The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Iranians Protest & Die for Freedom plus Trump Targets Funding Behind Anti-ICE Chaos
Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks)
Main Guests/Voices: President Donald Trump (clips), Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS officials, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey

Episode Overview

This episode of The 47 Morning Update dives into two major stories gripping national headlines:

• The Trump administration's response to crackdowns on Iranian protesters, with airstrikes "on the table."
• President Trump's pledge to investigate and expose the funding sources behind escalating anti-ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) protests, following a fatal officer-involved shooting in Minneapolis.

Ben Ferguson provides “unfiltered” conservative commentary, in-depth coverage of the President’s stance, and reports on developing details from administration officials and both U.S. and Iranian perspectives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Response to Iran’s Crackdown on Protesters

[04:02 - 07:55]

• Potential U.S. Airstrikes:

  • President Trump is “keeping the Iran airstrikes on the table” as the Iranian government intensifies repression against protestors.
  • The administration confirms all options—including force—are under active consideration if the regime escalates.

• Diplomacy Still in Play:

  • Despite public tension, private diplomatic channels remain open. The Iranian Foreign Ministry is communicating directly with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witzkoff.
  • White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt emphasizes, “diplomacy is always the first option for this president.”
    • Quote: “What you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different from what the message the administration is receiving privately.” — Caroline Levitt [05:00]

• Trump’s Warning to Iran:

  • Trump states that if Iranian forces begin shooting unarmed protestors, the U.S. will respond forcefully.
    • Quote: “If they do that, we're going to hit them very hard. We're ready to do it.” — Donald Trump [06:03]
  • He describes harrowing scenes in Iran: “people without any weapons whatsoever standing there and you have machine guns gunning them down.” [05:40]

• Protest Scale and Deaths:

  • Trump and administration sources point to “massive” crowds and report deaths—some by trampling amid chaos, others at the hands of government forces.
    • Quote: “Nobody’s ever seen anything like what’s happening right now.” — Donald Trump [06:41]
  • Ongoing information blackout in Iran (internet and phone shutdowns) makes verification challenging; human rights groups confirm rising casualties.

• U.S. Red Line Defined:

  • Trump reiterates a “red line” that further violence against demonstrators will trigger U.S. action, saying Iran has “gone back 150 years.” [06:55]

2. Trump’s Pledge to Expose Funding Behind Anti-ICE Protests

[07:57 - 13:49]

• Deadly ICE Encounter Fuels National Debate:

  • President Trump addresses the recent fatal ICE officer-involved shooting in Minneapolis, suggesting the deceased woman was a “professional agitator.”
    • Quote: "These are professional agitators and law enforcement should not be in a position where they have to put up with this stuff." — Donald Trump [08:30]

• Claims of Organized, Funded Activism:

  • Trump and DHS officials maintain that anti-ICE protests are not grassroots or organic but professionally orchestrated and heavily funded.
  • Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) accuses “dark money” groups of bankrolling actions against ICE:
    • Quote: "The anti-ICE mobs are anything but organic. Dark money is bankrolling these far left groups like ICE Watch and lighting the fuse. Americans deserve to know who's cutting the checks." — Rep. Lance Gooden [09:11]

• Escalating Tensions and Federal Response:

  • DHS is sending hundreds of additional federal agents to Minnesota due to the unrest, atop an existing deployment of 2,000 agents.
    • Quote: “If you look at what the definition of domestic terrorism is, it completely fits the situation on the ground.” — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem [10:42]

• Local vs. Federal Divide:

  • Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey rejects the federal narrative, challenging claims of a “dystopian hellhole”:
    • Quote: "This is a safe city. ICE and Kristi Noem and everything they're doing is making it far less safe." — Mayor Jacob Frey [11:11]
  • New protest video surfaces, showing tense standoffs: protesters block ICE facilities; federal agents deploy tear gas/pepper balls.

• Law Enforcement Stance:

  • Agents express resolve to “not be deterred” by organized opposition, citing frequent obstruction and attempted blockades by activists.

• White House Focus on Funding Trail:

  • Trump and top aides vow to uncover and publicize the financial backers of anti-ICE actions:
    • Quote: “The President now has made it clear we're going to find out exactly who's paying these individuals and what group is behind them.” — Ben Ferguson [13:44]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | [05:00] | Caroline Levitt | "What you’re hearing publicly from the Iranian regime is quite different..." | | [06:03] | Donald Trump | "If they do that, we're going to hit them very hard. We're ready to do it." | | [06:41] | Donald Trump | "Nobody’s ever seen anything like what’s happening right now." | | [08:30] | Donald Trump | "These are professional agitators and law enforcement should not be in a position..." | | [09:11] | Rep. Lance Gooden | "The anti-ICE mobs are anything but organic. Dark money is bankrolling these far left..." | | [10:42] | DHS Sec. Kristi Noem | "If you look at what the definition of domestic terrorism is, it completely fits..." | | [11:11] | Mayor Jacob Frey | "This is a safe city. ICE and Kristi Noem and everything they're doing is making..." | | [13:44] | Ben Ferguson | "The President now has made it clear we're going to find out exactly who's paying..." |

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:35] - Introduction and headlines preview
• [04:02] - Trump administration stance on Iran protests and potential airstrikes
• [05:00] - Trump and officials discuss Iran’s secret diplomacy and protest violence
• [07:57] - Transition to anti-ICE protests, funding allegations
• [08:30] - Trump's remarks on “professional agitators”
• [09:11] - Congressional, DHS, and media responses to anti-ICE unrest
• [10:42] - Secretary Noem’s defense of ICE officer/shooting & protester actions as terrorism
• [11:11] - Minneapolis mayor’s rebuttal and city safety data
• [12:30+] - Details from new protest video, ICE border patrol accounts
• [13:44] - Ben Ferguson summarizes Trump administration's intent to find protest funders

Summary Flow & Tone

Ben Ferguson maintains a decidedly pro-Trump, conservative tone—defending law enforcement, decrying mainstream media and Democratic criticism, and emphasizing threats to order and national security. The president’s words and administration officials’ statements form the backbone of the episode, with explicit admonition for those protesting ICE and a strong warning to the Iranian regime should violence against demonstrators escalate.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode offers a comprehensive update on two immediate crises at home and abroad. It presents sharply divided narratives between federal and local governments regarding both Iranian unrest and U.S. immigration enforcement, and promises deeper investigation into the shadowy nature of protest funding. Through direct quotes and detailed reporting, listeners gain insight into the Trump administration’s priorities and response strategies, setting the tone for what’s to come.