Conservatism's Next Voice: Ben Shapiro Heads to Radio

A viral sensation because of his prolific writing resume, videos of arguments against liberal activists, and contentious university speeches, the Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro has been a big hit on virtually every available medium.

Advertisement

This includes podcasting, where the Ben Shapiro Show is a huge hit among political podcasts, frequently at the top of the charts. All of this popularity has led a major radio group to syndicate his podcasts on terrestrial radio, POLITICO reports.

Starting on April 2, Westwood One will be syndicating the podcast, called The Ben Shapiro Show, as a one-hour program in several major markets, including New York, Washington, and Los Angeles.

The move will bring the 34-year-old Shapiro, often seen as a leading voice of young conservatives, into the same arena as the older generation of conservative talk radio standard-bearers, like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. With his 1.27 million Twitter followers and, according to Westwood One, 15 million podcast downloads per month, some observers can see Shapiro rising quickly through the ranks of conservative radio.

Shapiro is no stranger to terrestrial radio. He has subbed in for Mark Levin in the past (and performed well when he did). However, having his own syndicated show is a clear play for a younger conservative audience, one which Shapiro draws across his various platforms.

Advertisement

And while he does not see himself as a competitor to Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, he is a younger face, rising popularity and, perhaps most significantly, a willingness to be critical of President Donald Trump – something the two long-standing voices of conservative radio won’t do.

Shapiro is the first real opportunity for younger conservatives to have a voice on talk radio. Many younger conservatives have had to latch on Limbaugh and Hannity because those two were the primary options. However, Shapiro is someone they are more likely to connect with, and that can make all the difference.

Recommended

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Trending on RedState Videos