The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Episode: FBI Director Kash Patel Fires Agents involved in GOP Phone Tracking Scheme & Letitia gets Indicted
Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson
Episode Overview
In this episode, Ben Ferguson presents two breaking political stories largely ignored or underexplored by mainstream media:
- FBI Director Kash Patel’s firing of FBI agents involved in the covert tracking of Republican lawmakers’ phone communications during special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation linked to Donald Trump.
- The indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James on federal bank fraud charges, examining reaction, alleged political motivations, and the ongoing debate about abuse of governmental power.
Ferguson delivers his signature blunt, unfiltered take, focusing on the "weaponization" of government agencies and bringing supposed Deep State misconduct into the open.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. FBI Director Kash Patel Fires Agents Over GOP Phone Tracking Scandal (05:35–10:53)
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Background:
Kash Patel, recently-appointed FBI Director, has fired several agents for their roles in tracking the phone records of eight Republican senators and one congressman. This was conducted as part of special counsel Jack Smith’s "sham" investigation into President Trump.- Involved lawmakers: Lindsey Graham, Marsha Blackburn, Ron Johnson, Josh Hawley, Cynthia Lummis, Bill Hagerty, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, and Rep. Mike Kelly.
- These phone records were reportedly acquired in 2023 via subpoenas to major telecoms, with the results hidden from public and internal scrutiny.
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Investigation Details:
- Patel claims the files were stashed in a "lockbox… in a vault in a cyber place where no one can see or search these files" (07:11), designed as "restricted access and prohibited access" to intentionally obscure their existence.
- Such concealment requires approval from the Attorney General and FBI Director.
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Patel’s Approach:
Using his experience from the Russiagate investigation, Patel says he systematically searched and "kicked down doors" (07:29) upon becoming director, exposing this buried evidence of politicized law enforcement.- Quote:
“When I got in as the FBI director, from my experience as Russiagate, I knew where to look and what rooms to open and what doors to kick down. And that's what we did. We found this information to expose the politicization by Jack Smith and the prior Department of Justice.” — Ben Ferguson, summarizing Patel (07:29)
- Quote:
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Calls for Accountability:
Senator Josh Hawley, whose records were tracked, demanded a special counsel:- Quote:
"We need a full investigation of all involved, who knew about it, who ordered it, and who approved it. Anyone and everyone who violated the law must be prosecuted. The way to save the country is to restore the rule of law." — Sen. Josh Hawley (09:51) - Emphasized that the investigation further undermined constitutional separation of powers and first amendment rights.
- Quote:
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Outlook:
Ferguson frames this as the start of a deep investigation aimed at full accountability and transparency, claiming this is the most reformative FBI era in US history (08:17). He asserts that the "Deep State" is being dismantled.
2. Letitia James Indicted on Bank Fraud Charges (10:53–17:35)
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Background:
New York Attorney General Letitia James, famous for her relentless legal pursuits against Donald Trump, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia for alleged mortgage fraud. -
Alleged Crimes:
- Falsifying mortgage and property documents to obtain better financing, including:
- Misrepresenting a Virginia property as her primary residence
- Falsifying unit count on a Brooklyn multifamily building
- Submitting a mortgage application claiming her father as a spouse (12:14)
- These actions, if proven, would constitute straightforward bank/mortgage fraud.
- Falsifying mortgage and property documents to obtain better financing, including:
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DOJ Involvement:
The case is handled by Trump-appointed US attorney Lindsey Halligan, who replaced Eric Siebert (ousted for reluctance to pursue politically sensitive cases). -
James’ Response:
She framed the charges as pure political retribution by President Trump:- Quote:
“This is nothing more than a continuation of the president's desperate weaponization of our justice system. He is forcing federal law enforcement agencies to do his bidding all because I did my job as a New York state attorney general. These charges are baseless, and the president's own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost.” — Letitia James (13:26)
- Quote:
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Media Reaction:
Ferguson critiques mainstream outlets—particularly CNN—for focusing on the supposed political motivations behind the indictment rather than the alleged crimes themselves (15:35).- Jake Tapper (CNN) lays out the indictment’s political context, referencing James' prior prosecutions against Trump and connecting it to a potentially retaliatory push from the Trump administration. (14:25)
- Adam Kinzinger (ex-GOP Congressman) adds a nuanced view, criticizing James' campaign rhetoric (“I'm going to go after [Trump]”) but also acknowledging the likely retaliatory intent of the prosecution.
- Quote:
“Letitia James never should have made those comments. She never should have run on, ‘I'm going to go after him’ before she's seen the evidence, before she's had anything. That was wrong—not illegal, but wrong. … [But] they went after her specifically for retribution….” — Adam Kinzinger (16:22)
- Quote:
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Ferguson's Take:
He calls it “weird leftist logic” to excuse James’ actions on grounds of presumed political motivation, and frames this as a long-awaited reversal: those who weaponized the system are now facing consequences.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On the FBI Files Concealment:
“Put that lock box in a vault and then put that vault in a cyber place where no one can see or search these files. … That takes the authorization of the attorney General and the director of the FBI. So not only did they weaponize this law enforcement… we found this information to expose the politicization by Jack Smith and the prior Department of Justice.”
— Ben Ferguson, quoting Kash Patel (07:11) -
Senator Hawley’s Demand:
“We need a full investigation of all involved, who knew about it, who ordered it, and who approved it. Anyone and everyone who violated the law must be prosecuted. The way to save the country is to restore the rule of law.”
— Ben Ferguson, citing Hawley (09:51) -
Letitia James' Defense:
"This is nothing more than a continuation of the president's desperate weaponization of our justice system… These charges are baseless…"
— Letitia James (13:26) -
Adam Kinzinger’s Double-edged Critique:
“Letitia James never should have made those comments… But... they went after her specifically for retribution… I think we can hold… both things are true. Letitia James never should have said that… and also they are going after her for one reason, because it's her.”
— Adam Kinzinger (16:22)
Important Timestamps
- [05:35] – Start of FBI phone tracking story
- [07:11] – Details on lockbox concealment of evidence
- [09:51] – Senator Hawley's quoted response, calls for accountability
- [10:53] – Transition to Letitia James indictment story
- [13:26] – Letitia James’ public statement defending herself
- [14:25] – CNN’s Jake Tapper coverage and framing
- [16:22] – Adam Kinzinger’s analysis and critique
Tone and Style
Ben Ferguson maintains a direct, confrontational, and unapologetically partisan tone throughout. He emphasizes mainstream media bias, references the "deep state," and champions transparency and accountability for those he claims weaponized governmental powers. The episode mixes factual recitation (charges, investigations) with pointed editorializing against perceived political hypocrisy.
Summary
This episode delivers two major breaking stories absent from most mainstream coverage:
- FBI Director Kash Patel’s firing of agents involved in secret surveillance of GOP lawmakers amid the Trump special counsel probe. Ferguson applauds this as a blow against Deep State overreach and political weaponization.
- The indictment of anti-Trump prosecutor Letitia James for mortgage fraud. Ferguson frames this both as overdue accountability and a test of media, legal, and political double standards.
Throughout, Ferguson draws sharp contrasts between how accusations are handled based on political alignment, using direct quotes and media reactions to underscore his points and urge listeners to “share the real story.”