AOC’s Protégé is NYC’s Future plus Oversight Committee Probes Biden’s Autopen Use

Summary

Summary of "AOC’s Protégé is NYC’s Future plus Oversight Committee Probes Biden’s Autopen Use"
The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Release Date: June 26, 2025

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Overview

In this episode of The 47 Morning Update, host Ben Ferguson delves into two pivotal stories shaping the current American political landscape. The first focuses on the New York City mayoral race, highlighting a candidate backed by progressive leader Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and critiqued by former President Donald Trump as a "100% communist lunatic." The second story examines congressional scrutiny over President Joe Biden's use of autopen signatures, raising questions about executive transparency and accountability.

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1. The New York City Mayoral Race: AOC’s Protégé Under Scrutiny

Donald Trump's Critique of the Democratic Shift

Ben Ferguson opens the discussion by addressing former President Donald Trump's strong criticism of the Democratic Party's direction, particularly in the context of the NYC mayoral race. Trump labels the Democratic nominee as a "100% communist lunatic," signaling his concern over what he perceives as a radical shift within the party.

"We've had radical lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous. He looks terrible, he's not very smart. He's got AOC plus three dummies all backing him." — [03:24] Donald Trump

Candidate's Progressive Agenda

The mayoral candidate, a 33-year-old Democratic socialist and state assemblyman, proposes several ambitious policies:

• Free Public Transit: Advocating for free buses and freezing subway fares.
• Rent Freeze: Implementing measures to stabilize housing costs.
• City-Run Grocery Stores: Replacing private-sector grocery chains with municipally-operated ones.
• $30 Minimum Wage: Raising the minimum wage to $30 per hour.
• Increased Taxes on the Wealthy: Proposing higher taxes on millionaires and increasing corporate taxes to fund universal childcare and other social services.

These proposals have sparked intense debate. Critics argue that such policies could lead to economic instability, business closures, and increased crime rates, while supporters believe they address critical issues like affordability and social equity.

Democratic Party's Voter Base Transformation

Ferguson discusses how the Democratic Party's strategy of increasing immigration has transformed its voter base. By welcoming immigrants from countries with socialist and communist backgrounds, the party has shifted its ideological stance, leading to the nomination of more progressive and, according to some, extremist candidates.

"The Democratic Party is changing politics by changing the voters. That's how you turn a city that defined US Dominance into what we're witnessing right now." — [15:00] Ben Ferguson

Guest Insights

Guests on the show provide varying perspectives:

• Guest 4: Highlights the importance of listening to voters' economic concerns, emphasizing that the candidate built a campaign around making the city affordable.

  "We built a campaign that was explicitly about making the city affordable." — [11:02] Guest 4

• Guest 2: Criticizes the candidate's policies as communist and warns of potential negative outcomes like increased crime and economic chaos.

  "He's just gonna attack the country, Cops and capitalism? He's just gonna cause more crime and chaos." — [13:32] Guest 2

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2. Oversight Committee Probe: Biden’s Use of Autopen Signatures

Neera Tanden’s Congressional Testimony

The second major story revolves around Neera Tanden, a former senior advisor and director of President Biden's Domestic Policy Council. During her congressional testimony, Tanden revealed significant gaps in the White House's process for using autopen signatures—a tool that allows officials to sign documents automatically.

"I do not know who ordered President Biden's auto pen signatures." — [15:33] Neera Tanden

Controversy and Contradictions

Tanden's admission has ignited controversy, with members of the oversight committee questioning the transparency and accountability of the executive branch. While Tanden claims she was authorized to use the autopen tool, she admits to not knowing who provided the final approval for the signatures.

• Host's Analysis:

  "She's saying that's the truth... Who ordered the President's auto pin signatures?" — [15:32] Ben Ferguson

• Committee Response:

  A minority member of the oversight committee contradicted Tanden’s statements, asserting that every executive action she presented had President Biden's written approval. Tanden's attorney also defended the process, stating that the autopen was only used after Biden personally approved each decision.

Implications for Executive Transparency

This probe raises critical questions about the mechanisms of presidential authority and the potential for misuse of power through automated processes. The lack of clear oversight on who authorizes the use of autopen signatures could undermine public trust in the administration's decision-making processes.

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Conclusion and Takeaways

Ben Ferguson synthesizes the discussions by highlighting the broader implications of both stories:

• For the Mayoral Race: The nomination of a highly progressive candidate signals a potential realignment within the Democratic Party, driven by changing demographics and shifting voter priorities. This could have lasting effects on future elections and policy directions at both local and national levels.

• For Biden’s Autopen Use: The congressional probe underscores the ongoing concerns about executive oversight and the importance of transparency in governmental operations. Ensuring clarity in presidential authorization processes is crucial for maintaining accountability.

"The commentary about New York City Democrats nominating an anarchist socialist for mayor admits how unchecked migration fundamentally remade the New York City electorate. Democrats change politics by changing the voters." — [15:00] Ben Ferguson

Ferguson urges listeners to stay informed and critically evaluate the evolving political dynamics, emphasizing the need for vigilance in both electoral processes and executive governance.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Donald Trump on NYC Mayoral Candidate:
  "We've had radical lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous. He looks terrible, he's not very smart. He's got AOC plus three dummies all backing him." — [03:24]

• Ben Ferguson on Migration and Democratic Shift:
  "The Democratic Party is changing politics by changing the voters. That's how you turn a city that defined US Dominance into what we're witnessing right now." — [15:00]

• Neera Tanden on Autopen Signatures:
  "I do not know who ordered President Biden's auto pen signatures." — [15:33]

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This episode of The 47 Morning Update provides a comprehensive analysis of significant political developments, offering listeners in-depth insights into the transformations within the Democratic Party and the implications of executive actions in the Biden administration. By addressing these critical issues, Ben Ferguson ensures that his audience remains well-informed about the forces shaping America's future.

Transcript

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[Guest 2]

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[Ben Ferguson]

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

[Host]

Good Thursday morning. It's so nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And here are the two very big stories we have for you today. First up, Donald Trump warning america about a 100% communist lunatic that radicals in New York City have chosen to be their nominee to become the mayor. Just how dangerous is this individual? We'll break down what he believes in and why. Donald Trump is warning you that the Democratic Party is dead and the communists, Socialists and Marxists have taken over. Also, in shocking testimony before Congress that the media is not reporting on, a former Biden aide says, quote, she does not know who ordered President Biden's auto pen signatures will give you the details on what all she said to Congress and why this story is being hidden from you. But first, I gotta tell you there.

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[Host]

Story number one, President Trump weighing in on the New York City mayor's race where Mandani has had a big win. Who is he? As Trump described it, a 100% communist lunatic. The President calling the New York City mayoral primary a big moment in the history of our country. And why? Because of what is actually happening now. I've been saying for quite some time that I thought the Democratic Party was dead. It's actually filled with Marxists, socialists and communists, many of them too afraid to tell you the truth of who they are. So they claim they're a Democrat. But think back over the last 50 years. Look at the leaders of the Democratic Party. They were anti communist crusaders, in fact, even Catholic. And what did they do? Well, if you look at jfk, he was a man that wanted to actually take America to outer space to be first. Well, today it's a foreign born communist Muslim trans activist who says he wants to defund the police that the Democratic Party is advocating for. You have to ask yourself the question, how did we get to this point where there was so much decay? It's actually a pretty easy answer. Democrats change their voters by importing massive amounts of illegal immigrants from third world socialist and communist countries and then appealing to their extremist ideologies that they grew up under. They destroyed what the Democratic Party was. And now what you see is a Democratic Party that is dead and the Democrats are the ones that actually killed it. So what does this man actually believe? Well, he's a 33 year old Democratic socialist and a current state assemblyman in New York. He is an individual that believes in, quote, free public transit buses, along with freezing subway fares. And he also wants a rent freeze, taking away the rights of those that own property. He wants city run grocery stores in every bureau, taking away the private sector so you'll have what they have in Russia or Venezuela or any of the other socialists or communist countries around the world. He is demanding $30 minimum wage as well and higher taxes, saying it's time for the, quote, rich, you know, to pay their fair share. Increasing corporate tax plus a 2% city income tax surtax on all millionaires to fund what he describes as universal child care. He also wants there to be free transit and free housing. Now, if you're an opponent of these radical ideas like Donald Trump, then you argue simply this businesses are going to run for the hills, it's going to destabilize New York's economy. But that doesn't seem to matter to the socialists and the Marxists. And President Trump put it this way, on Truth Social quote, we've had radical lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous. He looks terrible, he's not very smart. He's got AOC plus three dummies all backing him. And even our great Palestinian senator crying Chuck Schumer is groveling over him. The Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, who's Jewish and is not of Palestinian heritage, and the House Majority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries. Now, they said, who cares? Both congratulating the radical socialists on Wednesday morning and vowed to meet with state lawmakers. Of course, they stopped short of, you know, endorsing him. So here's the bottom line. This man represents a rise, a dramatic shift towards a bold progressive agenda in New York. He's advocating sweeping reforms in transit, housing, taxation, social services, LGBTQ and trans health support that you, the taxpayer will for. And he's proposed 65 million in funding for that alone. Meanwhile. Yet he says he's not an extremist, he's just a man listening to the people. Well, when you import millions of illegal immigrants into New York, this is exactly what you get. The ideology is extreme and the Democratic Party is dead. I'll give you one example of what he had to say on msnbc. As he said, we built a campaign around one idea to make New York City affordable. Again, in translation, that means take from the rich and give free stuff to the poor that voted for him in the primary.

[Guest 1]

As I'm Sure. You know, you probably haven't consumed all of it, I suppose, but there's been a lot of analysis, a ton on what your success last night and in the last couple of weeks means nationally for the Democratic Party. Unquestionably, it means something about how people campaign. But what do you think it means?

[Guest 4]

I think it is part of a larger referendum on where our party goes. And I think one of the hopes that we had from the very beginning of this campaign was to move our political instinct from lecturing to listening. You know, at the national level. After the presidential election, we saw that New York was actually the state with the largest swing in the country towards Donald Trump, 11 and a half points. And that that swing took place far from the caricature of Trump voters, instead taking place in the hearts of immigrant New York City. And I went to those neighborhoods. I went to Fordham Road in the Bronx and Hillside Avenue in Queens and asked those New Yorkers, the vast majority of whom were Democrats, why they voted for Trump and what it would take to bring them back to the Democratic Party. And again and again, what I heard from them was cost of living was an inability to afford the very things they recalled being able to purchase four years ago. And when they told me what it would take, they said again and again a relentless focus on an economic agenda. And ultimately, in listening to them, we built a campaign that was explicitly about making the city affordable. And I think too often in politics, there's a desire to impose what you think the debate is upon the people that you're seeking to represent, as opposed to listening to the very issues that are making it difficult for them to keep calling the city that they love, the city that they live in.

[Host]

You look at all of what he just said there, and what you really have to go back to is that one statement, what I heard from them was cost of living was an inability to afford the very things they recall being able to purchase four years ago. So the response to that is, we're going to take from the rich and we're going to give to the poor. But what really got him across the finish line is this Stephen Miller at the White House putting this out on X saying, quote, to understand the pace and the scope of migration to America in the past years, one third of New York City is now foreign born. And almost two thirds of New York City children live in a foreign born household. Yes, they've imported new voters into New York City. This is how the Democratic Party is planning on changing the entire country. This is why they had open Borders. And this is why the Biden administration allowed radicals to come into this country. Or to put it another way, take a listen to Jesse Watters on Fox the Pursuit.

[Guest 1]

It wasn't just what he was selling, it was how he sold it. Jesse, he is very prolific on social media, especially TikTok, and his mother is a film producer. And many of his ads and the things that they put up on social media were very attractive. They had the merch, and it became like a vibe campaign, which helped put them over the edge.

[Guest 2]

Yeah, well, you can't blame the blacks and Hispanics. They voted for Cuomo. You got to blame the whites. They wanted communism, and they got it. They love communism in college. And then they graduated with no skills and $200,000 in debt, and they came into a city that's hard to get ahead with high prices. So they see this kid on TikTok talking about he's gonna soak the rich and he's gonna control prices, and they say, that's my guy. Okay, so he gets into the City hall, and then what? He's just gonna attack the country, Cops and capitalism? He's just gonna cause more crime and chaos. He's gonna turn the prisons inside out, and he's gonna turn Whole Foods into no foods. This is what happens when you let the wacky wing of the Democrat Party run wild. This is what the Democrat establishment's been trying to keep a lid on for decades, since Occupy Wall Street. Biden tried to keep a lid on it. Cuomo couldn't keep a lid on it. This is the Bernie Bro, Dave Hogg AOC faction that's now going to run wild all over the place. And you're basically giving this. I guess he's a Muslim communist from another country. City hall in the best city in the world. This is the financial capital of the world. It's the biggest city in America, and you're going to run a communist out. I thought I was right when I said we'd hit rock bottom with Bill de Blasio. I was wrong. And it takes a big man to admit they were wrong, but I was wrong. And so this guy is going to do his thing. And thank God I left for Jersey.

[Host]

The takeaway is this. And there's a big, important point and a warning for the rest of the country, a warning that Donald Trump brought up today. The commentary about New York City Democrats nominating an anarchist socialist for mayor admits how unchecked migration fundamentally remade the New York City electorate. Democrats change politics by changing the voters. That's how you turn a city that defined US Dominance into what we're witnessing right now.

[Ben Ferguson]

Now, story number two, there is a.

[Host]

Very important story that is getting virtually no coverage right now. So I hope all of you will share this information wherever you can. And that is the shocking admission by a former Biden aide announcing that she does not know who ordered President Biden's auto pin signatures. Neera Tanden, a former top aide to President Joe Biden, told Congress under oath that she had authorization to direct auto pin signatures for the president, but doesn't know who gave the final order. Tanden served as the director of Biden's Domestic Policy Council, and she told Congress during testimony that the president used an automatic signature tool allowing for aides to sign pardons, sign memos and other official documents. In the White House. Tandem said she did not know who authorized any of those signatures. During her interview before Congress, which lasted more than five hours, she told lawmakers that in her role as staff secretary and senior adviser to the former president between 2021 and 2023, that she was authorized to direct auto pin signatures on behalf of Biden. An oversight committee official has confirmed this now to Fox News. Tenen, who reportedly said during her testimony that she had, quote, limited interactions with Biden in her role, even though she was a senior advisor that, according to sources familiar with her testimony, described an approval process that left her at least partly in the dark about who specifically was giving final approval on the decisions to use the automatic signature tool, even though she simultaneously insisted, quote, biden was in charge. Tannen reportedly testified that to get approval for the use of auto pin signatures, she would send decision memos to members of Biden's inner circle. Now, remember, these are people elected by no one. She added that she was not aware of what actions or what approvals took place between the time she sent the decision memo and the time she received it back with the necessary approval. According to sources familiar with what happened in this testimony, a minority member of the oversight committee called Tandem's characterization, quote, a lie with a statement from a former White House staffer saying that they received, quote, a written sign off from Biden on every executive action she presented with him. The only problem is she's under oath and saying that's not how it went down at all. Any other characterization is a distortion of the testimony. The Biden former Biden official stated, quote, to insinuate that Neera Tandem said President Biden did not approve every single presidential decision and sign off on every executive action coming out of the White House is a lie. Well, she's saying that it's the truth. Tatum's attorney agreed with a staffer, adding that the auto pins were used after Biden approved the decisions, saying this in a cleanup statement. The auto pin was used only after President Biden personally approved the decision. Aides at no time signed these documents on President Biden's behalf. Again, that's not what her testimony was under oath. So just know this is the big story that we should be talking about. And also know that the media will not touch the fact that a former Biden aide does not know this is her testimony. Who ordered the President's auto pin signatures?

[Ben Ferguson]

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.

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[Ben Ferguson]

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