The Ben Ferguson Podcast

• Minnesota Politics:

  • Governor Tim Walz announced he will not seek reelection amid a massive childcare and Medicaid fraud scandal allegedly involving billions of dollars.
  • Walz frames his decision as prioritizing governance over campaigning, while critics claim he is leaving in disgrace due to the scandal.
  • The piece mentions accusations of conspiracy theories, right-wing attacks, and Walz blaming Republicans and Donald Trum...

• U.S. Military Action in Venezuela and Its Aftermath

  • U.S. operation in Venezuela was not a war but a short military action to arrest Nicolás Maduro, described as an indicted narco-terrorist.
  • This was not intended as a regime change through force but rather a law enforcement action supported by the military.
  • After Maduro’s arrest, Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s former Vice President and a staunch co...

Minnesota Shooting, Riots & Fraud

The second part shifts to a serious political discussion:

• Incident in Minnesota: A woman allegedly tried to run over an ICE agent with her SUV and was fatally shot. The hosts argue that the Left is politicizing the event, portraying the woman as a victim, and using the situation to attack law enforcement.
• Rhetoric and Violence: They criticize Democratic leaders for inflammatory language, c...

• Incident Details

  • ICE agents approached a woman's car during an operation.
  • The woman resisted, obstructed, and then drove toward an ICE agent, prompting the agent to fire three shots.
  • The ICE agent was injured but survived; the woman was killed.

• Political Reactions

  • Donald Trump has condemned the "radical left," accusing them of inciting violence against law enforcement.
  • Governor Tim Walz urged peaceful protes...

1. New Year’s Resolutions

The first part of the discussion is lighthearted and personal. Both hosts share their resolutions for 2026:

• Ted Cruz’s resolutions:
  • Lose 30 pounds (from 236 lbs to 206 lbs) through diet and exercise.
  • Complete a “Dry January” (no alcohol for the month).
  • Read the Bible daily throughout the year.
• Ben Ferguson’s resolutions:
  • Focus on building muscle after sig...

• Incident Overview

  • ICE agents were conducting operations in Minneapolis when a woman blocked their vehicles and refused repeated commands to exit her car.
  • She allegedly accelerated toward an ICE agent, prompting the officer to fire through the windshield, resulting in her death.
  • The shooting is described as defensive and necessary to prevent harm to law enforcement officers.

• Context and Escalation

  • The woman h...

• Incident Overview

  • ICE agents were conducting operations in Minneapolis when a woman blocked their vehicles and refused repeated commands to exit her car.
  • She allegedly accelerated toward an ICE agent, prompting the officer to fire through the windshield, resulting in her death.
  • The shooting is described as defensive and necessary to prevent harm to law enforcement officers.

• Context and Escalation

  • The woman h...

• Federal Immigration Enforcement in Minneapolis

  • The Trump administration has deployed approximately 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis in what is described as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever.
  • The operation targets illegal immigrants with criminal records and alleged fraud in Somali-run daycare centers.
  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE are conducting raids, arresting individuals accused...

• Venezuela’s Oil Reserves and U.S. Involvement

  • Trump announced that Venezuela would transfer 30–50 million barrels of high-quality oil to the United States.
  • The oil would be sold at market price, with proceeds allegedly controlled by Trump to benefit both Venezuelans and Americans.
  • Venezuela reportedly has $17.3 trillion worth of oil reserves, surpassing the combined global GDP (excluding the U.S. and China).
  ...

• Cilia Flores’ Role: Far from being a symbolic first lady, Flores is a mastermind behind corruption and drug trafficking. She was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury and linked to major criminal activities, including her nephews’ cocaine smuggling.

• Western Hemisphere Strategy: The discussion emphasizes the Monroe Doctrine and its modern interpretation under Trump (“Donroe Doctrine”), asserting U.S. domina...

• Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Drops Out of Reelection

  • Walz announced he will not seek a third term amid a massive alleged Somali daycare and Medicaid fraud scandal.
  • Walz’s decision is a result of political fallout and public distrust, while highlighting his claims that Republican conspiracy theories and right-wing attacks contributed to the situation.
  • Walz is attempting to play the victim and emphasizes the scandal a...

• Trump’s stance on Venezuela’s oil and U.S. role

  • Trump is asserting the U.S. will “run” or strongly direct efforts in Venezuela, with U.S. oil companies going in to rebuild the country’s “broken” oil infrastructure. Trump is quoted saying elections should occur “at the right time” after stabilization.
  • Venezuela’s oil reserves are worth trillions of dollars a...

• Political Hypocrisy

  • Chuck Schumer in 2020 criticized Trump for failing to remove Maduro, juxtaposed with Schumer’s 2026 opposition to Trump’s military action.
  • The narrative portrays Democrats and mainstream media as inconsistent and politically motivated.

• Operation Details

  • The capture is described as a highly complex and daring mission: landing helicopters on Venezuela’s largest military ba...

• Announcement: Trump announced the success via a social media post and later held a press conference at Mar-a-Lago.
• Justification: The reasons include stopping drug trafficking, recovering stolen oil, and addressing fentanyl-related deaths in the U.S.
• Scale of Operation:
  • Over 150 aircraft involved, including bombers, fighters, drones, and helicopters.
  • Integration of multiple U.S. military branches and agencies (Space Comma...

• Event Summary (WATCH: PRESIDENT TRUMP PRESS CON HERE)
  

  • The U.S. military executed a highly complex and precise operation in Caracas, Venezuela, to apprehend Maduro.
  • The mission involved over 150 aircraft, advanced coordination across multiple military branches, and cyber and space operations.
  • The operation was completed without any American casualties, which is emphasized as a major success.

• Geopolitical Conte...

• The Scandal

  • Billions of dollars in fraud tied to childcare and healthcare programs in Minnesota.
  • Facilities licensed for dozens of children reportedly received millions in funding but appeared empty and inactive.

• Governor Tim Walz’s Response

  • Criticized for refusing to address the fraud allegations and for advocating more inclusivity toward the Somali community despite the scandal.
  • Accused of prioritizi...

• Scope of Fraud

  • Fraud schemes involve billions of dollars across programs such as childcare assistance, healthcare billing, nutrition programs, and pandemic relief funds.
  • A major case cited is the Feeding Our Future scandal, which misappropriated $300 million in COVID-19 relief funds intended for child nutrition.

• Investigations and Enforcement

  • The FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, has surged resources to Minne...

1. Alleged Fraud in Minnesota and Governor Tim Walz's Response

• A viral video that exposes widespread fraud involving childcare centers and federal aid programs in Minnesota, linked to the Somali community.
• Governor Tim Walz is criticized for refusing to address media questions and for advocating more inclusivity toward the Somali community despite the allegations.
• The report claims federal agencies, including the Department of...

• Daycare & Autism Centers Fraud

  • Numerous daycare centers and autism facilities have received millions in state funding but have no children enrolled.
  • Example: A daycare shut down for violations reopened under a new name and continued receiving funds.

• Home Healthcare Fraud

  • A single building allegedly housed 14 Somali-owned healthcare companies, all billing the state for services that were never provided.
  • F...