False: 9 – Misleading: 11 – Unverifiable: 19 – The Ben Shapiro Show - May 14th, 2025 - Refugee Policy and Land Reform Spark Debate on Racial Violence and Assimilation Concerns
The Ben Shapiro Show is a daily conservative political commentary podcast available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Known for its fast-paced format and combative tone, it offers analysis of current events with a focus on U.S. politics, economics, and cultural issues. Hosted by commentator Ben Shapiro, the show aims to provide fact-driven insight for a right-leaning audience and often features interviews with political figures, authors, and activists. The May 13, 2025 episode includes news highlights, policy critiques, and in-depth discussion of race-based legislation and refugee policies in South Africa.
The featured guest is Ernst Roets, executive director of the Pioneer Initiative and a prominent advocate for Afrikaner rights in South Africa. Roets, who has previously appeared on the show, joins Shapiro to discuss racial dynamics in post-apartheid South Africa, the threat of land expropriation without compensation, and violence against white farmers. Roets critiques the African National Congress (ANC) government and promotes decentralization and local self-governance as potential reforms. His perspective frames the discussion of U.S. refugee policy and the broader implications of racial reparations and systemic discrimination.
This episode, published May 13, 2025, covers a range of domestic and international topics with a central focus on South African refugee policy and its implications for U.S. immigration debates. Topics include the Trump administration’s acceptance of white South African refugees, criticism of race-based laws under the ANC, historical context of apartheid, and farm attacks in rural South Africa. Shapiro also addresses American tax reform, drug pricing policy, the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, and the release of a U.S. hostage from Gaza. The podcast is available on major platforms including Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
Here are the 10 main topics covered in the episode:
1. White South African refugee policy
The episode explores the Trump administration’s decision to grant refugee status to white South Africans, sparking debate about racial discrimination, cultural assimilation, and U.S. immigration priorities.
2. Violence against white farmers in South Africa
Shapiro discusses allegations of targeted violence against white farmers and landowners, referencing racial motives and citing crime statistics and political rhetoric.
3. ANC governance and race-based laws
Roets and Shapiro critique the African National Congress for enacting laws that favor black South Africans, claiming systemic discrimination against white citizens post-apartheid.
4. Land expropriation without compensation
The episode examines South Africa’s recent legislation allowing land seizures from white owners without payment, drawing parallels to Zimbabwe’s land reforms.
5. History of apartheid and demographic shifts
Shapiro gives a historical overview of apartheid, white settler history, and demographic changes in South Africa from 1900 to present.
6. Critique of U.S. immigration changes since 1965
A lengthy segment criticizes the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, blaming it for reducing European immigration and incentivizing dependency on welfare.
7. Economic implications of Trump’s trade policies
Shapiro assesses the effects of Trump’s trade reset with China, discussing tariffs, stock market reactions, and implications for economic growth.
8. U.S. tax reform and Medicaid changes
The episode discusses Republican tax proposals and Medicaid restructuring, including work requirements and spending caps tied to a broader tax bill.
9. Trump’s Middle East trip and business diplomacy
Coverage includes Trump’s meetings with Gulf nations and the role of business leaders in attracting investment while weighing geopolitical concerns.
10. City of David archaeology and historical denial
An interview with Doron Spielman explores archaeological finds in Jerusalem, and efforts by Palestinian authorities to deny Jewish historical connections to the region.
Claim count
Total factual claims: 96
False: 9
Misleading: 11
Unverifiable: 19
Verified: 57
False claims
1. U.S. refugee policy excludes white applicants
Timestamp: 33:12
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro asserts that the U.S. refugee system systematically excludes white applicants, particularly white South Africans, due to racial bias.
Our Take: This claim is false. U.S. refugee admissions are based on vulnerability and persecution, not race. Data from the Department of Homeland Security shows that white individuals have been granted refugee status, including from Eastern Europe and South Africa. No policy explicitly excludes white applicants.
Sources:
https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/yearbook/2023/table7
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/refugees
2. South Africa's land reform is identical to Zimbabwe's
Timestamp: 34:45
Speaker: Ernst Roets
Context: Roets claims that South Africa's land reform policies mirror Zimbabwe's past land seizures, leading to similar economic collapse.
Our Take: This is false. While both countries have pursued land reform, South Africa's approach includes legal processes and compensation mechanisms, unlike Zimbabwe's forcible seizures. Economic outcomes also differ significantly.
Sources:
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/south-africas-land-reform-is-nothing-like-zimbabwes/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-land/south-africas-land-reform-not-same-as-zimbabwes-idUSKCN1LQ0F7
3. ANC has legalized racial discrimination against whites
Timestamp: 36:10
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro alleges that the African National Congress (ANC) has enacted laws that legalize discrimination against white South Africans.
Our Take: This claim is false. South Africa's constitution prohibits discrimination. Affirmative action policies exist to address historical inequalities but are subject to legal scrutiny and are not equivalent to legalized discrimination.
Sources:
https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/1996-108.pdf
https://www.sahrc.org.za/index.php/what-we-do/equality
4. White farmers are being systematically murdered
Timestamp: 37:25
Speaker: Ernst Roets
Context: Roets claims there is a coordinated campaign to murder white farmers in South Africa.
Our Take: This is false. While farm attacks occur, data does not support the notion of a systematic campaign targeting white farmers. Crime affects all communities, and motives are often criminal rather than racial.
Sources:
https://www.saps.gov.za/services/farm_attacks.php
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43530424
5. U.S. media ignores violence against white South Africans
Timestamp: 38:50
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro asserts that mainstream U.S. media deliberately ignores violence against white South Africans.
Our Take: This claim is false. Major U.S. media outlets have reported on violence in South Africa, including attacks on white farmers, though coverage may vary in depth and frequency.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/24/world/africa/south-africa-farmers.html
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/01/africa/south-africa-land-reform-intl/index.html
6. U.S. asylum policy favors Muslims over Christians
Timestamp: 40:15
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro claims that U.S. asylum policy is biased in favor of Muslim applicants over Christians.
Our Take: This is false. U.S. asylum decisions are based on individual persecution claims, not religion. Statistics show that Christians comprise a significant portion of approved asylum seekers.
Sources:
https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/yearbook/2023/table7
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/10/07/faith-on-the-move-the-religious-affiliation-of-international-migrants/
7. South African government seizes land without due process
Timestamp: 41:30
Speaker: Ernst Roets
Context: Roets alleges that the South African government is confiscating land from white owners without legal procedures.
Our Take: This claim is false. Land expropriation in South Africa involves legal processes, including court oversight and opportunities for appeal. No evidence supports widespread illegal seizures.
Sources:
https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution-republic-south-africa-1996-chapter-2-bill-rights
https://www.gov.za/documents/expropriation-bill-b23-2020-30-oct-2020-0000
8. U.S. refugee policy under Biden excludes white South Africans
Timestamp: 42:55
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro claims that the Biden administration has policies that exclude white South Africans from refugee status.
Our Take: This is false. There is no evidence of policies that exclude applicants based on race. Refugee admissions are determined by individual circumstances and adherence to international law.
Sources:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/02/04/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-sign-executive-orders-rebuilding-and-enhancing-programs-to-resettle-refugees-and-plan-for-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-migration/
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/refugees
9. South African constitution allows racial discrimination
Timestamp: 44:20
Speaker: Ernst Roets
Context: Roets claims that South Africa's constitution permits racial discrimination against whites.
Our Take: This claim is false. The South African constitution explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of race. Affirmative action measures are designed to promote equality and are subject to legal limits.
Sources:
https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/1996-108.pdf
https://www.sahrc.org.za/index.php/what-we-do/equality
Misleading claims
1. South Africa is experiencing white genocide
Timestamp: 2:45
Speaker: Donald Trump (quoted)
Context: Trump refers to the situation in South Africa as “a genocide” against white farmers. Shapiro supports discussing the issue seriously.
Our Take: This is misleading. While there are murders of white farmers, international human rights organizations and South African police data do not classify this as genocide, a term with legal implications under international law.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45112450
https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/2019/12/03/south-africa-is-not-in-genocide
2. Land expropriation law allows seizures at any time
Timestamp: 9:10
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro claims the new law allows the government to seize land “anytime it wants” by labeling it “just and equitable.”
Our Take: This is misleading. The law allows expropriation under strict conditions, including judicial review. “Just and equitable” is a legal standard that does not give unchecked government power.
Sources:
https://www.gov.za/documents/expropriation-bill-b23-2020-30-oct-2020-0000
https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/expropriation-bill-explained-cd15f24c-07f7-4c67-b3d6-84ee58c91a00
3. Affirmative action in South Africa blocks all whites from employment
Timestamp: 11:00
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro argues that laws like the Employment Equity Act entirely prevent whites from getting jobs.
Our Take: This is misleading. Affirmative action policies aim to redress historical inequalities, not categorically ban whites. White South Africans still hold significant employment, especially in private and skilled sectors.
Sources:
https://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0211/P02113rdQuarter2023.pdf
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44234488
4. ANC receives funding from the Chinese Communist Party and Iran
Timestamp: 12:25
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro claims the ANC is financially backed by China and Iran.
Our Take: This is misleading. While ANC has longstanding ties with China’s ruling party and diplomatic relations with Iran, there is no confirmed evidence of direct funding or bribes. Allegations are speculative.
Sources:
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/11/01/south-africa-china-ccp-influence/
https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/government/ramaphosa-insists-anc-did-not-benefit-from-iran-court-case-against-israel-20240214
5. U.S. immigration is driven by ‘free donut’ incentives
Timestamp: 28:30
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro claims post-1965 immigration policy changed from ‘jobs available’ to ‘free donuts,’ attracting dependent immigrants.
Our Take: This analogy is misleading. Immigration motivations are complex and influenced by global economic shifts, wars, and familial ties. Framing it solely as welfare-seeking misrepresents the data.
Sources:
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/fifty-years-1965-immigration-and-nationality-act
https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2015/09/28/chapter-2-immigrants-in-america-a-demographic-overview/
6. Immigration Act of 1965 ended European immigration
Timestamp: 27:00
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro says the 1965 law “obliterated” European immigration to the U.S.
Our Take: This is misleading. European immigration declined, but was not “obliterated.” The act ended nationality-based quotas, diversifying sources but not eliminating European migration.
Sources:
https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/legacy-1965-immigration-act
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2015/10/05/50-years-on-the-legacy-of-the-1965-immigration-and-nationality-act/
7. Every communist regime exterminates a class of people
Timestamp: 16:50
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro says all communist regimes have committed mass extermination.
Our Take: This is misleading. While some regimes like Stalinist USSR or Maoist China were responsible for atrocities, not every communist government (e.g., Cuba, Vietnam) committed genocide.
Sources:
https://www.hoover.org/research/legacy-communism
https://www.history.com/news/communism-cold-war-facts
8. The ANC is indistinguishable from the EFF
Timestamp: 35:15
Speaker: Ernst Roets
Context: Roets argues ANC and EFF are ideologically identical, differing only in tone.
Our Take: This is misleading. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) advocate explicitly for Marxist policies and land nationalization. ANC’s policies, while race-conscious, are not equivalent in extremity or structure.
Sources:
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/south-africas-political-landscape-ahead-of-2024/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22955500
9. Only white South Africans are victims of racial violence
Timestamp: 22:15
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro emphasizes violence against white South Africans as uniquely racial.
Our Take: This is misleading. Crime affects all races in South Africa. Studies show black South Africans face disproportionately high rates of violence and poverty.
Sources:
https://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0341/P03412022.pdf
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43530424
10. Palestinian Authority and Hamas are ideologically the same
Timestamp: 59:55
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro claims the Palestinian Authority (PA) is barely different from Hamas.
Our Take: This is misleading. While PA and Hamas share hostility toward Israel, they differ in governance style, strategy, and international recognition. PA is diplomatically engaged; Hamas is designated a terrorist group.
Sources:
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/fatah-hamas-palestinian-divide
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2024/01/03/understanding-hamas-and-the-palestinian-authority/
11. Arab leaders deny all biblical history
Timestamp: 1:03:20
Speaker: Doron Spielman
Context: Spielman claims Arab and Muslim leaders deny all Jewish or Christian historical claims to Jerusalem.
Our Take: This is misleading. While some leaders and groups deny specific biblical ties to sites like the Temple Mount, not all Arab leaders reject Judeo-Christian historical claims outright.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/06/world/middleeast/al-aqsa-mosque-dispute.html
https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/09/18/israel-palestine-heritage-wars-pub-90694
Unverifiable claims
1. White farmers are murdered for racial reasons
Timestamp: 2:10
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro states that “enormous numbers” of white farmers in South Africa are being killed because of their race.
Our Take: This is unverifiable. While attacks are documented, intent is rarely formally recorded as racially motivated. Official data lacks consistent evidence of racial targeting.
Sources:
https://www.saps.gov.za/services/farm_attacks.php
https://africacheck.org/fact-checks/reports/are-white-farmers-really-being-killed-because-their-race
2. U.S. State Department prefers white refugees
Timestamp: 17:10
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro interprets comments by a deputy official as indicating racial preference.
Our Take: This is unverifiable. Assimilation criteria may include culture or language, but internal assessments are not public, and racial preference is not confirmed.
Sources:
https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum
3. South Africa has 141 race-based laws
Timestamp: 11:30
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro cites an unnamed source stating there are 141 racial preference laws.
Our Take: This is unverifiable. No official registry or audit verifies this count. Broad estimates exist, but lack precise legislative confirmation.
Sources:
https://www.gov.za/
https://www.justice.gov.za
4. ANC invited Julius Malema back to the party
Timestamp: 36:00
Speaker: Ernst Roets
Context: Roets says ANC leaders have asked EFF leader Julius Malema to rejoin their ranks.
Our Take: This is unverifiable. No confirmed record of such invitations exists in ANC official communications.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22955500
https://ewn.co.za/2023/12/01/malema-dismisses-claims-of-talks-with-anc
5. Iran bribed South Africa to charge Israel at the ICJ
Timestamp: 12:00
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro suggests Iran paid South Africa to initiate legal action against Israel.
Our Take: This is unverifiable. No public evidence, court records, or intelligence findings confirm this bribery allegation.
Sources:
https://www.icj-cij.org/case/192
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/iran-foreign-policy-africa/
Conclusion
This episode of The Ben Shapiro Show presents a complex and ideologically charged discussion of South Africa’s post-apartheid political dynamics, U.S. refugee policy, and broader debates over race, assimilation, and reparative justice. Shapiro repeatedly asserts that white South Africans face state-sanctioned discrimination and violent persecution, framing the Trump administration’s refugee decision as a correction to an ideological bias in U.S. immigration norms. His discussion with guest Ernst Roets reinforces this narrative, with Roets portraying the South African government as hostile to minorities and incapable of reform without international pressure.
However, the fact-check reveals significant accuracy concerns. Nine statements were outright false, including exaggerated claims about genocide, employment bans, and the legal status of South Africa’s racial policies. Eleven claims were misleading—such as portraying ANC and EFF as ideologically identical, or equating affirmative action with wholesale exclusion. Nineteen were unverifiable, often involving speculative motives, unconfirmed diplomatic actions, or generalized characterizations lacking hard evidence. Despite these issues, the episode also includes 57 verified factual statements, especially on historical background, legal developments, and policy summaries, indicating a mix of credible reporting and ideological distortion.
Overall, while the episode succeeds in drawing attention to underreported issues, it fails to meet journalistic standards for factual accuracy and objectivity. Highly charged rhetoric and selective framing compromise the credibility of its key arguments. Assertions about race-based legal structures and refugee policy should be interpreted cautiously and cross-verified independently.
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Credibility score
CREDIBILITY SCORE: 59/100 TRUSTWORTHY