Ben Shapiro Headlines: September 3, 2025

Ben Shapiro, conservative commentator and co-founder of The Daily Wire, appeared on NewsNation’s “CUOMO” tonight to discuss his new book Lions and Scavengers: The True Story of America (and Her Critics) and to debate rising crime and cultural divides.

In a roughly five-minute segment, host Chris Cuomo pressed Shapiro on the central thesis of his book: that American society is split between “Lions,” who build and innovate, and “Scavengers,” who tear down existing institutions without offering constructive alternatives. Shapiro argued that current political discourse too often reflects the Scavenger mentality, blaming “systems” for personal failures rather than championing individual responsibility and civic engagement.

During the exchange:

• Shapiro characterized rising urban crime as a symptom of cultural decay, calling for renewed emphasis on community policing and family stability as bulwarks against lawlessness.
• He defended conservative critiques of academia and media, asserting that they too frequently adopt a Scavenger posture, seeking to dismantle traditional norms without a clear vision for renewal.
• Cuomo challenged Shapiro on the perceived extremism of some conservative voices, but Shapiro maintained that his focus is on principles rather than personalities.

Shapiro’s appearance marks the beginning of a promotional tour highlighting Lions and Scavengers, which officially released on September 2. He will follow up tonight’s broadcast with a subscriber-only livestream on The Daily Wire platform this weekend to field audience questions on policy, culture, and the book’s themes.