Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
📖

Ben Shapiro

society Maturity 11-13 politics Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: politics. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Benjamin Aaron Shapiro is a prominent American political commentator, media host, and attorney.

Ben Shapiro at Mizzou
Ben Shapiro at Mizzou

He is well known for sharing conservative perspectives through various media platforms. Shapiro co-founded the media company The Daily Wire in 2015. He also hosts a daily podcast called The Ben Shapiro Show. His work involves writing columns, publishing books, and speaking at large events. He is a significant figure in modern American political discourse. People often study his career to understand how digital media influences politics.

Shapiro's career is built on a foundation of law and writing. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 2007 with a Juris Doctor degree. Before focusing on media, he worked in private legal practice. He also ran his own legal consultancy firm in Los Angeles. His writing career began exceptionally early in his life. At age 17, he became the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the United States. This early start allowed him to publish two books by age 21. He has since authored sixteen non-fiction books.

His political views are defined by specific ideological frameworks. Shapiro describes himself as economically libertarian and socially conservative. Economic libertarianism suggests a preference for limited government involvement in business. Social conservatism focuses on traditional social structures and values. He has expressed opposition to several major policies and social movements. These include the Affordable Care Act, gun control, and same-sex marriage. He also opposes transgender rights and abortion. These positions place him within the conservative movement in America.

Shapiro has held several influential roles in news organizations. From 2012 to 2016, he served as editor-at-large for Breitbart News. He resigned from Breitbart in March 2016. His resignation followed disagreements regarding the site's leadership and support for staff. After leaving Breitbart, he focused on building The Daily Wire with Jeremy Boreing. In 2020, he stepped down as editor-in-chief of the company. He now holds the title of editor emeritus. This role allows him to remain a key part of the organization.

The reach of his media presence is quite large. The Ben Shapiro Show is a highly successful podcast. In 2021, it was ranked as the 9th most listened to podcast on Apple Podcasts. By 2019, his radio program was carried by more than 200 stations. These stations include many of the top ten largest markets in the U.S. His influence extends to digital video as well. Some of his talks on PragerU have received millions of views. This widespread distribution helps him reach a massive audience daily.

Conservative Political Action Conference 2018 Ben Shapiro (39798514014)
Conservative Political Action Conference 2018 Ben Shapiro (39798514014)

Shapiro is also a frequent public speaker on college campuses. Between early 2016 and late 2017, he spoke at 37 different campuses. These appearances often involve intense debate and protest. At California State University, Los Angeles, students formed human chains to block his event. At the University of California, Berkeley, the security costs were very high. The university and the city spent $600,000 on police for that single speech. Such events highlight the tension surrounding his controversial viewpoints.

CPAC Hungary 2025 (88)
CPAC Hungary 2025 (88)

Shapiro's work connects to broader cultural and social debates. He often argues that the political left dominates American institutions. He specifically mentions academia, Hollywood, and mainstream journalism. His books, such as "The Right Side of History," discuss Judeo-Christian values. He also uses different media to engage with younger audiences. In early 2024, he appeared in a music video for the song "Facts." This song reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. His career demonstrates how media, law, and politics intersect in the modern age.

590 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Ben Shapiro at Mizzou.jpg
Ben Shapiro at Mizzou.jpg
File:Conservative Political Action Conference 2018 Ben Shapiro (39798514014).jpg
Conservative Political Action Conference...
File:CPAC Hungary 2025 (88).jpg
CPAC Hungary 2025 (88).jpg
File:Ben Shapiro (29040858748).jpg
Ben Shapiro (29040858748).jpg
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.