Media Got It Wrong—Again! Inflation Plummets to 2.7%

Summary

Podcast Summary: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Media Got It Wrong—Again! Inflation Plummets to 2.7%
Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson

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Episode Overview

In this edition of The 47 Morning Update, Ben Ferguson tackles a major development: U.S. inflation has dropped sharply to 2.7%. Ferguson frames the episode as both a critique of the mainstream media and a celebration of Donald Trump’s economic agenda, arguing that the media and political opponents not only got their economic predictions wrong, but that Trump’s policies directly caused this positive result. He systematically outlines the top factors he believes led to the inflation drop, debunks common criticisms, and highlights the personal and national benefits of these policy moves.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Media and Political Critics Were Wrong (06:27–07:56)

• Ferguson opens by confronting the “media and the Democrats” for consistently making dire predictions about the economy post-Trump election, suggesting their fearmongering is politically motivated.
• Key Point: Inflation’s unexpected tumble to 2.7% is a “clear rebuke” of critics and a “powerful validation” of Trump economic policies.
  • Quote: “There was a sharp and, honestly, a unexpected tumble...to 2.7%. It's more than just positive data point. It's a clear rebuke of the economic pessimism pushed by critics of President Donald Trump.” – Ben Ferguson (06:47)

2. Energy Policy & Energy Dominance (07:56–09:10)

• Trump’s reforms prioritized American energy independence by rolling back restrictions and increasing domestic oil and gas production.
• Ferguson argues this “confidence alone stabilized the markets,” leading to supply expectations and lower energy costs across the board, from gas pumps to grocery store shelves.
  • Quote: “Energy dominance is doing exactly...what Donald Trump said it was going to do. One of the biggest drivers behind the falling inflation is energy prices.” – Ben Ferguson (08:31)

3. Tariffs: The Real Impact vs. Predictions (09:10–10:16)

• Ferguson addresses media/Democratic claims that Trump’s tariffs would spark inflation and empty shelves. Instead, he argues, foreign manufacturers absorbed the tariffs, supply chains adapted, and American manufacturing grew.
  • Quote: “They said over and over...the tariffs were going to cause massive inflation. They said that shelves would be empty...That also never happened.” – Ben Ferguson (09:35)
• He maintains tariffs were “targeted leverage” that restored balance and protected consumers rather than punishing them.

4. Deregulation and Hidden Inflation (10:16–11:27)

• The reduction in government regulation cut compliance and permitting costs, streamlined business operations, and increased hiring.
• Ferguson describes “invisible inflation”—costs that don’t make headlines but affect everyday Americans—and suggests that Trump’s cuts directly led to the visible drop in inflation.
  • Quote: “Deregulation reduced hidden inflation and Americans have never been able to see the receipts before until Trump got into office.” – Ben Ferguson (10:26)

5. Market Confidence & Psychological Factors (11:27–12:39)

• Psychological elements of inflation play a crucial role: when businesses and consumers are optimistic, inflation expectations lower, and markets behave accordingly.
• Ferguson argues that Trump restored economic confidence through transparency and predictability.
  • Quote: “Inflation is also psychological. When consumers and businesses believe prices will rise, they behave in ways that make it happen. Well, Trump's leadership clearly restored economic confidence.” – Ben Ferguson (11:44)

6. Fiscal Discipline & Government Restraint (12:39–13:19)

• Trump’s focus on lowering government spending was, according to Ferguson, vital for keeping inflation in check and convincing markets of America’s financial soundness.
  • Quote: “Trump has consistently pushed for cutting wasteful spending, targeted bloated bureaucracies and challenged runaway federal programs. Even the signal of restraint matters.” – Ben Ferguson (12:55)

7. The Big Takeaway: Who Benefits and Why? (13:19–14:45)

• Ferguson concludes that the policy mix is especially beneficial to “lower and middle class American families,” and reiterates that these results are due to Trump’s policies, not in spite of them.
• The episode closes with the claim that real results are now visible and that Trump’s approach is vindicated for the coming year.
  • Quote: “The drop in inflation, 2.7% didn't happen by accident. And it didn't happen despite Donald Trump's policies. It happened because of Donald Trump's policies.” – Ben Ferguson (13:45)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “No one saw it coming, including CNBC who even gasp at the numbers after they were released.” – Ben Ferguson (03:44)
• “Trump's tariffs weren't random. They were targeted leverage, forcing fairness and restoring balance. Inflation falling to 2.7% shows that smart trade and enforcement doesn't punish the consumers, it actually protects them.” – Ben Ferguson (10:04)
• “The so-called experts yet again predicted disaster. The data delivered a reality check to them.” – Ben Ferguson (14:27)

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment & Content | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:40 | Show’s official start and episode framing | | 06:27 | First Key Topic: Media predictions “debunked” by recent inflation data | | 07:56 | Deep dive: Trump’s energy policies and market stabilization | | 09:10 | Examination of tariffs: Media predictions vs. reality | | 10:16 | Deregulation’s role in reducing inflation | | 11:27 | The psychological/market confidence effect | | 12:39 | Fiscal discipline and its impact | | 13:19 | Ferguson summarizes the policy impacts and main takeaways for Americans | | 15:12 | Episode closes: Call to subscribe and tease of more updates |

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Tone & Style

Ferguson’s tone is assertive, emphatic, and unapologetically pro-Trump. He frequently positions himself and his audience against mainstream media and Democratic narratives, using phrases like “the experts got it wrong—again” and “thank goodness we have a president that’s willing to stay the course.”

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Summary Takeaway

This episode uses the drop in inflation as evidence that Trump’s economic policies—energy expansion, tactical tariffs, deregulation, and fiscal discipline—not only defy critics but tangibly benefit American families. Ferguson presents the news as vindication for his audience, framing it as a victory for “common sense” governance and a clear contrast with both the media’s and previous administration’s warnings.

If you missed the episode, you’ll leave with a clear outline of which Trump policies Ferguson credits for the lower inflation—and why he sees this as an undeniable win for the White House and everyday Americans.

Transcript

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[Political Commentator]

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[Ben Ferguson]

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

Good Friday morning. It's so nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And this episode is going to deal with some great news for all of us. It is a huge victory and an inflation crushed by Donald Trump's policies delivering at 2.7%. No one saw it coming, including CNBC who even gasp at the numbers after they were released. So how did Donald Trump do it? We'll explain it all. But first, I want to tell you about an amazing opportunity right now that I'm involved in and I cannot wait to for you to take advantage of it. I want you to take some incredible courses at Hillsdale College for free. You may not know this, but Hillsdale College has been influencing conservatives like myself for decades. They had a huge impact on Charlie Kirk's life. And even as memorial service, they talked about how Charlie took class after class after class at Hillsdale College. Hillsdale College is now offering for you. The listeners of this show are more than 40 free. I want to say that again, Free online courses. That's right. More than 40 free online courses. You can learn about the works of C.S. lewis, the stories in the Book of Genesis, the meaning of the US Constitution, the rise and fall of the Roman Republic, or the history of the ancient Christian church, all with Hillsdale College's free online courses. Right now, I'm personally taking the Constitution 101. In this course, you're going to explore the design and the purpose of the Constitution, the challenges it faced during the Civil War and how it has been undermined for more than a century by radical progressives and liberals. This 12 lecture course is self paced. It's another reason why I love it. So start whenever and wherever in our country. We need more Americans like you and I that understand the Constitution and can defend the freedom of the American people against the left and their increasing encroachments on our God given rights. So start your classes today for free. Start your free Constitution 101 course right now. How do you do it? Go to Hillsdale Edu Slash Morning Update to to enroll and it's no cost. It's easy to get started. You got to use a special website Hillsdale Edu Morning update Enroll for free hillsdale edu morningupdate it's the 47 morning update and it starts right now.

Story number one.

Could it be that the media and the Democrats got it wrong yet again on the economy? The same people that try to convince you that there was no such thing as Bidenflation and and instead they want you to believe that the economy was incredible shape when Joe Biden was in office? Well, once Donald Trump got elected, they want you to believe everything is terrible. Well guess what? Now there's more data to show they're just a bunch of liars. And this time it was bigger than even conservatives could have imagined. There was a sharp and honestly, a unexpected tumble. Not a decline, but a tumble in inflation to 2.7% is more than just positive data point. It's a clear rebuke of the economic pessimism pushed by critics of President Donald Trump. It's also a powerful validation of Trump policies this administration has been advancing, saying, trust me, it's going to work. The White House was absolutely right. For months, economists and political opponents of Donald Trump have warned that Trump's aggressive economic agenda, including the tariffs that have brought in record dollars to the U.S. the energy expansion, deregulation and pressure on global trade partners would fuel, as they described it, inflation. Instead, the opposite has happened. Inflation. Not only did it not spike, it fell in a major way. And it fell faster than anyone, including those at the White House, were even willing to mention, much less claim it was going to become a reality. Energy dominance is doing exactly, by the way, what Donald Trump said it was going to do. One of the biggest drivers behind the falling inflation is energy prices. And this is where Trump's policies are having an outsized impact. Under Trump, Fed federal barriers to domestic oil and gas production have been rolled back. Leasing and drilling approvals have accelerated. The administration signaled clearly that America would return to Energy independence in even a bigger way than it did when he was in office the first time. That confidence alone stabilized the markets. And then when supply expectations rise, prices fall not just at the pump, but across the entire economy, which is exactly what we are now witnessing, having a huge impact on inflation. Lower energy costs, reduce transportation expenses, manufacturing input costs and grocery distribution prices. All of that good for the economy. As President Trump said on the campaign trail, energy and the price touches everything. Trump understood that from day one. And inflation numbers are now proving him to be exactly right. We also know that the media and the Democrats lied to you about the tariffs. They said over and over and over again the tariffs were going to cause massive inflation. They said that shelves would be empty at places like Target, Walmart, Costco and Sam's Club. That also never happened. One of the loudest criticisms of President Trump's economic strategy was by the left in the media. And they said the tariffs would not only raise consumer prices, but there would be massive supply chain issues. They then said that would make inflation skyrocket even more. That argument has also now flat out collapsed. What actually happened is this. The tariffs pressured foreign producers to actually absorb the costs that did not get passed on to Americans the way that the left and tried to claim supply chains adjusted instead of breaking. Again, no empty shelves and no backlogs of basic necessities that Americans need. That was also a lie. It also had another huge impact. American manufacturing expanded rapidly, reducing the reliance on volatile foreign inputs. Something the President said was a part of us having security and safety literally on a national security forefront. Instead of inflation spiraling upwards, which the left and the media said was a guaranteed thing, prices stabilized and markets recalibrated. Trump's tariffs weren't random. They were targeted leverage, forcing fairness and restoring balance. Inflation falling to 2.7% shows that smart trade and enforcement doesn't punish the consumers, it actually protects them. And then the issue of deregulation, that is something that had a huge impact on the numbers we're witnessing right now. Deregulation reduced hidden inflation and Americans have never been able to see the receipts before until Trump got into office. Inflation isn't just about sticker prices. It's also about compliance costs, regulatory delays and bureaucratic drag from a government that just got way too big. Trump administration said, hey, we're gonna cut thousands of pages of federal regulations, we're gonna reduce permitting delays, we're gonna. Lowered compliance costs for small and medium sized businesses was something else they said was vitally important. And when businesses spend less money Navigating Washington, that's when you get what we're witnessing right now. Products that are faster than market, they end up hiring more people and they keep prices lower. This invisible inflation, as the White House described it, rarely makes headlines. But removing it has a real and measured effect. The 2.7% inflation figure reflects those savings working their way through the economy. And then it comes down to confidence has returned to the marketplace and the markets have actually responded. Inflation is also psychological. When consumers and businesses believe prices will rise, they behave in ways that make it happen. Well, Trump's leadership clearly restored economic confidence. Businesses began investing again. Consumers stopped panic. Buying markets adjusted expectations downwards. That confidence reduces volatility, and volatility is a major inflation driver. Washington elites expected chaos. The markets and the people saw clarity and they understood the rules of the game because of a president that was transparent. Which brings us to fiscal discipline. And that was reassuring itself to the American people. A renewed emphasis on fiscal restraint of our government, Doge was a large part of that. Again made people feel more confident in their government. Trump has consistently pushed for cutting wasteful spending, targeted bloated bureaucracies and challenged runaway federal programs. Even the signal of restraint matters. When investors and lenders believe government spending will be controlled. Inflation expectations drop, which is exactly what we're seeing now. All of this has turned into one thing. Now it's showing in the real numbers. So what is the massive takeaway from this? This is a gigantic win for every American, especially lower and middle class American families. The drop in inflation, 2.7% didn't happen by accident. And it didn't happen despite Donald Trump's policies. It happened because of Donald Trump's policies. Energy dominance lowered costs, economy wide Tariffs restored balance without triggering price spikes. Deregulation reduced hidden inflation. Confidence returned to the markets. Fiscal discipline signaled stability. The so called experts yet again predicted disaster. The data delivered a reality check to them. So this inflation report isn't just good news. It's proof that Trump's economic playbook works. And even under intense political and global pressure, thank goodness we have a president that's willing to stay the course and not chase an approval rating number. And now what we're witnessing is the real effects of what Trump's economy is at the end of his first year. And now you know what to expect moving into 2026.

Thank you for listening to The47 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.

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[Fitness Show Narrator]

Will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points. You are the fittest of the fit. Only one of you will leave here with an IFIT contract worth $250,000. This is where mindset comes in. Someone will be eliminated.

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Of Unrivaled Basketball is here and the talent is unreal. The best women's players on the planet are running it back with even bigger moments and bigger stakes. Don't miss as Paige Beckers, Nafiza Collier, Kelsey Plumb, Brianna Stewart and more take the court and redefine the game. This isn't your regular season. This is unrivaled where the pace is faster, the energy is higher and every athlete shines. Unrivaled Basketball Season 2, sponsored by Samsung Galaxy, tips off January 5 on TNT, TruTV and HBO Max yo, do you know ball well?

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