susceptible to viewing disagreement as a personal attack requiring a hostile response.

Shapiro emphasizes that this is not merely a matter of tone but substance. When people view their political opponents as subhuman or evil, compromise becomes impossible. Democratic governance depends on the ability to disagree without hatred, to negotiate despite differences, and to accept electoral outcomes from opposing parties. The normalization of political hatred corrodes these foundational capacities.

The episode explores specific examples of how hatred manifests in contemporary politics, from social media pile-ons to political violence to institutional ostracism based on political beliefs. Shapiro notes that while extreme rhetoric has always existed in politics, it was previously confined to the margins. Now it occupies the mainstream, with politicians, celebrities, and media figures openly expressing contempt for those who disagree with them.

Shapiro calls for a return to first principles of democratic engagement. This requires individuals to consciously resist the incentive structures pushing them toward hatred. It means consuming media more thoughtfully, engaging with opposing arguments charitably, and refusing to dehumanize those with different political views. He acknowledges this is difficult when algorithms and media incentives push in the opposite direction, but argues it is essential.

The episode concludes with Shapiro's assertion that the health of American democracy depends not just on winning political battles but on preserving the norms and civility that make democratic competition possible. If hatred continues to dominate political discourse, the institutions themselves may not survive regardless of which side temporarily prevails.