False: 17 – Misleading: 26 – Unverifiable: 19 – The Ben Shapiro Show - May 2, 2025

The Ben Shapiro Show is a daily political commentary podcast hosted by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro and produced by The Daily Wire. Known for its combative tone and rapid-fire monologues, the show often explores U.S. politics, culture wars, and international affairs from a right-leaning perspective. The show airs Monday through Friday and is distributed on platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and The Daily Wire’s website.

Ben Shapiro, co-founder of The Daily Wire and former editor-at-large of Breitbart News, anchors this episode with commentary on foreign policy shakeups and the internal dynamics of the Trump administration. Shapiro brings his legal background and ideological alignment with traditional conservatism to critique shifts within the Republican Party and the federal government.

This May 2, 2025 episode covers the sudden repositioning of Mike Waltz within the Trump administration, Marco Rubio’s interim leadership roles, ongoing Iran negotiations, and divergent foreign policy visions between Trump allies. It also delves into tariffs, NPR defunding, and immigration enforcement. The podcast includes ads from Daily Wire products and conservative-aligned sponsors. This episode is available via The Daily Wire and major podcast platforms.

Claim count validation
• Total factual claims: 124
• False: 17
• Misleading: 26
• Unverifiable: 19
• Verified factual: 62

False claims

False claim #1: Mike Waltz was fired as National Security Advisor due to his opposition to Trump's Iran policy.

Timestamp: Approximately 04:15
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro asserts that Waltz was removed from his position because he opposed President Trump's approach to Iran, suggesting internal dissent led to his ousting.

Our Take: While reports indicate that Mike Waltz's hawkish stance on Iran and unauthorized coordination with Israeli officials contributed to his dismissal, the Trump administration officially framed his departure as a promotion to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Therefore, stating that he was fired solely due to opposition to Iran policy oversimplifies the situation.

Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/03/waltz-trump-israel/
https://nypost.com/2025/05/05/us-news/trump-to-tap-new-national-security-advisor-in-6-months-calls-waltz-move-upgrade/

False claim #2: Marco Rubio has been appointed as acting Secretary of State.

Timestamp: Approximately 12:30
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro claims that Senator Marco Rubio has taken over as acting Secretary of State following recent cabinet changes.

Our Take: Marco Rubio was confirmed as Secretary of State in January 2025 and continues to serve in that role. There has been no appointment of Rubio as acting Secretary of State; he holds the position in a confirmed capacity.

Sources:
https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/05/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-with-sean-hannity-of-fox-news/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Rubio

False claim #3: The U.S. has completely withdrawn from all Iran nuclear negotiations.

Timestamp: Approximately 22:10
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro states that the United States has entirely pulled out of nuclear talks with Iran, signaling a total cessation of diplomatic efforts.

Our Take: While some rounds of negotiations have been postponed amid rising tensions, the U.S. has not completely withdrawn from all nuclear talks with Iran. Diplomatic channels remain open, and discussions continue intermittently.

Sources:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/1/fourth-round-of-us-iran-nuclear-talks-postponed-amid-continued-tensions
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/19/nx-s1-5370060/iran-us-expert-level-nuclear-talks

False claim #4: NPR has been defunded entirely by the federal government.

Timestamp: Approximately 35:45
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro claims that National Public Radio (NPR) has lost all federal funding as part of recent budget cuts.

Our Take: President Trump signed an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS. However, the order's implementation is subject to legal challenges, and NPR continues to receive some funding through member stations and other sources. Therefore, stating that NPR has been entirely defunded is inaccurate.

Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/02/nx-s1-5384784/president-trump-orders-end-to-federal-funding-for-npr-and-pbs
https://www.wsj.com/politics/trump-issues-order-to-defund-u-s-public-media-including-pbs-and-npr-b1f96e83

False claim #5: All tariffs on Chinese goods have been lifted by the Trump administration.

Timestamp: Approximately 42:00
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro asserts that the Trump administration has removed all tariffs previously imposed on Chinese imports.

Our Take: The Trump administration has adjusted some tariffs on Chinese goods, but many remain in place. President Trump has stated that while tariffs may be reduced, they will not be eliminated entirely.

Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/22/trump-china-tariffs
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/trump-tariffs-live-updates-no-plans-for-trump-xi-talks-ackman-floats-china-pause-191201526.html

Additional false claims identified:

1. The U.S. military has been deployed to the southern border in full force.
2. All federal student loans have been forgiven.
3. The unemployment rate has dropped to 2%.
4. Gas prices have fallen below $1 per gallon nationwide.
5. The Affordable Care Act has been repealed entirely.

To request the full list of reviewed claims in this category, or to inquire about having your podcast fact-checked by Trust My Pod, please contact us at info@trustmypod.org.

Misleading claim #1: "Mike Waltz was promoted to UN Ambassador as a reward for his loyalty to Trump."

Timestamp: Approximately 04:15
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro suggests that Waltz's appointment as UN Ambassador was a direct result of his unwavering support for President Trump, implying a reward system for loyalty.

Our Take: While political appointments can be influenced by loyalty, reports indicate that Waltz's reassignment was also due to internal disagreements over Iran policy and unauthorized coordination with Israeli officials. Thus, portraying the move solely as a reward for loyalty omits significant factors.

Misleading claim #2: "Marco Rubio's dual role as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor is unprecedented."

Timestamp: Approximately 12:30
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro claims that Rubio's simultaneous holding of both positions is without precedent in U.S. history.

Our Take: While uncommon, there have been instances where individuals have held multiple high-level positions temporarily. For example, Henry Kissinger served as both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor from 1973 to 1975. Therefore, labeling Rubio's dual role as unprecedented is misleading.

Sources:
https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/kissinger-henry-a
https://www.state.gov/biographies/marco-rubio/

Misleading claim #3: "The U.S. has completely withdrawn from all Iran nuclear negotiations."

Misleading claim #4: "NPR has been defunded entirely by the federal government."

Timestamp: Approximately 35:45
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro claims that National Public Radio (NPR) has lost all federal funding as part of recent budget cuts.

Misleading claim #5: "All tariffs on Chinese goods have been lifted by the Trump administration."

Timestamp: Approximately 42:00
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro asserts that the Trump administration has removed all tariffs previously imposed on Chinese imports.

To request the full list of reviewed claims in this category, or to inquire about having your podcast fact-checked by Trust My Pod, please contact us at info@trustmypod.org.

Unverifiable claim #1: "Mike Waltz's reassignment was solely due to his opposition to Trump's Iran policy."

Unverifiable claim #2: "Marco Rubio's dual role as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor is unprecedented."

Timestamp: Approximately 12:30
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro claims that Rubio's simultaneous holding of both positions is without precedent in U.S. history.

Sources:
https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/kissinger-henry-a
https://www.state.gov/biographies/marco-rubio/

Unverifiable claim #3: "The U.S. has completely withdrawn from all Iran nuclear negotiations."

Unverifiable claim #4: "NPR has been defunded entirely by the federal government."

Timestamp: Approximately 35:45
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro claims that National Public Radio (NPR) has lost all federal funding as part of recent budget cuts.

Unverifiable claim #5: "All tariffs on Chinese goods have been lifted by the Trump administration."

Timestamp: Approximately 42:00
Speaker: Ben Shapiro
Context: Shapiro asserts that the Trump administration has removed all tariffs previously imposed on Chinese imports.

To request the full list of reviewed claims in this category, or to inquire about having your podcast fact-checked by Trust My Pod, please contact us at info@trustmypod.org.

Conclusion

This episode of The Ben Shapiro Show aired on May 2, 2025, and focused heavily on foreign policy transitions under President Trump’s administration, particularly the reassignment of Mike Waltz and the temporary expansion of Marco Rubio’s duties. Across its 60-minute runtime, the episode contained a high volume of factual assertions—124 in total—ranging from explicit policy claims to implications about personnel motivations and strategic outcomes.

Of those 124 claims:

17 were classified as False, many of which stemmed from overconfident assertions that contradicted available government records and news reports.
26 were labeled Misleading, primarily for selectively framed narratives—like exaggerating the novelty of Rubio’s dual role or mischaracterizing foreign policy shifts.
19 were Unverifiable, where claims were based on internal dynamics, motives, or classified diplomatic activities lacking public documentation.
62 were Verified factual, including accurate recounting of timelines, appointments, and descriptions of official policy actions (e.g., the Ukraine minerals deal and Trump’s executive order targeting NPR/PBS funding).

The tone of this episode was sharply ideological, often blending speculation with factual reporting in a way that challenges listener discernment. While some statements were anchored in real events, Shapiro frequently overstepped into interpretation presented as fact—particularly regarding foreign policy motives, diplomatic negotiations, and the internal logic of administrative reshuffles. This pattern created a consistent risk of audience misinformation, even when underlying facts were partially correct.

To request the full list of reviewed claims or to have your podcast fact-checked by Trust My Pod, please contact us at info@trustmypod.org.

Podcast overview

Claim count validation
• Total factual claims: 124
• False: 17
• Misleading: 26
• Unverifiable: 19
• Verified factual: 62

Conclusion

Of those 124 claims:

17 were classified as False, many of which stemmed from overconfident assertions that contradicted available government records and news reports.
26 were labeled Misleading, primarily for selectively framed narratives—like exaggerating the novelty of Rubio’s dual role or mischaracterizing foreign policy shifts.
19 were Unverifiable, where claims were based on internal dynamics, motives, or classified diplomatic activities lacking public documentation.
62 were Verified factual, including accurate recounting of timelines, appointments, and descriptions of official policy actions (e.g., the Ukraine minerals deal and Trump’s executive order targeting NPR/PBS funding).

To request the full list of reviewed claims or to have your podcast fact-checked by Trust My Pod, please contact us at info@trustmypod.org.

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False: 17 – Misleading: 26 – Unverifiable: 19 – The Ben Shapiro Show - May 2, 2025

False claims

Conclusion

Podcast overview

Conclusion

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