WATCH: Ben Shapiro Destroys Leftist Narratives During ‘Lions & Scavengers’ Media Blitz

Daily Wire Editor Emeritus and bestselling author Ben Shapiro ripped into leftist talking points during viral exchanges on multiple shows over the past week. 

Shapiro was interviewed on shows that are known for criticizing the conservative viewpoint, such as CNN’s “News Night With Abby Phillip,” “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” and “The Breakfast Club,” hosted by Charlamagne tha God. While Shapiro spent some time talking about his new book, “Lions & Scavengers,” most of his discussions on the shows focused on pushing back against leftism. 

Pro-Life Masterclass

Shapiro joined the “Breakfast Club” to talk about a range of issues, but one topic gained a lot of attention: abortion. The Daily Wire editor emeritus defended an unborn baby’s right to life against pro-abortion arguments from co-hosts, Jess Hilarious and DJ Envy. 

“I don’t think that the subjective definition of life is how we define life,” Shapiro said. “We all agree, for example, that a one-month-old baby should not be drowned. Right, we all agree on that. And that’s not up to the personal … and the question is, well, why? Because we now understand that the one-month-old baby, everyone agrees with this, right, that — except for Peter Singer at Princeton — that a one-month-old baby has an independent interest in life.”

“You’re talking about what a woman should be allowed to do. I’m talking about the definition of personhood of the separate person inside the woman.@benshapiro‘s argument against abortion on @breakfastclubam is a must watch ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/3imJE2K9hI

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) September 8, 2025

“The argument I don’t like is that it’s up to every single person to define when life begins,” he added.

Charlamagne then weighed in then, saying he would argue that life began when there was a heartbeat.

“If life begins at the heartbeat … you’re talking about abortion restrictions very early on,” Shapiro said.

.@benshapiro: The argument I don’t like is that it’s up to every single person to define when life begins.@cthagod: I think it begins when there’s a heartbeat.@benshapiro: If life begins at the heartbeat … you’re talking about abortion restrictions very early on. pic.twitter.com/nM4IYeQGeO

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) September 8, 2025

Shapiro also shot down the argument that rape and incest are a reason to keep abortion legal. 

“People choose that argument because it’s the hardest one to make emotionally from the pro-life side … but the vast majority of abortions have nothing to do with rape or incest,” he said. 

Major Mamdani Burn

Shapiro ripped NYC socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s record and his rapping ability during his appearance on “The Breakfast Club.” 

“The guy has not held a job and he’s going to be the mayor of New York… after being a failed rapper… I’m a more successful rapper for God’s sake than Zohran Mamdani,” Shapiro said, referring to his chart-topping single with Tom MacDonald. 

“You had one record, dude,” Charlamagne said. 

“And let me tell you, it was a banger,” Shapiro replied. 

.@benshapiro: “The guy has not held a job and he’s going to be the mayor of New York… after being a failed rapper… I’m a more successful rapper for God’s sake than Zohran Mamdani.”@cthagod: “You had one record, dude.”@benshapiro: “And let me tell you, it was a banger.” pic.twitter.com/gTgEoSsEQQ

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) September 8, 2025

Social Security Smackdown

During a debate on Social Security on CNN, Shapiro explained to the panelists how the entitlement program works and how it’s on a path to bankruptcy. 

First, Shapiro shot down the idea pushed by Phillip that Social Security is just a system in which Americans “pay into” to receive that money back at retirement.

“Well no,” Shapiro shot back, adding, “I promise you the amount that people are taking out is not the amount that is going in, which is why we are going bankrupt.”

.@benshapiro teaching @CNN panelists how Social Security works is the video you didn’t know you needed???? pic.twitter.com/W54BsyPYKp

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) September 3, 2025

Later in the panel discussion, Ana Kasparian, host of the leftist show, “The Young Turks,” argued that spending on defense and foreign aid was a bigger problem pushing the country toward bankruptcy than Social Security. 

“You don’t think the trillions of dollars we’ve spent on wars in the Middle East might have something to do with that?” she asked. 

“That is not even remotely a percentage of what we spend on Social Security,” Shapiro replied. And, of course, he was correct. In 2024, Social Security accounted for 21% of the federal budget, totaling $1.5 trillion. Defense spending, meanwhile, made up 13% of the budget, or $872 billion.

.@AnaKasparian suggests military spending drives debt more than Social Security:@benshapiro: That’s not even REMOTELY a percentage of what we spend on Social Security.@ScottJenningsKY: You think Israel is a bigger portion of our budget than Social Security? pic.twitter.com/FbD18tnGnP

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) September 3, 2025

Western Civilization History Lesson

During his interview with sports and radio host Stephen A. Smith, Shapiro said that Western Civilization must be “upheld,” pushing back against the scavenger mindset that wants to tear down the traditions and values that came before us. 

Shapiro argued that Western Civilization is built upon biblical values combined with reason, which have given the world the renaissance, the enlightenment, balanced powers in government, free speech, private property, and free markets. 

.@stephenasmith: Does Western Civilization need to be torn down? Define Western Civilization. @benshapiro: “Western Civilization needs to be upheld…Biblical living combined with the application of reason…leads to the great prosperity and freedom we have today.” pic.twitter.com/qwVvQa9Px3

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) September 5, 2025

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Shapiro’s defense of conservative values make for great viral clips, but it’s even better to read from his new book, “Lions & Scavengers.” The book is a gripping exploration of the ongoing war between those who cherish our nation and those who seek to undermine it.