Podcast Summary: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode Title: Hunter ADMITS it's his laptop, China holds an American hostage, Blocking SPR sales to China & Getting Newsmax back on the air
Release Date: February 3, 2023
Host: Ben Ferguson
Produced by: Premiere Networks

Introduction

In this episode of The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson, host Ben Ferguson engages in a comprehensive discussion with Senator Ted Cruz. The conversation delves into several pressing political issues, including the controversy surrounding Hunter Biden's laptop, the plight of an American hostage in China, legislative efforts to block strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) sales to China, and the recent removal of Newsmax from DirecTV. The episode provides unfiltered insights, critical commentary, and in-depth analysis of these topics, aiming to shed light on matters often overlooked or misrepresented by mainstream media.

1. Hunter Biden's Laptop Controversy

a. The Legitimacy and Implications of the Laptop

• Discussion Initiation (00:00 - 01:07):

  • Ted Cruz opens the dialogue by addressing the contentious issue of Hunter Biden's laptop. He humorously remarks on the possibility of being sued by Hunter Biden, mentioning, "I think it'd be hysterical to get sued by Hunter Biden" (00:00).
  • Ben Shapiro clarifies his position, stating, "I do not have Hunter's laptop. I've never seen it" (00:22), emphasizing that his knowledge is based on secondhand information.

• Senator Cruz's Perspective (01:12 - 04:13):

  • Cruz criticizes media portrayals that sympathize with Hunter Biden, arguing that Hunter is a 54-year-old man leveraging his father's name for personal gain. He states, "This is someone who is trading off his father's name, who wouldn't have a business without his father's name" (05:00).
  • Ben Shapiro highlights a letter sent by Hunter Biden's legal team to the Department of Justice (02:09), urging prosecutions of individuals involved with the laptop, including "Steve Bannon" and "Rudy Giuliani" (02:07). He underscores the potential partisan bias, noting, "He has a whole list of people that he wants. Please begin criminal charges" (02:09).

b. Media's Handling of the Laptop Issue

• Critique of Media Spin (05:52 - 09:42):
  • Gayle King, an MSNBC host, is quoted saying, "The political thing is more opaque to me. And Hunter Biden is of singular obsessive" (05:52), to which Shapiro responds by criticizing the media's deflection tactics.
  • Ben Shapiro asserts that defending Hunter Biden's actions by citing his addiction is a strategic move to divert attention from potential corruption involving President Joe Biden. He emphasizes, "The reason this matters is because of Joe Biden's potential corruption" (08:19).

c. Washington Post's Fact-Checking Controversy

• Dispute Over Email Content (10:02 - 12:28):
  • Ben Shapiro discusses being fact-checked by Glenn Kessler of the Washington Post, who awarded them "three Pinocchios" for not being able to prove the authenticity of Hunter Biden's emails.
  • Shapiro challenges the Washington Post's authority to verify classified materials, lamenting, "If it ends up being proven that they did come from those briefings, I look forward to the Washington Post formal retraction, which they won't do" (11:30).

2. Media's Treatment of Hunter Biden

a. Sympathy vs. Scrutiny

• Media Sympathy Critique (04:13 - 09:42):
  • Gayle King advocates for empathy towards Hunter Biden, attributing his actions to his struggles with addiction: "They say Hunter Biden is seeking help for his addiction" (05:52).
  • Ted Cruz counters this narrative by emphasizing Hunter's autonomy and business dealings, arguing that "this is a 54-year-old man" and his actions are not merely a case of a political offspring's struggles.

b. Implications for Joe Biden

• Linking Hunter's Actions to Potential Corruption (06:26 - 09:42):
  • Ben Shapiro connects Hunter Biden's business dealings with foreign entities to potential corruption involving his father, President Joe Biden. He states, "Hunter Biden for years made a living, made millions of dollars. This wasn't a small, little, little thing" (07:19).

3. American Hostage in China: Mark Sweden

a. Mark Sweden's Ordeal

• Background and Imprisonment (19:52 - 31:08):
  • Ben Shapiro narrates the harrowing story of Mark Sweden, an American from Texas who was abducted by China's Public Security Bureau in 2012. He details the lack of evidence against Sweden and the severe conditions he endured, including physical abuse and denial of religious materials.
  • Shapiro introduces a Senate resolution aimed at securing Sweden's release, emphasizing the coordinated effort with Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Cloud.

b. Legislative Efforts and Advocacy Strategies

• Public vs. Private Advocacy (24:55 - 31:08):
  • Ben Shapiro discusses the strategic considerations in advocating for hostages, balancing public attention with the potential impact on negotiations.
  • He shares a personal anecdote about Miriam Ibrahim, a woman imprisoned in Sudan, illustrating the effectiveness of public advocacy in securing her release through heightened media attention.

c. United Nations' Involvement

• Supporting Actions by International Bodies (30:07 - 31:08):
  • Shapiro highlights the United Nations' Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's stance on Mark Sweden's imprisonment, calling it a violation of international law and human rights. He expresses optimism that Secretary of State Tony Blinken's upcoming trip to China will prioritize Sweden's release.

4. Blocking Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) Sales to China

a. Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation

• Cruz-Shapiro Collaboration (32:03 - 33:24):
  • Ben Shapiro announces the introduction of a bipartisan bill, co-authored with Senator Joe Manchin, aimed at prohibiting the sale of oil from the SPR to Communist China. He refers to it as the "Cruz Manchin bill."
  • The bill enjoys support from five Democrats, signaling unprecedented cooperation on this issue.

b. Legislative Goals and Implications

• Aiming to Reduce Dependence on China (32:17 - 34:09):
  • Shapiro explains that the legislation seeks to "make it illegal for the federal government to sell oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Communist China" (32:17).
  • Ted Cruz inquires about the potential impact on the White House, to which Shapiro responds that while the legislation restricts sales to China, it doesn't entirely curb presidential powers over SPR, indicating room for further legislative action.

5. Newsmax Removed from DirecTV

a. The Removal and Its Implications

• Letter to DirecTV (35:30 - 37:50):
  • Ben Shapiro, now the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, discusses a letter co-authored with Senator Lindsey Graham addressing DirecTV's removal of Newsmax from its platform.
  • The letter questions whether the removal was politically motivated, suggesting potential censorship of conservative media: "Any company that gets this letter, they're gonna take it seriously" (35:30).

b. DirecTV's Response and Media Censorship Concerns

• Negotiations and Allegations (37:46 - 43:02):
  • Shapiro outlines the circumstances leading to Newsmax's removal, including negotiations over content fees and allegations that DirecTV favors liberal channels with lower ratings over Newsmax.
  • He emphasizes the importance of media diversity, stating, "If you disagree with what Newsmax says... the best cure for bad speech is more speech" (41:00).

c. Call for Transparency and Accountability

• Demanding Clear Responses (39:42 - 43:02):
  • The Senate Commerce Committee seeks transparency from DirecTV regarding their decision-making process and any communications with Democratic politicians or the White House.
  • Shapiro advocates for consumer choice in media consumption, arguing against the silencing of channels based on political bias.

Conclusion

In this episode, The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson provides a critical examination of significant political controversies and legislative actions. From scrutinizing the legitimacy and media portrayal of Hunter Biden's laptop to advocating for the release of an American hostage in China, the discussion underscores the importance of transparency, accountability, and bipartisan cooperation in addressing national and international issues. Additionally, the episode highlights the challenges faced by conservative media outlets in maintaining their presence amidst allegations of censorship, emphasizing the need for diverse media voices in the public discourse.

Listeners are encouraged to engage actively by contacting their representatives, sharing information on critical issues, and supporting legislative efforts aimed at promoting transparency and safeguarding American interests both domestically and abroad.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ted Cruz on Hunter Biden’s laptop:

  • "I think it'd be hysterical to get sued by Hunter Biden." (00:00)
  • "This is someone who is trading off his father's name, who wouldn't have a business without his father's name." (05:00)

• Ben Shapiro on legal actions against individuals involved with the laptop:

  • "He wants Steve Bannon prosecuted. He wants Rudy Giuliani prosecuted." (02:07)

• Gayle King on media’s portrayal of Hunter Biden:

  • "We keep hearing about transparency, but then hear stories like this. So it does raise even more questions." (13:42)

• Ben Shapiro on Washington Post’s fact-checking:

  • "If it ends up being proven that they did come from those briefings, I look forward to the Washington Post formal retraction, which they won't do." (11:30)

• Ben Shapiro on Mark Sweden’s case:

  • "Intersection between Hunter and Joe. She's being a flack right there. She's saying, it's all about Hunter and his addiction." (08:19)
  • "Mark was being held in violation of customary international law and international norms and in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." (31:08)

• Ben Shapiro on strategic oil reserves legislation:

  • "Make it illegal for the federal government to sell oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Communist China." (32:17)

• Ben Shapiro on Newsmax's removal from DirecTV:

  • "The goal is also one of the things I ask for is any communication they've had or their corporate owners have had with Democrat members of Congress or with the White House or with the administration." (35:50)

• Ben Shapiro on media censorship:

  • "If you disagree with what Newsmax says or OAN says, or Fox News says, there's a remedy for that, you can say you disagree with it. The best cure for bad speech is more speech." (41:00)

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the multifaceted discussions and key insights presented in the episode, offering listeners a clear and structured overview of the critical issues addressed by Ben Ferguson and Senator Ted Cruz.