The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: ICE Ramps Up Charter Flights plus Eighth Amendment Victory & Over 1M Illegal Aliens in Swing States
Date: August 25, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks)

Overview

This episode of The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson focuses on three major political stories:

1. The Trump administration’s acceleration of deportations and ICE charter flights,
2. A New York court's reversal of a major financial penalty against Donald Trump on Eighth Amendment grounds,
3. Detailed claims about illegal immigration’s impact on swing states under the Biden administration.

Ben Ferguson delivers his signature unfiltered and combative commentary, promising to bring listeners what he sees as underreported or misrepresented truths behind recent U.S. political developments.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. ICE Deportations Ramped Up Under Trump

[05:13 – 08:33]

• Deportation Rates Up:
  Ferguson highlights that the Trump administration is on pace to deport 400,000 illegal immigrants in its first year, citing The New York Times. This marks a significant rise from the previous year's 271,000 deportations.
• Operational Expansion:
  ICE is now running about twelve charter planes daily for deportations and detainee transfers—double the number from January, and has opened at least 50 new detention centers since Trump took office.
• Project “Homecoming” & Incentives:
  The administration’s “Project Homecoming” offers incentives for voluntary departures, but also aggressive enforcement for others.
• Political Framing:
  Ferguson frames increases as "promises made, promises kept," lauding Trump’s approach and interpreting outward criticism from The New York Times and immigration advocates as validation of the administration’s effectiveness.
• Comparison with Previous Administration:
  Ben repeatedly contrasts Trump’s policies with those under Joe Biden, promising that “what happened under Joe Biden will never happen again.”

Quote:
“The Trump administration is deporting about 1,500 people per day and is on track to deport more than 400,000 people in his first year in office. The New York Times is now reporting. Now, of course, they're criticizing the president for doing it. That's how you know the president's doing a damn good job.”
— Ben Ferguson (05:18)

2. Eighth Amendment Victory in Trump’s New York Case

[08:34 – 13:11]

• Court Decision:
  A New York appeals court overturned a $500M civil fraud penalty assessed against Donald Trump, determining it to be an “egregious” and “excessive” fine that violated the Eighth Amendment.
• Attorney General Letitia James Targeted:
  Ferguson criticizes James for what he sees as a political vendetta, referencing her previous campaign promises to pursue Trump and her fundraising efforts linked to legal actions against him.
• Court Details:
  The appellate ruling maintained findings of fraud but struck down the large financial penalty, with notable dissent from Justice David Friedman who believed the entire case was politically motivated.
• Implications:
  The victory is described as a blow to Democrats and a sign of “real justice,” while Ferguson highlights continuing debates about political abuse of prosecution powers.

Quote:
“This was egregious, it was an excessive fine that clearly violates the 8th amendment.”
— Ben Ferguson (08:56)

Quote:
"Friedman wrote that James' true aim was political... ending with the derailment of President Trump's political career and the destruction of his real estate business."
— Ben Ferguson (10:59)

3. Illegal Aliens ‘Packed’ Into Swing States Under Biden

[13:13 – 18:13]

• Population Increases:
  Pew Research Center estimates are cited, suggesting over a million illegal immigrants moved into swing states between 2021–2023, with Texas alone gaining 450,000.
• State-By-State Breakdown:
  Ferguson lists changes state by state, e.g., Florida (+700,000), Georgia (+100,000), Pennsylvania and Michigan (+80,000 each), North Carolina (+100,000), Ohio (+75,000), Arizona (+50,000), Nevada/Wisconsin (+30,000 each), and New Hampshire (+10,000 based on a small population).
• Political Motive Alleged:
  The host claims these population increases were deliberate: “the Biden administration knew what they were doing,” arguing that such demographic shifts impact representation (census counts) and the electoral map.
• Framing:
  Ferguson argues this is part of a “power grab,” suggesting Democrats intentionally increased illegal migration to benefit redistricting and eventual amnesty-driven voting shifts (though there’s no allegation of voting by the undocumented in the episode).

Quote:
"The Biden administration, we're now learning, packed swing states with over 1 million illegal aliens. Why? Solely for a power grab."
— Ben Ferguson (13:13)

Quote:
“You look at illegal aliens in New Jersey, for example, which election predators say could be tight over the next 10 years.”
— Ben Ferguson (15:45)

• Policy Contrast:
  Ferguson ends by describing Trump’s border and voting integrity initiatives as direct responses to these developments.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ICE Charter Flights & Policy Differences:
  “ICE is using a dozen charter planes per day. If that's not taxpayer money used the right way, I don't know what is.”
  — Ben Ferguson (07:23)

• On the Appellate Decision’s Impact:
  “This was one of those, like victimless crimes. No one was hurt, everybody made money and what did they do? They went after the President of the United States of America instead. It's disgusting.”
  — Ben Ferguson (12:09)

• On Political Implications of Immigration:
  “If you don't have a secure border, you don't have a country. And now we understand the plan. Biden administration said, let's pack the swing states just like we want to pack the Supreme Court…”
  — Ben Ferguson (17:07)

Timestamps for Main Segments

• [05:13] ICE ramps up deportations; administration pace, policy, and effect
• [08:34] New York appeals court reverses Trump $500M penalty, Eighth Amendment focus
• [13:13] Analysis and breakdown of illegal alien populations in swing states
• [18:13] Episode wrap-up and host sign-off

Tone & Style

Ben Ferguson’s commentary is assertive, partisan, and direct. He uses charged language (“crazy, insane civil case,” “radical leftist,” “political witch hunt,” “power grab”) and frames news events to champion Trump-era policies while sharply criticizing opponents. Sources like the New York Times and Pew Research Center are referenced to underpin his analysis, often with a combative twist suggesting mainstream reporting is inadvertently demonstrating the effectiveness of conservative approaches.

For more tailored updates and Ben Ferguson’s perspective on unfolding political events, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to both this podcast and The Ben Ferguson Podcast.