A Tragedy of the Liberal’s Making

Summary

---

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

---

Transcript

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[B]

Guaranteed Human. The NFL playoffs are here and it all starts with Wild card Weekend powered by Verizon.

[C]

Man, it all comes down to this.

[B]

12 teams, six games, three days and one epic weekend. My goodness, it's win or go home and every moment counts on the road to Super Bowl 60. It's a touchdown wild card weekend powered by Verizon. January 10 through 12. Visit watch.NFL.com for the full schedule.

[A]

The Department of Homeland Security will continue to operate on the ground in Minnesota not only to remove criminal illegal aliens, but also to continue conducting door to door investigations of the rampant fraud that has taken place in the state under the failed and corrupt leadership of Democrat Governor Tim Walz.

[C]

You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Good Friday morning. So nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got one major story for you. Democrats going into full anarchy mode, especially in Minnesota. The governor in Minnesota describing it as a civil war with the Trump administration and the federal government, the mayor in Minneapolis telling ICE agents to get the F out and the protesters, who's paying them? Who's financing them? And why are we seeing the same tactics being used all over the country? We break it all down for you. But before we get to that, I want to tell you about our good friends at Patriot Mobile. Every so often, something happens that reminds us just how fragile our freedoms are. We can't afford to take our rights for granted. We must draw a line in the sand. And our friends at Patriot Mobile have been doing just that for more than 12 years. The truth is, there is only one provider that boldly stands in the gap for Americans who believe freedom is worth fighting for, and that company is Patriot Mobile. Not only are they leading the red economy, they're also outpacing the competition in technology. Patriot Mobile is one of the only carriers offering premium access to all three major US Networks, giving you nationwide coverage and service that you can count on day after day. They also offer unlimited data plans, mobile hotspots, international roaming, Internet backup, and so much more. And switching has never been easier. You can activate in minutes on your phone from your home or your office and you keep your same number you've got now, keep your same phone or upgrade to a new one. And this is where the magic happens. Every month, about 5% of your bill is given back to conservative causes at no extra cost to you. That stand up for our first and our Second Amendment rights, the rights of unborn children and our wounded warriors. And those that have fought for our country and wear a badge. So take a stand today and make a difference with every call you make. Patriotmobile.com Ferguson or 972 Patriot use the promo code Ferguson for a free month of service as well. That's patriotmobile.com ferguson or 972patriot and make the switch and make a difference with every call you make. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. Story number one more fallout in Minneapolis after the attack on an ICE agent that cost a woman her life. Donald Trump blasting the radical left after the ICE agent had no other choice but to shoot the woman who drove the car right into the ICE agent. The reason these incidents are happening is because the radical left is threatening, assaulting and targeting our law enforcement officers. President Trump releasing that statement, blasting the left for ratcheting up their rhetoric, not toning it down. Trump said the video of the shooting is a horrible thing to watch and added that the woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully and viciously ran over the ICE officer who seems to have shot her in self defense. Based on the attached clip, it is hard to believe he is alive but is now recovering in the hospital, the President said regarding the ICE agent who appeared to be clipped by the woman's vehicle. The situation is being studied in its entirety, but the reason these incidents are happening is because the radical left is threatening, assaulting and targeting our law enforcement officers and ICE agents on a daily basis, the President went on to say. They are just trying to do the job of making America safe. We need to stand by and protect our law enforcement officers from the radical left movement of violence and hatred. Video footage shows ICE agents approaching the woman's car with one agent attempting to open the driver's side door. Another agent approached the front of the vehicle and the woman began to drive towards him before three shots were fired. The agent near the front of the vehicle appeared to be clipped by the car. The Minnesota Governor, Tim Waltz, however, he's decided to play politics and is basically advocating for more violence. Blaming ICE and of course the Trump administration, he says, for inflaming tensions in Minneapolis leading to the deadly shooting on Wednesday. Quote to Minnesotans, I say this, I feel your anger, I'm angry, the governor said during a press conference. They want to show we can't give it to them. We cannot. 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. Obviously, the governor there lied. It was very clear the woman was not being peaceful and she was using her car as a weapon to try to kill an ICE agent. Waltz also added that he had reached out to the Homeland Security Secretary, Krissy Noem, and is waiting her response. We also saw the Minnesota Democratic Mayor, Jacob Fry, blaming federal agents for the fatal shooting and told ICE to get the F out of Minneapolis. We don't want you here, he said. Your state of reason for being in the city is to create some kind of safety, and you're doing exactly the opposite. People are being hurt, families are being ripped apart. Now somebody is dead, and that's on you. And it's also on you to leave. It's on you to make sure that for further damage, further loss of life and injury is not done. Yet again, the Democratic Party showing that they are wanting to go political on a tragic event and not being honest about what actually happened and treating law enforcement like they're somehow the bad guys. But this is exactly why Minneapolis got to the point where it is with massive amounts of fraud, waste and abuse. Vice President J.D. vance also coming out and saying this at the White House.

[A]

President, thank you for taking questions today. Is there a risk with you describing her as a deranged leftist talking about very specific facts of these events when an investigation is just beginning? Are you preempting a thorough investigation by drawing such conclusions? And have you received any information beyond the videos we've seen publicly about this individual, her specific acts that has informed your point of view?

[D]

Well, first of all, the Department of Justice is going to investigate this. The Department of Homeland Security is already investigating this. But the simple fact is what you see is what you get. In this case, you have a woman who is trying to obstruct a legitimate law enforcement operation. Nobody debates that. You have a woman who aimed her car at a law enforcement officer and pressed on the accelerator. Nobody debates that. 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. I think what is clearly happening here, and it's going to keep on happening unless the Democrats wake up and say, you know what? You don't have to agree with our immigration policies. You don't have to agree with what the president or the vice president believe about immigration enforcement. But why don't you take this to the ballot box? Why don't you vote? Why don't you organize Instead, what some of them are doing. What some of them are doing is encouraging people to get violent with our law enforcement officials. It's disgraceful and it's got to stop.

[C]

JD Vance wasn't done there. He also was asked this related question here.

[A]

I mean, Democrats have accused ICE of murder. They said they're targeting Americans. They told ICE to get the F out of Minnesota. This is going to stoke the fire against ICE agents. And you're talking about ICE agents right now and being concerned about them. What, if anything, is the administration going to do to make sure these folks are protected during these protests? But also should DHS sort of revisit their procedures here? I mean, nobody wants to see an America killed. Are there changes that need to be made to make sure something like this doesn't happen again?

[D]

Look, first of all, of course, nobody wants an American citizen to be killed. This is absolutely a tragedy. But it's a tragedy of the making of the far left. They have radicalized a very small segment of the population, taught them that ICE agents are engaging in wide scale violation of people's rights. What are ICE officers are doing is deporting the millions of criminal aliens that were let in during the Biden administration. So number one, we have to say as a matter of leadership, and I would appreciate if the Democrats would join me on this, let's be honest about the fact that we have way too many illegal aliens in this country. Our ICE officers should be supported in doing their job. 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 and against our law enforcement officers. When you talk about different plans, different protocols, different policies, I forget exactly how you asked the question. Here's the simple fact. What we're going to do is make it easier for the American people's administration to enforce the American people's law. And that means that Democrats have to stop rallying the mob against legitimate law enforcement operations. And that means that we are going to get tougher. And that's what this AAG position is about. We're going to get tougher at the people who are defrauding the United States by inciting violence against our law enforcement officers. That's one of the things that we're going to do. We've already started that work at the Department of Justice. We're going to keep on doing it. And this new AAG position is going.

[C]

To kick that into high gear Vice President J.D. vance there making it very clear that the White House is not going to back down no matter what the left decides to do. He also says that the new Assistant AG will have the job of getting to the bottom of who is funding the protests against ICE agents across the entire country. Clearly it's well organized and the radical left is paying for it. Paying literally the protesters.

[D]

Vice President Vance, you just suggested that this woman who was killed, Renee Goode, is part of a broader left wing network. Who do you think is behind this broader left wing network? Well, it's one of the things we're going to have to figure out. But here's the way that I put it. 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, you see just with this most recent terrible incident in Minneapolis, you see friends of this woman's or other people who are eyewitnesses saying basically that she was there to engage an obstruction of a legitimate law enforcement operation. How did she get there? How did she learn about this? There's an entire network, and frankly, some of the media are participating in it, that is trying to incite violence against our law enforcement officers. It's ridiculous, it's preposterous. And part of our investigatory work is getting to the bottom of it. Who's funding it, who's supporting it, who's cheerleading it. And of course, if there's illegal activity related to that, we're going to get to the bottom of that and prosecute it where we can.

[C]

It's very clear. Donald Trump and the White House, the Vice President, Kristi Noem and everyone else in this administration is clearly focused on keeping law enforcement safe and also investigating who is funding those that are attacking ICE agents. Just to put in perspective, in the last month, more than 100 cars have been used by protesters to target and attack ICE agents all over the country. 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, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow.

[B]

The NFL playoffs are here and it all starts with Wild Card weekend, powered by Verizon.

[C]

Man, it all comes down to this.

[B]

12 teams, six games, three days and one epic weekend. My goodness, it's win or go home. And every moment counts on the road to Super Bowl 60 it's a touchdown wild card weekend powered by Verizon January 10th through 12th. Visit watch.NFL.com for the full schedule.

[A]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[B]

Guaranteed Human.