Summary of "FBI Raided Biden's Office...And They Forgot To Mention It!" Episode of The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Release Date: February 1, 2023

In this episode of The 47 Morning Update, host Ben Ferguson engages in a rigorous discussion with Senator Ted Cruz, focusing on recent developments surrounding the Biden administration, FBI raids on President Joe Biden's offices, media transparency, allegations involving Hunter Biden, and controversies surrounding Biden's judicial nominees. The conversation delves deep into political maneuvers, media accountability, and the implications of these events on American politics.

1. FBI Raids on Biden's Offices

The episode kicks off with revelations about FBI raids on President Biden's offices, specifically the Penn Biden Center, which went undisclosed until recently. Ben Ferguson introduces Senator Ted Cruz, who elaborates on the situation:

• Ben Ferguson [00:00]: Opens the discussion by highlighting the unexpected nature of the FBI raids being reported by CBS News with their distinctive breaking news jingle.

• Senator Ted Cruz [00:31]: Confirms that the FBI searched the Penn Biden Center in mid-November following the discovery of approximately ten classified documents from Biden's vice presidency. Notably, the search was conducted without a warrant and with Biden's representatives' cooperation.

• Ben Ferguson [01:01]: Expresses skepticism about Biden's promise of a transparent administration, pointing out the lack of prior disclosure about the FBI search.

• Senator Ted Cruz [01:17]: Criticizes the administration's handling of document discoveries, comparing the situation to a "bad 1970s sitcom" with constant revelations of documents in various Biden-associated locations. He accuses the FBI and DOJ of leaking negative information about Donald Trump while withholding similar information on Biden to avoid disrupting the election.

2. Transparency and Media Coverage

The conversation shifts to the Biden administration's claims of transparency versus the perceived lack thereof:

• Ben Ferguson [02:39]: Challenges the administration's narrative that the FBI searches were not raids and emphasizes the deceptive portrayal of these actions as non-invasive.

• Senator Ted Cruz [03:24]: Rebukes the administration's semantic distinctions, asserting that any FBI search constitutes a raid regardless of procedural nuances. He accuses the DOJ and White House of deliberately withholding information to maintain a favorable image.

• Ben Ferguson [05:08]: Observes the media's frustration, particularly CNN's irritation with the White House's lack of transparency, suggesting that the media feels misled.

• CNN Reporter Clip [06:58 - 07:22]: A CNN reporter questions the White House spokesperson about additional classified documents found during the FBI search.

• White House Spokesperson [07:22]: Responds by deflecting detailed comments to the Justice Department, emphasizing cooperation and citing a poll indicating public approval of Biden's handling of the situation.

• Ben Ferguson [08:08]: Plays up CNN's criticism, highlighting the administration's contradictory stance on transparency.

• Senator Ted Cruz [09:03]: Points out discrepancies in poll data, showing a decline in public trust towards Biden, contradicting the administration's claims of unaffected approval ratings.

3. Hunter Biden Emails and Allegations of Corruption

The discussion transitions to allegations involving Hunter Biden and potential misuse of classified information:

• Ben Ferguson [12:41]: Recalls a previous episode discussing an email from Hunter Biden to Devon Archer regarding a job in Ukraine with Burisma, suggesting the possibility of classified document involvement.

• Senator Ted Cruz [14:11]: Questions the credibility of President Biden's statements about not knowing about a special counsel investigating him, presenting a dichotomy between Biden's potential cognitive decline and deliberate dishonesty.

• Ben Ferguson [15:44]: Agrees with Cruz's assessment, reinforcing the likelihood of deception.

• Senator Ted Cruz [16:15]: Explains the gravity of Biden's potential unawareness about the special counsel, comparing it to historical figures unlikely to claim ignorance about significant legal matters.

• Ben Ferguson [26:21]: Updates listeners on another story about Biden's judicial nominee lacking basic constitutional knowledge, setting the stage for further discussion.

4. Biden's Judicial Nominee Controversy

A significant portion of the episode examines the qualifications of a Biden judicial nominee who failed to answer fundamental constitutional questions:

• Ben Ferguson [26:21]: Introduces the story of Biden's judicial nominee who was unable to answer basic questions about the U.S. Constitution during a Senate hearing.

• Senator Ted Cruz [28:18]: Plays an audio clip of the nominee's inability to answer questions about Article 2 and Article 5 of the Constitution, highlighting the nominee's lack of essential legal knowledge.

• Senator Ted Cruz [29:29]: Breaks down the constitutional articles in question:

  • Article 5: Details the process for amending the Constitution.
  • Article 2: Establishes the Executive Branch, including the presidency.
  • Article 3: Establishes the Judicial Branch.

  Cruz emphasizes the nominee's lack of understanding as a failure in constitutional education, rendering her unfit for a federal judgeship.

• Senator Ted Cruz [33:05]: Criticizes Senator Dick Durbin and other Democrats for supporting the nominee despite her qualifications, comparing the situation to past instances where judicial nominees lacked necessary expertise.

• Senator Ted Cruz [35:02 - 35:20]: Compares the current nominee to a previous Trump judicial nominee, Matthew Peterson, who similarly struggled with basic legal questions, illustrating a pattern of unqualified nominees being pushed through partisan lines.

• Senator Ted Cruz [37:50]: Concludes by challenging Democrats to hold their nominees to higher standards, criticizing their reluctance to acknowledge and rectify the shortcomings in their judicial appointments.

5. Concluding Remarks and Upcoming Developments

As the episode draws to a close, Senator Cruz teases upcoming actions and reinforces the need for accountability:

• Senator Ted Cruz [42:35]: Announces an upcoming markup in the judiciary committee, intending to hold Democratic committee members accountable for their lack of constitutional knowledge.

• Ben Ferguson [43:16]: Encourages listeners to stay tuned for updates and reiterates the podcast's commitment to informing the public on these critical issues.

• Senator Ted Cruz [43:18]: Expresses confidence that Democratic committee members are unaware of the podcast, underscoring the challenge ahead in promoting transparency and accountability.

Key Takeaways:

1. Allegations of Non-Transparent FBI Raids: The Biden administration is accused of conducting undisclosed FBI raids on President Biden's offices without obtaining search warrants, raising questions about transparency and potential misuse of power.

2. Media Accountability: The episode highlights frustrations with mainstream media outlets, particularly CNN, for feeling misled by the White House's lack of openness regarding sensitive investigations.

3. Hunter Biden's Involvement: Discussions suggest that Hunter Biden may have leveraged classified information from his father's vice presidency for personal business gains, potentially implicating both Hunter and Joe Biden in corruption.

4. Judicial Nominee Qualifications: A Biden-nominated judge's inability to answer basic constitutional questions sparks criticism of the Democratic Party's vetting process and raises concerns about the quality of judicial appointments under Biden's administration.

5. Political Accountability: Senator Cruz emphasizes the need for higher standards and accountability within the Democratic Party, particularly in roles that require deep constitutional and legal understanding.

Notable Quotes:

• Senator Ted Cruz [01:17]: “This is a bad 1970s sitcom where every day another screw up happens.”

• Ben Ferguson [02:39]: “They are hiding everything. They're refusing to answer questions, which means I can promise you there will be new news on this next week.”

• Senator Ted Cruz [14:11]: “If he's telling the truth, and I actually think there's a very real possibility he's telling the truth when he says, I don't know about the special counsel... If he does know, then option number two, which ironically is the less damning option, is he's just blithely lying to the press.”

• Senator Ted Cruz [28:34]: “For a first-year law student to not know what Article 2 of the Constitution is, you would flunk constitutional law.”

• Senator Ted Cruz [35:02]: “How many, how many depositions?... Less than 5.”

• Senator Ted Cruz [37:50]: “The special counsel needs to investigate... did Hunter Biden's email cut and paste and copy from that briefing?”

Conclusion:

This episode of The 47 Morning Update provides a critical examination of the Biden administration's actions concerning FBI raids, media relations, and judicial appointments. Through incisive dialogue between Ben Ferguson and Senator Ted Cruz, listeners gain insight into the perceived lack of transparency, potential misuse of classified information, and the broader implications for American political integrity. The discussions underscore the urgent need for accountability and higher standards within the administration and its affiliated bodies.