Dave McCormick, Ben Shapiro talk pressing political issues for college students in ‘fireside chat’

With the general election a week away, College Republicans at Pitt hosted a “fireside chat” on Tuesday night featuring Dave McCormick, Pennsylvania’s Republican candidate for Senate, and Ben Shapiro, political commentator and co-founder of the Daily Wire. 

The event took place in the Courtyard by Marriott Pittsburgh University Center and focused on the pressing issues and stakes of the upcoming election, ending with a Q&A between the speakers and the audience. About 10 counterprotesters were outside the event, hosted by Trans Action Building PGH and the Steel City Anti-Fascist League. 

Dave McCormick is running against incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in next week’s general election. McCormick’s top three “Day One Promises for Pennsylvania” are to “reduce the cost of living for working families, lowering energy prices, and securing the border,” among many other issues, according to his website.

The “fireside chat” drew a crowd of about 100 students and community members. Among the students was Alan Breslin, a first-year public health major, who came to the event ready to listen. 

“I’m here today because I think free speech is important,” Breslin said. “Ben Shapiro is not somebody who I necessarily agree with, but it’s important that we hear from people of both sides of the aisle and hear their perspectives.”

Joshua Minsky, junior neuroscience major and president of College Republicans at Pitt, introduced McCormick as the “future senator” and Shapiro as the “co-founder of the greatest conservative newspaper in the world.” The crowd chanted “Dave” as the Senate candidate took the stage to introduce himself.

“I wrestled at West Point and wrestled against Pitt a number of times,” McCormick said, “then went to Army Ranger School, did a tour in Iraq, and came back to Pittsburgh to work in a startup which created about 600 jobs here in Pittsburgh.”

McCormick’s claims about creating jobs in Pennsylvania have been disputed. 

McCormick started the political discourse with a discussion on “American exceptionalism” and America’s education system.

“Despite dark chapters, America has been the most exceptional country in the world,” McCormick said. “One of the things we need to do is have an honest reckoning in our schools, where we talk about what America has brought to the world.”

McCormick spoke on a “spiritual decline in America,” particularly in college students.

“I don’t mean religiosity so much,” McCormick said. “I mean that kind of spiritual decline where the basic tenets of merit, the basic tenets of opportunity … we’re losing that.” 

Shapiro, who was sitting on stage next to McCormick for their “fireside chat,” agreed that colleges are creating “depressing viewpoint[s]” and cited pro-Gaza encampments from last spring that he called “tentifadas.”

McCormick then addressed inflation and the rising cost of living for students.

“Inflation is like a 20% tax that all of us are paying right now,” McCormick said. “It’s making it harder and harder for young people to survive.”

Throughout this election year, a pervasive topic for student voters has been the Israel-Gaza conflict, and protests on college campuses became widespread. McCormick elaborated on his views of the matter.

“When you have these protests on campuses, like the University of Pittsburgh,” McCormick said, “that are making it hard for Jewish students to study, and not just Jewish students but all students — that’s completely antithetical to what the university is supposed to be about.”

Halfway through the event, James Hayes, the Republican candidate running against Democratic incumbent Rep. Summer Lee for Pittsburgh’s 12th District, made a surprise appearance. McCormick welcomed him.

“He’s a role model,” McCormick said, “and is running because he thinks his community is going in the wrong direction. [He] is taking on a very tough incumbent and doing a great job.”

Steering back to the discussion, McCormick turned to the topic of the border crisis and embraced America as a “nation of immigrants.”

“That’s part of what’s made America the most vibrant society in the world,” McCormick said. “We’re a beacon of hope — but we’re also a nation of laws. We need to secure our border to stop this dramatic inflow of illegal immigrants that are undermining our economy and our security.”

To round out the first half of the event, McCormick lamented Biden’s withdrawal in Afghanistan and the lack of attention on defense spending.

“What it did was send a signal to the world that America’s weak,” McCormick said. “All of you can remember the basic lessons of the playground — if the bully thinks you’re weak, they’re gonna push you.”

Pitt College Republicans then opened the room to questions for the speakers. One audience member asked about McCormick’s plans regarding climate change and the environment.

“I think we should embrace all sources of energy,” McCormick said. “I’m a big fan of nuclear energy and solar energy but I don’t think we should subsidize that with hundreds of billions of dollars … The reason carbon emissions in America have declined by something like 15% over the last decade is because natural gas has replaced other forms of fossil fuel energy that are much more carbon intensive.”

After an audience member’s question about professors “imposing political views” onto students, McCormick emphasized the importance of critical thinking during election season.

“Until you can argue both sides of the issue, you’re not fully involved,” McCormick said. “I want to encourage you to try to see both sides of it and really engage in this election. I think the strongest conservative voices are the ones that truly understand the issues on both sides.”

Breslin emphasized the need to vote in general elections, regardless of who you cast your vote for.

“I think it’s super important that we vote,” Breslin said. “We all need to vote. It doesn’t matter who you vote for, and you don’t need to necessarily vote down the party ticket.”

Minsky told The Pitt News that the economy is among the most pressing issues for college students in this election, especially for those who are about to graduate. Building off of McCormick’s praising of critical thinking, attendee Matan Rieger, sophomore mechanical engineering major, spoke about the cruciality of open-mindedness during election season.

“It’s important to make sure that you’re exposing yourselves to different ways of viewing the world,” Rieger said. “Not necessarily agreeing, but giving them a chance and thinking through it.”