The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson: Canada & Mexico Submit to Trump-Vow to Help Secure Border & Stop the Flow of Drugs

Release Date: February 4, 2025

In this episode of The 47 Morning Update, host Ben Ferguson delves into significant developments concerning President Donald Trump's administration, focusing on border security, international relations, and federal agency reforms. The discussion is structured around three primary stories: the successful negotiation with Canada and Mexico on border security and drug trafficking, the shutdown of USAID due to alleged waste and abuse, and controversies surrounding New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy's stance on immigration.

1. Trump's Victory: Canada and Mexico Concede to Border Security Demands

Ben Ferguson opens the episode by highlighting a substantial triumph for President Trump. Initially perceived by the mainstream media as a potential economic misstep, Trump's imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico swiftly transformed into a strategic win within less than 36 hours.

• Canadian Response: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to a 30-day pause on tariffs, committing to a $1.3 billion investment in border security and the appointment of a fentanyl czar to combat drug trafficking. Ferguson emphasizes, “This was a massive victory to save lives in America” (Ben Ferguson, [02:30]).

• Mexican Response: Mexico matched Canada’s concession by deploying 10,000 military personnel to bolster border security and intensify efforts against fentanyl smuggling. Tom Homan, discussing the Mexican president’s commitment, states, “That is not a pathway to making Americans worse off. That's a pathway to making Americans better off” ([03:29]).

• Media Critique: Ferguson criticizes the media for misrepresenting Trump's actions as reckless, asserting that the tariffs served as an effective negotiating tool for enhancing national security and establishing favorable trade conditions. He remarks, “Donald Trump was leveraging tariffs for national security” ([04:14]).

The episode underscores the administration's adept use of economic measures to address critical issues, positioning Trump's approach as both strategic and beneficial for American interests.

2. Shutdown of USAID: Exposing Waste and Abuse

The second major topic centers on the Trump administration's aggressive stance against what it perceives as inefficiency and ideological drift within USAID.

• Caller and Elon Musk's Critique: A caller expresses frustration with USAID, labeling it a “radical left lunatic filled organization wasting taxpayer dollars” ([00:00]). Elon Musk is quoted criticizing USAID’s expenditures on programs he views as frivolous, such as funding for DEI initiatives and transgender-themed cultural projects across various countries ([07:34]).

• Administrative Actions: In response, USAID staff received directives to operate remotely, effectively shutting down the agency's D.C. headquarters. Ben Ferguson details, “Staffers with the U.S. agency for International Development were actually ordered... to work remotely” ([06:19]).

• Exposing 'The Receipts': Ferguson lists specific instances of alleged waste, including funds allocated to DEI programs in Serbia, a DEI musical in Ireland, a transgender opera in Colombia, and a transgender comic book in Peru. He questions the accountability of fund allocation, suggesting potential misappropriation ([08:17]).

• Elon Musk’s Involvement: Musk is portrayed as a key figure tasked by Trump to eliminate fraud and misuse within federal agencies, signaling a broader initiative to reclaim taxpayer money from what the administration considers unnecessary or ideologically driven expenditures.

This segment reflects the administration's commitment to fiscal responsibility and ideological alignment within federal programs, aiming to rectify what it deems as entrenched inefficiencies and misplaced priorities.

3. Controversy Surrounding Governor Phil Murphy's Immigration Stance

The final story addresses New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy's contentious remarks regarding illegal immigration, highlighting the ongoing partisan divide on immigration policies.

• Governor Murphy's Comments: In a gathering with liberal supporters, Murphy allegedly stated, “there's someone in our broader universe whose immigration status is not yet at the point that they are trying to get it to...[We] let her live at our house above our garage” ([10:36]).

• Immediate Backlash: Following the viral spread of the video, Murphy's staff retracted his statements, claiming he was misinterpreted and denying that he was sheltering an illegal immigrant ([11:35]).

• Tom Homan’s Response: On Sean Hannity's show, Homan vows to investigate and potentially prosecute Murphy if the allegations are proven true, stating, “If he's bluffing. If he's not, we'll deal with that” ([11:18]).

• Ferguson's Analysis: Ferguson criticizes Murphy's actions as emblematic of Democratic defiance against Trump's immigration policies, suggesting that such behavior undermines law and order and sets a troubling precedent for state-federal relations on immigration enforcement.

This narrative underscores the heightened tensions between state governors and the federal administration over immigration enforcement, illustrating the broader ideological battles shaping U.S. policy.

Conclusion

Ben Ferguson wraps up the episode by reiterating the administration's successes in securing border agreements with Canada and Mexico, addressing federal agency inefficiencies, and confronting opposition from Democratic leaders on immigration policies. He encourages listeners to subscribe for continued coverage and in-depth analysis of the pressing issues facing America.

Notable Quotes:

• Elon Musk: “I don't know about you, but as an American taxpayer, I don't want my dollars going towards this crap. And I know the American people don't either.” ([00:07])

• Tom Homan: “Now actually I was in the air. I talked to the President very briefly about this...” ([03:29])

• Ben Ferguson: “Donald Trump was leveraging tariffs for national security.” ([04:14])

• Tom Homan: “If he's normally, normally harboring, concealing an illegal alien. That's a Violation of Title 8, United States Code 1324.” ([11:18])

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and viewpoints presented in the episode, providing listeners and non-listeners alike with a clear understanding of the topics covered and the perspectives offered by Ben Ferguson and his guests.