The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: A Tragedy of the Liberal’s Making
Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson

Overview

In this episode, Ben Ferguson examines the aftermath of a fatal encounter between ICE agents and a woman in Minneapolis—a case that has become a flashpoint for national debate. The show zeroes in on the political reactions, allegations of organized protest funding, and the administration's response, particularly from President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. The episode is highly critical of Democratic leadership and attributes recent unrest and violence to radical left-wing activism.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Minneapolis ICE Shooting and Political Fallout

[02:54 – 06:40]

• Incident Recap: An ICE agent shot and killed a woman, Renee Goode, after she allegedly drove her car into agents during an enforcement action.
  • Ferguson’s framing: Attributes the escalation to leftist rhetoric and targeting of law enforcement.
• Trump’s Statement: Condemns the left for inciting violence and frames the ICE agent’s actions as self-defense.
  • Quote (Ferguson paraphrasing Trump, 04:26): “The reason these incidents are happening is because the radical left is threatening, assaulting and targeting our law enforcement officers.”
• Governor Tim Walz’s Response: Accused by Ferguson of politicizing the event, Waltz expresses anger towards federal intervention and urges peaceful protest, but is called out for allegedly misrepresenting the situation.
  • Quote (Walz, 05:34): “If you protest and express your First Amendment rights, please do so peacefully as you always do. We can't give them what they want.”
  • Ferguson immediately counters, accusing Walz of lying about the protest’s peacefulness.
• Mayor Jacob Frey’s Comments: Directly blames ICE and federal agents for the death, demands ICE leave Minneapolis.
  • Quote (Frey, 06:15, paraphrased): “Your state of reason for being in the city is to create some kind of safety and you're doing exactly the opposite... now somebody is dead, and that's on you.”

2. White House and Vice President J.D. Vance’s Defense of Law Enforcement

[07:04 – 10:42]

• Press Q&A: Vice President J.D. Vance addresses concerns about the administration’s rhetoric and its potential to prejudice investigations.
  • Quote (Vance, 07:31): “The simple fact is what you see is what you get... I can believe that her death is a tragedy while also recognizing that it’s a tragedy of her own making and a tragedy of the far left who has marshaled an entire movement, a lunatic fringe, against our law enforcement officers.”
  • Memorable moment (08:18): Vance calls for dissent to be handled via “the ballot box” rather than violence, and chastises those “encouraging people to get violent with our law enforcement officials.”
• Protection of ICE agents: Vance emphasizes the administration’s priority to protect officers, and blames the Biden administration for the presence of “millions of criminal aliens.”
  • Quote (Vance, 09:34): “You're trying to actually marshal the far left lunatic fringe to engage in doxxing, to try to make it impossible for them to enforce the law and in some cases actually to engage in acts of domestic terrorism...”
• Policy Response: Vance announces tougher measures, including a new Assistant Attorney General position to investigate and prosecute those inciting violence against law enforcement.

3. Allegations of a Funded, Organized Network Against ICE

[11:10 – 12:40]

• Funding Claims: Vance suggests that protests and acts of violence against ICE are being coordinated and funded by a broader left-wing network.
  • Quote (Vance, 11:21): “When somebody throws a brick at an ICE agent or somebody tries to run over an ICE agent, who paid for the brick and who told protesters to show up and engage in violent activity against our law enforcement officers?”
  • Claims media involvement in allegedly “inciting violence.”
• Ferguson cites a statistic: over 100 cars have been used by protesters to attack ICE agents in the past month.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s a tragedy of her own making and a tragedy of the far left who has marshaled an entire movement, a lunatic fringe, against our law enforcement officers.”
  — VP J.D. Vance, 07:38
• “When somebody throws a brick at an ICE agent or somebody tries to run over an ICE agent, who paid for the brick and who told protesters to show up and engage in violent activity…?”
  — VP J.D. Vance, 11:21
• “We need to stand by and protect our law enforcement officers from the radical left movement of violence and hatred.”
  — Donald Trump (via Ferguson), 04:40
• “Your state of reason for being in the city is to create some kind of safety and you’re doing exactly the opposite… now somebody is dead, and that’s on you.”
  — Mayor Jacob Frey (paraphrased by Ferguson), 06:15

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [02:54] – Start of main story: Minneapolis ICE shooting and political responses
• [04:26] – Ferguson reads/recaps President Trump’s statement
• [05:34] – Governor Tim Walz’s statement and Ferguson’s criticism
• [06:15] – Mayor Jacob Frey demands ICE leave Minneapolis
• [07:04] – Q&A with VP J.D. Vance – first answer on rhetoric, investigation, and blame
• [09:10] – Second Vance answer: supporting ICE, denouncing radicalization, DOJ response
• [11:10] – Vance on the broader left-wing network and investigation priorities
• [12:40] – Ferguson’s wrap-up and statistics on anti-ICE attacks

Summary/Tone

The episode delivers pointed, partisan analysis, with Ben Ferguson taking a forceful stance against Democratic leaders and left-wing activists. He frames the ICE-related violence as a direct result of progressive rhetoric, and repeatedly accuses opponents of inciting or enabling violence against law enforcement. The show amplifies Trump administration talking points and positions the administration as tough on crime and committed to defending officers at all costs. There’s an undercurrent of urgency and alarm, especially regarding supposed organized, paid protest activity.

Useful for listeners seeking:

• The latest administration perspective on law enforcement issues
• Understanding the partisan framing of current unrest in Minnesota
• Insight into the administration’s plans for investigating protest funding

Not covered:

• Ad sections, sponsor messages, or show promo content