A Berlin Wall Moment: Iranians Defy Regime, Demand Freedom plus ICE Under New Attacks

Summary

The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: A Berlin Wall Moment: Iranians Defy Regime, Demand Freedom plus ICE Under New Attacks
Date: January 16, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into two major stories at the intersection of U.S. policy, global human rights, and law enforcement.

1. U.S. support for Iranian protesters in what many are calling a “Berlin Wall moment,” with the Trump administration promising action against Iran’s repressive regime.
2. Growing assaults on ICE agents across the U.S., the rhetoric fueling these attacks, and the White House response, which blames Democratic leaders for encouraging and allegedly financing violence.

Ben delivers his takeaways with directness and urgency, amplified by exclusive quotes from U.S. officials, activists, and live cable interviews.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. America’s Stand with Iranian Protesters

• UN Emergency Session: Amb. Mike Waltz asserts that President Trump stands with the Iranian people as they protest their repressive regime.

  • Quote (04:00):

    “President Donald J. Trump and the United States of America stands by the brave people of Iran. Period… the regime is solely, solely responsible for the economic misery of the Iranian people and the repression of their freedom and they will be held accountable.”
    — Mike Waltz, U.S. Ambassador to the UN

• Action over Rhetoric: The episode highlights Trump’s “man of action” reputation and contrasts it with perceived past administrations’ inaction (Obama, Biden). Ben frames this as pivotal support for the Iranian freedom movement.

  • Ben (04:26):

    “This is obviously an important point … America is not all talk … Trump is a man of action. … He has made it clear: all options are on the table to stop the slaughter.”

• Iranian-Americans Demand Global Pressure:

  • An Iranian American activist compares the Iranian regime to ISIS, calling for it to be treated with the same urgency, citing mass arrests, blackouts, and killings.
  • Quote (06:29):

    “People of Iran, they welcomed the strong and forceful message of President Trump, but they want to see action.”
    — Iranian American Activist on CNN

• Historical Context—A “Berlin Wall Moment”:

  • The activist draws an analogy between current protests and the fall of the Berlin Wall, arguing that unified international action—especially from the U.S. and Europe—could be decisive.
  • Quote (08:15):

    “I think this is the Berlin Wall moment in Iran. If international community get united the same way when they were all united to help East Germany to bring down the wall, now Iranian people are trying to bring the wall of dictatorship down.”
    — Iranian American Activist

• A Call for President Trump’s Continued Action:

  • The activist thanks the current U.S. President for support, noting that this is the first time Iranians feel the American president has their back.
  • Quote (09:38):

    “I even smell the freedom. … For the first time, we now see the United States of America’s president taking a strong action, saying that he is ready to save the lives of Iranians. Iranians are welcoming that. I want to see action. Otherwise, empty words are not going to save lives.”
    — Iranian American Activist

• Ben’s Analysis:

  • (11:04):

    “Notice ... what Trump’s policy is doing is allowing for the people of Iran to stand up for themselves. Something they didn’t get under Obama, something they didn’t get under Joe Biden.”

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2. ICE Attacks and Political Rhetoric

• Spike in Assaults on ICE Agents: Recent attacks, notably in Minnesota, are linked, according to Ben and the White House, to inflammatory rhetoric from Democratic leaders.

• White House Blames Democrats: The administration asserts Democratic politicians not only escalate anti-ICE rhetoric but also fund leftist agitators—drawing a parallel to Black Lives Matter protests and past civil unrest.

  • Quote (11:40):

    “The White House making it very clear who’s to blame for the attacks … It is the Democratic Party … They are financing the violence.”
    — Ben Ferguson

• Press Secretary Caroline Levitt Condemns Rhetoric:

  • Levitt encourages empathy for ICE agents as patriotic Americans doing a difficult job.
  • Quote (12:38):

    “These are great patriotic men and women … following our nation’s immigration laws at the direction of their bosses, and again at the direction of the law. … The Democratic Party has demeaned these individuals. They’ve even referred to them as Nazis and as the Gestapo. And that is absolutely leading to the violence we’re seeing in the streets.”
    — Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary

• Vandalism and Hate Speech: The episode references images and slogans from protestors, including direct threats to agents.

  • Quote (13:48):

    “I’m pretty sure this car, you can’t see, it said ‘the best agent is a dead agent’ or something to that effect. This is despicable rhetoric that we’re seeing.”
    — Conservative Commentator

• Ongoing Investigations: The White House hints at soon revealing the financial backers of protests-turned-attacks against law enforcement.

  • Ben (13:56):

    “The good news is … there are investigations underway ... the White House is making it clear Democratic rhetoric [is] absolutely leading to the leftist violence against our brave men and women in uniform.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• (04:00) Mike Waltz at the UN:

  “President Donald J. Trump and the United States of America stands by the brave people of Iran. Period.”

• (08:15) Iranian American Activist:

  “I think this is the Berlin Wall moment in Iran.”

• (09:38) Iranian American Activist:

  “I even smell the freedom. … For the first time … America’s president taking a strong action”

• (12:38) Caroline Levitt:

  “The Democratic Party has demeaned these individuals. They’ve even referred to them as Nazis and as the Gestapo.”

• (13:48) Conservative Commentator:

  “‘The best agent is a dead agent’ … this is despicable rhetoric.”

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Important Timestamps

• 03:29 – Ben introduces the Iran story and America’s involvement.
• 04:00 – Ambassador Mike Waltz delivers the U.S. position to the UN.
• 06:29–09:38 – Iranian American activist’s remarks on CNN; Berlin Wall moment.
• 11:40 – Shift to story on ICE attacks and Democratic rhetoric.
• 12:38 – Caroline Levitt’s White House press statement.
• 13:48 – Descriptions of vandalism and threats to ICE agents.

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Tone & Perspective

The episode maintains a sharply conservative, pro-administration tone. Ben Ferguson’s narration is urgent, occasionally combative, and aimed squarely at listeners who distrust mainstream media and Democratic leadership. Speakers, especially from the White House, are unequivocal in apportioning blame for societal unrest, positioning Trump as an active defender of freedom internationally and law enforcement domestically.

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Summary Takeaway

This installment of The 47 Morning Update brings together two stories: the U.S.’s assertive new support for Iranian protestors and a domestic debate over the violence faced by ICE agents. Through interviews, official statements, and pointed commentary, Ben Ferguson highlights what he sees as a pivotal moment for both Iranian freedom and American law enforcement—a “Berlin Wall” juncture abroad, and a law-and-order crisis at home rooted in partisan divides.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Conservative Commentator]

Why was Renee Goode unfortunately and tragically killed?

[Left-Wing Critic]

Are you asking me my opinion? Because an ICE agent acted recklessly until they unjustifiable.

[Right-Wing Defender]

Oh, okay, so you're a biased reporter with a left wing opinion.

[Left-Wing Critic]

What do you want me to do?

[Right-Wing Defender]

Yeah, because you're a left wing hack. You're not a reporter. You're posing in this room as a journalist. And it's so clear by the premise of your question. And you and the people in the media who have such biases, but fake like you're a journalist, you shouldn't even be sitting in that seat.

[Ben Ferguson]

You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.

Good Friday morning. Nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got two major stories for you coming out of the White House. First up, the administration and the US Ambassador. The UN Warning that America is not. All talk during the Iranian meeting saying Trump is a man of action. So what could that look like? We'll explain it in just a moment. Also, another warning from the White House on another important issue, this time about the rhetoric and the assaults that are happening on ICE agents. The White House is now pointing fingers and making it clear who they believe is to blame for these attacks. And there's even investigations into who may be financing them. That coming up as well.

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It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. Story number one all eyes are on Iran right now and many of the eyes in Iran are looking back at Donald Trump in America to see what we are going to do next. The U. N. Decided they had to try to get involved with their Security Council meetings which are pretty much useless and worthless. But nevertheless, the United States of America uses an opportunity through the UN Ambassador Mike Waltz to say this to the Iranian people.

[Mike Waltz]

President Donald J. Trump and the United States of America stands by the brave people of Iran. Period. And regardless of its excuses and you will hear many today from the Iranian regime and from its friends, the regime is solely, solely responsible for the economic misery of the Iranian people and the repression of their freedom and they will be held accountable.

[Ben Ferguson]

They will be held accountable. Now this is obviously an important point as the ambassador warning the UN that America is not all talk during the Iran meeting and that Trump is a man of action. He reiterated America's commitment to to the protesters during that emergency meeting at the UN Security Council. President Trump a man of action, not endless talk like we see at the United Nations. The ambassador continued, he has made it clear all options are on the table to stop the slaughter and no one should know that better than the leadership of the Iranian regime. During his address to Council, Ambassador Wallace also dismissed Tehran's allegations that the protesters were part of a foreign plot to undermine the current regime. They've even used it to slander Israel, quote everyone in the world needs to know that the regime is weaker than ever before and therefore is putting forward.

This lie because of the power of.

The Iranian people is actually in the streets. They are afraid of their own people. Now along with the UN Ambassador Waltz the there was also an Iranian American activist who warned the UN that the Islamic Republic cannot be dealt with normally. Liking Tehran to the Islamic State terrorist group known as isis, she demanded that Tehran's leaders be treated like isis, or else the killing in Iran will get much worse, saying, quote, millions of innocent, unarmed Iranians have been silenced through bullets, mass arrests, imprisonment, and a total communications blackout. No Internet, no mobile phones, and no landlines. She said in her speech, saying, quote, iran is in total darkness. She also went on CNN after that speech and said this to Jake Tapper about the country.

[Iranian American Activist]

People of Iran, they welcomed the strong and forceful message of President Trump, but they want to see action.

[Ben Ferguson]

What action?

[Jake Tapper]

Because obviously this comes after on Saturday, the president, you know, they removed the leader of Venezuela.

[Iranian American Activist]

So maybe to people in America, it's radical because I see that people are busy criticizing President Trump about capturing Maduro. But Maduro is not the president of Venezuela. He is a criminal. And he is not alone. The Islamic Republic invaded Venezuela. You see Hezbollah presence in Venezuela. They're sending weapons to Maduro. So I strongly believe arresting Maduro should have been done by international court. And now this is the right thing, that Iranian people celebrating this. I asked Iranian people, Jake, before coming here, I asked them what they really want from President Trump. They say the same thing. Because Ali Khamenei is not just targeting the lives of innocent people inside Iran. They're not just targeting them. Ali Khamenei is the one who ordered my killing in New York, in U.S. soil, on U.S. soil here, three times. Ali Khamenei is the one ordering the killing of President Trump. So basically, this is the guy actually expanding terror everywhere, not only in the region, but in Europe, in America.

[Jake Tapper]

I want to show this video. It went viral on social media. It's Iranian security forces storming a hospital in Elam. That's a city that's found itself at the center of these protests. You see this in the. It's horrible. We're nearing now two weeks of these protests. Do you think the nation might reach a breaking point?

[Iranian American Activist]

First of all, President Trump actually mentioned that some people were killed because of the crowd. This is misinformation. I have to make this clear that the Iranian regime opened fire in 10 days. 40 people got killed. They're not just numbers. They're not just a statistic. They are the people with empty hands took to the street chanting for freedom, dignity. They want to have a normal life. And they are being killed by irgc, the Revolutionary Guards. I think this is the Berlin Wall moment in Iran. If international community get united the same way when they were all united to help East Germany to bring down the wall, now Iranian people are trying to bring the wall of dictatorship down. We need to see Action from Europeans, from Free world. Otherwise, believe me, Jake, they will kill more innocent people.

[Jake Tapper]

You and I have been talking about this for years and I've been covering this for years. I remember covering the murder of Netta in the streets of Iran when Ahmadinejad was in charge.

[Iranian American Activist]

You were the first one. You actually covered the brutal murder of Mahzog in 2022 as well.

[Jake Tapper]

So you've been obviously focused on this for years. Does this moment feel different than previous moments of unrest?

[Iranian American Activist]

I even smell the freedom. I even feel like when people go to the streets, they show their face, they take on their own social media. They say that we have no fear because we have nothing to lose. As you mentioned, we have seen six major massive uprising in Iran in 2009. You mentioned about Nadar Sultan at the same time when people were in the street chanting Obama, Obama. You either with us or with them. President Omawa was sending secret letter to Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic. In 2022 when Mahsa got killed, women took to the street. Woman life, freedom. One of the most progressive slogan. What happened? President Biden was handing out billions of dollars to the same regime that hired killers to target US citizen on US Soil. They even asked me to go under witness protection. I mean, it's a joke. So for the first time that we now see the United States of America's president taking a strong action, saying that he is ready to save the lives of Iranians. Iranians are welcoming that. I want to see action. Otherwise empty wars are not going to save lives are not going. Let's be very clear, people of Iran are better allies compared to these backward mullahs for America, for the rest of the world. And Iran without Islamic Republic will guarantee the global security. And this is the moment that we want to see.

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, this is the moment that we wanted to see happen. Notice, by the way, that this incredibly brave woman, she said very clearly that what Trump's policy is doing is allowing for the people of Iran to stand up for themselves. Something they didn't get under Obama, something they didn't get under Joe Biden. And she's explaining how, how the people under tyranny are now saying thank you to President Trump for his leadership. And that's why millions are gathering in the streets, because they actually feel like the president has their back.

Now, story number two.

More ICE agents are being attacked in Minnesota and around the country. And the media continues to act as if ICE agents are somehow the bad guys. The White House making it very clear who's to blame for the attacks and the ratcheting up of the rhetoric? It is the Democratic Party. Not only are they ratcheting up the rhetoric, but they are financing the violence. Yes, many of the agitators who are out there that are attacking ICE agents are being paid to do so. This reminds you a lot of the Black Lives Matter protests and the burning of American cities. We continue to see Democrats taking millions and millions of dollars from Occupy Wall street to what we're witnessing now going against police or ice, and they are financing the anarchy. The White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt having this to say about it today.

[Right-Wing Defender]

Democrat governors and mayors in not just Minnesota, but in states across the country are essentially, you know, they've referred to ICE agents who, who again, are brave men and women. And I would encourage everyone in this room, and I would encourage Governor Walz and other Democrats who are demeaning law enforcement to sit down and have a cup of coffee with an ICE agent or a Border Patrol agent. These are great patriotic men and women who have families who put on the uniform every day and are following our nation's immigration laws at the direction of their bosses and again at the direction of the law. They are simply trying to enforce the law. And the Democrat Party has demeaned these individuals. They've even referred to them as Nazis and as the Gestapo. And that is absolutely leading to the violence we're seeing in the streets. If you look at some of the.

[Conservative Commentator]

Images out of Minneapolis last night, look at this vehicle. Look at what it says.

[Right-Wing Defender]

It says, f ice you have these.

[Conservative Commentator]

Individuals who are putting their middle finger.

[Right-Wing Defender]

Proudly so at the camera.

[Conservative Commentator]

Another ICE vehicle that was vandalized last night by these left wing agitators. People don't do this without encouragement from people in power who make them feel like it's okay. Here's another one.

[Right-Wing Defender]

And I'm pretty sure this car, you.

[Conservative Commentator]

Can'T see it said the best agent is a dead agent or something to that effect. This is despicable rhetoric that we're seeing.

[Ben Ferguson]

The good news is we're also hearing that those that are financing this type of anarchy, we may know who they are soon. There are investigations that are underway. But. But make no mistake about it, the White House is making it clear Democratic rhetoric is absolutely leading to the leftist violence against our brave men and women in uniform. And they're going to do everything they can to stop it as fast as possible.

Thank you for listening to the 47 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 news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow.

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.