The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

1. Current Situation in Iran 

• Over one million Iranians are protesting against the regime in major cities.
• The Iranian leadership has shut down the internet, phones, and media to suppress information and maintain control.
• Protesters are risking their lives; acts of defiance include burning hijabs and removing religious coverings in public.

2. Historical Context

• References to the 1979 Islamic Revolution...

• 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...

• 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...

• 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...

• 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...

• 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...

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...

• Inflation Drop

  • Inflation fell unexpectedly to 2.7%, which the author claims validates Trump’s economic strategy.

• Energy Policy Impact

  • Deregulation and expansion of domestic oil and gas production lowered energy costs, reducing transportation and manufacturing expenses across the economy.

• Tariffs and Trade

  • Contrary to predictions of price hikes and supply chain chaos, tariffs pressured fore...

• Government Waste and Reform

  • Musk discusses shocking inefficiencies in the U.S. federal government, such as:
    • Excessive software licenses and media subscriptions (often double the number of employees).
    • Duplicate credit cards and unexplained payments.
    • Fraudulent NGO funding (e.g., billions allegedly misused).
  • He emphasizes that the government is essentially run by computers and that reform requires direct access...

• Objective of the Plan

  • Lower healthcare costs for Americans.
  • Extend expiring ACA subsidies temporarily while transitioning to a new system.
  • Shift financial benefits from insurance companies to individuals.

• Proposed Measures

  • Two-year extension of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (originally expanded during COVID-19).
  • Income eligibility cap for subsidies at 700% of the federal poverty line to prevent wealthy Americ...

• Main Allegation: Widespread fraud in Minnesota’s childcare programs, allegedly involving fake daycare centers and misuse of federal funds over the past decade.
• Federal Response:
  • The Trump administration froze $185 million in federal childcare funds to Minnesota.
  • Actions announced by Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill include:
    • Activation of the “Defend the Spend” system requiring receipts or photo ev...

• Fraud Allegations

  • A reported $9+ billion fraud in Minnesota’s Medicaid and childcare programs.
  • Fraud schemes allegedly involved fake daycare centers, autism centers, and home healthcare providers.
  • Claims that funds were diverted to terrorist groups like Al Shabaab.

• Actors and Accountability

  • Somali immigrants are the primary perpetrators.
  • Minnesota politicians (e.g., Governor Tim Walz) for alleged compl...

1. Minnesota Fraud Scandal: 

               Minnesota lets voters 'vouch' for up to 8 others (SEE STORY HERE)

• Allegations of massive fraud in childcare programs and federal aid schemes in Minnesota, involving Somali-linked organizations.
• Governor Tim Walz for refused to apologize and instead advocating for welcoming more Somali immigrants, despite fraud...