Podcast Summary: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Dehumanization—An Old Political Strategy for a New Radical Democratic Party

Release Date: September 17, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks)

Episode Overview

This episode tackles the charged subject of political dehumanization in America, focusing on how rhetoric from Democratic Party leadership and mainstream media is, according to Ben Ferguson, radicalizing young people and making political violence seem acceptable. Ben frames this discussion around the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, questioning how the country reached a point where a significant percentage of young Americans believe violence against political adversaries is justified. Through audio montages and direct quotes, he argues that the top Democratic figures and media have contributed to this climate by repeatedly likening conservative figures to Nazis, fascists, and existential threats.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Radicalization of Young Americans

• Statistical Claim: Ben cites a new poll indicating that 42% of America’s youngest generation now sees political violence as acceptable.

• Argument: This mindset, he claims, is the result of a “clear and coordinated effort by the left at the highest levels of the Democratic Party to radicalize a generation.”

• Comparison: Ben likens the alleged Democratic strategy to how terrorist groups and cartels exploit young people as “mules” for illicit activities.

  “[Democrats] started in on our young people at our college campuses, at our high schools, at our elementary schools years ago. And now we have gotten to a point where 42% of America's youngest generation believes that political violence, assassinations, burning of buildings is acceptable, warranted, needed part of society.” (13:20)

2. Dehumanization as a Political Tool

• Method: Ben explains that dehumanization is achieved through name-calling, desensitizing, and comparing political opponents to historical villains (Nazis, fascists, Hitler).

• Media’s Role: The media is accused of amplifying these narratives by giving prominent Democrats a platform without pushback.

• Case Study – Governor J.B. Pritzker: The Illinois Governor is highlighted as an example, with Ben playing archive audio/tweets where Pritzker draws parallels between Republicans, Donald Trump, and Nazi Germany.

  “You name call, you desensitize, you dehumanize.” (15:55)

3. Montage of Dehumanizing Rhetoric

Ben plays a series of direct quotes and tweet readings from high-profile Democratic politicians. These include:

• Comparing Trump to Hitler and Republicans to Nazis.
• Labeling the GOP as a fascist movement.
• Asserting that Trump supporters are threats to democracy.

Sample Quotes:

• Gov. J.B. Pritzker:

  “Everything that he has done has been tearing down constitutional democracy. And that's what happened in Nazi Germany … Indeed, the Nazis did it in 53 days. And our democracy is almost as fragile.” (17:10)

• Joe Biden:

  "Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic." (24:45)

• Unidentified Democratic Figure:

  "Trump has seemingly never met a dictator he doesn’t like. It’s some real dictator-type stuff. The American people will have to decide that they are the last in the line of defense against Donald Trump and American fascists." (26:40)

• Media Personalities / Allies:

  "Comparing the tactics of Donald Trump to Mussolini and Hitler is a very legitimate thing. We have Atimu Hitler in the White House right now." (28:10) "I've thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House." (29:03) "They're still going to have to go out and put a bullet in Donald Trump. And that's a fact." (29:15)

Ben points out that many of these statements remain accessible online or were made on national television without retraction or censure.

4. Causal Link to Political Violence

• Narrative: Ben contends that this sustained dehumanization directly influenced the assassin of Charlie Kirk, suggesting the shooter used justifications heard from mainstream Democratic rhetoric.

• Historical Analogy: The process is likened to historical examples of dehumanization preceding widespread violence.

• Generational Impact: He stresses that the “bad actors” in recent riots, looting, and violence are disproportionately from the younger generation—a product, in Ben’s view, of the rhetoric they’ve grown up with.

  “Never forget what the media and the left have done to this nation.” (32:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dehumanization Rhetoric:

  "The dangers that we saw in Nazi Germany, especially in the earliest days of, of Nazi Germany, are the dangers that we need to react to now. If we don't, things will get much, much worse."
  — Governor J.B. Pritzker, quoted by Ben (17:35)

• On Calls to Action and Violence:

  “There needs to be unrest in the streets for as long as there is unrest in our lives. And unfortunately, there's plenty to go around.” (28:35) “I'm just saying, I just don't even know why there aren't uprisings all over the country. Maybe there will be.” (28:55)

• Ben’s Summation:

  “That is how America got to the point where we had to witness the assassination attempt and the shooting of a President Donald J. Trump. This doesn't happen overnight. It happens when you chip away at what makes this country so great. When you chip away at people and you instill hate in the hearts of young people.” (30:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 13:15 – Introduction to topic: how dehumanization leads to political violence
• 15:00 – Comparison to terrorist group tactics/indoctrination
• 17:05 – Governor Pritzker’s historical rhetoric and tweets about Trump/Nazis
• 19:50–29:30 – Montage of Democratic politicians and media personalities using fascist/Nazi comparisons, calls for unrest, and violent imagery
• 30:50 – Ben’s final summation on the effects of dehumanization on society
• 32:15 – Episode concludes with a warning and call to remember the role of media and Democratic leadership

Tone & Language

Ben Ferguson delivers the episode with urgency and conviction, frequently invoking emotionally charged language ("dehumanize," "radicalize," "assassin," "indoctrinated"). His tone is direct and confrontational, frequently framing Democratic leadership and the media as deliberate actors responsible for a dangerous political climate.

Conclusion

This episode provides Ben Ferguson’s unfiltered perspective on the way dehumanization, conducted by Democratic officials and echoed by the media, allegedly provokes political violence among younger Americans. Through examples, montages, and sharp commentary, he builds a case for listeners that the current climate is neither accidental nor isolated—but the result of a long-term strategy from America’s left. He ends with a reminder to remain vigilant about the roots and rhetoric of political violence.