The Ben Ferguson Podcast

1. Affordable Care Act (ACA) Subsidies and Alleged Fraud

• Democrats intentionally designed ACA subsidies to expire, framing it as a political strategy to secure votes during elections.
• The ACA was never truly affordable and alleges systemic fraud, waste, and abuse within the program, including:
  • Insurance companies benefiting from guaranteed government payments.
  • Fraudulent enrollments and improper subsidies (citing a Washin...

• Legal and Constitutional Battles involving President Donald Trump

  • A recent Supreme Court decision denying the Trump administration's request to federalize Illinois National Guard troops to assist ICE agents in Chicago.
  • The ruling emphasized that the administration failed to identify statutory authority for deploying military forces to enforce laws in Illinois.
  • Details of the majority opinion, concurring opinion by Justic...

1. Welfare System Fraud and Structural Issues

• Based on an op-ed by Phil Gramm and John Early in The Wall Street Journal titled “The Biggest Fraud in Welfare”.
• Key points:
  • U.S. welfare spending has skyrocketed 765% since the mid-1970s, now totaling $1.4 trillion annually.
  • If distributed evenly among the 19.8 million families classified as poor, each would receive $71,000 per year.
  • The government fails to count ...

1. Self-Deportation Program

• Policy Details:

  • Department of Homeland Security offers $3,000 holiday stipend for illegal immigrants who voluntarily leave the U.S. by December 31.
  • Includes free travel arrangements and waivers of certain fines.
  • Program branded as Project Homecoming, accessible via the CBP Home app.

• Rationale:

  • Claimed to be cheaper than forced deportation, saving resources and legal costs.
  • Aims to...

• Policy Overview

  • Undocumented immigrants can receive a $3,000 “exit bonus” if they leave the U.S. voluntarily by December 31.
  • The program includes free travel arrangements and potential waivers of civil fines.
  • Registration is required via a Department of Homeland Security app.

• Rationale

  • It is cheaper than formal deportation, which involves legal processes, detention, and transportation costs.
  • It i...

• Hollywood and Media Bias:

  • Cruz argues that the NYT list prioritizes political messaging over storytelling and entertainment.
  • He claims the list reflects elitist, left-leaning Hollywood values and ignores popular, inspirational, or patriotic films.

• Alternative Film List:

  • Cruz presents his own list of 30 films from the past 25 years that he believes are more representative of quality cinema.
  • His sel...

• Economic Growth & Tariffs

  • Reports a 4.3% GDP growth in Q3, exceeding expectations.
  • Success is do to Trump’s tariff policies, tax reforms, and “America First” approach.
  • Highlights record consumer spending during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

• Inflation & Monetary Policy

  • Notes inflation is a pressure point but it is lower than under Biden.
  • Federal Reserve’s PCE index a...

1. Cultural Debate on Santa Claus

• UK museum’s guidance to “decolonize” Father Christmas.
• Santa is criticized for being “too white” and “too male.”
• Suggests changes like:
  • Santa working alongside elves to show equality.
  • Mrs. (Mother) Christmas taking a more prominent role.
  • Removing the “naughty or nice” list, which is framed as colonial and judgmental.
• Links these...

1. Netanyahu’s Push for an Inquiry into October 7 Attacks

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposes an investigation into the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks, comparing it to the U.S. 9/11 Commission.
• He advocates for a bipartisan committee (half coalition, half opposition) rather than a Supreme Court-appointed state commission.
• Opposition parties refuse to participate, calling the plan a “whitewash&rdqu...

• Massive Interest Payments on National Debt

  • $1.2 trillion spent on interest payments in 2025 alone, making it the third-largest government expense after Social Security and Medicare.
  • Highlights the unsustainable nature of U.S. borrowing and debt ($38.4 trillion total).

• Animal Experimentation

  • $13.8 million for beagle experiments involving tick-borne illnesses.
  • $5.2 million for dosing beagles with cocaine and m...

1. Christmas and Its Religious Significance

• The discussion begins with warm holiday greetings and reflections on the meaning of Christmas.
• Emphasis is placed on celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, highlighting its spiritual importance over commercial aspects like gifts and Santa Claus.
• Ben and the Senator share personal traditions, such as reading Luke Chapter 2 during Christmas dinner, and discuss cultural practices (e.g.,...

• Poll Analysis & Approval Ratings

  • We dispute claims that Trump’s presidency is a “disaster,” citing an Insider Advantage poll showing Trump at 50% approval and +9 net rating.
  • Breakdowns by demographics:
    • Men: 59% approve, 34% disapprove.
    • Women: Majority disapprove.
    • Age groups:
      • 18–39: 44% approve, 44% disapprove.
      • 40–64: 54% approve.
    • Party affiliation: 84% approval among Rep...

• Golden Fleet Announcement

  • Trump unveils plans for the construction of two massive battleships, described as:
    • The largest ever built.
    • “100 times more powerful” than previous Iowa-class ships.
    • Part of a new Golden Fleet to revitalize U.S. naval power.
  • Long-term vision: expand to 20–25 ships, boosting American shipbuilding and jobs.
  • Emphasis on national security, military supremacy, and economi...

1. Affordable Care Act (ACA) Subsidies and Alleged Fraud

• Democrats intentionally designed ACA subsidies to expire, framing it as a political strategy to secure votes during elections.
• The ACA was never truly affordable and alleges systemic fraud, waste, and abuse within the program, including:
  • Insurance companies benefiting from guaranteed government payments.
  • Fraudulent enrollments and improper subsidies (citing a Washin...

• Epstein File Release

  • The files include photos of former President Bill Clinton in compromising contexts:
    • On Epstein’s private plane with unidentified individuals.
    • In a pool with Ghislaine Maxwell and other women (faces redacted).
    • In a hot tub with a redacted woman.
  • The commentary argues that if these were photos of Donald Trump, media coverage would be relentless, but Clinton’s involvement is bein...

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1. Fentanyl Classified as Weapon of Mass Destruction

• Action: President Trump signed an executive order classifying fentanyl as a WMD, equating its impact to nuclear or chemical weapons.
• Rationale: Trump cited overdose deaths (200k–300k annually) and national security threats from narco-terrorists.
• Military Measures:
  • U.S. strikes on drug-smuggling boats since September, killing ~90 people.
  • Deployment of the world&rsq...

1. Crime Statistics Manipulation

• Allegations:
  • U.S. Attorney and House Oversight Committee report claim D.C. authorities and outgoing Police Chief Pamela Smith manipulated crime data to make the city appear safer.
  • Misclassification of crimes, pressure on commanders to report lower stats, and retaliation against those reporting accurately.
• Impact:
  • Trump’s crime reduction efforts were more significant than ...

• Operation Hawkeye

  • A large-scale U.S. military strike targeting ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites across more than 70 locations in Syria.
  • Ordered by President Trump in response to an ambush that killed two U.S. service members and a civilian interpreter.
  • Objective: Deliver a “declaration of vengeance,” not a declaration of war.

• Military Details

  • Use of precision munitions and advance...