Comer furthers the Autopen Investigation plus Trump FAFO on Narco-Traffickers

Summary

Podcast Summary: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Comer Furthers the Autopen Investigation plus Trump FAFO on Narco-Traffickers
Date: September 6, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks/ iHeartRadio)

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Episode Overview

This episode of The 47 Morning Update dives into two major political stories:

1. The deepening House Oversight Committee investigation, led by Rep. James Comer, into President Joe Biden's alleged use of an autopen for signing critical presidential documents—raising profound questions about his mental fitness and who was truly in charge during his final days.
2. President Donald Trump's escalated military campaign against Latin American drug cartels, the designation of these cartels and Venezuela’s Maduro regime as terrorist organizations, and an unprecedented U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean.

Ben Ferguson offers his signature unfiltered commentary, delivers exclusive details from Washington insiders, and features compelling conversations with lawmakers, political refugees, and analysts.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Comer’s Autopen Investigation: Unprecedented Evidence and Stonewalling

[04:00 - 08:58]

• Background
  The House Oversight Committee is investigating whether key presidential legal decisions—including pardons and executive orders—were signed by President Biden himself or via autopen, and whether this points to deeper issues of accountability and cognitive decline in the White House.

• Testimony & Fifth Amendment

  • Comer reveals multiple Biden aides have stonewalled the investigation, with at least two high-level staff invoking the Fifth Amendment and others claiming minimal direct contact with the President.
  • “The public is concerned about unaccountable decision making within the White House. In other words, who was actually in charge?” – Ben Ferguson [05:54]
  • Testimonies show several aides admitting to limited direct involvement with Biden and a lack of clarity about who authorized autopen uses.

• Upcoming Key Witnesses

  • Forthcoming testimony includes former Deputy Assistant Andrew Bates, ex-Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, and former Chief of Staff Jeff Zients.

• Comer’s Claims on FOX

  “We're trying to get to the bottom of who was operating the autopen... Joe Biden really wasn't the one in command at the end of his presidency. That’s important because you’re talking about thousands of pardons and dozens of executive orders... without President Biden’s knowledge very clearly.”
  — Rep. James Comer [07:26]

• Ferguson’s Take

  • Ben emphasizes the “unprecedented levels of obfuscation” and frames the investigation as addressing what “so many Americans voted for”—greater White House accountability and transparency.
  • He cites deep concerns among Washington insiders about potential exposure and instability.

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2. Trump’s War on Narco-Traffickers: Military Escalation and Policy Shifts

[08:58 - 17:34]

• Trump’s Strategy

  • President Trump has massively ramped up the U.S. military presence in the southern Caribbean since late August to combat the drug cartels.
  • Deployments include 7-8 warships (cruisers, amphibious assault vessels, a nuclear-powered submarine), over 4,000 US personnel, surveillance aircraft, and spy planes.
  • Drug cartels (including Venezuela’s Cartel of the Suns) have been officially designated as terrorist organizations.

• Target: President Nicolás Maduro

  • The Trump administration raised the reward for Maduro’s capture to $50 million, labeling him a “narco-terrorist.”
  • Maduro’s response: Mobilization of troops, civilian militias, and claims of “gunboat diplomacy.” He frames the U.S. buildup as a pretext for regime change.

  • “Venezuela is confronting the biggest threat that has ever seen on our continent in the last hundred years... Venezuela won’t bow to threats and it was super prepared.”
    — President Nicolás Maduro (quoted by Ben Ferguson) [14:22]

• Venezuelan Opposition Voices

  • Interview features dissident Jorge Galicia and political commentator Franklin Camargo:
    • Galicia: “Venezuelan freedom fighters recognize that the Trump administration is probably one of the biggest allies... Maduro is not just a threat to South America, but to the American people.” [13:08]
    • Over 25% of the world’s cocaine is produced in Venezuela, supporting cartels and contributing to the American opioid crisis.
    • Political refugees express “silent euphoria” at the US military presence, hoping for regime change, but must be discreet due to danger under the Maduro regime.

• Policy Implications

  • Trump’s “war back in the war on drugs” includes the labeling of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, opening the path for military and intelligence action.

  • “That changes the battlefield. Cartel members become enemy combatants...”
    — Franklin Camargo [16:20]

  • Debate over tactics: Navy intercepting drug ships, special ops targeting cartel leaders, potential drone strikes in Mexico.

• Stats/Context

  • “Yet most cocaine goes through Mexico and it produces most of the fentanyl that killed more than 265,500 Americans during President Biden’s term.”
    — Camargo [16:57]

  • Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell: “It requires a whole of government effort... the Department of Defense will undoubtedly play an important role.” [17:34]

• Ferguson’s Conclusion

  • Ben underscores the urgency and the administration’s intent to “act now” to stem drug-related deaths and cartel violence, rather than waiting for allied nations.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Comer on Autopen Use:

  "We're trying to get to the bottom of who was operating the autopen... Joe Biden really wasn't the one in command at the end of his presidency."
  — Rep. James Comer [07:26]

• Ferguson on Cover-Up:

  “Representative Comer asserts he now has unprecedented evidence of a cover up involving the auto pen use and Biden's cognitive decline.” [05:49]

• Maduro's Defiance:

  "Venezuela is confronting the biggest threat that has ever seen on our continent in the last hundred years... Venezuela won’t bow to threats and it was super prepared.”
  — President Nicolás Maduro (quoted) [14:22]

• Galicia’s Perspective:

  "The Trump administration is probably one of the biggest allies... Maduro is not just a threat to South America...but also a threat to the American people.”
  — Jorge Galicia [13:08]

• Camargo on Policy Shift:

  "That changes the battlefield. Cartel members become enemy combatants and allow the use of military assets."
  — Franklin Camargo [16:20]

• Pentagon’s Commitment:

  "It requires a whole of government effort and... the Department of Defense will undoubtedly play an important role in meeting the President's objective to eliminate the ability of these cartels to threaten the territory, safety and the security of the United States and its people."
  — Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell [17:34]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:00] - Comer’s investigation into Biden and autopen use
• [06:30] - Comer’s interview on FOX and summary of committee strategies
• [08:58] - Shift to Trump’s anti-narco policy & military buildup
• [11:20] - Interviews with Venezuelan dissidents on reaction to U.S. deployment
• [13:08] - Discussion of the broader impact of Venezuela’s regime and cartels
• [15:54] - Analysis of the policy change: cartels as terrorist groups
• [17:34] - American policy aims and Pentagon’s future role

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Tone & Style

Ben Ferguson’s delivery is forthright, urgent, and infused with strong opinions. The episode blends in-depth reporting, exclusive interviews, and clear calls for accountability on both White House oversight and border security. The language is direct, with a lens on government transparency, national security, and the toll of the narcotics crisis.

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Summary

This episode of The 47 Morning Update gives listeners an inside look at two pivotal U.S. stories: the escalating questions over Biden’s actual decision-making power and the Trump administration’s dramatic shift in the U.S. war on drugs. Key takeaways include Comer's suggestion of a “cover-up” around White House operations, the unprecedented invocation of the 5th Amendment by Biden staffers, and the U.S. military’s readiness to confront narco-traffickers as national security threats, with Venezuela’s regime at the epicenter. Voices from inside and outside the U.S. share both stark warnings and a sense of hope in the face of ongoing political and criminal upheaval.

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Note: Ads, promos, and the closing segment on Eminem fandom were omitted for focus on episode content.

Transcript

[Ben Ferguson]

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[Ben Ferguson]

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

Good Saturday morning to you. Ben Ferguson with you. And these are some of the stories that you may have missed that we talked about this week on the 47 Morning Update. First up, big names coming to Capitol Hill as James Comer is also sharing what he described as unprecedented details surrounding the Biden auto pen investigation. What did he reveal? I have it all for you. Also, Donald Trump going after cartels who've been designated as terrorist organizations in a way we haven't seen in my lifetime. The United States has significantly ramped up its military presence in the southern Caribbean. And now there are seven to eight warships, including a nuclear powered submarine on top of thousands of US Military personnel. So what is this all about? I'm going to explain it to you. And why is Maduro terrified after we've upped the bounty on him as a narco terrorist? Terrace.

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[Ben Ferguson]

And it starts right now.

Story number one, the Joe Biden auto.

Pin investigation continues to heat up. The headlines describe exactly what the game plan is of those that were around Joe Biden and just how massive the COVID up actually is. Whether it's the AP saying, quote, joe Biden aid invokes fifth to decline testimony and investigation or the Guardian Republican leading inquiry into Biden's auto pin use has digitally signed letters or even the Daily Beast, James Comer announces new investigation into Biden over the use of the auto pen. Well, we now have new information as James Comer sat down with Fox News Sunday and here is part of what he had to say about the assessment that Biden staffers are deliberately refusing to answer questions about the auto pen use and provide an extraordinary levels of obfuscation. Now James Comer seems to be really hammering in on the facts and continuing to press the investigation into whether Biden used an auto pin to sign documents like pardons, raising major concerns about who may have truly been in charge during the final days, weeks or months of the Joe Biden presidency. Now in May of this year, Comer initiated a fresh probe. He issued letters to key aides, including many of those close to the president in non political roles, for example, like Biden's physician, Dr. Kevin O', Connor, and warning of subpoenas if they don't cooperate. Fast forward to June of this year. Testimony from several raised major red flags, some admitting limited direct interaction with Biden and no insight into the auto pin approval process, suggesting a total lack of transparency or oversight. And then the Fifth Amendment invocations continued. On July 16, a former aide to First Lady Jill Biden invoked the Fifth Amendment during his Oversight Committee appearance, becoming the second such individual in the probe to do so. Comer responded by stating that the public is concerned about unaccountable decision making within the White House. In other words, who was actually in charge? The bottom line is clear. Representative Comer asserts he now has unprecedented evidence of a cover up involving the auto pin use and Biden's cognitive decline. Now this is what he had to say on FOX Sunday morning. Take a listen.

This week, the House Oversight Committee is set to continue its investigation into Joe Biden's mental fitness during his presidency when former White House Deputy Assistant Andrew Bates sits down for an interview on Friday. Former White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre and former White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients are also slated to appear before the committee in coming weeks. Joining me now with more on his investigation into former President Biden in the chairman is the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Congressman James Comer. It's great to have you with us this morning. Welcome. I want to get the latest on the investigation, Congressman, but also what we've heard so far, key figures taking the fifth key figures that day after day said that Biden was totally fit and ready to do the job. Now saying, well, they really didn't spend that much time with him. The testimony doesn't add up with what we saw. Something is awry here.

[Congressman James Comer]

Yeah, something's definitely awry. Look, when you have Ian Sams, who was the face of the White House response to the very damaging report that said that Joe Biden was a forgetful old man, he was the face of the White House response to our investigation, Byron Donalds and myself as well as all the members of the House Oversight Committee when we found that China, China had in fact wired money to LLCs owned by Biden family members, he was the one that would always respond and say he talked to Joe Biden. Joe Biden was vibrant. Joe Biden did not do this. The family does it. And then come to find out when we put him under oath, he admits, well, I only saw Joe Biden two times over a two year period. That's unprecedented. We're trying to get to the bottom of who was operating the auto pen. I think what you're going to see is unless the, unless Jean Pierre and some of these others come in and you know, tell us more. It's becoming very apparent that Joe Biden really wasn't the one in command at the end of his presidency. And that's important because you're talking about thousands of pardons and dozens of executive orders that were signed with that auto pen. And it appears without President Biden's knowledge very clearly.

[Ben Ferguson]

James Comer sharing unprecedented details surrounding the Biden auto pin investigation and also what the White House is doing to hold people accountable as well. This is exactly what so many Americans voted for and why I think there's many in Washington right now in the deep state that are very concerned about what's happening.

Now. Story number two, President Donald Trump made.

It very clear when he was running for president and backing it up now that if you are in the drug trade, he considers you a dangerous individual that is a member of a terrorist organization and he's not going to allow Americans to die at the hands of fentanyl and other drugs that have been pouring into this country. Now lots of those drugs have been stopped because we have secured the border. But the president says that's not enough. And now we're seeing what is next on the president's agenda. The United States has significantly ramped up its military presence in the southern Caribbean. We are now learning. This started in late August and now into September as the U. S. Navy has deployed around seven to eight warships, including very large cruisers, amphibious assault vessels and at least one nuclear powered submarine. That's not all. More than 4,000 U.S. personnel, including about 2,200 marines are now operating in the area. This buildup includes surveillance aircraft and even a US Spy plane. We're being told the stated objective is actually very clear, combat drug cartels. And the Trump administration has framed this deployment as part of a broader campaign against Latin American drug trafficking and criminal networks. Officials have labeled Venezuelan President Maduro as a narco trafficker, boosting the reward for his capture now to $50 million and designating his alleged cartel of the Suns a terrorist organization. Maduro's reaction has been fierce. He's armed and mobilized and defiant. President Maduro taking strong countermeasures, deploying troops along the coast and Colombia border. He's also called on citizens to join civilian militias and warned he would, quote, constitutionally declare republic in arms if the US Forces attack. Maduro and other Venezuelan officials are now accusing the US of using anti drug rhetoric as a pretext for regime change and gunboat diplomacy. Here's more about the move from FOX News.

[Rachel (Interviewer)]

Well, the US Is deploying destroyers and thousands of Marines towards Venezuela. As President Trump looks to crack down on cartels and the Maduro regime, they could reportedly reach the country's coast as soon as tomorrow. Here to discuss is dissident, project speaker and an immigrant from Venezuela, Jorge Galicia, along with Prageru, political commentator and Venezuelan political refugee Franklin Camargo. So great to have you both on. I'm going to start with you, Jorge. What is the reaction of Venezuelans? I know you guys are in close contact with people who are living there right now. Over 70, 80% of the country voted for the opposition party against Maduro. How are they feeling in this moment knowing that these destroyers are coming so close to the Venezuelan coast?

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, first of all, Rachel, thank you for having me again. I think many people in Venezuela are extremely optimistic. They cannot really be loud about it.

[Political Commentator Franklin Camargo]

Because they are facing a terrible criminal regime.

[Rachel (Interviewer)]

Yeah, I spoke to one of the opposition activist who was holed up in that embassy for over a year before she was rescued. And I asked her and she said it's a silent euphoria. And so while they're quietly celebrating what President Trump is doing right now in Venezuela and frankly for the whole Western hemisphere, Franklin, meanwhile, Venezuelans who are living abroad are putting out the most remarkable TikTok Instagram videos I've ever seen. You were seeing the destroyers coming into the ocean and the planes coming over and YMCA playing. And just the euphoria from the dissident community who's abroad is so palpable and thankful to the administration. Give us more context to that.

[Jorge Galicia]

Yes, the Venezuelan people recognizes that the Trump administration is probably one of the biggest allies that freedom fighters, Venezuelan freedom fighters have had over the last 25 years, is someone who has recognized that Maduro is not just a threat to South America, it's not just a threat to Venezuelans, but it's also a threat to the American people. And I think this is the most important thing to mention right now. When we talk about Nicolas Maduro, when we talk about the Venezuelan regime, we're not just talking about a government that we dislike or a dictatorship, a soft dictatorship. We're talking about a narco state, a government that produced over 25% of the entire cocaine that is produced in the entire world. It's also a regime that sent Trendor Agua, the same criminal organization that killed, for example, Lakin Riley or that killed Jocelyn Nungaray. So there is a need for the American people, for the well being of the American people in the Western hemisphere to have a regime change to stop, to stop these cartels. But Venezuelans recognize that Trump is an ally, that the US Government is probably the biggest hope that we currently have.

[Ben Ferguson]

Now, you hear the stats there, and it's very clear that not only is this, in essence, a failed state, it's a state where the people rose up against Maduro and he just clung to power anyway. And now we know that he is nothing but a narco terrorist. It is a terrorist organization that he's a part of, and his money is coming directly from the cocaine that he is delivering to the world. Yet Venezuela's president is now accusing United States of seeking regime change in his country. And the military deployment that has happened now, it was authorized by President Trump in a simple effort to disrupt drug cartel activity. It's part of the White House, as they described it, his broader border policy. Maduro said the buildup is an intervention in his, quote, countries affairs, saying this to the people. They are seeking regime change through military threat. And that's what he also wants the rest of the world to believe. Maduro added, quote, venezuela is confronting the biggest threat that has ever seen on our continent in the last hundred years. And saying a situation like this has never been seen. Maduro said Venezuela won't bow to threats and that it was super prepared. Now, the Trump administration has accused again Maduro of engaging in drug trafficking, going so far as to announce that $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest and his convict. The $50 million, that is not a little amount of money when it comes to how much we're willing to pay as a nation. This is one of the biggest rewards we've ever had. Take a listen to this from Fox as well.

[Unidentified Guest]

People have wanted to do this for years.

[Political Commentator Franklin Camargo]

President Trump putting war back in the war on drugs, designating eight drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

[Ben Ferguson]

It allows us to now target what they're operating and to use other elements of American power, intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense, whatever, to target these groups. If we have an opportunity to do it, we have to start treating them as armed terrorist organizations, not simply drug dealing organizations.

[Political Commentator Franklin Camargo]

That changes the battlefield. Cartel members become enemy combatants and allow the use of military assets. The question is how? The Navy intercepting ships carrying narcotics, Special operations targeting cartel leaders, or drone strikes on drug labs in Mexico.

[Unidentified Guest]

Mexico probably doesn't want that, but we.

[Political Commentator Franklin Camargo]

Have to do what's right publicly. President Claudia Sheinbaum says Mexico will cooperate, but claims the US Plans no boots on the ground.

[Ben Ferguson]

It has nothing to do with Mexican territory. It has to do with their country. It does not involve our territory.

[Political Commentator Franklin Camargo]

Yet most cocaine goes through Mexico and it produces most of the fentanyl that killed more than 265,5000Americans during President Biden's term.

[Ben Ferguson]

These are armed organizations that have their own militaries. I absolutely believe that we need to take action.

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[Political Commentator Franklin Camargo]

But just because you don't hear about an operation doesn't mean it didn't happen. Now, one of the name cartels is the Venezuelan gang trend. Last week, the US slapped a $50 million bounty on President Nicolas Maduro, accusing him of using it to help traffic narcotics into the U.S. let's just stop.

[Ben Ferguson]

There for a second and also just recognize something that was said there. Under the Biden administration, more than a quarter million Americans died from fentanyl, an overdose from fentanyl. You think about that number and then you think about these cartels. They've engaged in historic violence and terror throughout our hemisphere and around the globe. They have destabilized the economies and internal security of countries while also flooding the United States with deadly drugs, violent criminals and vicious gangs. That is what the chief Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, said during a news conference this week. He also said this. It requires a whole of government effort and through coordination with regional partners, the Department of Defense will undoubtedly play an important role in meeting the President's objective to eliminate the ability of these cartels to threaten the territory, safety and the security of the United States and its people. As a matter of security and policy, we do not speculate on future operations. Now, what is very clear is the President saying, I'm not waiting around for nations to act. I'm going to act now because it's important that we protect and defend America's homeland and make sure that while he's present, another quarter million Americans don't lose their lives to fentanyl overdoses. And that doesn't count all of those that are killed by cartel members and the violent gangs that are in America as well.

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 on Monday morning.

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