Ben Shapiro's Acceptance Speech at the City Journal Award

Last week, City Journal honored Ben Shapiro, a prominent commentator and co-founder of the Daily Wire, with the 2026 City Journal Award. In his acceptance remarks, Shapiro expressed his admiration for City Journal and the Manhattan Institute, highlighting their commitment to optimism and problem-solving in American society. He criticized the prevailing sentiment among both the Left and certain factions of the Right, which he claims have abandoned the pursuit of concrete solutions to societal issues.

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Shapiro articulated a stark division in how different political ideologies perceive American history and governance. He noted that the Left views the Founding as a means of preserving oppressive power structures, while the "horseshoe Right" sees it as a departure from a common good upheld by paternalistic authority. Both groups, according to Shapiro, share a desire for unchecked power to dismantle existing systems, albeit with differing end goals: the Left seeks a collectivist utopia, while the horseshoe Right aspires to a return to pre-Enlightenment values.

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Shapiro warned against the dangers of centralized government, which he argues can lead to a loss of individual autonomy. He referenced Alexis de Tocqueville's observations about the potential for a populace to become enervated under a powerful state, suggesting that such conditions could lead to tyranny. He posited that when individuals relinquish their agency, they become susceptible to authoritarianism, ultimately facing a choice between reclaiming their freedom or succumbing to autocracy.

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In his conclusion, Shapiro urged a revival of the American spirit characterized by bravery and optimism. He emphasized the importance of rekindling the American dream, which he defined as the pursuit of liberty and virtue to improve lives and build communities. He rejected the notion that this dream has been usurped by elites, asserting that it remains accessible to all who strive for it.

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Shapiro's remarks reflect a broader critique of contemporary political discourse, where he perceives a growing disillusionment with the American system. He advocates for a return to foundational values that prioritize individual freedom and responsibility, positioning institutions like the Manhattan Institute and City Journal as vital in this endeavor.

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• “Unfortunately, we now live in a time in which solving problems has become passé.” — Ben Shapiro

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• “A people that has lost hope, and has retreated from fractious, risky individualism to the comfort of centralized power; a people that has surrendered its autonomy in the mistaken belief that its autonomy was always an illusion.” — Ben Shapiro

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• “The American dream isn’t a dream of a Marxist commune or a feudal estate.” — Ben Shapiro

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• “It is the dream of a free and ethical people, crossing oceans and mountains to build better lives for themselves, carving communities from wilderness, trading with and giving to one another .” — Ben Shapiro

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Shapiro's acceptance speech serves as both a critique of current political dynamics and a rallying cry for a renewed commitment to the principles that he believes define the American experience.

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