Iran’s Elites Move Millions as Panic sets In plus DOJ investigate Walz and Frey

Summary

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The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: “Iran’s Elites Move Millions as Panic sets In plus DOJ investigate Walz and Frey”

Date: January 19, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson | Premiere Networks

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Episode Overview

On this episode, Ben Ferguson dives deep into two major breaking stories:

1. The Iranian regime’s escalating crisis, with its elites moving millions out of the country amid harsh US sanctions and regime panic.
2. The Department of Justice’s investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey regarding alleged obstruction and mismanagement, with a dramatic spotlight on growing unrest and attacks on federal agents.

Ben provides pointed commentary and sheds light on political undercurrents, U.S. response, and media narratives, all with the show’s signature unfiltered approach.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iran’s Crisis: Regime Panic and US Sanctions

[02:44 - 07:47]

• Regime Accusations and Propaganda:

  • Iran’s president publicly blames the US for ongoing national crises, denouncing “inhumane sanctions” and warning of “all out war” if the Supreme Leader is challenged.

    “If there is hardship and difficulties in the lives of the people of Iran, one of the main reasons is the longstanding enemy and inhumane sanctions imposed by the US government and its allies...” (Ben Ferguson quoting Iranian president, 04:15)

• US Sanctions Escalate:

  • Treasury Secretary outlines steps targeting Iran’s oil revenue, noting a campaign against individuals and companies smuggling oil to circumvent sanctions.
  • Efforts are further described to degrade the regime’s ability to finance terrorism, especially in Iraq.

    “Treasury is sanctioning a rogue businessman and his network of companies and vessels that smuggle Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil to avoid US sanctions. This network generates over $300 million annually for Tehran.” (Treasury Sec. via Ben Ferguson, 05:57)

• Iranian Elites Moving Funds Abroad:

  • Tens of millions of dollars are being wired out by Iranian leadership, as observed by US officials.

    “We are now seeing the rats fleeing the ship... millions, tens of millions of dollars being wired out of the country... We follow the money, whether it is through the typical banking system or digital assets.” (Treasury Secretary, 07:09)

  • The regime’s panic over economic collapse is seen as a victory for US “maximum pressure”; Ferguson credits the Trump administration for fortifying protests and causing regime destabilization.

    “It truly is amazing what a real leader can do to topple a regime like Iran and to help the people in that nation.” (Ben Ferguson, 08:22)

2. DOJ Investigation: Minnesota’s Walz and Frey

[08:30 - 17:49]

• Scope of DOJ Probe:

  • The Department of Justice is investigating Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for suspected obstruction of federal law enforcement and large-scale fraud.

    “People have already gone to jail and a governor has already decided not to run for reelection because of actual fraud and abuse of power... millions and millions of dollars that then turned into billions... were stolen from the taxpayers.” (Ben Ferguson, 09:25)

  • Potential links to sending money overseas, including to terrorist group Al Shabaab, are highlighted as central to the investigation.

• Political Spin and Feuds:

  • Ferguson notes that while Democrats claim intimidation tactics, the facts differ from previous politicized probes.
  • Cites source confirmation of grand jury subpoenas to Walz and Frey, with DOJ declining to comment further.

• Escalating Tensions: ICE Agents Under Attack in Minnesota

  • Ongoing unrest in Minnesota sees violence towards ICE agents; White House considers deploying National Guard under the Insurrection Act.

    “ICE agents continue to be under attack. And now the White House is looking at the real possibility of sending the National Guard in to Minnesota.” (Ben Ferguson, 03:13)

• Abolish ICE Movement & Local Officials’ Responses:

  • Representative Ilhan Omar and local officials are quoted for incendiary language against federal authorities and ICE.

    “You went on national television and you said to ICE, get the F out of Minneapolis. Do you regret that language?... I don’t regret it at all.” (Ferguson on Mayor Frey, 13:12)

  • Chris Van Hollen (paraphrased): On ABC’s This Week, claims ICE agents are “the ones breaking the law,” and that funding should be withdrawn.

    “Democrats on national TV now calling for defunding ICE.” (Ben Ferguson, 13:00)

  • Mayor Frey characterizes Minneapolis unrest as “about love,” and a stand against federal intimidation.

• ICE Arrests Surge and Public Safety Concerns

  • Reports of ICE arresting convicted criminals, including child rapists and killers, whom local politicians had attempted to shield.

    “ICE arrests in Minnesota have surged, including numerous convicted child rapists and killers... Criminal legal immigrants had deportation orders dating back decades.” (Ben Ferguson, 15:35)

  • ICE director Todd Lyons:

    “Regardless of staged political theatrics, ICE is going to continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota and elsewhere.” (15:50)

  • White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt (quoting statement):

    “May God bless [ICE agents] for their thankless work to protect American communities from these sick people.” (Ben Ferguson, 16:32)

3. Closing Perspective

[16:55 - 17:49]

• Ferguson sums up both stories as victories for “law and order” and blasts Democratic officials for enabling lawlessness. He credits the Trump administration for restoring legal oversight and equates their actions with protecting American communities.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We’re seeing the rats fleeing the ship… millions, tens of millions of dollars being wired out of the country by the Iranian leadership. So they are abandoning ship.”
  —Treasury Secretary via Ben Ferguson, 07:09

• “It truly is amazing what a real leader can do to topple a regime like Iran and to help the people in that nation. Now, anything can happen. Let’s be clear. But right now, one thing is very clear, and that’s Donald Trump is not backing down.”
  —Ben Ferguson, 08:22

• “You went on national television and you said to ICE, get the F out of Minneapolis. Do you regret that language? …I don’t regret it at all.”
  —Ben Ferguson recounting Mayor Jacob Frey’s response, 13:12

• “ICE arrests prevent recidivism and make communities safer. But it feels like local politicians want to ignore that part and they want to attack American citizens.”
  —Ben Ferguson, 16:10

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Timestamps: Important Segments

• [02:44] — Iran’s leadership blames the US for crisis; warning of “all out war.”
• [05:00 - 06:57] — Treasury Secretary details new sanctions; targeting Iranian oil assets.
• [07:09] — Explanation of Iranian elites wiring millions abroad.
• [08:22] — Ferguson’s commentary on the effectiveness of Trump’s sanctions.
• [08:30] — DOJ’s investigation of Minnesota officials introduced.
• [09:25] — Background on fraud, abuse of power in Minnesota.
• [12:58 - 13:22] — Frey and other Democrats on ICE and “Abolish ICE” movement.
• [15:35 - 16:32] — ICE arrest numbers and public safety arguments.

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Tone and Language

Ben Ferguson maintains a combative, unfiltered, and partisan tone throughout, framing events in terms of “law and order vs. lawlessness” and repeatedly assigning blame to Democratic officials and activists.

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Summary Takeaways

• The Iranian regime is in crisis, evidenced by officials moving millions of dollars abroad in response to escalated US sanctions, with the Treasury Department targeting Iran’s oil revenue and tracking illicit financial movements.
• The DOJ is investigating high-profile Minnesota officials for alleged obstruction and fraud, directly tying these probes to claims of taxpayer theft and possible redirection of funds to terrorist organizations.
• Amid heightened unrest, attacks on ICE agents in Minnesota are sharply criticized, with the “Abolish ICE” rhetoric of local politicians singled out.
• Ferguson paints both stories as vindications of the Trump administration’s commitment to “law and order,” amplifying claims about the benefits of the administration’s aggressive enforcement policies and crackdowns.

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Transcript

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[A]

Did.

[B]

Arab and Israeli officials convince you to not strike Iran?

[A]

Nobody convinced me. I convinced myself. You had Yesterday scheduled over 800 hangings. They didn't hang anyone. They canceled the hangings. That had a big impact. You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Good Monday morning. It's nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got two big stories for you. Iran's president now blaming the US for his nation's crisis and threatening an all out war. President Trump has responded and we'll have what he had to say in just a moment. Also, anarchy in Minnesota. ICE agents continue to be under attack. And now the White House is looking at the real possibility of sending the National Guard in to Minnesota. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. Story number one, Iran's president is now blaming the United States for Iran's crisis, accusing Washington of imposing what he described as inhumane sanctions while warning that any challenge to the supreme leader there, the Ayatollah, would amount to, quote, an all out war against the Iranian nation. Now, they've already declared war on Donald Trump and the United States of America, even saying in the last several days that they're going to kill Donald Trump. Here's what was said in their response. Quote, if there is hardship and difficulties in the lives of the people of Iran, one of the main reasons is the longstanding enemy and inhumane sanctions imposed by the US Government and its allies and saying, quote, an assault on our supreme leader is tandem to an all out war with the Iranian nation. Now, to be clear, this is government propaganda. They're trying to hold it together right now. And they've been killing more of the protesters. They're trying to convince the people in Iran that the great Satan, you know, the United States of America is really to blame. Now this is also coming as we have movement from our government, sanctions that are coming down on Iran's regime. The Treasury Secretary putting it this way, saying we are not only going after the leadership, but we are targeting Iran's oil revenue stream. The treasury secretary putting out this on social media, making it clear that there is more to come from this administration to protect the people in Iran.

[C]

President Trump has been clear, Iran must stop sponsoring terrorists, halts its bloody proxy wars and cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons. That is why treasury is taking further action to degrade the ayatollah and his regime's ability to finance terrorism around the world, including its growing influence in Iraq. Treasury is sanctioning a rogue Businessman and his network of companies and vessels that smuggle Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil to avoid US sanctions. This network generates over 300 million annually for Tehran. Smuggling of this nature allows Iranian oil to be sold to US Allies and possibly to the United States itself. In violation of U.S. sanctions, the United States will apply economic pressure to the maximum extent possible to disrupt Iran's access to the financial resources that fuel its destabilizing activities. Since President Trump retook office, we have implemented a maximum pressure campaign. In just seven months, we have seen a significant decline in oil carried by the shadow fleet vessels. We have sanctioned, reduced Tehran's profit margin and made it increasingly difficult for the regime to export oil. The United States remains committed to exporting oil supply free from Iran's destabilizing influence. We will continue to take action against those who help fund its global campaign of terror.

[A]

Now, what we also know is the Treasury Secretary says that there are countless dollars coming out of Iran. Saying this on Newsmax about exactly how we're tracking the money, going to see.

[C]

To that and rob. The other thing as treasury who carries out the sanctions, we can see is we are now seeing the rats fleeing the sh because we can see millions, tens of millions of dollars being wired out of the country, snuck out of the country by the Iranian leadership. So they are abandoning ship. And we are seeing it come into banks and financial institutions all over the world. And what we do at treasury is we follow the money, whether it is through the typical banking system or through digital assets. We are going to trace these assets and they will not be able to keep.

[A]

You'll freeze those. So the sanctions are real. The money flowing out of Iran is real. Why would they be telling this story? To inspire the people of Iran so that they hear about it. They know that the Iranian regime is collapsing. They know that they're afraid. They know that they're wiring the money out of their country by the tens of millions of dollars. And US Sanctions are helping to cripple Iranian leadership and their economy, which allows for more protests to probably happen. This is. We're also watching every bit of their oil and the oil that's coming out of that country, tracking it and trying to seize it as well. So, yes, President Trump is all in targeting Iran's oil revenue stream. And the Treasury Secretary is saying we're going to degrade the regime's ability to carry out attacks against the United States of America and its allies. How? By simply doing the sanctions. It truly is amazing what a real leader can do to topple A regime like Iran and to help the people in that nation. Now, anything can happen. Let's be clear. But right now, one thing is very clear, and that's Donald Trump is not backing down. Instead, he's actually doubling down to support the people that are risking their lives in the streets all over the nation of Iran. Now, story number two. We now have word the Department of Justice is investigating the Minnesota governor as well as the Minnesota Minneapolis mayor, who decry the probe as what they describe as an intimidation tactic. Now, what's funny about all this, it's Democrats that actually are the masters of this plan, if that's actually what it was. Remember how they weaponize our government to go after Donald Trump and anyone around him, trying to lock him up and trying to overthrow the will of the people. Now, the difference with the DOJ investigation now is people have already gone to jail and a governor has already decided not to run for reelection because of actual fraud and abuse of power and millions and millions of dollars that then turned into billions of dollars that were stolen from the taxpayers. And where did the money go? Much of it overseas, including to terrorist organization Al Shabaab. That is not a Donald Trump intimidation tactic to go after, quote, political enemies. Instead, what we're witnessing right now is a Department of justice that is doing their job. Now, there's no doubt the Democrats are going to try to spin this any way they can, saying that they did nothing wrong. It's just a, you know, intimidation tactic. Well, let's talk about the background of this. We now know confirmation coming from the Justice Department that they are, in fact, investigating Governor Waltz and Minnesota Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry over what is being described as a possible obstruction of federal law enforcement in. A person familiar with the matter has come out and even said to CNN that the grand jury subpoena had been issued for both men as part of the investigation. Neither office had received any notice as of Friday evening, according to sources familiar with the matter. And it's not immediately clear when Fry or Waltz would receive those subpoenas. The Justice Department, of course, declined to comment. Now, President Trump and his administration have been critical of any elected official that is in on abusing power in this way. They've been critical of state and local officials and the response as well to what happened in Minnesota, including the unrest over the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that have also been attacked. The president suggesting that he might invoke the Insurrection act and deploy troops to the city to quell any violence. Of course, that is setting off the left like Never before. We also know that Alamo Mar is now calling America the US GD States. It's not a joke. It's actually happening. And Chris Von Holland defending now the violent rioters attacking ICE agents as more Democrats are demanding that we abolish ICE agents. That is truly shocking. I want you to listen to exactly what he had to say in his own words on ABC this Week. What's happening right now is the ICE agents are the ones breaking the law, not the peaceful protesters. So I believe we should not be funding an ICE operation that is completely lawless. There it is. Democrats on national TV now calling for defunding ice. Mayor Jacob Fry continued to stand by his violent comments, telling ICE agents to get the F out of Minneapolis. ABC saying, quote, do you regret that language that doesn't sound like turning the temperature down? I want you to listen to this exchange again. The radicals on the left showing their true colors. You went on national television and you said to ice, get the F out of Minneapolis. Do you regret that language? I mean, that doesn't sound like turning the temperature down. I don't regret it at all. Not only do they not regret it, but it's all clearly planned out now as ICE agents are being attacked by violent rioters in Minneapolis. The mayor also had this to say, trying to rewrite history about what actually is happening there. You know, I think it's important to tell the whole country that this is not just about resistance here in Minneapolis. It's about love. We are showing something far more powerful and consequential here, which is love. We are standing up for one another. You've got neighbors helping neighbors. You've got people uniting and coming together in this beautiful way. And obviously, we've got these threats out there from the federal government that were literally designed to intimidate Minneapolis residents, to intimidate me. So there it is. Abolish ICE and go to war. You have a governor that's referred to having a civil war. They want dead ICE agents. The New York Times also talking about abolishing ice. It's become a slogan for many Democrats who now say, if elected or if they gain power, they want to abolish ICE altogether. And Democrats not only say, abolish ice, but. But they want to lock up the agents and charge them with crimes. We also know that ICE agents had to shoot a Venezuelan national in Minneapolis after a shovel attack during an ambush. So let me get this straight. Democrats now believe ICE agents should be arrested, they should be defunded, and when they're under attack, by a Venezuelan national with a shovel. And then more illegal immigrants join in on that attack. They want to arrest the ICE agent, not the illegal immigrant. We also know that ICE arrests in Minnesota have surged, including numerous convicted child rapists and killers. That is something that the mayor and the governor and the media do not want you to know. Thank goodness Fox News Channel had this headline, ICE arrest in Minnesota surging, including numerous convicted child rapists and killers. Criminal legal immigrants had deportation orders dating back decades. ICE officials on Saturday releasing a shocking list of the worst of the worst criminals. The worst of the worst illegal immigrants arrested during the recent surge in the sanctuary state of Minnesota. ICE told Fox News criminal legal immigrants were roaming freely in Minnesota prior to their recent arrests. And they are the type of people Democratic politicians and activists are referring to as their, quote, unquote neighbors as they attempt to stop and interfere with ICE and their investigations. Quote, regardless of stage political theatrics, ICE is going to continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal legal aliens in Minnesota and elsewhere. That's what the ICE director, Todd Lyons wrote in a statement. Some of these criminal aliens have had final orders of removal for 30 years, but they've been free to terrorize the people of Minnesota. ICE arrests prevent recidivism and make communities safer. But it feels like local politicians want to ignore that part and they want to attack American citizens. The White House press secretary Caroline Levitt saying this, calling the convicts sick people, saying this is why we have ICE agents. May God bless them for their thankless work to protect American communities from these sick people. So there you have it, two different stories. One's very clear. Law and order is back in town and the president's doing everything he can to not only protect Americans from these criminals that are illegal immigrants terrorizing our communities, but also now investigating those that are aiding and abetting them. That is exactly why there's a real investigation. And whether Democrats like it or not, Donald Trump and conservatives are actually following the laws. Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. And for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here on Monday morning.

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