Law & Disorder-DOJ Targets Walz and Frey in Explosive New Investigation

Summary

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The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Law & Disorder—DOJ Targets Walz and Frey in Explosive New Investigation
Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson

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Overview:

This episode covers two major stories:

1. The Department of Justice's (DOJ) new investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over alleged obstruction of federal law enforcement and financial misuse tied to criminal activity and terrorism.
2. Escalating tensions with Iran, featuring U.S. sanctions and Iranian leadership's response following aggressive rhetoric against the United States and President Trump.

Ben Ferguson delivers his signature, unapologetically conservative analysis while spotlighting the administration’s actions regarding law and order at home and abroad.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

DOJ Investigation into Minnesota Leadership (00:53 - 09:43)

Context & Scope:

• Ben reports that both Governor Walz and Mayor Frey are under DOJ investigation for "possible obstruction of federal law enforcement."
• A grand jury subpoena has reportedly been issued for both, but as of Friday evening, neither office had official notice.

Claims & Analysis:

• Ben distinguishes the current DOJ probe from past accusations against Trump, emphasizing that this time, "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" (02:21).
• Allegations involve the diversion of "millions and millions of dollars that then turned into billions of dollars that were stolen from taxpayers," with some allegedly funding terrorist organization Al Shabaab.

Law Enforcement and Political Rhetoric:

• White House is considering deploying the National Guard to Minnesota due to attacks on ICE agents amid civil unrest.
• Ben critiques Democrats, accusing them of spinning the investigation as political intimidation, but insists, “what we’re witnessing right now is a Department of Justice that is doing their job” (03:15).

Democrat Responses and ICE Controversy:

• Ben cites Democratic leaders and media calling for the defunding and abolition of ICE, highlighting recent violence against ICE agents.

• Plays a segment from ABC with Minneapolis Mayor Frey:

  • Quote (05:30 - 05:32):
    "I don’t regret it at all."
    — Mayor Jacob Frey, when asked if he regretted telling ICE agents to "get the F out of Minneapolis"

• Ben characterizes Democrat calls to abolish ICE and legal consequences for ICE agents as dangerous:

  "They want dead ICE agents... They want to lock up the agents and charge them with crimes." (06:23)

ICE Operations and Public Safety:

• Ben references a Fox News headline and ICE statement about the rise in arrests of criminal non-citizens in Minnesota, including "numerous convicted child rapists and killers."
  • Quote (08:03): "Regardless of staged political theatrics, ICE is going to continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal legal aliens in Minnesota..."
    — Todd Lyons, ICE Director
• White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt offers support:
  • Quote (09:15): "May God bless them for their thankless work to protect American communities from these sick people."

Summary of Segment:

• Ben frames ongoing law enforcement actions as the President restoring order and holding corrupt officials accountable. He stresses the difference between enforcing existing laws and using government power for political vendettas.

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Iran and U.S. Sanctions: Escalation and Strategy (09:44 - 15:21)

Iranian Accusations and Threats:

• Iran’s President blames the U.S. for the nation's economic crisis, citing "inhumane sanctions" and equating any threats to the supreme leader as acts of war.
  • Quote (10:10): "...assault on our supreme leader is tandem to an all out war with the Iranian nation."
• Ben underscores these remarks as state propaganda intended to quell internal dissent.

U.S. Policy and Response:

• The Trump administration imposes a new round of sanctions targeting Iranian oil revenues and key business networks.
• Treasury Secretary (statement at 11:25):
  • Quote (11:39): "We are not only going after the leadership, but we are targeting Iran's oil revenue stream."
• Details on sanctioned entities:
  • A rogue businessman and network allegedly smuggle Iranian oil as Iraqi to evade sanctions, generating "$300 million annually for Tehran" (12:09).
  • Emphasized commitment to "an oil supply free from Iran's destabilizing influence" (12:55).

Tracking Offshore Funds and Economic Pressure:

• Treasury details strategies to follow and freeze assets being moved by Iranian leadership to foreign banks.
  • Quote by Treasury Official (13:15 - 13:54): "We can see millions, tens of millions of dollars being wired out... we are going to trace these assets, and they will not be able to keep them."

Impact and Goals:

• The sanctions, per Ben and the Treasury, aim to cripple the regime's ability to finance terrorism, encourage protest within Iran, and weaken the government by restricting revenue.

  • Ben concludes:

    "It truly is amazing what a real leader can do to topple a regime like Iran and to help the people in that nation." (15:02)

• Ben wraps up expressing the administration's continued resolve:

  • Quote (15:15): "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."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey:
  "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."
  — (05:30 - 05:32)

• On ICE efforts in Minnesota:
  "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."
  — Todd Lyons, ICE Director (08:06)

• On Democratic rhetoric:
  "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."
  — Ben Ferguson (06:23)

• On U.S. sanctions against Iran:
  "We are not only going after the leadership, but we are targeting Iran's oil revenue stream."
  — U.S. Treasury Secretary (11:39)

• On regime's economic collapse:
  "We can see millions, tens of millions of dollars being wired out... they are abandoning ship."
  — Treasury official (13:15)

• On the Trump administration’s resolve:
  "Donald Trump is not backing down. Instead, he's actually doubling down..."
  — Ben Ferguson (15:15)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:53 — Headline: DOJ investigation into Minnesota governor and mayor
• 03:15 — Ben describes DOJ actions as legitimate law enforcement, dismisses “intimidation” narrative
• 05:30 — Mayor Jacob Frey stands by anti-ICE remarks
• 06:23 — Ben discusses Democratic calls to abolish and criminalize ICE
• 08:03 — ICE statement on arresting Minnesota’s “worst of the worst”
• 09:44 — Iran story begins: Iranian leader’s threats, U.S. sanctions context
• 11:25 — Treasury Secretary outlines new sanctions and their intent
• 13:15 — Treasury details efforts to track and freeze Iranian regime assets
• 15:15 — Ben's closing summary on Trump administration’s resolve regarding Iran

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Tone & Delivery

Ben Ferguson employs a combative, urgent, and unapologetically conservative tone throughout, positioning the Trump administration’s response as strong and justified, while portraying Democratic voices as dangerous and negligent regarding national security and law enforcement. The episode is direct, impassioned, and replete with pointed language toward political opponents.

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For listeners new to the show or the subject matter, this episode delivers a high-octane briefing on two flashpoints shaping domestic and international policy, interwoven with sharp commentary and exclusive administration perspectives.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Convince you to not strike Iran?

[C]

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.

[A]

You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.

[C]

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. 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. Also, 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, it's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. We now have word the Department of Justice is investigating the Minnesota governor as well as the Minnesota 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 confirmed 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. And 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 their 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.

[B]

Not the peaceful protesters.

[C]

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.

[B]

I don't regret it at all.

[C]

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.

[B]

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, 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.

[C]

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 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.

[A]

Now, story number two.

[C]

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 long standing 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.

[D]

President Trump has been clear. Iran must stop sponsoring terror, halt 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 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 an oil supply free from Iran's destabilizing influence. We will continue to take action against those who help fund its global campaign of terror.

[C]

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.

[E]

The money, going to see 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 ship 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 them.

[B]

You'll freeze those.

[C]

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.

[A]

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 tomorrow. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.