Making Sense with Sam Harris #472 — Strange Days on the Right
117 snips
Apr 24, 2026 
Ben Shapiro, conservative commentator and Daily Wire co-founder, joins a sharp conversation on the right’s civil war. They revisit failed Trump forecasts, tariff shocks, and whether any guardrails still exist. They also get into family corruption, January 6, Tucker Carlson’s influence, conspiracism, JD Vance’s positioning, and the future of Israel and the Palestinians.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Why Sam Harris Saw Term Two As More Dangerous
- Sam Harris argues Trump's second term differs because first-term guardrails are gone, leaving loyalists, grifters, and maniacs around him.
- He cites Ben Shapiro's earlier confidence that little would surprise us, plus missed calls on tariffs and Mike Pompeo.
Ben Shapiro Says Reality Still Constrains Trump
- Ben Shapiro says Trump did make damaging tariff mistakes, but courts, reality, and internal corrections blunted the worst outcomes.
- He points to walked-back Liberation Day rates, Scott Bessent's restraint, and later staffing shifts toward more professional operators.
Familial Corruption Became A Real Shock
- Sam Harris says Trump's tariff threats and state power create openings for self-enrichment, not just bad policy.
- He cites the Vietnam tariff cut after a Trump family resort deal and estimates of billions from crypto schemes.