Blotting Out The Sun

This episode of The Ben Shapiro Show examines recent political and cultural developments centered around the solar eclipse, abortion policy, and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. The episode opens by highlighting how some media figures, including Sunny Hostin from The View, have attributed the solar eclipse, recent earthquakes, and cicada emergences to climate change, a claim that draws skepticism from Shapiro. NASA's decision to feature an indigenous scientist in their eclipse coverage is also discussed as part of broader cultural narratives around the event. The conversation shifts to religious perspectives when Whoopi Goldberg cites the Ten Commandments as rationale for opposing abortion, while sports figure Dawn Staley generates controversy by advocating for the inclusion of transgender women in women's athletics. Trump's evolving position on abortion receives substantial analysis. Rather than supporting a federal ban, Trump has declared himself a states' rights advocate, allowing individual states to determine their own abortion policies. This represents a departure from his previous stance and distinguishes his position from Senator Lindsey Graham's proposed federal restrictions. Shapiro examines Trump's political calculus in making this shift, particularly regarding voter preferences. A Trump campaign ad that incorporates the solar eclipse is also highlighted as an example of his campaign messaging strategy. Polling data presented in the episode indicates that Biden is losing significant ground to Trump on questions of judgment and leadership. Additionally, Biden makes comments suggesting he receives guidance from his wife on policy matters, which Shapiro critiques. The episode addresses Biden's student loan debt cancellation initiative, which Shapiro emphasizes directly contradicts Supreme Court rulings, representing an executive overreach of presidential power. Biden is also quoted bragging about ignoring the Supreme Court's authority. The foreign policy portion of the episode focuses heavily on the Gaza conflict. The Biden White House continues exerting pressure on Israel to accept ceasefire terms, aligned with diplomatic efforts from France, Egypt, and Jordan. However, Hamas has rejected the latest ceasefire proposal, complicating diplomatic efforts. The situation deteriorates as prominent Democrats, including Elizabeth Warren, attempt to characterize the Gaza conflict as genocide, a characterization Shapiro contests. The episode concludes by noting Trump's criticism of Jews who vote for Biden, touching on divisions within the Jewish community over Israel policy. Throughout the episode, Shapiro maintains his characteristic critical perspective on Democratic policies and media narratives while covering these interconnected political and cultural developments.