July 13, 2026 • 26 mins
Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin Graham (July 9, 1955 – July 11, 2026) was an American politician, attorney, and Air Force officer who represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate from 2003 until his death in 2026. He was one of the most influential Republican senators of his era, particularly on national security, judicial nominations, and foreign policy.
Early Life
Graham was born in Central, South Carolina, where his parents owned a restaurant, pool hall, and liquor store. He became the first member of his family to attend college, earning both a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of South Carolina. While in school, he suffered the loss of both parents within about 15 months and took responsibility for helping raise his younger sister.
Military Service
After law school, Graham joined the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, serving as a military lawyer. He served on active duty from 1982 to 1989, including assignments in Germany, and later continued in the South Carolina Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. During his military career he reached the rank of Colonel and retired in 2015 after 33 years of service.
Entry into Politics
Graham began his political career in the South Carolina House of Representatives, serving from 1993 to 1995. In 1994, he won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District, becoming the first Republican elected from that district since Reconstruction.
During his time in the House, he gained national attention as one of the House managers who prosecuted the impeachment case against President Bill Clinton in 1999.
U.S. Senate Career
Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and took office in January 2003. He won reelection in 2008, 2014, and 2020. Throughout his Senate career he served on several powerful committees, including Judiciary, Appropriations, Budget, and Environment and Public Works. He also chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and later the Senate Budget Committee.
Key Political Positions
Graham became known for:
- Strong support for a robust U.S. military and interventionist foreign policy.
- Advocacy for American support of allies such as Ukraine and Israel.
- Leadership on judicial confirmations, including helping advance the confirmations of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
Relationship with Donald Trump
One of the most notable aspects of Graham's career was his evolving relationship with Donald Trump. During the 2016 Republican presidential primary, Graham strongly criticized Trump, but after Trump's election, however, Graham became one of his closest allies in Congress and frequently advised him on foreign-policy and judicial matters.
Legacy
His supporters remember him as a skilled legislator, military veteran, and influential voice on national security. Critics often challenged his changing political alliances and hawkish foreign-policy positions. Nevertheless, he remained one of the most recognizable and consequential Republican senators of the early 21st century
Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
My opponent raised one hundred and thirty two million dollars
against me, the most in the history of the Senate. Man,
why have across the cabin They hate him, my gun,
They want to destroy the guy's life. I sort of
got in the way. That's the way these people are, right.
There's nothing they won't do for power. So the reason
people responded to me is you don't have to agree
with me all the time, but when there's a fight,
(00:22):
I would show up.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
You're listening to the forty seven Morning Update with Ben ferguson.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Good Monday morning, and it's nice to have you with
us on the forty seven Morning Update, And we start
with the tragic news Senator Lindsey Graham has passed away.
It was described as a brief and sudden illness, and
now we're being told it was a cardiac arrest. President
shocked as he talked to him just hours before this happened.
(00:49):
And we're gonna have for you exactly what the President
had to say about his dear friend Lindsey Graham. But
first I want to take a moment and just talk
to you about where we spend our money as conservatives.
There are so many brand out there that we give
our cash to every single day, and they actually fight
against our family values, they fight against our Christian beliefs.
And there are so many brands that claim that they
(01:10):
actually stand for American values, but most of the time
it's all talk at best, and many times they're actually
fighting against what we are standing up for. And that's
why I want you to know about Patriot Mobile. I
use them, I use them, and they're an incredible company.
And for more than twelve years, Patriot Mobile has been
living their values and standing the gap for every American
(01:31):
who believes freedom as we're fighting for.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Well.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Today, Patriot Mobile is America's only Christian conservative wireless provider.
Now they offer premium priority nationwide service. If you want
VIP service, that's what you're going to get, and you
get it on all three of the major US networks.
They have unlimited data plans, they have international roaming, and
one hundred percent US based customer support. Now with Patriot Mobile,
(01:55):
you can even have two separate networks on one phone.
I have that it gives me unmatched coverage and the
peace of mind of knowing that I'm gonna have coverage
everywhere I go. Now you cannot get that with the
big carriers. Now, besides the great tech, what truly says
Patriot Mobile part is their mission. Every year Patriot Mobile
takes the dollars when you pay your bill at no
extra cost to you, and they contribute millions to organizations
(02:18):
that defend our free speech, our religious liberty, and the
sanctity of life, as well as the Second Amendment, and
they fight for America's future. That is why I want
you to switch to Patriot Mobile and you can join
the movement. And that's what it is today. Go to
Patriotmobile dot com slash Ben forty seven, Patriot Mobile dot
(02:38):
com slash Ben forty seven or nine seven to two Patriot.
Now use the promo code Ben forty seven and you're
gonna get a free month of service. That's Patriot Mobile
dot com slash Ben forty seven or nine seven to
Patriot and you can make that switch today. It's the
forty seven Morning Update and it starts right now.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Story number one.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Lindsay Graham is an individual who many people don't realize.
For more than thirty years, he was an active duty
the Air Force, National Guard and the Air Force Reserved.
He actually served his country in uniform ultimately retiring with
the rank of colonel. He joined the United States Air
Force as a judge advocate general attorney, known as Jack.
(03:23):
He also graduated from the University of South Carolina, where
he earned his law degree, and chose a life of service,
as he described instead of taking the easier road. Lindsay
Graham was a guy who said he just was never
going to quit. And by the time he was twenty
one years old, both his parents had passed away. Now
imagine that for a moment, still in college, trying to
(03:44):
figure out your future, and suddenly Lindsay was responsible not
only for yourself, but also for helping raise his younger sister.
Many people would be overwhelmed. Lindsay Graham didn't act like it.
His service, he continued in the military. He saw the
world differently, as he described it, because he'd warned the uniform.
(04:08):
He understood by the way, the cost of war, He
understood sacrifice, He understood what Americans wanted America to look
like and be represented around the globe. And then he
was first elected in office. Well guess what it wasn't
in Washington. It was a South Carolina House of Representatives
then Congress. In nineteen ninety four. That was the Republican
(04:30):
Revolution you may remember, led by Newt Gingrich, and America
at that moment in nineteen ninety four, with the Contract
of America was demanding change. Lindsey Graham quickly developed a
reputation for doing his homework. He wasn't, by the way,
the loudest member in ninety four either. He wasn't chasing
(04:51):
television cameras like so many elected officials do now. He
actually became known as a workhorse, as someone who actually
read the legislation, someone who could actually explain the constitutional
questions because he was a lawyer, someone his colleagues actually
trusted his opinion on legal matters. And then in two
(05:11):
thousand and two, South Carolina they faced a very historic moment.
The legendary centers strom Thurman retired after nearly a half
century in the Senate. Now those many described as it would
be impossible shoes to fill, and South Carolina's placed their
trust in Lindsey Graham. In January of three, he took
(05:33):
the oath of office as a United States Center. It would
become the defining chapter of his storied life. Almost immediately,
national security became his signature issue and You've got to
remember the timing of why that was so important. America
was still living in the shadows of September the eleventh.
He was a man that was in the military. He
(05:54):
was an individual that served his country, and the war
on Terror was dominating Washington and also legislation. Now, Graham
became one of the senates leading voices of defense, intelligence,
and military affairs. Right away. He wasn't interested, by the
way in isolation. He believed America's strength prevented larger conflicts,
(06:14):
and that was his philosophy. Whether you agreed with him
or not, he didn't waiver. It guided him through his
entire time in the Senate. He also became one of
Senator John McCain's closest allies and closest friends. The two
were nearly inseparable on foreign policy. They traveled on Codel's
(06:34):
together around the world. They visited our troops multiple times
in the Middle East, They met with our allies together,
and they warn't against America's enemies as a strong United front.
He also was really good friends with some Democrats. Talk
about that in a moment. Now, if John mccamm was speaking,
by the way about national security, you better believe Lindsey
(06:58):
Graham wasn't far away. One of the things people often
misunderstood about Graham was that he could disagree fiercely without
making it personal. He actually built relationships across the aisle.
He worked with Democrats when he thought it served the country,
and he also fought his own party when he believed
that Republicans were wrong on an issue. Now that independence
(07:18):
frustrated people on both sides of the isle at the time,
he was a man that well literally had a beat
to his own drum, not of the Republican Party in general.
It reflected his belief that elected officials should think for themselves.
He wasn't trying to become a celebrity, even though he
became one. He wasn't trying to become effective. But his
(07:40):
influence grew and so did his responsibilities. While in the Senate,
he got bigger committee assignments because of his understanding of
the laws. Then he started getting more national television appearances.
Then he started getting more foreign policy mentions, Then he
started getting the military briefings, and then his shining moment
many would believe was act Supreme Court confirmations. By the
(08:03):
end of his first decade in the Senate, Lindsey Graham
had become one of the most recognizable Republican voices in America,
not because he sought the fame, but because colleagues increasingly
relied upon him his military experience, his legal background, his
understanding of the constitutional issues, and most importantly, his willingness
(08:23):
to dive into the difficult problems facing America. Lindsey Graham's
willingness to do that made him different. Those are the
qualities that made him one of the Senate's most influential members.
You didn't have to agree with every vote, you didn't
have to support every position, but you had to acknowledge
the seriousness with which he approached the job. And perhaps
(08:46):
that's the greatest lesson from Lindsey Graham's life, especially his
early life. He proved that your job, an adversarial job,
doesn't define you. He believed very much in his word
meaning something. He was a guy that believed much in character.
Much of that came from the military and losing his
parents I didn't stop him growing up in a small town.
(09:08):
That didn't limit him serving food in a family restaurant,
didn't keep him from someday somehow serving the United States Senate.
In many ways, Lindsey Graham was an American story, a
young man from central South Carolina who lost everything early,
worked harder than almost anyone around him, studied harder than
(09:28):
anyone else, served his nation in the uniform, and became
one of the most influential centers of his generation. That,
by the way, is a remarkable life. And by the way,
that's only the first half of the story. Now, President
Donald Trump called in to Meet the Press to talk
about Lindsey Graham now and who he'd become and how
(09:52):
close to a friend he was in an ally, even
though they fought against each other in twenty sixteen for
the presidency. You may not remember this, but lind ran
in that election against Donald Trump. They were competitors that
then became close friends. Many described Lindsay a's a guy
that had unfettered access to not only the President, but
(10:13):
to the White House. The President acknowledging that in his
Meet the Press conversation. He said that not everybody just
gets to come in all the time, and he said
I liked him. He was my friend. He was over
at the White House all the time. We talked about
issues all the time. That is who Lindsey Graham became
to the president. The President of the United States of
(10:34):
America shocked, calling in to Meet the Press talking about
the loss of Lindsey Graham, someone he was close with,
an ally, someone who actually ran against him for president
in twenty sixteen. They became dear friends, and they were
working together on the Save Act. And the President had
(10:54):
this to say as he called in to NBC's Meet
the Press, if his.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
Public service and his lasting impact on the Senate and
the country, and to start us off and do that.
Joining me now on the phone is President Donald Trump
for reaction to the death of his close friend. President Trump,
thank you for joining us, and my condolences to you.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Well, thank you. He's a tough one to lose. He
was great. He was unique in every way.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
Actually he was, mister President. And I know that we
are all just absorbing this news. We are all in shock.
Can you tell us, mister President, how you receive this
news and your immediate gut reaction when you heard it.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
So what makes it even stranger is that I got
a call last night sometime, you know, the early evening,
maybe in the sevens, and he called and he said,
we're all set for the Save America Act. He was
pushing the Save America Act like crazy. He got back,
said he just landed from Ukraine. Said, that's a long
trip to mac He said, he sounded a little tired,
(12:03):
but perfect, but a little bit tired. I had a
right to be. And he was a worker. He was
really a worker. But but he sounded great. Actually, but
he was. He was. He actually said he was tired,
but he wanted to pass to Save America Act. And
I said, well, we're going to get it done, Lindsey,
we're going to get it done. I'll see you like soon.
We thought we might even meet today. And then that
(12:26):
was it. And that was, you know, very around the time.
It couldn't have been much longer. It could have been
his last call. I don't know exactly, but I got
a message about one o'clock in the morning from one
of the people at his office that he had passed away.
I said, you got it. I just can't believe it.
He was like a member of the family to me.
(12:46):
It's very tough. Actually, it's amazing, mister he was. He was.
He was such an advocate. He was, you know, if
he if he wanted to get something and you know,
he had a unique ability. He was able to deal
with democrats. If I had a problem, a real problem,
I wouldn't often ask, but if I had a problem
with a Democrat, he could work it out. He was
(13:08):
a great He was a great politician.
Speaker 5 (13:10):
Actually, he loved his work. Mister President, I hear you
saying that in this final conversation, that you have emblematic.
He was tireless, but it brought him such joy, didn't.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
It was there was nobody like him. He loved being
a politician and he was going to win his election.
He was going to win it big. I endorsed him
very early, and he was going to win it big.
He had it, just had it made, and he just
loved being a politician. I said, the reason I'm endorsing
you is because I got to make sure you win,
(13:47):
because if you didn't win, I don't think you could
handle life. I really don't. He was a man. You know,
there are guys that can lose and they go into
something else. I can't imagine doing anything else. I said,
if you weren't a he was senator, I don't know
if you could live very long, and look what happens.
He was going to have a big victory, and the
people loved him. Everybody loved him. Well, No, he had
(14:10):
some minimum. He was a tough cookie. Don't misunderstand. He
was a tough cookie in many ways. If he wanted
to get something, if he thought he was right, and
he had people against him, he could be very tough. Actually,
but he was a good person.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
Mister President is just extraordinary. You just spoke with him
last night his office as he passed away from a
brief and sudden illness. Are you learning any more details
about how and why he may have passed. Did he
tell you anything in that phone call, mister President, about
not feeling well?
Speaker 4 (14:42):
No, he said he's a little tired. It was a
long trip, you know, many hours, and he had just
gotten back. And the I mean it must have been
right after that, because I understand the police or whoever
it is, came there at about seven point thirty eight
o'clock in the evening something like that, so somebody notified him.
(15:03):
But no, he felt okay. I mean I actually on
the on the call, he told me christ and he said,
you know, I feel good, but I'm tired. He was fine.
I knew him, I know him well. He would he
would let you know if he wasn't really well. He
had days we did and feel so well, and he'd
let you know about it. But he was a fantastic person.
(15:24):
He was a man who are you going to watch?
It's going to be a very big thing with him.
He's going to be appreciated more now than he was
when he was living, I think.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
And just to make that point, I mean, authorities were
called to his home responding to initial reports of a
cardiac arrest, again his office saying a brief and sudden illness.
Do you have any more details?
Speaker 4 (15:52):
I would think it would be that because when I
spoke to him, it could have been, you know, minutes before,
based on you know, the the fact that I heard
about the call, whatever time that was, so was shortly before.
But it had to be something like that because he
was other than being tired, he was fine, and so
it had to be something like that. That would just
(16:13):
be a quick end and maybe that's not the worst
way to go, you know, he had the fine moments.
His moment on Brett Kavanaugh was one of the classics,
I think in the history of the Senate. His moment
was literally, I mean literally one of the great classics
of anyone in the Senate when he defended Brett Cavanah
(16:37):
so brilliantly, and Brett might not have made it except
for that they were treating him very unfairly, good man.
They treated him so unfairly, and Lindsey was so angry
at the Senate because of it, and he had really
an emotional moment, and I think that saved Brett Kavanaugh's
(16:57):
Supreme Court you know, ascension. He Lindsay did something that
he was just so angry at the way Brett was
being treated by the Democrats. It was so unfair.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
It was I want to ask you more about his legacy.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
See Lindsay got that over. Lindsey did a thing there
that was I think nobody else could have done that.
Speaker 5 (17:22):
Let me ask you a little bit more about his legacy.
And I know you remember this moment, mister President, back
in twenty fifteen, when he was one of your challengers
on the campaign trail, the two of you facing off
against each other, and then he very quickly became one
of your staunchest allies, mister President, and he and that
pros played golf together frequently on the phone together. What
(17:46):
do you think it is about Senator Graham that allowed
him to make that transition from competitor to ally so
quickly and so forcefully.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
Well, I got to know Lindsey during the campaign. I
didn't really know then. I met him once or twice,
but nothing. And I got to know him during the campaign.
He was tough, but he said I'll see you in
South Carolina. You know he was. But when it came
to South Carolina, went South Carolina by a lot, and
(18:15):
I sort of I sort of ran the table on
everybody and it was good and he appreciated it. He
respected it, and we sort of got a little bit friendly,
and just the friendship grew, It just grew. And he
was an amazing advocate. He was I don't know how
you find anybody like him. He was so intent. I
mean he literally called me about the Save America Act.
(18:38):
That's why he's you know, that's where I heard he
think of it. He's traveling for many many hours. That's
a long flight, that's a long trip, and he, you know,
calls me about the Save America Act. He thought we
were going to get it past. You remember the very
big this is a big this is a big blow
to the Save America act.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Let me tell you, do you remember, mister President, what
was the last thing you said to him? What was
the last thing he said to you?
Speaker 4 (19:06):
I said, We'll see you soon, come over any time
you want. He came into the White household because I
liked him. I can't do that with everybody, but he
come in a lot. And he was a great like
a gauge at a temperature gauge of the Senate. He
was somebody that most Democrats liked, some didn't, but most
(19:28):
Democrats liked and just about all of the Republicans, like Lindsey.
He got a lot with everybody, and yet he was
He was a tough cookie in a lot of ways,
but he had Honestly, he was a great politician. People
don't realize what a good politician he was. He could
he could go in and get something approved. He would.
(19:51):
He would just get people on his side. He was
really a talented you're not don say you probably never
heard me say that about anybody, because you know there
aren't too many of them. Let me tell you, sometimes
you'll meet somebody that had been there for twenty five
years ahead did they say this? And this man was
a great politician. He really got it to that.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
Point, mister President, it's nearly impossible to think about replacing
Senator Lindsey Graham. And yet the governor of the great
state of South Carolina is going to need to appoint
someone on an interim basis. There will also be a
special election called do you have I know it's only ours,
but is there someone you think he should appoint us?
(20:30):
There someone you think he will I have.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Somebody that I think would be great, but I don't
want to say it now because it just, you know,
it's too soon with Lindsey. I don't want to even
talk about anybody. But I do have somebody that I
think is really good. The governor is a good friend
of mine. I've endorsed him, you know, I endorsed him
early on, and he endorsed me right from the beginning,
as a person that never did this before. In twenty sixteen,
(20:55):
he came out and very strongly endorsed me, and then
I made up for it. Somebody from office that I
didn't think was so good moved her over to the
United Nations. Ninety five percent of that of my doing
that because the United Nations yeb was not exactly tough.
It could be very important. But you know she was
okay at it. But I did it because Henry McMaster
(21:17):
was the lieutenant governor and by moving her, I got
myself a great really a great guy. Henry McMaster has
been a really good governor, really good guy. And you
know that that position cleared out and Henry's been a
great governor. You know now he's turned out, but he
he he's going to do the right thing. I think
(21:38):
Henry will be fantastic. Remember he endorsed me out of nowhere.
He just he said I like that guy the best,
and he campaigned for me with his wife, with peg.
He campaigned for me. I'd say, who is that man
that's campaigning all the time. I hardly knew him. They said,
that's the lieutenant governor. So they have a great governor
and he's going to make a good desis. But ultimately
(22:01):
it's going to be an election pretty soon, as I
understand the rules. Every state is different, but ultimately they'll
have an election. Now, some people joining some are good,
some are bad. But I have somebody that I like,
but I'm not going to tell you who now because
it's too soon. All right, fair enough, we was never
glad i'd be in this position. Yeah, I said, I
(22:22):
thought Lindsay was going to be living forever. I never thought.
I never I said, Lindsay, you're going to live forever.
And he was going to have a big victory, you know,
he was. He was scheduled to win by a lot.
He had my support, and he was scheduled he was
going to win by a lot. He was going to
have one of his best elections ever. And now he's
got this terrible well.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
I had the great honor of being able to talk
to him a couple of times this week, mister President,
and as you can imagine, we talked about a lot
of foreign policy, We talked about a lot of Iran,
and in honor of him, I want to still have
some of those conversations. Those are the conversations he wanted
to have here this morning, mister President, you obviously launched
a fresh round of strikes overnight. Iron said overnight, the
(23:07):
straight of Warmose is closed. Sentcom came out this morning
and said, the straight of Warmose is open. Which is it,
mister president?
Speaker 4 (23:15):
And I don't want to talk about it because I
want to honor the life of Lindsey Graham. So I
don't want to talk about it. I told you that
before the call. Yeah, it's open. We bombed the hell
out of them last night. They're very, very evil and
sick people. We had meetings with them for the last day.
Agreed to a deal yesterday, a perfect deal for US.
(23:37):
No nuclear, no this, no that, no nothing. They've gave
up everything. And then after that they left the room,
and then within an hour they launched a groan, then
a ship. I said, your people are sick. You're sick people,
and so it's one of those things. I don't want
to talk about it.
Speaker 5 (23:56):
Finally, before I want to talk about I want.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
To talk about one person today, Lindsey Graham.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
As we should, mister President. Just finally, before I let
you go, what is the legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham,
Mister President.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
He's got so many legacies, but one of the legacies
is a Supreme Court justice who's excellent, named Brett Kavanaugh.
That's one of the legacies. That's a big legacy because
Brett was being treated very unfairly. I don't think he
could have gotten through without Lindsay's classic. I mean, if
you go back into the top ten, I think it
would be a top ten at top five in the
(24:31):
history of the Senate. The emotion, the anger, the love,
the whole thing, everything was in that. I called him up.
I said, that's one of the great classics of all times.
He was a great politician, he really was. He got
along with a lot of people that you wouldn't think of.
He was somebody that loved our country and he fought
(24:52):
very hard for the country. And I know he was
going to do your show today. He told me I'm
doing Meet the Press. Can you believe it? He said, here,
I am. Do we meet the press for him? But
he told me last night he was doing Meet the Press,
you know. But I said, just relax and take it easy, lids.
He just got back from a long trip, but he
(25:13):
was I thought he was just gonna live forever. And
it didn't work out that way. I said, we'll see
you soon. Come over anytime you want. He came into
the White House walkers. I liked him. I can't do
that with everybody, but he come in a lot, and
he was a great Like a gauge at a temperature
gauge of the Senate. He was somebody that most Democrats liked,
(25:39):
some didn't but most Democrats liked and just about all
of the Republicans like Lindsey. He got a little with everybody.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
It's truly incredible to think that Lindsey Graham was just
in Ukraine. He was fighting to get the Save America
Act pass. He was planning on spending time with the
President hours after they spoke to talk about how to
get the Save America Act passed. And now Lindsey Graham
(26:09):
is no longer with us. Our thoughts and prayers with
Lindsay Graham's family and friends. America has lost a great patriot,
that is for sure.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Thank you for listening to the forty seven Morning Update
with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever
you're listening to this podcast right now and for more
in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson podcast
and we will see you back here tomorrow.
My opponent raised one hundred and thirty two million dollars
against me, the most in the history of the Senate. Man,
why have across the cabin They hate him, my gun,
They want to destroy the guy's life. I sort of
got in the way. That's the way these people are, right.
There's nothing they won't do for power. So the reason
people responded to me is you don't have to agree
with me all the time, but when there's a fight,
(00:22):
I would show up.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
You're listening to the forty seven Morning Update with Ben ferguson.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Good Monday morning, and it's nice to have you with
us on the forty seven Morning Update, And we start
with the tragic news Senator Lindsey Graham has passed away.
It was described as a brief and sudden illness, and
now we're being told it was a cardiac arrest. President
shocked as he talked to him just hours before this happened.
(00:49):
And we're gonna have for you exactly what the President
had to say about his dear friend Lindsey Graham. But
first I want to take a moment and just talk
to you about where we spend our money as conservatives.
There are so many brand out there that we give
our cash to every single day, and they actually fight
against our family values, they fight against our Christian beliefs.
And there are so many brands that claim that they
(01:10):
actually stand for American values, but most of the time
it's all talk at best, and many times they're actually
fighting against what we are standing up for. And that's
why I want you to know about Patriot Mobile. I
use them, I use them, and they're an incredible company.
And for more than twelve years, Patriot Mobile has been
living their values and standing the gap for every American
(01:31):
who believes freedom as we're fighting for.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Well.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Today, Patriot Mobile is America's only Christian conservative wireless provider.
Now they offer premium priority nationwide service. If you want
VIP service, that's what you're going to get, and you
get it on all three of the major US networks.
They have unlimited data plans, they have international roaming, and
one hundred percent US based customer support. Now with Patriot Mobile,
(01:55):
you can even have two separate networks on one phone.
I have that it gives me unmatched coverage and the
peace of mind of knowing that I'm gonna have coverage
everywhere I go. Now you cannot get that with the
big carriers. Now, besides the great tech, what truly says
Patriot Mobile part is their mission. Every year Patriot Mobile
takes the dollars when you pay your bill at no
extra cost to you, and they contribute millions to organizations
(02:18):
that defend our free speech, our religious liberty, and the
sanctity of life, as well as the Second Amendment, and
they fight for America's future. That is why I want
you to switch to Patriot Mobile and you can join
the movement. And that's what it is today. Go to
Patriotmobile dot com slash Ben forty seven, Patriot Mobile dot
(02:38):
com slash Ben forty seven or nine seven to two Patriot.
Now use the promo code Ben forty seven and you're
gonna get a free month of service. That's Patriot Mobile
dot com slash Ben forty seven or nine seven to
Patriot and you can make that switch today. It's the
forty seven Morning Update and it starts right now.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Story number one.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Lindsay Graham is an individual who many people don't realize.
For more than thirty years, he was an active duty
the Air Force, National Guard and the Air Force Reserved.
He actually served his country in uniform ultimately retiring with
the rank of colonel. He joined the United States Air
Force as a judge advocate general attorney, known as Jack.
(03:23):
He also graduated from the University of South Carolina, where
he earned his law degree, and chose a life of service,
as he described instead of taking the easier road. Lindsay
Graham was a guy who said he just was never
going to quit. And by the time he was twenty
one years old, both his parents had passed away. Now
imagine that for a moment, still in college, trying to
(03:44):
figure out your future, and suddenly Lindsay was responsible not
only for yourself, but also for helping raise his younger sister.
Many people would be overwhelmed. Lindsay Graham didn't act like it.
His service, he continued in the military. He saw the
world differently, as he described it, because he'd warned the uniform.
(04:08):
He understood by the way, the cost of war, He
understood sacrifice, He understood what Americans wanted America to look
like and be represented around the globe. And then he
was first elected in office. Well guess what it wasn't
in Washington. It was a South Carolina House of Representatives
then Congress. In nineteen ninety four. That was the Republican
(04:30):
Revolution you may remember, led by Newt Gingrich, and America
at that moment in nineteen ninety four, with the Contract
of America was demanding change. Lindsey Graham quickly developed a
reputation for doing his homework. He wasn't, by the way,
the loudest member in ninety four either. He wasn't chasing
(04:51):
television cameras like so many elected officials do now. He
actually became known as a workhorse, as someone who actually
read the legislation, someone who could actually explain the constitutional
questions because he was a lawyer, someone his colleagues actually
trusted his opinion on legal matters. And then in two
(05:11):
thousand and two, South Carolina they faced a very historic moment.
The legendary centers strom Thurman retired after nearly a half
century in the Senate. Now those many described as it would
be impossible shoes to fill, and South Carolina's placed their
trust in Lindsey Graham. In January of three, he took
(05:33):
the oath of office as a United States Center. It would
become the defining chapter of his storied life. Almost immediately,
national security became his signature issue and You've got to
remember the timing of why that was so important. America
was still living in the shadows of September the eleventh.
He was a man that was in the military. He
(05:54):
was an individual that served his country, and the war
on Terror was dominating Washington and also legislation. Now, Graham
became one of the senates leading voices of defense, intelligence,
and military affairs. Right away. He wasn't interested, by the
way in isolation. He believed America's strength prevented larger conflicts,
(06:14):
and that was his philosophy. Whether you agreed with him
or not, he didn't waiver. It guided him through his
entire time in the Senate. He also became one of
Senator John McCain's closest allies and closest friends. The two
were nearly inseparable on foreign policy. They traveled on Codel's
(06:34):
together around the world. They visited our troops multiple times
in the Middle East, They met with our allies together,
and they warn't against America's enemies as a strong United front.
He also was really good friends with some Democrats. Talk
about that in a moment. Now, if John mccamm was speaking,
by the way about national security, you better believe Lindsey
(06:58):
Graham wasn't far away. One of the things people often
misunderstood about Graham was that he could disagree fiercely without
making it personal. He actually built relationships across the aisle.
He worked with Democrats when he thought it served the country,
and he also fought his own party when he believed
that Republicans were wrong on an issue. Now that independence
(07:18):
frustrated people on both sides of the isle at the time,
he was a man that well literally had a beat
to his own drum, not of the Republican Party in general.
It reflected his belief that elected officials should think for themselves.
He wasn't trying to become a celebrity, even though he
became one. He wasn't trying to become effective. But his
(07:40):
influence grew and so did his responsibilities. While in the Senate,
he got bigger committee assignments because of his understanding of
the laws. Then he started getting more national television appearances.
Then he started getting more foreign policy mentions, Then he
started getting the military briefings, and then his shining moment
many would believe was act Supreme Court confirmations. By the
(08:03):
end of his first decade in the Senate, Lindsey Graham
had become one of the most recognizable Republican voices in America,
not because he sought the fame, but because colleagues increasingly
relied upon him his military experience, his legal background, his
understanding of the constitutional issues, and most importantly, his willingness
(08:23):
to dive into the difficult problems facing America. Lindsey Graham's
willingness to do that made him different. Those are the
qualities that made him one of the Senate's most influential members.
You didn't have to agree with every vote, you didn't
have to support every position, but you had to acknowledge
the seriousness with which he approached the job. And perhaps
(08:46):
that's the greatest lesson from Lindsey Graham's life, especially his
early life. He proved that your job, an adversarial job,
doesn't define you. He believed very much in his word
meaning something. He was a guy that believed much in character.
Much of that came from the military and losing his
parents I didn't stop him growing up in a small town.
(09:08):
That didn't limit him serving food in a family restaurant,
didn't keep him from someday somehow serving the United States Senate.
In many ways, Lindsey Graham was an American story, a
young man from central South Carolina who lost everything early,
worked harder than almost anyone around him, studied harder than
(09:28):
anyone else, served his nation in the uniform, and became
one of the most influential centers of his generation. That,
by the way, is a remarkable life. And by the way,
that's only the first half of the story. Now, President
Donald Trump called in to Meet the Press to talk
about Lindsey Graham now and who he'd become and how
(09:52):
close to a friend he was in an ally, even
though they fought against each other in twenty sixteen for
the presidency. You may not remember this, but lind ran
in that election against Donald Trump. They were competitors that
then became close friends. Many described Lindsay a's a guy
that had unfettered access to not only the President, but
(10:13):
to the White House. The President acknowledging that in his
Meet the Press conversation. He said that not everybody just
gets to come in all the time, and he said
I liked him. He was my friend. He was over
at the White House all the time. We talked about
issues all the time. That is who Lindsey Graham became
to the president. The President of the United States of
(10:34):
America shocked, calling in to Meet the Press talking about
the loss of Lindsey Graham, someone he was close with,
an ally, someone who actually ran against him for president
in twenty sixteen. They became dear friends, and they were
working together on the Save Act. And the President had
(10:54):
this to say as he called in to NBC's Meet
the Press, if his.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
Public service and his lasting impact on the Senate and
the country, and to start us off and do that.
Joining me now on the phone is President Donald Trump
for reaction to the death of his close friend. President Trump,
thank you for joining us, and my condolences to you.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Well, thank you. He's a tough one to lose. He
was great. He was unique in every way.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
Actually he was, mister President. And I know that we
are all just absorbing this news. We are all in shock.
Can you tell us, mister President, how you receive this
news and your immediate gut reaction when you heard it.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
So what makes it even stranger is that I got
a call last night sometime, you know, the early evening,
maybe in the sevens, and he called and he said,
we're all set for the Save America Act. He was
pushing the Save America Act like crazy. He got back,
said he just landed from Ukraine. Said, that's a long
trip to mac He said, he sounded a little tired,
(12:03):
but perfect, but a little bit tired. I had a
right to be. And he was a worker. He was
really a worker. But but he sounded great. Actually, but
he was. He was. He actually said he was tired,
but he wanted to pass to Save America Act. And
I said, well, we're going to get it done, Lindsey,
we're going to get it done. I'll see you like soon.
We thought we might even meet today. And then that
(12:26):
was it. And that was, you know, very around the time.
It couldn't have been much longer. It could have been
his last call. I don't know exactly, but I got
a message about one o'clock in the morning from one
of the people at his office that he had passed away.
I said, you got it. I just can't believe it.
He was like a member of the family to me.
(12:46):
It's very tough. Actually, it's amazing, mister he was. He was.
He was such an advocate. He was, you know, if
he if he wanted to get something and you know,
he had a unique ability. He was able to deal
with democrats. If I had a problem, a real problem,
I wouldn't often ask, but if I had a problem
with a Democrat, he could work it out. He was
(13:08):
a great He was a great politician.
Speaker 5 (13:10):
Actually, he loved his work. Mister President, I hear you
saying that in this final conversation, that you have emblematic.
He was tireless, but it brought him such joy, didn't.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
It was there was nobody like him. He loved being
a politician and he was going to win his election.
He was going to win it big. I endorsed him
very early, and he was going to win it big.
He had it, just had it made, and he just
loved being a politician. I said, the reason I'm endorsing
you is because I got to make sure you win,
(13:47):
because if you didn't win, I don't think you could
handle life. I really don't. He was a man. You know,
there are guys that can lose and they go into
something else. I can't imagine doing anything else. I said,
if you weren't a he was senator, I don't know
if you could live very long, and look what happens.
He was going to have a big victory, and the
people loved him. Everybody loved him. Well, No, he had
(14:10):
some minimum. He was a tough cookie. Don't misunderstand. He
was a tough cookie in many ways. If he wanted
to get something, if he thought he was right, and
he had people against him, he could be very tough. Actually,
but he was a good person.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
Mister President is just extraordinary. You just spoke with him
last night his office as he passed away from a
brief and sudden illness. Are you learning any more details
about how and why he may have passed. Did he
tell you anything in that phone call, mister President, about
not feeling well?
Speaker 4 (14:42):
No, he said he's a little tired. It was a
long trip, you know, many hours, and he had just
gotten back. And the I mean it must have been
right after that, because I understand the police or whoever
it is, came there at about seven point thirty eight
o'clock in the evening something like that, so somebody notified him.
(15:03):
But no, he felt okay. I mean I actually on
the on the call, he told me christ and he said,
you know, I feel good, but I'm tired. He was fine.
I knew him, I know him well. He would he
would let you know if he wasn't really well. He
had days we did and feel so well, and he'd
let you know about it. But he was a fantastic person.
(15:24):
He was a man who are you going to watch?
It's going to be a very big thing with him.
He's going to be appreciated more now than he was
when he was living, I think.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
And just to make that point, I mean, authorities were
called to his home responding to initial reports of a
cardiac arrest, again his office saying a brief and sudden illness.
Do you have any more details?
Speaker 4 (15:52):
I would think it would be that because when I
spoke to him, it could have been, you know, minutes before,
based on you know, the the fact that I heard
about the call, whatever time that was, so was shortly before.
But it had to be something like that because he
was other than being tired, he was fine, and so
it had to be something like that. That would just
(16:13):
be a quick end and maybe that's not the worst
way to go, you know, he had the fine moments.
His moment on Brett Kavanaugh was one of the classics,
I think in the history of the Senate. His moment
was literally, I mean literally one of the great classics
of anyone in the Senate when he defended Brett Cavanah
(16:37):
so brilliantly, and Brett might not have made it except
for that they were treating him very unfairly, good man.
They treated him so unfairly, and Lindsey was so angry
at the Senate because of it, and he had really
an emotional moment, and I think that saved Brett Kavanaugh's
(16:57):
Supreme Court you know, ascension. He Lindsay did something that
he was just so angry at the way Brett was
being treated by the Democrats. It was so unfair.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
It was I want to ask you more about his legacy.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
See Lindsay got that over. Lindsey did a thing there
that was I think nobody else could have done that.
Speaker 5 (17:22):
Let me ask you a little bit more about his legacy.
And I know you remember this moment, mister President, back
in twenty fifteen, when he was one of your challengers
on the campaign trail, the two of you facing off
against each other, and then he very quickly became one
of your staunchest allies, mister President, and he and that
pros played golf together frequently on the phone together. What
(17:46):
do you think it is about Senator Graham that allowed
him to make that transition from competitor to ally so
quickly and so forcefully.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
Well, I got to know Lindsey during the campaign. I
didn't really know then. I met him once or twice,
but nothing. And I got to know him during the campaign.
He was tough, but he said I'll see you in
South Carolina. You know he was. But when it came
to South Carolina, went South Carolina by a lot, and
(18:15):
I sort of I sort of ran the table on
everybody and it was good and he appreciated it. He
respected it, and we sort of got a little bit friendly,
and just the friendship grew, It just grew. And he
was an amazing advocate. He was I don't know how
you find anybody like him. He was so intent. I
mean he literally called me about the Save America Act.
(18:38):
That's why he's you know, that's where I heard he
think of it. He's traveling for many many hours. That's
a long flight, that's a long trip, and he, you know,
calls me about the Save America Act. He thought we
were going to get it past. You remember the very
big this is a big this is a big blow
to the Save America act.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Let me tell you, do you remember, mister President, what
was the last thing you said to him? What was
the last thing he said to you?
Speaker 4 (19:06):
I said, We'll see you soon, come over any time
you want. He came into the White household because I
liked him. I can't do that with everybody, but he
come in a lot. And he was a great like
a gauge at a temperature gauge of the Senate. He
was somebody that most Democrats liked, some didn't, but most
(19:28):
Democrats liked and just about all of the Republicans, like Lindsey.
He got a lot with everybody, and yet he was
He was a tough cookie in a lot of ways,
but he had Honestly, he was a great politician. People
don't realize what a good politician he was. He could
he could go in and get something approved. He would.
(19:51):
He would just get people on his side. He was
really a talented you're not don say you probably never
heard me say that about anybody, because you know there
aren't too many of them. Let me tell you, sometimes
you'll meet somebody that had been there for twenty five
years ahead did they say this? And this man was
a great politician. He really got it to that.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
Point, mister President, it's nearly impossible to think about replacing
Senator Lindsey Graham. And yet the governor of the great
state of South Carolina is going to need to appoint
someone on an interim basis. There will also be a
special election called do you have I know it's only ours,
but is there someone you think he should appoint us?
(20:30):
There someone you think he will I have.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Somebody that I think would be great, but I don't
want to say it now because it just, you know,
it's too soon with Lindsey. I don't want to even
talk about anybody. But I do have somebody that I
think is really good. The governor is a good friend
of mine. I've endorsed him, you know, I endorsed him
early on, and he endorsed me right from the beginning,
as a person that never did this before. In twenty sixteen,
(20:55):
he came out and very strongly endorsed me, and then
I made up for it. Somebody from office that I
didn't think was so good moved her over to the
United Nations. Ninety five percent of that of my doing
that because the United Nations yeb was not exactly tough.
It could be very important. But you know she was
okay at it. But I did it because Henry McMaster
(21:17):
was the lieutenant governor and by moving her, I got
myself a great really a great guy. Henry McMaster has
been a really good governor, really good guy. And you
know that that position cleared out and Henry's been a
great governor. You know now he's turned out, but he
he he's going to do the right thing. I think
(21:38):
Henry will be fantastic. Remember he endorsed me out of nowhere.
He just he said I like that guy the best,
and he campaigned for me with his wife, with peg.
He campaigned for me. I'd say, who is that man
that's campaigning all the time. I hardly knew him. They said,
that's the lieutenant governor. So they have a great governor
and he's going to make a good desis. But ultimately
(22:01):
it's going to be an election pretty soon, as I
understand the rules. Every state is different, but ultimately they'll
have an election. Now, some people joining some are good,
some are bad. But I have somebody that I like,
but I'm not going to tell you who now because
it's too soon. All right, fair enough, we was never
glad i'd be in this position. Yeah, I said, I
(22:22):
thought Lindsay was going to be living forever. I never thought.
I never I said, Lindsay, you're going to live forever.
And he was going to have a big victory, you know,
he was. He was scheduled to win by a lot.
He had my support, and he was scheduled he was
going to win by a lot. He was going to
have one of his best elections ever. And now he's
got this terrible well.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
I had the great honor of being able to talk
to him a couple of times this week, mister President,
and as you can imagine, we talked about a lot
of foreign policy, We talked about a lot of Iran,
and in honor of him, I want to still have
some of those conversations. Those are the conversations he wanted
to have here this morning, mister President, you obviously launched
a fresh round of strikes overnight. Iron said overnight, the
(23:07):
straight of Warmose is closed. Sentcom came out this morning
and said, the straight of Warmose is open. Which is it,
mister president?
Speaker 4 (23:15):
And I don't want to talk about it because I
want to honor the life of Lindsey Graham. So I
don't want to talk about it. I told you that
before the call. Yeah, it's open. We bombed the hell
out of them last night. They're very, very evil and
sick people. We had meetings with them for the last day.
Agreed to a deal yesterday, a perfect deal for US.
(23:37):
No nuclear, no this, no that, no nothing. They've gave
up everything. And then after that they left the room,
and then within an hour they launched a groan, then
a ship. I said, your people are sick. You're sick people,
and so it's one of those things. I don't want
to talk about it.
Speaker 5 (23:56):
Finally, before I want to talk about I want.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
To talk about one person today, Lindsey Graham.
Speaker 5 (24:01):
As we should, mister President. Just finally, before I let
you go, what is the legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham,
Mister President.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
He's got so many legacies, but one of the legacies
is a Supreme Court justice who's excellent, named Brett Kavanaugh.
That's one of the legacies. That's a big legacy because
Brett was being treated very unfairly. I don't think he
could have gotten through without Lindsay's classic. I mean, if
you go back into the top ten, I think it
would be a top ten at top five in the
(24:31):
history of the Senate. The emotion, the anger, the love,
the whole thing, everything was in that. I called him up.
I said, that's one of the great classics of all times.
He was a great politician, he really was. He got
along with a lot of people that you wouldn't think of.
He was somebody that loved our country and he fought
(24:52):
very hard for the country. And I know he was
going to do your show today. He told me I'm
doing Meet the Press. Can you believe it? He said, here,
I am. Do we meet the press for him? But
he told me last night he was doing Meet the Press,
you know. But I said, just relax and take it easy, lids.
He just got back from a long trip, but he
(25:13):
was I thought he was just gonna live forever. And
it didn't work out that way. I said, we'll see
you soon. Come over anytime you want. He came into
the White House walkers. I liked him. I can't do
that with everybody, but he come in a lot, and
he was a great Like a gauge at a temperature
gauge of the Senate. He was somebody that most Democrats liked,
(25:39):
some didn't but most Democrats liked and just about all
of the Republicans like Lindsey. He got a little with everybody.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
It's truly incredible to think that Lindsey Graham was just
in Ukraine. He was fighting to get the Save America
Act pass. He was planning on spending time with the
President hours after they spoke to talk about how to
get the Save America Act passed. And now Lindsey Graham
(26:09):
is no longer with us. Our thoughts and prayers with
Lindsay Graham's family and friends. America has lost a great patriot,
that is for sure.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Thank you for listening to the forty seven Morning Update
with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever
you're listening to this podcast right now and for more
in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson podcast
and we will see you back here tomorrow.
Host
Ben Ferguson
Popular Podcasts
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.