The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: Minnesota’s Welfare Whopper '81% of Somali Refugee Households Cash In'

Date: December 12, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson
Podcast Network: Premiere Networks

Overview

In this episode of The 47 Morning Update, Ben Ferguson explores contentious topics involving immigration, welfare, and housing. The episode's main theme centers on recent data revealing exceptionally high rates of welfare use among Somali refugee households in Minnesota, followed by a broader discussion on how immigration is impacting housing affordability in the United States. Ferguson draws direct connections between recent federal policies, the administration’s approach to immigration, and resulting economic repercussions, particularly for native-born Americans.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Somali Refugee Households’ Welfare Usage in Minnesota

[06:09 - 14:16]

• New Data from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS):

  • “Nearly every Somali household with children is on welfare... more than 8 in 10 households headed by Somali refugees in the state of Minnesota are on one or more forms of American taxpayer funded welfare.” (06:15 - Ben Ferguson)
  • The data spans ten years from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
  • Minnesota hosts nearly 80,000 residents of Somali ancestry, a dramatic rise from zero in 1990.

• Statistical Highlights:

  • 81% of Minnesota Somali-headed households are on some form of welfare:

    • 27% on cash welfare
    • 54% on food stamps
    • 73% on Medicaid

  • Compared to native-born Minnesotans:

    • 21% on any welfare
    • 6% on cash welfare
    • 7% on food stamps
    • 18% on Medicaid

  • For Somali-headed households with children:

    • 89% on one or more forms of welfare
    • 86% on Medicaid
    • 62% on food stamps
    • 23% on cash welfare

  • Notable quote from researcher Jason Richwine (paraphrased by Ferguson):

    “Nearly every Somali household with children receives some form of welfare.” (13:07)

• Comparative Context:

  • Native Minnesotan households with children:
    • “Only about 3 in 10... take one or more forms of welfare.” (13:23)

• Ferguson’s Analysis and Questions:

  • Raises concerns about sustainability:

    “That is an insane number. A number that should scare everyone because it’s unsustainable.” (11:25)

  • Questions rationale for refugee resettlement:

    “Why on earth would we continue to bring people into this country that we are having to take care of indefinitely?” (13:42)

• Assimilation and Socioeconomic Integration:

  • Language Proficiency:

    • Only 0.7% of native-born Minnesotans speak English less than very well, but almost 60% of Somali refugees do not.
    • “Including nearly half... who have lived in Minnesota for more than a decade.” (13:57)

  • Education:

    • Only 5% of native-born Minnesotans lack a high school diploma vs. almost 40% of Somali refugees.
    • Over 28% of long-term (10+ years) Somali residents still lack a diploma.

  • Poverty:

    • Over 66% of Somali refugees live in or near the poverty line, compared to fewer than 20% of native-born.

  • Summarizing alarms:

    “You put all that together, this is a recipe for disaster. We know it and we have the data to prove it.” (14:05)

2. Immigration’s Impact on U.S. Housing Affordability

[14:17 - 20:56]

• A New Housing Report from HUD:

  • Introduces Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Scott Turner, referencing his recent statements on Fox News.
  • Turner asserts that illegal immigration is a primary factor in housing unaffordability:

    “Over 12 million illegal immigrants or illegal aliens came across our border, really stifling our housing affordability and supply issue in our country. ... 59% of illegal alien families use one or more welfare programs in America, costing us about $42 billion a year.” (15:39 - 16:01, Scott Turner)

• Difficulties for American Homebuyers:

  • Ferguson and Turner agree that young adults, Gen Z, and millennials are being relegated to “renters, not homeowners.” (14:24)
  • Turner discusses regulatory reform efforts and innovations:
    • Ideas include “portable mortgage” or even “50 year mortgage” formats to aid affordability.
    • Removing “burdensome regulations” to unlock building and development.

    • “We’ve taken down burdensome regulations... restoring local control back to the cities, back to the states.” (17:20 - Scott Turner)

• HUD 2025 Report Takeaways:

  • “The foreign-born population now accounts for more than 60% of the growth in rental demand. Nationwide... two thirds of rental demand growth.” (19:13)
  • In California and New York:

    “Immigrants... have accounted for 100% of all rental growth and over 1/2 of all growth in owner occupied housing in recent years.” (18:49)

• Housing Affordability Emergency:

  • Turner claims the Biden administration issued Federal Housing Authority-backed mortgages to illegal immigrants—a policy HUD reversed under President Trump.
  • “If we don’t stop this, they’re going to have Americans that literally cannot afford to live in America...” (19:46, paraphrased from report conclusion)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben Ferguson on the scale of Somali refugee welfare reliance:

  “Nearly every Somali household with children is on welfare, meaning you are paying for their lives. How much is it costing you? ... It's actually gotten even worse.” (06:10)

• Statistical outrage:

  “Of the Somali refugees in Minnesota, 54% of them are on food stamps... 73% are on Medicaid. That is an insane number. A number that should scare everyone...” (11:18)

• Wider assimilation concern:

  “Just 0.7% of native born Americans in Minnesota speak English less than very well. Almost 60% of Somali refugees [don’t speak well].” (13:57)

• Scott Turner on immigration’s effect:

  “Over 12 million illegal immigrants... really stifling our housing affordability and supply issue in our country.” (15:43)

• Ferguson on policy differences:

  “In Trump’s presidency, Americans finally have a leader fighting to restore the sanity for American immigration policy.” (18:35)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Welfare Usage by Somali Households: 06:09 – 14:16
• HUD Secretary Scott Turner Interview on Immigration & Housing: 15:27 – 18:11
• HUD 2025 Report and Policy Discussion: 18:11 – 20:56

Takeaways

• The episode is sharply critical of both Somali refugee resettlement outcomes and current U.S. immigration policies, citing high social services usage and the impact of recent immigrants on housing markets.
• Ferguson underscores a theme of prioritizing native-born Americans for government resources, questioning the rationale behind continuing high rates of refugee resettlement given the economic data presented.
• HUD Secretary Turner’s interview amplifies the argument that unchecked immigration, especially under the Biden administration, has exacerbated America’s housing and affordability crisis.
• The podcast’s tone is urgent, heavily statistical, and direct, intended to rile concern about government spending and policy direction.

This episode summary aims to provide a comprehensive, accurate representation of the discussion for those who have not listened, bucketing the content by topic, with contextually-referenced quotes, major statistics, and relevant timestamps. Advertisements and non-substantive sections have been omitted for clarity.